Honeymoon from Hell: Fight for the Amazon Way
From: "Jim Lazar" <jimlazar@earthlink.net>
To: FFML <FFML@fanfic.com>
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And here's the next part of CMD, any and all C&C is appreciated.
=======================================================================
Childhood of a Modern Dynasty
Chapter 18: Honeymoon from Hell: Fight 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
indicated as English or Mandarin."
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:
September 23, 2057
I walked towards Akane's house as I had done many times since I
started living in the Compound. Considering the lush lawn and gardens,
it was a pleasant commute. Back in LA when I worked for Newstime, I had
an awful hour-long commute on the tube. For some reason LA could not
seem to make their tube system work correctly or stay on time like most
of the other major cities managed to do. All in all, I think I'm
starting to get used to life here in the Compound.
"Get down!"
I looked around at the shouted warning and saw a huge flaming ball
of chi flying directly at me. "Shit!" The chi ball impacted against my
body and forced me backward. I stumbled and fell into the nearby creek.
"Sorry about that. Didn't see you there or I'd have had the systems
intercept it," an older man said, walking up to me. He was in his late
fifties and the red streak that indicated he was an active member of the
task force ran down his gray hair and into his short pigtail. He was
taller than I was and, like most of the Tendos, very fit and muscular.
"Good thing it was just a low-power training ball or you'd be burnt to a
crisp right now."
I looked up and recognized the man who had almost killed me. "Oh,
Yohachi. Wait a sec... THAT was just a training ball?" That ball was
bigger than some of the blasts I'd seen Hanaki use.
Yohachi smiled. "Yup, I'm teaching a class today and sometimes the
balls go wandering if the students don't concentrate enough. Here, let
me help you up."
I took the offered hand. "Thanks, Yohachi."
"I'm really sorry. Um... by the way, the next time someone shouts
get down around here..."
I smirked. "I'll immediately hit the ground like my life depended
on it."
Yohachi smiled broadly. "Good, Mom would disown me if I got you
killed before she finished telling you all her stories."
I smirked, and started wringing out my shirt. "Do you think you
could let me in on some of the big secrets now, just in case I do get
hit by another stray blast someday?"
Yohachi chuckled. "And risk the wrath of the mighty Matriarch?"
I laughed. "Good point. Shashiki suggested I bribe the Reis, but I
don't think I want to piss off a woman who can throw flaming balls of
chi around like that last one."
Yohachi guffawed. "Mom can do much bigger and powerful ones than
that... trust me. Actually, the size doesn't matter as much as the
amount of power focused within it. Some of the more damaging balls we
use are the size of golf balls. And if you really want to avoid balls
like that, you'll have to avoid pissing off anyone on the Task Force.
It's a required skill, you know." He gestured towards Akane's house.
"Learning the Moko Takabisha or learning to avoid pissing off Task
Force members?"
Yohachi chuckled. "Both, actually. You're doing okay with your part
so far."
I smiled and we started walking together. "Hanaki tells me you
taught her the Moko Takabisha. The ones I've seen her do seem impressive
to me, but she says she's not as good as the other Task Force members."
Yohachi sighed. "Hanaki always has had a problem believing in her
own skills and abilities. Her Moko Takabishas are actually above average
for the Task Force when she can concentrate properly. Her problem is she
usually can't focus unless she's backed against a wall. She's fairly
good in combat, but in training she just can't quite get the big ones to
form."
"Something to do with adrenaline maybe? I know she handled herself
pretty good against the Buyierfei we encountered in the desert."
"Possibly, although most of the other Task Force members don't seem
to have that problem. But everyone is different, so their skills vary.
Hanaki's blasts might not as good as Mom and some of the people with
Saotome blood, but quite impressive for someone from Aunt Kasumi's
branch of the family."
"So, the ability does have something to do with heredity?"
"Yes, but with the right training almost anyone can focus their
chi. All it takes is time and the right frame of mind. But the Saotome
bloodline seems to have a gift to be able to store and focus chi better
than others."
"What about Akane?"
"There is some inherent chi ability in the Tendo bloodline too, but
Mom is... unique as far as her chi abilities go."
I smelled a big secret. "How so?"
Yohachi smiled and looked me straight in my eyes. "That's..."
"A secret," I finished for him and sighed in resignation. "Could
you train me to do the Moko Takabisha blasts?"
"Given enough time... maybe. It's not just a matter of teaching you
how to do the technique itself, you have to learn how to control the chi
within you. In most cases, that means training in basic and advanced
martial arts for quite some time."
"I see. So I won't be able to juggle chi balls anytime soon?"
Yohachi smiled and shook his head. "No, that's not likely. Hanaki
was actually one of my fastest students to master the Moko Takabisha, of
course she did have martial arts training throughout her life like most
of the kids. Unfortunately, she didn't start taking it seriously until
she got the urge as an teenager to be a pilot on the Task Force."
I nodded. "Yeah, she told me that. Well, I guess I can thank you
for teaching my wife how to be a superhero."
Yohachi frowned. "We're not superheroes."
"Err... sorry."
"It's okay... I guess I have always hated that label since it
reminds me of my father's death. Somehow the public's impression of us
as superheroes and unbeatable saviors at the time made it harder for me
to adjust to his death. Like the public, I kept expecting him to come
back to us and took my anger and sadness out on my friends and family.
My mother didn't exactly take it well either."
I nodded my understanding. From what I've heard, those were rough
times for the Tendos and Task Force. "Sometimes I wonder if Akane will
be able to tell me about some of those events."
"If she can't, I will. Can't hide our heads in the sand and forget
the bad part of our lives or we'll forget what we're fighting for and
get cocky. That's when we make stupid mistakes like the one that..." He
trailed off and wiped a tear out of his eye.
"I understand." We walked in silence and Yohachi regained his
composure.
"Hiya, boys!" Akane called out as she saw us coming. Sanma was
behind her, rubbing Akane's shoulders.
We waved and said our hellos.
"You didn't tell him any secrets, did you, Yohachi?" Akane asked.
"No, Mom. Although I did mention that you're a horrible tease."
I smiled. "That's hardly a secret."
Akane looked up as Sanma. "They are ganging up on me, Honey."
Sanma stopped her massaging to Akane's shoulders and slipped beside
her. "Well, you are a tease."
"That's not what you said last night." Akane winked and leaned up
for a kiss. Sanma obliged her... for almost half a minute.
"Will you two stop that in public?!" Yohachi pleaded when it looked
like they would never stop.
I smiled and looked at Yohachi. "You hate it when they act like
rabbits in heat, too?"
He nodded. "Yeah, but I can usually get the old man back by
pointing out something I have that he doesn't."
Sanma glared at Yohachi. "Don't you go there, young man!"
"Don't worry, old man, I won't." He smiled broadly and then made
his exit. Before he left, he made one last comment. "Well, since I have
all the right equipment to do so, I guess I'll just go home and sleep
with my wife!"
Sanma watched Yohachi walk away, obviously a little upset with her
adopted son. "Gee, where did that brat get that attitude from?"
Akane smirked. "I can hardly imagine." She wrapped her arms around
her husband and gave her peck on the cheek.
I looked at the cuddling couple in front of me and then at
Yohachi's retreating back. He may not be Sanma's real son, but it looked
like they shared many traits. Understandable considering how much alike
the Ranmas all were. At least when they first split from each other.
I looked back to Akane and Sanma. "Want to get started?"
Akane smiled. "Sure, I can't wait to tell you about my first
honeymoon."
"I think we can skip that. I'm more interested in what happened in
China with the..."
Akane shook her finger. "Tsk... tsk... honeymoon first."
"Okay, but can you try not to go into detail about the sex this
time?" I really didn't want a repeat of the very graphic accounts Akane
had given to me concerning her first few times with Ranma. You just
shouldn't hear stuff like that from a woman of Akane's age. It's...
disturbing.
"Well, if you insist." She turned towards Sanma. "I guess we won't
be able to act it out for him after all."
"Damn... what a spoilsport." Sanma glared at me.
I shook my head sadly. Why do I bother trying anymore?
***********************************************************************
April 12-20, 1999 - Unknown swamp; Hawaii, USA; Nerima, Japan
In a peaceful swamp, the sun rose and cast long shadows over the
muddy water. A flock of birds suddenly took to the air as they sensed
the presence of an alligator slipping silently through the water in
search of prey. Having lost its intended meal, the alligator changed
direction towards a small rodent at the water's edge. It was perfectly
silent approaching its prey. Just as it was about to lash out and devour
the little field mouse, it was crushed flat by a short black monolith
that appeared right on top of it.
After its sudden appearance, the short monolith grew slowly out of
the water, almost like a shadow cast across the ground. It continued to
grow until it was around a hundred meters tall. The birds and animals
around it shrieked in terror at the intrusion into their peaceful world
and fled from the apparition. When the monolith stopped growing, most of
the animals calmed down and returned to their normal sedate lives as if
the monolith didn't exist. Considering that it didn't cast a shadow over
the swamp, maybe it didn't.
At the top of the monolith stood a figure dressed in black that
looked like Ranma Saotome, but wasn't. He looked around and grinned
devilishly. "Perfect. This area will feed us well."
His devilish smile turned into a frown as the monolith settled
slightly and lurched under him. Suddenly he found himself thrown off the
top of the monolith and fell headfirst into the muddy water below. A
normal human might have died from that fall, but not Ranma Saotome. Of
course, despite appearances, the figure was neither.
When he emerged from the water, he was a she. She shook her black
hair dry and then looked around. In front of her unemotional eyes, the
monolith was sinking slowing into the muddy water.
Her eyes turned entirely black and she focused her gaze on the
monolith. The monolith sunk further, but gradually slowed to a halt with
about ten meters left sticking out of the muddy water.
She took a few steps towards the monolith and put her hand flat on
its surface. "Well, all the better to keep the cattle from stumbling
across it until it collects enough energy."
She made her way to dry land and climbed onto the bank. As she
shook herself dry, her skin turned black for a moment and she
transformed back into a man. "Come. We have more to do." He walked off
into the tangled bushes, followed by about a dozen shifting shadows that
flowed across the ground.
The First Monolith, as it would come to be known in the years to
come, sat quietly in the swamp and slowly absorbed the life energy from
the plants and animals surrounding it.
-C- -M- -D-
Akane sat in an airplane seat and gazed at her new husband, who was
sound asleep. She had tried to sleep herself, but found it impossible
after recent events. She was glad of that she was finally married to the
man she loved, but still felt an emptiness in her heart for the two she
left behind. She knew that for the sake of the baby she had to
concentrate on Ranko's well being now, but there was a part of her that
wondered if she'd just made a huge mistake in marrying only Ranko.
She'd promised that she'd marry Ranma and Sanma after the baby
arrived, but she couldn't shake the fear that they might not wait for
her. Needless to say, she'd lost a lot of sleep over these worries
already, and it had only been a few days since she'd made the decision
to marry only Ranko.
She reached up to her neck and fingered the two engagement rings
that hung on a chain around her neck. She sighed heavily and decided
that she had to forget her worries for the next week and just have fun.
She wanted this honeymoon to be perfect. Sadly, she decided to slip the
necklace off and put it into her handbag so she wouldn't be reminded
constantly of the two she left behind.
As she snapped her handbag close, she was shaken out of her
thoughts by the flight attendant's voice. "Miss, can I get you
anything?" the young woman asked in English.
Akane looked away from Ranko. "Um, no thank you. Maybe after my
husband wakes up," she replied absently in English.
The flight attendant looked a bit confused and moved onto the next
row.
Akane sighed as she noticed the confusion on the woman's face and
decided she'd have to get used to that kind of reaction. Some people
might not understand her marriage to Ranko, but she didn't really care.
In every way except legally, she was married to the man who was snoring
quietly next to her.
Akane reached into her bag and pulled out a letter from Ranma and
Sanma. When she and Ranko awoke that morning to an empty Tendo house,
the note had been waiting for them along with the plane tickets and
other reservation information. Akane was very surprised to find that
overnight her friends and family had arranged a honeymoon in Hawaii for
the two of them. Of course, the plane tickets were originally for Ranma
and her to use for their honeymoon before Ranko and Sanma returned from
the dead. The thought brought tears to Akane's eyes as she thought about
what Ranma and Sanma had given up for her sake. <Guess the rings aren't
the only thing reminding me of them.>
After a while, Ranko finally stirred. "Are we there yet?"
Akane wiped the tears out of her eyes and grinned. "Not yet. Still
about and hour away from landing. Sleep well?"
Ranko nodded. "How about you?"
"A little, but still too..."
Ranko frowned. "Are you okay?"
Akane nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry, I guess recent events have taken
their toll on me."
"Tell me about it." Ranko rubbed her stomach.
"Well, don't worry, we are going to have the best honeymoon
possible."
-C- -M- -D-
Akane awoke the next day with a foot in her face. "Huh?" She moved
the small foot out of her face then smiled. "Damn, how could he fall
asleep in the middle of doing THAT?" She overlooked the fact that she
must have fallen asleep during it as well.
She nudged Ranko, causing the redheaded woman to stir. "In a
minute, Akane..."
Akane grinned and rose to a sitting position. She stretched her
arms and then looked around for something to wear. "Oh well, why bother
with clothes on a honeymoon?"
She looked down at her fiance, <No,> she corrected herself, <my
husband.> She reached down and caressed Ranko's cheek, then slid down
the woman's body to feel the small bulge on her stomach where the baby
was growing.
"My breasts are higher, Honey."
Akane started and then blushed. "Good morning." She leaned down and
gave her new husband a deep kiss.
Ranko rose to a sitting position and brushed the hair out of her
wife's eyes. "So what do we do now?"
"Anything we want, it's our honeymoon."
"Anything?"
Akane grinned mischievously. "Anything."
"Great! Let's go workout!" Ranko jumped to her feet and looked
around for a gi to put on.
Akane's jaw dropped. "Huh?"
Ranko turned around and smiled. "Just kidding!" She jumped back
onto the bed and pushed Akane down.
-C- -M- -D-
"Excuse me, miss, but would you care for a drink?"
Akane looked up at the sound of the English voice. "Um, no thank
you," she replied in English, casually showing her wedding ring.
"I'm a waiter for the hotel, miss."
Akane rose slightly from her beach towel and got a good look at
the man. She gulped as she realized she had mistaken him for one of the
other horny guys who had been hitting on her and Ranko during their stay
in Hawaii. "Oh, sorry. Actually, my husband should be back shortly. Can
you get us a couple fruit punches?"
"Yes, miss."
Akane reached behind her, re-tied her bikini straps, and then
flipped around. She looked out at the ocean to see Ranko surfing.
Despite her protests about the baby, Ranko had insisted on catching the
famous waves in Hawaii at least once. Their obstetrician had said as
long as Ranko avoided blows to the stomach, she could keep up her usual
activities for another month or two, but Akane wasn't sure that the
doctor considered surfing a normal activity or not. Of course, most of
what Ranko considered normal was unusual for everyone else. The doctor
had told Ranko to avoid long or strenuous workouts, but as long as she
avoided body blows she could keep her normal workout schedule for a
while.
Akane's husband finally came out of the surf, drove her surfboard
into the sand, and started peeling her wetsuit off. The tiny bikini
underneath immediately caught the attention of most of the guys on the
beach.
Akane smiled as she noticed the sudden attention Ranko had gained.
<Drool all you want boys, but he's all mine.> As Ranko plopped down
beside her, Akane leaned over and gave the redheaded woman a long kiss.
All around them, the perverted dreams of the boy were either dashed
as they realized they no longer had a chance with the redhead or
enhanced as they pictured themselves in a threesome with both girls. And
a few women on the beach suddenly became interested as well.
After the kiss, Ranko looked around awkwardly. "I thought you
didn't like to kiss in public?"
Akane smiled. "It's not like anyone knows us here and I just want
to make sure all of the horny guys on the beach know that you're not
available."
Ranko looked around and seemed to notice the attention she was
receiving for the first time. "Feh, like they'd get more than a fist in
their face if they tried anything."
Akane smiled.
"Here, you go, miss."
Akane looked up at the waiter and took the offered tray of drinks.
"Thank you. Charge it to room seven-eighty-two," she replied in English.
After he left, she handed one to Ranko.
Ranko took the drink. "So what do you want to do tomorrow?"
"Well, there is a tour going into the jungle and visiting the
volcano."
"Sounds a bit boring, but okay."
Akane smiled. "Right now, I could use a little boredom."
"We could always spend more time in the hotel room." Ranko winked.
Akane smiled and leaned over and gave her husband another kiss. "We
will, but I think spending the first three days of our honeymoon without
leaving the hotel room was enough."
"Oh, bad students! Cutting class very bad!" the Principal cried out
as he approached them.
Akane and Ranko both looked around in shock at hearing the familiar
voice.
"Principal?" Akane gasped.
"Naughty girls shouldn't skip classes to come to Hawaii! You must
be punished!"
Ranko huffed. "Give us a break! Our parents said they'd clear it
with the school. What the hell are you doing here anyway?"
"Me am recovering from bad students who beat me up, that's what."
Ranko grinned and clenched her fists. "Well, go recover somewhere
else! This is our honeymoon, jerk!"
"Bad students can't be married. You both be girls."
Ranko rolled her eyes then exchanged glances with Akane. Without a
word, they each jumped to their feet and leapt at the Principal. They
landed punches to his stomach and then flipped him over and pounded him
into the sand headfirst.
"I think this beach is too crowded, let's go back to our room."
Akane smiled. "Room service again then?"
"Maybe, but I was planning on a different kind of service first."
Ranko winked.
The two newlyweds walked off towards their hotel, leaving the
Principal embedded in the sand. "Very... bad... students..."
Two kids walked up and started building a sandcastle around the
legs of the principal, which became tall turrets.
-C- -M- -D-
"Well, its flat," Ranko commented as she looked at the rocky lava
bed in front of them.
"Yes," Akane agreed.
"And black."
Akane smirked. "Yes, it is."
"Very black."
"Maybe this is too boring."
"Well, when I'm with you, I'm never bored."
Akane blushed. "Thank you, Ranko." She looked ready to lean over
and kiss Ranko, when a voice called out.
"Oh, good students! Learning all about wonderful volcanoes!"
Akane and Ranko both cringed at the voice.
"Damn, are you following us?" Ranko spat.
"Of course. It is my responsibility to ensure that my students get
a good education at all times!"
Ranko huffed. "We..." Ranko took a step towards the Principal.
"Are..." Ranko pulled back her fist. "On..." Ranko drove a punch into
the Principal's stomach, sending him crashing into his bus. "Vacation!!"
From the dent he was embedded in, the Principal gasped, "Very...
bad... students." Then he fainted.
Ranko relaxed from her battle stance. "Well, there's some
excitement for you."
"Whoopee," Akane said flatly. "Let's get back on our tour bus."
"He'll just be right behind us the whole day."
A mischievous glint came to Akane's eye. "Not if we leave the tour
at the next stop."
Ranko smiled.
-C- -M- -D-
"Come on, the clerk at the hotel said it was back along this
stream."
"Sounds like you planned to ditch the tour all along."
Akane feigned innocence. "Who me?"
Ranko smiled and then gasped as she saw the jungle open up in front
of her. "Wow."
Akane smiled as she took in the sight of the lush clearing in front
of her. A large waterfall cascaded down the steep, fern-covered cliff,
into a crystal clear pond. The light from the late afternoon sun cast a
rainbow across the mist that rained down around them. "Beautiful."
The Exotic birds floated on the surface of the water scattered as
Ranko reached down and dipped her hand into the crystal clear water.
"It's warm."
"Great."
Ranko looked around just in time to see Akane slipping out of her
panties. Her shoes, blouse, shorts, and bra already lay in a pile by her
side. "Err... Akane?"
Akane smiled. "You didn't think I brought you here just for the
view, did you?" She winked.
Ranko smiled and started removing her own clothes. A naked Akane
ran past her and dove into the pond. Ranko pulled her panties off and
then noticed that Akane hadn't come back to the surface. "Oh, shit..."
She dove in near where she could see Akane trashing around under the
surface. She swam over and pulled Akane to the surface. "What were you
thinking?"
Akane spit up some water. "I got lost in the moment and forgot I
couldn't swim."
"My wife, the hammer."
Akane suddenly pointed. "Oh look, a cat!"
"Where?" Ranko gasped, dropping Akane. It took her a couple seconds
to realize there was no cat and a couple more to realize that Akane was
drowning again. She pulled her wife to the surface and smiled awkwardly.
"Sorry about that."
"No, my fault."
"Time to teach you to swim, I think."
Akane looked surprise. "On our honeymoon?"
"Hey, can't have the father of my child drowning on me, can I?"
Akane smiled and gave Ranko a kiss.
-C- -M- -D-
After an awkward swimming lesson, Ranko and Akane stood under the
waterfall and held each other close. Their tongues traced each other's
mouths and their arms clung tightly to each other. Akane slid her hand
down Ranko's side and caressed her buttocks. Ranko moaned and slid her
leg around Akane's thigh. Ranko pressed her body tightly against Akane's
as the water splashed over them.
"Bad students!"
The sudden voice shocked Akane and Ranko out of their embrace.
Ranko went crashing into the water while Akane dropped down to hide her
naked body under the surface of the water. "Get out of here!" Akane
cried.
Ranko leapt out of the water and kicked the Principal in the
stomach. "I don't know what you think you're doing, but we want to be
alone!" She followed her statement with a series of punches to the
Principal's stomach to drive home her point.
"But girls should not do such things together!" the Principal
insisted.
"I'm a guy!" Ranko spun around on one foot and landed a savage kick
to the Principal, who went flying out of the small clearing. "Shit, why
did he have to interrupt us?" Before she could turn around, she felt
some hands reach around her and grab her breasts. Out of instinct she
almost pounded the owner of the hands, before she realized that it must
be Akane. Her voice confirmed it a second later.
"Now, then... where were we?" Akane purred softly into Ranko's ear.
-C- -M- -D-
Later still, Ranko and Akane walked through the jungle hand in
hand. "Um, shouldn't we be back at the road by now?" Akane asked,
looking around the rapidly darkening jungle.
"Looks like we pulled a Ryoga."
Akane shrugged. "Well, it's an island, so we have to reach
civilization eventually."
"Except it's getting dark."
"Well, let's just keep heading west, and we should find the road
soon."
"Okay."
-C- -M- -D-
"Ouch!" Akane cried out as she slammed her leg into something in
the dark.
"Damn it! We're seriously lost now."
Akane sighed and sat down on the ground. "It's too dark to walk
anymore. It's warm enough tonight, so let's just sleep here." She rubbed
the sore spot on her leg.
"You're right, it's too dangerous to continue tonight." Ranko slid
down beside Akane and wrapped her arms around her wife.
"Sorry about this."
Ranko smiled. "That's okay. I don't mind being lost in the jungle
with you."
-C- -M- -D-
Dawn cast long shadows across the clearing that Akane and Ranko had
stumbled into the previous night. At the feeling of sucking on her naked
back, Akane opened her eyes and saw a vast a field of black. She blinked
a few times trying to focus her eyes. The blackness remained, so she
rubbed her sleepy eyes. The blackness still remained. "Must have
wandered back to the lava bed."
She looked over at Ranko and smiled lovingly at the sleeping woman,
who for some reason was half-naked. <Sleeping?> She frowned as she
realized that she still felt someone sucking on her naked back which she
had assumed was Ranko getting frisky. She looked behind her, but
couldn't see anything. Thinking that she might have leaned against
something in her sleep, she stood up and reached behind her to brush her
back off.
Suddenly, she snapped her head to the side as she thought she saw
someone moving out of the corner of her eye, but there was nothing
there. It was then that she got a good look at the tall pillars all
around them that she had previously mistaken for trees. "What the?" The
pillars were black, a few meters in diameter, and rose about ten meters
into the sky, where they ended in a sharp point. The pillars looked
similar, but were of slightly different heights and had slight
differences in the surface texture. "Some kind of lava formation?" She
frowned as she realized she should have paid more attention to the tour
guide the day before.
She frowned and again felt for whatever was on her back. Then she
noticed that her blouse was in tatters. <That explains why my back is
cold.> Suddenly she managed to grab whatever was on her back and pulled
it off and flung it away from her. It squealed loudly while she did
this.
Her eyes widened in horror as she saw the small black shape tumble
away where she had tossed it. Although smaller than the ones she had
seen before, the black central mass and tentacles identified the
creature in her mind immediately. "Bu... yi... er... fei?"
The memory of their encounter with the Buyierfei rushed back to the
forefront of her brain as she scanned the area. "Ranko! Get up!" she
cried out, but Ranko remained sleeping on the ground. She managed to
take one step towards her sleeping husband before she was blindsided and
sent crashing against a nearby pillar. A large crack was heard and Akane
hoped it was the pillar and not her ribs.
She took a cautious step forward and then was hit from the side
again. Since she had been ready for an attack, she recovered fast and
lashed out with a kick to her unseen opponent. The foot connected with
something and, for a second, Akane saw a black form appear and then
disappear again after her foot lost contact with it.
"Ranko! Get up!" Akane cried out again, then took another spill as
she was punched in the stomach. She got back to her feet and then looked
over at Ranko, who was still not awake. "Honestly... Hey sleepy girl!
Get up or you'll be late for your date with Kuno!"
Ranko finally stirred at Akane's outrageous suggestion. "I ain't no
girl!" She looked up just in time to see Akane thrown across the
clearing and against one of the pillars. "What the..."
Akane slid down the pillar and hit the ground hard. "There are
Buyierfei here!"
Ranko snapped into a ready position, just as she felt a sharp jab
on her stomach. She flinched in pain and then threw a punch at what she
thought was the source of the attack. Her fist met no resistance and she
jumped to the side to avoid any more attacks. "Are you okay?"
Akane was back to her feet and trying to catch any sign of their
attackers. "Yes. I don't know how, but the Buyierfei didn't die when you
two destroyed the monolith."
"Shit, are we inside another monolith right now?" Ranko asked, as
she traded blows with a black creature that flashed momentarily into her
vision every time her fist connected with its slimy surface.
Akane took another look around. "No, I don't think so. I can see
the sky and trees beyond this clearing."
Ranko was starting to make her way towards Akane. "Watch your
back... they can come from anywhere!"
Akane felt something slice into her leg and looked down to see a
wound appear. She did a side flip, then a running jump to land by Ranko.
"Keep our backs together." She turned around and pressed her back
against Ranko's. She frowned as she felt something squish between them.
The squish was followed by a high-piercing scream.
Ranko snapped her head around at the scream. "What the..."
Akane saw the telltale form on Ranko's back. "Hold still!" Akane
reached over and pulled the squirming mass off Ranko's back. She tossed
the blob away and then had to repeat the process for the other two that
were attached to Ranko's lower back. She grimaced at seeing the dozen or
so dark bruises on her husband's back.
Ranko turned around and checked Akane's back quickly. "You're
clean. What the heck were they doing?"
"I don't know... let's just get out of here fast."
"Good idea." Ranko snapped her fingers, clapped her hands
together, and formed a chi ball between her hands. "Moko Takabisha
time!"
"Right!" Akane brought her hands up and formed a similar ball.
"Moko Takabisha-Rapid Fire!" A series of chi balls flew from
Ranko's hands and spread out across the clearing. Every so often a black
figure would flicker into sight around the chi balls and then explode
into little black pieces that fluttered to the ground.
Akane had shot off a series of blasts as well, all around them a
series of black creatures cried out and fell to the ground in pieces.
"How many do you think there are?" Ranko called as she prepared for
another blast.
"No idea. There were probably thousands in the monolith." Akane
suspected the number might be more like millions, but didn't want to
voice her worse fears.
The onslaught continued. The Moko Takabisha blasts kept the
Buyierfei at bay, but Akane and Ranko were wearing out fast. For some
reason that they couldn't fathom, they didn't seem to be able to form as
powerful blasts as they normally could. At the moment, the blasts were
barely keeping the attacking Buyierfei at arms length. They each sported
various cuts and bruises from the occasional glancing blow.
"I can't keep this up for much longer!" Akane cried out.
"Right. I'll fire a blast with the last of my energy to clear out a
path and then we run full out." As Ranko finished her instructions, she
projected a huge Moko Takabisha beam in front of her. When the beam hit
one of the invisible creatures, it would flicker into existence and then
explode into small leathery fragments. The beam also sliced through
several of the black pillars.
As Akane and Ranko started to run, the pillars exploded and sent
chunks of debris and a fine black powder flying through the air. Akane
coughed and held her hand up to block the dust. Despite her attempts to
withstand the onslaught, she was forced back from the shear force of the
dust and debris. She ended up crashing into Ranko and then back against
another pillar, which cracked under the impact.
"You okay?" Ranko asked.
Akane wiped some of the black dust off her face and tried to do the
same to her shirt, but the torn shirt crumbled from her shoulders in
pieces instead. "Yes. What is in these pillars?"
"I don't..." Ranko was interrupted when the pillar they had crashed
into erupted and small black forms spilled out. Unlike the larger
Buyierfei, these were clearly visible. The central black mass of their
bodies was the size of a football and dozens of small appendages
branched from it. They started squealing and bobbing around the
clearing.
Akane was repulsed and at the same time fascinated by the sight of
the thirty to forty small creatures identical to the ones that were
attached to their backs earlier. The creatures bounced around them,
occasionally smashing into each other or the other pillars. "What the...
it is a nursery?"
Ranko frowned as she looked around. "Or a nest... I think we'd
better get out of here fast before these things decide we're their first
meal like those others."
"Good idea." Akane and Ranko took off running, Akane trailing
behind Ranko by a couple steps. To their amazement, they weren't
attacked as they ran. "Why aren't they attacking any more?"
Ranko saw the edge of the blackened clearing up ahead. "No, idea. I
hope..." She trailed off after looking back at Akane. "Akane, on your
back!"
"Huh?" Akane looked over her shoulder and noticed that one of the
small Buyierfei 'babies' had attached itself to her naked shoulder and
seemed to be sucking on her skin just like the ones earlier. "Damn!" She
tried to pull it off, but couldn't reach it.
Ranko reached out, grabbed the creature, and pulled. She strained
for several seconds until it finally popped off. She tumbled backwards
and then ended up flat on her back. When she opened here eyes, she found
that the creature had torn though her shirt and was sucking on her
breast. "Get off! That's disgusting!"
Akane looked down. "Is it trying to nurse?" A fleeting thought
about Buyierfei being more like humans that she had thought flashed
through her mind. "Damn, that's why they aren't attacking us... they
don't want to kill the infant!"
"Either way, they aren't going to keep us from getting away!" Ranko
shouted in rage. She pulled the bloob off her breast and tossed it away
as she got back to her feet. "Let's go." She grabbed Akane's hand and
they both took off running.
"Wait!" Akane yelled, then grabbed at Ranko's back. She pulled
another 'baby' from Ranko's back and tossed it away.
"Damn... I thought I felt something..." Ranko suddenly threw
herself onto Akane as a large black ball of energy flew at them.
"Shit..." She got up, hauled Akane to her feet, and sprinted for the
edge of the clearing.
After crossing the clearing's edge into green vegetation, Akane
spun around and extended her arms. "Moko Takabisha-Rapid Fire!!" Chi
balls flew from her hands and impacted against the pillars that were
near the center of the clearing.
With a mighty roar, the pillars exploded sending a ball of black
powder and debris billowing into the sky. Ranko and Akane took off
running as soon as the explosions started and escaped the worse of the
shock wave that spread out from the center of the blast. When the blast
subsided, Ranko and Akane were huddled together on the ground. Ranko
looked back at the clearing, which was now devoid of pillars and was
just a jumbled mess of upturned rocks and black dust. Nothing appeared
to be moving.
Ranko rose and nonchalantly brushed off the remains of her clothes.
"Well, that wasn't boring."
Akane brushed off her face and sighed. "Nope. But it scares the
hell out of me that the Buyierfei are still around. And that black ball
of energy..."
Ranko nodded and confirmed Akane's unspoken suspicion. "Yes, just
like Aftershave used."
They checked to make sure they hadn't picked up any more 'babies'
in their escape and treated the worse of their cuts with the remains of
their clothing.
As they shambled away from the blast site in just their panties and
crude bandages, they failed to notice the small black blob that silently
followed them. As it moved, it started to become transparent until it
became nothing more than a faint shadow moving across the ground.
-C- -M- -D-
"Thank god the baby wasn't hurt," Akane said, as she walked out of
the hospital with Ranko. They both had new clothes that the hospital had
provided. Small bandages covered their assorted wounds.
"I'm not so fragile that I need to be pampered, Akane."
Akane smiled. "I know, but you do have to be careful. When you
fight, you're fighting for two now."
Ranko looked Akane right in her eyes. "Three."
Akane smiled slightly. "Do you think the police believed our
story?"
Ranko shrugged. "There wasn't much left after the blast, they might
just write it off as a freak volcanic eruption."
"Well, we did our best to warn them, it's not like it's our
responsibility to fight the Buyierfei. I called home while you were
being examined and told them we were okay."
"Did you warn Ranma and Sanma that the Buyierfei are still around?"
Akane shook her head. "They weren't home. I told Kasumi to tell
them."
"Well, three more days left in our honeymoon. What do you want to
do?"
"Lets get bored in our hotel room again. Excitement almost killed
us."
-C- -M- -D-
A few days later, Ranko and Akane walked into the Tendo house and
were greeted with hugs and kisses from Kasumi, Nabiki, and Nodoka.
After the initial welcomes and small talk, they all were in the
family room talking.
"So, was the sex good?" Nabiki asked, leaning forward.
Akane blushed.
"That's none of your business, Nabiki!" Ranko shouted, looking
awkwardly at her mother.
Kasumi put her hand over Nabiki's. "Nabiki, there is no reason to
ask that sort of question."
"I guess."
"They are both very healthy and physically fit, so the sex
should've been great."
Various jaws dropped.
Akane had always assumed that her oldest sister always had a
wisecrack waiting to get out. Since she started dating Dr. Tofu, Kasumi
had loosened up and let the zingers fly quite often.
"So, where is everyone else?" Ranko asked, to break the stunned
silence.
Nervous glances were exchanged between the three older women before
Nodoka poke. "Oh, they are off... training."
Akane frowned as she felt there was more to the story. "Training?
Where?"
"Oh, it's not important," Kasumi said, then added, "Would you care
to help me with dinner, Akane?"
Now Akane knew something was up, since Kasumi didn't cook that much
anymore and rarely did anyone invite her to cook, despite the fact that
she had been getting progressively better. "Just tell us where they
are."
Ranko added. "Yeah, it's not like you to keep secrets. Tell us!"
More glances were exchanged. Nodoka cleared her throat. "They are
in China."
"China?!" both Akane and Ranko shouted and stood up.
Nodoka calmly nodded. "Yes, they all went back to the Amazon
village with Yukiko and her father to see what was happening to the
Amazons."
"Why didn't you tell us earlier? Damn, we've got to go help!" Ranko
insisted.
"That's why." Nodoka stood up and put her hand on Ranko's shoulder.
"Ranko, you're pregnant. You can't go off and fight a bunch of
hormonally challenged women right now."
Akane was just as eager to help as Ranko was. Possibly more so,
since she had a nagging suspicion since running into the Buyierfei in
Hawaii that they might have been behind the Amazon problems and
Aftershave's sudden power boost. "Did you at least warn them about the
Buyierfei?"
Kasumi shook her head. "I'm afraid they are out of contact deep
within China already."
That was enough to set Akane off. "Fine, I'll go warn them while
Ranko is safe here."
Ranko protested, of course. "No way! I'll go."
"Sit down! Both of you!" Nodoka snapped. Akane and Ranko flinched
at Nodoka's angry outburst and sat down. "It would take you at least a
week to catch up to them. They are perfectly capable of taking care of
matters themselves and you two have a baby to consider."
Ranko bowed her head. "Yes, Mom."
Akane gulped. "I know, Mom, but if the Buyierfei are involved with
the Amazons they really need to know about it."
"I know, but you can't reach them in time to make a difference now.
We can only wait and see."
"How can I sit and wait for word if they are okay or not?" Akane
asked.
"That's something a wife and mother has to do sometimes."
Akane realized that Nodoka had probably spent a lot of time
worrying about Genma and Ranma while they were on their long training
voyage. She didn't know if she could just sit back and wait for news,
but knew that Nodoka was right... at least in this case. "Okay, Mom. But
if we don't hear anything within a week, I'm going after them. And I
dare anyone to stop me."
-C- -M- -D-
An evil figure that was not Ranma walked into the blackened
clearing and surveyed the devastated area. "How could mere cattle have
destroyed the nest?" He continued to move slowly around the clearing,
carefully examining the blackened surfaces. When he saw no signs of
survivors, he started using his foot to sift through the remains of his
kind.
After a while, he caught sight of something in the debris. He
reached down and picked it up. He rubbed the small piece of cloth
between his fingers and then smelled it.
He frowned. "The Un-cute-one." He sniffed again. "And one of the
collectors. How could they have found the nest?" He continued to search
for a while and then decided the site was a lost. "Well, the other nests
will have to do for now."
He walked off into the sunset without casting a shadow behind him.
When he reached the ocean, he didn't begin swimming or even stop at the
water's edge. Instead, he just continued walking along the surface of
the water, as if it was solid as far as he was concerned.
***********************************************************************
>From the personal journal of James Davidson:
September 23, 2057
"And I thought our honeymoon was eventful," I commented as Akane
finished her rather... detailed description of her honeymoon. Akane
likes to see if she can shock me with her rather graphic descriptions of
her liaisons with her husbands. Problem is, she usually does.
"See, that should teach you to question my judgment of what is
important," Akane gloated.
I smiled and bowed to her. "I am humbled, my dear Matriarch."
Akane flinched. "Not nice to call me names, James."
I smiled. "Anyway, I'm amazed you didn't head to China right away
after that."
"Trust me, I wanted too. But having a pregnant husband to take care
of was a huge responsibly."
"Yes, I'm sure it would be."
A devilish little smile appeared on Akane's face, causing my
warning sense to go off. This usually meant that I was about to be
teased. "So when are you and Hanaki going to start your family?"
I was right. "When we're ready, MOM!" I smiled to show I was
kidding, and gave her the real answer. "We've talked about it, but
probably not right away. I have the book and Hanaki has her Task Force
duties."
Akane's face softened and put her hand on mine. "Family comes
first, James. I'm not planing on going anywhere and the Task Force can
survive without it's best pilot for awhile."
I jumped to my feet. "Okay, I'm going home to sleep with my wife
then!"
"Okay, see ya in ten minutes," Sanma commented as she walked out of
the house onto the porch.
I flinched.
"Uncle! That's not nice!"
I looked around to see my wife walk up to the porch. "Hi, Honey."
She gave me a quick peck.
"So are you two picking on my husband again?" Hanaki asked.
"Not really," Sanma said.
"Sure, Uncle, I believe you." Hanaki stuck her tongue out at Sanma
and sat down with me.
"This younger generation has no respect for their elders."
"Oh, just because you've saved the world an untold number of times,
we should respect you?" I grinned mischievously to show I was kidding.
"Yes, actually, you should bow down and grovel at our feet," Sanma
declared and pointed at her feet.
"Honestly, Sanma," Akane scolded her husband. After a brief pause,
she added, "There is no need for them to grovel... bowing is more than
enough."
I sighed. "Well, how about you telling me how you saved the world
in China then?"
"Oh, is Akane done telling all the different positions she learned
during her honeymoon then?" Sanma asked. She was obviously a little
uncomfortable with the subject since she had gone inside after Akane
started to get a bit... detailed.
"Yes."
"Oh good, you can show me tonight, Honey." Hanaki snuggled up to my
side.
"Err... actually, most of them would require me to be a girl."
Sanma grinned broadly. "Don't we have a bottle of Spring of Drowned
Girl water around somewhere, Akane?"
Akane looked at me, as if wondering what I'd look like as a woman.
"Hmmm..."
"Akane, can we just talk about the China trip now?" I was really
starting to get uncomfortable about the current subject.
Akane must have seen my discomfort, because she let me off the
hook. "Ok, James." Below her teasing nature, she is a warmhearted
person. Probably. "I'll just tell Hanaki everything I know later on how
to really please a man... or a woman." Or maybe not.
"Hanaki, care to drop a bomb on Akane's house and move to Tahiti?"
I asked my wife.
Hanaki grinned. "It's a nice idea, but the Task Force doesn't use
conventional weapons."
Akane smiled and looked at her husband. "Anyway... Sanma you want
to tell him about your trip to China? Since you were there and all."
Sanma looked suddenly uncomfortable. "Okay, but remember, James, I
was pretty messed up at the time, so I wasn't exactly in my best form."
"I understand. I'm not going to judge anyone in the book. Just
report the facts in as accurate and entertaining a manner as possible."
"Oh, then I can't wait to tell you about MY honeymoon... that'll
put Akane's to shame."
Sigh. Just when things were starting to settle down.
***********************************************************************
April 19-20, 1999 - Joketsuzoku, China
After Akane and Ranko left on their honeymoon, there was long
discussion about the state of the Amazons. Aftershave wasn't sure why
the Circle of Elders declared him Matriarch, but he suspected that
whatever force had been effecting him was probably behind the Circle
naming him Matriarch. He had begged Yukiko to come back and help him
stop whatever evil was tearing apart the Amazons. According to Amazon
tradition, Yukiko was the Matriarch until such time as the Circle
declared otherwise. This fact made her their best chance at surviving
the encounter and restoring the Amazon Way.
Yukiko was still overwhelmed by recent events, but felt she had to
help. Her fiance, Shinuma, was very concerned about her going to China
to help out people she didn't even know. After a long discussion, he
agreed that she should go to help her father and people, but he insisted
on coming along with them.
Ranma and Sanma agreed that they should all go to help, mostly to
avoid any backlash from the Amazons. Although they wouldn't admit it to
anyone, they also wanted to get away from Nerima before Akane and Ranko
returned from their honeymoon. Neither of them were excited about the
idea of having to be reminded constantly that Ranko had what they could
only hope they had one day: Akane.
In the end, a group of martial artists were assembled to accompany
Yukiko and the Amazons to China. Nabiki made sure that the Amazons
footed the bill for the trip, since it was their tribe they were going
to save. The extra money that was left over just became her payment for
arranging everything.
About a week after the wedding, the group of martial artists
trudged up a narrow path which lead up a mountain. Ranma and Sanma were
in the lead, followed by Soun, Genma, Dr. Tofu, Ryoga, Ukyo, Ms. Hinako,
Yukiko, Shinuma, Aftershave, and the other Amazon warriors who had been
present in Japan. They all wore various clothes suitable for the fight
they assumed was coming. Even Ms. Hinako had abandoned her typical
spandex dress for a more appropriate shirt and pants outfit. Although in
her current child form, the clothes were very baggy on her.
As the group reached the top, they surveyed the land ahead. "We'd
better camp here for the night. Should only be a couple more hours to
the village, but I want to be rested and discuss our plan before we get
there," Ranma instructed. Everyone agreed and they started setting up
camp.
-C- -M- -D-
After dinner and discussing the plan of attack, most of them
prepared their armor and weapons that had been provided by Yukiko's
Amazons. Sanma, on the other hand, sat by herself on a rock and starred
across a deep canyon at the moon.
"Wow."
Sanma flinched at hearing the unexpected voice and looked behind
her. "Oh... Ukyo. You startled me."
Ukyo shrugged and slid in beside Sanma. "Sorry. That's quite a view
you have there."
"Yes."
Ukyo frowned. "Are you okay? You've been pretty out of it during
the trip."
"Yes."
Ukyo punched Sanma lightly on the shoulder. "Come on, I'm your
friend. Tell me."
"It's not important. Life sometimes throws up on you."
Ukyo stifled a giggle. "That's 'life sometimes throws you a
curveball'."
"If you say so. In any case, I blew it big time."
"What?"
"I'm no better than Kuno and Kodachi. I saw my chance at happiness
slipping away and I deceived and betrayed Akane. I should have just
swallowed my pain and let her marry Ranko. Instead, I had to act like
all the other lunatics around us and pull that stupid switch at the
wedding."
"Sanma..."
Sanma just started rambling. "What kind of moronic plan was that
anyway? Tricking her into marrying me... once she found out it would
have ended anyway. In fact, it would have destroyed any chance for us to
be married... ever." She slammed her fist into the ground and then
looked at the blood trickling down her knuckles. "I doubt our
relationship will ever be the same after this. What a jerk I am."
Ukyo frowned. "I know the wedding was hard on you all, but she's
going to marry you all after the baby comes."
Sanma grunted. "Right."
Ukyo put her hand over Sanma's. "Hang in there."
"Hang in there? What the hell do you know?" Sanma snapped, glaring
at Ukyo.
Ukyo recoiled at the angry outburst from Sanma. She had no idea how
to respond, so she just remained silent and let Sanma vent her
frustrations for the time being.
"Ever since the splits, I've gotten nothing but the worst out of
life. Always third in everything... guess I should have chosen a better
name after all. All it does is remind me of the fact that I'm third in
her heart."
"That's not true... I'm sure it's not."
Sanma didn't reply. "Ranma got to be a man full time... Ranko got
to marry Akane... what did I get? The constant reminders that I'm just a
cheep copy of Ranma... I was the only one who was-" She stopped speaking
abruptly and seemed to skip mentioning something. "-was saddled with
these stupid breasts, cramps, bleeding, and all sorts of nasty stuff
that Ranko doesn't have to put up with. Even Kuno constantly chose Ranko
to kiss or fondle first when they brainwashed us. He never even kissed
my breasts like he did Ranko's."
"What is wrong with you, Sanma? Now you're actually upset that that
poem-spewing jerk didn't kiss your breasts? What, would you have liked
it better if he had sex with you?! That's not the Ranma I knew and loved
talking!"
"That's my point!! I'm not Ranma! I'm not even Ranko... I'm a
dammed side effect of a stupid magic chicken bone!! A mistake..."
"You are so full of self-pity... what on earth is happening to
you?"
"Self-pity... why not. My life sucks. I shouldn't even be here,,,"
"You're just overreacting to all of the changes you've had to
endure in the past few months."
"What you know about that?"
"Well, at least some of the things you mentioned are common to all
women. We all have periods and all have to cope with them. After the
baby is born, Ranko will have to deal with them too. You just need some
time to adjust to them."
"Will the bleeding and cramps go away?"
Ukyo couldn't believe she had to talk to Sanma about this, but she
was the only one available at the moment and she might have a better
perspective on what Sanma was going through than most women. "No they
won't, not until you're much older and go through menopause. Sanma, my
first few times were difficult for me too. I was always on the road with
my father, so I had no one to turn to when my periods started. The first
time it happened, I freaked out and thought I was going to die. Once I
realized I wasn't dying, I covered it up in embarrassment. I thought it
was a shameful thing because no one had ever explained it was just a
part of being a girl."
Sanma frowned and turned away from Ukyo. "I don't' want to talk
about this."
"I didn't either... and it wasn't until my third time that I
reluctantly asked my father about it. He wasn't a lot of help in the
details, but he did reassure me it was normal. He had me talk to a nurse
at a nearby clinic."
"But..." Sanma started to shake.
"But nothing!!" Ukyo grabbed Sanma suddenly and pulled her into a
tight embrace to comfort her. "Don't ever think you are a copy or
different from Ranma and Ranko. You are a unique person, but you share
the same beginnings as your other 'siblings'. And you have me and your
other friends to fall back on when you're troubled."
"Ukyo?"
"Yes."
"Why did you give up on me?"
Behind Sanma's back, Ukyo's eyes went wide at the unexpected
question. "Well, because I could see that you loved only Akane."
"So how did you stop loving me?"
Ukyo gasped. "I... didn't, but in the end I had to accept the fact
that we weren't going end up together."
"Accept the fact," Sanma muttered and pulled away from Ukyo
slightly. An awkward silence followed as the two figures watched the
moon cast it's light over the canyon.
Ukyo broke the silence after several minutes. "Well, we really
should get back to camp and get some rest." She started to rise, only to
be pulled back down by Sanma.
"Don't leave me. I don't want to be alone."
Ukyo had a bad feeling Sanma wasn't talking about just sitting on
the cliffside. "Sanma, please don't do this to yourself. Akane still
loves you."
"No she doesn't! She loves Ranko! Just because she's pregnant and
I'm not!"
"You know that's not true. You're letting your emotions cloud your
judgement."
"So? Maybe I should just act on my feelings instead of being so
dammed indecisive."
"Isn't that why you impersonated Ranko?"
Sanma flinched.
"Isn't that why you split from Ranko, because you rushed to use the
Spring of Drowned Man water?"
Sanma's shoulders slumped.
"Isn't that... mmmmppphhh."
Ukyo was cut off as Sanma planted her lips on Ukyo's and gave her a
long extended kiss.
-C- -M- -D-
Earlier, Ryoga had poked his head into Yukiko's tent. "Have you
seen Ukyo, Sha... Yukiko?"
Yukiko looked up from where she was laying out her sleeping mat.
"She went for a walk."
"Oh, thank you." Ryoga left the tent, passing Shinuma on his way.
"Yukiko?"
Yukiko brightened at the voice. "Shinuma!" She leapt to the tent
flap and pulled Shinuma into a hug.
"Yukiko, how are you handling things?"
Yukiko sighed. "I'm okay, Shin. Still can't get used to all those
women treating me like their leader."
"Well, I was amazed myself when I found out my fiancee was the
leader of a large tribe of warrior women. Almost sounds like a low
budget TV show."
"I don't feel like a leader.... or a warrior."
Shinuma pulled her tighter against his chest. "Well, you are doing
fine so far. I've seen you fight and train, you have that warrior in
you."
Yukiko pulled away and dropped to her futon. She looked at the
ground and sighed. "I don't know if I want to be that warrior. Ever
since I met these people, everything I've heard about my past scares
me."
"I know, but it's a part of who you are."
A single tear dripped from Yukiko's eye before she managed to
speak. "I don't know who I am anymore!"
A small smile appeared on Shinuma's face. "For the past eight
months you didn't know who you were, now that you're starting to find
out it's scaring you. I think that's natural. No matter what happens, I
love the person in front of me. The name isn't important, the past isn't
important, only who you are inside is important."
"Even if I can't be sure who I am inside?"
"Yes, because I'm sure that I'm in love with you and nothing will
ever change that."
Yukiko flung herself into his arms and held on tightly. "Wo ai ni."
Shinuma smiled and stroked Yukiko's black hair. "I love you too."
-C- -M- -D-
Ukyo broke the kiss and pushed Sanma away. "Stop that!"
Sanma fell onto the ground and started to cry. "Dammit... no one
loves me."
"Yes, they do. You have to get a hold of yourself Sanma. You did
the same thing after you thought Akane dumped you right after you split
from Ranma!"
"That was Ranko."
"You were still the same person then! I'm not going to be your
consolation prize in the game of love!"
"You're not!"
"Yeah, tell me that in a year and I might just believe you. You're
just upset over recent events. When you calm down and realize that Akane
did marry you. Maybe Ranko's physically a separate person, but deep down
you three meatheads are all the same to her. She loves you all."
"Then why is she in Hawaii without me and Ranma?"
Ukyo sighed and knelt down by the crying Sanma. "Sanma, you're the
one who broke off the engagement with her!"
"Yeah, don't remind me. That was the biggest mistake of my life."
"Why? You want Akane to be unhappy?"
"No, but why can't I be happy too?"
Ukyo reached over and pulled Ranko into a hug. "Give it time. Give
it time." Ukyo held Sanma tightly and let her get the tears out of her
system. Several minutes later a cry rang out.
"Ranma, prepare to die!"
Sanma looked up just in time to see an umbrella flying at her head.
She pushed Ukyo out of the way, and flipped backwards, barely avoiding
Ryoga's attack. "The name's Sanma!"
"Fine then." Ryoga brandished his umbrella in front of him. "Sanma,
prepare to die!" He lunged at Sanma, but missed again.
"What the hell are you doing, pig?!"
"I catch you making the moves on my girl and you have to ask that?"
Ryoga swung the umbrella again, but at the last minute flipped the
umbrella up and sent his finger into the ground near Sanma.
"Stop it!" Ukyo cried out, but was drown out by the noise from
Ryoga's Breaking Point blast.
A few shards from the blast hit Sanma, but she deflected or caught
the rest. She leapt into the air and came down on top of Ryoga's skull.
"Chill out!"
"I won't let anyone take another woman from me, dammit!" Ryoga
followed with a series of quick umbrella thrusts, which Sanma easily
avoided.
"I didn't..." Sanma trailed off as she realized that she did come
on to Ukyo. She stopped her dodges and spoke softly. "You're right. I'm
hopeless."
Ryoga was so shocked by the sudden change in Sanma that his current
umbrella thrust hit the stationary Sanma in her stomach before Ryoga
could stop his attack.
Sanma tumbled backwards and teetered on the edge of the cliff. She
regained her balance and grinned broadly. Then the edge broke apart and
Sanma disappeared from view.
"Sanma!"
Ryoga and Ukyo cried out and ran to the edge. They looked down but
couldn't see any sign of her.
"Sanma!"
"Keep your pants on... and I really mean that Ryoga. I'm okay...
stand back," Sanma's voice called from below.
Ryoga and Ukyo looked relieved and stepped backwards. In a flash
Sanma leapt up and landed in front of them. "There's a little ledge a
few meters down."
"Damn, you scared me pal," Ryoga said, slapping Sanma on the
shoulder.
"Yeah... me too. Sorry about kissing Ukyo, but I'm just so messed
up right now." Sanma wasn't about to go into all of her problems with
Ryoga. <He's just a normal man, he wouldn't understand my problems like
Ukyo does.>
"You kissed her?!" Ryoga yelled. He tried to push the image of the
two women kissing out of his head to prevent a nosebleed. He was only
partially successful; he kept the image of Ukyo and Sanma kissing out of
his head, but then his mind finally realized that Akane and Ranko were
married and were probably doing more than just kissing on their
honeymoon. A trickle of blood flowed down his lip.
Sanma swallowed loudly.
"Sanma, prepare to die!"
-C- -M- -D-
Yukiko was lying on top of Shinuma's chest and listening to his
heartbeat.
"Yukiko?"
Yukiko didn't move when she answered. "Yes?"
"I've got to tell you something."
"What?"
"Ever since you found out about your past, I've been worried."
Yukiko looked up at his face, confused. "Why?"
"Well, I've done some thinking over the past week and I think maybe
I subconsciously didn't look hard enough to find out who you were."
Yukiko smiled. "Because?"
"I guess I was falling in love with you and feared losing you."
Yukiko wrapped her arms around Shinuma and pressed her head against
his chest. "Yuk.. I was too. When I first remembered Ranma, I was
devastated that I might be married already and wouldn't be able to
become your bride. When we finish with this mess, we get married just
like we planned. Ok?"
Shinuma smiled. "I can't wait. I only wish I could come with you
tomorrow."
"If you were there, I'd only be worried about protecting you. I'd
feel better if I knew you were safe until the confrontation is over."
Yukiko left her worst fear unspoken. She hoped they could resolve the
issue without fighting, but know that they'd probably have to fight to
free the Amazons from whatever was affecting the Circle of Elders.
"Okay, but it'll be so hard for me to wait to find out what happens
when you confront the Circle."
"Well, if you're going to marry the leader of the Amazons, you'll
just have to get used to it." A broad smile crossed her face and she
reached up and planted a kiss on his lips.
"I guess I will, but I'll still worry."
"Me too about you."
They held their embrace for a while longer before Shinuma rose to
leave.
"No, don't leave. Please stay tonight."
Shinuma nodded. "I'll get some cold water then."
Yukiko shook her head and looked directly into his eyes. "No, not
as a cat. As a woman."
Up to that point, he had been able to resist the very affectionate
Yukiko's offers and pleading to even sleep in the same bed as him while
she was human. This time the look in her eyes said she wasn't interested
in just sleeping in the same bed as him. With the upcoming battle, he
found that he was unable and unwilling to turn her down. He nodded
slowly and turned out the light.
-C- -M- -D-
"I am Shampoo, Daughter of Perfume, Granddaughter of Lipgloss,
Great-granddaughter of Cologne. All of the Rav Lon family line," Yukiko
recited clearly in Mandarin to the two sentries guarding the gate to the
village. She paused just long enough for the names to sink in and then
continued. "We return to discuss the Matriarch's position in the Amazon
tribe." She glanced at her father, who was standing at her side. He was
wearing a simple robe, while Yukiko was wearing a skintight red leotard
with an Amazon breastplate and small armored skirt over it that she had
been given by the other Amazons in their little party.
Behind them both, were the other Amazon women. They all carried
various weapons and wore strong, but lightweight, armor over their red
tunics. The color of which had been chosen so they could keep track of
who was who in the upcoming confrontation.
The sentries looked at each other briefly and the looked at Yukiko
again. One of them stepped forward and spoke in Mandarin. "Shampoo died
an honorable death."
Yukiko nodded. "No, I did not die. I have returned to claim my
right to lead the Amazon tribe in place of this... MAN." The words had
the desired effect on the two sentries, as Aftershave and the other
Amazons had said they likely would. Unless someone was being affected by
whatever had been controlling Aftershave before, the Amazon women would
not be comfortable with Aftershave acting as the Matriarch.
The two sentries shifted uneasily. "You bear the mark?"
"I do." Yukiko paused briefly to steel her nerves and then slipped
the top of her leotard down and revealed the small spear shaped
birthmark under her left breast. The spear shape also appeared to have
two tiny wings on it.
The two sentries dropped to the ground and bowed. "We are yours to
command, Matriarch."
"You may rise. I need one of you to gather as many Amazon warriors
as possible who are... uncomfortable with Aftershave being the
Matriarch." Yukiko was careful not to make it sound like they were going
to openly challenge the Circle of Elders' decision about the Matriarch,
since Aftershave had assured her that loyal Amazons would never directly
defy the will of the Circle. They had to play their cards very
carefully.
"Yes, Matriarch, I can attend to that," the shorter sentry said.
"Good. Have them meet me in front of the Circle in one hour."
Yukiko turned to the other sentry. "I need to visit the temple and then
we shall visit the Circle."
"Yes, Matriarch."
Yukiko smiled slightly and led her little group into the village.
So far, things were going exactly as planned.
-C- -M- -D-
About an hour later, a large group of Amazons were gathering in
front of the hut in which the Circle met. No one noticed several of the
Amazons from Yukiko's party slip in between the other Amazons and take
up key positions in the crowd of big-breasted women.
Attracted by the noise, one of the attendants for the Circle poked
her head out the hut's door. "What is the meaning of this?"
Most of the Amazons stirred uneasily, if unsure why they were
there. But one spoke up. "We heard that the Matriarch had returned and
came to show our respect."
The attendant frowned. "The Circle has not been made aware of his
return." An agitated murmur flowed across the crowd as the attendant
went back inside to inform the Circle.
Shortly, the hut's door opened again and a half dozen withered,
wrinkled, old women shambled out and looked around.
The Eldest of the Circle looked around before speaking. "Where is
the Matriarch? Show yourself, Aftershave!"
The crowd parted as two of Yukiko's Amazons motioned them to do so.
Aftershave strode forward into the clearing in front of the hut. "I am
here, but I am no longer Matriarch. I have been defeated in mortal
combat and have lost my claim to lead the noble Amazon tribe."
Cries of shock and, at the same time, joy passed between all the
Amazons assembled. The Circle members all remained motionless, strangely
emotionless at the pronouncement.
Finally, the Eldest spoke. "I see. Then we must choose another
Matriarch."
"That will not be necessary!" a voice called out.
Everyone looked around to see Yukiko walk regally into the clearing
dressed in a very elaborate outfit she had obtained at the temple. It
consisted of a large golden breastplate with two small golden swords
crossed on the front over what looked like a small pair of wings. Fancy
beads and weavings were attached to the breastplate to hold it in place
over the sheer white silk robe underneath. Threads of some shimmering
crystalline substance were interwoven into the silk robe, giving it an
almost magical aura. The silk robe revealed everything not covered by
the breastplate and small chain-mail skirt worn under the sheer robe.
On her head, Yukiko wore a golden tiara with a series of long
strands of the same crystalline threads that were sewn into her robe. As
her head moved, the crystals would shimmer beautifully in the sunlight.
The combined effect made her look very regal and almost god-like.
After a long shocked silence, the Eldest spoke. "Who are you? And
how dare you touch the sacred armor of the First Matriarch?!"
"I am Shampoo, Daughter of Perfume, Granddaughter of Lipgloss,
Great-granddaughter of Cologne. All of the Rav Lon family line," Yukiko
recited the list again. She paused again to let the names sink in and
then moved the breastplate and her breast aside to reveal the birthmark
again. It looked a little like the crossed sword and wings emblem on her
breastplate. "I claim my right to be Matriarch of the Amazon Tribe. Any
who oppose me... shall die." She hoped she wouldn't have to back up that
last statement, but her father and the Amazons had insisted on the
wording as being proper for the situation.
The Elders who made up the Circle barely reacted, but the other
Amazons all cried out in amazement. Cries of shock and confusion
resonated across the assembled crowd.
Right on cue, Yukiko's Amazons started crying out.
"She's the TRUE Matriarch!"
"Her claim is strongest!"
"Aftershave has lost HIS claim by being defeated!"
"Matriarch! Matriarch! Matriarch!" As Yukiko's Amazons started to
chant, some of the crowd started to chant along with them.
"Nonsense. Her claim is invalid. The Circle will choose the new
Matriarch if Aftershave has truly been defeated in mortal combat."
The other Elders all nodded.
"No! My claim is strongest, there can be no discussion!" Yukiko
insisted.
"Shampoo died. You cannot be her."
"I did not die, I was held captive by a band of evil MEN!" Yukiko
knew it was a lie, but it had the desired affect as the Amazons
instantly accepted that men could have done such a thing.
The Elders were not phased by the lie. "Then you were dishonored by
losing to Akane Tendo in Japan."
"I saved my honor by sacrificing myself in the face of a better
warrior."
"The Matriarch must be the strongest warrior!"
"Then why was Aftershave, my father and a MAN, made Matriarch by
the Circle?"
The question sent ripples of shocked murmurs through the crowd as
the assembled Amazons tried to figure out why the Circle was denying
Shampoo's rightful claim to lead the Amazons.
"That was our decision to make in face of no other blood claims
after the previous Matriarch died honorably!"
That answer did not sit well with the assembled Amazons and they
started voicing their displeasure. This was not something that normally
happened in the presence of the Elders. Most astonishing was the fact
that many of those voices were not from Yukiko's Amazons.
Yukiko braced herself for the outcome of her next statement. "I,
Shampoo, of the Rav Lon family line, formally make a blood claim to lead
the Amazons. What say the Circle?"
The Elders all looked at each other and, although no one could see
it, their eyes momentary turned completely black. Then the Elders all
turned back towards Yukiko.
The Eldest stepped forward. "Your claim is denied. I will be
Matriarch!" She held up the golden cane she carried as proof of her
leadership.
The other Circle members all added their agreement to the Elder's
declaration.
The assembled Amazons were shocked at the pronouncement, just as
Yukiko and the others had hoped.
"Amazons! Seize Shampoo and Aftershave!" the Eldest commanded and
pointed with her cane.
Several Amazons, but not all of them, lifted their weapons.
"No! The Circle has broken Amazon Law!!" Aftershave shouted. "Only
the junior Elders can claim the right to be Matriarch. The Eldest gives
up her right for all time when she accepts the leadership of the
Circle!"
Cries of agreement and acceptance of that well-known Amazons law
rushed through the crowd and some of the Amazons lowered their weapons,
but not all. Since the Eldest was the only Elder who could initiate the
removal of the Matriarch for just cause, this law was designed to
prevent the Elder from performing a coup and taking the title of
Matriarch herself.
"My claim is legal!" the Eldest insisted. "Amazons, kill her!"
It was at that point that Yukiko's hopes for a resolution without a
fight ended. She reached under her breastplate and pulled out a small
rod. With a loud snap, it extended to around three meters in length. "I
fight for the Amazon Way and ask all loyal Amazons to fight by my
side!!"
The Eldest pointed at Yukiko with her golden cane and shouted a
command to the nearest Amazon warriors, "Amazons, kill the one who would
defy the Circle!"
Three Amazons jumped at Yukiko. With a quick sweep of her staff,
Yukiko's opponents dropped to the ground. She jammed the staff into the
chin of one of the fallen warriors. She spun around and landed a high
kick to the back of one of the warriors, who was just rising. She got
her staff up just into to avoid a sword blow meant for her neck from the
third. And then her fight really began as more Amazons joined into the
fight on the Circle's side.
"All loyal Amazons, defend the Circle and defeat the invaders!" the
Elders called out.
Yukiko's Amazons had come out of the crowd to deal with the other
Elders and the hundred or so Amazons who had risen up to defend the
Circle. All things being equal, the two dozen Amazons who joined Yukiko
and her Amazons to back her claim up would only be able to delay the
Circle's warriors from regaining control over the situation.
But things were not equal. From out of the crowd of Yukiko's
warriors came a curvy redheaded Amazon with a pigtail, a muscular Amazon
with a black pigtail, a large Amazon with a thick black mustache, a fat
Amazon wearing glasses, a beautiful black-haired Amazon who wielded
large spatula, a stocky Amazon with an umbrella hidden under her skirt,
a small child Amazon, and a tall Amazon with glasses.
All of these Amazons were in borrowed armor and some had borrowed
breasts courtesy of magic herbs that made mountains out of molehills.
Aftershave had sworn them all to silence about the long held secret of
the Amazon's unusually ample breasts.
Ranma had to re-adjust to the feeling of having breasts again, on
his male body no less, so his first couple of kicks and punches to the
Circle's warriors went slightly off target. He finally found his proper
balance and started to knock the warriors out of the fight. All the time
he fought the Amazons, he was also trying to get close the Circle
Elders.
Sanma didn't have any trouble since her breasts were natural, well
as natural as Jusenkyo breasts could be considered. She tore through her
attackers until encountering one of the best Amazon warriors. And then
her fight really started.
Like Ranma, Sanma was using their chi attacks sparingly because she
assumed they would need them against the Elders. If they were under the
same influence that Aftershave was, they would need every ounce of
energy they had to break them free. Even while trying to conserve their
energy, she and Ranma both tried to create some small tornadoes to knock
some of their fiercer opponents out of the fight. Unfortunately, the
Amazons had easily saw through their attempts to be drawn into a spiral.
Since the Hiryu Shoten Ha was one of the Amazon's most secret
techniques, it was not surprising that they would be able recognize it
and avoid the spiral.
Despite making a very ugly woman, Soun used his sword with the
expertise of a well-trained martial artist. He didn't want to kill
anyone if he didn't have to, so he used the back of the sword in his
attacks like a sakaba sword. He made slow, but steady process through
the crowd of Amazons, backed up by Genma, who looked even worse in his
female disguise. But then, some of the Amazon women were no beauty
queens either.
Ryoga and Ukyo had teamed up. Ukyo was a blur as she used her
spatula to knock Amazons out of the fight. Ryoga used his umbrella and
Breaking Point technique to keep the horde of Amazons at bay. If the
sight of Ukyo in her skimpy Amazon armor didn't make Ryoga very happy,
he might have been able to create a Shishi Houkou Dan blast. This didn't
stop Ukyo from trying to help though.
Ukyo looked over at Ryoga. "Hey, Ryoga?"
"Yes?"
"Sanma kisses a lot better than you!"
"Wha..."
"Plus, he never gets nosebleeds when he fondles my breasts."
"What?!" Ryoga screamed. As he saw his happy life with Ukyo
disappearing, he became depressed. Then his mind realized what Ukyo was
doing. Unfortunately, knowing this was going to prevent him from getting
depressed enough to do a Shishi Houkou Dan blast that would be strong
enough to help.
"Damn, you're just too happy."
Ryoga flashed her a big smile as he continued his hand to hand
attacks. "With you at my side, how could I not be?"
If Ukyo was busy fighting, she might have groaned at that sappy
comment.
Little Hinako and Dr. Tofu ended up fighting close to each other.
Dr. Tofu looked very uncomfortable in his female disguise, but used the
shield he carried like an expert to deflect the blows of the Amazons
around him. When he could, he would pivot around and land a touch to
what ever exposed pressure point he could reach. Some of touches caused
his opponents to fall asleep, some to walk around dazed, and some to
cluck like a chicken.
Little Hinako held up a five-yen coin and yelled out, "Happo Go-en
Satsu!" In front of her, about two dozen of the fighting Amazons
crumpled to the ground as she sucked their fighting spirits from them.
She grew and filled out the armor she wore and then some. Before she
could return the energy, a pair of Amazons slashed out with their
swords, causing Hinako to back up and be separated from Dr. Tofu.
Still engaged in his fights, Genma suddenly saw Hinako out of the
corner of his eyes. "Hinako!! Don't get into a spiral!"
Hinako heard him, but by the time she did the Amazons had already
infused the hot spiral they had backed her into with blasts of cold
energy. "Hiyru Shoten Ha!"
A massive tornado formed, feeding off the angry energy that Hinako
had sucked from the Amazons. Once she was fully drained, Hinako was
blasted into the air in her child form.
"Hinako!" Soun cried out and ran towards the tornado, while most of
the other combatants tried to escape from the violent winds. The others
wanted to help, but were unable to get out of their own battles to do
so. Like a man possessed, Soun flattened the two Amazons who had created
the tornado and leapt into it.
Inside the vortex, Soun tried to find Hinako, but couldn't see
anything through the debris churned up by the winds. "Hinako!" He
realized that his armor was weighing him down, so he reached up and
un-strapped it. The armor fell to the ground and he was able to swim
into the currents. "Hinako!"
"Soun!" a tired little girl cried out.
Soun whipped his head to the side after hearing the cry. "Hinako!"
He saw her downwind from him and angled his body to intercept her. As he
neared her, he reached out and tried to grab her hand. His fingers
brushed against her for a second before he was pulled away from her by
the buffeting winds. "No!" He lunged and managed to grab her wrist.
Hinako smiled as he pulled her into a tight embrace. As the winds
started to die down, she noticed the ground rushing at them. "Soun! The
ground!"
Soun nodded and positioned his body to take most of the impact. He
wasn't sure if they could survive the fall, but he was going to do what
he could to save the woman he loved.
"No!" little Hinako cried out when she realized what he was trying
to do.
Genma was fighting with a skinny Amazon when he saw the tornado
dissipate and Soun falling to the ground with Hinako in his arms.
"Tendo!!" he cried out, helpless. He slammed his opponent in the face
and then ran over her on his way to try to save his friend. As he
realized that he wouldn't make it in time, he cried out again. "Soun!!"
Soun crashed into the ground at high speed, taking most of the
impact across his back. After the dust settled, he didn't move.
Little Hinako looked up from his chest, where she had fallen.
"Soun?" She reached up and nudged him. "Soun!!"
Hinako was so concerned she didn't see the Amazon looming behind
her. She also didn't see the long spear aimed for her back.
But Genma did. He tackled the Amazon just before the spear could
pierce the little girl's back. He and the Amazon rolled away locked in a
tight ball. They struggled until the spear was broken. The struggle
ended at that point because the spearhead had been driven into Genma's
stomach before the shaft of the spear broke.
The Amazon rose, pulled her dagger out of its sheathe, and cried
out, "First blood!!" The dagger was then plunged towards Genma's heart.
[End - Chapter 18]
Coming soon: Chapter 19: End of the Amazon Way
=======================================================================
The real author's (Jim Lazar) notes/ramblings:
I am breaking my usual practice of ending with the 2057 characters and
instead ending on a cliffhanger back in 1999. It came down to the length
of the chapters and where was a good place to break the story. The
honeymoon could have been a separate short chapter, but then that would
make the China events require two chapters by themselves due to their
length. So instead of three short chapters, you have two longer chapters
that I think complement each other nicely.
I'd like to thank my pre-readers Thomas C. Kinnen, David Johnston, EBJ,
and Jyh-I Lu for helping me find and fix problems with this story.
Revision 0.0 - Rough draft (March 1, 1999)
Revision 0.2 - Pre-reader draft (June 10, 1999)
Revision 0.4 - FFML draft (June 20, 1999)
-=-
Jim Lazar
E-Mail - mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net
FanFiction - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime
-=-
Kasumi found her father cradling her mother in his arms. He
had run out of tears to shed long ago, but the expression on his face
told the story.
After several minutes of silence, Soun asked with a scratchy
voice, "Kasumi dear. Will you please say goodbye to your mother?"
"Of course, Father," Kasumi said. She stood up, took one of her
mother's hands in hers, and said a soft, "Goodbye, Mother. I'll keep
my promise."
-=-
Excerpt from: Ranma-ototo: Please Save My Family