R1/2 -- Chris Collins (1clc0772@unixstew.tstc.edu)
I've recently reread chapters 1 thru 4 to see if the story was flowing
together smoothly, and I came to realize that Miko gets WAY to emotional.
(CUTE VOICE: You not kidding.) (CHEF'S NOTE: The bitch is a psycho.) Well,
its not really something I'm going to change; I'm just surprised that I
turned Miko into some kind of emotional metronome--I didn't really intend
to. (CHEF'S NOTE: And I have to edit this crap.) I can always pick a new
editor. (CHEF'S NOTE: *growl* Fine! I'll do it.)
Ok, take it away Shampoo!
(CUTE VOICE: Shie shie! *clapclap* I get to open chapter again. And this
time I ready.
*clear throat* Stupid sewing girl desperate to find Ranma--so desperate
she challenge spooky Mousse-type to fight.
Meanwhile, stupid fanged samurai volunteer help sewing girl, but will he
grow brain stem in time? Will stupid girl live to regret?
Spooky Mousse-type meet very dangerous opponent, and he no hold back! Can
anyone defeat? Can dear husband? Stay tuned and find out.)
Whoa. Not bad. You write that yourself?
(CUTE VOICE: *a bit embarrassed* Kunou write, I edit.)
(OLD VOICE: Whoa! You edited something written by Kunou and came up with
THAT? *bows down* I now realize your true greatness, Shampoo.)
Yeah. Maybe I should make HER the editor.
(CHEF'S NOTE: WHAT!?!?!?)
-----------===================------------
| An Iron Dagger Production |
-----------===================------------
"WHAT!?!?!?" Miko was yet again horrorstricken, but this time she had an
added look of disbelief. She quickly sat up in bed using all the
collective might she could exert from her aching muscles. "But we have to
go look for him!"
"YOU are not going anywhere, and I must stay here to look after you."
Doshin calmly replaced the incense sticks on the table with new ones, then
held out one of his odd-shaped, headache-reducing berries for his daughter
to take.
"But... but, he could be badly hurt, or even...." She choked at the
second possibility.
"I am sure your guardian spirit can take care of himself, wherever he may
be." Doshin sighed, concluding that Miko was ignoring the berry--or else
she was too shocked to notice it--so he set it on the edge of the table and
turned to leave.
"But DADDY...."
He stopped in the middle of the room at his daughter's plea, but did not
turn around, or else she would have seen a tear roll down his cheek. He
lowered his head a bit and said, "I asked your guardian... Ranma to look
after you and keep you safe, and now here you are, lying in bed, battered
and bruised. Your guardian spirit has failed, and I don't want him around
you anymore. You must trust me. It is for the best." He continued walking.
Miko's eyes welled with tears, but rage momentarily overcame sadness and
she shouted, "But Guardian Spirit saved my life! Doesn't he deserve
SOMETHING for that?!"
Doshin stopped in the doorway, and for a while it seemed as though he
would say something, but he left without a word (mostly because he was too
choked to say anything).
Miko then fell back to her bed and tried not to cry.
-----------===================------------
| Writen and Directed by: |
| Christopher Lee Collins |
-----------===================------------
Reikiba sat under a tree, sword resting in his lap, and stared up at the
midnight sky. The moon had almost reached its fullest and seemed to be
smiling proudly--the samurai could almost imagine it smiling down on him.
The stars twinkled brightly, laughing to the moons thoughtful absorption.
With a sigh, he thought (CHEF'S NOTE: I've got to cut down on the opium.
The moon is winking at me and the stars are laughing.) about how good and
right it felt to have a purpose once more. He had left Japan so long ago,
thrown out by his own shogun, and he had wandered for so long in search of
a place to fit in. (OLD VOICE: Does such a place exist?) And now, upon
being given the task of guarding the cottage from an emperor wannabe, Mr.
Lee had asked him to become Miko's personal bodyguard. Perhaps his
wandering days were at an end. (NOTE: FORSHADOWING!)
The samurai smiled back at the moon, then returned to watching the
cottage. He blinked in confusion when he saw the shutters to Miko's room
open; a nude, redheaded girl carrying a cloth bundle climbed out, dropped
rather awkwardly to the ground, then limped around the house and into the
night.
Reikiba rubbed his chin and pondered the strange event, then he looked up
at the moon once more and smiled. _Yes. It IS a beautiful night to take a
walk. What better way to forget all your troubles?_ He shook his head and
chuckled. _She must very much enjoy how the cool breeze feels against the
skin._
He suddenly stood up, startled by a thought. _But it is dangerous
tonight! I must follow Miss Lee and make sure she is safe!_ He rested his
bokken on his shoulder and sprinted after her.
-----------===================------------
| Based on Characters Created by: |
| Rumiko Takahashi |
-----------===================------------
Miko hopped in place as she pushed her legs into the pair of baggy, black
trousers, one by one; she had to bite her lower lip to keep from crying out
when she finally pulled them up to her waist despite her throbbing hands'
angry protest. Afterwards, she strutted around like an angry chicken as
she blew on, kissed, and waved her hands about to calm them down. _Oh! I
wish Guardian Spirit was here to rub my hands like last time!_ She sighed
and immediately felt better with that thought in mind. (CHEF'S NOTE: Grrr!)
She quickly glanced at the strange new edition of bamboo poles that were
now spread across the Jusenkyo ponds, then at the recession of decimated
trees carved into the jungle by the unfortunate combination of her guardian
and the stranger's chi blast. She growled at nothing in particular, then
picked up the needle and thread that were lying on the crumpled
blue-and-green shirt at her feet (the one with all her sewing supplies
stored inside). She forced herself back to standing, and with a grunt and
a blur of motion, she created a red shirt with golden twists--just like her
guardian's shirt.
She set the needle down and whimpered as she started pulling the shirt
over her head. Even though it was oversized, the fabric felt like
sandpaper whenever it brushed against her skin (except that sandpaper
hadn't been invented). She yelped and danced around a bit more before she
could even find a hole to stick her arm through.
"Caw caw caw ca cacacaca!" Miko jumped at the sudden noise, and her knees
buckled at her sudden movement. She qickly poked her head through the
collar and turned around to see the dark-robed man standing in front of one
of the ponds with his arms crossed. The crow on his shoulder seemed to
be... laughing--hysterically.
The dark man smiled. "Most peculiar. If that was meant to be a dance of
seduction for my audience, I am afraid that you have proceeded rather
ungracefully." The crow folded one wing over its stomach and bellowed
loudly, eventually losing its balance and falling to the ground, rolling
with laughter. "And in all of the cases I have ever witnessed, the woman
had been taking her clothing off instead of putting them on." The crow got
to its feet and stiffled a few giggles, then cackled loudly, placing one
wing over its face and waving the other in Miko's direction.
-----------===================------------
| Ranma Saotome and Miko Lee |
| in: |
-----------===================------------
Miko instictively backed up, her face flushed with fear and embarrassment.
"W... wha... what are you talking about?"
The crow rolled around a bit more, laughing to the point of tears;
however, after a cold glance from its master, it abruptly stopped and
walked off. The dark man, returning back to the girl before him, rubbed
his chin. "I see.... My apologies. Just what are you her for?"
Before Miko could answer, they heard a rustling of leaves. Miko glanced
over her shoulder to see her father's samurai friend walking toward her.
He pointed his sword toward the dark man and asked, "Is this man going to
cause trouble for you, Miss Lee?"
"I was... I mean... he could... but...." Miko stuttered and watched
Reikiba, shocked that he should show up at such a time. He walked right by
her to stand in front of the dark man, resting his sword on his shoulder.
They both spent a few seconds sizing each other up, then the dark man
said, "You know, it is quite impolite to interrupt a private conversation."
He placed one hand, faintly glowing, on the samurai's head, spun him
around, and suggested, "Why don't you just wander off until we have
concluded our meeting." He gave Reikiba a gentle push and the samurai
wandered away, rubbing the back of his head and looking slightly dizzy
(although that could have been normal).
"Now where were we?" The dark man folded his arms again.
Miko sneered at him and took a more aggressive posture. "Well, I guess
now that you're here... I DO have a few things I want from you."
The dark man glanced toward the area of broken trees. "And would one of
those THINGS be revenge?" He turned back to see Miko's brow furrow. "Tell
me: Do you still possess the wooden idol I saw in your possession earlier?"
Miko frowned, which he could tell was a 'no'. "A pity." He grinned and
raised his glowing hands in front of him.
-----------===================------------
| NYANNIICHUAN: |
| Very Tragic Story |
| Part V |
| "Harem Girl Ranma |
| and the Clueless Samurai" |
-----------===================------------
"Eeeeeep!" Miko threw herself to the side just as a bolt of energy
unearthed the ground where she had been standing. She fell hard on her
shoulder but managed to roll to her hands and knees. She glanced at her
old shirt and the needle lying on top, then at the robed man, who was
smiling and slowly building up another energy bolt, just waiting for her to
move. He was going to play around with her for awhile.
Miko backed into a crouch, ignoring the burning and crackling of her
knees, and pounched toward her only weapon. The dark man blasted her in
the side before her feet left the ground, and Miko went tumbling several
feet away in agony.
The dark man was surprised to see his opponent still able to jump to her
feet and stagger into the jungle, although limping heavily--the blast
should have at least blew her in half. (CHEF'S NOTE: Pity.) He looked at
his hand curiously, then smiled. _This will prove to be an interesting
match._
Miko staggered behind the nearest tree before she fell to her knees,
holding her wounded shoulder and clenching her teeth as all of her muscles
started uncomfortably tingling at once. She rested her back against the
trunk and took a deep breath, then threw herself out of the way when
several long chains wrapped around her tree at various levels. The chains
tightened and the tree was crushed under the pressure; Miko bolted before
she could get caught in a rain of splinters and logs.
The dark man walked around the wreckage, but could not find the girl.
"Why not come out and face me instead of hiding like a frightened child?.
(CUTE VOICE: Maybe she not stupid?) I thought your 'guardian spirit' was
teaching you to fight." He scanned the area but saw no movement.
"And how would you know that?" The dark man sent a ball of light in the
direction of the voice. !CRASH! The whole jungle lit up and a tall tree
fell forward, but there was no feminine scream to accompany it as he had
hoped.
"I have very reliable sources." The dark man looked carefully at the spot
where the tree fell. He took a step forward and smirked, "Well, you have
my congradulations! You are lasting much longer than your 'guardian' had."
"Bastard!" (CHEF'S VOICE: Oooh. Miko with an attitude.) Miko ran to a
closer tree and the dark man fired at her. !CRASH! Two trees fell toward
each other and he heard a sharp !Aaack! which filled him with pride. She
shouted from some unknown location, "Where have you taken him?!"
"I don't know what you are talking about." The dark man sighed, quickly
getting bored with the cat-and-mouse chase, so, knowing the general area
she was in, he waved his arms outward and sent a monsterous blade of ki
energy (about 15 yards wide) into the jungle. The resulting noise could
only be compared to that of a pair of bulldozers and a wrecking ball
tearing down a house; at least a dozen trees SPLINTERED and bushes, vines,
and ferns were thrown into the air. To his pleasure, he heard a
bloodcurdling scream that echoed throughout the jungle. Within seconds,
all was quiet.
He listened carefully as he neared the new site of destruction, but he
could hear nothing; after a while, a few insects started chirping, but it
was otherwise quiet. He was slightly annoyed when he could still not find
the ellusive girl's body in the wooden remains. He exitted the destruction
and peered into the jungle. He had to get her to say something so he'd
have an idea on which direction she went. He said flatly, "I expected your
'guardian spirit' to put up more of a struggle. But, alas, I was gravely
disappointed, and I left your 'guardian spirit' dying from his wounds."
"LIAR!" Suddenly, Miko, aura blazing, dropped from a tree and landed on
the dark-robed man. They both fell to the ground, the dark man on his back
and Miko on his chest. The enraged girl shouted, "Liarliarlair...." as she
drove a flurry of punches into the dark man's face ala crude chestnut fist.
He grabbed Miko by the collar and flung her against a tree, then sent
numerous spiked balls in her direction. The girl crumpled to the ground,
all the projectiles flying safely over her, and in an incredible feat of
endurance, she managed to crawl behind a bush and out of his field of vision.
The dark man jumped to his feet and seethed with anger. He wiped his jaw
and nose and actually drew blood--no one had ever done that before! He had
to make her pay! He ran after her, growling and shooting long spikes from
his robe in a random pattern.
Miko almost blacked out from the pain--no, pain was a slap in the face
compared to what she was feeling. Her left shoulder felt like lead and she
was almost sure two ribs were broken. Her hands felt like they were in the
center of a fire, and they were covered with blood--although she had a
hunch that most of it wasn't hers. She mashed her hands into her armpits
and lumbered as fast as she could back to the ponds, fighting back the urge
to collapse. She could hear her back, as well as ever joint in her body,
popping with each step.
She sped up when her old, heaped shirt came into view. Many long, jagged
chains lept out at her, but none of them seemed to have been fired very
accurately, so she had no real problem staying out of their path. She
jumped and slid toward her sewing equipment just as the dark-robed man
stepped out of the jungle--quite unhappy.
He raised his arms and fired a sphere of energy. At the same time, Miko
reflexively started sewing a large quilt. The ball of energy collided with
the quilt and backfired. The dark man jumped into the air just before the
tree he was standing in front of vaporized; the quilt floated to the ground
in tatters and Miko was unharmed (well, no more than she already was).
She stuffed the old shirt into her own and started to get up, then jumped
back just as her adversary dropped down with some sort of talon-blades on
his feet. Miko and the dark-robed man were only separated by a few feet
now. He raised his hands together, palms outward (like in forming a
StreetFighter fireball) to deliver a point-blank ki blast to totally
obliterate the pest.
Tapping all the reserved energy she had left, Miko roared and grabbed at
her adversary's hands with lightning speed, and the dark man's energy
quickly discipated. When she paused, he realized that both his hands had
been completely encased in a hive of thread. She roared again, and the
next thing he knew, his feet were bound together as well.
Miko fell to her knees. Her head was spinning, her face was dripping with
sweat, and her muscles felt numb--which, in her opinion, wasn't an entirely
bad thing. She panted hard and tried to speak, but it was useless. Her
heart felt like it was about to explode. She gave her opponent a light
shove and he fell over.
The dark-robed man yelled into the night. His ki energy wasn't
responding--probably something in the thread--and he needed his hands to
use his weapons. _How could I be defeated like this?! And why did it have
to be HER?! This wasn't supposed to happen!_ He hissed through his teeth
for several seconds, then muttered, "You win!"
Miko, mouth gaping (for need of oxygen), nodded and slipped her needle
somewhere inside her blouse. Her hand reappeared holding a short dagger.
The dark man stared at it and growled.
She wearily crawled to his side and cut his bindings before passing out
across his lap. The dark man was a bit shocked, but then he smiled rather
peacefully (without the sinister overtones).
He gently took her by the shoulders and pulled her to his chest. Looking
into her eyes, he said, "I suppose now you will want your reward?" He
gently kissed her on the lips and her whole body began to shimmer like
starlight.
* * * * *
Doshin sat on a small mat in his room, his legs crossed, arms folded, eyes
lightly closed. Since he had begun his troubled meditaion, several more
tears had followed the path of the one he had shed outside Miko's room.
His expression seemed unrealistically devoid of emotion, but his lower lip
ocassionally trembled with sadness to prove his humanity before slipping
back into its trained, placid pattern.
_How could I make such a decision?_ He had repeated the same question
over and over, and he always followed up with the same set of
counterquestions and unresolved points, successfully leading him nowhere
but to his first question. _How could I choose between the two most
important things in my life? Why did I have to be given a choice?
_I couldn't bear to look at my own daughter when I denied her the right to
see Ranma, her own 'guardian spirit' and possibly greatest friend. How
could I dishonor such a good and noble man? He saved Miko's
life--twice--and HONOR demands that I repay him in full! I cannot just
banish him and his deeds so selfishly. But what else am I to do? If I
allow Miko to follow in her guardian's path, I could lose her forever...._
Doshin snapped out of his meditative trance when he started hearing faint
explosions. He gasped at what it might mean, especially with HIM walking
around somewhere out there. His first instinct was to check on his daughter.
He threw open the door to her room (quietly). Through the darkness, he
could see that she was fast asleep in her bed, unawakened by the noise. He
was getting ready to close the door when he noticed that the shutters to
her window were wide open.
He hurried to Miko's bedside and paled. He pulled back the covers to
reveal a pile of clothes and a stuffed ball with red string for hair (meant
to be her head). He stared absently at the poor representation of his
daughter, then at the open window.
* * * * *
Doshin arrived at the site of the battle in a panic, but the two
combatants were gone. Twilight, who had reached the scene ahead of her
master, was sniffing around the uncanny destruction that had been left behind.
Many strong trees had been practically leveled and, in a few places, there
were wide craters that had been smoothly dug out by some tremendous force.
Doshin didn't want to think about what may have happened to cause such a
mess, but he knew who was responsible--few individuals possessed the power
to wreak such havok. He turned this way and that in search of some sign as
to where his midnight-cloaked nemisis could have gone, but couldn't find
one and didn't expect to.
He also searched in vain for his daughter, having found her dagger
embedded in the ground. His heart beat faster and he called her name
several times with little result, then clamped his eyes shut in
hopelessness. Things did not look good. Perhaps he was going to lose her
anyway. Twilight whimpered and stared pitifully at her master.
* * * * *
As Ranma started to awaken, he became aware that he was being held in
someone's arms. He blinked his eyes open and mumbled, "Where am I?"
"Shhhh." Akane, in nothing but a sheer nightgown, was sitting up
straight, cradling her fiancee's still sleep-ridden body, holding his head
against her chest and draping an arm across his shoulders. She smiled
warmly down to him, and all he could focus on was her beautiful face.
"It's alright, Ranma. You were just having a bad dream."
He felt relieved by her voice. He stared into Akane's cool amber eyes and
nuzzled his head between her breasts; she didn't seem to mind and he felt
comfortable doing it. Everything seemed as it should have been. He
breathed, "You never showed up in my dream, and it felt... wrong."
Akane giggled and patted Ranma on his chest. She rested her own head on
his and whispered, "That's so sweet. You're such an angel." Ranma almost
gasped, then Akane cooed, "I love you."
Ranma sighed with relief at finally hearing her say that. He rested a
hand on the side of her face and she rubbed against it. He turned his head
up to brush his lips against hers, then whispered back, "I love you too."
A faint and nagging voice in the back of his head told him that his words,
and even the situation he was in, were somehow askew and out of place, that
he and his tending lady should be conflicting instead of reconciling, but
he felt peaceful nevertheless. He ignored the small voice until it went
away. He was tired and didn't want to fight anymore.
Akane took the initiative and threw her lips gently over his; Ranma let
her play with his mouth while he relaxed into the kiss. He realized that
she was slowly inching her hand from his chest to his stomach and beyond.
He chuckled out of the side of his mouth, "What're ya doing?" Akane just
pressed her lips harder.
(CHEF'S NOTE: Oh, PLEASE!) (CUTE VOICE: Sooooo romantic. But he with
wrong person.) (OLD VOICE: Well, I donno about you, but I wouldn't mind
seein more.) !SWIPE SWIPE! (OLD VOICE: Ha ha! Missed me!)
* * * * *
A sleeping Ranma-chan, wearing only a skimpy harem-girl's outfit
(practically a string bikini), was curled up in the arms of a delicately
built girl with a light complexion and long, luxurious, black hair; she was
wearing an equally-revealing suit. The girl was sitting up on the edge of
a couch, running her fingers through Ranma's fiery-red hair and,
ocassionally, across her smooth, supple lips. The girl sighed. "She's so
CUTE," she said with more sincerity than she'd ever put into anything--in
fact, Ranma was the most ravishing creature she'd ever seen in her life.
She glanced up at Salon, who was standing a few feet away with her arms
crossed and a mouth curved in a satisfying smile. The girl turned back to
the woman in her arms and sighed dreamily as Ranma lightly moaned and
shifted more snuggly against her, wrapping an arm lazily about her neck.
The girl giggled, "And she's SO attractive when she sleeps!"
A bit of drool seeped from the side of Ranma's mouth as she slowly slid
her hand down her figure toward her thighs; the girl drooled as well as
she took in the sight. (CHEF'S VOICE: OH MY GOD!) She leaned her head
forward to give the sleeping beauty an awakening, and was surprised when
the redhead reached out with her tongue and licked her on the lips. (CHEF'S
NOTE: SHIT, RANCHAN! Wake the hell up!)
"Huh?" Ranma blinked her eyes open into a blur of color. She focussed on
the head of dark hair and the warm smile and smiled back.
Then Ranma's wits returned to her in a rush. "Waaaaaa!" She tried to
jump away, but the scantly-clad girl held her tighter.
The girl pleaded, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you!"
Ranma continued to struggle. "Lemme go! What're ya doin?" She
immediately stopped squirming when she realized two things: not only was HE
in GIRL form, but he/she was wearing something much more revealing than her
Chinese outfit. She threw her arms across her breasts, suddenly feeling
violated. "What's goin on?"
The girl looked worried, but Salon had expected this reaction. The
witchwoman put her face uncomfortably close to Ranma's and hissed, "You are
in the eastern living quarters of Emperor Xi Fang's personal harem, and
from this point on, you belong to the harem."
Ranma slapped aside the girls arms and snapped, "Hey! I'm a guy! There
ain't NO WAY I'm joinin a stupid harem!" Salon drew back, a bit stunned;
she'd anticipated a protest but not claim to manhood. All of the other
girls in the room turned to stare at the commotion. The girl looked hurt,
as well as confused, when Ranma jumped up and snarled in disgust, "I'm
gettin outa here."
Salon grabbed Ranma by the arm (after a quick battle of chestnut fists)
and tossed her back into the harem girl's lap. The girl exhaled a great
deal of air on impact but was otherwise overjoyed to have her 'cutie' back;
she threw one arm firmly around Ranma's waist and another over her chest.
Salon spat, "Do you really think you can distract me with such a weak
ploy? What do you take me for?" (OLD VOICE: Kodachi?)
The girl restraining Ranma (well, sot of) whispered, "I don't know what
you're talking about, Cutie. I dressed you myself and I can guarantee that
you're all woman." Ranma suddenly went rigid in embarrassment. The girl
took the advantage and pulled her closer.
Salon pointed a demanding finger an Ranma (NOTE: And don't you DARE say it
old man!) (OLD VOICE: Aw, c'mon. Pleeeeaaase.). "You had better behave
yourself and do as you're told or..." From out of nowhere, she pulled out
the small, wooden efigy of the phoenix. "...you're little friend won't
live to see another sunrise."
Both Ranma and the girl blinked in confusion. Ranma shrugged her
shoulders as best she could. "Uh, that's Ok. It kinda gives me the creeps
anyway."
The girl looked at it critically. "That thing's alive?"
Salon slapped her head into her palm. "No, you fools. The person who was
last carrying it."
Ranma thought about it, then looked terrified. "Miko?"
Salon resumed her usual dominant, sly pose and smiled. "And unless you do
everything I say, I will personally kill her." Ranma gulped as the
witchwoman walked off.
The girl hugged Ranma lovingly. "Don't worry. Being in the harem isn't
that bad. You'll eventually learn to like it." Ranma groaned, and actual
steam could be seen rising from her forehead. The girl spoke more softly,
trying to calm her cutie down: "I can understand if you're not into men;
I've got friends who can cover for you if you want." Ranma gasped. The
girl whispered directly into Ranma's ear, "It's supposed to be a secret,
but if you're not recieving enough of the right attention, some of the
girls ocassionally get together at dawn in the western wing and..." She
cupped her hands around Ranma's ears and lowered her voice even more.
Ranma stiffened, facefaulted, then fell sideways in shock. The girl looked
down and blinked a few times. "Cutie? Are you alright?"
* * * * *
The two masked guards waiting outside opened the doors to the 'recreation
room' as if they expected someone important to come out--which someone did.
(They needed to develop a sixth sense for that sort of thing since guards
were never posted inside the room.) Salon strolled through the doorway
carrying the ugly little phoenix statue triumphantly in front of her,
beaming with joy at the fact that she had such a powerful item in her
possession (and was brandishing it haphazardly). She laughed at the
gullibility and stupidity of Miko's 'guardian'. _She should cause plenty
of trouble for 'His Highness'._ She hummed a happy tune as she walked to
the end of the hall, made a left, and disappeared from sight.
When Salon's footsteps had faded completely, a red-and-black blur whirled
past the guards, and before they knew what happened, they fell to the
ground, bound and gagged, in cacoons of rope and thread. Miko crouched in
front of the guards and checked their bindings, then glanced over her
shoulder and snorted, "'Won't see another day' indeed."
* * * * *
"Wait, Cutie!"
"Leave me alone! I gotta think of a way to get outa here!" Ranma stormed
out of the eastern wing and into an enormous room with a large, rectangular
pool and dozens of couches. All of the girls occupying the couches turned
to Ranma as if she were about to commit a heinous crime. Ranma snapped,
"What're you all lookin at?"
"Pssst."
"Huh?" Ranma stopped in mid-step and looked around.
A familiar voice whispered, "Over here, Guardian Spirit."
Ranma noticed that one of the double doors to her left was slightly
cracked. She inaudibly muttered "Miko?" and strode to within a couple of
yards from the door. He could see Miko's fiery hair and sparkling blue
eyes through the crack, and she almost cried her name out, but Miko told
her to keep her voice down.
Ranma turned her back to the door and whispered over her shoulder, "So
where'd you come from?--not that I'm complainin or nothin." She smiled at
the staring harem girls and they turned away one-by-one.
"I'll tell you later. I'm here to rescue you?"
Ranma's face brightened. "Hey, great! So when're we leavin?"
Miko sighed, "Not just yet." Ranma looked startled. "I have to do
something first. You're just going to have to stay here until I get back."
Ranma looked ill.
"Cutie!" The black-haired concubine dashed out of the eastern wing and
headed straight for Ranma. "I'm sorry Cutie! I know your under a lot of
stress."
The girl reached Ranma, who seemed dizzy, and took her arm to hold her up.
"Cutie, are you alright? Is something wrong?" When Ranma seemed
unwilling or unable to respond, the girl suggested, "Maybe you'll feel
better if you eat something."
Ranma perked up at the mention of food. Not only did she enjoy eating,
but she could use anything to stall for time (and keep her away from her
*shiver* harem duties). She trusted Miko knew what she was doing.
The girl looked pleased with her new friend's response. She bowed
slightly. "My name's Komiki."
"Ranma."
Komiki pulled Ranma by the hand. "Follow me."
* * * * *
Miko followed the route of long corridors, attempting to trace the path
Salon took. She quickly tied up the guards she met along the way to clear
the hall for her return. Luckily, as late as it was, most of the sentries
were less attentive as the need for sleep kicked in.
She kept a steady pace, ocassionally having to backtrack when she thought
she was going the wrong way. The joints in her knees, back, and left
shoulder crackled and popped from time to time, but she held herself boldly
nonetheless--at least the cuts and bruises on her hand were gone and her
ribcage was in one piece again (so why complain--it could be worse).
She was starting to tire and would need to rest for a short while, but at
least she had finally found the witchwoman. Miko sat on the floor against
a wall around a corner where she wouldn't be seen and watched her target.
* * * * *
Salon stood in the middle of the large antechamber facing the main doors
to the palace, her arms folded, weight ocassionally shifting from one foot
to the other; it seemed she was waiting for someone, and she looked a
little impatient.
In a short while, a pair of guards outside opened the doors to admit two
figures walking closely, side-by-side: Lon and Liu-Sing. Salon was a bit
puzzled as to why Lon was wearing a ragged strip of cloth over his mouth
and nose instead of his mask. The robed giant seemed to be leaning on the
colorful clown for support, and the clown seemed persistant to hold his
friend up. Lon looked dazed.
Salon spat, "It's about time you showed up, harlequin. What happened?"
Liu-Sing led Lon to a couch against the wall and strained to set him down.
"Lon is having a rather bad day. He drank himself into a depression again."
The big man sighed and slumped his shoulders. Salon looked mildly
concerned; she rested a hand on his shoulder and soothed, "You have got to
stop doing this to yourself, Lon. I won't be able to cover for you very
much longer."
Lon glanced at her and patted her hand. "I know. Thank you." He
returned to sulking over something.
Salon became coldly serious again. She faced Liu-Sing and stated, "We
have work to do..." She glanced at Lon, who took no notice. "And time is
fleeting."
Liu-Sing nodded and they both left through a portal next to Lon's couch.
Miko cursed--she'd have to find another way around.
She got up and started to backtrack the hallways, but then she heard a
voice inside her head: "Follow them through the portal. I will keep the
giant from seeing you."
Miko looked worried and whispered, "But won't you be taking a big risk?"
"I'll worry about that. Now, go quickly."
Miko shrugged and ran past Lon and into the hallway; he didn't even twitch
at her presence.
* * * * *
All the girls around the table watched in shock as Ranma ravenously
vanquished her second bowl of steamed rice--all the girls, that is, except
for Komiki, who actually found it attractive.
The girl to Komiki's right muttered, "She's GORGEOUS, but she eat's like
she's pregnant."
Komiki sighed dreamily, "She's so... animalistic." (CHEF'S NOTE: Oh my
god, Ranchan, they're sizing you up.) (CUTE VOICE: Run, Dear Husband! Run
while you still can!)
Murmurs started passing across the table: "How can she eat like that
without getting fat?" "Her stomach is so flat." "Her body looks so
well-built." "How does she manage to keep herself so shapely?" "Her breasts
are larger than mine." "Red hair is so exotic!" "I wonder if...." Komiki
interrupted, "It matches." All the girls looked enviously at the brunette.
(NOTE: Do I really need to explain?)
The small, slender blonde sitting by Ranma finally decided to ask the
newcomer (no pun intended) a direct question: "How DO you manage to stay in
such great shape?"
Ranma dropped the bowl of almost-finished rice, and everyone drew back a
bit, afraid that they had somehow offended her; Ranma, her head wobbling a
bit, smiled at the questioner and poked her playfully on the nose. "I git
plenty ov escercise."
The girl to Komiki's left asked hesitantly, "How much of Salon's
Uninhibitor (it's just alcohol without the taste or smell) did you put in
that rice?" Komiki smiled and held up a clear, glass bottle (that
resembles a whiskey bottle) half-full of an equally clear liquid (looks
like Sprite). The girl gasped, "Half! Don't you think that was a bit
much?" Komiki giggled. (CHEF'S VOICE: Damnit! They're gonna take
advantage of him when he's plastered! Those sluts!)
The girl talking to Ranma asked shyly, "Could you show us some of your
exercises... that is, if you don't mind?"
Ranma bowed and slurred, "Ssshur, no problem." She rose to standing and
stumbled, but caught herself on the small girl's shoulders. "Oooops,
ssorry bout that." She stood up and walked to an open area where she had
plenty of room. Komiki glared at the small girl with the flickering of a
jealous rage; the girl just smiled.
Ranma took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and began a number of katas
that she/he had been devloping and practicing for nearly a month. She
crossed her wrists, palms facing outward, then arched her arms up and
outward as if she were encompassing the sun. She swept low, kneeling to
touch the floor. When she rose back to her feet, she began a series of
punches, kicks, feints, and dodges that hardly seemed like they were meant
for fighting at all. In fact, the graceful, continuous motions of Ranma's
body looked like the exotic dancing the harem girls performed for the
Emperor and his guests.
Everyone "ooooh"ed and "aaaah"ed at Ranma's proficiency. Some of the
girls sighed dreamily and a few were actively drooling while Ranma did
backbends (dodges), graceful arm sweeps (parries), and everyone's favorite,
the high kick in the air (paricularly over the head). (CHEF'S NOTE: EEEW!
PERVERTS!!!)
Komiki's mouth opened and closed like a fish. She glanced at the bottle
in her hand and took a swig.
(CHEF'S NOTE: I swear, if this is going to turn out to be a lemon, you can
find yourself a new editor!) (CUTE VOICE: If this lemon, Shampoo KILL!)
(NOTE: *gulp*) (OLD VOICE: If you feel it's necessary, I'm behind ya all
the way, Sonny!)
* * * * *
Lon sighed heavily and buried his face into his hands with a deep despair
that would creep back into his soul whenever things started going wrong for
him. He wasn't in the mood to notice things; if he was, he would have
noticed the dark-clad samurai with the black, sleeping crow perched on his
left shoulder wandering in his direction from somewhere in the back of the
palace.
Reikiba rested his bokken on his right shouder and stopped in front of the
slumped form on the couch. "Excuse me, but I appear to be somewhat lost.
Could you please give me directions?"
Lon did not even look up, and in all likelyhood, didn't hear the question.
He just said flatly, "Go away."
The samurai looked curiously at the giant, then took a seat beside him on
the couch. "I can tell something's bothering you. Would you like to talk
about it?"
Lon hissed through his teeth and was fully prepared to knock whoever it
was across the room, but then he felt the stranger rest a hand on his
shoulder; suddenly, all thoughts of violence washed out of him. He felt
like the person next to him would really listen.
With another deep sigh, Lon began his tale: "It was never easy for
me--being born DIFFERENT. I would always get picked on by groups of kids...."
Reikiba listened intently and understood.
* * * * *
Ranma obliviously finished her katas with the reverse move she started
with, ending with her wrists crossed and palms outward. She turned to her
audience and bowed unsteadily. "Eh?" She squinted in confusion to behold
that some of the girls were holding each other and others were giving her
longing looks that she/he came to expect from Shampoo, Kunou, Kodachi, and
even Ukyou (CHEF'S NOTE: You better believe it, Sugar!).
Komiki suddenly broadsided Ranma from some obscure direction, latched onto
her, and started raining her with kisses. Ranma tried to push the girl
away, but she ended up holding her tighter to keep her swaying balance.
Komiki jumped into Ranma's arms and was about to deliver a long, passionate
kiss when a new girl burst through the door (actually, hanging beads) to
the room and panted, "His Highness has waken up! Everybody get to their
posts!" She frantically ran back to the 'recreation room' and the others
quickly followed.
Komiki whined like a spoiled child, then swung out of Ranma's arms and ran
through the doorway. Ranma shugged and asked no one in particular
(atually, no one), "Whaz goin on? Wherd evryone go?" She swaggered past
the beads to see what the girls were so excited about.
Ranma looked around in confusion as she walked through the spacious room;
all the girls were settling themselves on couches in various suggestive
positions, as if they were posing for an enormous photo in a glamour
magazine. She finally stopped by the pool and glanced at the main doors,
trying to remember something.
Ranma gasped sharply when an arm slipped around her waist from behind and
a hand firmly cupped a breast. A deep, masculine voice soothed, "I thought
I knew all the girls in my harem, yet sometimes my mind slips. I apologize
if you have been neglected."
Ranma's eyes became red slits and her battle aura shimmered slightly. "Le
go ov me, JERK!" She slapped his hands away, spun around, and threw a
chestnut fist at him; the attack was poorly executed (due to the dizziness
of spinning around) and the Emperor deflected it easily.
He bellowed, "You have spirit! I like that!" All the other girls made a
mental note. Ranma fumed at him, her chest heaving harshly. The Emperor
looked at her critically, almost positive he recognized her from somewhere,
but he lustfully dismissed the thought. Instead, he turned, let his long,
gray robe drop from his shoulders (underneath, he was wearing only a pair
of dark gray, billowy pants), and commanded, "Give me a backrub and I shall
see if you are worthy of my attention." He walked to a raised matress at
the far end of the pool, staggering slightly as his metabolism tried to
throw off the rest of Salon's sleeping potion (which means he's almost as
drunk as Ranma right now).
Ranma balled her hands into fists and her brow furrowed, but then her face
brightened into a sinister smile as she just had a quick revelation.
* * * * *
Miko crept down a flight of stairs and found the witchwoman and the clown,
as well as the Empress, inside a large room that looked like it had been
naturally carved out of the rock and earth. The trio was sitting around a
cooking fire and the witchwoman was chanting in some archaic tongue. The
room was eerily dark.
Salon held the phoenix statue over her head. "With this idol (CUTE VOICE:
I thee wed....), I have the power to ensure glorious destinies for us all!
The future will be ours!"
The Empress sighed, "Would you just get on with it! Gloating is so
unbecoming of you."
Salon sneered, "You are just jealous because you and your clown didn't get
to it first."
The Empress folded her arms. "Did you not boldly claim to me earlier
today that you would not NEED the idol?"
Liu-Sing chuckled. "I believe her original plan failed when she found
that she could not defeat 'The Dark One', so now she NEEDS the statue."
Salon groaned and ground her teeth. "I was just testing my adversary
until those readheaded brats showed up and ruined everything!"
The Empress snorted. "More likely he was getting ready to deliver the
final blow and the brats distracted him long enough for you to get away."
Salon turned red with anger, but could think of no retort.
Liu-Sing chuckled and rose to his feet. "Call me when you two are done
insulting each other." They didn't even hear him as they badgered on.
The clown took a few steps away from the fire and shook his head. _Two
fools. The gods only know how I have put up with them this long._ He
glanced back at the two, bickering like children, then at the idol resting
on the ground. He palmed a throwing knife into each hand. _I cannot allow
the future of this land to lie in such unstable hands. One swift strike
and I can return the idol to one more suited to the task."
Suddenly, the fire went out and all was dark.
* * * * *
A bead of sweat rolled down Miko's face as she glanced around the corner
and thought about what she had to do. (CHEF'S NOTE: Does it involve
bursting into tears?) She backed away and finished tying her hair in a
ponytail, completing her transformation. Now she'd have to become her
guardian spirit's guardian spirit, as well as her own.
She peeked around the corner once more. She'd have to be fast if she was
going to rush in and get out alive; it would be difficult, but she had made
a promise. She closed her eyes and prepared herself. When she opened her
eyes, she gasped as she caught the glint of sharp metal in the harlequin's
hands.
She quickly swept her arms outward and the room went completely black.
* * * * *
The Empress shuffled around in the darkness. "What is going on?"
There was a noise in the back of the cave, like someone had just kicked a
small rock. Then, the same sound came a little closer. The Empress
yelled, "Who's there?"
In a few heartbeats, all the torches along the walls lit up. Liu-Sing was
holding a terrified redheaded girl off the ground by the ankle; Miko was
holding the phoenix statue in the crook of her left arm. Salon had not
moved from her sitting position; her arms were swept outward. The Empress
was looking around, slightly confused.
Liu-Sing smiled. "Well well. If it isn't that rice-picking girl's twin
bodyguard." (OLD VOICE: Saotome School of Anything Goes Final Attack:
Rice-picking Girl's Twin Bodyguard!)
Salon folded her arms and stared up thoughtfully. "It can't be. I left
her with the harem. That would mean this is... the rice-picking girl?"
Somehow, the thought seemed strange, even to her.
Liu-Sing looked Miko up and down, perplexed, then turned to Salon. "What
is SHE doing inside the palace?" Miko looked like a fish out of water with
no hope of going back in.
While the clown wasn't paying attention, Miko's arms blurred and a mound
of thread assaulted his face. He yelped and staggered back in surprise,
dropping his captive painfully on her shoulder. Salon and Chun-Mae were
stunned by the unusual fighting technique.
While Liu-Sing struggled with his web-like bindings, Miko got to her feet
and bolted for the door. Salon instantly pounced from sitting and landed
in front of the door on cat's feet. "Tell me how you got inside the
palace, little one!"
Miko backed up and looked around for another way out. "I... I... I..."
She noticed that the Empress was sneaking up behind her, ready to grab her.
Miko stared Salon straight in the eyes and said, "It's none of your
business, creep!" (CUTE VOICE: So now she use husband's insults?)
Salon looked slightly annoyed. "You need to be taught respect, you
little...." She threw her arms out to push Miko into Chun-Mae's grasp.
Miko ducked with more speed than the witchwoman anticipated, her arms
blurred (even from Salon's point of view), and Salon's and the Empress's
hands were bound together by a network of thread. Miko quickly slipped by
them and ran down the hall with the idol in hand.
Liu-Sing had just finished pulling the bindings from his face and started
after her. Not two steps and he fell to the ground, tripped by a line of
string that had been tied to his ankes (her way of tying his shoelaces
together). The clown looked up and smiled. "Do you get the feeling that
we have missed something over the past few days."
* * * * *
Miko ran into the main antechamber in a panic before she considered the
possibility that Lon was waiting for her. She quickly glanced back at the
couch and stopped completely when she saw Lon sitting next to a familiar
fanged samurai--and he had the dark-robed man's pet crow on his shoulder.
Miko gaped in confusion.
Lon, his head hung low, seemingly unaware of everything, groaned, "And so
Sayu and a dozen other kids decided to gang up on me with swords and
flails. They said a freak like me didn't deserve to live. I had no choice
but to fight back."
The samurai patted the robed giant on the back. "I can see it from your
point, and you had the right to defend yourself."
Miko shook her head slowly and continued down the opposite hall.
* * * * *
"Ohhhh! UhHHn! I must say... ahhH-hh... I've never been handled...
Oof... by a woman... AHHhh... with such ferocity!"
All of the harem girls, thoroughly trained in giving pleasure and meeting
their Master's needs, were thoroughly shocked by the scene before them.
Regardless, they paid close attention to the new technique as a student to
a master.
Ranma drove her elbow into the middle of the Emperor's bare back while
twisting his right arm sideways in a position human arms were not meant to
go. She then pressed her forearm between his shoulderblades and twisted
his left arm over his head and out of socket. Ranma's manhandling (no pun
intended) was greeted by a procession of pops that fell into place (or
out-of-place) like dominos. She then took both his arms and twisted them
again, and his back crackled in response. (NOTE: Ranma had learned a lot
from watching Dr. Tofu when Kasumi visited.)
Miko burst through the doors and looked around frantically for her
guardian spirit. She froze when she heard what sounded like a tree limb
being snapped in two followed by a masculine grunt, though whether it was a
grunt of pleasure or a grunt of agony, she could not tell, She hesitated,
then turned in the direction of the noise to see a group of almost-naked
girls watching something.
Ranma twisted the Emperor's leg in a 300 degree angle, did the same with
his head, then folded his torso over his back before she heard her own
voice calling: "Guardian Spirit!" !SNAP! Ranma twisted her victim's arm
back to his side--she hadn't meant to do that--and looked around in
confusion. She couldn't have said anything without moving her mouth, could
she? Maybe she just learned a new technique.
All the girls turned and gasped to behold a twin readheaded girl standing
by the pool. Komiki was having blissful dreams where she stood. Ranma
turned to Miko and took a step forward, pulling the Emperor off the table
in an inhuman heap. "Hey! Miko-chan!" Ranma raised her arms to flag her
down, then noticed that she was still holding the Emperor's arm. She eyed
him coldly, threw him to the floor, and headed in Miko's direction.
Miko met Ranma halfway and gave her a big hug. All the harem girls awed
them, some of them tearful of the beautiful reunion and some disappointed
to see that she was taken.
Miko started pulling Ranma toward the door. Ranma tried to resist,
asking, "Whaztha hurry?"
Miko cried out, "You've got so save that stupid samurai warrior in the
other room! He's talking to Lon and he's going to say something stupid and
get himself killed and I know I'm not good enough to save him!"
Ranma moved away from Miko and staggered for the door. "Okiy, Miko-chan.
I'll rescu im."
Miko looked worried. "Are you alright, Guardian Spirit?"
Ranma staggered out the door, calling back, "Nver felt better." !Bonk!
"Dntworri, I'm okiy."
Meanwhile, the other girls were checking to see if their Master was still
alive. As soon as someone touched him, he sprang to his feet, untwisting
himself, as good as new. He took in a deep breath and stretched his
muscles, sending a surge of pops racing through his entire body, then he
was fine. "Oh! That felt so invigorating! I feel like a new man!"
He strode over to the redheaded, pigtailed girl standing by the pool,
gently cupped her breasts from behind, and kissed her on the neck. "I must
know your name."
Miko's battle aura instantly flared up and she screamed. She elbowed the
startled pervert in the stomach and left him in a pile of newly-made
laundry. (OLD VOICE: She definitely has to patent that move.) The harem
girls gasped.
The Emperor stuck his head out of the pile and yelled, "What's the meaning
of this!?" His new anger burned off the rest of the sleeping potion in his
system and everything became clearer to him. He stared coldly at Miko, his
own aura beginning to show. "I know you!"
Suddenly, there was a flash of light over the pool and the midnight-robed
man appeared, hovering. He looked around and said, "I hope I am not too
early." All the harem girls screamed and scattered for a hiding place.
Miko yelled, "Catch!" and tossed the statue to him. He caught it and she
ran out of the room without another word.
The dark man mused to himself, "Perhaps not."
The Emperor growled and sent the cluster of clothes flying everywhere.
"How DARE you invade my home unannounced!" (CHEF'S NOTE: Yeah! You should
tell me beforehand!) He fumed and started glowing with fire, and the dark
man smiled.
Then, to the dark man disappointment, the Emperor changed his mind and
started laughing. His fiery aura grew brighter and he slowly started
levitating off the ground. "I guess I should be grateful. You have just
saved me the trouble of trying to find you!"
The dark man shook his head in a typical here-we-go-again fashion.
* * * * *
Liu-Sing, Chun-Mae, and Salon dashed through the corridor to the main
antechamber. Salon's eyes suddenly grew wide and she yelled, "He's here!
Why now?" The other two glanced at her as they ran, awaiting some kind of
mystical explaination.
Instead, when they reached the main antechamber, Salon hastened down the
opposite corridor without a word. The other two, on the other hand,
stopped in the middle of the room when they saw Lon talking to someone
they'd never seen before--and he was definitely not a palace guard.
The samurai clenched Lon's hand and asked, "And how did that make you feel?"
Lon shook his head, still unaware as to what was going on. "I felt lousy.
I had to hit something! I had to make them pay! I had to...."
"Ah, excuse me, Lon." Liu-Sing decided to be daring, and Chun-Mae opted
to stand behind him--way behind him.
Lon looked up and saw an expression on his friend's face he rarely
saw--confusion. The harlequin pointed rather meekly in his general
direction. Lon looked to the side and his eyes narrowed.
Reikiba closed his eyes lightly and nodded, "*sigh* I know what you mean.
But you can't let these things *Ack!*" He felt a massive hand clamp around
his throat, and the next thing he knew, he was hovering above the ground,
staring into the giant's stealy, green eyes. The crow on Reikiba's
shoulder suddenly woke up with a squawk and fell over backwards.
Liu-Sing followed Salon down the corridor, yelling back, "I have to see if
the Emperor needs my assistance!"
* * * * *
Miko found her guardian spirit leaning against a wall with her eyes closed
and mouth drooling open. To make matters worse, she heard footsteps coming
down the hall. She shook Ranma furiously, crying, "What's wrong with you?
We have to get out of here!"
Ranma blinked her eyes open, stood up straight, however shakily, and
smiled sleepily. "Hiya Miko-chan. Whatzup?"
Miko tried to pull her guardian back the way they came, but Ranma
stubbornly refused to move. "Whatza hurry?"
Salon and Liu-Sing ran around the corner and into view. Miko shrieked,
and luckily they halted, but only for a second, then they charged. Miko
shrieked again, jumped forward, and sewed another giant blanket, which
threatened to wash over the clown and the witchwoman like a wave.
Salon hit the fabric with a well-dispersed chestnut fist while Liu-Sing
grabbed for the edges and folds. Together, they quickly fought the blanket
to the ground. But when they looked around, the two redheaded girls were
gone--like they just vanished. They both thought about searching, but then
they heard maniacal laughter coming from the room farther ahead (the
recreation room), so they swiftly continued their course.
* * * * *
Ranma set Miko down before they reached the main antechamber. Miko looked
forward and backwad, then scratched her head and asked, "How did you do that?"
Ranma continued down the hall. "I donno. Whaddi do?"
Miko looked back one more time to make sure they weren't being pursued,
then shrugged and followed her guardian. They both peeked into the large
room to see what was happening.
* * * * *
"How DARE you try to make a fool of me!" Lon held Reikiba at arm's length
with his other hand pulled back in a fist.
"Why should I want to do that?" The samurai had a hard, serious face. "I
want to be able to help you, to be your friend...."
The Empress was confused and startled at once. She turned to the three
guards that happened to be walking by at the time. "Do you want to take
that man to the dungeon? How about you?" She was ASKING them, which she
rarely did, but she knew that ordering them to face Lon while he was
enraged was pointless, no matter who gave the orders. As expected, the
three respectfully declined, and she understood the decision.
Reikiba quickly swiped at Lon's face with his sword, but only took his
cloth mask off. The giant dropped him and tried to cover his own face;
there was a crunching sound as the samurai's foot landed on the fallen
black bird. The samurai held back one of Lon's arm and said, "You have got
to quit hiding yourself from your friends. The only way you will start to
be accepted is by accepting yourself." (CUTE VOICE: Oh please.) (CHEF'S
VOICE: Who does he think he is? Jerry Springer?)
Lon put his hands down and faced the samurai. "Do you really think so?"
Aside from Lon's disproportionate brow and facial scars, it appeared as
though most of his nose had been burned into his face and the left side of
his mouth had been sewn shut. (CHEF'S NOTE: Miko!) He had a horrible cleft
lip and, for some reason or another, most of the sinews in his jaw were
exposed.
Seeing the giant unmasked, the Empress and her guards took a step back.
Miko was definitely going to be sick. However, Reikiba nodded, unfazed by
Lon's appearance.
Ranma walked over to the samurai to see what was happening. "Hey.
Whazgoinon here, huh?" She rested an elbow on the samurai for support, but
he didn't mind. He was about to introduce himself and his friend when
Ranma turned to Lon and winced. "Eew. Didyu fall onyour face alot or
wereya just born that way? Ever considr corrrective serjry?"
The Empress and her band stiffined. She looked around quickly then
ordered flatly, "Run." In a split-second, they were gone.
Reikiba slapped Ranma on the shoulder and scolded her with, "That wasn't a
very nice thing to say."
"RRROOOOOAAAARRRR!!!!" Lon raised his arms in the air, fist clenched
tight, and his battle aura glowed white hot. Ranma and Reikiba stumbled
backwards; the crow popped up from the ground and started staggering to and
fro.
Reikiba yelled at Ranma, "Now look what you've done!"
Lon roared, "BLASTING HOLE PUNCH!" and drove his fists into the floor.
The whole floor cracked and exploded with the force of a wad of C4. Huge
chunks of marble and stone were thrown around the room and through walls,
most puching through the ceiling never to be seen again. Miko had to duck
into the hallway to keep from being plastered against the wall by flying
debree, then she had to run out a second later before the entrance to the
corridor collapsed, then she had to run around to avoid falling pieces of
the ceiling. Ranma and Reikiba were blurs as they tried to avoid
everything, but they were inevitably thrown against the back wall (about 50
feet away), leaving two man-sized dents. The whole floor was now a crater
that reached five feet in the center, where Lon stood, and the walls were
creaking and barely holding up.
* * * * *
Liu-Sing and Salon stood by the main doors, unsure of what to do, and
watched the two hovering forms circle each other over the pool.
The Emperor, glowing hotly with fire, pointed at the dark-robed man and
said, "I have awaited this day for so long, ever since I heard of the
legend of your arival and the promise you bring. I was certain from that
point why I had been given these talents I was born with, and I have honed
them to their fullest in preparation for this meeting--this duel. I have
also built a small but adequate empire to give you a sample of what my mind
can achieve. All that is left now is the formal challenge to prove my
strength and then I will be prepared for apprenticeship into your ranks."
Salon looked a bit surprised, but Liu-Sing either didn't care or knew it
already. The clown focused on the small, wooden statue in the dark
stranger's hand.
The dark-robed man folded his arms defiantly and chuckled. "Empires
eventually crumble and do not impress me, and arrogance is usually rewarded
with disappointment."
The Emperor raised his eyebrows attentively, waiting for an answer.
Liu-Sing noticed that the Emperor was swinging around to his side of the
pool and he was glowing more brightly. The clown quickly whispered
something in Salon's ear, then they hurried in a seperate direction.
The dark man smiled and stated, "I have already been defeated in battle.
Earlier tonight, to be exact." Liu-Sing shot him a glance of surprise
while Salon facefaulted.
"WHAT?!" The Emperor stopped and hovered in front of the door. "How can
that be?!
The dark man waved a hand in dismissal. "Anyway, I would be reluctant to
take you even if you had managed to pass my test. I have watched you over
the seasons and your powers, while impressive, have only served to make you
overconfident, and overconfidence breeds stagnation. You are unteachable."
"Do not underestimate me, Avatar!" The Emperor's eyes now burned with
fire. He outstretched his arms and his blazing aura molded into the shape
of a phoenix (a BLAZING phoenix, unlike the goofy bird). The water in the
pool began to boil and the floor beneath him started turning black. "I
have pressed my talent to it's limit and I have boosted my power with every
mystical item I could find! I shall defeat you and prove what I can do! I
have reserves the gods themselves would be envious of! I am more powerful
than the great Saffron himself!"
The dark man rolled his eyes. "Do not flatter yourself."
The Emperor roared and fired his entire phoenix aura at the dark man.
With an explosion that seemed to have come from the next room (because it
did), the stream of fire plowed over him and left a huge five-yard hole in
the back wall, and the room behind it and the room behind it to the
outside, then it soared into the air and disappeared. The dark man hovered
in place, unharmed by the attack, holding the phoenix statue in front of him.
* * * * *
Miko slipped on the rubble from the doorway and tumbled toward the center
of the crater--toward Lon. She landed on her back right in front of Lon's
feet, and she waved meekly when he turned his blood-colored eyes toward her.
The giant looked down and only knew that it was a redheaded girl with a
pigtail--that's all that mattered. He raised his foot and slammed it to
the ground again. Miko screamed and rolled to the side before her head
could be smashed into the rocks. Lon stomped again and Miko narrowly
dodged. The third stomp landed on her pigtail, making her cry out in pain.
"Hey! Leav'r alone!" Ranma jumped with all her might, letting the bird
that was pinned behind her fall to the ground, and aimed her feet at the
giant's ugly face.
Still standing on her hair, Lon grabbed Miko by the arm and started to
pull her up. Miko cried helplessly and grabbed the back of her head.
Fortunately, Lon was forced to drop her as Ranma's foot drove into his nose.
He staggered back, grabbed Ranma's ankle, and tossed her against a wall.
Ranma hit hard, but then rolled into the crater and jumped to her feet,
shaken but ready for another attack. The enraged giant picked up Miko by
the waist and shoulder and hurled her at his enemy like an odd-shaped stone.
Ranma backflipped and caught her in the air, then tightened into a ball
and tumbled for several yards to work off the extra momentum, then landed
on her knees with Miko in her arms. Miko was as pale as a ghost and tears
were streaming down her face; for an instant, she stared into Ranma's eyes,
which were looking elsewhere, then buried herself into her guardian,
whimpering pitifully.
Lon appeared to be trying to calm himself down. He closed his eyes
tightly, trying to push out his frustrations. At that moment, the main
doors blew inward and slammed into the back of the giant's head. The noise
caused the ceiling to shake, and a large portion of stone and plaster fell
on Lon's head. He blinked an eye open in annoyance.
"By the gods! What is going on here?" Doshin stood in the doorway with
his foot extended in a kick, and Twilight was sitting by his side; their
eyes widened in joy. "Miko!"
"Daddy!" Miko gasped and her face brightened. Twilight lept forward,
bouncing off of Lon's head, knocking him down, and headed toward his
friend. Ranma gasped and fell backwards, Miko falling on top of her. Miko
looked into her guardian's stricken face with worry.
Twilight rushed to their sides and started licking both the girl's faces,
unsure at the moment as to which one was his master's daughter. Miko
allowed a few quick laughs. "Yes, Twilight, I'm happy to see you too. But
we can't stay here." She sat up and looked at her guardian again. "Are
you alright, Guardian Spirit? .... Guardian Spirit?"
"Mrreeaaaooowwww."
Lon pushed himself up from the rubble wishing he hadn't.
* * * * *
The dark man pointed a hand at the newly-made exit and shot an icy wind
through it to cool it down. He called out, "If any of you value your
lives, I would suggest leaving now!"
At this, almost three dozen panicking harem girls ran through the hole.
The dark man barely had time to put up a force shield before three arches
of air almost sliced through him. He wheeled toward Salon, who was
crouched to his right with her staff held protectively in front of her.
Just as the dark man raised his free hand to deliver a bolt of energy,
Liu-Sing jumped onto his back and threw a green cloak over his head,
releaved him of his statue, then jumped for the hole and broke into a run.
The dark man growled and flung an arc of energy at the fleeing clown, but
his aim was off and it slammed into the wall, just making the hole bigger.
Salon threw another arc of wind, which he deflected, then ran through the
hole as well. The dark man turned to attack but was pommeled in the back
by a bolt of fire. He fell to the side of the pool with an "Oof."
"Ignore me, will you? I'll teach you respect!"
The dark man pushed himself up on his arms, clenched his teeth in anger,
and brushed away the few small fires that caught on his robe like motes of
dust. After extinguishing himself, he smiled as if everything were going
as planned. "Very well. We shall finish this fight." He spun around and
swiped his arm out, hurling a thirty-foot-long arc of energy into the
ceiling above, sending it crashing down on the Emperor.
The Emperor roared and the rubble on top of him melted like wax with a
heat so intense that anyone else in the room would have surely melted as
well. The whole palace began to shake.
The dark man smiled. "Temper, temper."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
I apologize for the length. I hadn't intended for it to be this long, but
I wasn't satisfied with the way the story was going, so I decided to get a
little crazy with it. I hope it was worth it.