"There you are Ranma!" Nabiki�s irritated voice exclaimed when she saw Ukyou
and Ranma dash to meet up with them. Akane muttered something intelligible
and �hmmphed�, turning away from the two. Ran-ko promptly bounced over to
her brother and hugged him. Ukyou shook her head in disbelief. "�Took you
long enough!" Ryoga shot Ranma a glare saying �we�ll settle things later�.
Genma and Soun were occupied with their shogi game which they played on a
small portable table.
"I see it, I don�t believe it!" Ukyou muttered, peering from Ranma, to
Ran-ko and back again. Ranma shot her a wicked grin.
"Sis, this is Ukyou, my best friend�" Ranma introduced. Ran-ko politely bowed.
"Ohayo, Ukyou-san." She said, smiling. Ukyou flushed and returned the
compliment as best she could.
"Err�Hi, no need to be so formal ok? Just call me Ukyou." She said, rather
uneasily. Ran-ko nodded and turned her attention to the ocean, everyone
could see the Island of Togenkyo floating on the horizon, silhouetted
against the golden setting sun.
"Look at that�" Ranma said softly. "�It�s beautiful."
Akane nodded her assent. "Mmmm, isn�t it?" After a few minutes of watching
the sun set beneath the horizon, Ran-ko jumped onto Ranma�s back playfully.
"Hey oniichan! How are we going to get over there?" she asked, giggling at
Ranma�s flattened form on the sand.
"Grrmf grrblf mrrrrf!" Ranma picked himself up with Ran-ko still on his
back. "�Ptui! Bleah!�I said, �I don't know!�" he said, spitting out sand and
as he dislodged his sister from his back.
"We�d better find some way to get there soon, it�s dark already�Kasumi�s
going to be worried where we�ve gotten to�" Nabiki said a matter-of-factly.
"Didn�t you tell her where we�d be?!?" Ranma said, peering at Nabiki.
"Of course I did! Though I told her we�d be back for dinner�As things stand
we are not going to make that deadline!" Nabiki replied, faintly annoyed.
"Oh great! We miss out one of Kasumi�s knockout meals!�" Ranma muttered,
annoyed. "�Hey P-Chan! You swim over and tell them we�re here�" Ranma ducked
a swing from Ryoga and proceeded to block and counter the next series of
attacks which followed.
"Who are you calling P-Chan?!?" Ryoga exclaimed, aiming another blow for
Ranma�s head. Ranma ducked and gave Ryoga the �red-eye�, accompanying it
with a �nyeahhhhhhhhh!�
"C�mon Pig-boy! Gimme yer best shot!" Ranma taunted. "�You�re getting slow
Ryoga!�I could�"
*WHAM!!!*
"Ranma! Stop teasing Ryoga!!" Akane yelled before stepping away in a huff.
Ranma picked himself up from under the mallet and ruefully scratched his head.
"Whatcha do that for?!?" he shot back, annoyed. Nabiki shook her head.
"Don�t you two ever get tired of that?!?" she asked, an exasperated look on
her face. 
"Hey! It isn�t my fault! She�s the one who�s�"
"ONIICHAN!! LOOKOUT!!" Ranma�s head turned at the sound of Ran-ko�s warning
in time to see Ryoga power up a blast.
"Ranma! I will not have your insults!! Take this!�" Ryoga cupped both hands
at his side and allowed the globe of dark ki to build. "�ShiShi�HO�KODAN!!!"
Ranma yelped, knowing he did not have sufficient power stored to kakikesu or
uchikesu the attack, regardless of the fact that the ShiShiHoKodan was
relatively weak compared to a regular attack. Ran-ko however, taking a
chance, leapt in front of Ranma, both arms crossed over her head. 
"RAN-KO! Choten nani yo?!?�Eh?!? That energy�how the?!?" Ranma thought. 
"Saseru�KAAAAAAAA!" Ran-ko screamed and brought both arms down by her sides.
Ranma was thrown back as a fiery-red explosion of ki surrounded her. Ryoga�s
blast struck the ki barrier and was deflected into the sky where it exploded
in a blinding flash.
"Nice fireworks display�" Nabiki said evenly, grinning. "�That got their
attention." Sure enough, four tiny spheres of light could be seen leaving
the island and floated toward the coast. They hovered above the group in
minutes.
"Sure took your time there�" Nabiki grinned as Toma, Sarutoru, Toristan and
Wonton dispelled their flight barriers and landed on the sand.
"Ah, Nabiki Tendo, are you not?" Toma asked. Nabiki nodded. "�How nice to
see you again�" Toma turned and surveyed the group. "�How nice to see you
all again�Eh? I miss something?" He peered at Ranma on the ground and a
small crater around Ran-ko. Toma blinked when he saw Ran-ko and scratched
his head. Now if he remembered correctly, Ranma and Ran-ko were the same person?
"No, nothing! Just Ranma up to his usual jerk business!" Akane retorted.
Ukyou fumed at hearing Akane, memories of her recent talk with Ranma
resurfacing. <Why that insensitive, uncute�>
"Akane!�" Toma exclaimed, running up to her. Taking both her hands in his,
he said, "�Such a pleasure to meet you again, have you been well?" he asked.
Akane blushed, not knowing what to say. "�I-I guess so�Thanks for asking�" 
Ranma shot Toma a jealous look and turned away. "�Hmmph! That jerk! Getting
all mushy over Akane like that!" Ran-ko saw the look on her brother�s face
and giggled.
"Ooooo, oniichan�anata wa netamashii ne?" Ran-ko stated, stifling a laugh.
Ranma shook his head vigorously and stood up quickly. Ukyou did her best not
to laugh.
"She�s got you there, Ran-chan." Ukyou said, snickering.
"What?!? Me!? Jealous of that uncute, unsexy, macho�"
*WHAM* *SPLAT!*
"Speaking ill of Akane?!? I won�t have it?!?" Ryoga yelled, his foot
embedded into Ranma�s face.
"What was that Ranma?!?" Akane added, her mallet firmly embedded into
Ranma�s back.
*GROAN* was all Ranma could manage. Ukyou glared at Akane and Ryoga before
turning to help Ranma up.
Nabiki shook her head and turned to Toma. "So what�s Togenkyo doing back
here? If I'm not wrong, the current was going away when we last saw you."
Toma�s expression immediately turned serious.
"Yes, it was�" he solemnly said, eyes downcast.
"Hmm, could you perchance explain then?" Soun asked, tweaking his moustache.
Toma nodded. "I will explain, as I have a feeling I may need your help�" he
gestured at the assembled group. "�ALL your help."
"We fear an ancient evil has awakened and is doing harm as we speak."
Sarutoru added.
"Yeah, Ran-chan can handle it!" Ukyou said confidently.
"Yeah right!�" Ryoga retorted "�If you ask me, HE�s the evil!�" Ranma
promptly kicked Ryoga into the sand.
"Watch it pig-boy! I can still kick your ass!" Ranma snickered.
"In your dreams Ranma! Prepare to DIE!" Ryoga yelled, getting into a battle
stance.
"STOP IT!" both of them turned at Akane�s voice. "�Can�t you two just get
along for once?!?"
"Hey! P-Chan started it!" Ranma stated flatly, jerking a thumb at Ryoga.
"WHO is P-CHAN?!?" Ryoga said, his voice low and dangerous. Moments later,
Ranma was on a first-class trip back to the Tendo Dojo, courtesy of Akane
Airways Flight 666.
"There he goes, seems he�ll be home before us�" Nabiki said, sighing. <Those
two never learn.> "C�mon�" she said, taking hold of Toma�s arm. "�You can
tell us everything over dinner."

**************
"Tadaima!" Akane exclaimed, walking in the door. Everyone followed shortly.
Nabiki went straight to her room while Ranma and Ryoga stayed outside to
spar. Kasumi poked her head out of the kitchen when she heard sounds of
fighting and smiled when she saw Akane.
"Oh, welcome home Akane�Oh my! We have guests!" she exclaimed when she saw
Toma, Sarutoru, Toristan and Wonton. "�Aren�t you Prince Toma?" she asked.
"I am, and it is a pleasure to meet you again�err" Toma scratched his head
as he tried to remember Kasumi�s name. 
"Kasumi�" she said helpfully, smiling. "�Tendo Kasumi."
"Yes, that�s it�A pleasure, Kasumi�" Toma said, quickly recovering from the
initial embarrassment. 
"Well! I must say this is a very nice house�� Toristan remarked. 
"Why, thank you�" Kasumi smiled at the compliment. "�I keep things the way
Mother would have wanted them�"
"�Would have?��" Toristan quickly caught himself. "�Oh! Gomen nasai,
Kasumi-san�" 
"It�s ok�" Kasumi said reassuringly. She then gestured toward the dining
room. "�Well please go in and make yourselves comfortable, dinner will be
served shortly."
"Ouf! Ouf! Awoo!" Wonton barked, happy at the thought of food as he padded
into the dining room.
"I hope we aren�t imposing on you too much, Kasumi-san�" Toma said, bowing
respectfully. Kasumi returned the gesture.
"Oh no! Not at all! Now please go in and make yourselves comfortable." She
said before walking back into the kitchen. 
"I�ll go make some okonomiyaki�" Ukyou said cheerily. "�Be back in a few
minutes!"
"Oh! You don�t have to, Ukyou-san�" Kasumi began, but Ukyou had already left. 
Nabiki came down after a while dressed in her usual shorts and tank top and
took her place at the table. Ranma and Ryoga soon followed, the two of them
grinning like sharks. Akane noted the grins the two were wearing, as well as
the fact that Ryoga had his arm clasped around Ranma�s shoulder in an overly
friendly fashion.
"Well! You two sure seem happy! What did you do this time?!?" Akane asked, a
slight smile on her face.
"Oh, nothing special�Nothing like a good spar to work off the tension, eh
Ryoga?" Ranma smirked, punching Ryoga in the shoulder.
"You said it!" he replied, punching back. Akane shook her head. <Go figure
them! Trying to kill each other one moment and buddies the next!> she thought.
"Come on now! You don�t expect me to believe that you two just sorted out
all that fight just with one match?!?�" she peered at the two martial
artists in question. "�C�mon! Spill it!"
Ranma scratched his head. "We-llll�Ok, we kinda talked it over during the
match and we both agreed that this constant fighting is a waste of time�"
"Though most of it is Ranma�s fault anyway�" Akane saw Ranma�s fists clench
under the table but he said nothing.
"Yeah�Well�Anyway�" Ranma said slowly. 
<I�ll give him credit�> Akane thought. <�He�s handling this rather well!>
"Ok everyone! Time for dinner!" Kasumi called out. Ukyou walked in the door
moments later, holding a couple of takeout boxes.
"Tadaima!�" she announced, handing the okonomiyaki to Kasumi before taking
her place. Nodoka helped Kasumi set the table before taking her place.
"Arigato, Ukyou-san�It looks delicious." Kasumi said, smiling. Moments later
the meal was served and everyone ate heartily. 
"Mmm, Umami�Kore wa bimi�Arigato, Kasumi-san, Ukyou-san�" Toma said,
savoring the taste of the exceptional meal he�d just had. Toristan and
Sarutoru nodded their agreement and kept eating. Kasumi blushed lightly and
smiled in return.
"Glad you liked it." She said, smiling. Ukyou simply smiled and nodded her
thanks.
"Delicacy�I�d have to agree with that�" Ranma said as he finished. 
 "I agree�" Ryoga said after finishing his meal. "�Though if I could only
taste Akane�s home cooking, It would be a dream come true�" Half the room
mass-facefaulted at this.
"Y-you think so, Ryoga-kun?" Akane stammered, tears of happiness in her
eyes. "�In that case I�ll go make something right now!"
"NO! DON�T!�" Ranma began, a huge sweatdrop trickling down the back of his
head. It was too late, Akane had already rushed into the kitchen. "�Sheesh
Ryoga! Couldn�t you have kept your big mouth SHUT?!?�I happen to LIKE living
you know!?!" Ranma half-yelled at him, bopping him once over the head. A
frying-pan flew out of the kitchen and smacked Ranma in the face.
"Speaking ill of Akane�" Ryoga muttered in that same dangerous tone. 
"No fighting at the table!" Nodoka interjected. "�We have guests!"
"H�Hai�Gomen nasai�" Ryoga apologised to the table. Everyone muttered their
assent and kept eating.
After a few minutes, Akane came running out of the kitchen holding a large
bowl containing what looked like soup and slammed the bowl down in front of
Ryoga.
"You asked for it�" Ranma remarked snidely. "�Now eat it."
"Akane�You made this�this� for me?!?" Ryoga stammered, crying tears of
happiness. <Now I can die happy!>
"Sure! It�s all yours!" Akane said, a huge smile on her face.
"Oh nice one, Akane�" Ranma remarked, peering into the bowl. "�What is it?"
"It�s miso soup, you jerk! Can�t you see?!?" Akane shouted back, brandishing
a wooden spoon.
"Looks more like Primordial Soup to me�" Ranma muttered. "�Complete with
budding new life forms too!"
*WHACK*
"Ranma no baka!" Akane snorted. Nodoka shook her head and laid a hand on
Akane�s shoulder.
"Akane-chan, that wasn�t a very nice thing to do�" she began.
"But Auntie! He started it!" Akane retorted in defense. 
"Whatcha do that for?!?" Ranma exclaimed, rubbing the back of his head. "�It
does look like�"
"That�s enough out of you, young man!" Ranma cringed at his mother�s tone.
"�I think you should apologise to Akane here�"
"MOOOOOM!" Ranma complained.
"�There was no excuse for being insulting toward her when she tried her
hardest." Nodoka finished before glaring at Ranma. "�And don�t talk back to
your mother!" Ranma nodded reluctantly. "Sorry, Mom." Akane stuck her tongue
out at Ranma and went �Nyeaaaaaah!� Ranma sat silently for a moment, head
bowed. 
"You heard your mother Ranma! Apologise!" Ryoga said, whapping Ranma over
the head.
Toristan tapped Sarutoru on the shoulder. "Wonder how he�s going to get out
of this one." He whispered.
 "Do as your mother says, boy!" Genma commanded, whapping Ranma over the head.
"Akane�" Ranma began, slowly. "�I�m sorry�"
"Ranma�" Akane said. 
"�I�m sorry for speaking the truth that your cooking is toxic enough that
the Gods themselves wouldn�t eat it in case they die and�"
*WHAM*
�So much for that�" Nabiki said, a bored look on her face as she watched
Ranma fly out the door and into the koi pond. "�You�d think he�d learn to
keep his mouth shut long enough to survive that one day too."
Akane turned back to Ryoga who was eyeing the bowl with tears in his eyes.
<Such a gift, from the Gods themselves�> he thought. With a shaking hand he
dipped the spoon into the bowl of slop and took a mouthful. Ranma walked
back into the dining room, dripping wet, in time to see Ryoga �commit seppuku�
"That idiot Ryoga�" Ranma whispered to Ukyou. "�I hope he lives, I can�t
afford the funeral" Ukyou giggled and nodded.
For Akane, time had frozen, this was the moment of truth. A supreme test to
see whether she�d be rewarded for her efforts or be shot down to crash and
burn like so many times before. For Ryoga, time had frozen, not because of
how good Akane�s cooking was, but because every nerve in his body was either
paralysed or dead. ^_^
"R-Ryoga�W-what�s wrong?" Akane asked as he bent the metal spoon he held
into interesting shapes.
"N-NEVER I-IN M-M-MY LIFE HAVE I T-TASTED S-SOMETHING A-AS HEAVENLY AS
T-TH�THIS!" he shouted with a great effort.
Akane�s face broke into a huge smile. "You think so?!? Oh, I�m so happy!"
she exclaimed, jumping around the room.
"Well, isn�t that nice, Akane?" Kasumi said, a large sweatdrop running down
the back of her head.
"Ryoga says, �Now would you please excuse me? I have to go die now��" Ranma
whispered to Ukyou, causing her to break out in giggles again.
"Ran-chan! That�s not very nice!" she said through a bout of giggling.

After all the excitement had died down and the table had been cleared,
everyone sat down to talk.
"So, Toma-kun, I believe you were going to explain why Togenkyo is back
here?" Soun prompted.
"Yes, it happened only a month ago, when the stirrings began�" Toma began
his story and recounted everything he had told Ryoga. It was fortunate that
Ryoga already knew the story because in his current state, he was in no
condition to listen. During the time, everyone listened with rapt interest,
only interrupting to question facts they did not understand. "�So basically,
what we think is that whatever killed the guide at Jusenkyo has found it�s
way into Japan and is planning something dark�Already we have seen proof
that all is not right�"
"You can say that again!" Ranma interrupted. "�Just today some freako showed
up and handed me this!" he pulled out the letter he �received� and handed it
to Toma.
Toma stared at it for a while before speaking. "�Sarutoru!"
"Yes Lord�" Sarutoru searched his pockets and pulled out an identical
letter. Ranma�s eyes widened. "Woah! You got one too?!?"
"It seems whoever is hosting this �tournament� knows who we all are�" Toma
said, his voice grave.
"Ran-chan�" Ukyou began. 
"What�s wrong, Ucchan?"
"I�I�m sorry I didn�t tell you this before but�" Ukyou rummaged around in
her clothes and pulled out another identical letter. "�They sent me one
too." Ranma fell over.
"Ucchan! Why didn�t you tell me?!? Did the jerk who gave it to you hurt
you?" he asked, concern in his voice. Ukyou shook her head.
"No, not really�He hit me once but I got him back�" Ukyou grinned at Ranma�s
worried look.
<Geez! He�s never this nice to me!> Akane fumed. "Well nice to know that
she�s okay!�" Akane half-shouted. "�Just so you know�"
"I got one too!" Ran-ko chimed in, pulling out yet another copy of the letter. 
"It was supposed to be for me!" Akane interrupted. "�You jumped in!" Ranma
did the best thing he could in the current situation, he fainted.
He came to a few minutes later and felt like someone had exchanged brains
with him. 
"Woah here! You mean to say that all of you got an invitation?!?" The
majority of the table nodded. "�Gee, the guy wasn�t kidding when he said the
tournament would be a big affair�Wonder if Ryoga got one?"
"I did!�" Ryoga threw his copy like a shuriken at Ranma who deftly caught
it. "�Ranma! I will defeat you like a true warrior in the tournament!" Ryoga
stated simply.
"I thought you were dead�" Ranma said, peering at Ryoga.
"Ahem, excuse me�" Everyone turned to look at Nodoka who was reading one of
the invitations. "�It states here that competition will be between teams of
three�So since my son and daughter both got an invitation as did Akane and
Ukyou-san�The question of teams now arises." Nodoka stated.
"Why that isn�t a problem at all!" Soun piped up. "�Ranma will team up with
Akane!"
"DAAAAD!" Akane yelled. "�There�s no way I'm teaming up with that pervert!"
Ranma�s eyebrows twitched. "Oh yeah?!? Well it�s like I want a macho,
uncute, unsexy, thick-as-a-brick, can�t-even-kick, tomboy on my team!" Ranma
retorted.
"WHAT WAS THAT?!?" Akane shouted, brandishing a bokken.
�Akane-chan, sit down please�" Nodoka said, patting Akane on the shoulder.
She reluctantly obeyed. "�And you too Ryoga-kun�There will be plenty of
opportunities to fight in the tournament." Ryoga had been about to stomp
Ranma into the ground if not for Nodoka�s timely intervention. Soun,
meanwhile, began wailing, as usual.
"Ranma, let me remind you that if you do not team up with Akane, you will
have to fight her�" Nodoka said evenly, Ranma cringed.
"That�s no problem! I�ll fight that pervert anyday!" Akane said gruffly.
"I�ll go with oniichan!" Ran-ko piped up. Ranma grinned and ruffled her hair
playfully.
"I�ll go with Ran-chan too!" Ukyou added, hugging one of Ranma�s arms. 
Akane�s shoulders shook at the scene before her. "FINE THEN!" she said,
angrily getting up. "�GO WITH WHOEVER YOU LIKE!" she yelled before running
upstairs, crying.
"Blah! Good riddance!" Ukyou said, ignoring her.
"R-RAN�MAAAAA!�" Ryoga shouted, his aura flaring. "�You have made Akane cry!
I WILL NOT HAVE IT! PREPARE TO DIE!"
"Oh no you don�t�" Ukyou said with a bored expression on her face as she
dumped a glass of water over Ryoga. Nodoka�s eyes widened when she saw Ryoga
disappear and reappear as a small black pig.
"What�How?!?" she stammered. Then realisation hit her. "�Another Jusenkyo
victim?" Ranma and Ukyou both nodded. P-Chan squealed in outrage and
promptly latched onto Ranma�s arm with a loud *CHOMP*
"EEYOWWWWW!" Ranma screamed and hopped about, trying to dislodge the pig.
"�Why you JERK!" Ranma screamed, booting P-Chan into Lower Earth Orbit.
"There! MUCH better!" something tapped him on the shoulder as he dusted his
hands. "Whaaaa�AAAAAAAAA!" Ranma turned around to find himself face-to-face
with Soun�s demon head.
"RAAAAAN�MAAAAA�KUUUUUUN!" it intoned in an earthshaking voice.
"Eeek! Ok, ok, I'm going, I'm going!" Ranma yelped, running upstairs after
Akane.
Ukyou sighed. "Ran-chan�Ran-chan�" she turned to face Toma who had been
watching the whole episode with an amused look on his face. "�Well, it seems
we�ll be seeing each other in the tournament then�" she said.
"Yes, it would seem so�" Toma said, grinning.
"We look forward to meeting you in combat." Toristan said. It wasn�t hard to
guess he was grinning behind his mask as well.
"Though, bear in mind that this will most likely not be just a tournament�"
Toma said, his face serious again. "�There is a deep, dark secret hiding
behind the mask it is wearing�If anything untoward should happen, please
bear in mind that you are not alone�We stand to fight by your side as allies
in this upcoming battle�" Toma said bowing formally. Nodoka stood and
returned the gesture.
"We are grateful for your assistance, Prince Toma�" she replied with equal
formality. "�We too shall fight by your side as allies if and when the need
arises�Rest assured the Saotome sword shall stand ready to assist you."
Nodoka stated.
"We are thankful�Now we really must leave�" The four stepped outside after
saying their goodbyes. "�Until next time, take care!" Toma said before he
and his three companions were engulfed in glowing spheres of energy and took
off, heading toward the Island of Togenkyo.
"He has changed, hasn�t he?" Ukyou said to no one in particular.
"Yeah, not the snot-nosed kid we knew when we first met him." Nabiki
replied. "�Wonder how Ranma-kun is doing?"

**************

"Well, I�ll say this much�" Ken stated, peering out the open window. Jyusei
only allowed the windows in his office open at nights. "�It�s actually not
as hard as you think to recover the energy."
Jyusei raised an eyebrow. "You have a solution then?" He and Ken had been
deliberating for most of the day as to how they might recover their �stolen�
energy with the minimum chance of loss. 
"Well, not in itself�You see, the idea here is that the essences are bonded
to their host�s souls�" Ken began. "�Now I am right in saying that recently,
one of your shadow warriors made an attempted attack on one of the hosts, am
I right?" Jyusei nodded.
"That�s what he told me, God have mercy if he was lying�" Jyusei turned and
glared at the spectre in question. It cringed under Jyusei�s withering gaze.
"If I�m not wrong, the attack, even if unsuccessful, will most probably have
left a�how should I put this�a �wormhole� of sorts within the host�s mind�"
"So what you�re suggesting is that we take advantage of this, this
�wormhole� and�"
"Exactly, we use the wormhole as a route to the host�s mind, from there we
can attempt to possess him/her�" Ken concluded, taking a sip from the glass
he held in his hand. Five empty bottles lay on the bar nearby.
"Hmm, that may work yet�But even if we succeed in the possession, how will
this help?" Jyusei asked, still slightly confused.
Ken finished his drink and flipped his glass over his shoulder. Instead of
hitting the floor and smashing, it caught itself in mid-air, floated over to
the bar where a bottle tipped itself over, pouring another shot into the
glass. It then floated back to Ken�s waiting hand. "Well, possession is
nine-tenths of the law�" he said. "�If we have control over the host, the
energy generated from the intrusion alone should be enough to start a reaction�"
Jyusei slapped a fist into his palm. "I get it, the �tunnel� generated from
the excess power generated from the intrusion will act as a �sponge� for the
energy released in any future combats�" Ken nodded, a grin on his face a
mile wide.
"Basically, we can use the tournament to meet our own ends, little will the
participants know they are helping to unleash the most powerful evil since
time immemorial�" 
"Yes, a brilliant plan�" Jyusei�s emerald green eyes began to glow softly
with an evil light. "�The Awakening, I cannot fully awaken without the
missing essences but using the energy generated from the fights should be
more than enough to substitute that!"
Ken nodded his agreement. "�I�m guessing that you are focusing on fully
reawakening, not just on reclaiming your �stolen� powers�"
"Well, that would be nice but not necessary, I merely needed the energy�"
Jyusei muttered, sitting back at his desk. He began to peruse the roster
again. "�Hmm�" He snapped his fingers and a shadow warrior quickly flitted
to his side.
"Yes Master? How may I serve your will?" it asked, bowing in subservience.
"Do you know the name of the one you attacked that night?" Jyusei asked. The
spectre appeared to think for a moment.
"Yes Master, I think it�s�it�s�"
"Ran-ko�Saotome Ran-ko�" Jyusei muttered, reading the spectre�s mind. "�Very
interesting�"

**************
      K  u  s  a  n  a  g  i       K y o
      --|---|--    --|---|--     ----+----
       +-----+     /-, +-+-       +-----+
       |-----|      |  |-|-       |     |      
       +-----+     -|- |-|-       +-----+
      ----|----    / \ +-+-       /  J  \
 -----------------------------------------------
  "Kusanagi Flames, Yagami Tears, Orochi Blood"