Thanks to the generous efforts of fans my fanfiction may now be found on the
following two url's:
Stardancer: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/4630/archive.html
kazamajun: http://www.iguild.com/homes/kazama/
The characters of the Ranma 1/2 universe are the
creation and possession of the brilliant Rumiko
Takahashi. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi and her
licensees (Shogakukan Inc., Kitty-Fuji TV, Viz
Communications Inc.) No copyright infringement is
intended.
Pawn of Darkness, Daughter of Corruption
Chapter 1
"What progress have you made Vilmiin E'on?"
"Excellent progress, Lord of Darkness. The Terrans are pathetically
easy to fool. They have no psychic defenses at all. And a few bits of dross
metal, which they call gold, are sufficient to buy all that we need."
"Very good. But are there no servants of Light; no guardians of
Purity and Justice?"
The voice of the Dark One's servant cut through the hiss and
crackle of unimaginable light years that separated the good earth from
the Black Prince's Realm. "Yesss, My Lord of Despair. But they are
few and unprepared. They will be no----"
"Do you DARE to question me?"
"N . . .no, Majestic fountain of Corruption and Death. Your will is
mine; my every breath in your service. I am your servant to the last drop
of my blood. To you I dedicate every morsel I eat, every particle that I
shi----"
"Yes, yes." The Marquess of Malignance interrupted impatiently.
"Very commendable, to be sure. Show me these Protectors of Virtue."
In the darkness, a flickering orb materialized. In moments it
resolved itself into a crystalline sphere. Deep within, tiny images
appeared. Swiftly the sphere grew in size, and the images resolved into a
slim pig-tailed boy bounding from roof top to roof top. Behind him
raced a muscular bandana figure, hurtling razor sharp bandanas.
Laughing, the pig-tailed figure danced aside from the deadly
missiles. Two more opponents appeared, one wielding a wooden
bokenwith inhuman grace, the other attacking with a bewildering swarm
of chains, swords and hooks.
"This is the strongest Light Bearer." Vilmiin E'on's voice
whispered across the void between worlds. One image grew in size to
show the laughing face of the pig-tailed boy. "The others," briefly
larger images of the other three flashed into view, then vanished.
"are nearly his equal."
"These are the only Guardians?"
"There are others." Two females came into view. One wearing
purple silk and wielding two heavy war-hammers as if they were
thistles, the second, a slender figure in black tights, swinging
an improbable pole arm. "But these five are the strongest and most
united. Other than two elders who negate their power by being
at odds, there are no others in our area of operations."
"Very well. We must neutralize these Guardians. Leave nothing to
chance. Observe them closely. Search for weakness. I will ----" The
voice chopped off abruptly. "Who is that?"
"Lord?" Even across the distance, the puzzlement in Vilmiin
E'on's voice was evident. "What do you mean?"
"That one." A brief application of power and the sphere swirled
with rainbow colours, resolving into the image of a stocky girl with
]short dark hair; her face twisted in anger.
"This one Lord? She has no potential as a Guardian of Light.
She is nothing, less than nothing."
"You are wrong, Vilmiin E'on. Taste her anger, her fury. She
is the perfect vessel for my Shadow Lust Heart Corruption ray.
She will I fill with the darkness of a thousand nights;
I will feed her soul with anguish, sorrow and despair. She will
be my Dark Queen, my Avatar of Death. She will sow the land with blood----"
"Your time has expired." The polite recorded voice interrupted.
"Please deposit twenty five billion yen for each additional minute."
"WHAT!!! I am the Dark Lord, Destroyer of Worlds, The Traveler
who brings sorrow!"
"Please deposit twenty five billion . . . ."
"AAAAAAA. Gods curse whoever made these robes without
pockets. I have no change."
*****************************************************
"Power, unlimited power can be yours . . ."
The voices again. She buried her head in her book.
"Strength, beauty all for the asking."
The poisonously seductive voice tugged at her. No. She wouldn't
listen.
"Come to the dark side..."
"AAAAAAAA." With a scream of rage she pounced on her
tormenter. The fight was short and savage; the outcome was pre-
ordained.
"Owwwwww." Nabiki rubbed her head, glaring at her little sister.
"Whadja do that for?"
"You were driving me CRAZY." She shook the small flat box
angrily. "Flip, flip, flip. Why can't you just pick a channel and stick
with it."
"There's nothing on except info-mercials and a Star Wars re-run."
Nabiki excused herself.
"Well, that's not _my_ fault." Akane glared at her sister for a
moment. She appeared ready to hand the control back when the kitchen
clock chimed. "OH NO!" Spinning around she stared at the clock. "IT'S
TIME! IT'S TIME!!!" Shrieking and screaming, she spun Nabiki in a
mad circle, releasing her suddenly. By the time Nabiki picked
herself up, Akane was planted firmly in front of the TV.
"I thought you were going to _FIX_ that clock." Nabiki
whispered harshly to her older sister.
"I did!" Kasumi said, hurt at being accused unjustly. "I pulled the
battery out and glued the hands in place." Glancing surreptitiously at
Akane, she lowered her voice and continued. "Perhaps being exposed to
Akane's cooking all these years has . . .changed it."
"Don't be silly Kasumi." Nabiki frowned at Kasumi's
superstitious nattering. "It's just a clock. Besides," she continued.
"I had a priest in just last week to bless the kitchen and exorcize
all the small appliances."
*Today's challenger on IRON CHEF is Ushimaru Hidetoshi, 33,
head chef at the Westin Hotel Toyko's The Terrace. The champion Sakai,
in his first battle of the year, will defend.*
"GO HIDE-CHAAAAAN!!!!" Akane whipped out little fans with
Ushimaru's name and picture.
"This does not look good Tendou."
"I agree, Saotome. But what can we do?"
"Hey, there's a Jackie Chan movie coming on in a minute." The
pig-tailed boy announced as he jumped down the last four steps from the
upper floor. "It's gonna be great." So saying, he changed the channel.
The calm before the storm, the bump in the night, the buzzing of
the rattle snake. Human kind, from the most primitive hominoid before
speech and bipedal locomotion, to modern man survived by recognizing
and heeding these subtle warnings.
"RAAAAAAANNNNMAAAAN!" Flames crackled and the air
stank of ozone. Of course some just don't get it.
"Wha'd I do?"
"BAKA!"
"Should we call Dr. Tofou?"
Nabiki considered the tattered red and black silk bag of ground
beef that had, moments before, resembled a human being in form if not
intelligence.
"Nah. I think he's beginning to like it. See how he's smiling?"
"Oh dear. Nabiki, I don't think that's his mouth."
"Sure it is. See, this is his head and . . ." Nabiki paused,
looking more carefully. "Ewwww. Maybe you're right."
* . . .theme ingredient is----Curry Powder.*
"I can do that!" Akane cried happily jumping up and heading for
the kichen.
A hush filled the air. Small creatures scurried for shelter and far
away the Dali Lama felt an ominous stirring.
"Dinner out Saotome?"
"By all means Tendou."
"HEY!" Nabiki snagged the fathers in mid-craven-flight. "You're
going to help us carry - - -that," she pointed to the pulpy mass oozing
in the middle of the room. "to Dr. Tofou's."
Gingerly picking up all the loose bits and pieces the four scurried
out the back door, all unnoticed.
**********************************************************
"Aaaaaaaa. Nonononono! That's NOT what I want."
One eye on the TV, one eye on the stove, one eye . . .uh oh.
She'd run out of eyes. Growling in frustration Akane put a fist through
the counter. This ALWAYS happened. It was trick photography or
something. There was no WAY a normal human being could keep track
of all these ingredients, and bowls and cook-books and stuff.
" . . .winner is Sakai."
"WHAT!" Akane whirled to the TV. "THIEF! ROBBER!" She
was incensed. It was fixed. The Judges had been bought off. Sakai's curry
rice was so mundane and uninspired, not like Hide-chan's wonderful
meat sauce pasta with curry essence. And while Sakai's ice cream with
curry essence was good it lacked the inspired genius of Hide-chan's
curry essence pineapple. Ohhhhh. If there were _only_ something she
could do. If she just had the POWER----"
The house shuddered, windows rattled and the air shivered.
Bowls and pans crashed to the ground, their contents running across the
floor in a sticky flood. Light blazed, like heat lightning, and a
doorway tore open the fabric of time and space. A figure stepped
through this bleeding wound in reality. Armored all in black, like
the starless space between space the giant strode into the room
like a conquering king.
"Your boon shall be granted."
Akane stared at the menacing figure, armed and armored like
nothing seen on earth. The very air was chilled and even the light from
the sun seemed weak and sickly in it's presence.
"I amVilmiin E'on, come from the Dark Lord of Chaos, the
Nameless One of legend to bring you power beyond . . ."
"You. Spilled. My. Curry."
"What?"
"Vilmiin E'on NO BAKA!!!"
With a wet crunching sound, like a mouse inside a beer
can,Vilmiin E'on, late of His Demonic Majesties service, vanished from
the mortal realm.
**********************************************************
"Sister of the Night, attend me!" The Lord of Corruption
summoned. The universe trembled, damned souls screamed and the walls
ran with blood. There was a long, long silence except for the quiet
plop-plop-plop of blood dripping off the walls. Drumming his talons
on the swirling pool of chaos that served as his desk, Hell's Bastard
whistled tunelessly. He tried again. "Daughter of Erebus, I summon you!"
The last drop of blood hit the skull lined floor with a sad little
ker-plop. "Ummmm. Hello?" He thought for a moment. His brows furrowed in
sudden remembrance. "Ms. Beryl?"
"QUEEN Beryl." Came the icy rejoinder.
"Ummm. Of course. Sorry." She was awfully touchy about that
he thought. He'd like to rip her heart from her body and cast her soul
screaming into the outer darkness to forever be eaten by poison roaches.
Unfortunately the Succubus, Secretaries, And Godless Angels (SAGA)
had a very strong union. Plus it was almost impossible to find an evil-
personal assistant who could slaughter innocents AND type seventy five
words per minute.
"Ummm, _Queen_ Beryl, is there any word on Vilmiin E'on?"
"They're still trying to separate him from his armor. The
metaphysican says it's like trying to unscramble an egg." She tapped one
long fingernail against her chin. "However he has stopped screaming, so
they're hopeful of a full recovery."
"We need a replacement. Call King Ozom. Tell him I'd like Zabel
. . ." He trailed off as Beryl shook her head.
"Zabel was injured while trying to feed on souls at a heavy metal
concert." An quirked eyebrow encouraged her to elaborate. "It turns out
he was competing against a stronger soul eater and lost part of his own
soul instead."
"Marvelous," The Master of Misery enthused. "get me this
demon prince immediately. He sounds perfect."
Beryl consulted her notes. "Unfortunately Pat Boone is touring
until the end of the year. Can you wait?"
"No. I don't want to delay. What about Pyron, Baron of Flame?"
"On assignment, destroying Vejita."
"Bishamon the Foresaken? He's got a way with blood lust and
mindless killing that I've always liked."
"Ahhhh," Beryl ran her finger down her list. "On sabbatical
. . ."Her lips moved silently and her free hand moved aimlessly like
a basket of worms as she scanned her list."He felt that his skills
were inferior and is taking special training in senseless violence
and bigotry at . . ." Beryl squinted to make out the words.
" . . .Gerrie Splingeer Shau." She carefully pronounced the unfamiliar
words. She quickly ran down the list. "In fact none of the
Death Stalkers are available right now except for . . .Butteta?"
She looked at the Virtuoso of Vengeance inquiringly.
"The Bounty Hunter?" He shuddered. "She'd sell her own mother
for a bent copper piece."
"She held out for two and a half coppers," Beryl said looking at
her list. "Plus an option to buy her back."
"A real artist,"He said admiringly. "but just not suitable for our
needs. Who else is available? What about Kyomara? He's on retainer and
Shikima demons are always so. . .creative."
"No good," Beryl shook her head. "He tried to drain a magical
girl by disguising himself as her senpai."
"And?"
Beryl shrugged her shoulders. "Hasn't been heard from since."
**********************************************************
"OH, Senpaiiiii," Kino Makoto stretched luxuriously, causing a
rippling effect that would have made a Buddha kick out a stained glass
window. "that was wooooonderful." Lazily she reached over and brushed
the back of her hand over the limp cluster of thick green tentacles.
"Let's do it again." Rolling over she pinned the softly weeping
demon beneath her.
"help meeeee."
**********************************************************
"All we have left are temps." Beryl concluded.
"I hate working with non-union minions. The let their captives get
away, babble their plans to everyone they see . . .they get knocked out
by GIRLS!!!" He cringed at the look Beryl gave him. "Ummm, really,
really big, brutal girls." Tugging at his suddenly too tight collar
he went on. "Who CAN we get?"
"First up is Mountain Blade, the City Wizard." She dropped the
list on his desk, placing her finger under the entry. "Shall I contact
him?"
The Lord of Lamentation read the particulars of the Minion-for-
Hire. Grumbling he scrawled his signature across the bottom of the
contract. "Oh, very well. But I expect results. Either he gets me my
Avatar of Anguish or I get his soul."
"He's a temp worker. They don't have souls." Beryl gathered up
her papers and turned to leave. "They do make a delightful squealing
sound when you pull their spines through their anus with hot-iron
pinchers." A delicate forked tongue flicked out to daintily lick
black lips. "It's especially tasty with salsa."
**********************************************************
"Akane, could you pick up some things at the teacake shop?"
"Of course Kasumi," The youngest Tendou daughter took the list
from her sister's hand. "Is this all you need?"
"If you think of anything else we need, just add it to the
list."Kasumi adjusted the wide brim of her sun-hat and checked her
makeup in the mirror. "I would go myself, but Dr. Toufu wanted to read
this." She pulled a book from her bag and held it for Akane to see.
"The. King. in. Yellow." She slowly worked out the Eigo.
"Arkam University Press." It was a heavy, leather bound book trimmed
in sterling silver and locked with a gold clasp. Startlingly realistic
renditions of human eyes and mouths covered the front and back of the
book. It was really very clever, she thought, the mouths looked like
they were really screaming in terror. "I'm sure Dr. Toufu will like it,
Kasumi." She said, handing it back to her sister.
"Oh I hope so." She stuffed the book back in her bag. "It's one of
my favorites."
Akane watched her sister disappear out of the door. Stuffing the
list in her purse, she checked her hair in the mirror and headed for the
Teacake shop.
**********************************************************
"Closed!" Akane kicked the ground in frustration. Why was it
that _every_ time she came here the Teacake shop was closed? It was
almost like a curse or something.
"Oh Miss? You wish to buy sakura-mochi? I have the finest in
Japan."
Akane turned at the sound of the querulous old voice. A wizened
little man with fuzzy grey hair stood behind her. The banner swaying
above his back read: "Odd Traveling Teacake Salesman."
"Very special sakura-mochi. Will help you find the man you are
destined to marry." He held a box of his very _special_ mix toward
Akane.
"YOU!" Akane's face purpled with anger. The old man had a
brief moment to wonder where the pretty young girl had seen him before
and slightly less time to be amazed at her strength as she hefted a
huge stone tanuki over her head.
"i have some very nice candied eel." Came his voice weakly from
under the heavy stone.
**********************************************************
Mountain Blade, The City Wizard chuckled to himself. All was
going according to plan. He looked around at the magically created shop.
Soon the prey would enter his lair. He would seduce her with rare and
precious items. Items that would allow her to achieve her fondest wish.
Then . . .ahh . . .then . . .he shuddered in anticipation. Then he
would have her, body and soul. Mortals were such weaklings. Not like
wizard-kind. The bell over the door jingled cheerily and he turned
to face his _customer_.
**********************************************************
" . . .mystic mirror that will reflect all of _your_ problems onto your
worst enemy." The City Wizard's smile was a little strained. Nothing----
NOTHING he'd offered----not the "cursed blade of undetectable
assassination", not the "heaven sent hammer of vengeance", not ONE of
his mystic items had attracted the dratted girl's eye.
"Ummmm." Akane examined the mirror carefully, turning it this
way and that. Finally she shook her head. "No thank you." At the
wizard's look, she pointed to a small label pasted on the back of the
mirror: "The Sorcerer General has determined that using cursed mirrors
is more dangerous than sticking your tongue in a light socket while
standing in a bucket of water."
Mountain Blade hid his grimace behind a smile as he replaced the
mirror on the shelf. A pox on those government mandated warnings
anyway. He watched sourly as Akane filled her basket with mundane
items, checking each one off her list before heading for the cash
register. The only thing she _had_ been interested in was finding
a magical cooking pot . . .but he was only a wizard, not God.
Then, just when all seemed lost, he watched her choose a candy
bar. YES! Now he had her. One bite of the cursed candy would
transform her. She would then be easy prey. Smiling he stepped behind
the counter. Smiling he carefully wrapped her purchases, minus the
candy. Smiling he took her money and carefully handed back her change.
Time slowed, and his vision narrowed as she unwrapped the candy, her
even white teeth biting into the rich milk-chocolate and crisp cookie
center. Before his eyes, the young girl dwindled and warped, her
features coarsening as she went from human to beast.
"So Tendou-san," Mountain Blade said mockingly. "Perhaps
there is some _little_ item you have forgotten? A flea collar perhaps?"
From under the pile of clothes came a cat the color of a starless
night. A single bound put the cat on the counter top where it sat,
calmly eyeing the wizard.
"This unfortunate occurrence need be no more than a minor
inconvenience."
The cat cocked her head inquiringly.
"It is really very simple. My . . .employer . . .is in need of a
loyal servitor. In exchange he will see that your _condition_ is
remediated. Otherwise. . ." The wizard shrugged his shoulders with
a smirk of complacent satisfaction. The smirk of a man who knew that
he held all the cards.
The smirk may have been a bad idea. "What's your answer, little
girl." The "little girl" remark was a bad idea, beyond any doubt.
She was certainly a _heavy_ cat, the wizard thought as neko-
Akane attached herself to his face. Ten scimitars of bone fastened onto
his face while ivory fangs pierced his forehead. The pain was an
exquisite flame that consumed his mind. Until neko-Akane brought her
hind legs under her and began to sprint. A fireball blew away all
conscious thought, like a hurricane through thistle down and the wizard
collapsed in a pool of blood. As the wizard died, so did his enchantment.
"I am NOT shopping here again." Akane fumed, dressing herself.
"This manju is NOT fresh." She pointed to the expiration date on the box
of dumplings. "You should be ashamed of yourself." Scooping her
change into her purse, Akane gathered up her packages and stomped out
of the store.
Several minutes passed as the wizard gathered his energies and
slowly reconstituted himself. NOW it was personal. A cruel smile
crossed his face. And he knew just how to tame the bitch.
**********************************************************
Akane probed the inside of her mouth with her tongue, wincing as
she touched her split lip. Experimentally she tugged at the straps that
bound her wrists and ankles. Taking in a deep breath she let it out
explosive burst of strength. The heavy leather bonds cut into her
flesh and her body was drenched in sweat as if she'd been thrown into
a pool. A long moment passed, her muscles corded like bands of steel,
veins bulging in her temple until she fell back, exhausted.
"A futile effort----little girl."
Akane's head snapped around at the sneering voice. "Who are
you?" She wriggled around until she was kneeling upright on the alley
floor. Around her she could see the items spilled from her package.
"Forgotten me so soon?" Mountain Blade's true form shimmered
briefly into the form of the shop keeper, then back again. "Ahhh, the
light dawns."
"What are you?" Akane asked wearily. "Another fiance� for
Ranma? Collecting a debt from Saotome Genma, a martial arts
challenger? What?"
"Nothing so simple my dear." Power gathered in his hands.
"Things would have been so _painless_ if you had just cooperated
earlier." Painless but not nearly as enjoyable he thought, observing his
captive. "Now it's time for a little trip down memory lane . . ." A
sickly green light flared, changing Mountain Blade, the alley and Akane.
Akane shivered in her bonds. She recognized this place. The
Kuno compound, four years ago. Kuno had slipped something into her
tea at school. When she woke up . . .
"Your maidenly modesty is commendable . . ." Akane twisted
around to see Kuno . . .or a simulation of Kuno from four years ago.
"but I, Kuno Tatewaki----the Raging Volcano of Furinken Junior High
School----have decided to that you are worthy of the greatest gift a
maiden could have," His hands went to his waist, unfastening the belt of
his hakama. "the pure essence of the noble scion of House
Kuno."Akane's eyes teared as strong hands tangled in her hair and forced
her head back. "Drink deep of the nectar that flows from my kingly
scepter."
Even a simulation of Kuno should have known better. Perhaps it
would have been more painful to slam a car door on his male member. It
certainly couldn't have been any _less_ painful as Akane's strong white
teeth met with an audible click. Just as they had four years earlier.
And,just as it happened four years earlier, the pseudo-Kuno's eye's
bulged like a toad-under-a-truck. Taking advantage of his _distraction_
Akane drove her shoulder into his belly, knocking him on his back.
Continuing her roll Akane tucked her legs, bringing her bound arms past
her feet and in front of her body. Spinning like a top she planted her
bound legs solidly in the pseudo-Kuno's belly. Jack-knifing forward
she grabbed his mutilated manhood in both hands.
"Tendou Secret Technique----Starting The Lawn Mower!"
Mountain Blade's mouth opened in horrified protest as Akane
straightened her body in one convulsive surge.
**********************************************************
"I'm home!" Akane called, trudging wearily through the door.
"Akane, I wish you'd call if you're going to be late." Kasumi
scolded gently. "You know how I worry."
"Gomen, Oneesama." She put her shopping on the table. "Do we
have an empty jar? And some alcohol."
"Akane!" Kasumi fisted her hands on her hips. "What did I tell
you? We simply do NOT have any more room." Pulling open a cabinet
she waved a hand at row after row of jars in which floated pale pink
worms, some of which had fleshy sacks at one end. "Just WHERE do
you expect me to find room for your trophies?"
"Gomen, gomen," Akane apologized, pulling a limp mass from
her pocket. "But it _really wasn't my fault this time. Are you sure
there's no more room?" She pleaded.
"Oh my," Kasumi put one hand to her cheek. "It's so _tiny_."
**********************************************************
end notes:
1) Iron Chef may be found on Food Network, Fridays at 10:00 PM
URL: http://www.ironchef.com/
2) Vilmiin E'on is an anagram in English.
3) Dark Stalker: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/5616/chars.html
4) For everyone who has asked . . . I apologize for the lateness of Cats
have no tears, With friends like these, and Sukeban Senshi Chp. 6. An eye
infection is preventing me from working. If it does not seem as if it will
clear up soon I will post the _unrevised_ chapters to FFML. To all my
readers, again I apologize for the lateness of these posts.