OK, so I'll throw in chips and see where they land on the 
list...  Part 8 got kind of draggy on me, but sometimes setup is
necessary.  C&C welcomed (I always have errors to point out) and
previous parts will be soon available on my anime page (URL below)
or I can mail them out.


			Twisted Destiny 8

{all disclaimers stick here, flimsy but oh well}


Soun and Kasumi grabbed Ranma, too fast for even him to avoid.  He
struggled against their hold, unwilling to go all out against the
Tendo's.  "Hey, ya jerk!  Let me go!"

"I want to be immortal.  Make me immortal."  Ranma could see the
creature's claws dig into Akane's arm and draw blood.

Ranma growled in frustration and struggled harder.  "We can't make
you immortal!"

"Yes, we can," Kuno said, remaining unrestrained.

Ranma looked at Kuno.  "What?"

"He knows, he knows," the creature said gleefully.  "Make me
immortal!  Make me a wu!"  If the creature had to free claws, it
would have clapped.

"Kuno, you idiot!  What do you think you're doing?  What about
Akane?  She won't ever be..."

"Quiet, Saotome!  This is the only way."  Kuno started to address
the creature.  "Release her.  She is not involved."

"Give me what I want, then I let her go."

"He'll kill her!  Don't listen to him!"  Ranma jerked his arms,
trying to break the grip of Kasumi and Soun.

"The only way..."  Kuno stepped forward, Nabiki and Genma letting
him go.  He stood in front of the monster, his sword lowered.

"You surrender now?  This will make things easy..."  The creature
shuffled forward, dragging Akane with him.  One smooth and slender
tentacle extended towards Kuno.

Kuno bowed his head as the tentacle slithered around the wrist of
his empty hand.  He was yanked forward a couple feet as the
monster lowered it's head towards him.

"Do something!  Don't just stand there!"  Ranma watched the scene
unfold before him, powerless to do anything about it.
The monster lowered it's head further.  "Hold still.  This won't
hurt a bit."  It chuckled evilly.

Kuno felt it's clammy breath on his skin, could smell the fetid
odor coming off it; he wanted to vomit.  He resisted another pull
from the tentacle; the creature would have to come to him.  Come a
little closer...

He waited until he could feel the mouth, feel the teeth biting
into his skin.  Then, his sword a blur, he cleaved through the
monster's thick, stubby neck.  A scream like knives on a
chalkboard issued forth from the severed head, green and black
blood jetting into the air from the body.

The tentacle on Kuno's wrist withdrew, leaving him free.  He
turned quickly and lunged towards Akane.  He ripped the ward from
her forehead, searing pain ripping through his hand, and threw it
to the ground.

As soon as the creature's head was removed, the four possessed
family members threw their hands to their heads and began to
scream, a squealing, screeching sound that hurt Ranma's ears.  He
could see the claws of the beast looking to pick up the head,
several tentacles used like feelers.

Smoke still coming from his hand, Kuno turned and sliced off two
inquisitive tentacles.  An alert and very upset sanjiyan shoved
him aside and knocked him to the ground.

"Fool!  How could I have made such a stupid mistake?  Taking you
as my guardian...  If you can not even watch a girl, how can you
protect me?"  She glared at him quickly then turned her attention
to the creature.

Kamiko held out her arms, her pinkie, thumb and index finger
extended on both hands; her palms were turned out.  She said
something that Kuno could not understand; a single word said
quietly but with force.  A blast of light burst forth from her
hands and bathed the monster.

The screaming picked up again, making a stunned Ranma cringe.  He
watched the massive body blow into tiny chunks then disintegrate
into nothing.  He watched Kasumi, Soun, Nabiki and his father all
fall to the ground as the light faded from Kamiko.

"Useless guardian," she whispered and Kuno got a taste of the
complete disappointment she felt.  "Do better next time or we will
both be dead."  She fell to the floor and he kneeled beside her.

He didn't notice the scenery around them change to the dojo, but
Ranma did.  He looked out the doorway to the sunny outdoors.
"Come on.  We should call Dr. Tofu."

Kuno lifted the sleeping Akane after sheathing his katana.  He
still couldn't shake the disappointment that Kamiko had felt with
him; it was almost heartbreaking that she had so little confidence
in him.  Though, after his two bungles, he supposed she had the
right to be.

He carried her into the house and laid her down on the couch.  He
kneeled on the floor near the end of the couch.  He didn't plan on
leaving any time soon.

Ranma was supporting a groggy Soun and let the older man sit at
the table.  "Come on, Kuno.  Help me with the others."

"No, I will not leave her again.  There will be no more mistakes."

Ranma hmphed, exasperated by Kuno's attitude.  If it wasn't one
thing with the guy, it was another.  He left to help the others.

"You're learning," a very faint voice said to Kuno from nowhere.

"I'm sorry.  Forgive me," he whispered.  Suddenly he felt
inordinantly pleased and relieved.  He had been forgiven.

If the sanjiyan could maintain so strong a bond even after such a
huge expenditure of energy, her power was...  Unimaginable.
Failing her a third time would be a mistake.

***

"I guess it wasn't such a good day," Akane said, smiling weakly.
She picked at the bandage on her arm.

"Don't concern yourself with it, Akane.  It wasn't your fault,"
Kasumi said, returning with some tea.  Once she had gotten herself
up and around, it was back to business as usual for her.

"Thanks, Kasumi.  Now, I want to talk to you all about finding
this statue..."

***

Soun was wailing.  It seemed more pitiful than usual, even for
him.

"Now, Dad.  Don't cry.  I'll be fine.  We'll get through this just
fine."  Akane patted her father's hand.

"Here, Father, have more tea."  Kasumi refilled his cup.
"Besides, Tatewaki will be there to protect her."

Ranma snorted.  "Yeah, and so will I.  He screwed up twice, next
time it could be real trouble."

"No, Ranma," Akane said firmly.  "I... I don't want you to."

Ranma gaped.  "What?  Why not?"  It wouldn't be a vacation, he
didn't think she and Kuno would be using it as some romantic
getaway.  At least he hoped not.

"Because.  I've heard what you've said about what's happened these
two times.  You said these things were too much even for you.
Didn't you?"

Ranma nodded curtly, frowning slightly.

"Well... I wouldn't want to see you... get hurt," she finished
quietly.  "You can't stand up to these monsters.  Not like
Kuno-sempai."  She averted her eyes; she couldn't stand the hurt
look on his face.

"I don't care.  You need more than just him to protect you.
Besides, what difference will it make if I'm safe and you're
dead?"  He didn't see Soun and Genma silently celebrating in the
background.

Akane sniffed.  She was trying her hardest not to cry.  It was a
matter of pride... and courage.  She thought that if she started
crying, she would lose her nerve and not be able to leave.  "But
if something happens to me, you have... other fiancees.  If you
died... I'd have nothing left."

She swallowed hard, her head turned away from Ranma.  She stood up
and ran to her room.  Kuno stood up a moment later and followed
her.  Ranma snarled and ran upstairs too.

"Hey!  What do you think you're..."  Ranma's voice faded when he
saw Kuno standing outside Akane's room with his arms folded across
his chest.

"I said I would not leave her again and so I shall not.  Your...
personal problems are of no concern to me."

Ranma heard the quaver in Kuno's voice.  "Yeah, well, OK."  He
knocked on Akane's door and opened it when she answered.  He went
in and shut the door behind him.

Kuno stood vigilantly by the door, still frowning.  No matter what
kind of mistake Akane had made by choosing Saotome over himself,
he would let no harm come to her... or Kamiko.

"So they left you out in the cold, eh Kuno-chan?"  Nabiki was
heading to her room.

"I am giving them their privacy.  For the time, I believe your
sister is safe, but I will take no more chances."

"It's about time you took this whole thing a little more
seriously."

He gave her a hard look.  "Yes, well..."  He didn't have much to
say, she had gotten him.

"Next time my family's in danger, take your time.  I'm sure we'll
all be fine."

"I am sorry.  You know I would do my best to protect anyone in
need."

"Yeah, so you better take care of my sister or I'll have to hire
someone to beat the crap out of you."  She wasn't smiling.

Kuno nodded.  "With my life."

She glared at him for a moment.  "I'll be in my room when you two
are ready to make your plans."  She retreated to her room and left
Kuno in the hall.

***

"Um, I don't think it's wise for you to just fly to Hong Kong.
What do you plan on doing when you get there?" Nabiki asked.

"We were going to um..."  Akane looked a bit sheepish.

"Call up this guy, who probably only speaks Chinese, and ask him
if some ugly statue he used to own will make you human?"

Akane blushed and Kuno nodded.

Nabiki threw up her hands.  "You two are hopeless.  If Ranma were
going with you the chain would be complete."

Ranma started to say something.

"No!" Akane said and frowned at him.

"OK, OK.  But I still don't like it."  Ranma put his chin in his
hand and sulked.

"As helpless as I know you two are, and as much as I know you'd
like me to go with you...  I've had enough with monsters and won't
be going anywhere."

Not that Akane expected anything different.  She could get along
fine; all she needed was a little help.  "All we need is a little
help."

"All you ever need is a little help."  Nabiki gave her sister a
look before softening.  "Give me some details and I'll see what I
can come up with."

"Thanks, Nabiki."  Akane gave her a brief hug.

Nabiki held out her hand after they broke up.  "This is going to
cost.  It won't be easy."

Akane looked hopefully at Kuno.  "Kuno-sempai?"

"Of course.  I was prepared for this."  He pulled out a sizable
wad of cash and gave it to Nabiki.

She looked at it, judging the amount.  "This is a good start, but
I know it's going to be more."

Akane started to tell Nabiki everything Tofu had told her and
showed Nabiki all the the copies.  Nabiki scrutinized each piece
of paper, reading them over and taking careful mental notes.

It took them a little over two hours to go through everything.

***

"Here.  Take this."  Nabiki held out a small cellular phone.

Akane took it.  "What's this for?" she asked.

"I think you can figure it out."  She turned to Kuno.  "You'll
have to take care of it, Kuno-chan.  If it gets deactivated, you
two'll be SOL."

He nodded.  "If you see to the payment, I shall make the funds
available to you."

Nabiki's hands twitched at the thought of having Kuno's money at
her mercy.  "I won't leave you hanging."

"So what should I take?"  Akane had no idea where to begin when it
came to packing.

Ranma thought back to his days on the road.  "Only take what you
need.  The rest will just bog you down.  And don't always expect
to get everything you want.  You're going to be in a different
country where people don't care about you."

"Thanks for your help," Akane said, giving him a cross look.

"I just don't want to see you get all frustrated and give up
before you've even gone anywhere, you... you..."  He was the one
that was frustrated.  "You don't know anything about being on the
road!"

"I really hate this," Akane said, her mood turning sour.

"No kidding," Ranma said.  His mood was already sour.

"Yeah, but you don't have a choice.  Unless you just want to sit
here until Kaiyanwang knocks on the door," Nabiki said.

She received black looks, but no one disagreed with her.

"You know, Nabiki...  How do you have all those connections to
help us out like this?"  Akane looked at the phone, the flight
schedules, the names and addresses.

"You've heard about don't ask, don't tell?"

"Yes."

"Don't ask."

***

"Tomorrow afternoon.  We'll be going to Hong Kong."  Akane's voice
was a bit shaky.  All their plans were firm, she was packed;
there was no turning back.

She slumped on the couch.  It was the last thing she wanted to be
telling her family.  For the previous few hours, she had been
hoping that Kaiyanwang WOULD knock on the door, then she wouldn't
have to leave.  She would have preferred a straight fight over
traveling to another country and being seperated from everything
she knew.

She looked at Kuno.  He was sitting at the other end of the couch,
staring straight ahead, his hands on his knees.    She wouldn't be
seperated from everything; if there was one thing in the world she
could count on being unchanging, it was Kuno.  He may have been an
idiot, but he was a consistant, unrelenting idiot.

He turned to look at her, his face remaining expressionless.  The
fact that he was taking everything so seriously made her nervous.
He was ready to just go off into whatever might be waiting for
them and start swinging his sword.  Akane suddenly wished Ranma
would be going, she wished she hadn't told him to stay.

She thought his shoulder would be something she would want to cry
on very soon.

***

Akane and Kuno walked down the street, each with a bag.  Kuno was
still wearing his katana, but also carried a case to store it in
on the plane.  There was silence between them as they walked in
the waning sunlight.

Akane had thought it best to take the bus to the airport and
leave her family at home, eliminating a lot of heartache.  Kuno
had objected to the bus, but not too loudly when he saw the tears
in her eyes.

Akane patted the comforting weight of the cel phone in the pocket
of her dress.  It was her lifeline, a connection to her family
that she didn't want to lose.  She put on the headphones of the
walkman Nabiki had given her.  She hoped the music could take her
mind off... everything.

As she walked, the music playing softly in her ears, she started
lagging behind Kuno's long strides.  She didn't care, she wasn't
anxious to leave after all.  Passing by some bushes, something
caught her eye and caused her to stop.

She leaned down and moved some leaves out of the way.  Poking out
from under some sticks was a beautiful stick or staff.  She picked
it up and looked at it closely.  It was of a perfect length for
her to use, to hold at its middle, like it was meant for her.  Her
eyes were drawn to the intricate patterns that swirled up and down
the wood.  There were designs, words and symbols that she couldn't
read, but she knew what they meant.  It was warm in her hands,
like she had just been holding it.

One end was smooth, like it was supposed to be held there, but at
the other was a small cap, a nodule.  It was highly stylized, in
the shape of a ballpeen hammer head and decorated with strange
runes.

While holding the smoothed end, that seemed to be a handle, felt
perfectly natural, the center was where her hands kept going.

She stood up feeling strangely comforted and warm in her stomach.
If she had any experience with strong alcohol, she would have
recognized the feeling.  She looked toward Kuno, who had seemingly
not noticed her stop.  "Kuno-sempai," she called and jogged to
catch him.  Again she got that strange notion that it would be a
good day.  But the last time she felt like that, the day had ended
up being a disaster.

Akane stopped at Kuno's side, smiling.

"Akane Tendo, you must stay within my sight at all times," he said
to her, glossing over the fact that he had gone on without her.

He had such a stern and serious look on his face, Akane couldn't
help but giggle.  She hooked his arm and began jogging to the bus
stop, dragging him along.  "Hurry, Kuno-sempai, or we'll miss the
bus!"

"Akane Tendo, you must not run whilst carrying a stick!"

"Kuno-sempai, you're so silly.  And stop calling me that."  The
bus stop was just over the next hill.  "You can just call me
Akane, or if that's too much for you to handle, Tendo is fine
too."  She smiled at him, feeling unusually giddy.  "After all,
I'll be the only Tendo around...  Just you and me..."

She laughed when she saw the look on his face.  Then she managed a
look of anger.  "And just what were you thinking of?"  She
couldn't hold the look though, and started giggling again.

His mouth worked for a moment before he snapped it shut.  He
stopped jogging and pulled Akane to a halt.  "Akane Tendo, what is
affecting you?  Why are you acting in this manner?"

She smiled at him, her cheeks flushed.  "I told you to call me
Akane.  And there's nothing wrong with me."  She giggled
drunkenly.

"There most assuredly is something wrong.  Here, let me help you."
He moved to take her arm.

"There's nothing wrong with me," she said indignantly and jerked
her arms away from him.  She frowned, looking a lot like a pouting
child.  "I'm fine," she repeated, stamping her foot.  Then she
passed out, holding the staff closely to her.

Kuno sighed and lifted Akane.  If Akane was going to act like this
all the time, getting to Hong Kong and actually accomplishing
anything would be a problem.  He carried her towards the bus stop,
ignoring the strange looks he was receiving from people on the
street.  If she got worse, he wasn't sure how he would handle her.

He relaxed at the bus stop.  If she was unwilling to cooperate,
how would he protect her?  Kamiko had been right.  Things were
turning out to be far more difficult than first anticipated.

He looked at Akane's sleeping face.  She was so peaceful looking,
so innocent.  His hold on her tightened.  She had chosen Saotome,
but that wouldn't stop him from protecting her with his life, his
soul, everything he was.  If only she could feel for him the way
he felt about her.

"I'll always protect you," he whispered.

"I know," came Kamiko's whispery reply as the bus arrived.


-o-o-o-o-o-o-

I know there's a rough bit in here, but I probably won't get to
fixing it until I get it on my web page...

-- 
Lara

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