(continued from part 3)
----------------------------------------

  Later that evening, after Shampoo and Kodachi left, Mousse returned 
from a long walk. And the first thing that left his lips were, "So how 
was Shampoo?"
  Ukyo tried to bury her feelings. Somehow it still hurt to hear Mousse 
ask about Shampoo instead of her... love's such a complicated matter! 
Slowly, Ukyo answered, "We tried to coax her to ask you out on a date. 
Who knows what's going through her head now."
  Mousse nodded. "I'm sorry I had to put you through this mess, really. 
You have to understand, I realize now I don't love you." 
  "Hey, you've said your apologies already," Ukyo replied. "I don't love 
you either. We're just friends." Well, Ukyo, if you knew that before you 
allowed yourself to believe you were in love with Mousse, then you 
wouldn't be in this predicament! Forget it, I did know that before; my 
heart blinded my eyes. The heart truly was useless.  
  "What I truly want," Mousse explained, "is for Shampoo to admit that 
she likes me. That is what I think is most important, laws be damned. 
Nothing should get in the way of true love."
  How true. Ukyo was almost ready to break down as she replied, 
"Mousse... you should stop worrying about me. I mean, if being with 
Shampoo makes you happy, then I'm all for it. I mean, I...." She stopped 
herself, trying to hold back the tears in her eyes. Wailing softly, Ukyo 
ran to her room, leaving a confounded Mousse behind, alone in the dining 
room. 
  Konatsu chose that moment to enter. "I'm worried about Ukyo-sama. She 
displays a mirror that does not reflect her true feelings. She may say 
she's happy, but she is not. And I can't do a thing to help her."
  Mousse replied, "It's my fault, I shouldn't have dragged her into this 
mess. She was there for emotional support when I needed it, and I took 
advantage of it. Things are just too complicated now. Why is it when I 
profess my love I hurt my friends?"
  "Love is no simple matter," Konatsu said. "I've expressed my love to 
Ukyo-sama, but she cannot return that love. But I will remain happy so 
long as I can take care of her."
  "Maybe," thought Mousse. "Ukyo and I are alike, you know?"
  "How so?"
  "Ukyo loves Ranma, but knows she can't have him. I love Shampoo, but 
the difference here is that I have a chance. I still want Shampoo, but I 
can't help but feel responsibile for Ukyo. I can't shake the feeling 
that I've used her." Wrong, Mousse, you HAVE used her, Mousse's 
conscience chided, just as she used you, only Ukyo got the bad end of 
the stick. She was just getting over Ranma when you came along and 
sucked her love dry like a vampire would do to blood. Mousse wondered if 
Ukyo knew it was a sham relationship from the beginning. 
  Mousse sighed. "If only Shampoo would admit her love...." 

  Shampoo secured the door to her room in the Nekohatten, then threw 
herself on her pillow. What was it that was bothering her? She knew she 
loved Ranma, that's for sure, but Mousse? 
  Were those two girls, once her enemies, right? 
  Shampoo sat up, and picked up a framed picture she'd brought from 
home. It was a picture of the whole gang, taken quite a while ago. There 
was Ranma, and Akane, and Ukyo, Kodachi, Kuno, Happosai, 
Great-grandmother, herself... and Mousse, among others, standing right 
behind her, face covered by Shampoo's own fist. 
  Ah, Mousse, how long have you endured my presence? Shampoo wondered. 
Since they were both three years old, Mousse continued to harass 
Shampoo, professing his love and desire to marry her. At first Shampoo 
was angry, especially when Mousse proposed to an animal instead of 
Shampoo, but as time went on it became sort of a game between the two. 
Fondly Shampoo recalled one of Mousse's ill-fated schemes to make 
Shampoo jealous by having another girl pretend to love him. Of course 
Shampoo saw through it right away. She hated the obsessive, love-blinded 
Mousse. 
  She'd thought it was a joke when Mousse decided, one day, that he'd 
train himself in martial arts to defend himself, his village, and 
Shampoo. It wasn't a man's place to fight in a village of strong warrior 
women, according to tradition, so it was a complete surprise to Shampoo 
and the others when they discovered he was serious. Something happened 
to him, but he wouldn't say what, not even to Shampoo. They were about 
five years old then. 
  Mousse's training paid off in the long run, to Shampoo's amazement and 
comfort. How many times had the village's warriors been challenged, and 
how many times had it been Mousse who stood foremost among the 
challengers. How many times had Mousse defended Shampoo from harm, even 
when she didn't ask, most notably from the strange birdman on Prince 
Toma's island. It was those times Shampoo admired Mousse the most. 
  Perhaps it should be a wonder that Mousse remained faithful to Shampoo 
after all she'd had done to him. Every attack she threw at him, Mousse 
wouldn't defend, purposefully leaving his guard down, and refuse to 
retaliate. For the longest time Shampoo thought this was a weakness, but 
now, she thought, it's the same Mousse that swore to protect her from 
harm. Was this why she still cared about him? 
  Why wasn't she happy with Mousse? Was it because Ranma beat her in 
battle, or simply pride? How, after all these years, could Shampoo yield 
compassion toward Mousse, after what she'd done to him? 
  Shampoo threw herself back on her pillow, burying her head in it to 
hide her tears. 

  Early Wednesday, the next morning, in the auditorium, Shampoo 
approached Nabiki. Obviously business about the final competition, 
Nabiki thought. 
  "Ah, Shampoo," greeted Nabiki. 
  "Nihao," greeted Shampoo. "I have word with you about final song."
  Nabiki found herself a seat and sat down, reclining. "Okay, shoot."
  Shampoo thought for a moment, letting the words form in her mind. 
"Last night Shampoo think about song and singing at Spatula-girl's 
restaurant." Among other things, that is. "Shampoo hold singing contest 
to see who sing better, Shampoo, Spatula-girl, or crazy-girl."
  "And...?" Nabiki asked, obviously interested. 
  "Shampoo conclude that they not bad in song," Shampoo answered. 
"Shampoo not know why she do it, but now Shampoo ask Nabiki for favor."
  "Let me guess," Nabiki started, "you're asking me to allow them to 
sing the final song?"
  "Aiyah!" Shampoo confirmed, visibly smiling. 
  Nabiki pondered for a moment. "If I let Kodachi and Ukyo sing, then 
what will the others say?"
  Shampoo offered, "Younger sisters, though can't do two things at once, 
need not play all the time during song. So when time comes they either 
play or sing, no problem. Pig-girl have no problem, but Shampoo don't 
know how well she sing."
  "I think she's okay, considering the song and dance she makes around 
Ryoga." Vividly Nabiki remembered what Akari did after Ryoga returned 
her love for the first time. Yup, no doubt about that.  
  "For song not allow men to sing. Voice too deep for song."
  "As if that part mattered," Nabiki said. "Kuno-chan and Ryoga have 
wind instruments, Konatsu won't do a thing unless I tell him to, and 
won't care either way, and there's no way I'll let Mousse sing anything. 
Hmmm...."
  "Shampoo think it work out."
  "Perhaps you're right. I guess there's no time like now to make a 
change in plans. You go tell the others, and pass them the lyrics, 
okay?"

  Kodachi and Ukyo finished setting up the instruments, a task in which 
they received after drawing lots (which was done ceremonially at the 
beginning and end of each day). The others were in another room away 
from the stage, finishing breakfast, when Shampoo entered, seemingly 
almost out of breath. 
  "Good morning, sugar!" Ukyo greeted cheerily. 
  "Nihao!" greeted Shampoo with greater enthusiasm. 
  "So how has a good night's sleep worked wonders for the Chinese 
delivery girl?" Kodachi asked, noticing Shampoo's heightened mood. 
  "Shampoo talk to Nabiki. Ask for favor. She let you sing in next 
song." She let the words sink in, waiting for a reaction from her 
new-old friends. Perhaps 'former rivals' was a better description? 
  To say that Kodachi and Ukyo were ecstatic was an understatement. Both 
yelled in triumph, the auditorium echoing their voices. So happy they 
were that they hugged Shampoo in joy. 
  "Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!" Ukyo babbled off. 
  Kodachi just laughed, happier than ever. Black rose petals descended 
from the sky, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. 
  "Shampoo happy for you," she started, "but Shampoo no like being 
hugged by other girls...."

  Right after Shampoo left Nabiki received yet another note from the 
judging committee. What she read disturbed her a great deal. 
  Now, in the course of two days since the first band was dropped, four 
more bands were dropped from the finals, and that was when Nabiki became 
suspicious. It was still early morning when Nabiki stole herself away 
from the auditorium and from practice to travel to the contest 
headquarters in downtown Tokyo. 
  A few good words put Nabiki before the chairmen in no time. The 
doorman admitted Nabiki into a large conference room, where several men 
and women occupied seats around a rectangular table. At the opposite end 
of the table from Nabiki sat the Chairman himself. 
  "Mr. Tokuyama," greeted Nabiki, "Nabiki Tendo."
  "Yes, yes, I've heard of you," Tokuyama said. "Not just anybody can 
receive my audience, but be quick about it, as I've an important meeting 
in a half an hour."
  Nabiki produced the notices received earlier in the week. "Five 
finalists have been dropped from the contest in the past two days, why?"
  "Ah, six now," corrected Tokuyama. "We've investigated each and every 
band, and those six don't meet my expectations and guidelines I provided 
in the rules. They're there to prevent legal complications, you 
understand?"
  "May I ask what?" 
  "The first band was dropped after being found in possession of illegal 
drugs. The government intervened on that one, unfortunately. The second 
and third got in a fight, incapacitating several band members. The 
fourth left voluntarily. The fifth were arrested for disturbing the 
peace, and the sixth, well, one of their band members has been found 
with several jugs of alcohol." 
  Tokuyama leaned forward in his seat. "You do understand, Ms. Tendo, 
that these rules are in place to assure that the prize winners don't 
encounter certain legal issues when we ask for recording contracts."
  "Of course," Nabiki said cautiously. "So may I ask how the 
investigations are progressing?"
  "By all means," invited Tokuyama. "The investigations themselves are 
completed, leaving six qualified for the final rounds. Only the top 
three will be awarded prizes, number one getting grand prize."
  "Yes, I know. Thanks anyway."
  Tokuyama said, "On the way out, Mr. Kozaya will give you two free 
vouchersto be used in the next concert I sponsor."
  "Yeah, thanks," Nabiki replied. 

  When Nabiki returned to the auditorium, she stepped inside and 
discovered some commotion among the band. Quickly Nabiki dashed down to 
the stage, and discovered Athena Asamiya in the midst of the group. She 
was crying. 
  "What happened?" Nabiki asked no one in particular.
  Ukyo answered, "Athena's band got dropped from the contest."
  "Why?" asked Nabiki in surprise. "They're the next best thing to a 
professional band!"
  "Her master, Chin, was found with several jugs of sake," explained 
Ukyo. "Of all the idiotic...." Especially since Chin always drank; in 
fact his martial arts style depended on his sake jug! "It shouldn't have 
mattered! He's well-beyond the legal drinking age." 
  Kodachi cut her off, saying, "Even such talent as Athena possesses in 
her music, this shouldn't have happened." Kodachi produced several 
folders stuffed with paper. "I've checked through the events surrounding 
the drops of bands, and I've come to the conclusion that it's all a set 
up."
  Leave it to a rat to ferret a rat, Nabiki thought, taking the folders. 
"Someone is obviously trying to rig the outcome of the contest."
  "But who?" asked Akane. "Who could be desperate enough to eliminate 
the competition like that? One of the other bands?"
  "Perhaps," Kodachi said. "Or someone who stands to lose if certain 
bands win. Or both." 
  "In any case," started Nabiki, "we should be prepared for anything. 
I've got a feeling whoever is doing this isn't done yet. We may be 
next."
  "Wait," Ranma said, "I have an idea."

  Later that evening word got to the group that yet another band was 
kicked out of competition, leaving it down to five bands: Doco, Red 
Pepper, the Yawning Dragon, Old Cabbage, and Samurai Blood. 
  The shadow figure dressed all in black, waiting, concealed in the 
bushes just within the walls of the Tendo dojo. He watched, waiting, 
listening carefully, watching as Ranma and Shampoo entered one of the 
second-story rooms together, and shut the lights off. 
  Perfect.
  It was then the figure bounded up to the dojo, climbing to the second 
floor where the lights were on in the window only moments before. He 
gently pushed the window open, and slid inside. 
  Walking stealthily, the shadow man produced an object from his pocket, 
ready to attack....
  *CLICK!*
  The shadow man dropped his camera in alarm as the lights to the room 
went on. A female Ranma lay in bed with Shampoo, both very much awake. 
At the door the others piled into the room. 
  "I'll wager you wanted to take a scandalous picture?" guessed Nabiki 
as she reached for the man's hood. "There are very few people in the 
world who would've been dumb enough to fall for this little trick. Now 
let's see which idiot you must be, hmmm?"
  The man tried to get away, but others blocked the open window. With a 
sudden, violent jerk, Nabiki ripped off the hood. All stared in 
surprise. 
  In unison all shouted, "GOSUNKUGI!!"
  There was no mistaking the pathetic man's face, dark bags hanging 
under his eyes, the stare of a maniac in his eyes. 
  Onna-Ranma grabbed Gosunkugi by the neck and held him in the air. 
"Why?"
  Choking somewhat, Gosunkugi answered, "Akane should be mine!"
  "You!" Akane spat. "I'm married, you little twit!"
  "There's no way you could've acted alone," Nabiki concluded. 
  "You're right, I wasn't alone!" Gosunkugi proclaimed without shame. 
  "Who else?!" demanded onna-Ranma. 
  "All those who stood to lose," Gosunkugi answered. "The other bands 
were sold out by their 'friends' and acquaintances, you know, for they 
were quite angry that they themselves stood no chance of traveling to 
Hawaii."
  "I made sure that wouldn't be a problem!" Nabiki shouted, visibly 
losing her temper. Who could I have missed? 
  "Nabiki...." Kasumi tried to calm Nabiki down, but moved away. 
  She knocked onna-Ranma away, who dropped Gosunkugi. Gosunkugi sighed 
in relief until Nabiki grabbed his shirt, lifting him back into the air. 
"I want a straight answer, little man, and I want it now. And what I 
want now are names. Nobody, NOBODY, crosses Nabiki Tendo and gets away 
with it!!"
  Gosunkugi became more terrified, as he'd never seen Nabiki lose her 
temper before. "Aaaahhh, aaaahhh, I'll talk! There was Tsubasa...."
  "Tsubasa!" spat Ukyo in anger. That little wretch....
  "...myself, the Gambling King, Sir Taro, Mikado Sanzenin, and some 
others I don't know. And the man who organized us."
  Nabiki threw Gosunkugi at the wall. "You spineless bastard, who is 
he?!"
  "I... I don't know!! He'll have my head if I tell you!" 
  Nabiki grabbed Gosunkugi's shoulders and shook him violently. "Wrong 
choice of words! Spill before something inside you does!"
  "Okay, okay! It was the principal! Principal Kuno!"
  "What?!" shouted Kodachi and Tatewaki in unison. Both Kunos knew their 
father was a terrible person, but to sink so low....
  Nabiki shook him again, hard. "Then tell me this: who WEREN'T you 
supposed to ruin?!"
  On the verge of fainting, Gosunkugi said, "Old Cabbage!! That's all I 
know!! Spare me!!"
  Nabiki let the pathetic man go, then walked to the door. To Kuno she 
said, "Bring the van around." To Shampoo she said, "Bring along 
Gosunkugi, he's our proof."
  Nabiki stalked out of the room, the eyes of Kasumi and Akane following 
her. Both looked at each other in surprise. 
  "I've never seen Nabiki so angry before...." commented Kasumi. 
  "Well, maybe it runs in the family," Akane said. It certainly ran in 
herself and Father, so why not Nabiki. Or Kasumi, Akane thought with a 
shudder. 
  It was then when they heard a scream coming from downstairs. All 
gathered ran down the stairs, finding Nabiki staring out the front door. 
Eyes looked beyond the doorway to what lay beyond: a giant hulk, with 
two large horns jutting from the sides of its head, bird-like wings 
spread, and multiple tentacles springing from its back.
  "Pantyhose!" onna-Ranma shouted in recognition. 
  Gosunkugi, in Shampoo's grasp, let out a weak laugh. "You're all going 
to get it now...."
  Pantyhose Taro, in cursed form, snorted loudly, almost beckoning for a 
challenge. The creature towered over the teens, appearing as a great 
bull-giant, like a minotaur, with wings and octopus tentacles springing 
from his back. His eel-tail lashed behind him menacingly. Had Taro the 
voice box in his cursed form for which to reply to Ranma, his response 
would've been "Stop calling me that!" Instead, it was "Gwaaaa, ha, ha."
  Standing behind Taro were three more figures: Principal Kuno, the 
Gambling King, and Mikado Sanzenin of the Golden Pair. 
  Ranma dashed to the kitchen and retrieved a kettle of hot water, then 
poured it on herself. 
  Ranma turned to Shampoo. "Don't let that creep out of your sight!" 
With that, he lead the charge. Following were Kuno, Kodachi, Ukyo, 
Konatsu, Mousse, Ryoga, and Ling-ling and Lung-lung. 
  All attacked Taro at once. Fortunately for Taro, he had enough limbs 
to deal with multiple attackers, and the strength to back it up. 
Tentacles swatted at the combatants dwarfed by his size. Taro snorted in 
amusement, discharging ink at every other target, blinding them. 
  "Bwwwwaaaaaaahhhh!" cried Taro, concentrating his attacks on the hated 
fem-boy, Ranma Saotome. The others could wait; this was the one he 
wanted.   The Principal of Furinkan produced gardening shears, snapping 
it open and closed in anticipation. "The Saotome kid's mine! I've waited 
a long time to get that pig-tail of his!"
  Mikado protested, "No way, I'll make him pay for my humiliation!"
  "Time to make that kid lose!" voiced the Gambling King. "I've a score 
to settle with him." No fair cheating the king of cheating. 
  "How about this," the principal offered, "I'll cut his hair, and you 
get the rest of him?"
  "Sounds good for me!" they agreed, Mikado producing shearing blades on 
his rollerblades, and the Gambling King reaching for steel cards in his 
coat. Love isn't the only thing that's going to vanish tonight. 
  But as they entered the fray, both Kunos, Ukyo, and Ryoga broke off 
from Taro and engaged them. 
  Ryoga confronted Mikado, itching to defeat the male half of the Golden 
Pair. 
  The principal confronted his son and daughter. "Stand away, children! 
You can't get in the way of my business! I'll deal with Saotome!"
  Kuno brandished his bokken menacingly. "Now its time to repay you for 
my past humiliations! Let's see if you can cut the Kuno's mighty blade!"
  Kodachi laughed. "Abandoning us while you enjoy life alone! You were 
never there for me! Now it's payback time!"
  Ukyo waved her combat spatula at the Gambling King menacingly. "Your 
tricks end here, King of Cheating! I've been waiting a long time to get 
back at you for what you pulled on me ten years ago!"
  "Ahahahahaha," laughed the Gambling King, "So the little one has grown 
up? Cards aren't the only game I play...!" With that, the King threw 
three steel cards at Ukyo. 
  In return Ukyo threw three of her own spatula-darts, deflecting the 
trajectory of the steel cards. 
  "What the...?!" shouted the Gambling King in surprise. 
  "Perhaps you should stick to real card-playing, for all the good you 
are at it, Cheater!" Ukyo said. 
  "I've still an ace up my sleeve!" Snarling in anger, the Gambling King 
threw several poker chips about the ground, using them as caltrops with 
their sharp edges. Ukyo leaped away, then produced a flour-bomb, and 
heaved it. The resulting cloud of flour obscured the King's vision, 
causing him to miss his target. 
  Seizing initiative, Ukyo brought her combat spatula down upon the 
Gambling King's head, running him to the ground. 
  Ukyo stood over the fallen King. "Now who loses?" she taunted. 
  Back inside the dojo, Shampoo still held Gosunkugi in a harsh grip. 
Akane stared the man in the face and said, "If they hurt Ranma, I'll 
hurt you!"
  "Akane...." Kasumi said, concerned for her sister. Perhaps this anger 
streak was inherited. 
  Ling-ling and Lung-lung fought as one, hitting away tentacles that 
went after the other, bashing with their polearms. Then, both planted 
their weapons into the ground, and stood on top of the other end. In 
unison they shouted, "Dual technique: falling star!" With that, they 
somersaulted in the air, uprooting their polearms from the ground, and 
in a wide vertical arc, brought them down on Taro's shoulders. Taro 
merely flinched, then swatted the two girls away. 
  Shampoo couldn't stand it anymore. Shoving Gosunkugi into Kasumi's 
arms, she said, "You can't hurt my sisters like that!" The amazon leaped 
into the fray, flying forth with a deep kick into Taro's exposed gut. 
  Taro snorted in amusement. He grabbed Shampoo by the hair, and tossed 
her into the air. The arc of Shampoo's descent landed her right in the 
middle of the pond on the opposite side of the Tendo house.
  The Kuno siblings danced around their father, taunting him. The 
principal held his shears tightly, not knowing which one of his 
offspring he should deal with first. 
  "Come now, Father!" Kuno taunted, spitting out the last word. "You're 
so arrogant in your own turf, but now that you're here your power is 
meaning-less!"
  "What kind of a son are you?!" the principal bellowed. 
  "What kind of a FATHER are you?!" Kodachi shouted, throwing two clubs 
at the principal. Both stung him in the legs, causing the principal to 
fall to his knees. 
  "Now, FATHER, you will taste the wrath of the Blue Thunder of Furinkan 
High, for I have waited long for the moment in which I would smite 
you!"Kuno raised his bokken, and charged. "Kokuzan!!" In swift motion 
Kuno thrust his bokken in an upward arc, creating a powerful force of 
wind that slammed into the principal, throwing him back. 
  "I'm not beaten yet!" cried the principal, throwing a couple of 
pineapples at his son. 
  Kuno watched the pineapples arc in his direction-- surely they must be 
explosive! Bokken held out in one arm, Kuno spun around in a quick 
circle as the pineapples approached ground zero. The quick attack on the 
pineapples split them cleanly in two, spilling gunpowder about. 
  "You've improved," noted Principal Kuno. "Never before had my son 
bested my techniques!"
  "Now, behold!" yelled Kuno, "The vengeance of Heaven and Earth crashes 
down upon the enemies of the name Kuno! Passed from generation to 
generation of the Kuno swordsmen alone was a secret technique of such 
fury and power that only one possessing such virtue as I, Tatewaki Kuno, 
could ever hope to master it! From the forgotten tomes of my honorable 
grandfather Kuno Heaven and Earth meet in one terrible blow! You are 
wise to tremble in fear as you feel the awsome might of the Blue Thunder 
final attack!"  
  Kuno rushed his father, leaping in the air and bringing his bokken 
down in a harsh downward arc. For a brief moment the bokken seemed to 
crackle with lightning as Kuno cried, "Tenchi raimei kiri!" Chi-created 
blue lightning seemed to follow the descending arc of the bokken as it 
made its way to impact with the principal's person. Upon impact the blue 
lightning bathed Principal Kuno in its eerie light. 
  The principal was out like a log. 
  Ukyo watched as one of Taro's tentacles pulled her combat spatula from 
her grip. Now disarmed, Ukyo didn't know what to do. 
  "Ukyo!" shouted Mousse. "Catch!" He threw a halberd at her feet. 
  Ukyo picked up the halberd nervously. "I don't know how to use this!" 
And just how did he get a polearm like this in his sleeves?!
  Flying through the air, in one smooth motion, Mousse produced an 
impossibly-large number of darts, waving them as they were fans. And in 
one swing, all of them were thrown, biting into Taro's hide before 
Mousse touched down. 
  Mousse threw several chained spears at Taro, but Taro caught them in 
one hand. Swinging them around, Taro sent Mousse into orbit. 
  Konatsu jumped in Mousse's place, tossing several darts from the folds 
of his costume. The darts hardly seemed to faze Taro, so Konatsu drew 
his blade, and descended for a debilitating strike on Taro's arm. 
  Ukyo watched as Taro swatted Konatsu away. He fell against the ground, 
hard, and lay unmoving. 
  "Konatsu!" Ukyo shouted, feeling the concern and anger within her. 
Taro will pay if he's harmed.... "Monster, whoever you are! I'll make 
you pay for harming MY friends!!"
  Raising halberd high, eyes glowing a brilliant red flame, Ukyo hacked 
at Taro, letting anger consume her. Taro bellowed, feeling the blow as 
another would feel a scratch. Ukyo could almost hear him laughing, and 
that made her hack at him with more fury. Hacking continuously, she 
cried, "Why...don't... you... die!!!!???"
  In the meantime, Ranma leaped on Taro's back, pummeling him on the 
back of the head. Taro's eel-tail snapped at Ranma wildly, trying to get 
rid of the annoying pest. Shampoo, having just returned from a hot water 
bath, picked up Konatsu's sword and joined Ukyo in hacking at Taro's 
tough hide. 
  Ling-ling and Lung-lung gathered their wits about them, raising their 
polearms. With Taro distracted, the two made their way to his flanks, 
one on each side. Raising their weapons, they shouted, "Dual technique: 
twin dragon nail!" With that, the twins ran their weapons into Taro's 
hide, biting deep. Taro howled in pain. 
  From far up in the sky, Mousse descended, feet-first, shouting "Raking 
hawk talons!" The nails attached to Mousse's sandals purchased into 
Taro's skin, and ripped several long scars as Mousse completed his 
descent. 
  Taro snorted in anger, then, throwing off Ranma, ascended into the 
air, and disappeared into the night. Had the battle consisted of less, 
Tarowould've wiped the floor with him, but to have six opponents at 
once, and being wounded in multiple areas.... Had the foolish principal 
listened to him, there would've been contingencies. The battle was 
theirs, for now. It wasn't over yet, hermaphrodite-boy, I'll be back for 
you later. 
  Ukyo raised her halberd high into the air, and shouted, "Come back 
here so I can kill you!!!"
  "Ukyo...." Ranma said, concerned. Placing a hand on her shoulder, 
control seemed to return to her. The fires in her eyes dimmed. 
  She looked around, a bit confused. "Ranchan?"
  "He's gone, it's over," Ranma answered. He held Ukyo by the shoulders 
firmly. "Are you okay?"
  "I... I don't know what got into me," explained Ukyo. 
  Ranma released his friend, then walked back to the entrance. There 
were only two other times Ranma remembered when Ukyo did this: when she 
first came to Nerima, and when she appeared at the first wedding. Then 
there was the possessing spirit, but that wasn't really Ukyo, or was it? 
Did he really know his best friend that well, or was there something 
inside her just waiting for blood? 
  Quite frankly, the bloodthirsty, merciless killer in Ukyo scared him. 
  "Ranma!" Akane called from the doorsteps. She ran out to her husband, 
and the two embraced, to Ranma's surprise. Rather, it was Akane who 
hugged Ranma. 
  She looked into Ranma's eyes. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
  "No, it's not me," assured Ranma. He looked over his shoulder, 
checking to make sure nobody was listening. "Akane, something's wrong 
with Ukyo."
  "Ranma, it all comes down to one thing," Akane said. "Do you really 
know Ukyo as well as you think you do?"
  "What kind of a question is that?" asked Ranma. 
  "Everybody has something to hide." Akane looked over Ranma's shoulder 
to Ukyo, who'd collapsed to the ground in exhaustion near Konatsu. 
Whatever it was, she hoped it wasn't something terrible. 
  Ryoga finished with Mikado, destroying his shoes with the 'breaking 
point' technique. Principal Kuno lay bound in Kodachi's ribbon, shears 
just out of reach. 
  Nabiki walked amidst the battle scene. "Now, if we're all through 
here, we've got somewhere to go."

(continued in part 5)
----------------------------------

"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5. 
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Jump. Jump now!"--Kosh, Babylon 5, making some sense. 

--Razorclaw X


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