[Ranma][Fanfic][Lime] Childhood of a Modern Dynasty - Chapter 11: Battle
for the Amazon Way
=======================================================================
Childhood of a Modern Dynasty
Chapter 11: Battle for the Amazon Way

Ranma 1/2 characters/situations created and copyright by Rumiko
Takahashi/Shogakukan/Kitty/Fuji/Viz - Used without permission

Childhood of a Modern Dynasty series created, written, and
copyright 1998-1999 by Jim Lazar

An ongoing series set after the end of the Ranma 1/2 manga and anime.

<Speech text in angle brackets is thought by character.>
"Speech text in double quotes is spoken as Japanese unless otherwise
specified as Mandarin or English."

E-mail comments and/or criticisms to: mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net

Make sure to check out my Modern Dynasty website for
all released CMD stories, graphics files, and other information:
http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime/md
=======================================================================
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:


FFML DRAFT
PLEASE DO NOT REDISTRIBUTE

July 21, 2057

     After we managed to get our crashed spacejet airborne again, Hanaki
had raised someone on the radio and obtained a direct flight path into
Las Vegas' airport. As we neared the city, I could see all the tacky
casinos in the distance.

     "Hanaki, want to get married?" I asked, coming to a decision.
Remembering our declaration in the desert, I added, "I mean legally?"

     "Yes, silly... I already said yes to you in San Francisco." She
gave me that beautiful smile of hers that just made my legs go numb.

     "No, I mean in Las Vegas after we land. It may be a bit tacky to
get married there, but..."

     Hanaki interrupted me by leaning over and giving me a deep kiss.
I'll take that as a yes, I guess. "My grandmother and aunt will be mad
at missing the wedding."

     "Considering how Akane's weddings went, I'm sure they'll understand
if we want to avoid anything else getting in our way."

     "Then, of course, I'll marry you as soon as we get your leg fixed
up," Hanaki said with a big grin on her face.

     I smiled back. Suddenly, the cabin erupted in a torrent of wind. I
looked back and saw that the cabin door had been ripped out of the hull,
along with a large section of the hull. "Shit."

     Hanaki held the control stick tightly and then followed my gaze. In
the opening where the door used to be, there stood a figure. It was hard
to make out clearly, but what you could see was covered with a black
oily substance. Normally you can't see them directly, but when they bled
you can see the black blood as it flowed across their bodies.

      "Buyierfei," both of us said at the same time.

     Unlike the early descriptions of them as blobs of oily black skin
and multiple appendages, this Buyierfei looked vaguely human in shape,
having two legs and two arms. On closer examination, it actually looked
to have four or more arms. It might have had a head, but it was hard to
tell, since the blood only covered part of the body. I'm not sure how it
got on the spacejet, but I know it wasn't the one that was chopped to
pieces in the engine earlier, nothing could have survived that. The
thought that it had managed to hang on to the plane since we took off
and then rip the door out of the hull made me suspect that the Buyierfei
were as strong and unyielding as Akane and Hanaki have told me.

     Things happened very fast after that. Hanaki yelled out,
"Autopilot: Co-pilot assist." She jumped into the back of the cabin as
the autopilot systems took over. Since the plane was damaged this wasn't
the best time to use the autopilot, but Hanaki had to deal with the
Buyierfei that had torn out the door. A control stick rose to my side.
"If we look like we'll hit anything, use the stick to avoid it!" Hanaki
instructed me, while trading blows with the bleeding creature in the
back of the cabin.

     I gulped and looked ahead of the spacejet. Clear so far, but we
were getting dangerously close to Las Vegas. I glanced back at Hanaki
and saw that the Buyierfei had pinned her down. Even as hurt as it
obviously was, it was still stronger than her. I wanted to help her, but
with my leg broken, I couldn't. Of course, this assumes I could actually
have helped if my leg wasn't broken. I glanced forward and saw that we
had cleared the mountains to the East of the city. So far, so good.

     "Left bank..." Hanaki gasped.

     I scanned the scene in front of me, but didn't see any obstruction
that would require evasive movement. So I looked back at Hanaki,
confused. Then I realized she wanted me to turn the spacejet in a hard
left turn to help her throw the Buyierfei off. I nervously took the
control stick and yanked it hard to the left. The whole spacejet tilted
and I saw Hanaki push the Buyierfei off her body. It was thrown back
against the rear bulkhead. I released the control stick and let the
autopilot right the spacejet. Her hands started to glow and a chi ball
appeared between her cupped hands. Without a sound, she released the
ball and it impacted against the bloody creature. It howled in pain and
its inhuman squeal sent shivers up my spine. Parts of its body started
to fall off and became visible. Amazingly, the creature was still alive
and it lurched forward.

     "James! Watch where we're going!" Hanaki shouted, as she landed a
kick to the creature.

     I snapped my head back around to see us bearing down on the Las
Vegas Strip. "Shit." I grabbed the stick and yanked it to the right, but
not in time to avoid shearing the head off a ridiculously huge statue of
Elvis. Even without any flight training, I managed to get the spacejet
level again. Unfortunately, I also managed to smash through a big neon
sign in the process. Of course, the autopilot probably did most of the
work to level us off, so I'll just blame it for the sign.

     I risked a glance backwards and saw Hanaki build up a huge chi
ball. With a shout of "Moko Takabisha!" she launched the ball at the
battered Buyierfei. With an even louder squeal than before, it's flesh
started to burn and it was blasted out the hole in the hull. Well, its
pieces were blasted out the hole. It was obviously dead by the time it
left the spacejet.

     I looked around and saw that we were headed for a large casino
built over the Las Vegas Strip. Not being able to go around the casino,
I edged the stick forward and tried to go under it. I didn't like my
odds of pulling that off.

     "Damn," Hanaki gasped, then jumped beside me and grabbed my stick.
She gently guided us under the casino and through the tall tunnel. I
actually could see the faces on pedestrians as they gaped in amazement
at our spacejet as it shot by. Hanaki reached across me and flicked some
controls. The sound of the engines increased and I thought I heard the
landing gears go down.

      "You're landing here?!" I asked in disbelief.

      "Not much choice," Hanaki replied quickly. We came out of the long
tunnel and gained a few feet in altitude. Hanaki quickly slipped into
her chair, bucked her seat belt and went to work. The strip ahead of us
was full of people frantically running out of the way. Fortunately, Las
Vegas didn't allow private vehicles on the Strip anymore, so it might
actually be possible for Hanaki to land the spacejet in one piece. I
hope.

      Hanaki reached out and pulled the throttle back and I felt the
spacejet dip, suddenly the wheels touched down and Hanaki put the
engines into reverse to slow us down. The front landing gear chose that
moment to break and we were slammed hard against the ground. "Hang on!"
Hanaki called out.

     Ahead of us loomed a large, run-down, pyramid-shaped hotel. Hanaki
pressed hard on the brakes, trying to stop us. Suddenly, we stopped.
Unfortunately, we were also half way into the casino. Coins from a
broken slot machine poured down the window in front of me.

     I pulled my head up and looked over at Hanaki. "Hanaki, are you
okay?"

     She stirred, looked over to me, and gave me a big smile. "Of course
I am. Can't get killed before our wedding, can I?"

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

July 22, 2057

     After our crash landing on the Las Vegas strip, I was whisked off
to the hospital where they operated on my leg. Looks like I'll be
keeping it after all. Hanaki had been treated for some cuts and
abrasions, but nothing serious.

     When I awoke in my hospital bed, Hanaki was laying by my side. The
nurses had tried to kick her out last night, but they had soon learned
not to keep a Tendo woman from her man.

     Hanaki stirred and opened her eyes. "Good morning, James," she
said, then gave me a deep kiss.

     "You look beautiful," I said after the kiss ended.

     "Thank you. You look pretty darn handsome yourself."

     "Did you talk to your aunt?" I asked. I had been so out of it
yesterday that I never got a chance to ask her about this.

     "Yup, they were worried after our spacejet was reported missing,
she even mobilized the Task Force to search for us," Hanaki said.

     "Really?"

     Hanaki nodded. "Good thing too, they'll be able to clean out the
Buyierfei nest before the survivors can get away and setup shop
elsewhere. I'm just glad that it wasn't a monolith or we'd both be dead
by now, possibly along with most of the people in Utah," Hanaki
explained to me

     "Well, you can detect the monoliths when they appear now, right?" I
asked Hanaki.

     Hanaki nodded. "Most of the time."

     "Ever resourceful, you Tendos."

     "We have to be to survive."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Hanaki was sitting, reluctantly, in a chair by my hospital bed. We
both ate the questionable breakfast the hospital had provided. By all
accounts this was what Akane's cooking must have tasted like before she
had learned to follow recipes to the letter. Or even use recipes, for
that matter.

     "So since I'm stuck here until tomorrow, why don't you tell me why
the Amazons were so mad and broke up Ranma and Akane's wedding?" I
asked.

     "Well okay, but no work for at least two weeks after we're married.
Okay?"

     "Of course not. If the door had a lock, I wouldn't even think of
working now," I replied, winking.

     "Naughty boy. Well... it was a shock to my aunt to find out that
Sanma and Ranko were still alive. She didn't have anytime to celebrate
because they had to deal with the attacking Amazons first," Hanaki
began.

     I turned on my palmcard and began taking notes.


***********************************************************************
March 1999 - Nerima, Japan


     After getting a good look at the two people whom had crashed into
them, Ranma and Akane said, "Ranko? Sanma?"

     "Hi, Akane! Miss me?" the red headed girl under Akane said.

     "Hi, big brother! Could you do us a favor and blast the horde of
Amazons who are after us? Ranko and me are kind of out of juice right
now," the red headed girl under Ranma said.

     Ranma and Akane looked behind them and saw about twenty angry
Amazon women standing in the remains of the doorway. At their center was
Shampoo's father, Aftershave. He was not bearing a gift for the wedding.
Unless he was planning to give the large sword he was carrying as a
gift, that is.

     "Shit."

     Ms. Hinako, in her adult form, bought some time by stretching her
arms out and formed a triangle. "Happo Tsurisen Gaeshi!!" she yelled and
blasted the advancing Amazons. Little Hinako giggled and yelled,
"Yaaaaayyyyy! I blasted the bad guys!"

     Most of the other guests had either taken shelter in the corners,
or fled the dojo through a newly created hole made by Daisuke and
Hiroshi. Ranma's two friends had bolted at the first sign of trouble,
not even bothering to see if their dates were with them. Yuka and Sayuri
were not pleased to be ditched like that, but followed the two fleeing
boys through the hole. Watching from a safe distance was one thing,
watching from the middle of the battlefield was another.

     Ranma and Akane got up off Ranko and Sanma then quickly built up
their respective chi energies again.

     The Amazons recovered from Ms. Hinako's blast then started to
advance on the front of the dojo again, Ranma yelled out, "Moko
Takabisha Rapid Fire!!" A series of red-hot chi balls flashed from his
cupped hands and hit several of the Amazons in their chests. They were
sent tumbling in all directions.

     At the same time, Akane held her hands in front of her in an upside
down heart shape. She yelled out, "Aikizuna Mokoutsu!!!" An wide,
oscillating beam of red chi energy shot from her fingers and hit
Aftershave and several other Amazons. They all withstood the attack and
lurched forward against the intense beam of energy. Akane concentrated
hard, calling on the changes that Ranma had suggested that morning after
this attack didn't even faze Kuno the day before. She focused more
energy into her hands and the beam brightened. About half of the
Amazon's were basted backwards into the yard outside.

     Soun, Genma, Dr. Tofu, and Ukyo went into action and started to
subdue the other Amazons. Ukyo was a blur as she used her spatula to
attack an Amazon woman wearing a short mini skirt. <That's hardly a good
choice to fight in,> Ukyo thought to herself. Then she remembered the
fancy kimono she was wearing and smirked at the thought of what she must
look like.

     Soun was wrestling with a tall, buxom Amazon. The Amazon's
squirming to get out of Soun's grip had caused her dress to open,
exposing herself to Soun. <Maybe I've been without my dear Hanaki too
long,> Soun thought. Distracted by the heaving bosom, he was kicked in
the stomach and sent crashing across the room.

     Genma had simply splashed himself with water, jumped on top of
three small women, and pinned them beneath his massive furry body.

     Dr. Tofu was trading blows with a tall Amazon. So far, she had
deflected all his attempts to apply a finger to one of her pressure
points. He suddenly saw an opening, but before his fingers could reach
it Kasumi calmly walked by and applied her fingers to the same pressure
point he was aiming for. The paralyzed Amazon collapsed to the ground.
"Kasumi?" he gasped in surprise.

     "I'm sorry, Tofu, but I can't let you defeat a Amazon woman and
become engaged to her," Kasumi said, then smiled sweetly.

     Dr. Tofu smiled back at her.

     Ranma ran by the Amazon that Ukyo was fighting, landed a heavy
punch to her head, and then ran outside with Akane.

     Ukyo watched her opponent crumple to the ground, unconscious.
"Damn, why did he take my opponent out?" Ukyo cursed. <The jerk doesn't
think I can handle myself in a fight. How dare he!>

     Dr. Tofu came over to her, after paralyzing all the defeated
Amazons with a quick press of his fingers. "The Tendos and Saotomes are
honorary members of the Amazon tribe, so they don't have to worry about
the kiss of death law," Dr. Tofu explained. <Hopefully.>

     "Oh, right."

     "I'm more concerned about why the Amazons are even attacking
them..."

     Nodoka was using her katana to attack a small Amazon woman who was
defecting each blow with a set of bon-bori. Since Nodoka was not a
trained warrior, the Amazon managed to twist her arm out of the way and
sent the katana flying across the dojo. It landed right in between the
panda's legs, slicing a few hairs of his tail and just barely missing
other important items in that area. The panda sweated nervously at the
narrow escape.

     Just as the Amazon was going to deliver the killing blow to Nodoka,
Ranko and Sanma raced by and punched the bon-bori out of the way. They
ended up sandwiching the Amazon between the two heavy balls, knocking
her unconscious. A stunned Nodoka watched her two daughters race outside
right behind Ranma and Akane.

     Outside, the remaining Amazons and Aftershave were battling with
Ranma, Ranko, Sanma, and Akane. Unable to use their special attacks at
such close quarters for fear of hitting each other it was mostly hand to
hand at this point. Ranma had taken on Aftershave who, despite his age
and the fact that he wasn't a warrior to the best of Ranma's knowledge,
was giving Ranma a fight for his money.

     Akane was concentrating on a large woman. While the Amazon had
breasts, the five o'clock shadow made Akane wonder if she was really a
woman. She traded kicks and punches with the Amazon and then winced in
pain as a savage kick raked across her body. The pain wasn't physical,
it was the pain of hearing her wedding gown ripped from her body.
Dressed only in her slip and panties, Akane continued attacking the
Amazon. Akane was really mad now; first the Amazons had interrupted her
wedding and now they had destroyed her gown. Within a few seconds, she
had rendered the big woman unconscious. She looked around for her next
target.

     Ranko was fighting a pair of Amazons, but since she had been
fighting with the Amazons all-day she was understandably exhausted. She
swept one off her feet, but the other swung a pike at her. Ranko barely
avoided the sharp tip of the weapon, but in the process, she fell
backwards onto her butt.

     Just as Ranko was about to be gutted by the weapon, Akane came out
of nowhere and tackled the Amazon. After few well-placed punches by
Akane, she was out of the fight. Ranko took this opportunity to do the
same to her other attacker.

     Sanma had been chased out into the street and was dodging her
opponent's sword by running between parked cars and pedestrians. Like
Ranko, she had been fighting and evading the Amazons all day, not to
mention the last three weeks. In her weakened state, she couldn't use
her special attacks, but she did have one trick up her sleeves. "Oh,
Kuno! Your pigtailed goddess is about to be killed by an evil Amazon!"
she yelled out.

     Out of nowhere, Kuno appeared in a torn and dirty dress. He engaged
the redheaded Amazon in a sword fight. Sanma grinned then thought. <Kuno
does have some use after all. Hmmm, why is he in a dress?>

     Kuno finished dispatching the Amazon by whacking her on the head
with his bokken. Kuno then looked at Sanma and puffed out his chest.
"Ah, my fair flower of passion! I knew that the evil sorcerer known as
Ranma Saotome deceived me in claiming your ample bosom was gone from
this world forever! Now I shall make you my wife!" Kuno recited, causing
several pedestrians passing by to vomit. He pulled Sanma into an embrace
and hugged her closely.

     "That's no way to talk about me or my brother!" Sanma yelled, then
sent Kuno into orbit. She didn't even care where he landed, although the
alligators at the zoo were glad for the second chance to snack on Kuno.
Sanma turned around and raced back to the Tendo house. <Brother? Well, I
guess that's the best way to think of the big jerk.>

     While all these other battles were going on, Ranma and Aftershave
were trading blows. The first thing Ranma did was to trap Aftershave's
sword between his hands. With a quick twist and a savage series of kicks
to his opponent's stomach, he pulled the sword away and flung it into
the distant sky. <Not very good with a sword, apparently.>

     Then Ranma tried to get him into a spiral and use the Hiryu Shoten
Ha, but Aftershave had seen through Ranma's attempts and avoided the
spiral.

     "For killing my daughter and Cologne your whole family shall die!"
Aftershave exclaimed.

     Ranma just tucked the fact that Cologne was dead, despite Sanma and
Ranko being alive, into his memory for later. Right now, he had to get
Aftershave under control. He had never seen Aftershave fight, but he
could see that he was strong and probably had some tricks up his sleeves
like Cologne always did. In fact, Ranma suspected that Aftershave was
using some kind of magic to make him stronger. But above all, Aftershave
was very angry and Ranma suddenly realized he would have to use that to
his advantage. "Aftershave, I'm sorry, but Shampoo was just not as good
in bed as Akane so we had to kill her!"

     This caused Aftershave to stop dead in his tracks. Burning with
rage, he started advancing at Ranma, a deep crimson battle aura
surrounding him. "You dirty rotten bastard! Not only will I kill you,
but I will kill everyone you have ever cared for!"

     "Right, you Amazons are just a bunch of old fools, living your
lives by some ancient Amazon laws that are worthless!" Ranma taunted
Aftershave, slowly backing away from his attacker.

     "Now you die!" Aftershave screamed. In a rage, he threw his whole
body at Ranma.

     From the center of the spiral he had backed into, Ranma shouted,
"Hiryu Shoten Ha!!!" He thrust an arm into the angry hot chi that
surrounded Aftershave. A whirlwind rose from the ground and blasted
Aftershave over the horizon. The small twister churned up the lawn, but
quickly dissipated. Ranma sighed and looked around. Everyone else seemed
to have handled his or her respective Amazons.

     Akane was on the ground hugging Sanma or Ranko, Ranma couldn't tell
which. The other Amazons in the yard were all unconscious. "How are
things in the dojo?" Ranma called out.

     Soun and Genma came out of the dojo. Genma discarded an empty
kettle and said, "They are all taken care of. Gagged and bound till we
decide what to do with them." With Soun's help, he started to tie up the
Amazons outside.

     Ranma took his chance to wrap his arms around Akane and one of his
lost 'sisters'. "I'm sorry, Akane. I wanted our wedding to be perfect,"
he said softly.

     "That's okay. I have my other two lovers back. Um... where is
Sanma?" Akane asked, looking up.

     Ranma snapped upright and looked around concerned. "Sanma!" he
yelled out.

     Sanma leapt over the wall that surrounded the yard and landed in
front of Ranma. "Right here, big brother. Had to get that sword wielding
bimbo away from you all."

     Surprising himself and Sanma, Ranma pulled her into a close hug.
Soon, Akane and Ranko joined in the hug and the four of them clung to
each other and rejoiced in the reunion.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Sanma and Ranko were exhausted after the battle. So after Kasumi
insisted they have something to eat and clean up, they lay down in
Ranma's room and were fast asleep within moments.

     Akane stood in the doorway wearing a robe and looked down at the
two young women. Her face was a mixture of happiness, loving, pain, and
confusion. <What do I do now?> she thought. After the battle ended, the
wedding was pretty much forgotten. Akane was just so overjoyed that
Sanma and Ranko were still alive all other thoughts were driven from her
mind. The fact that the dojo was half destroyed and Akane's wedding
dress was in pieces, also meant that a new wedding wasn't possible for
at least another couple of days. <But which one do I marry? Or can I
marry all three?>

     Coming to a decision, but unfortunately not about the wedding,
Akane slipped her robe off, crawled in between the two sleeping women,
and wrapped her arms around each. It was actually the first chance she
had to cuddle with both of them since the split. Things had been so
hectic after Sanma split from Ranko for her to get close to them both.

     Akane fell asleep in the arms of her two returned lovers. A nagging
part of her mind insisted there was one more that should be here.

     A bit later, Ranma stood in the doorway and looked at the three
sleeping women. "What do I do now?" he said, unconsciously mimicking
Akane's earlier thought. He was shaken out of his thoughts by the touch
of a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and quietly said, "Kasumi?"

     "Don't worry, Ranma. She'll marry all three of you. I can't think
of any reason she'd risk losing any of you after all that's happened,"
Kasumi said, pulling him away from the door.

     "I wish I was as confident as you are. She said she couldn't do
that when we were in Australia. I missed them too, but I have the bad
feeling that this was my last chance to marry Akane," Ranma said as he
was led upstairs by Kasumi. He saw Nabiki at the top of the stairs.

     Nabiki grinned, knowingly. "After the first split she told me that
she loved you both. I'm sure she loves all three of you equally. It'll
just take her a bit to get used to it. Right now, just let her be alone
with them. Tomorrow we'll find out how they survived and why the Amazons
were chasing them."

     "What happened to the Amazons, anyway?" Ranma asked, as he sat down
on Akane's old bed.

     "I called immigration. The Amazons didn't come into the country
legally, so they'll be shipped them back to China. I won't even charge
you for my services," Nabiki said and smirked. "Aftershave is still out
there somewhere, but without his Amazon warriors he's hardly likely to
cause us too much trouble."

     "Thanks... um... why am I up here?" Ranma asked, suddenly realizing
where he was.

     "Just get some sleep and let them enjoy being reunited," Kasumi
said, then she kissed Ranma on his forehead.

     "Take it easy, Ranma," Nabiki said, then kissed him on the forehead
as well.

     Ranma lay in the bed and just stared at the ceiling. He had
expected to be married at this point and looking at Akane's beautiful
eyes, not some dumb ceiling. What sleep he did get that night was filled
with nightmares of being alone for the rest of his life.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     Breakfast came and everyone was cheerfully eating. Even Ukyo and
Dr. Tofu had come over to hear the story of what happened to Ranko and
Sanma.

     Ranma was there, but was just picking at his food. He tried not to
look at Sanma, Ranko, and Akane. <It's like they don't even care that
they screwed up my wedding.>

     Akane eventually asked, "So how did you two escape the monolith? We
searched the canyon for days hoping to find you."

     Sanma spoke up first. "Well, it's a long story. We didn't end up in
the canyon after we destroyed the monolith's heart..."


***********************************************************************
Inside the Buyierfei monolith's heart


     Ranko, Sanma, and Cologne entered the radiant sphere of the
monolith's heart. The ambient light kept shifting through all the colors
of the rainbow as they walked towards the center. Somehow, the center
was easy to make out, despite the fluctuating light. It appeared to be
made out of crystal.

     Ranko snapped her head to the side after catching a glimpse of...
something out of the corner of her eye. "Huh?"

     "What is it, child?" Cologne asked.

     "I think there are Buyierfei in here."

     "Wouldn't be surprised. They might have fled from our salt attack
on that Buyierfei outside the heart, but once they know what we're up to
in here they'll likely attack with all their force. Be ready," Cologne
instructed, looking cautiously around.

     "Okay, how do we destroy the heart with the Hiryu Shoten Ha?" Sanma
asked.

     "Look closely at the center."

     Sanma and Ranko both looked closely at the crystalline center they
had been approaching. "Ah! It's moving around in a little spiral
pattern," Ranko noticed.

     "Yeah! It's hard to tell with the shifting light patterns, but it
is!" Sanma added. "So all we have to do is thrust our cool energy into
the hot air around the center and it'll be destroyed?"

     "Yes, but catching it will be the hard part since it is in motion
continuously. We'd best move in at it from three sides. The ancient
Amazon gods used to hit it from opposite sides, but with three of us in
here we'd best form a triangle around it," Cologne explained.

     "Okay! Um... Cologne?" Ranko asked.

     "Yes, child?"

     "Don't give up hope. We'll get out of this somehow," Ranko said.

     "Yeah. No way these stupid shadows are going to keep me from
Akane!" Sanma declared.

     <If only they knew the pain we'll suffer,> Cologne thought, then
decided it's best to let them have hope. "Let's go, you two take the far
sides of the triangle, I'll head straight in!" Cologne commanded. "We
won't be able to see each other, so first one in position fire off a
Hiryu Shoten Ha at the crystal, the rest of us will follow when we feel
the blast. We have to hit it with at least two blasts simultaneously."

     "Right!" Sanma and Ranko said. Then they started running.

     "What ever you do... DO NOT TOUCH THE CRYSTAL CENTER ITSELF!
Understand?" Cologne yelled at the other two women. Ranko and Sanma
nodded their agreement then started their attack runs. "And kill any
Buyierfei that get in your way!"

      Ranko angled off to the right and was quickly struck down from
behind. <Waiting for us to divide up, huh? Not a bad tactic... but then
you're dealing with the world's greatest martial artist... err... one of
three actually,> she thought as she tumbled to cushion the impact. She
looked behind her, but saw nothing. "Damn, how can you fight something
you can't see?" She got to her feet and started running again. She built
up a small chi ball and tossed it in front of her. She grinned as she
saw several black shapes flicker in mid air and then pieces of dead
Buyierfei crumple to the ground.

      She dodged several more attacks by the invisible enemy, even
managing to clobber a few with some well-timed kicks and punches. A few
more Moko Takabisha blasts added to the dead Buyierfei on the spongy
floor.

      Ranko finally reached the position she was heading for. She hadn't
felt any wind yet, so she waited a few seconds then built up a high
level of cool energy and focused it into her arms. She ran towards the
crystal center and yelled, "Hiryu Shoten Ha!!!"

      Sanma had angled off to the left and was tackled by a group of
Buyierfei in short order. Since she was in physical contact with them,
she was able to see their glossy black skin as it oozed around her.
Remembering the first memory she had inside the monolith and of the
Buyierfei oozing over her naked body, she let out a scream of rage. Soon
she had thrown off and knocked unconscious all of her initial attackers.
She had discovered after hitting several of them that they were
susceptible to heavy blows to a fold of what might be skin on their
central mass and had quickly used it to her advantage.

      She let off a few Moko Takabisha chi blasts as she ran toward her
corner of the triangle. Just as she reached her attack point, she felt a
blast of wind around her. <Ranko or Cologne's attack!> she thought. She
ran right at the center and focused cool chi into her arms. As soon as
she felt the hot aura of energy surrounding the heart, she thrust her
hands out and shouted, "Hiryu Shoten Ha!!!"

       Cologne had run straight forward, adjusting her speed to give
Ranko and Sanma time to get into their positions on the far side of the
crystal center. She used her cane to club scores of Buyierfei out of her
way, even managing to impale several of the blacker-than-night
creatures.

       She reached her position as the wind from one or both of the
other's attacks started to blow her white hair around. "Oh dear, I'll
have to go to the beauty salon to fix my hair now," Cologne commented,
then ran forward and thrust both arms into the hot aura surrounding the
crystal. "For the honor of the Amazon tribe I will banish you from the
face of the Earth like my ancestors did! Die you foul demons!"

      Almost simultaneously, the three whirlwinds jumped out of the
three attacker's outstretched arms and impacted against the crystal
center's massive surface.

     Ten.

     Twenty.

     Thirty seconds went by without any effect. Ranko and Sanma
collapsed to their knees, exhausted.

     Cologne was also exhausted, but she was too stunned to collapse.
"Impossible. Even if we aren't the ancient gods... three blasts should
have shattered the crystal," Cologne muttered to herself.

     Soon, Ranko and Sanma rejoined the noticeably depressed Cologne.

     "Now what?" Ranko asked.

     "Nothing. We are all dead. I'm a fool. I thought I knew enough
about the ancient Amazon legends to combat the Buyierfei," Cologne
chastised herself.

     Ranko and Sanma looked at each other. "Cologne, stop it! I know you
think you've made some mistakes in your life, but now is not the time to
give up!" Ranko snapped at Cologne.

     "We won't let you! Akane and the others are counting on us!"

     Cologne looked up at the two women. "Fine Amazons you would have
made. Pity that..." Cologne stopped suddenly and her eyes grew wide with
fear. "Look out!!!!"

     A bright flash of light behind Ranko and Sanma attracted their
attention. They turned just in time to see the crystal center burning a
deep red crimson behind them. It no longer flashed through the colors of
the rainbow. It was also making a beeline for their position. Ranko and
Sanma screamed in terror.

     Cologne acted by instinct. She raced forward and pushed Ranko and
Sanma out of the path of the crystal and then tried to use her staff to
keep from hitting it herself. Instead of bouncing off the surface, the
staff was sucked into it. Unable to let go in time, Cologne was sucked
in as well.

     Ranko and Sanma looked on horrified as Cologne was drawn in.
Cologne could be seen writhing in pain inside the crystal center. Her
staff started to change from wood into a crystal substance. Shortly,
Cologne's skin began to crystallize as well.

     "Damn! Cologne!"

     "How can we get her out of there?" Ranko asked, desperate.

     "I have no idea!" Sanma replied, then suddenly pointed. "Look!!!"

     Inside the crystal center, Cologne appeared to be a translucent
mass of crystal, but still thrashed around and was obviously in extreme
pain. "HUO BING!" she yelled out in Mandarin, then realized her mistake
and yelled out in Japanese, "FIRE AND ICE! DAAYRAAAA..." Cologne
screamed in agony.

     Suddenly Cologne turned black, as if an internal light was turned
off within her crystallized form.
Then she shattered and the interior of the crystal center exploded with
every color possible... including colors invisible to the human eye.
Ranko and Sanma shielded their eyes from the blinding aurora that
erupted.

     "Cologne!"

     Suddenly, the center dimmed and started pulsing through all the
colors of the rainbow and started moving in a slow spiral once again. Of
Cologne, there was no sign.

     "What happened?" Ranko asked, looking around desperately for
Cologne. Along with Sanma, she started backing away.

     "I don't know, but I think Cologne is dead," Sanma sadly suggested.

     Ranko nodded her head in agreement. "What did she mean by 'fire and
ice'?" Ranko pondered aloud.

     "Maybe she was telling us how to free her?"

     "Or how to destroy the heart... since she was in contact with it
she may have realized something."

     "Fire and ice... ice and fire..." Sanma muttered, trying to figure
out what Cologne meant.

     Ranko slapped the palm of her hand excitedly. "Maybe instead of
relying on the center for the hot energy we should use our fire and ice
flying dragon attack on it!"

     "It's worth a try! Cologne did say it took two vortexes to destroy
it... let's do it!!"

     "I'm fire!" Ranko shouted, as she ran towards the left.

     "In ten seconds!" Sanma yelled back, as she ran towards the
opposite side. She fired off a quick Moko Takabisha blast to clear the
way of any Buyierfei that might have been in her path. She saw some
black shapes flicker and fall to the ground in front of her.

     Ranko finished counting to ten, thrust her arms in front of her,
and turned towards the crystal center. "Hiryu Hibashira Ha!!!" she
yelled and projected a long hot beam of chi from her arms.

     Sanma had done the same, except generating cold energy. "Hiryu
Hyouchuu Ha!!!" she shouted and pushed her ice pillar into the heart.

     As the two pillars, one hot-one cold, touched the crystal surface
the two energies mixed with the neutral energy of the heart. Ranko and
Sanma's pillars of chi turned into whirlwinds and impacted against the
surface of the crystalline center. Before their eyes, the crystal
started to crack. Then it shattered and exploded outward, engulfing them
in a black void.

     Everything went dark. They felt their flesh ripped from their bones
and their minds torn into tiny fragments...


***********************************************************************
February 1999 - Jusenkyo, China; Joketsuzoku, China


     And then they blinked. Ranko looked around and saw Sanma standing a
few meters away from her. "Sanma?"

     "Ranko?" Sanma said, as she looked around confused.

     Both of them scanned the area they found themselves in. "Huh? This
isn't the canyon we were in!" Ranko remarked, looking around.

     Sanma and Ranko both recognized the place they hated most in the
world. "Jusenkyo," they cursed at the same time. Technically, Jusenkyo
wasn't a curse word, but to the Ranmas it was.

     "How the hell did we get here?" Ranko asked. Sanma just shrugged.
"Could the others be back in Australia?"

     "Probably. We destroyed the center of the heart and Cologne said
that should allow those outside of it to escape."

     "Yeah, but she also said we should be dead."

     "Are you complaining?"

     Sanma looked around the ruins of Jusenkyo. "No, I'm not. Any sign
of Cologne?"

     "No. Maybe she's somewhere else?" Ranko suggested.

     Sanma shrugged. "I can't believe she'd survive being turned to
crystal. She gave her life for us... I think."

     "Just like Shampoo," Ranko muttered and bowed her head. "It's not
fair."

     "Life rarely is."

     "I hope Akane and the others are alright."

     "We'll call as soon as we get back to civilization."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     After spending a night in the ruins of Jusenkyo and looking for
Cologne, Sanma and Ranko walked towards the Amazon village. Unbeknownst
to them, several shadows with no apparent source flowed across the
ground behind them.

     "She was an outcast from the Amazons, you know," Ranko mentioned as
they neared the Amazon village.

     "Yes, but she died an Amazon. She deserves the honor of all the
Amazons," Sanma suggested. "It's the least we can do for her."

     "I hope we don't end up regretting this," Ranko mentioned.

     "What could go wrong? We're members of the tribe and all."

     "Okay. We'll need some supplies to get back to Japan anyway."

     A female voice called out in Mandarin to them. Ranko and Sanma
looked up and saw the tall, green haired woman who was challenging them.

     Hoping that the sentry knew Japanese, Sanma declared, "We are Sanma
and Ranko Saotome, members of the Amazon tribe."

     "What is your business here?" the sentry asked in Japanese.

     "We bear news of Elder Cologne. She died honorably for the Amazon
Way," Ranko replied, hoping that she was explaining correctly.

     "Elder Cologne died many weeks ago."

     "Yeah, we know that you kicked her out... but she helped us defeat
the Buyierfei," Ranko explained, hoping the mention of the Amazon's
ancient enemy might get some reaction. It did.

     The sentry quickly kissed her fingers of her right hand and touched
them to her temple. "Follow me, but do not speak that name again."

     Ranko and Sanma exchanged glances and then followed the sentry.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     The Circle of Elders was where all matters of great importance to
the Amazons were discussed and decided. Months earlier, the Circle had
banished Cologne from the tribe, but now Ranko and Sanma sat in the
middle of the circle and were finishing the tale of their battle with
the Buyierfei.

     The Matriarch of the Amazon tribe considered the story for several
moments. She scratched her wrinkled chin thoughtfully. "What did you say
Cologne's last words were?" she asked, from her raised dais.

     "Something like 'how bing'," Ranko said.

     "Then in Japanese she said 'fire and ice' to tell us how to destroy
the center," Sanma added.

     "'Hou bing' means fire and ice... but what was the last thing you
said she gasped?" the Matriarch asked.

     "'Daayraa', I think."

     "Daira... the name of our ancient gods," the Matriarch explained.
All the assembled Amazons, including the Matriarch, kissed the fingers
of their right hands and touched their temples. "Hmmm..." the Matriarch
pondered, then raised her golden staff above her head to indicate she
was going to render judgement. "Cologne would not have used their name
without cause. The Ancient Enemy were in Australia after all. Elder
Cologne deserves an honorable funeral. Thank you for your service to the
Amazon tribe." The other Elders all tapped their canes twice in
agreement to the pronouncement of the Matriarch.

     "Well, we didn't have much choice," Ranko mentioned.

     "If we could get some supplies we'd like to get going after the
wake," Sanma asked.

     "Of course, you are honored members of the Amazon tribe. What is
ours, is yours."

     "Thank you, Matriarch."

     "But Amazon wakes take weeks to prepare, you have paid Elder
Cologne her due honor by coming here.

     "Okay, if you're sure. Um, do you know how we ended up in
Jusenkyo?" Sanma asked.

     The Matriarch cupped her hands. "The Ancient Enemies' monoliths are
all connected and the last one was destroyed at Jusenkyo. After that
final battle, the Amazons settled here in Joketsuzoku. The ancient
stories speak of warriors that would disappear from monoliths and be
magically transported to previous battlefields or even between multiple
monoliths."

     Ranko and Sanma looked at each other, confirming their mutual
thoughts that Akane and the others were probably safe back in Australia.

     As they left the Circle of Elders, they failed to notice the
shadows that followed them or the ones that stayed within the round hut
that the Circle met in.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     In a hot humid tropical jungle, a man that looked like Ranma, but
wasn't, stood in the middle of a large clearing. Well, it was clear
because the palm trees and other vegetation that used to be there had
just been reduced to a fine black powder. The man's eyes turned entirely
black and the black powder came together and grew into about a hundred
small, pointed spires. After they all reached about two meters in
height, they stopped growing and his eyes returned to their normal human
appearance.

     He surveyed his work and smiled devilishly. "The nest is ready," he
spoke using Ranma's voice, but at the same time it had a quality to it
that made it sound inhuman. He straightened his simple black shirt and
then noticed a shadow approach from his left and turned towards it.
"Report."

     The shadow flowed across the ground and touched his feet, causing
the man to go stiff. After several seconds, he scowled. "The bitches
still exist in this era?! Impossible!" His mind, as it was, recoiled in
shock and anger. He started to pace around the 'nest' that he had just
formed, and then he stopped as a plan came to his evil mind. "Perfect.
To use the bitches to gather the collectors, what great irony." He
started laughing in a deep throaty voice that was definitely not Ranma's
voice.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     The next day, Ranko and Sanma walked casually down an old dirt road
wearing large packs on their backs. "That went well," Sanma mentioned.

     "Yes, looks like our luck is finally working in our favor," Ranko
remarked. Almost immediately, a bon-bori impacted the back of her head
and she crashed tot he ground.

     Seeing Ranko crash to the ground, Sanma spun around quickly and
deflected the blow meant for her. She began trading blows with the large
woman who had attacked her.

     Ranko kicked the shin of her attacker and sprung to her feet. "What
the hell are you doing!" she yelled.

     "For killing my daughter," Aftershave declared, then quickly added
as if an afterthought, "...and Elder Cologne, you and your families
shall die! That is now the Amazon Way!" He finished by swinging the
bon-bori he held at Ranko again. Had Ranko or Sanma been closer to him,
they might have noticed the faint shadows that drifted in Aftershave's
pupils, but they didn't.

     "Damn, Shampoo's father..." Ranko muttered, blocking the swings.

     Still trading blows with her opponent, Sanma said, "Aftershave, the
Circle of Elders gave us free passage!"

     "The old Amazon fools are no longer our leaders! From this point on
*I* lead the Amazons!" Aftershave declared. Although there was no way to
tell if he was telling the truth, the horde of Amazon warriors standing
behind him seemed to confirm this. All two hundred of them were armed to
the teeth.

     "Oh... crap... this is going to hurt." Ranko muttered.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     In the tropical jungle, the evil Ranma looked at the battle through
Aftershave's eyes and chuckled. "The bitches under a man's control. A
fitting punishment for the ones who had imprisoned us for so long." He
strolled among the black, pointed spires, which had already grown to
about four meters in height.


***********************************************************************
March 1999 - Nerima, Japan


     "And boy did it hurt," Ranko told the assembled people in the
Tendo's family room.

     "Yeah, we barely made it out of that first fight alive. We spent
the next three weeks fighting them and trying to avoid them," Sanma
said.

     "How did Aftershave get control of the Amazons?" Ranma asked.

     "We don't know. The Amazons being a matriarchal tribe, it surprised
us too," Sanma replied.

     Ranko added, "Yeah. It's not like Aftershave was willing to talk
things over with us. Personally, I think he used Cologne's death to
carry out his revenge for Shampoo's."

     Ranma agreed. "Yeah, I doubt he was really that upset by her death.
He never seemed close to her."

     "It's too bad about Cologne, but she lived a long life," Ukyo
mentioned. <At the end there, she was actually nice.>

     "Well, I can't say I ever really liked her, but I'm sorry she
died," Ranma said.

     "I'm just glad we managed to ditch most of the Amazons by the time
we made it to Japan," Ranko remarked.

     "You could have called," Akane mentioned, miffed.

     "We're sorry, Akane. We tried several times, but the Amazons were
on our heels the whole time. It was not an easy trip," Ranko explained.

     "You're forgiven. I'm just glad you're back with us," Akane said,
drawing them both into a hug. "I missed you both."

     "Well, you sure didn't wait to get married," Ranko commented, not
being able to hide the bitterness in her voice.

     "Well, the twentieth came and I didn't want to put it off any
longer with everything that had already happened," Akane explained. "I
didn't forget about you, but..."

     Sanma interrupted. "But the wedding was supposed to be in March!
Not February!"

     "Ummm.... it's March twenty-first, guys. We were inside that
monolith for over three weeks... somehow," Ranma informed them.

     "Three..." Ranko muttered.

     "... weeks," Sanma finished.

     Ukyo smirked. "We had the same reaction."

     Akane reached over and took one of Ranko and Sanma's hands in each
of hers. "I thought you knew or I'd have mentioned it sooner."

     "Well, we didn't have much time to worry about looking at a
calendar."

     "Then as soon as the dojo is repaired we can all get married!"
Sanma declared, hoping that it was true.

     Akane's happy expression turned into a frown. <Can I do that? Can I
marry all three of them?>

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "How did we miss three weeks in the monolith?" Sanma asked as she
soaked in the tub.

     Ranko shrugged and climbed in. "Beats me. Let's just enjoy being
home," she declared.

     "Yeah. What do you think about Akane's red hair?" Sanma asked.

     "It's kind of cute on her, but she needs a pigtail," Ranko
remarked.

     "That could get REALLY confusing. I just wonder what she's going to
do about..." Sanma tailed off, leaving her worse fears about Akane not
marrying her unspoken.

     "Don't worry, she loves us all," Ranko insisted. <I hope.>

     "Yes, she does," a male voice said.

     "Pervert!" Sanma and Ranko yelled in unison, covering their
breasts.

     Ranma was standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe.
"Chill out, ladies. You have nothing that excites me," he insisted.

     "Tell that to someone who doesn't know what you thought when you
saw Akane naked that first time," Ranko said, forgetting to correct
Ranma over the 'ladies' remark.

     "Yeah, we know you were turned on by seeing her," Sanma added.

     Ranma said the first thing that came to his mind. "So were you
two!"

     "Gee, Ranko, that was sort of a lame comeback. Are we sure he's one
of us?"

     "Well, I think we got the brains in the split."

     "That's obvious. Did you see the score Ranma got on his finals?"

     "Pitiful."

     "Will you both shut up!" Ranma yelled, then continued in a normal
voice, "Listen you two, I'm marrying Akane. If she can bring it to marry
you both as well, I'll accept it. But there is no way I'll let her marry
just one of you," Ranma declared.

     "That sounds like a challenge, big brother," Sanma said.

     "Just a statement of fact. She went through hell over the last
three weeks after losing you two. I've been there for her. I can't, and
won't, let her go."

     "We know, but if it comes down to a fight, you can't beat us. We're
too evenly matched," Ranko insisted.

     "There will be no fighting!" a voice bellowed from behind Ranma.

     Ranma spun around. "Akane?"

     "Just as I said in Australia after Sanma made this a foursome: let
me get to used to all three of you and then I'll decide what to do,"
Akane said, slipping out of her clothes.

     "Okay, Akane. I'm just afraid I lost my last chance at marrying
you," Ranma muttered.

     "If there is anything you should have realized by now, is that I
love you all AND there's always the next wedding to look forward to,"
Akane said, grinning. She gave Ranma a deep kiss, then started to wash
herself on a stool.

     <I'm just worried about who will be at the altar with Akane... >
Ranma thought and turned to leave.

     "Hey! Don't you dare leave. Scrub my back and then hop in with us,"
Akane insisted.

     "It's too crowded in the tub," Ranma mentioned, but started to
scrub her back anyway.

     "We'll find a way to fit," Akane insisted. She finished rising off
and got in. <Maybe we can make the pieces fit in a marriage as well,>
she thought, looking at all of her lovers.

     Ranma removed his clothes and washed up, then slipped into the tub.
After the four people squirmed and exchanged positions they all managed
to fit into the tub.

     "Hey, don't touch me there!" Sanma called out.

     "I'm not doing it because I like you!" Ranko replied.

     "Not you! Him!" Sanma explained.

     "Sorry, I thought it was Akane's," Ranma insisted.

     "We need a bigger tub," Akane suggested.

     Everyone agreed.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "Okay, now what do I do?"

     "You left your mallet at home, right?"

     "Yes."

     "Good. Akane, I can't tell you what to do."

     "What the heck am I paying you for then?!"

     Doctor Higawa smiled. "I can help you sort through your feelings,
but in the end it's your decision."

     "Well, my feelings... I love all three of them."

     "Okay, that's a good start. Let's explore those feelings first. Are
you sure you love them all or are you just saying that so you don't hurt
any of their feelings."

     "No! I may have been reluctant to express my feelings towards Ranma
before, but I can honestly say that I love them all the same. When I
thought Ranko and Sanma had died, a part of me died as well. If Ranma
wasn't there I'd have lost it."

     "Didn't I help?" Doctor Higawa asked, trying to draw her out.

     Akane smirked. "Yes, you did. Thank you."

     "Good. Don't put all your support into one person. You have a large
family that loves you and good friends. You can fall back on their
support during bad times as well."

     "Are you trying to tell me I don't need Ranma?" Akane asked,
confused.

     "No. I'm trying to show you that you're not alone no matter what
you think. Now you love all three Ranmas, correct?"

     "Yes."

     "Why do you feel that you can't marry all three of them?"

     "Well, it's hard to say. First of all it's not actually something
that's normal."

     "Define 'normal'."

     "Huh? Well, I guess it's what everyone expects a marriage to be."

     "Does that really matter to you?"

     Akane considered this for a few moments. "Um... no, I guess it
doesn't."

     "Good. Keep in mind there will be some people who won't be able to
understand or accept that kind of marriage."

     "I know, but I don't care what other people think."

     "That's fine, but you will have to deal with other people's
reactions, so you should keep that in mind as you make your decision.
It's also not exactly legal to be married to more than one person."

     "Okay. Actually, Nabiki said she has a plan for handling the legal
matters."

      "By the way, from what you've told me about Ranma there isn't too
much you could classify as 'normal' about him or his life," Doctor
Higawa commented.

     This made Akane laugh aloud. "Yes... good point."

     "If you hadn't proved some of the things that happened to Ranma and
you when we first started our sessions, I'd have probably classified you
as delusional."

     Akane smiled. "Sometimes I wish I was and could just wake up from
this nightmare."

     "Is it really a nightmare?"

     Akane pondered this for a few seconds, then said, "No, but I
wouldn't mind having a slightly more peaceful life with the man I love.
Err... the man and women I love."

     "Now then, you love all three of them and you've accepted that it
might not be socially correct, but you can ignore that for your love.
What else is keeping you from making the decision?"

     "Sometimes when I'm close to Ranko or Sanma I feel like... I'm a...
lesbian," Akane awkwardly said.

     "Akane, we've discussed this after you got out of the hospital and
again before your winter training trip."

     "I know, but it still feels wrong."

     "Are Ranko and Sanma men or women?"

     "Well, they're women of course. Just like you and me."

     Doctor Higawa raised an eyebrow. "Before Ranko and Sanma split from
Ranma you said you considered Ranma a man even if his body was sometimes
a woman's, right?"

     "Well... yeah, but now Ranko and Sanma are separate people and
women full time."

     "Do they think of themselves as women or men?"

     "Those stubborn fools? They still consider themselves men of
course."

     "Akane, if that's how they feel you should accept it and try to
look at them the same way."

     "But it's kind of hard to think of them as men when I'm making love
to them."

     Doctor Higawa paused briefly to consider this. "Yes, I'd imagine it
would be. Does it feel different when you make love to the female
Ranmas?"

     Akane blushed. "Um... yes."

     "The physical sensations may be different, but what about how you
feel inside?" The doctor tapped her chest.

     "Ummmm... no. My feelings of love and pleasure are the same with
any of them."

     "Any of them... I assume that means you've made love to Ranko and
Sanma since they returned?"

     Akane looked embarrassed and softy said, "Yes, the night after they
returned. Separately, of course. I doubt any of us would be able to
handle some of the group things you hear about."

     "Orgies," Doctor Higawa mentioned, causing Akane to blush. "And
your feelings of love were the same with each woman when you made love
to them?"

     "Yes."

     "And then before with Ranma?"

     "Well, later that night it was the same passion that filled my
heart."

     Doctor Higawa gasped. "All three of them in one night?"

     "Yeah... err... is that wrong?" Akane asked sheepishly.

     "No, AMAZING is more like it. Maybe I should take up martial arts,"
Doctor Higawa commented, grinning broadly.

     "Well, our dojo is always looking for new students, just don't say
WHY you want the training or my father might decide to start advertising
it as Tendo School of Anything Goes Love Making," Akane said, grinning.

     Doctor Higawa smiled back. "Well anyway, you don't really think or
feel different towards them when you are intimate with each of them?"

     "No... I guess not."

     "Okay, then have you ever had any sexual feelings towards other
women?"

     "What?! No, of course not. Or other men really... although there
was this one man I liked growing up."

     "Yes, Doctor Ono I presume. He's a man and un-cursed. Well, there
you go then. Some may consider you bi-sexual for having the relationship
you have, but since you, Ranko, and Sanma all think of them as men I
don't think that definition applies. Trust me... I've had to do a lot of
research to help you, standard psychotherapy techniques don't really
cover your experiences with Ranma."

     "I imagine. Okay, so I'm not gay, Ranko and Sanma are men, and I'm
desperately and totally in love with three different men even if two of
them have breasts and well... you know. Now what?" Akane asked,
accepting at least some of what the doctor was saying.

     "Are the three Ranma's really different?"

     "Yes and no. Since the splits they have changed slightly, but I
guess deep down they are all the man I fell in love with."

     "How have they changed?"

     "Well, Ranma has gotten a little more romantic and gentle."

     "Why do you think that is?"

     "Um, maybe because he's not overcompensating for his perceived loss
of masculinity anymore?"

     "Possibly. I see you were paying attention to our discussions about
Ranma during our first sessions. Since he no longer turns into a girl,
he can let his true self out now without thinking he has to prove he's a
man all the time. I assume you like him like this?"

     "Yes, he doesn't act like a big jock as much anymore."

     "What about Ranko?"

     "Well, she's gotten a bit more emotional and tends overreact to
things more."

     "And this is because?"

     "I don't really know. I think that I didn't give her enough
attention after the split and she might have thought I was going to dump
her for Ranma."

     "Okay, and Sanma?"

     "Well, I've really only known her as a separate person for a few
days altogether. Mostly she's like Ranko, but a little moodier. I don't
know why."

     "That's okay for now. You do realize you used 'she' for both of
them?" Doctor Higawa commented.

     "Err... well... it just seems natural to refer to them like that
when speaking about them. I still think of them as men inside."

     "Good. I just wanted to make sure we weren't going backwards."

     "No, I think I feel better now."

     "Excellent. So maybe now is a good time to stop for today. I'll see
you in a week," Doctor Higawa said, making a few notes on her notepad.

     "Um... but I still can't decide what to do.'

     "Why the rush?"

     "I don't know, but after all the destroyed or aborted weddings I've
had, I'm just scared to put another one off too long."

     "Well, marrying anyone is a big step and not something to rush
into. Marrying three people is going to be even tougher. You don't need
to think it's now or never, if they won't wait for you to decide maybe
that's the pressure you feel."

     "I guess. They have asked what I'm going to do, but they haven't
said 'decide or I leave' or anything."

     "There you go. Sleep on it, maybe even get away for a night or two
with your sisters to clear your head."

     "Hmmm, that might be a nice idea. Go to a hot spring or something."

     "Good! Go out, have some fun, and relax. If you decide... that's
great. If not, flip a four sided coin."

     "Four sides?"

     "One side for each Ranma and one for all three of them. Relax, I'm
only kidding. Remember no need to rush into a decision."

     Akane smiled and got up. "Thank you again, doctor."

     "You're welcome. And thanks for not blowing up my roof this time."

     "Err... yeah... sorry about that."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "So, why the day trip to the beach?" Ranko asked, looking down the
deserted beach from the bus stop.

     "Yeah, it's a bit cold for a beach trip," Sanma mentioned, pulling
her coat closed.

     "I wanted to show you something," Nodoka said. She started walking
down the beach.

     Ranko and Sanma looked quizzically at each other, shrugged, and
followed their mother. After walking for several kilometers, Nodoka led
them into a cemetery.

     Recognizing where they were, Sanma asked, "Why are you bringing us
here?"

     "Just wait," Nodoka said, leading them through the gravestones. She
stopped and then pointed towards a large gravestone.

     "What's the big deal?" Ranko asked.

     "Look closely."

     Sanma and Ranko looked closer. "Oh..." Sanma gasped and traced HER
name on the Saotome family grave.

     Ranko shuddered as she saw her name and her fingers trembled as she
reached for the letters. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

     "No. I brought you here to show that we didn't forget you. You were
missed and honored as a part of my family," Nodoka said, pulling her two
daughters into a hug.

     "Even me? I mean... no one really knew me," Sanma asked, downcast.

     "Even you. Ranma and Akane missed you, we all did. Both of you."

     Ranko nervously rubbed her hair. "It's creepy... seeing your name
on a gravestone."

     "Yeah," Sanma agreed.

     "I just wanted to make sure you both understood that we didn't go
ahead with the wedding without morning for you," Nodoka explained, then
pulled some incense out, lit it, and placed it on the grave.

     "Thanks, Mom."

     "Yeah, how did you know we were feeling forgotten?"

     "A Mother knows," Nodoka said, smiling sweetly.

     They all paid their respects to their ancestors and then turned to
leave. Suddenly, Ranko stopped and looked back at the grave. "Um... can
we have the names removed?"

     Nodoka smiled. "The men are going to do it tomorrow, that's why I
insisted on coming today."

     "Good."

     "Yeah, no use tempting fate."

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     After Akane and the others returned home, she stood in the garden
with the three Ranmas. "Hey! I want to stand there!" Sanma said,
elbowing Ranko.

     "I was here first!" Ranko replied.

     "No fair pulling seniority!" Sanma glared at Ranko.

     "Stop it! Sanma you can stand in front of Ranma and me, since you
are shorter than us it'll look fine," Akane instructed, pulling Sanma in
front of her.

     Nabiki looked through the viewfinder of her camera at the posing
couple. <Quadruple? Four-some? Damn, I don't know how Akane can keep all
this straight,> Nabiki thought to herself, trying to line up the shot.

     Sanma spun around and glared at Ranma. "Quit pinching my butt,
Ranma!"

     "That was me, Sanma," Akane mentioned.

     "Oh, then try rubbing it then."

     "Sure thing, honey," Akane replied and started rubbing the
aforementioned spot.

     "Me next."

     "Don't forget your MALE fiancee!"

     Akane rolled her eyes.

     "No funny faces!" Nabiki said. "Everyone smile on the count of
three...one...two...three!" Nabiki took the picture. "Okay, now one
without bunny ears."

     "What?" Sanma asked, confused.

     "Well, Akane gave you ears and Ranma gave Ranko ears...now behave
yourselves or else I'll call in your debts. One...two...three!" Nabiki
snapped another picture.

     And finally, Akane had a real picture of herself and ALL three of
her lovers.


***********************************************************************
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:


July 24, 2057

     I'm free! After I was discharged from the hospital, we checked into
one of the fancier hotels on the strip as far from the crashed spacejet
as possible. Hanaki had joked that we should check into the hotel we had
crashed the jet into, but I thought that would be a bad idea.

     Hanaki wheeled my wheelchair through the hotel's casino on the way
to our room. I had suggested separate rooms, but she had shot that idea
down fast. We'd be getting married tomorrow for one thing. For another,
we had consummated our relationship in the desert already.

     "Hey, before turning in lets blow some of the money I made on
'Birth of a Modern Dynasty," I suggested as we passed a Twenty-one
table.

     Hanaki smiled sweetly. "I'd have thought you 'd want to get
upstairs faster."

     "Well, I've been in that damn hospital bed for the past three days
and really don't need to sit in another bed," I explained. Hanaki raised
an eyebrow in response. "Besides... after we get married we won't be
spending too much time out of the room." I winked.

     Hanaki blushed. I smiled back at her. I remember this Hanaki from a
year ago. She had always seemed quite shy back then, but over the past
three months she seemed to come out of her shell and show me the real
her. I loved her more every time I looked at her.

     "Okay, James, but don't lose too much. You'll have a wife to
support after tomorrow," Hanaki remarked.

     "Don't worry, my first book has given me riches greater than
money," I said.

     "It did that well?"

     "It gave me you."

     "Flatterer," Hanaki said, then kissed me. She wheeled me over to a
free spot at the table.

     "It's only the truth," I insisted, laying down my cashcard. "Five
thousand, please," I instructed the dealer in English, then addressed
Hanaki again, "If I reach for my cashcard again, mallet me."

     "Deal," Hanaki agreed with a smile.

     "Here you go sir... five thousand in black," the female dealer said
in English, pushing some chips towards me. Suddenly she gasped. "James!
What on earth are you doing in Vegas?"

     I looked over at the dealer and gasped myself. "Jen! Err...
goodness, fancy meeting you here." I looked awkwardly at Hanaki then
back at Jen.

     A voice came from my palmcard, "Command not understood, please
rephrase."

     I gulped. 'Jen' was my access code for my palmcard. I quickly
toggled my palmcard off standby mode. Nervously I said, "Um... well...
me and my fiancee crash landed in the desert. So I'm sort of mending my
injuries."

     "Fiancee? She's way too cute for you," Jen replied and started
dealing the cards.

     Ignoring her joke, I said, "Yes. We're getting married tomorrow.
Um... Hanaki, this is Jen. She was sort of my fiancee for a few years
after high school." I cringed at having to tell her like this. I had
meant to tell her, but the events in the desert caught up with us before
I had the chance.

     "Fiancee, huh? Well, don't worry, HONEY, if there's one thing my
family is used to, it's dealing with fiancees. Um... you did call off
the engagement, right?" Hanaki asked.

     I smiled, then said, "Yes, of course." Then I looked at my cards.
Ick... say goodbye to a hundred dollars.

     "Well, I broke it off actually," Jen commented.

     "Thank you," Hanaki said, smiling.

     "Take good care of the big lug. Thinking back, I probably made a
big mistake," Jen said and then took my money.

     I placed my bet for the next hand and then said, "We were too
young, you know that."

    "Yes, young and in love."

    "Well, love has many forms. I hope you find happiness, Jen," I said,
looking at my cards. Crap again.

    "I'll manage, but Hanaki better be careful about your gambling
problem," Jen mentioned as she took my money.

    "Gambling problem?" Hanaki asked.

    "Oh, I had a problem back then. I'm fine now. Besides, I have you to
keep me from going for my cashcard now," I mentioned, smiling.

     "Well, if I didn't know your first book sold well, I'd think you
were after my families money," Hanaki teased me.

     "I'd love you even if you were poorer than dirt," I insisted, then
received a kiss from my fiancee for my trouble.

     "Hey, I read that 'Birth of A Modern Dynasty' book, not bad for a
two-bit-hack," Jen said. She smiled then took more of my money.

     These cards I was getting were impossibly bad; could Jen still be
angry about our breakup? "'Two-bit-hack' was her nickname for me," I
explained quickly to Hanaki.

     "Well, that's better than what Ranma and my aunt used to call each
other, I guess," Hanaki commented.

     "You're one of THOSE Tendos?" Jen asked, as she figured out the
family connection.

     I sighed. Mention of the Tendos seemed to get that kind of response
wherever I went. Marrying into the family isn't likely to make that
reaction go away, either.

     "Yes, sort of... I'm actually from the Ono branch of the family,"
Hanaki shyly answered.

     "Damn, James. You're not good enough for THAT family!"

     "I keep telling him that, but I think I'll keep him."

     Sigh. A guy's worse nightmare... his current fiancee trading notes
with his old fiancee. I wonder how Ranma would have handled this?
Probably would have blown up the card table, I guess. Since I wasn't
likely to be able to do that, I just grinned as Hanaki and Jen made
small talk.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     "Um... I'm sorry I never mentioned Jen before. I meant to after I
asked you to marry me... but things got a little crazy," I said as I
slid from my wheelchair into the bed.

     "That's okay, James. I understand, worse things could happen. Just
do me one favor?" Hanaki asked.

     "Anything, name it."

     "Change your access code on your palmtop. I don't want to be
reminded of her every time you address your palmcard," Hanaki asked as
she took her blouse off.

     "Of course. Any suggestions? I can't really call it Hanaki since
it'd react every time I talked to you."

     "What about naming it after my first boyfriend?" Hanaki suggested.
"Ah, sweet Toma." Her eyes glazed over.

     "I don't think so," I deadpanned. I hoped she was just pulling my
leg with the lovelorn look she had on her face.

     "Well, plenty of time to decide, let's get to sleep," Hanaki said,
slipping out of her skirt. She slid into the bed with me and started
rubbing my chest.

     "Err... don't you want to wait for tomorrow?" I asked.

     "Why? That's only a formality. We already declared ourselves
married in the desert and to a Tendo that is the same as being married
by a priest or minister," Hanaki explained. She started unbuttoning my
shirt.

     I could never refuse her anything. Thank goodness.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     I waited at the altar in my wheelchair along with the minister, who
looked a lot like Elvis. I had said we should choose a tacky wedding
chapel, but this one was actually pretty nice. Only the minister looked
out of place with his long sideburns and day-glow tuxedo. The wedding
march started and I looked towards the back. I smiled as I saw my bride.

     Hanaki walked down the aisle, looking more beautiful with every
step. My heart pounded. The simple white dress she wore highlighted her
natural beauty.

     "Wait!" a voice called out in English.

     Both Hanaki and me looked to the back of the chapel. "Jen? What are
you here for?" I asked.

     Jen walked down the aisle and passed Hanaki, who actually scowled
at Jen as she passed. Jen stood in front of me. "James, after yesterday
I did some thinking. I... still love you."

     My jaw dropped. Hanaki's jaw dropped. Believing the wedding was
over with this interruption, Elvis started to leave the building.
"Elvis, stay!" I commanded. I turned back to Jen and said, "Jen, I'm
sorry. It's too late. Maybe back then we could have been happy, but I
love Hanaki now. I'll have a special place for you in my heart, but that
was a long time ago. We're both different people now."

     "I was a fool to let you go," Jen said, tears forming in her eyes.

     "Yes, you were. Sorry, Jen, but he's mine now," Hanaki said as she
came up behind Jen.

     "Please don't make any more of a scene, it's been almost ten years
since we've seen each other. You're just having regrets now that I'm
marrying Hanaki."

     "Damn... why did I think you'd jump back into my arms," Jen said,
the tears flowing readily.

     "I don't know either... I can't get out of this wheelchair, you
know," I said, trying to break the tension. Jen and Hanaki both smiled.
"Love does strange things to people. Don't worry, there are worse ways
to break up a wedding," I said, winking at Hanaki.

     "Trust us," Hanaki quipped.

     "Yeah, like the back wall of the dojo being blown apart by a bunch
of crazy Amazons," another voice called out from the back of the chapel.
"Or a mad okonomiyaki chef, or a bimbo with a pair of bon-bori, or..."

     "Damn, who now?" I cursed, then looked to the back of the chapel.
"Akane?"

     Akane stopped reciting her long list and smiled, then walked down
the aisle. "Got done cleaning out the Buyierfei nest and thought I'd
drop by to see how you two were doing. I was a little surprised to find
out you had come here."

     "Oh, well... we didn't want to wait any longer."

     "I can understand that. I HAVE had some wild weddings you know,"
Akane said, running her fingers through her hair.

     For the first time, I registered that she had a bright red
highlight running down her short hair. "Why the red highlight?" I asked
Akane, glancing at the similar highlight in Hanaki's hair.

    Akane raised an eyebrow. "You don't know? Hanaki, you never told
James what the red highlight meant?"

     Hanaki gasped, then said, "Oh my. I assumed he knew."

     "What does it mean?" I asked, confused.

     "I'm sorry, James, I really thought you knew. It means I'm an
active member of the Task Force," Hanaki explained, awkwardly twisting
the red strands of hair.

     "And I always wear it into battle," Akane mentioned, looking a bit
wistful at the end, as if remembering something long ago.

     I gasped. This was news to me. "I never knew you were a member of
the Task Force."

     "I'm a pilot trainee mostly, but I'm trained for the combat roles
like everyone else in the Task Force. I'm really sorry... I can't
believe we never talked about that," Hanaki said, looking downcast.

     I pulled Hanaki close to me and hugged her. "That's okay. I knew
marrying into your family might mean some unusual events. It doesn't
change my love."

     Jen looked at us and muttered. "Damn, I can't beat that... "

     Akane smiled and patted Jen on her shoulder. "Well, you learned
your lesson without blowing anything up. That's better than my record."

     Jen looked at Akane, then gasped, "Oh my... you're the Matriarch."

     Akane rolled her eyes. "Yes, but I prefer being called Akane."

     Jen said a simple, "I'm sorry, I was stupid," and made an awkward
retreat from the chapel.

     I looked at her retreating back with sadness. Damn, I didn't mean
to hurt her, but there really was no choice. My relationship with Jen
was a fond memory, but my relationship with Hanaki was my future. "Um...
okay, let's finish this wedding!" I declared.

     "Who was that girl, anyway?" Akane asked.

     "His first fiancee," Hanaki informed her.

     "So your wedding was-" Akane said, snickered, then continued,
"-interrupted by a former fiancee?"

     I grinned. "Yes."

     "Oh yeah. You definitely belong in this family!" Akane exclaimed,
then started laughing. Hanaki and me joined her. Elvis just looked
confused.

                    -C-           -M-           -D-

     I stood in front of the chapel and looked down the aisle. The
Anything Goes Task Force members that Akane had gone into the desert
with had arrived shortly after she did. Most of them had the same red
streak in their hair that she did. Except for the redheads of course,
who had a streak of black. I had seen various people at the Tendo
Compound with the red highlight in their hair, but never put two and two
together that it meant anything special to the Tendos. I had assumed it
was a fashion statement of some kind, since unusual hair styles are
quite common these days. So much for my great reporter instincts that I
had honed all those years working for Newstime.

     I was glad that Hanaki could have some of her family on hand for
this. I had offered to wait until we returned to Tokyo, but Akane
insisted that putting off a Tendo wedding was not a good idea. Knowing
what I did of her history, I had to agree.

     Akane, acting as the Matron of Honor, started to walk down the
aisle. She looked a bit odd in the dress she had dug out of the chapel's
rental closet, but it was better than the dirty gi she had worn into
battle. Hanaki appeared, again, at the back of the chapel. I swallowed
hard.

     "Take it easy. You'll make it," Akane's husband, who had taken the
best man's role, said while patting my shoulder. "I was nervous for both
of my weddings too."

     I smiled back and then watched my bride make her way down the
aisle. She was glowing. Hanaki took my arm and we exchanged smiles.

     The minister spoke, "We are gathered here today to join this man,
and this woman, in holy matrimony. If there is anyone present here today
who knows why these two people should not be wed, speak now or forever
hold your peace."

     Everyone in the chapel looked around nervously, but there were no
interruptions. A long release of held breaths was heard.

     "Who gives this woman for marriage?"

     Akane spoke up. "I do, on behalf of her grandmother."

     "Who gives this man for marriage?"

     Akane's husband spoke up. "I do. I guess it's okay with his mommy."

     I smiled and nodded. I had called my mom after the crash and talked
to her via holo-phone. She had known I was dating Hanaki of course, but
the engagement seemed to amuse her no end. If she wasn't under the
weather, she would have flown out for the wedding.

     "James Davidson, do you take this woman, Hanaki Ono, to be your
lawfully wedded wife; to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in
sickness and in health, till death do you part?"

     "I do," I said and slipped Hanaki's ring on her finger.

     "Hanaki Ono, do you take this man, James Davidson, to be your
lawfully wedded husband; to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in
sickness and in heath, till death do you part?"

     "I do," Hanaki said and put my ring on my finger.

     Elvis smiled, then said, "You may now kiss your bride."

     I did so. Gladly.

     Akane smiled as she saw the kiss. "Not bad at all. Only one
interruption. Lucky bastards," she commented.

     I finished my kiss then looked at Akane. "Two interruptions. One by
Jen and one by you."

     Akane stuck her tongue out at me.

     Hanaki and me kissed again.

     "Two hearts beating as one," Akane suddenly declared, raising her
right hand above her head. A glowing ball of chi appeared in her
upturned hand.

     The Task Force members all repeated the statement and held their
right hands above them. A glowing ball of chi appeared in each upturned
hand.

     "Goodness gracious! Great balls of fire!" Elvis exclaimed,
flinching at the sight of the glowing balls of chi.

     All the Task Force members called out, "Aikizuna Mokoutsu!". After
a quick twist of their upturned hands the balls of chi stretched out
into wavy red lines of chi and spiraled upward to form a single beam.
The beam passed harmlessly through the roof and disappeared into the
night to indicate that a Tendo had married successfully.


FFML DRAFT
PLEASE DO NOT REDISTRIBUTE

[End - Chapter 11]

Coming soon: Chapter 12: Medical School Blues
=======================================================================

The real author's (Jim Lazar) notes/ramblings:

Well, there's a real wedding. Unfortunately, not for Akane. Please bear
with me, I'll get to one eventually. Promise.

I admit it, I got the idea for the crash on the strip from Con Air. I
almost didn't have the second Buyierfei or the crash on the strip, but
it seemed like a better ending to their spacejet flight than just
landing normally in Las Vegas.

This concludes the second story arc of the Childhood of a Modern Dynasty
series (covering chapters 5-11). What's next? You'll have to wait for
the next chapter to find out. Well, even longer than that to find out
what happens to the Ranmas and Akane, because it's Kasumi's turn next.
:)

Buyierfei is pronounced: Bu-yi-er-fei  You can also access a WAV file on
my website.

Hiryu Hibashira Ha = Flying-Dragon Fire-Pillar Strike
Hiryu Hyouchuu Ha = Flying-Dragon Ice-Pillar Strike

The 'Aikizuna Mokoutsu' technique is translated as follows: AI=love,
KIZUNA=bond (tie between people), MOKO=ferocious tiger, UTSU=strike.
Utsu can also mean to touch the heart, so it works for both the attack
and the tribute use of the Aikizuna Mokoutsu.

I'd like to thank my pre-readers Jonathan Ng, Johan Holmberg, Ryan Erik,
and Rex Yu for helping me find and fix problems with this story. Thank
you all. Of course in the end, any mistakes and botched characters are
my fault.


Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (July 28, 1998)
Revision 0.3 - Pre-reader draft (January 1, 1999)
Revision 0.4 - FFML draft (January 17, 1999)

-=-
Jim Lazar

E-Mail - mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net
Home - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar
FanFiction - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime
-=-