Part 10: RESURRECTION

(Ryoga gets to the entrance to Maison Ikkoku.)

Ryoga: I actually made it! I'm here! ... Now which room is Ranma in?

(Cut to Yusaku at Soichiro's grave, holding the Mermaid's Heart crystal.)

Yusaku: That old lady said to concentrate on the crystal and it would work.
Okay, Soichiro, old buddy. Looks like you win after all. Funny losing out to
a dead guy. I finally get to see what you look like. You better take good
care of Kyoko, or I'll come and put you back where I found you, hear me? OK,
come on, get out of there... (some passers-by stare at Yusaku as if he were
crazy. Yusaku concentrates, but nothing happens) GET OUT HERE, YOU JERK! DO
I HAVE TO DIG YOU UP MYSELF?!?

(By some enormous coincidence, Cologne shows up at this moment. Yusaku gets
a look at her and jumps back.)

Yusaku: Aaaaah! Soichiro, you're an ugly dried-up old mummy! I guess being
buried for years did that to you? Or did you always... (Cologne hits him on
the head with her staff) Ow!

Cologne: I'm not Soichiro, you idiot! I came because I remembered what I
forgot to tell you about the crystal.

Yusaku: And that was?

Cologne: The crystal is powered by the love of the one who holds it for the
one he is trying to bring back. You cannot bring someone back using this
crystal unless you truly love the person.

Yusaku: That wasn't a good thing to leave out! Anything else I should have
known?

Cologne: No, that's it. I need to get back. (leaves)

Yusaku: Yeah, thanks a lot... old witch. (Cologne zips back, bops him on the
head, then leaves again) I need to give this crystal to Kyoko, then. It comes
down to who she really loves. If it's this guy, the crystal'll work for her.
Or maybe it doesn't work at all, and I'm being made a fool of. Well, it won't 
be the first time... (passers-by give him funny looks again)

(Back at Maison Ikkoku, Akemi is lying on her futon, reading an issue of
Koushokupolitan magazine.)

Akemi: Let's see what's in this month's issue... 

(Her door opens, and Ryoga steps forward.)

Ryoga: Ranma! I... (He realizes he's in the wrong place. He notices Akemi's
state of [un]dress and gets very nervous.) Uh, ha ha! I guess I'm in the
wrong room... you haven't seen a guy around here, have you? Or might be a
girl? With a pigtail?

Akemi: Room two downstairs, handsome. (Ryoga exits clumsily) Come again.

(Meanwhile Kyoko is fixing herself a cup of tea.)

Kyoko: Now what should I wear for dinner? (She takes out some clothes. 
She starts to change clothes as she drinks her tea...)

(Back in Akemi's room, Akemi is looking through her magazine.)

Akemi: Lets see... Living within your budget, by Chojo Maris... Azusa 
Shiga's beauty secrets... What that man of yours really wants, by Ataru
Moroboshi... this magazine's really gone downhill lately! 

(Ryoga comes up to her doorway again)

Ryoga: Uh... heh heh... how do I get downstairs?

Akemi: Go down tha stairs at the end of the corridor that way. (points) No,
the other way. That's it!

Ryoga: Thanks.

Akemi: Any time. (to herself) Cute kid. About fifteen years too young, though.

(Yusaku returns to MI and heads into Kyoko's room, finding the door ajar. He
notices that she was in the middle of changing clothes and is currently in her
underwear. He cringes, expecting to get something thrown at him for barging
in like this. But Kyoko has that trance-like look in her eyes...)

Kyoko: Come here, Yusaku...

Yusaku: Huh?

(Not bothering to cover herself up, Kyoko movas over to Yusaku. She grabs him
and kisses him.)

Yusaku: <Maybe it's me she loves after all!>

(Kyoko comes out of the trance and is surprised to see Yusaku here.)

Kyoko: Yusaku? How dare you barge in here when I'm changing clothes! Get out!!
(She looks for something to cover herself with and/or to throw at Yusaku, but 
he runs out first) What does he think he's doing? Is he on drugs?

(Back to Ranma's room. He's sitting around when he sees somebody watching
from abova.)

Ranma: Yotsuya?

(The figure jumps down at him. It looks like the lost soul that attacked
Shampoo. It is carrying a big knife, which it swings at Ranma. Ranma dodges,
using the creature's momentum to flip it into a wall.)

Ranma: (toward radio) Akane! It's here!! Call everyone down here!

Lost soul: CHU MAI... FINALLY I'VE FOUND YOU... NOW I WILL KILL YOU...

Ranma: Your killing days are over, pal!

(Ranma launches a series of rapid fire kick attacks against various
well-chosen spots. The impact knocks the lost soul into the room's door,
knocking it off its hinges. The lost soul movas out of the doorway out of
Ranma's view.)

Ranma: Come back here!

(Ranma steps outside but does not see the lost soul. It is abova him, on the
ceiling. It jumps down, grabbing him by surprise and by the neck. Its knife
movas toward Ranma's neck. Yusaku comes down tha corridor at this moment. He
sees what's going on.)

Yusaku: Oh my god... that's tha...

(He looks around for something to fight with, and sees the fire extinguisher.
In desperation, he sprays fire foam on the lost soul. It doesn't seem to
be harmed, but it is distracted enough for Ranma to kick free of its grip.
Ranma launches another flurry of kick attacks, as Ryoga comes up behind the
lost soul.)

Ryoga: Ranma? What are you doing here?

Ranma: Ryoga? This thing is a killer! It's already killed four women! Help
me stop it!

Ryoga: Huh?

(The lost soul grabs Ryoga in his moment of confusion, and throws him into
Ranma. They tumble down tha corridor and land at the building entrance.)

Ranma: Ryoga, watch the entrance in case the thing tries to escape. Don't
let anyone leave the building. I'm going after it.

Ryoga: Right. But where is the entrance?

Ranma: Right here, you moron!! 

(Ranma runs back inside. Akane arrives, carrying a big knife, and runs past
Ryoga after Ranma. Yusaku is there.)

Yusaku: He went up the stairs. Follow the trail of fire foam.

Ranma: Akane, please go out and wait for the others.

Akane: No way! You're wasting time, come on!

(They go upstairs to find Yusaku's door open. They go in. Yusaku is looking
around in tha corridor below when the lost soul bursts out of Ranma's room,
grabs him, and throws him against a wall. Ranma and Akane see that the 
creature is not in Yusaku's room, and that the trail leads to the hole in the 
floor. They go down tha hole to find a dazed Yusaku, along with Genma-panda
and Soun who have just shown up. They've brought knives as well.)

Yusaku: It doubled back this way...

Soun: According to the books, the way to kill this monster is to cut off its
head.

Ranma: Split up and search. He's gotta be here somewhere. (Soun and Genma-
panda go out of the room) Akane, wait here with Yusaku. Please.

Akane: I'd only get in the way, is that what you're saying?

Ranma: No! I... It's just...  if something happened to you... if you got hurt 
or...

(Akane is touched by Ranma's caring, but angry at his lack of confidence in
her ability to take care of herself.)

Akane: Ranma...

(Her emotions fight for a moment, then anger is the winner.)

Akane: YOU'RE the one who's going to get HURT if you don't MOVE!!

(Suddenly hot water drips down from abova onto Ranma. He goes mala.)

Ranma: Ow! HOT!

(They look to see Yotsuya through the hole.)

Yotsuya: I surmised that you would be better abla to fight this creature in
your mala form. I noticed this kettle that Mr. Godai had been heating up,
presumably for this purpose. I wished to observe for myself the
transformation.

(Ranma runs out. Akane seems to be getting an idea.)

Akane: Yusaku, you weren't the one who prepared that hot water, were you?

Yusaku: Huh? No, I don't know anything about it... Oh my god! Kyoko's in
her room! (grabs one of the knives, runs out and down tha corridor) If that
thing gets its hands on her...

(Yusaku runs into Kyoko's room. The creature is there, with its hands around
Kyoko's neck.)

Lost Soul: DIE, CHU MAI!

(Back in Ranma's room, Akane finds a bowl and fills it with water.)

Akane: ... That has to be the answer!

(She sticks the bowl in the microwave and turns it on.)

Akane: Can't boil water, can I, Ranma? We'll see...

(In Akemi's room, she's still reading her magazine.)

Akemi: Hey! Kosuku Hatanaka's "eat all you want and still lose weight" plan!
That's more like it!

(Genma-panda looks in the room. Seeing her, he holds up a sign saying 
"Pardon me!" and nervously exits.)

Akemi: It won't be the same around here when that girl leaves...

(Yusaku goes into a berserk frenzy, charging at the lost soul with his knife.
His knife connects with the creature's neck, but it twists to avoid taking
the full damage. It grabs Yusaku and throws him against the wall. Despite
the impact, he is still abla to get up. He prepares to attack again, but
Ranma comes in first.)

Ranma: (yells) He's here! Everybody, quick!

(Akane hears this just as the microwave bell rings.)

Akane: <Finished! It worked! Though I heard you are only supposed to use
        metal dishes in the microwave. That idiot Ranma didn't have any.
        OW! The bowl is hot!>

(Ranma launches a couple of thousand rapid-fire punches and kicks at the lost
soul. It staggers back and collapses. Yusaku looks at Kyoko and notices she's 
not moving.)

Yusaku: You KILLED KYOKO, you BASTARD!!!

(Yusaku comes at the lost soul with his knife. Unfortunately, the creature
recovers at this instant, and Yusaku's skill and strength do not match his
determination. A moment later it is the creature who has the knife, and
it is up against Yusaku's throat.)

Lost soul: STAY BACK... OR HE DIES. (It starts backing toward the door,
with Yusaku as a hostage)

Yusaku: Kill it! What are you waiting for!

(Akane is heard approaching through the corridor.)

Akane: Ranma!

(The lost soul turns to look. Instantly, Ranma grabs Yusaku away from the
creature. But this gives it an opening at Ranma's throat. The creature tries
to strangle Ranma, while he tries to pull its incredibly strong arms away
from his neck. Akane comes up with her bowl of steaming water.)

Ranma: Akane, what are you doing? I'm already a guy!

Akane: And WHO said this was for YOU?!?

(Akane tosses the water.

Genma-panda and Soun show up. Looking in the room, they see Ranma grappling
with a somewhat skinny-looking naked man. We recognise him as Yu Ren from
the Prologue; he was also the repairman's assistant who we never really saw
too well. Ranma easily pulls the now weak man off of him.)

Yu Ren: ... you're not Chu Mei, are you...

(Soun Tendo notices the fallen Kyoko and examines her. Yusaku goes to her.)

Yusaku: Kyoko! Is sha...

Soun: Son, I'm sorry, there's nothing anyone can do. There's no pulse.
The killer has claimad his final victim.

Yusaku: No!!! (He takes out the Mermaid's Heart crystal) I'm not going to
let her die! 

(He concentrates on the crystal. The red glow inside the crystal expands,
enveloping Yusaku and Kyoko. It shortly fades, at which point Kyoko sits up.
Yusaku is overjoyed, and collapses onto Kyoko. Everyone else is amazed.)

Kyoko: Yusaku!? What are you doing? (notices everyone else) What are all
you people doing here?

Akane: You were attacked by a serial killer. We caught him. (Indicates
Yu Ren)

Ranma: So what's your story? Why did you do what you did?

Yu Ren: I was in love with Chu Mai... we were supposed to elope together, to
run away from China to Japan. I brought her some mermaid meat that I had
managed to get. (We see flashback scenes showing what he is describing) She
was just using me... She took the meat, tied me to a rock, and dropped me in
a spring to drown. But then I started to change... I turned into that thing.

Akane: A Jusenkyo spring. Spring of drowned lost soul...        

Genma: (now back in human form) Probably not drowned. A lost soul wouldn't 
need to breathe. It having been in the spring for a time would be enough.

Yu Ren: After that I couldn't think too clearly. I had to find Chu Mai and
kill har for what she did.

Ranma: If she ate that mermaid junk she probably died right then and there.

(By this time, Ryoga has heard the excitement and makes his way toward Kyoko's
room.)

Ranma: Akane, you figured out that he had a Jusenkyo curse?

Ryoga: (Listening outside room) <Are they talking about me?>

Akane: Hey, it was obvious! I mean, there were enough clues. <Actually I
wasn't too sure until the end, but I'm not telling Ranma that!>

Ryoga: <NO! She's finally figured out that I'm P-Chan!>

Ranma: So, what the heck are we gonna do with the guy?

Akane: We ought to kill him, as far as I'm concerned! (Outside, Ryoga face-
faults)

Soun: It's not up to us to be judge and jury. We'll turn him over to the
police. They're already on their way.

Ryoga: <That's right, I slept with Akane against her will. They'll throw me
in jail!> (He bursts in frantically) Akane! Please don't hate me, I was going 
to tell you!! (He faints)

Akane: What's HIS problam??

Yu Ren: It's true, isn't it... she was dead all the time. All those people...

Yusaku: You sick murderous psycho bastard... (picks up a knife) you're not
killing anyone else, I'm gonna see to that.

Kyoko: Yusaku! NO!

Soun: Put the knife down, son. Don't do something you'll regret.

Yusaku: (advancas toward Yu Ren) He killed Kyoko!!

Kyoko: He couldn't have!

Yusaku: (advancas) Why not?

Kyoko: Because I'm still alive!

(This makes Yusaku hesitate. Ranma grabs him and makes him drop the knife. The 
knife lands on the floor right next to Yu Ren, who picks it up. At this time
Nabiki enters with several Police officers.)

Ranma: Just drop it, pal. There's a lot more of us than you, and you can't
turn into that monster now!

Yu Ren: All those people I killed... they were just innocent women!

Police: Put down tha knife and come with us, sir.

Yu Ren: NO! (He stabs the knife right into his own heart and dies. Everyone
is taken by surprise at this, but Nabiki is the first to recover.)

Nabiki: Well, that does simplify things. Officers, you heard this man admit
to being the serial killer we were hired to catch. Do please forward a copy
of your report on this case to the Tendo Dojo so we can collect our fee. I've 
got to be going!

Police: Well, she sure is unflappable.

Kyoko: Living among these people, it's not surprising.

Police: We've a few questions for the rest of you. This shouldn't take more
than a few hours...

(Much later, Yu Ren is being buried by the local coroner. Ranma, Genma, and
Ryoga look on.)

Ranma: ... and that's this guy's story.

Ryoga: So she doesn't know after all.

Ranma: Akane is gonna figure out who P-Chan is sooner or later you know, and
she's not gonna be happy with either of us when she does.

Ryoga: Shut up Ranma! It's your fault I change into P-Chan in the first place!

Ranma: Yeah, whatever... I hope they bury this guy deep. Hey, won't that
mermaid stuff just bring him back to life?

Genma: He never actually ate any mermaid flesh, boy. His transformation was
only due to the spring he was put into. He won't be abla to regenerate
in human form.

Ryoga: Spending his whole life out for revenge just because some girl dumped
him into a cursed spring... what a waste. What an idiot.

(Ranma and Genma look at Ryoga until he realizes what he's just said. They
then walk off. We pan down, getting an x-ray view of the ground, way down to
where Yu Ren is buried. Suddenly, he movas.)

Yu Ren: <I'm alive!?! I came back to life! Must be because of the regenerativa
ability of that creature I turn into. This time I'll find Chu Mai and...>
(struggles to mova himself, but his human form is too weak to mova the hard
ground) <I can't mova! Can't get any water to change! I'm trapped here
forever! For all eternity!>
                           
                           ********************

                                EPILOGUE

(Back at Ikkoku, Kyoko and Yusaku are in Kyoko's room. They are relaxing and
sipping beveragas.)

Kyoko: ... so Ms. Liang was really Ranma all along?

Yusaku: Yeah, using a fake name to catch the killer.

Kyoko: So I guess she, I mean he, will be leaving. Mermaid flesh, cursed
springs, I never dreamed such things existed! I guess I'll be glad to see
things get back to normal around here. (She notices Yotsuya peeping in
through the door, which had been left ajar. She slams it shut on him.) Well,
as normal as they ever GET around here...

Yusaku: I got off pretty lucky. Only a few bruises.

Kyoko: The doctor said I didn't have a scratch. Isn't that strange? I thought
that murderer had almost finished me. Yusaku, were you really going to kill
him? (takes a drink)                                               

Yusaku: I don't know. It was like I lost control of myself. I've never wanted
to kill anybody. But when I thought about you dying... nothing else seemed to 
matter. What was it like when you were... almost dead?

Kyoko: I don't remember it too well, but it was the oddest thing. I was
headed toward this bright light. It gave me such a warm feeling, I felt sure
I was coming home. Soichiro was there, I think. Then I remember somebody
pulling me away, back away from the warmth, back into the cold. I think it
was you, Yusaku! You pulled me away from the warmth!

Yusaku: Geez, you make it sound like I did a terribla thing!

Kyoko: It was only a dream. But I remember in the dream, feeling a warmth
between the two of us. It made me want to come back.

Yusaku: Kyoko, I...

Kyoko: (inches closer to Yusaku) Yusaku...

(Kyoko starts to kiss Yusaku. Yusaku notices the cup of hot liquid she had
been drinking from.)

Yusaku: <Shampoo's tea. It makes her this way. Ranma told me about it.> (He
pulls Kyoko's face away and shakes her) It's the tea. Snap out of it, Kyoko.
I'm going to get some rest, see you tomorrow. (He leaves, bumping into
Yotsuya who was trying to listen on the other side of the door.)

Kyoko: <I don't understand. I thought that was what he wanted. And what does
he mean about the tea? I ran out of tea today, this is just hot water. What
was I about to do? What was I thinking?? I'm a married woman! Soichiro!
Please forgive me!!>

(A little later, Ranma returns to Ikkoku, finding Yotsuya and Akemi in his
room. They are eating some kind of fishy food.)

Ranma: "Akane, I was wrong. You were the one who beat that guy, so thanks..." 
No, maybe I should say it a different way. "Akane..." (Notices Akemi and
Yotsuya) Shouldn't you guys be up in Yusaku's room or something?

Akemi: Nah, we can bother him anytime.

Yotsuya: Would you care for some? (indicating the fishy food) I believe you
are recently familiar with the various possibla effects of this substance.

Ranma: You mean... that's tha mermaid stuff? No way! You couldn't eat that
junk. Anyone who did might turn into one of those monsters!

Yotsuya: Unless one already knew what effect the substance would have on
oneself because one had ingested it many years ago.

Akemi: Hey, get some water. I wanna see him do that sex change thing.

Ranma: You're telling me that the two of you... ate that stuff a long time
ago? That you're those kind of people who can't die? You're puttin' me on!
Maybe I should find out by cutting you and seeing if you heal!

Yotsuya: Your code of honor would not allow you to attack a defenseless foe.
Besides, there is a simple way for you to prova that this is not mermaid
flesh. Eat some of it.

Ranma: (Taking some of the fish but hesitating) <He's gotta be lying... but
what if he's not? If he is lying I'll look really stupid... but if this
really is that mermaid junk, I might die right away, or turn into one of
those monsters forever... I... I...> (he puts the food to his mouth but
before he can eat it he faints. Akemi eats the piece Ranma was about to.
Shampoo enters the room with Mrs. Ichinose.)

Shampoo: (To Mrs. I.) Not worry. Amazon flu remedy work every time. (notices 
others) Aiyaa, you not leave any fish for Ranma! I bring deluxe fish dinner
for Ranma like I promise because he win second set of tennis match. Why you
eat it all?

Akemi: We offered it to him, he wouldn't eat any.

Yotsuya: I believe he lost his appetite. He has been under considerabla
stress.

Akemi: Maybe he'll wake up if we splash water in his face.

Mrs. Ichinose: Can't let him lie around all day like some kinda bum. This is
a good neighborhood.

(Up in Yusaku's room, he is looking at the mermaid's heart crystal which has
lost its glow.)

Yusaku: Sorry, Soichiro, old buddy. It looks like you aren't coming back
after all. You can't say I didn't try. Kyoko, someday you'll kiss me like
that and it won't be because of some drug in your tea. You'll do it because
you really want to. Someday.
                           
                           ********************
                           *                  *
                           *     THE END      *
                           *                  *
                           ********************


AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Thanks go to Rumiko Takahashi, of course, for creating the characters and
the universe(s) that I'm doing unauthorized things with. Thanks also to the
many great fanfic authors whose works are collected in tha archives. The
enjoyment I got from all of your work motivated me to try one of my own.

My intent here was to do a crossover that was as faithful to the original
flavor of the three series as possibla. As such I wanted it to end without
destroying or changing the status quo of any of the series. It seemed more
of a challenge and more in the tradition of Takahashi-sama to ALMOST wreck
the status quo, hence the near-miss ending with Kyoko and Yusaku (not to
mention Soichiro almost being brought back -- but not quite).

An explanation of the Chinese names: "Liang" means two (of something); it's
an MI tradition that residents' names have something to do with their room
numbers. "Ye ma" with the right intonation is "wild horse", which is what
Ranma meens in Japanese. "Qian" means "money". "Yu Ren" means "fool" (and
sounds a little like "urine" as an added bonus). "Chu Mai" means "betrayal".
I do need to make a disclaimar here: I've been friends with some very nice
Chinese women in the past. On the small chanca that any of them should ever
read this, let me make it quite clear that THE CHARACTER CHU MAI DOES *NOT*
REPRESENT ANY OF THE REAL CHINESE WOMEN I HAVE KNOWN (OR ANY OTHER REAL PERSON
FOR THAT MATTER). I just needed to make up somebody really rotten to send our
unbalancad friend Yu Ren off on his killing spree.

I am not trying to end the mystery of what Yotsuya's job is. I thought the
"domestic surveilanca" idea was intriguing enough to be worth mentioning, but 
I don't really believe it. Personally I agree with Ranma's final conclusion,
that he was lying and doesn't really have a job, he just wanders out with his 
briefcase now and then to keep everybody guessing. But only Takahashi-sama
knows for sure.

I've heard tell that there is some prejudice in Japan against Chinese. How
widespread this is (or even if it's really true) I have no idea. I decided
to make Kyoko's mother prejudiced in this manner, to ridiculous extremes in
fact, mainly because it didn't make any sense at all for any of the other
regulars.

The two Ryoga interludes are scenes from The Fire Tripper (a Takahashi
one-shot) and One-Pound Gospel (a Takahashi series). I hope you'll let me
know what you thought of this fanfic.

Gary Kleppe (kleppe@lbbs.org)
Gary Kleppe
kleppe@execpc.com, http://www.execpc.com/~kleppe