Friends Come...
---------------

The sun was well and truly illuminating the morning as the couple
travelled to their school. Akane walked, looking anxious and lost
in thought. In tow was Ranma. For some reason, returning to his
relatively normal self left him disoriented and distracted this
morning. One hand was either held to his head or hovering around it,
the other was clutched tightly in Akane's.
  Akane was too busy thinking to worry about Ranma. She was concen-
trating hard to not let her anxiety cloud her train of thought.
  They passed a corner and found Ukyou waiting. The tall girl,
dressed in her male school uniform, matched their pace and greeted
them. Akane did not notice her.
  Ranma mumbled, "Hi, Ucchan."
  "What happened, Ranchan?" Ukyou asked, observing his condition.
  The boy breathed deeply and concentrated on not letting it show.
"I'm all right. Just that this morning I beat Kohane with Neko Ken."
  "Wow! You beat her?!" Ranma's fiancee exclaimed, "For real?" Ukyou
knew the immortal's prowess from their mock matches. Her Okonomiyaki
Kakutou was no match for Kohane's Spirit Fighting. "So, did she want
to see how far you can go, huh? Gee, I thought you were good, but
beating an immortal?"
  "Yeah, well..." Ranma began to wave away Ukyou's obvious admira-
tion.
  Akane interrupted suddenly. "Do you think Kohane-san wanted to see
if you and Ryouga-kun could handle these goons without her?"
  Ukyou made (another) deduction. "But she'd only do that if she
was going to leave..."
  "_Why_ would she want to do that?" Firm denial was in Ranma's
voice.
  Akane presently concluded Ukyou's thought: "...Because she feels
the object of the attacks is her."
  They slowed to a halt. Ranma said defensively, "No. Kohane will
_not_ run away just to save us from these attacks."
  "We should go back and get her," said Ukyou.
  "I told P-chan to stay close to her room," Akane said. "Back then,
it was just a hunch. We should get Ryouga to look for her." She
turned.
  Ranma restrained her by the arm. "Akane - look. Firstly, getting
Ryouga to search for anything is ridiculous. Secondly, Kohane is not
going to leave. And if she did, she would tell us." He sounded very
determined.
  Akane and Ukyou decided to take comfort in these words. "You're
right," said the short-haired fiancee, "she'd tell us."
  They resumed their journey.


Gradually, Kohane became aware of where she was. She did not fully
realise that she was dreaming, though, and even had confusing mem-
ories of existence in this _place_. It seemed to be _inside_, but
it was also a flat field. She noticed a hazy wall in the distance
behind and to her side. Not much detail showed but the light was
strange: there were too many blues and greys. If she could see any
trees or bushes, she was certain they would not be green.
  Then she saw Ranma fading into view, but stanced in place. Bizar-
rely, he/she seemed to be in a mix of his/her forms, yet hold his/
her air of strength and confidence.
  Kohane's mouthed dropped open at this strangeness. Ranma met her
eyes as he turned, his expression stayed serious and ready.
  "Ranma-chan..." she called. He/she stayed exactly the same but
Kohane knew he/she was aware of her. In my own dream? flitted
through her mind, but was quickly forgotten. Ranma now watched past
and a little to the left. He/she appeared about eight metres from
Kohane's position. She could not distinguish what he/she wore, and
his/her hair appeared bluish in the light, and had the bright sheen
of her female side. Then she knew he/she was watching someone behind
her.
  He/she started slowly moving. Kohane couldn't, not even to look
over her own shoulder. In gentle ponderous movements, Ranma brought
his/her palms close together and focused his/her strengthened chi
into a bright energy ball between them. His/her expression remained
constant, and he slowly thrust his hands forward. Kohane mouthed
the kiai silently to his movement, "Moukou Takabisha."
  The destructive blast launched very fast and blazed past Kohane
in an unusually tight, narrow beam, similar to her Leap-shoot. She
heard nothing from behind her, and saw Ranma's expression change
from grave determination to a sort of hopelessness. Ranma was all
guy now, and appeared mostly naked. Then he became angry. As Kohane
remained rooted to the spot, he flung himself at her. She knew he
was trying to protect her and that he was going to cry her name.
Ranma approached through the air in slow-motion, and Kohane felt
joy at finding another mortal martial artist, so powerful and will-
ing to protect her. Before he reached her, the dream ended.
  Kohane sat up quickly, confused at the dream-to-reality transition,
and wondering where she was. She was near the base of an inclined
patch of lawn. The sun was beginning to set. As she brushed herself
of clinging grass, she began to recollect what had occurred.
  Kohane did not remain sitting in that empty lot when the others
left. As they moved out of sight, she leaped silently to the rooftops
and tailed them. She watched patiently as they cleaned up and Ranma
and Akane set off. Kohane noticed the look in Akane's eyes, but
figured she could be well away before suspicions were confirmed.
With ease she acquired her belongings, changed into her fatigues and 
jumper, and immediately headed for the other side of the city.
  Kohane walked leisurely for most of the day, until she was waylaid
by one of the guys who had shown up before. He mentioned the name
'Kouhai', and Kohane demanded to know who this person was. Before
attacking, he answered that if she ran away like this she might
never find out. He was not much of a challenge, but before he fled,
he created and exploded a chi fireball. The last thing Kohane rem-
embered was tumbling down the slope as consciousness slipped.
  Now she sat back on the grass. The boy had fled, fortunately all
her stuff was still with her. From the sun's position she judged she
had been out of it for two hours. But what her next course of action
should be bothered her.
  Kohane thought she had worked it all out satisfactorily, but
leaving this group of students, with the peril they were in, seemed
wrong now. I thought I could lead the main threat - this immortal
guy they call Kohane - away from them, as Ryouga and Ranma can
handle his minions, Kohane mused as she crawled up the rise. Now I
have the feeling that this person is happy to use those kids to get
to me. If he hurts any of them, he's really gonna get it...
  She stood up straight at the top, the large sun glinting off her
hair. She looked down a gentler incline at a bullet-train track.
Her grim/determined expression changed to apprehension when she
realised the danger: "If that happened," she spoke aloud, "I'd never
know about it because _I_ ran away."
  Cursing to herself, Kohane began her return.


It was well into the evening and Ucchan's had been quiet ever since
lunch. Right now only one man sat at the counter, slowly making his
way through a hot okonomiyaki. Ukyou was sitting a ways behind the
griddle, checking some figures on a binder pad. Konatsu was mopping
the other end of the room, where an unfortunate incident had precip-
itated a series of spillages.
  Ukyou did not sense anything, but when she absent-mindedly glanced
up, the man had finished his meal. He smirked and was off his stool
and out the door in a second. Ukyou grabbed her spatula, hurdled the
bench and was off in pursuit. "Stay here, Konatsu, and mind the
place!" she shouted, and disappeared into the darkness. Konatsu felt
a pang of guilt for not responding as fast, but was mainly worried
for Ukyou now.
  "Stop!" she cried, "You haven't paid!!" Ukyou chased him down the
main street and saw him duck into a darkened alley. She turned the
corner and listened. Nothing. Proceeding, she picked her way care-
fully through a pile of spare building material, and jumped when
something metal fell to the pavement from its perch. Her heart raced,
and she drew her spatula, mainly for the comfort she felt in gripping
the cold steel. Ukyou's warrior sense alerted her to somebody behind
her to somebody behind her, and she wheeled around.
  Before anything, Ukyou's spatula was sharply yanked from her grasp.
She saw three male as she staggered, one of them was her thief. She
stood tall and put on a brave face, pointing at the guy. "Now," she
began, but nervously, "are you going to pay for your food?"
  The guy snickered, and the middle youth, a young man with a dark
Asian face framed by long dred-locks, swiftly had her hand in a
tight, painful grip. He stepped close to Ukyou and caught with ease
the other hand that was flung at his face. "My name is Kouhai. You
know my enemy, Kohane. Tell me, Ukyou, where is she?"
  Ukyou turned her face away. She tried to scream, but it came out
as a whimper. She could feel the face leering at her, and then a cold
finger stroked her pale cheek. He had released her hand, but it was
still somehow immobile and felt crushed by the grip. "I... I don't
know," she stammered. She figured co-operating would end this sooner.
"She just shows up at school everyday." Of course, she didn't want
any more trouble for Ranma, and after what happened to Kasumi...
  She yelped when she felt one of Kouhai's legs move against the
inside of her own. He released her other hand, and they were both
suspended uselessly in the air. Ukyou could do nothing, and instinct-
ively she used her last resort - she started crying.
  Kouhai roughly turned Ukyou's face to his, and his chill lips met
hers. Tears rolled from Ukyou's screwed up eyes as his tongue shoved
impatiently into her shivering mouth. She didn't know how this could
be happening. Her whole body was locked now, and she could do nothing
as Kouhai's probing hands roughly felt up her arms, back and but-
tocks.
  Abruptly Kouhai ended his molestation's, and with on hand holding
her chin, sneered, "This should get Kohane's attention. Let's see
her ignore me now."
  The figures seemed to walk and disappear into a non-existent mist.
All at once Ukyou's body became liquid-like and she swayed nauseously
before bracing herself on the wall. Her mind was blank, she felt
sick and defiled. Her throat convulsed but she managed to avoid
vomiting. After resting against the wall with her hair hanging over
her face, she started, eyes heavy, back to the restaurant.
  Konatsu continued to polish the counter and glance furtively at
the doorway. It was fifteen minutes since Ukyou had left, and Konatsu
resolved to wait just a little longer before going to search for
her. The boy looked with satisfaction at the cleaning, then saw with
horror the girl stagger through the door. She was missing her
spatula. He rushed to her.
  "_Ukyou-sama_!!! What happened!!?"
  Ukyou slowly raised her eyes to meet Konatsu's. She stood a little
ways inside the door, shivering, with her arms wrapped over her
mid-section and tears staining her whole face. Her mouth was a thin
line, she swallowed. "Ko- Konatsu..."
  Konatsu gently enfolded her in his arms, unsure quite what he
should do. Ukyou leaned her head on his chest and he felt her shud-
dering breath. He said quietly, "You have to tell me what happened.
Please don't shut me out."
  Presently, between sobs she mumbled, "He wants me to tell you.
That's his plan. He wants to get to Kohane-san through me."
  Konatsu did not fully understand, but she knew it would be bad if
Ukyou kept it all to herself. "If you won't tell me..." he said,
scooping her gently in his arms. He moved out of the door, shut it
with his foot then launched onto the rooftops. ...I know how to
help you, he finished. Holding Ukyou carefully, he leaped away in
the direction of a certain dojo.


Ryouga stood still in the entrance to the Tendou residence. He was
taking off his shoes after returning since leaving in the morning.
Ranma was in the middle of the hallway with rage edging his voice.
  "Well, why did you let her leave!?"
  "You mean Kohane-san is gone?"
  Akane came from the living room and interposed, "Don't blame
Ryouga-kun." She stayed behind Ranma, who did not look at her.
  "You should have been watching for her!!"
  "Dammit, I got lost after we came back! I didn't know where she
was."
  "You were right behind the back wall, you moron!!!"
  "Ranma!" Akane snapped.
  He wheeled. "What, Akane?" he replied tersely. Ryouga took the
opportunity to slip into the next room.
  His fiancee scowled. "Don't talk to me like that! You can't go
laying blame because Kohane-san decided to leave. None of us are
happy about it. Besides," she turned to leave him, "I'm sure she did
it because she thought it was for the best."
  "But she--" Ranma complained.
  "Ranma-sama!" an anxious voice came from the doorway. He turned his
head to be greeted by Konatsu in his waitress outfit, panting on the
step with Ukyou cradled in his arms. He lowered his employer.
  Ranma, taken aback, approached them. "Konatsu! What happened to
Ucchan?"
  When she heard his voice, Ukyou looked up and flung herself at him.
"Ranchan!!" She wrapped herself to his chest and started sobbing
loudly.
  "She wouldn't tell me. She just said that someone was trying to use
her to get to Kohane-sama." Konatsu looked on with concern, but main-
tained a little distance. He told Ranma about the man running off
without paying.
  Ranma's eyes moved off of his long-haired fiancee, with shock, to
meet Konatsu's. The kunoichi knew exactly what he was thinking. Ranma
lead her into the living/dining room. Ukyou slid under the kotatsu
but still clutched Ranma. She still sobbed heavily. Akane followed,
quite concerned.
  "Oh my," Kasumi said sympathetically when she came in to see what
was happening. She left to get tea.
  Ranma patted her hair then held her face in his hands and looked
at her. "Okay Ucchan," he said quietly. "Are you gonna tell me
what happened?"
  She blinked and shook her head slowly.
  Ranma's eyes burned, and he did the only thing he could do: he
jumped to a conclusion. He stood, causing Ukyou to loose her grip.
  Ryouga came in, saw Ukyou and asked, "What's wrong with Ukyou-san?"
  "Come on, Ryouga," Ranma growled with quiet anger. "We're gonna
go and kill this guy."
  Ukyou stared at him. She realised that they would misunderstand if
she did not say something quickly. She did not want to risk Ranma
getting hurt by this formidable person. "No! Ranchan..." She got his
attention. "It's not like that. I think it was just... another
message." She swallowed her humiliation and told them about her
ordeal. Very quickly she was reduced to tears again.
  Ranma was hardly mollified. As Kasumi gave Ukyou a cup of hot tea,
he told Akane, "All right. Stay with Ucchan, Akane. Me an' Ryouga will
go and sort this out."
  "Not by yourselves." They turned to the voice: The outside door
slid open fast and Kohane stood in the frame. Her hair was up in a
pony-tail; she wore a dougi consisting of a dark blue body-suit
with marginally Chinese-style violet two-piece clothing over it.
She had metallic blue armlets on her forearms and violet kung fu
shoes. Her golden sword and scabbard were slung over her back.
Her fringe waved dramatically in a sudden, rare breeze.
  "Kohane-san!" said many of those gathered.
  "I heard enough," she stated, looking at Ukyou with compassion.
"I think I know where to find this Kouhai. Are you ready?"
  Ranma and Ryouga nodded. They exited through the door.
  Kohane kneeled beside the unfortunate girl and put her small bag
on the table. She extracted a small pouch from it and let two palm-
sized golden balls roll into Ukyou's hands. Kohane held the hands,
and the balls firmly until they began glowing with faint sparkling
light. They became warm to the touch.
  "Do you know how to use Chinese worry-balls?" she inquired.
  Ukyou said, "Uh-huh."
  "These will make you feel much better. Keep rolling them until you
fall asleep." She stood again and said, "Akane-san, Konatsu-san, you
have to look after Ukyou-san. We'll be back when we've repaid
Kouhai." Her form darkened when she went out into the garden.
  "Leave Kouhai to me, only I can defeat him," she said seriously.
I hope, she added privately. "Ready?"
  She, Ranma and Ryouga leaped into the night.


It was the park. Winding paths, stone statues, expanses of ancient
trees and serene ponds covered the thick green areas of lawn. The
martial artists did not disrupt the pervading quiet of this deserted
place. Kohane lead them to the centre of the park.
  "I've waited for this, Tamashii Kohane," a sinister voice spoke.
One second there was nothing before them, then the next there stood
a tall man flanked by four younger youths. He wore a shiny leathery
suit with matching combat fatigues, steel-capped boots and finger-
less gloves. His dredded hair was back in a messy pony-tail. His
goons wore dark practice gi's.
  "Tamashii... Kouhai." She did not know where the surname came from,
but it seemed right somehow. She knew he was another immortal.
  "Now that we're all here," he smirked, raising his hands and
launching rapid chi blasts at Ranma and Ryouga, "FIGHT!"
  Kohane's students were knocked into the air and flipped away over
separate lines of trees.
  Kohane looked at her enemy's burning grey eyes, and a snarl pinched
at her lips.

Ranma's battle.
---------------

Ranma recovered from the impact while he was still air-borne. He
landed lightly in a snug clearing ringed by thick trees. A single
pathway wound through it with a fountain near one entrance, and
light was supplied by a few unobtrusive lamp-posts.
  He began to return to his teacher but stopped short when one of
the goons alighted in his path. "I've dealt with you guys before,"
the beplaited boy said, cross. "Get out of my way and I'll spare
you a beating."
  Ranma leaped away as his opponent dashed forward with a flurry of
kicks. Then he bounced forward to counterattack, swung a heel around
at head height. The boy leaned back to avoid, then sprang back up to
hit Ranma's face. Ranma shook it off and dropped his hands to the
ground and thrust his feet forward, but the boy twisted to the side,
grasped one leg and abruptly dashed past Ranma's head. This action
flipped him over and he barely managed to keep his balance, but a
flying kick to the jaw sent him reeling. His opponent did not let
up and threw a jab, an uppercut, and spun to kick four separate
points on Ranma's front before he could roll away.
  "Ug," Ranma let out. Kohane had warned that he would be fighting
abnormal opponents, but how many were 'normal' in the past? He knew
underestimating this guy would be a mistake. So he waited for the
next bout.
  The guy charged and threw a glowing fist. Ranma kept the hand at
a constant distance from his face as he bent over backwards, arching
his back and bracing his body with his hands behind him on the
ground. Before the opponent realised, Ranma wrapped his legs around
him and hurled him over with the continuing momentum. The boy slammed
down face-first. Ranma somersaulted up then fell towards his dis-
orientated foe, who only got a hand between the kick and his chest.
In the instant Ranma balanced on him, the boy desperately rolled to
the side and Ranma toppled onto his back. Ranma was up and stopped
for a moment to observe his recovering enemy, before leaping hori-
zontally to kick his head. The guy suddenly inverted himself, gripped
Ranma's ankle with his feet and used his own angular movement to
continue the stationary somersault and slam Ranma down hard.
  The wind was knocked out of him, yet Ranma was more confused at
how this guy used the same throwing technique. Then he sprang away,
to his feet, as a stomp crushed the ground where he laid. He assumed
Kohane's stance and banished thought from his head: "Don't think -
do!" Kohane's voice echoed. (It was one of the only pieces of advice
she gave them before finding the enemy. The other was: "Always stay
cool.") His mind was the fight. He exhaled heavily then sprang at
the charging opponent. Ranma punched - not fast enough for surprise,
not expecting to connect. The guy brought up a forearm to block.
  "SUISEI KEN!"
  A burst of chi exploded in the foot-distance between the fist and
Ranma's enemy (who flew back). "Yes!" Ranma exclaimed. He waited for
the boy to get up, then he relaxed, focused and cried, "KYAAA!"
from the depths of his soul.
  The guy stood frozen for a second. Ranma punched again and the
Comet Fist hurtled forward. But he recovered unexpectedly fast,
flipping swiftly towards Ranma (over his attack) before he could
withdraw his outstretched fist. The drop kick connected, then slid
off the side of Ranma's face as he fell back, allowing his opponent
to flip, land upside-down behind him and thrust both feet into the
back of Ranma's head.
  It was like his head was the hammer of a bell. The second kick
threw him into the air, over a dozen metres and into the conven-
iently placed fountain. Ranma splashed up and panted, figuring she
had a few seconds considering the distance she travelled. She had a
head-ache now, something she never got from fighting. Now the boy
closed in and in her remaining time Ranma willed her pain away with
her chi. The effort produced a noticeable aura.
  "Well," snickered the youth, eyeing the change apparent in his
opponent, the first thing he said in the whole encounter. "I think
I like you better like that. Makes me want to rip your clothes before
beating you into the ground."
  Ranma tried to stay unemotional as she kept him in sight and
climbed out of the water.
  "Yeah... you look better than that pathetic chef that Kouhai-dono
did over."
  Snap. The aura which nearly died flared around Ranma. Now it was
dark green. The dark emotions which manifested in Ranma would have
made the surrounding grass wilt if they had not escaped so fast.
The energy exploded upwards with a roaring kiai from Ranma just as
soon as the turbulent chi poured into her hands.
  The fight may well have concluded then and there. Unfortunately,
with inhuman speed her opponent was already running forward, so
the Shishi Houkou Dan impacted behind him and only blew a hole in
the ground. He delivered a barrage of blows to the girl's drained,
prone body, ending in a heel to the side of the head. Ranma spun
before flopping to the earth.
  Oog. Oyaji's right - that really doesn't suit me, she thought.
Ranma's tenacity forced her to her feet in Kohane's focusing stance
again. Change of tactics, she mused. She looked up at her foe.
  The guy, six metres away, had his hand pulled back, and he punched
forward with a shout. The Comet Fist flew at Ranma.
  Stay cool, the voice said. Ranma concentrated -
  The chi flared against Ranma's chest, and the smirk was wiped from
the boy's face when she did not move an inch.
  That's gonna hurt come winter, she thought. Oh, how she wanted to
smile triumphantly at him. But any motions like that, she had
learned, would cause a lapse in concentration and create an opening
for her opponent. However, she did manage to slowly twist her out-
stretched hand into a 'c'mon!' gesture. He charged her again.
  He threw both his palms forward together to hit Ranma's head. No
sooner did he realise that his target was gone than he heard from
below -
  "SHICHUU RAKUCHI SEI!!"
  - And promptly toppled forward. Ranma was only beneath him in the
time it took her to throw his feet to each side. Then she loomed
behind him to perform the follow up.
  "HAKU DATO SHINSHOU!"
  Ranma only connected with the first dozen of the White Snake Re-
liable Palms, as her opponent shifted his weight to drop heavily
forward. He scampered out of range, clutching his gut where the
pain from the thrusts on his back had shot through to his front.
  Ranma saw him in pain, and finally smirked. That last recovery
also brought her confidence back, and so -
  The boy's head snapped up to see the chi ball grow in Ranma's
hands. "I'll deal with your 'Tono' later, after you're a smudge in
the ground, punk! HAA!!!"
  The chi blazed forth and Ranma's attacker was lost to her sight.
But when she finally caught sight of him, it was a bad sign. He
appeared to be throwing dozens of Comet Fists, using both hands, in
an effort to cleave the bright energy safely apart. Upon seeing this,
Ranma's confidence crashed down, the Moukou Takabisha fizzled path-
etically, freeing its victim. He sweated and panted from the sudden
effort.
  "Looks like I'll have to do it the old-fashioned way!" She growled
with ire. "KACHUU TEN--"
  Her enemy dodged - down. Grabbing her ankles, he splashed his arms
outwards.
  "Oh shit!" Ranma toppled from her own move, shocked/angry, but
retained the presence of mind to twist around and face the expected
follow-up. Using this motion, Ranma kicked at his face.
  He juked to the side, resting a hand on the sole of Ranma's out-
stretched foot which he gripped for an instant. Then he punched the
leg away.
  Ranma let herself roll, gritting her teeth. The side of her shin
hurt more than was fair. She realised that it was an amateur chestnut
punch. He was just copying her techniques! "Ooh, you!" she said in
a low voice. She got up and saw him huffing. "Come on," Ranma tried
to chide, "it's not that hard to throw hundreds of punches at once."
  He launched and fly kicked. She dodged the kick, then dodged the
grab for her head. Hot, sweaty air passed her along with him. An idea
formed.
  "I expected an immortal's servant to have a bit more ability," said
Ranma in a patronising voice. "My moves aren't very hard!" She weaved
around a combination of strikes then back from a somersault kick. The
guy stalked after her, and she could feel the hot, angry chi rad-
iating from him.
  "_I_ learnt them from the back of a cereal box, and you can't even
do them without breaking a sweat!" She retreated but stayed in a
circular path, evading each attack. "My dad swats me away whenever I
attack him with them!" _That_ was hard to say, but the effect was
right. The boy fumed and lunged.
  Her body chilled, Ranma side-stepped, crouching slightly. She
whispered, "Try copying _this!_ HIRYUU SHOUTEN HA!!!!"
  The uppercut rose to completion. Unfortunately, her opponent
jumped sideways the instant before, and was only whipped around to
outside of the tornado. Ranma didn't notice this as she expelled her
chi and turned away. Her hair billowed in the violent wind, she stood
with her eyes closed, breathing deeply and recuperating. Kohane will
need my help now, she thought, but a nagging feeling developed on the
top of her skull. Ranma glanced up.
  The side of the whirlwind glowed and a Roaring Lion Bullet blazed
down on her. She dashed away with an "Eeeek!", blocking the indirect
effects.
  The boy descended, having regained control after escaping the
Flying Dragon Ascension, to land shakily. He stanced but over-
balanced and braced himself on the ground with one hand. Slowly, he
drew himself up.
  "_No way!!_" cried Ranma angrily. Only the mightiest Chi Masters
could withstand that. With a determined aura surrounding her she
leaped high over the blast crater to perform Kohane's Descending
Force Focus Defeat. Then a voice in her head shouted at her, What if
he copies Hiryuu Shouten Ha?
  He glowed and punched into the air. To Ranma's chagrin the new
tornado rushed up at her. For Ranma, time was strangely slowed,
allowing her to consider the situation before she got by Hell's
own merry-go-round. The first breaths of it brushed her cheeks. Not
only did she realise it was incomplete (though still capable of bad
damage) but it felt _hot_. Ranma then realised that she assumed her
opponent had cooled down to launch it, when in fact he was angrier
and fuming more than she was. He did not know how to perform it
properly, but it still worked somehow because of the massive temp-
erature difference.
  Sure, but what are you gonna _do_ about it?
  Right. Don't think - do.
  Everything left her mind, except for three or four words. Her
temperature fell further, the heat rushed at Ranma, collecting in
her hands in the small cool area she focused between them. Just
before the tornado consumed her, she launched the six metre-wide ball
of chi energy.
  "HIRYUU SHOU SEN KAN DAN!!!!!"
  It blasted down the eye of the storm as a blazing energy ball.
Descending, it collected the rotating chi out of the tornado, causing
it to trail in thick glowing helical strands.
  The guy under the miniature weather pattern got the fright of his
life before being swiftly flattened. The blast created a huge de-
pression but was completely gone in a second after a huge boom. The
tornado was dissipated harmlessly. Ranma landed, squatting caut-
iously, eyeing her fallen opponent. When she was happy that he
would not get up soon, she turned to the line of trees which Kohane
was behind - in time to see a dark stream of cloud descend from the
heavens, and presently, hear a scream. Ranma's dash began.