Subject: [fanfic][Ranma/Yohko]Family Demons pt 3
From: Anthony Woo
Date: 10/4/1997, 9:31 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com


Family Demons
A Ranma 1/2 - Demon Hunter Yohko Crossover
Part 3
Version 2.2

Ranma 1/2 and Demon Hunter Yohko belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Masao
Mauyama, respectively.

<...>  thoughts

	The night sky over Nerima was dotted with splotches of dark gray
clouds and the half moon that hung in the sky gave off a wan light giving
the sky and eerie glow.  The stars, however, glittered merrily, lending
the sky a touch of joy despite the clouds.
	Ranma sighed as he lay back against the roof of the dojo.  It had
been an emotionally exhausting day and he relished the chance to relax
with only the stars for company.  <No, that's not true,> he admitted to
himself, <I'd _really_ like some company, or at least someone t' talk to.>
Normally he would go to the Ucchan's and talk to Ukyo but it was late.
<And,> he thought, <if I talked t' Ucchan 'bout this, she'd turn me int' a
"Ranchan Okanomiyaki.">  In cases like this Ranma, normally, would talk to
his mother.  <It'll be a _long_ time before I talk t' _her_ 'bout
anythin',> he thought bitterly as he remembered the day's events.  <Kasumi
and Nabiki are both out,> he thought, <Kasumi's sleepin' and Nabiki...I
can't afford her rates.>
	That left Akane.  <What am I thinkin'!  I can't talk t' that
tomboy 'bout nothin'!> he thought.  <That's not true,> he admitted,
<'sides she's th' one I should be talkin' to 'bout this anyway.>  Somehow
he could not bring himself to speak to her.  <Ev'ry time I talk t' her we
end up insultin' each other,> he thought, <an' this is too important t'
fight about.>  This left one person in the house that he could trust to
give him reasonable advice.  <I don't like it,> he thought, <but I ain't
got another choice.>  With that thought he leapt over to the roof of the
house, hung down over the edge, and knocked on the window of Akane's
bedroom.

***

	Yohko had just gotten dressed in her pajamas and was now lying on
her futon, scribbling in her diary while Azusa was in the bathroom.

"Dear Diary," she wrote.
	"I met the man of my dreams today, we even got engaged!  His name
is Ranma Saotome, he's _really_ cute!  He's kind and polite and strong,
did I mention that he's _really_, _really_, _really_ cute!  It's really
too bad he's already taken, actually he's got two fiancee's (can you
imagine!  His idiot father engaged him to _two_ different girls!) and I
just became his _third_.  Actually that was his mother's idea, I don't
mind, but he does, because he's already in love!  Oh, well, I've got the
entire summer to find someone.  I'd rather have Ranma, but who am I to
stand in the way of True Love.  (sigh)
	"Did I mention that Ranma's mother is a demon hunter too?  She the
96th Demon Hunter of her clan.  She doesn't have an heir yet, which is why
she engaged me to Ranma.  I guess she thought I'd become her heir or
something.  I don't know, but one thing's for sure.  I'm not gonna marry
Ranma (not unless he wants to marry me, which he doesn't, sigh) not on her
say so anyway.  
	"I'm still not sure why Grandma sent me here.  This place seems
pretty normal to me.  I'm sure she didn't send me here just to see if I
could get married to Ranma, but I can't for the life of me find anything
weird!  Sure there's Ranma's dad, who engaged his son twice.  And there's
Akane's sister Nabiki (Akane is the one that Ranma's in love with, sigh),
would you believe she tried to sell me pictures of Ranma!  Three thousand
yen for only five pictures!  (I told her if she made it ten pictures it
was a deal, but she argued, finally we settled on five thousand yen for
seven pictures, I can't help but think I got the raw end of that deal, but
then again Ranma is really, really, really cute.  Sigh.).  Did I mention
that Ranma's a martial artist?  He's a really, really good martial artist
too!  He beat me bare handed and I was using a sword!  I tried every trick
I knew, and he still beat me!  It's too bad for Nodoka (that's his mom)
that he's not a girl.  If he was he'd be a better Demon Hunter than I ever
could be. (Sigh).  Oh well, no sign of demons yet.  I'm starting to think
that this vacation might not be so bad...  Now if only there's another guy
as cute as Ranma here (sigh)."  

	Yohko stopped writing for a moment, thinking of something to write
when she heard a knocking on the window.  She looked up and almost
screamed.  There was Ranma hanging upside down in front of the window.  He
was gesturing for her to open the window.  Slowly she got up and slid the
window open.
	"Can I come in?" he asked, "There's somethin' I need t' talk t'
you 'bout."
	"Uh, yeah sure," she said.  <What's going on here?> she wondered
silently, stuffing the diary under her pillow.  <The man of my dreams is
asking to come into my room through the window and we're engaged.  There's
definitely some thing wrong!>

***

	Akane left the bathroom just as Azusa dashed in.  She smiled at
the young girls antics.  <I wonder why her parents let her come with
Yohko?> she thought absently.  Out of habit Akane headed upstairs towards
her room..  <Oop's,> she thought as she reached the top, <I forgot, Yohko
and Azusa are staying there.  And I'm staying in the dojo...with Ranma.>  
	Akane was still blushing as she made her way out the door and
towards the dojo.  As she walked across the yard to the dojo Akane caught
a faint movement out of the corner of her eye.  Turning around she saw
Ranma hanging off the roof and knocking on her bedroom window.  Her eyes
widened in shock as she saw him climb into her room through the window.
	"Ranma no baka," she cursed quietly.  "What do you think you're
doing?"

***

	"So, um, what did you want to talk about, Ranma,"  Yohko asked as
she sat cross legged on her futon.
	"Well, um," Ranma stuttered, blushing and placing his hand behind
his head in embarrassment, "it's 'bout our engagement."

<Flashback
	Ranma and Akane slipped into the main room together, no longer
holding hands--there was no reason to alert their fathers to their new
relationship, nor did they want to antagonize Ranma's mother.  The couple
found the entire family, as well as Yohko and Azusa, waiting for them.
Ranma gulped at the sight of the assembled eyes staring at them.  He
glanced at Akane who gave him what he guessed was a reassuring smile, he
smiled back, just as nervously.  
	Nodoka gestured imperiously for them to take their seats.  Yohko
had a smile on her face as she looked at Ranma.  It was embarrassed and
slightly apologetic.  <Somethin's gonna happen and Yohko ain't too happy
'bout it.>  He glanced at Akane and she took his hand under the table and
gave it a quick squeeze.  Then Nodoka began speaking.
	"It has come to my attention that my son considers his engagements
to Akane Tendo and Ukyo Kuonji to be matters of honor," she said.  At that
Akane glared at Ranma for a moment but upon looking at his sorrowful face
she sighed and looked away.  "It is my decision, then," Nodoka continued,
"to engage Yohko Mano to my son as well.  Should Ranma choose any one of
these girls over the other two, reparations will be made to the
appropriate families without any loss of honor to him."  As the family
filed out some of them stopped to speak to Ranma.  Soun was first.  
	"Ranma," he sobbed, you must choose Akane!"  Genma was next.  
	"It is your duty," he pronounced, "as the heir to the Saotome
School of Anything Goes Martial Arts, to join with the Tendo School of
Anything Goes Martial Arts."  
	Finally Nodoka approached Ranma.  She hugged her son fiercely and
whispered in his ear:  "Should you choose anyone other than Yohko-san, I
will no longer consider you my son."
End Flashback>

	"You don't want to marry me, ne?"  Yohko asked.
	"Nani!"
	"Give a girl _some_ credit!" Yohko smiled, "I saw the way you
looked at Akane-san when she walked in after our sparring match."
	"Wh-who s-said a-anythin' 'b-bout Ak-Akane," Ranma stuttered.
Yohko just looked at him.  Ranma blushed mightily under her gaze.  
	"I know you didn't come here just to tell me you didn't want to
marry me," Yohko smiled.  "What else did you want to talk about."
	"Um, well, I k-kinda w-wanted t' know if y-you'd m-marry me?" he
stuttered.  Yohko just stared at him, shocked to the core.
	"Wait a sec," she said, "I didn't you just say that you _didn't_
want to marry me?"
	"Well, yeah, but..."
	"But what?" she snapped, "either you love me or you don't, which
is it?"
	"I don't love you, but..."
	"Then I'm not going to marry you," Yohko smiled, trying to ignore
her breaking heart, "now was there anything else?"
	"Um, well, I was kinda wonderin'," he said, "your bein' a girl an
all..."
	"Get to the point Ranma," Yohko muttered.  
	"I-I w-was wonderin' i-if ya h-had a-any advice o-on h-how I
c-could, maybe, deal with Ak-kane..." he stuttered.  Yohko giggled and
Ranma blushed even more.
	"So, how far have you gotten with her?"  Yohko asked, lying down
on the futon, chin in her hands.  Ranma just blushed.  <I never knew I guy
could get that _red_,> she thought trying to stifle a giggle.  Ranma
mumbled something in response.  "What was that?"  Yohko asked, "I couldn't
hear you."
	"We kissed," Ranma said a little louder, "once..."
	"Is that _it_?" Yohko asked incredulously.  Ranma could swear that
his face was about to burst into flame.  "Well," Yohko continued, "here's
what you've got to do..."
	Ranma finally left the room when Azusa came back from the
bathroom.  The last words he heard as he jumped down from the roof were
Yohko telling Azusa:  "...his face was so red, I swear it could light up
half of Tokyo!"  He could hear the laughter from Akane's room all the way
back to the dojo.

***

	Yohko waited for Azusa to climb into bed before taking out her
diary again.  Using a flashlight so that she could see in the darkened
room, Yohko began writing again.

	"Well, diary, _that_ was an interesting visit.  Ranma decided to
drop by, _literally_, he came in through the window (isn't that romantic?
Sigh).  Anyway, he wanted to talk about our engagement, I was really
hoping that he wanted to marry me, but deep down I know he's really in
love with Akane (Sigh).  
	"To top it off he wanted some help getting closer to her (Men can
be _SOOOOO_ dense sometimes!  Imagine, asking _me_ to help him get another
girl!  Humph.).  Of course he was _SOOOOO_ embarrassed, I thought he was
going to die right there (giggle)!  And he so _cute_ when he's
embarrassed! (Sigh).
	"Anyway, Ranma may be cute, but he's _totally_ clueless when it
comes to girls!  I mean, here he's been, living with his True Love (sigh)
for over a year now, and he's only kissed her _ONCE_!  And that was
_TODAY_!  I just had to set the poor guy straight!  I think I embarrassed
him a little too much, because he started stuttering when I mentioned
French kisses, and he even got a nosebleed when I mentioned doing _it_ (I
hadn't even given him any details yet!)  It's a good thing Azusa came in
about then.  I don't think he could have taken much more!  (Honestly,
you'd think he never saw a girl naked before!).  I think I should stop
talking about Ranma now, I'm staring to get depressed (sigh).

***

	Akane decided to wait outside the dojo for Ranma's return.  <I
won't hit him,> she thought, seething with anger, <I won't hit him.  I
won't hit him.>  She repeated the phrase like a litany over and over in
her mind.  <I'm going listen, _calmly_, to what he has to say first,> she
thought, <_then_ I'm going to hit him.>

***
	The lights in the dojo were off, but the moonlight was bright
enough for Ranma to make his way to the dojo entrance.  There, in front of
the doorway, stood Akane dressed in her yellow pajamas, the moonlight
glinting off of her glossy black hair, and giving her face a touch of
mystery.  <Cute doesn't begin to describe her,> Ranma thought, <beautiful
would be a better word...>   Ranma just stared at his fiancee for a
moment, drinking in the sight.  Then his consciousness took in her tapping
foot, her folded arms, and her glaring eyes.  <Uh-oh,> he thought,
gulping, <I'm dead.>
	"Um, hi, Akane," he said.
	"Hello Ranma," she said pleasantly.  <Too pleasantly,> he thought.
	"I'm gonna go inside an' set up my futon, OK?" he said.  He could
feel her eyes following him as he walked around her and into the dojo.
Just before he stepped into the dojo doorway Akane spoke.
	"Did you have a good time with your new iinazuke?" she asked,
frost coating her voice.  Ranma froze like a deer caught in a pair of
headlights.  <Urk,> he thought, <I'm dead.>  "Well did you?" Akane asked
as she walked up behind him.  <Just play it cool, Ranma,> he thought to
himself.
	"What're ya talkin' 'bout Akane?" he asked innocently.  Akane
grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him around to face her.
	"I saw you go into the bedroom," she hissed, "and I know you were
alone 'cause I saw Azusa going into the bath just as I left.  So don't
play stupid with me Ranma, I know you too well for that!"
	"All right!  All right!" he said, raising his hands in surrender,
"you're right.  I did go t' see Yohko."  At this Akane pulled out her
mallet from Hammerspace.  "But it ain't what you think!" Ranma continued
eyeing her mallet, "I just wanted t' talk t' her!"  Akane's eyes narrowed
suspiciously, but her mallet disappeared.  
	"So what _exactly_ did you talk about?" Akane asked, her fingers
twitching.
	"Um, well," Ranma stuttered, "we, um, talked 'bout the
engagement..."
	"And..." Akane prompted, she could almost feel her hand curl about
the wooden handle of her mallet.  Ranma began to sweat.  <I ain't gonna
tell her 'bout all that stuff Yohko was talkin' 'bout,> he thought
frantically, <hell, I ain't tellin' _anybody_ 'bout that stuff!>
	"Um, well, we agreed that her an' me ain't gettin' married-"
Ranma was interrupted by Akane's fierce hug all thoughts of flattening
Ranma forgotten.  
	"Oh, Ranma!" Akane sighed, "that's wonderful!"  Unprepared for
this kind of emotional display from Akane, Ranma hesitantly hugged her
back.  <Yeah,> he thought grimly, <one iinazuke down, one okanomiyaki
chief, one violent amazon, and one crazed gymnast to go.>  Reluctantly
Ranma pushed Akane away.
	"Don't celebrate yet Akane," he said, "we still have Ukyo,
Shampoo, and Kodachi t' deal with.  I've got a bad feelin' that they ain't
gonna be as nice as Yohko 'bout things."  <Not to mention Mom,> he thought
despairingly.  Akane reached up and touched his cheek with her hand.
	"Don't worry about it, Ranma," she whispered, "I'll be with you to
help work things out."  Ranma smiled in response and bent down to kiss
her.  The two stood there kissing in the moonlight completely oblivious to
everything around them.

***

	The night was dark, the moon was high, and Ryoga was snoring like
a chainsaw.  (Author's note:  Bet you thought I forgot about him didn't
you ^_^ )  His allies, however, had no need of sleep...
	"What shall we do about this... Ranma Saotome?" asked the avian
Tzenietch.
	"We kill him," boomed the armored Girikunai.
	"That may prove... more difficult than we anticipated," the
rock-like Golem rumbled.
	"What doesss that mean?" hissed the serpentine Yuan-ti.
	"Our host is somewhat, unusual for a human," Golem answered, "he
possesses incredible martial arts skills, nearly limitless endurance and
stamina, and abilities that could only be considered supernatural.  Any
one of us would be hard pressed to defeat him, and from what I have
gleaned from his memories, he is not unique in the area that we are
approaching.  In fact, martial artists of his caliber are considered
commonplace, and while he _is_ one of the more powerful, this Ranma
Saotome _is_ the best, having defeated our host and several others nearly
without fail."
	"We mussst find thisss Ranma Sssaotome," Yuan-ti hissed, "and
tessst hisss ssskillsss."
	"How can we do that when we must follow this _baka_ to the four
corners of the earth?!" asked a frustrated, Girikunai.
	"Have you forgotten," cackled Tzenietch, "we are the Four Masters!
We command the Horde!  Why not send one of them to test this Ranma
Saotome."
	"You must truly have the brain of a bird Tzenietch!" laughed
Girikunai, "we cannot summon the Horde!  Not unless you've found a way to
break the seals that those damned Demon Hunters placed on us!"
	"We need not sssummon the entire Horde," Yuan-ti said
thoughtfully, "between the four of usss we ssshould have enough power to
ssslip a sssingle demon through the sssealsss."
	"Make it a demon of Lechery and Lust," Golem smiled, "I have the
perfect candidate for a host..."

***

	Breakfast at the Tendo's was a somewhat subdued affair.  Ranma was
picking at his food again, occasionally glancing at Akane, Yohko, or
Kasumi.  Akane was also picking at her food, glancing every so often at
Ranma or Kasumi.  Both were conspicuously silent this morning.  Kasumi was
smiling, as usual, but every time she glanced at Ranma or Akane a glint of
_something_ came to her eye.  Nodoka was all but glaring at her son and
his fiancee, the former having flatly refused to sit next to Yohko,
preferring to sit in his usual place by Akane.  Soun and Genma were
glaring at _Yohko_.  Yohko, however, was sitting in-between Nodoka and
Azusa, actually _smiling_ at Ranma and Akane, and ignoring the glares she
received from the adults at the table.  Azusa, on the other hand, was
ignoring _everybody_ and concentrated on eating the meal before her.
<What the hell is going on here!>  Nabiki thought, confused, <I understand
Dad and Mr. Saotome glaring at Yohko, they see her a the biggest threat to
Ranma and Akane; but why in the world is Yohko _smiling_ at those two!  I
know she's attracted to him, she should be scowling at them like Dad and
Mr. Saotome are scowling at her!  And what's with Ranma, Akane, and
_Kasumi_!  Something must have happened...AND I MISSED IT!!!>  "ARRGH!!!"
Suddenly Nabiki realized that everyone was now looking at _her_!
	"Is everything all right Nabiki-chan?" Kasumi asked.
	"Uh, yeah, everything's fine," Nabiki said.  Everyone looked at
her oddly for a moment before returning to their food.  Most of them just
figured that the stress of living in the Tendo Dojo had finally caught up
with her.  After a couple of silence, Nabiki spoke again.  
	"So what's with the two of you?" she asked, looking at Ranma and
Akane, "you two have been acting weird all morning."  Akane and Ranma
exchanged glances then returned to contemplating their plates, but not
before glancing at Kasumi.  <Interesting,> Nabiki thought.
	"Nothing's wrong Neechan," Akane said.
	"What makes you say something's wrong?" Ranma asked.
	"Do I look stupid?" Nabiki snorted.
	"I'm sure that whatever it is concerns Ranma and Akane," Kasumi
smiled, "Right Ranma-kun?"
	"Uh, right!"
	"And I'm sure that the two of them can take care of it
themselves," Kasumi continued, still smiling, "Right Akane-chan?
	"Um, right Oneechan!"
	<Something's up here,> Nabiki thought, scowling, <and I mean to
find out what.>

***

	"Whew!" Akane sighed as she and Ranma sat on the roof of the dojo,
"that was a close one.  I was sure Nabiki was going to dig _something_
out!"
	"Yeah," Ranma agreed morosely, "but she knows _somethin's_ up.
Won't be long 'till she figures out what."
	"That's true," Akane said, "but it's better than if she was the
one who found us this morning."  Ranma just blushed in response.

<Begin Flashback
	Ranma yawned and blinked blearily.  He tried to sit up and stretch
but he found something restraining the right side of his body and that his
right arm was completely numb.  Beginning to panic he turned to his
right...and almost fainted.  Pressed up against his side lay Akane, so
close that he could feel her soft breath against his cheek.  Aware of the
dangers of being caught in such a compromising situation, Ranma
reluctantly attempted to extricate himself from Akane's embrace.  As he
started to move, however, Akane's arms tightened about his neck and she
moaned in protest.  Ranma sighed, resigned to his fate, and relaxed in his
fiancee's embrace.  As he turned his head to face her he was enchanted by
the smile that lit her face.
	"Kawaii," he whispered unconsciously as he lift arm wrapped around
Akane's waist and he touched his lips to hers.  At the butterfly light
touch of his kiss Akane's eyes fluttered open as she began to awaken.  By
the time Akane's mind registered with situation she was in, both she and
Ranma were engrossed in their kiss.
	"Oh my!"  At the sound of the quiet exclamation Akane and Ranma
broke their kiss and looked at each other, eyes wide.  Slowly they turned
their heads to look at the origin of the sound.  Kasumi stood there, in
the open doorway, her hand over her mouth as she tried to hide a smile.
	For a timeless instant Ranma and Akane just stared at her.  Then,
with speed born of surprise and embarrassment, the couple sprang away from
each other and flew into their respective changing rooms.
End Flashback>

	"Hey Ranma!" Akane exclaimed as she gave him a gentle shove, "are
you listening to me?"
	"Huh," Ranma said, "oh, sorry Akane.  I drifted off for a moment
there.  What were you saying?"
	"Baka," Akane said under her breath.  In a normal tone of voice
she said, "I asked how things are going with your mother."
	"Not too great," Ranma sighed, "you'd think that after all we've
been through she wouldn't mind if I didn't choose th' person she wants me
t' marry, but no.  I've got t' do things her way an' marry someone who
doesn't want t' marry me either!"
	"I'm sorry, Ranma," Akane sighed as she hugged him, "I wish I
could help."
	"It's all right, Akane," Ranma said, hugging her back, "there
ain't nothin' you c'n do 'bout it.  I' jus' gonna have t' work it out on
my own."
	"Cheer up Ranma," Akane smiled, "I know we'll work it out some
how."
	"We?" he asked pulling back slightly and looking at her.
	"Yes, we," Akane said, "it took a lot of time and effort to get
the two of us together and I'm not ever going to let you get away from
me."  Wordlessly Ranma pulled her into a bone crushing hug which Akane
fervently returned.
	"Akane!  Ranma!"  Kasumi called from below.  Reluctantly the
couple released each other before answering the summons.
	"What it is it Oneechan?" Akane asked after she and Ranma hopped
down off the roof.
	"Yohko-chan wanted to talk to the two of you," Kasumi smiled.
Akane and Ranma looked at each other and shrugged, as if to say "I don't
know anything about it, do you?"  In almost perfect synchronization the
couple turned towards the house to ask Yohko what was going on.

***

	It was a fairly typical morning in the Mano household.  Madoka
Mano yawned and stretched, feeling very old as she felt every single one
of her joints pop and crack in turn.  <I'd better wake up Yohko,> she
thought after ridding herself of the stiffness of age.  At that a memory
twitched at the back of Madoka's mind.  <Oops,> she thought, <Yohko's
staying with Nodoka for a while.>  Madoka had a nagging feeling that
something was not quite right.  <I'm just worried that some demon's going
to show up with Yohko and Azusa gone, that's all,> she thought, dismissing
the feeling.  

***

	"What's up Yohko?" Ranma asked as he and Akane entered the family
room.  Yohko was sitting there, dressed in a tank top and a pair of denim
shorts, watching television.  As the couple entered she shut the TV off
and turned to face them.
	"Well, your mother wanted to take me out to see Nerima today,"
Yohko answered, "but she said she doesn't know Nerima too well, and wanted
to..."
	"I wanted to have _Ranma_ show you around," Nodoka interrupted as
she entered the room.  Yohko shrugged in apology.  
	"Where ever Ranma goes, I go," Akane smiled.
	"Fine then, Akane," Nodoka growled, "you may come too."  Ranma
sighed in relief and reached out to touch Akane's hand.  "Just remember
what I told you last night, _Ranma_," Nodoka continued, "It would be a
shame to have to fulfill my promise to you after all that we've been
through."  At Nodoka's words Ranma stiffened as if he'd been struck and
swallowed audibly; Akane glanced between her fiancee and Nodoka, worry
evident in her eyes; and Yohko sighed and buried her face in her hands.
<This is _not_ going to be a fun summer vacation,> the three teenagers
thought simultaneously.

***

	"Chikusho!" Madoka swore, "what is wrong with me!"
	"Is anything wrong Madoka?" her daughter asked.
	"No, it's nothing," Madoka replied, "I'm just worried about Yohko
and Azusa, that's all."  But it wasn't nothing and Madoka knew it.  She
could feel it in her bones that something was wrong and that Yohko was in
great danger.  
	"Excuse me daughter," Madoka said, "I've got some things that I
need to take care of."
	"But you haven't even finished your breakfast!"
	"Don't worry about it," Madoka replied, "I'll have a large lunch!"
Once she was sure she was out of her daughter's sight, Madoka raced to the
computer room.  With precision born of long years of practice, Makdoka
opened the secret chamber beneath the house and dropped inside.  The
chamber was large and dusty.  It was filled with scrolls, books,
photographs, and various odds and ends.  One of these odds and ends was
glowing.  It was a crystal sphere, set upon a tripod of silver and it was
pulsating with a greenish light.  
	"Kuso!" Madoka swore, running towards the crystal sphere.  When
she touched it, the sphere released a final pulse of green light before
projecting an image onto the far wall.  Madoka stared in fascination at a
small clearing in a forest.  In the clearing was a small black shrine
surrounded by the remains of several shattered boulders.  
	"Masaka," Madoka breathed as she saw the remains of several prayer
rings.  Madoka was motionless for only an instant, before she dashed
towards the exit of the secret chamber.  Her hands were shaking as she
picked up the telephone and dialed the new number that Nodoka had mailed
her.  
	"Ring"
	"Come on!" she whispered, "pick it up!"
	"Ring"
	"Chikusho!" she swore, "you've got to be there!"
	"Ri--Moshi moshi?" a sweet voice answered on the other side.
	"May I speak to Nodoka please?  It's a matter of grave
importance!"
	"I'm sorry, Nodoka isn't here at the moment, may I take a
message?"
	"Hai!  Tell her to call Madoka Mano as soon as she gets home.
Tell her I need to talk to her about her ring."
	"All right."
	"Domo arigato!"  With that Madoka hung up the phone.  <Chikusho!>
she thought, <the Four are lose and there's not a damn thing I can do
about it!>

to be continued...