Cats Have No Tears
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.
I do not want to [spam] the list with re-posts. Chapters 1-5
may be found at:
http://www.iguild.com/homes/kazama/
On advice of some pre-readers I am providing the following
warning. This fanfiction contains scenes of extreme violence
and may be considered DARK.
************************************************
Chapter 7
"I am gratified for your offer to help me gain my
bride," Zhu Liji glanced at his visitor over his cup. "but I fail
to understand why you would do such a thing?"
"I find it very distressing that a man who had devoted
so much of his life to the betterment of his country should be
denied what is rightfully his."
"You are kind to say so."
"Not at all," his visitor took a sip of tea. "That you
should be so vexed by outmoded customs and the fancies of
an old woman who has outlived her time, is insupportable.
"But you must allow me to do you some small favor
in return." Zhu urbanely replied.
Zhu's visitor took another small sip of his tea before
responding with a few short comments.
"And this is all you wish?" Zhu asked with unfeigned
amazement. "Easily done. But surely I can do something
more for you?"
"Helping me with these arrangements is more than
enough. That and knowing that Shan P'u will be well cared
for. She is like a spoiled and willful child. The love and
discipline of an older husband is just what she needs to
assume her rightful place in life."
And when I rescue her in a few months, Mu Tsu
thought, she will be so grateful to me, and so afraid of you
she will never dare leave me. The thought of a docile and
compliant Shan P'u was almost as exciting as the thought of
being a whole man again. Or rather, considering how he had
altered Cu Lon's magic, a great deal more than a man.
************************************************
*
"Nabikichan! Could you get the door please? I have
to give father his medicine."
"OK Kasumi." Giving the TV one last glance, Nabiki
wearily pushed herself to her feet. She couldn't go on like
this, none of them could. She almost envied her father the
escape of drugged sleep. Angrily she shook herself. NO! She
was depressed. Who wouldn't be. Her baby sister was dead.
She could almost think that now without crying inside. But
she would get over it. In time, they all would. Pasting on her
'company' face Nabiki opened the door to see two men in
business suits.
"May I help----"
She thought she was having a heart attack when the stun-gun
hit her with seventy five thousand volts. And then she didn't
think anything at all as blackness claimed her.
"How long will she stay under?" Asked suit number
one.
"Long enough," answered suit number two,
withdrawing a needle from Nabiki's arm. "Leave her here
and let's get the other one. The sooner we deliver them to
the boy the better I'll like it."
************************************************
*
Cu Lon was unhappy. Mu Tsu was gone. That wasn't
tragic, in and of itself. She could always hope he'd fallen
under a train. However her medicine chest had been
tampered with. And very cleverly. He hadn't tried to get past
the lock, which was booby-trapped. Instead he'd he'd used
steam to remove the wooden pegs and come in from the
bottom of the chest. And now some very dangerous items
were missing. . .
Hurrying her pace toward the Tendou's Cu Lon
again cursed herself for underestimating Mu Tsu. She'd
deliberately removed some vital elements from the chest,
telling Mu Tsu they would have to wait to get more from the
mainland. Obviously he'd found his own sources in China----
Three thousand years of Amazon tradition and
several centuries of experience had given Cu Lon a
sensitivity to her surroundings that neither Shan P'u or even
Ranma could imagine. Even so, she felt only the barest
whisper of another presence before a dark shape dropped in
front of her.
"Nihao,Akane-chan." Cu Lon greeted her visitor with
supreme irony. "Or do you even remember human
language?"
She considered the silent black cat for a moment.
"I can cure you . . .for a price. " The small cat stared
unblinkingly at the ancient Amazon. "There is nothing left of
you, is there Tendou Akane-chan? Just a small black cat with
troubling dreams of a life you can no longer comprehend
. . .and those will soon fade."
Cu Lon backed a few paces and watched as the cat
slowly lowered it's ears and tail. Satisfied neko-Akane was
no threat Cu Lon went to pass by the cat. Two centuries of
paranoia drove her to cross on the far side of the street as an
automatic precaution. It was almost enough. Cu Lon
whirled, her staff coming around to block the howling black
thunderbolt streaking toward her.
Twisting with a cats impossible grace neko-Akane
avoided the staff and leapt for Cu Lon's throat. Immediately
Cu Lon dropped back a pace with her left leg, simultaneously
lowering her center. As her right hand came around in a
'swallow-fights-tiger' counter strike she felt the ground shift
beneath her feet. Almost three hundred years of martial
training assured that she lost her center for an instant only.
It was enough.
A tearing pain in her right leg, so great she cried out.
Then she was falling as the leg gave way. She hit the ground,
something she hadn't done involuntarily in more than a
century, and rolled quickly away to put a wall at her back.
Coming to a stop in a seated position she could see a blood
trail leading from her leg to where she had fallen.
A small black cat sat, sphinx like---- watching her.
"So, not entirely a beast," Cu Lon chuckled as she
made a loop of cloth and pulled it tightly around her leg. The
flow of blood slowed to a trickle. "Very clever." She waved
a hand at the debris that had been used to cover a hole in the
ground. "A trap. So simple a child wouldn't be fooled." She
gave a sour laugh. "I am not sure what that says about me."
The silent cat remained motionless.
"There is no cure. I lied."
The cat lazily raised a paw to it's mouth and
delicately licked off a drop of blood.
"I surrender." Cu Lon gave a mirthless chuckle as the
cat looked startled. "You have won this battle, with skill and
courage. I realize you would like to watch me bleed to death.
And much as I hate to deprive you of this treat you may
want to go home now."
The small cat tilted her head inquiringly.
"Mu Tsu is wandering the streets . . .with the
contents of my medicine chest."
A small feline yawn greeted this pronouncement.
"I believe he intends to duplicate the ceremony you
are so familiar with. Of course he needs a source of untainted
chi.
Chi that is perhaps supplied by one or two young women----
Cu Lon chuckled as the cat vanished like smoke. A
pity she wouldn't be there to see Mu Tsu's face when he met
neko-Akane. And they would meet, of that Cu Lon was sure.
She put that pleasant thought aside and concentrated on not
bleeding to death on a Nerima side street.
************************************************
*
Shan P'u opened her eyes with a groan. She raised a
hand to her aching head only to be brought up short as she
hit the end of her chain. Twisting her head around she saw
heavy leather cuffs around her wrists connected by short
lengths of heavy chain to eye-bolts set in the wall. The
mirrored walls and ceiling showed her ankles were similarly
secured to the foot of the bed. Closing her eyes she thought
back . . .the last thing she remembered was coming into the
Tendou home with Ranma. They'd been arguing. Shan P'u
trying to keep him from rushing back to confront Cu Lon.
She'd convinced onna-Ranma to at least change back after
getting splashed on the way there. Shan P'u hoped that
would give Ranma time to calm down a little.
The front door had been open . . .the room empty.
Then there had been someone at the door . . .a policeman.
An accident he said . . .Kasumi hurt . . .
Shan P'u took a deep breath against a sudden surge
of nausea.
They'd followed the uniformed man outside . . . a
brief sting from a hidden needle.Shan P'u remembered
feeling the fake policeman's ribs break under her spear point
strike
. . .she'd gotten at least one more before the drugs
overwhelmed her.
As she went down she saw onna-Ranma smash one
'policeman's' jaw even as another broke a night-stick over
her head from behind. They'd thrown her in the back of a car
. . .she remembered seeing a small black form streak around
the corner of the house as they drove off . . .then nothing
else until a moment ago.
Shan P'u took a deep breath, wincing as bruised ribs
protested, then let it out slowly. Another deep breath,
imagining a large golden ball of chi in the air. Inhaling, the
chi flowed inside, exhaling she pushed out all of her pain and
weakness. In a few moments her belly was filled to bursting
with a molten sunburst one more deep breath and she
HEAVED. Air forced from her lungs with an explosive crack
and sweat tinged pink with blood burst out over her body
with her effort.
The massive, reinforced bed-frame groaned, but did
not give.
Relaxing she fell slack in her chains, gasping for
breath. It had been worth a try. Now all she could do was
wait. For an opportunity to escape----from her captors or
from this life. Shan P'u examined her feelings and was
pleased to see she was not scared.
Death was easy----but Amazons, like women
everywhere, were seldom granted an easy death in a male
dominated world. It was important to face whatever came
with dignity and----
A brief scraping noise made her blood freeze. Shan
P'u took one last calming breath. She was staring at the door
when a ceiling tile fell on her head. Jerking her head back
she looked up, just in time to see a small black shape drop
out of the ceiling .
Shan P'u stared slack jawed at the furry apparition.
"Where did you come from little one?" Shan P'u
asked, reverting to her native tongue under stress.
"Mrrrrr?"
"Sorry. You Japanese cat, not understand Chinese.
Shan P'u scratch ear but she a little tied up right now."
The cat gave her a disgusted look and padded up past
her head to where her wrists were secured. Reflected in the
mirrored wall Shan P'u could see the small cat bat
experimentally at the lock, then begin chewing at the leather
cuff.
"Ayyyyy. Gooooood kitty." Shan P'u breathed softly.
"Shan P'u give bowl cream when get out." Hardly were the
words out of her mouth when the cat vanished like a shadow
at noon time.
"Aaaa. No cream, Shan P'u give salmon----
The door opened and Shan P'u shut up abruptly.
"Good afternoon. I'm glad to see you are awake."
"Huh, what you thinking, steal Amazon woman?"
"Hardly stealing. You are my promised bride after
all."
Shan P'u glared at Zhu Liji. "Who promise? When Promise?"
"Many years ago," Zhu pulled his tie free and folded
it neatly across the back of a comfortably padded chair. "the
Amazon province----
"Amazon Nation!"
Shan P'u's head rocked under the force of Zhu's
casual,back-handed blow.
"It is a pity you have gone unschooled for so long.
Still," Zhu removed his coat placed it alongside his tie. "You
will learn never to contradict me, in public or private."
Reaching into his jacket he slipped a thick leather case from
an inside pocket.
"As I was saying, many years ago the province of
Amazons found themselves in a little difficulty. Due to their
improvidence, there was a famine."
"Maybe Peoples Republic no steal food, Amazon no
go hungry."
"I believe I warned you about contradicting me."
Zhu's voice was conversational, as he opened the leather
case. Light gleamed off an assortment of surgical steel
implements. Selecting a slender probe Zhu sat on the bed
next to Shan P'u. "There is no Amazon Nation. Only a group
of pathetic superstition ridden savages. Savages that
promised the . . .ahh . . .fruits of their labor in exchange for
food." Zhu chuckled at his own wit."
"Liar. Amazon no trade children."
Zhu reached out and twisted her nipple savagely.
Frowning in displeasure when Shan P'u didn't even change
expression he continued,"I've warned you about
contradicting me. In any event I believe the pitiful sounds
their mongrel brats made crying for food may have helped
motivate them."
Grasping Shan P'u's wrist in an iron grip he
delicately placed the needle tip of the probe just under her
thumb-nail. "Your people are misguided counter-
revolutionaries." Slowly Zhu slid the needle into the quick.
Other than a minuscule flaring of her nostrils Shan P'u still
did not react. Annoyed, Zhu removed the probe, frowning
down at the crimson drops that welled from her thumb and
dropped silently onto the sheets.
"I can see that you have been poisoned by the
superstitious attitudes infesting that province." He pulled a
slender blade from the case and examined in with the air of a
connoisseur.
"You no get away with this." Shan P'u said ,
experimentally. "Many people know Shan P'u. They look.
Find. You big trouble then."
Looking bored, Zhu replaced the first blade and
selected another, this one curved ending in a sharp hook. "I
could give you a telephone this minute and it would do you
no good. You are in the embassy of the Peoples Republic.
And the staff dislike 'Amazons' only a little less than they
dislike the Japanese. I must thank you, by the way, for
providing us with that delightful bonus. Such an interesting
hair color.
"Aaaaa." The involuntary reaction was startled from
Shan P'u. "Ranma! What you doing?"
"Ranma? What a name!" Zhu chuckled. "But what
can one expect from such a people. "Still, I expect she will
provide a great deal of amusement----for as long as she
lasts."
Shan P'u felt chilled at that pronouncement. This was
bad enough for her. Amazons were trained, almost from
birth, to deal with what was considered to be as inevitable as
flood, fire or earthquake. How much worse would it be for a
proud young boy steeped in the culture of bushido.
A movement in the periphery of her vison made her
turn slightly. Reflected in the mirror she could just see the
black tip of an angrily lashing tail. A wild thought came to
her----that this was the spirit-cat, the remnants of her curse,
that had been forced from her body. That would explain why
it had followed her, seemed so intelligent. They were still
linked, somehow. There might be a chance . . .
"Great grand mother know . . .and Mu Tsu know.
They have friend in government. They not----
"The old woman has outlived her time. She is living
in the past. As for Mu Tsu . . .who do you think delivered
you into my hands? He arranged to distract the old woman.
He told us where to find you AND how to arrange your
_visit_ with a minimum of fuss."
"You do something Kasumi?"
"The Japanese girls living in that house?" Zhu
shrugged. "It was an elegant plan. Mu Tsu wanted the two
girls. Their removal also acted to distract you and ease your
removal."
"Mu Tsu family very strong. Uncle, cousin . . .big
party member. He want Shan P'u very much. Not like you
hurt Shan P'u."
"Why do you insist on speaking Japanese . . .and so
badly." Zhu replaced the hooked blade and instead selected a
spring-loaded clamp with barbed teeth from his collection. "I
think I will start with language lessons. I refuse to be
embarrassed by you in public."
Shan P'u hissed involuntarily as the clamp bit into the
tender flesh in the center of her left breast.
"As for Mu Tsu . . .I fear he is fated to be the victim
of a tragic accident. An accidental fire I believe." Another
clamp fastened onto her right breast. Zhu smiled slightly at
her indrawn breath. A third clamp appeared and Zhu's hand
drifted toward the tender flesh between her legs.
"Shan P'u scream!" She gasped out in desperation.
"Shan P'u scream, all people hear. All people know what
do."
"Scream all you wish. I rather enjoy it. And no one
else will pay the least attention."
"You mean, Shan P'u scream . . .no one care. No one
come?"
"Just so." Zhu opened the cruel steel clamp, then
paused as San Pu grinned at him.
"Bui Bui."
This childish farewell was followed by a full throated
scream that rocked Zhu back. He had just time to see the
spitting black fury erupt from under the bed before it hit him
in the face. Needle sharp claws fastened into his temples and
sharp ivory teeth ripped open his scalp.
Pain stunned him into immobility for a second. Long
enough for the powerful hindlegs to start sprinting in place---
-ripping great bloody chunks from Zhu's throat. His wet
burbling scream was lost in Shan P'u's full throated bellow
of triumph. A moment later even that pathetic cry was lost as
powerful claws tore through his spinal column like a lawn-
mower cutting a garden hose.
Shan P'u watched as the cat nosed through Zhu's
pockets. Anxious moments later the cat appeared with a
bunch of keys in her mouth. Hopping up on the bed she
dropped the keys in Shan P'u's hands. Hampered as she was
it took over five nerve-wracking minutes . . .minutes Shan
P'u expected guards to burst through the door . . .before she
freed her right arm. Second's later Shan P'u was riffling
Zhu's pockets. He wasn't armed, so Shan P'u selected the
sturdiest of the small knives from his bundle of 'toys'.
************************************************
*
"Lu was bored. He was also faintly disgusted with
this duty. When he'd joined the military he'd thought he'd be
protecting his country, safeguarding the revolution. Not
standing outside a play-room making sure a deputy minister
had enough privacy----he winced as the screaming started,
muffled by the heavy door. He should be used to it by now.
At _least_ once a month, sometimes more if
Comrade Commissioner Zhu were . . .the screaming stopped
abruptly. Lu flinched at the thundering silence. This could be
bad. Zhu was always in an impossible mood if he broke his
toys too soon.
The door opened a few minutes later. It was NOT
deputy minister Zhu. Lu was stunned by the naked goddess
that stood before him. Large pert breasts peeked coyly from
behind a veil of long silken hair. An expanse of smooth tan
skin, broken by an adorable belly button drew his eyes down,
down to a mysterious shadowed triangle.
"You like?"
The baby soft voice brought Lu's head up to find
huge violet eyes, now only inches from his own. He never
saw her hands move.
************************************************
*
"So stupid mans." Shan P'u muttered to the cat as
she pulled the slender blade from Lu's eye with a wet
sucking sound. "Amazon wait _after_ battle play." Kneeling
beside the rapidly cooling body she quickly searched him for
weapons. The pistol she took, reluctantly because of the
noise it would make. The Sikes-Fairburn dagger she took
with an exclamation of glee. She considered appropriating
his clothing as well but decided that a naked Amazon, even a
naked Amazon with a gun, would probably distract any
guards she ran into; as she had this one.
"You do good job kitty. Shan P'u give you good
home, salmon, tuna every . . ." She stopped as the cat dipped
one paw into Lu's blood and made a stroke across the floor.
As San Pu watched the cat produced stroke after stroke,
dipping her paw into the pool of blood like a brush into an
inkpot.
"Ayyyy." Shan P'u shivered in fear. This was her
spirit
cat . . .wasn't it? She noticed the gold band circling it's neck.
Involuntarily her eyes were drawn to a similar bracelet
around her wrist. Her eyes widened as she saw cracks criss-
crossing the formerly smooth surface. As she watched bits of
gold flaked off the band circling the cats neck.
Finishing her kanji, the cat looked up at Shan P'u
expectantly.
"Shan P'u no read Japanese good, spirit kitty. Shan
P'u not know----
A picture flashed in her mind's eye. She didn't have
to read kanji to understand this. All she had to do was
remember the newspaper Nabiki had shoved in her face. The
scrawled writing on the walls. Written in blood.
"Akane?" Shan P'u whispered. "Akane . . .you is---
Akane?"
The cat mewled agreement, softly stropping its body
around her legs.
"HOW! . . .how?" She repeated more softly. But she
knew the answer. "Great grandmother."
The cat growled agreement.
"Mu Tsu. Great Grandmother. They do this. Cure
Shan P'u. Curse Akane." Her eyes filled with tears. "Not
want this. Shan P'u never . . ." Drawing a deep breath Shan
P'u straightened her shoulders. "No time talk now. Find
Ranma. Find Kasumi maybe Nabiki too. Zhu say two
girls." She thought a moment. "Zhu say Mu Tsu want two
girls. Say Mu Tsu die in fire. Find Ranma first. Then ask . .
.question. Ask guard many question." She pulled the knife
from it's sheath and examined the edge. "Ask question until
get answer like."
************************************************
Finding Ranma wasn't as difficult as Shan P'u feared.
They only had to follow the sounds of screaming. Bare feet
slapping against the tile floor Shan P'u sprinted down the
hall, neko-Akane at her heels. Banking off a wall like an
animate cue-ball Shan P'u managed a sharp left turn without
breaking stride and accelerated toward the sound of fighting.
Another sharp turn left brought her to a war zone.
"I'm a GUYYYYYYY!"
Shan P'u watched the petite red-head punctuate her
savage war-cry with an elbow strike to the gut of an
enormous guard in the uniform of a Chinese Commando.
The grinning guard grunted slightly but didn't release his
hold on the nude girl. Several bodies littered the floor,
testifying to the tiny girls attempts to gain her freedom. She
was hampered in this effort by short lengths of chain linking
her ankles. A slightly longer chain connected her wrists.
Despite this handicap the laughing guards were having a hard
time subduing her.
"Excuse me, that's my husband you're pawing." Shan
P'u ignored the indignant mew of disagreement at the feet.
Startled by the soft voice the biggest guard let go his
hold and turned around. His eyes almost crossed as he found
himself looking down the muzzle of a forty five. Then he
noticed the pistol.
Years of training caused a reflexive dis-arm
procedure; As his left hand slapped aside the pistol, his right
hand came down on top of Shan P'u's wrist, trapping it.
Unfortunately this left him without any hands to stop the
dagger in her other hand as it slammed through this throat,
exiting the back of his head. Stepping back a half pace Shan
P'u twisted the blade slightly, letting the dead guard slide
cleanly off her blade. Immediately she turned to help
Ranma but freed of the hampering weight of the big man
onna-Ranma was quickly disposing of the remaining gurards.
"NO KILL!" Shan P'u shouted, as Ranma prepared
to send one of the still standing men to his ancestors.
Adjusting his blow downward, the heavy length of chain
between Ranma's wrists smashed the mans shoulder instead
of his skull.
One guard, slightly removed from the rest, reached,
not for his gun but for his radio. He was depressing the
transmit button when a meat-grinder attached itself to his
arm, shredding tendons, bone and blood vessels in an
attempt to separate hand from arm. Screaming the guard
frantically scrambled away from the hell-beast, clutching his
ruined arm to his chest.
"CAT! C c cc aaat!" Ranma trembled uncontrollably
as he saw his worst nightmare made flesh. The small cat,
blood dripping from it's muzzle, took a hesitant step
forward. Ranma backed away, almost sobbing in terror.
Neko-Akane stopped dead, realizing in despair that onna-
Ranma was more afraid of a cat than of the men who'd tried
to rape her.
"NO!" Shan P'u slammed the last moving guard with
a hasty elbow strike to the belly and rushed to Ranma. "NO!
NOT CAT." Shan P'u wrenched Ranma's head around,
staring directly into her eyes. "You listen Ranma. NOT CAT.
Is AKANE. You hear Shan P'u? A-K-A-N-E. Akane----not
cat."
"Akane?"
Ranma took a shuddering breath and Shan P'u watched the
madness drain from his eyes.
"Akane? Where . . ." Ranma tried to turn away and
Shan P'u brutally jerked him back.
"NO LOOK, BAKA!" Shan P'u shook him. "Listen.
No cat. Is Akane----LOOK like cat." Deftly she manipulated
ch'i point on his scalp. "Is curse. Understand? Akane. You
look, you think Akane----_see_ only Akane." Gradually she
felt the tension seep out of his body. "See Akane, Ranma no
scared. OK? Akane. Akane here."
Trembling Ranma gave a jerky nod and slowly turned
around. The small black cat froze in the middle of grooming
herself and shrank back; trying to look as small and harmless
as possible.
"Akane?" Ranma's faint whisper was almost
inaudible.
"Mrrrrrooo." Neko-Akane looked hopefully at
Ranma.
"Akane." Ranma looked into golden, cat-slitted eyes.
A spark seemed to jump between the two motionless figures
and Ranma collapsed to the ground as his legs gave way.
"Akane!"
The small cat leapt into his open arms. Ranma
crushed neko-Akane to his chest as her rumbling purr filled
the air.
Shan P'u smiled mistily at the reunited couple. It was
just like her soap operas. Only without the commercials. She
turned to a still breathing guard. Two stiffened fingers
rammed just below his sternum brought the man awake and
gasping.
"Hello," She greeted the battered man cheerfully.
"You will please tell me where are the two Japanese girls
you kidnaped today."
"I don't know what----
He bit back a scream as Shan P'u casually snapped
his little finger.
"You have nine more fingers." She smiled brightly.
"Or . . ." Fingers like an iron claw clamped onto the nerve
clusters around his jaw. "I'm sure you're familiar with
compliance holds. Painful, isn't it?" Shan P'u glanced around
and saw that at least three other guards were still breathing,
staring at her with wide eyes. "Please tell me where you have
taken the two girls."
"I . . .I don't know anything about any Japanese
girls."
"I believe you." Shan P'u smiled gently. The guards
neck broke with an explosive crack and she let the body slide
to the floor with a thump.
"My name is Shan P'u." She knelt beside a white
faced guard who had regained consciousness in time to see
his companion die. "YOU look like a well informed person."
She traced a line with the tip of her dagger from his throat
down to a point between his legs. "I wonder if you would
mind answering a few questions?"
************************************************
"Shan P'u know where is Mu Tsu." She threw a shirt
to Ranma who was unlocking the last of his chains. "Ranma
wear this."
Ranma shrugged into the shirt which covered his
petite form like an outsized tunic. Belting the waist with a
neck-tie she stripped from one of the recumbent figures
onna-Ranma turned to Shan P'u.
"Howzit look?"
"Look fine." Shan P'u eyed the shirt which just
barely restrained onna-Ranma's impressive attributes. The
hem of the shirt hung just low enough for decency ----as long
as Ranma didn't do any high-kicks. In that case, Shan P'u
thought wryly, Ranma would either get arrested or a
marriage proposal.
Shan P'u wore a pair of trousers and jacket that
were not too ill fitting, stripped from a guard who had no
further use for them. "Maybe we set new fashion?"
Grasping one of the captured pistols in her hand Shan
P'u handed another to Ranma. They might need them to
persuade someone to unlock a door. They'd drop the
weapons outside the embassy gate since they couldn't chance
being caught with them by a Japanese policeman. Besides,
Shan P'u preferred a knife; they were silent, never jammed
and never ran out of ammunition.
"You want Shan P'u take Akane?" Shan P'u had only
suppressed Ranma's fear of cats. She was worried about
how well Ranma would continue to cope with neko-Akane.
"I've got her." Ranma clasped the black cat
possessively to her chest. Neko-Akane chirruped in
agreement and bumped Ranma affectionately under the chin.
Nodding, Shan P'u took the lead as the odd trio made their
way from their underground prison.
************************************************
Onna-Ranma stared at the building in disbelief. "Is
that----
"Yes." Shan P'u looked disgusted. "Is 'Love Hotel'."
"Are you sure you got the right address?"
Neko-Akane bleeped inquiringly from Ranma's
shoulder.
"This right place. Make sense. Have privacy. No one
look close at people go in-out." Shan P'u watched the front
door for a while. "Something wrong. No one coming or
going. Should have plenty business now."
"I bet he's got the whole building locked up. Maybe
hostages?"
Shan P'u nodded. "Hostage or . . .maybe Mu Tsu
have other use for many people. Much power in chi maybe
Mu Tsu try steal chi all people."
"What's that mean?"
"Blood magic----forbidden technique. Shan P'u only
know done long long time past. Evil person steal life, make
strong. Steal three life, strong like strongest man. Steal ten
life, strong like lion. Steal hundred life, strong like god."
"If the technique's that good, why hasn't he done it
before? Why aren't a LOT of people doin' it?
"Is problem . . .much power in chi . . . power burn
like flame. Three life, burn like forge. Ten life, burn like
forest. Steal ten life----die strong but die quick. Two day,
maybe three----then dead."
"What about a hundred lives?"
Shan P'u chuckled grimly. "Steal hundred life?" She
drew her hands apart with a little poofing sound. "No have
time scream."
"Then why's duck-boy gonna' try it?"
"Maybe this how great grand mother . . .how . . ."
helplessly Shan P'u pointed at neko-Akane. "This maybe
how she cure Shan P'u. Mu Tsu maybe do, get rid own
curse. Shan P'u not know these technique. Only elders
know. Mu Tsu always sneaky boy. Mu Tsu maybe steal
technique. Try cure self."
"Do we need duck-boy to cure Akane?"
"No." Shan P'u didn't add that she didn't know if a
cure was even possible. "No need Mu Tsu for nothing."
"Then I'm gonna rip the little bastard a new ass-
hole." Ranma cracked her knuckles while neko-Akane
growled in agreement.
************************************************
Nabiki wrenched at her bindings again, then slumped
against the dirty floor in disgust. She looked at the white-
plastic packing straps around her knees and ankles. A similar
set bound her arms behind her back at elbow and wrists.
Ryouga couldn't break these things. She needed a knife,
something sharp . . .or----
"Does any one smoke?" The quiet sobbing and
occasional muttered cursing continued unabated. "HEY!
Does anyone here smoke?"
"I'm fresh out." Came a sarcastic voice from behind
her. "Why don't you try the tobacco store down the street."
Nabiki wriggled around till she faced the opposite
direction. Peering through the dimly lit room, crowded with
the bound forms of the staff and patrons of the "Passionate
Rose", she tried to pick out the voices owner.
"Thanks for the tip. I don't' want a cigarette, I want
a lighter----to burn through these plastic things."
There was a moments silence, punctuated by
groaning and bumping sounds.
"No lighter" came another voice " but I've got . . .
uhhh. . .some matches."
Nabiki watched a shadow bump clumsily across the
floor.
"Allow me to introduce my self; Hasegawa,
Hasegawa, Benjiro." The short tubby man rolled to a sitting
position and bowed clumsily at the waist.
" Tendou Nabiki. You have very nice manners,
Hasegawasan," Nabiki quirked an eyebrow at the little man.
"But if you don't really have some matches, I'm going to
kick you in the face."
Hasegawasan fumbled his bound hands into a side
pocket and drew out a crumpled pack of matches.
"Just don't tell my wife. She thinks I've quit
smoking."
"You're tied up in the basement of a love hotel and
you're worried about your wife finding out that you still
smoke?"
"Yoshike is very strict." Hasegawasan replied, paling
at the thought of his wife's displeasure.
"OK, Hasegawasan," Nabiki twisted around so her
bound hands were toward Hasegawa. "pile up some of this
trash and set fire to it. I'm going to burn these things off my
arms."
Hasegawa looked at the bits of paper and other trash
littering the basement floor. Shuffling and scooting he
pushed together a pile just behind Nabiki. After three tries he
had a small fire burning.
"All right, Tendousan. The fire is burning, but----"
"Thanks. Now I can't see what I'm doing. And I
don't have much feeling left in my hands." She thrust her
arms toward the fire she could feel, but not see. "Tell me
when I've got the plastic in the fire."
"Up and to the left . . .a little higher . . .that's it."
Nabiki bit back a scream as the fire licked at her
hands. Clamping her jaw shut, her body shuddered in agony
as she fought to keep her hands in the flames.
************************************************
Mu Tsu shuddered in exquisite agony at the power
washed over him. The young girl beneath him crumpled like
an empty tin can as Mu Tsu drained the last of her essence.
Patting her withered face fondly he pushed the desiccated
husk to the floor. Stretching broadly he padded over the only
other living figure in the room.
"Wake up . . .time to wake up now." Mu Tsu patted
her face gently. Huge brown eyes blinked confusedly up at
him. "You need to be awake for this part of the ceremony."
Smiling, Mu Tsu dipped two fingers into a silver jar, hand
forged without using any iron. With a mixture composed of
long extinct plants and fat rendered from murdered infants he
delicately traced esoteric designs on the nude body bound to
the wooden cross.
************************************************
Shan P'u pounded down the hall after Ranma. Both
were sprinting after neko-Akane who had taken off running
as soon as they'd entered the building.
"Whe . . .where you . . .th . . .think Akane going?"
Shan P'u gasped.
"H . . .ho . .how should I know? Hey, Akane . . .
slow . . .slow down, ya stu . . .stupid tomboy."
"May . . .maybe you talk ni . . .ice Akane listen
better."
"Oh, shut up." Ranma watched neko-Akane ricochet
off a wall, then bound up another set of stairs. Gritting his
teeth Ranma put on another burst of speed, trying to keep of
with his species challenged fiance.
Ranma caught neko-Akane at the top of the stairs
and scooped her into his arms.
"Just WHAT do ya think you're doin'?" Ranma
bopped her gently on the nose.
Neko-Akane growled urgently and struggled in
Ranma's arms, carefully keeping her claws sheathed.
"Now look, you're gonna' get in ta trouble if ya just
go runnin' around like crazy. We gotta' plan----"
"No need plan." Shan P'u came up behind Ranma
and pointed over his shoulder. "Look there!"
At the end of the corridor a steel gate blocked the
entrance to an alcove. Beyond the steel they could see
"KASUMI!" Ranma and Shan P'u both cried at the
same time. Neko-Akane snarled a challenge.
"MU TSU! What you doing?"
"Shan P'u. I see it was a short honeymoon." Mu Tsu
gave a mocking little bow, unconcerned about his nudity and
turned back to Kasumi.
"You little bastard!" Ranma grabbed the steel gate in
both hands. There was a sharp crackling sound as Ranma
was thrown back in a shower of sparks and a stench of
ozone.
"You might want to be careful," Mu Tsu said mock
solicitously. "the mesh is electrified."
Shan P'u ran to check on Ranma.
Neko-Akane planted herself in front of the gate and
yowled in anger.
"Ah, Akane-chan. I owe you a great dept of
gratitude." Mu Tsu finished tracing a design down Kasumi's
thigh, then turned to face the angry cat. "Actually I also owe
Shan P'u and Zhu." He grinned at neko-Akane. "It appears
that you've already paid Zhu's dept. I look forward to
repaying you in person, Shan P'u."
"What stupid Mu Tsu talking? What Shan P'u ever
do for stupid duck-boy?"
Mu Tsu's face darkened in anger and he took a step
forward before bringing himself under control.
"In a few moments I will rid myself of this curse
. . .and I have you to thank. You see," Mu Tsu opened a
small bronze casket and began removing items. "I would
never have learned the chi-transfer technique had Zhu not
wanted Shan P'u so badly. The old woman had stalled him
for years but his patience finally ran out, with a little
prodding from me." Mu Tsu grinned as he traced a pattern
on the floor around Kasumi with a silver dagger. "Of course,
once I knew the technique I needed a source of strong, clean
chi."
Finishing the pattern he replaced the dagger and
removed several candles the color of old blood. These he
placed at the cardinal points, lighting them one by one. "It's
amazing how much power the Tendou women have, even the
nasty one. I suppose that explains the name . . .way of
heaven."
"MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!" The ki blast slammed
into Mu Tsu like an express train. "Gotcha, you little bastard.
"Ahhh, very refreshing." Mu Tsu straightened up,
appearing re-energized.
"NO WAY! You gotta be hurt." Onna-Ranma stared
at the uninjured Mu Tsu, dumbfounded.
"How you do!" Shan P'u demanded.
"You said it yourself. I'm a master of dark magic."
Mu Su smiled nastily at their dumfounded looks. "Did you
think those silly hidden weapons tricks were all that I was?
You really are very stupid."
"Not so stupid as duck boy." Shan P'u fumed
impotently. "Maybe Shan Pu cook duck dinner for husband."
She placed a possessive arm around Ranma.
Mu Tsu frowned. "Once we're married I'm going to
have to do something about that attitude."
"Shan P'u kill you first."
"I don't think so." Mu Tsu casually blasted Shan P'u
into a wall with a wave of his hand. A second wave sent
Ranma slamming on top of her. Neko-Akane howled in
anger, back arched, ears flat against her skull.
"I've had enough of you, cat." Another chi blast blew
a chunk out of the floor, but neko-Akane twisted out of the
way. Another shot blasted a wall, but missed the rapidly
moving cat. Cursing Mu Tsu sent wave after wave of lethal
energy at the spinning, twisting animal. He succeeded only in
demonstrating that power was useless if you couldn't hit
your target. Finally Mu Tsu stopped, glaring at the cat but
apparently as strong as when he began.
"H . . .how you get so strong." Shan P'u wiped
blood from her face and struggled to her feet, aided by a
grim faced Ranma.
"Death-Tantra."
Shan P'u swayed on her feet. "NO! Is forbidden do
this. Council will----"
"Council will do _nothing_. I have power now. In the
capitol MY family has influence with the central government.
And soon the council will be no more. And I will rule 'The
People'," Mu Tsu sneered the words. "as governor of a
province of the Peoples Republic."
"Never . . .Amazon never surrender. We die first."
Mu Tsu shrugged. "Fine. There are plenty of other
people crowding the streets of Bejing. I'm sure it will be no
trouble to repopulate an empty province."By force if
necessary." He smiled sardonically. "Look how well it's
worked in Tibet."
"Stupid duck-boy. You strong now. But dead soon.
Blood magic burn you to nothing."
"Really?" Mu Tsu seemed to swell, the air crackled
with energy. He pretended to check himself. "Nope, feel
fine. Oh, and by the way," Mu Tsu pulled the dagger out of
the bronze box. "I'm invulnerable now."
Shan P'u and Ranma watched in horror as Mu Tsu
drove the dagger through the palm of his hand. Blood welled
around the blade, but while they watched the wound healed
as he removed the blade.
"No, no, no." Shan P'u cried in denial of what she'd
seen.
"Yes, yes, yes." Mu Tsu mocked. "Combining blood
magic with sex magic; yin and yang, light and dark----I can
absorb all the essence I need for as long as I need. With NO
ill effects to me," he waved a hand toward crumpled heaps
laying in shadowed corners. "my . . .partners are not so
fortunate."
Ranma looked sick as he realized what looked like
heaps of dirty rags were twisted crumpled bodies.
"Why you need Kasumi?" Shan P'u asked, trying to
delay Mu Tsu. Buy time to think of something, anything."
"My curse. It blocks access to the full power of the
Death-Tantra. Cu Lon's technique gave me the secret to
access the power of Blood-Tantra. I'd heard about it, read
secret writings. But, until Chu Lon removed your curse I
didn't know the secret of chi-transfer. This is the secret of
uniting Blood rites with sex-magic. I draw in their chi, siphon
off what I need, and return the 'spiritual poisons' to them
with tantric magic. A very neat exchange.
Unfortunately, to remove my curse I need a single
pool of exceptionally strong and pure chi . . .to assure that
my chi is completely cleansed. You wouldn't want your
future husband stuck as a half-man, half-duck?" He looked at
Shan P'u, chuckling.
"Shan P'u like you stuck on point of sword!"
"Perhaps I shall give you your chance . . .a wedding
present? Of course I'll have to . . .punish you when you fail."
He seemed to relish the thought.
Mu Tsu turned, stepping between Kasumi's bound
legs just as neko-Akane launched herself between the bars of
the grating with a scream of rage. Snake-like, Mu Tsu turned
to meet this attack and learned a very important lesson;
always put your pants on before fighting a cat.
Twisting aside from Mu Tsu chi enhanced hammer-
fist strike neko-Akane slashed open the delicate fleshy sack
between his legs, like power saw through rotten fruit.
Blood fountained from between his legs as Mu Tsu
flipped away, screaming. Landing he reached for a hidden
weapon . . .that wasn't there. The momentary hesitation, as
years of training in hidden weapons conflicted with his new
abilities, gave neko-Akane an opening. Coming off the floor
like a ballistic missile neko-Akane fastened herself to Mu
Tsu's head and began trying to peel his face from his skull.
As the two fell to the floor in a screaming, bleeding tangle
there was a muffled whoomp that shook the building.
************************************************
"GO! Go,go,go,go!" Nabiki screamed and shoved
another person through the window. She'd gotten almost
everyone cut loose when the world blew up. The hall had
filled with flame and smoke and the few people remaining in
the basement had retreated back the way they'd come.
Nabiki had found a small side window and started shoving
people through it to the outside. Lungs burning Nabiki
shoved the last person through the window, then tumbled
after them into blessedly cool outside air.
************************************************
Onna-Ranma stared at the flames eating at the floor.
Already dense black smoke was swiftly reducing visibility to
zero. They had seconds to escape, if they still could. And
Ranma wasn't leaving without Akane and Kasumi.
"Shan P'u, when I open the gate you get Kasumi and
I'll grab Akane."
Shan P'u had time for one startled exclamation as
Ranma grabbed the electrified steel in both hands and
heaved. Onna-Ranma's mouth opened in a hoarse shriek of
pain as the electric current twisted her spine and the sleeves
of her shirt burst into flame.
Horrified Shan P'u darted forward to pull Ranma free
of the electrified gate just as the steel tore free of the
masonry in a shower of sparks and stone chips. Pulling
Ranma free of the gate Shan P'u ripped off the burning shirt.
Pressing two fingers against onna-Ranma's throat she was
relieved to find a pulse. Leaving Ranma for the moment Shan
P'u dashed to the cross that held Kasumi and sliced her
bonds with a few swift strokes of her dagger. Slinging
Kasumi over her shoulder Shan P'u headed out of the
burning room. Stooping, she heaved onna-Ranma over her
other shoulder.
"AKANE!" Dimly through the thickening smoke she
could see two figures still locked together. "AKANE!!! We
leave now. AKANE!!!" Orange flames burst through the
floor, illuminated the room like the fires of hell. Briefly Shan
P'u saw Mu Tsu and neko-Akane outlined in fire. As she
watched the black cat raked Mu Tsu throat with her claws,
tearing flesh and the gold band that circled his neck. Blood
fountained from the gaping wound, soaking the small cat. A
searing pain made Shan P'u gasp and she looked down to see
the gold band on her wrist flame briefly, then vanish in a
spray of molten gold. She looked back up to see Mu Tsu and
neko-Akane rimmed in eldritch blue flames just as the floor
collapsed swallowing the two of them.
Shan P'u could feel the floor bubbling under her feet.
She couldn't save Akane. She probably couldn't even save
herself, or Ranma or Kasumi. Pushing aside the thought of
burning to death Shan P'u dashed blindly through the thick
black smoke.
Chest burning, a wave of black rolling over her eyes
as she ran out of oxygen she hit the end of the corridor at a
full run and crashed into a window. She was through the
window and falling free before she realized what she'd done.
Twisting in mid-air she put her body between the ground and
her precious burdens just as she hit. There was a sudden
burst of pain then nothing.
************************************************
"Shan P'u . . .Shan P'u . . ."
Dimly she heard a voice calling her. It was very
annoying.. Also her head hurt and her feet were cold. She
was dead When you were dead you should at least----
"Shan P'u!!! Dammit you stupid Amazon. Wake up."
"Oh, Is you Nabiki." Shan P'u opened her eyes a
fraction, then closed them again. Not dead then. If she were
in hell, her feet wouldn't be cold. If she were in heaven,
Nabiki wouldn't be there.
"Shan P'u." Nabiki's voice was dangerously calm.
"In about three second's I'm going to shove an ice cube in a
place a good Japanese girl shouldn't even know exists if you
don't open your eyes and tell me WHAT the HELL is
GOING ON!"
"Nabiki go away . . .stop bother----RANMA!" Shan
P'u bolted upright, or tried to as splints on her legs and one
arm held her in place. "How Ranma do? Kasumi OK?" Shan
P'u struggled to sit upright.
"Ranma's fine, at least she's not as bad as you. Burns
all over her hands and arms. Three broken ribs. Cuts,
bruises." Nabiki chuckled. "Except for that weird stuff drawn
all over her body, Kasumi doesn't have a mark on her."
Nabiki held up her own heavily bandaged hands and arms.
"Looks like you got the worst of it. The doctors say I
should be OK in a couple of months."
Shan P'u sagged in relief, then tensed suddenly.
"Akane! Where Akane? Where Akane?"
Alarmed Nabiki pressed Shan P'u back down on the
pad in the back of the ambulance. "Shan P'u, Akane's dead.
Don't you remember? She died---- "
"NO! No, Akane not dead. Not dead. Akane cat.
Small black cat. She fighting Mu Tsu in building. Fire come
and Shan P'u can't save her." Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Shan P'u run from fire."
"Ok," Nabiki said soothingly. "Akane's a cat. And
she was fighting in the building. Everything is going to be
fine."
"NO!" Shan P'u griped Nabiki with her one good
arm. "Shan P'u no crazy. Akane curse by great grand
mother, Mu Tsu. Make Akane cat. Akane write thing on wall
in blood. Akane alive. Akane CAT!!!" Panting with exertion
Shan P'u let her arm drop back on the pad.
Wide eyed Nabiki stared at Shan P'u a moment.
Cursing she whirled and dashed out of the ambulance, calling
for police and firemen. Calling her little sisters name.
Epilogue.
"Pick up spoon. Hard to do, no get better no try."
Shan P'u watched carefully as the frail figure tried to lift a
spoon full of soup to her mouth. Her trembling hand spilled
half the spoon's contents before it reached her mouth. "Good
girl . . .now do one more. Then Shan P'u read story."
"You're spending too much time coddling her."
Ranma said coldly. "You're still hurt yourself."
"Is good San Pu take care. Make Shan P'u feel
useful. Shan P'u like help heal. Make heart feel good."
"Very good Shan P'u. Perhaps I should have started
you training as a healer."
Startled, Shan P'u whirled toward the familiar voice,
tangling in her crutches and almost falling.
"What do you want old bitch?" Ranma moved up
behind Shan P'u, clumsy still, due to his healing ribs. He
stared at the ancient Amazon, his hate hot and close to the
surface.
"Still quick tempered I see."
Ranma snarled and his hands came together for a ki
blast.
"A moment if you please." The Amazon matriarch
stood calmly in place.
Shan P'u stopped Ranma with an arm still bulky with
a cast. "Kasumi no like you mess house by fighting. You
listen great grandmother. Fight later."
Ranma clenched his jaw, but made no further move.
"Thank you." Cu Lon tilted her head consideringly.
"I understand your feelings toward me . . .why are you so
hostile toward Kuonji-san?" Cu Lon indicated the scarred,
wheel chair bound figure.
"What the hell business----"
He broke off as Shan P'u gently squeezed his arm. "We're
lettin' her stay. That's more'n she deserves. After what she
did to Akane she don't deserve nuthin'."
"What did she do?" Cu Lon broke in. "A lapse in
judgment perhaps. She saw an opportunity to gain her hearts
desire. It is always easy to look at the path behind and tell
you have made a wrong turning. The path ahead is hidden.
To say which branch is correct and which leads to. . .error is
not easy or always possible. If you can always tell with
certainty I will call YOU master." Cu Lon paused, lost in
thought. "I did not come to argue with you, merely to say
goodby."
"Goodby?" Shan P'u looked shaken. "Great
grandmother, you sick? You need help?"
"I'm sorry child, I didn't mean to frighten you. I'm
only going back to China for a while. There have been some
sudden _changes_ in the power structure and I must return
to help with matters concerning The People."
"Yeah? Well the only thing I want to hear about is
your obituary."
"I don't blame you." Cu Lon responded. "However I
was desperate to save Shan P'u. You have some idea of
what Zhu was like. I couldn't confront him openly. He was
too powerful. There was too much danger to The People. I
used you. I used Akane-sama."
Shan P'u's eyes widened at the honorific Cu Lon
attached to Akane's name.
Cu Lon pulled back her robe showing a long
puckered scar running from knee to hip. "Akanesama
extracted her own vengeance. I am alive only because she
did not chose to kill me. Though to be fair, she left me to
rescue her sisters."
"You've had your say, now get out."
"I'm leaving." Cu Lon turned to go. "I thought you
might be interested to know I looked around the remains of
the love hotel. I didn't find any trace of Mu Tsu."
"So what? There wasn't nothing to find. Not after
that fire."
Cu Lon glanced over her shoulder with a slight smile.
"Every death leaves a sign, visible to any with eyes to see. I
assure you that I have the sight. And there was no trace of
Mu Tsu's death. I thought you should know, Mu Tsu may
still be alive."
"But you ain't sure, are ya?"
"No, not sure . . .but I haven't lived three hundred
years by taking chances."
"Wait," Ranma hated the pleading tone in his voice.
"You said ya couldn't find any trace of Mu Tsu. What about
Akane? Did . . .did you find . . .did you find any sign of
Akane?"
"I am sorry. Akane-sama's chi was very distinctive
due to her . . .change. I could find no trace of it."
************************************************
The twisted figure lurched through the shadows.
Moaning in pain he cursed god, the devil and all living things.
Especially he cursed the Amazon people and two Japanese
clans. He bit back a sharp cry of pain as he slipped and
stumbled in a pile of garbage. Reflexively his right arm shot
out for balance, the stunted white wing beating frantically for
an instant before he forced it back beneath his robes.
First he had to get back home. Rest, gather his
resources and plan. But he would be back.
************************************************
"Angel-san!"
The short, orange haired woman turned at her senior
clerks call.
"Yes Mia-chan?"
"We've had another theft."
Sighing she leaned back in her chair. "What was it
this time?" For the past few days someone, somehow had
been pilfering from the snack machines. It didn't make much
sense she thought looking around her exclusive shop. There
were many more valuable things to steal from her antique
shop.
"Ummm, they took a kimono and some other things."
She handed a list to her boss. "And they left this." She
handed across another piece of paper, obviously ripped from
the pad kept behind the register.
"This is awful handwriting." Mia looked over her
bosses shoulder, nodding in agreement. "This looks like . . .I
. . .O . . .
I.O.U?"
Mia nodded vigorously. "Here's the amount. And this
looks like a name. Fan . . .Tan . . ." She struggled to make
out the painful scrawl.
"No. I think it's Ten . . . Tendai?
************************************************
"Mama, mama." The little girl tugged urgently at her
mothers skirts. "Yes, dear." Her harried mother asked
wearily. "What is it?"
"That man," the little girl pointed into the crowd on
the rail platform. "that man has a tail. A long black tail."
The mother followed the girls pointing finger to see a
kumuso, one of the wandering flute playing monks,
disappearing around a corner. He was wearing a traditional
dark blue kimono and tengai. The distinctive basket hat
completely covered the figures head so that it was impossible
to tell if it were male or female or . . . the mother laughed to
herself, if it were even human.
************************************************
China first, she thought hurrying off the train toward
the docks, to visit the Amazons. They would know how to
help her if anyone could. Unconsciously needle sharp claws
slid from their sheaths at the thought of meeting one
particular Amazon elder. She controlled the impulse with an
effort. Tugging the long kimono sleeves down she made
sure they covered her hands.
China. And then home.
************************************************
I would like to thank my pre-readers, B. Na and Angel de la
Hoya. I would also like to thank the many other readers
who offered C&C. Thank you. Your efforts have made this
story immeasurably better. As always, any errors or
omissions are mine.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the story.
C&C as always is both appreciated and encouraged.
A sequel is in the works. ^)^
Other stories and informative links may be found at
http://www.iguild.com/homes/kazama/
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