Reincarnated Draft
The M.L.O.
The Men's Liberation Organization
Disclaimer: All the characters herein belong to the respective copyright
holders. They are used without permission.
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Mission 2: The TLC: Taking Over Control
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Ukyou pounded on her chest in an effort to coax her heart into beating
again. Here she was about to accept the TLC business of the year award
and finally get the chance to prove to Ranma she was the best choice to
be his fianc� and she is nearly killed in a plane crash. So relieved to
be at the San Francisco Airport in one piece she dropped to her knees
and kissed the ground.
"Is that some kind of custom?" Ukyou's tall blond pilot asked, tapping
her on the shoulder. "Oh and I am soooo sorry about the wings. I don't
how they fell off like that."
Ukyou looked up at her incredulously. "I don't know how we got down
alive!"
"Yeah! I wondered about that too!" Mihoshi replied, a puzzled expression
on her face. Ukyou would have collapsed to the ground if she weren't
already there. "In any case," Mihoshi said coming to attention and
saluting. "Welcome to... to... Where are we?"
"San Francisco," Ukyou replied plainly.
"Oh yeah, that's right. Welcome to San Francisco and sorry about your
losing Ranma," Mihoshi sympathized. She then walked off in the direction
of the wrecked airplane on the secluded runway.
"What!" Ukyou gasped. "What do you mean by 'lose Ranma'!" Ukyou yelled
out and went running after the long-legged Mihoshi. Before she could
catch up to her a long black limousine pulled into her path.
The rear door to the limousine opened and Ukyou heard a voice call her
name.
"Mrs. Kuonji," the voice asked. "Please come inside."
Ukyou hesitated, something was wrong here. How did that pilot know about
Ranma? What did she mean by her "losing Ranma"?
"Please, Mrs. Kuonji. This car will take you to the convention hall
where you will receive the business of the year award."
Taking a step toward the open door of the car, Ukyou began shaking her
head. Something was wrong. Something was *very* wrong! "Um, I... I
changed my mind. I need to get back to Japan," she said haltingly and
backing away.
"I am afraid that will not be possible, Mrs. Kuonji. You need to remain
here... at least for a day or two," the voice from inside the car
apologized.
Ukyou began to get angry. Now she knew for sure something was going on,
and it involved Ranma. "You brought me here! You can take me back!"
"Of course, of course. If you wish to travel back to Japan, I'm sure we
can arrange your... trip."
Not liking the tone of the woman inside the limousine's voice and well
aware of their idea of a pilot, Ukyou quickly declined. "That's all
right, I can arrange my own way back. Excuse me," Ukyou said turning
away and heading toward the flight gate.
"That I am afraid, I can not allow," said the woman's voice no longer
coming from inside the car.
Slowly, Ukyou reached behind and unsheathed her battle spatula. It was a
good thing customs accepted her reasoning that it was just an exotic
Asian cooking utensil. "Look here, sugar."
"Sugar?" the woman repeated with disdain.
"I don't what is goin' on here. Or what it has to do with Ran-chan and
me. But I'm outta here and there is nothing you can do to stop me!"
Ukyou finished whirling around to face the woman with her spatula at the
ready. Ukyou was taken aback by what she saw. 'Well this will be easy,'
Ukyou thought. 'No way, Miss Prissy there is gonna fight. Ha! And not in
that outfit.' Ukyou began to laugh at the rather refinely dressed woman
with long purple hair.
"You find something funny, Mrs. Kuonji?" Aeka asked, looking down at
herself. She was wearing one of her more modest outfits in her opinion
and looked infinitely more lady-like than the woman standing in front of
her.
"Saw... sorry, it's nothing. Like a said though, I'm leaving. I have a
feeling that my Ran-chan needs me," Ukyou answered getting herself back
under control.
"And as I said," Aeka replied clasping her hands in front of her. "That
I can not allow that to happen. In any case, Ranma Saotome is neither
yours nor in need of your assistance. All he requires is a little TLC
and Mrs. Tendo is quite capable of providing him with such."
"Mrs. Ten...You mean Akane! How do you know about them!" Ukyou grasped
her spatula tightly with both hands and took up a defensive stance.
Aeka remained nonplussed despite Ukyou's threatening posture. "I know
that Mrs. Akane Tendo and Mr. Ranma Saotome will be marry today," Aeka
answered evenly.
"WHAT! NO WAY MY RAN-CHAN WILL EVER MARRY
AKANE!" Ukyou threatened and took a step forward.
"Oohohohohoh, Is that right?" Aeka laughed still not the least bit
concerned. "If my understanding of events is correct, these two have
crossed the altar before and would be married right now if it were not
for some uncouth individuals. With this interference eliminated, there
is nothing to prevent their marriage ceremony from taking place."
"Oh Yeah! I stopped it once and I can do it again!"
"From across the Pacific?" Aeka scoffed and turned to walk away. Now
that Mrs. Kuonji was dealt with, it was time for her to return to Japan
and prepare for the "wedding guest" she knew were coming.
Ukyou had heard enough talk. She was not going to let Akane and Ranma
marry. She let out a battle cry and rushed the retreating Aeka. Leaping
into the air, she swung out with her combat spatula and released a
torrent of throwing ones. All aimed at Aeka. Just before they could
strike, Aeka threw out her arms.
Ukyou's throwing spatula's deflected harmlessly away, Ukyou, herself was
not so lucky. When the downward stroke of her spatula struck Aeka's
forcefield, Ukyou was thrown backward twenty feet by a strong electrical
current. Aeka hadn't even turned around.
"Azaka, Kamidake!"
The two guardians appeared on either side of their mistress. "Yes, your
Highness," they chimed.
"See to it that Mrs. Kuonji enjoys her two day stay in San Francisco.
She is to stay exactly two days, am I understood?" Aeka ordered.
"Yes, Princess," the two guardians answered.
In pain, Ukyou slowly picked herself off the ground. She had absolutely
no idea what just happened. It was difficult just lifting her head.
"Wh... why are you doing this? What do you care if Ranma and Akane get
married?"
Aeka paused, "It is a means to an end," she answered simply.
"I'm not alone you know," Ukyou continued, staggering to standing
position. "There are a lot of people who don't think those two should
get married. They'll stop it."
"A lot of people? You exaggerate, Mrs. Kuonji. I would not call Shampoo
and the Kuno siblings 'a lot of people'. In any case, they too are being
dealt with." That said, Aeka disappeared in a flash of light.
"I'm counting on you, Shampoo," Ukyou got out before collapsing.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
This was the place, Shampoo was sure of it... but where was her
opponent. She had climbed to the top of a large tree on the edge of the
clearing where she was to meet this Ryoko woman in hopes of scouting out
her enemy, but the field was empty.
The grass and other vegetation in the clearing weren't high or thick
enough to conceal someone and there was no place else for a person to
hide. There was simply no one there.
"Hmph," Shampoo spat out in contempt and made her way down from her
observation post. The coward hadn't even bothered to show up. She walked
over to her great grandmother, who had also been watching the clearing.
Shampoo crossed her arms, angered clear on her face.
"Let's go, Great Grandmother. This was probably just a joke of one of
those dishonorable Furinkan students," Shampoo said surveying the field
a final time before turning to walk away.
Cologne's eyes never the left the clearing. The tone of her voice was
harsh. "Please do not disgrace me any further and go out there," Cologne
pointed out into the middle of the field with her knotted wooden staff.
"Your opponent has been waiting for you since our arrival."
"What! I still don't see anyone. Great Grandmother, I think..." She was
cutoff by a stare from her diminutive elder. Cautiously, Shampoo began
to walk out in to the center of the field.
Cologne watched her great granddaughter's advance out into the field
very closely, along with the movement of every blade of grass or insect
that caught the attention of her eyes. Something was out there, Cologne
knew, but what? And where?
Shampoo reached the center of the field and took up a defensive stance
more to humor her great-grandmother than out of a perceived need. With
trained precision she scoured the field with every sense at her disposal
and found...
Nothing
Cologne was positive something was out there. 'They could be invisible,'
Cologne calculated. She knew of several techniques that could achieve
that effect, but none of them allowed you to attack your opponent. 'So
what good was it to remain invisible like this?'
Plenty, as Shampoo was about to find out. Her opponent knew a few tricks
even Shampoo's aged mentor had never imagined possible.
Shampoo had had enough of standing in the middle of nowhere and watching
the weeds grow. There wasn't anybody out here. Her great-grandmother was
losing it. Angered and frustrated, Shampoo started to march off the
field. She hadn't taken more than four steps before something snagged
her foot causing her to fall to the ground.
'Can this day get any worse!' Shampoo moaned pounding both fists on the
ground. 'Tripping like that moron Mousse and in front of my
Great-grandmother no less.' Still lying flat on her stomach, she tried
to free her foot, but whatever it was that stuck on wouldn't let go no
matter how hard she pulled. Supporting herself on her elbows, Shampoo
turned to see what it was that had her caught and nearly jumped out of
her skin.
There was just something about getting grabbed by a hand sticking out of
the ground that could scare anyone.
<><><><><><><><><><><>
"Sis, I'm not sure I can do this," the short girl with dark pink hair
said haltingly all the while wring her small hands. Despite the
earliness of the morning, the sun was beginning to make it presences
felt, which made the sight of this young woman wearing a baggy overcoat
at the beach all the more strange.
"What do you mean, Tira?" her sister asked scanning the beach for their
"guest".
"Well Chocolate, I... I've never really done anything like this with any
other man other than Carrot," Tira said quietly.
Chocolate stopped what she was doing and turned to Tira. "Oh c'mon,
Tira. We fight sorcerers all the time! This isn't going to be any
different."
"But it *is* different! Those are fights to the death with people who
deserve what punishment they get. This Happosai person isn't evil. He's
just in the way! Besides... we don't... you know... with the sorcerers."
"...You know?" Tira questioned her sister with a puzzled expression.
Although she knew perfectly well to what Tira was referring.
"*You* know," Tira emphasized before whispering into her sisters ear.
A dangerous smile crossed Chocolate's lips before quickly disappearing.
"That's true. Our fights with those who abuse the forbidden magic do
tend to be more direct and don't require the persuasive techniques that
Darling does."
"So then, how do we handle Happosai? He's not Carrot and he's not evil
like a sorcerer," Tira again asked Chocolate.
Chocolate thought about that for a second before coming up with the
perfect reasoning. "Ok, Tira, think of it this way. You'd be doing your
big sister a huge favor by helping her get her Carrot back!"
For once the glare from the sun was no longer reflecting off of Tira's
glasses, allowing her red eyes to show. "Uh... I have a problem with
that scenario, Sis. Sis?" Tira could see that Chocolate wasn't
listening. Her face had gone pale and she stood ram rod straight.
"Sis?" Tira probed again, waving her hand in front of her sister's face
without eliciting a reaction. "What's the matter?" Tira began to examine
up and down her sister, who hadn't so much as blinked in the past ten
minutes. All seemed normal until she looked behind Chocolate and saw the
little man that had implanted himself onto her rear.
Happosai paused from his examination. "Hi there. I'll be with you in a
minute," He greeted before returning to his ministrations. Tira quickly
booted him from his place.
"Is that..." Tira began and pointed at Happosai, who was quickly making
his way back to the two girls.
Chocolate having recovered from her trauma slowly nodded her head and
balled both hands into fists. No man could touch her save one. She
ripped off her clothes in a stroke leaving herself in a bustier and
loose fitting pants. Staring at Happosai, she ran her tongue down the
length of the garrote she held in both hands.
Happosai's eyes popped out of his head when he saw her transformation.
The snap of a whip drew his attention to the other sister, who had
traded in her overcoat for a far more revealing outfit. Happosai began
to cry with joy.
<><><><><><>
"Pull me out! Pull me out!" Shampoo screamed to her great grandmother
and Mousse as each grabbed one of her hands and attempted to yank the
agitated girl from whatever it was the was pulling her into the earth.
They were losing the battle as only Shampoo's torso and head were still
above ground. Throughout the entire ordeal a disembodied laugh mocked
the trio and their futile attempts.
Suddenly the force holding Shampoo ceased and she was thrown up in the
air by the strength of Mousse and Cologne's attempts to free her.
Shampoo flipped in the air, righting herself. Upon landing she took up a
defensive stance, Cologne and Mousse quickly did likewise, forming a
protective ring.
Cologne looked at the spot where Shampoo had been pulled into the earth
and saw no hole, just solid ground. "What was it? What grabbed you?"
Cologne asked Shampoo while maintaining her vigil.
Despite the ordeal she had just been through, Shampoo's voice was steady
and calm. "It looked like a human hand stinking out the ground. It
grabbed my foot and began to pull me into the ground."
"And what about that laugh," Mousse added with barely restrained anger.
"We're dealing with some kind of demon! It will pay dearly for attacking
my Shampoo!"
Shampoo made a mental note to smack Mousse for the last comment, but she
had more important things on her mind. Mousse was right. What else but a
demon could grab her and pull her through solid earth?
"Demon? Hmm... What makes you think that?" a female voice asked.
"MOVE!" Cologne shouted and vaulted on her cane, but her warning came
too late for Mousse and Shampoo.
A huge earthen hand formed around the pair and snared them in its fist.
The large hand rose higher followed by an arm made of dirt and stone.
Shampoo and Mousse were at least fifty feet into the air.
"What is going ON!" Shampoo shouted as she and Mousse struggled to free
themselves.
Using the breaking point technique, Cologne shattered the earthen hand.
Shampoo and Mousse fell to the ground and once again took up their
defensive circle.
"Stay alert this time," Cologne admonished, before turning her attention
to their adversary, whom that hadn't even seen yet. "What do you want
from us, spirit? Why do you challenge Shampoo?"
"Neat trick. I didn't think you could free yourself from my grasp," the
woman's voice complimented. "And the reason for our little get together
is that Akane Tendo is tired of you interfering with her and Ranma
playing pillow commander. Ryo-Ohki!"
"Akane Tendo?"
"What does she have to..."
"Huh... pillow commander?"
The three amazons spoke all at once before their voices were cut off in
a beam of light. In a flash the green meadow was again empty save for a
huge black crystalline space ship hovering in the air. They hadn't once
seen the demon, Ryoko, who had defeated them.
"I hope they don't mind too much being shrunken and transported back to
China," the still disembodied voice commented. "Ryo-Ohki, hurry up and
take them back to their village. We have to get back to Nerima and
prepare my Tenchi's reception."
<><><><><><>
Though it was still early morning, students were beginning to pass
through the gates of Furinkan High School and a small group of girls
just outside the school's walls was slowly increasing in size.
"Are they new students?" one of the girls hoped out loud.
The highschoolers had stopped to admire a tall man with long blonde hair
wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and black leather jacket leaning
against the school wall. Standing next to him was a shorter younger man
with black hair wearing a collarless white dress shirt and black jeans.
Both men appeared to be looking for someone.
"The dark haired one, who is mine by the way, might be a student, but
the blonde..."
"I get first crack at the blonde!"
"Sez who?"
"Because I called dibs first!"
"...LIKE I was saying, the dark haired one looks like he could be a
student, but the blonde looks like a college man."
"Ooh, I like college men!"
"Who doesn't?"
The two men paid little mind to the mass of women around them and
continued to watch the students passing through the gates to Furinkan
and comparing them to photos they held in their hands.
Some time had passed, the crowd of girls quite large now, when the
blonde man's cellular phone began to ring. He looked around confused,
searching for the source of the sound.
"Remember, the phone," Zelgadis offered, scratching his sunburned skin.
It had been so long since he had had to worry about something like
sunburn, but he welcomed the sensation of it no matter how
uncomfortable.
Gourry looked at him not understanding.
Zelgadis sighed, though he admitted to himself that even he hadn't
gotten quite used to this dimension yet. "You know... the talking box."
Gourry slapped a fist into his palm and took off his jacket, which
elicited a gasp from the crowd of girls. Reaching into one of the inside
pockets of the jacket, he took out the ring phone and looked at it. Not
knowing how to activate it, Gourry turned to Zelgadis who was making a
point to look in the opposite direction. Zel didn't know too much about
it either.
One of the braver girls walked up to Gourry and stuck out a hand, he
tentatively gave her the phone. She answered it and blushed as both men
crowded around her watching how she operated.
"It... It's someone named Tenchi," she said nervously, Gourry leaning
over her back with both hands on her shoulders. Zel was slightly to her
left side and leaned in also. "He wants to know if you've seen anyone
yet?"
"Tell 'em no," Zelgadis instructed.
"Yeah, we haven't seen Ramadan yet."
"Ranma... his name is Ranma," Zelgadis corrected.
"Ranma never gets to school this early," the girl holding the phone
informed them. "Besides, their parents came and pulled them from classes
yesterday."
Zelgadis and Gourry looked at each other, while the girl spoke with
Tenchi on the phone. "Tenchi says to meet him, 'you know where'."
<><><><><><>
Belldandy watched the sleeping red head with a determined look. Perhaps
she was being a little heavy handed, but what she was doing was best for
all parties involved. She looked over to her sister Skuld, who stood
next to her and nodded for her to begin. The future was Skuld's domain
after all, and just a glimpse of what could be wouldn't hurt.
<><><><><><>
A Void.
Nothingness.
But... Doors, countless doors.
And
Voices. Familiar voices. Disembodied voices, floating in the void.
"Hi! I home!"
"Welcome home, Dear. How were your classes?"
"Not bad, that little Hiroshi is quite the quick study. I think we have
a good chance of winning the local tourney this weekend."
"You don't sound too happy about it. What's wrong?"
"Well, I just wish...."
"You wish you had a son, so he could win that tournament."
"Well.... yeah."
"Th... Then... then I've got good news."
"..."
"I'm pregnant!!"
"..."
It was Ranma-chan, a scream caught in her throat that woke the next
morning, despite having gone to sleep in male form. It was rather clear
what had happened, as both she, and her futon were drenched in cold
sweat. In total defiance of the warm June weather outside, she shivered.
She stood, slowly, her entire body sore. With a slight moan of pain,
Ranma-chan raised a hand to wipe the salty sweat from her brow and the
matted hair from her eyes. Apparently her pigtail had come loose
sometime in the night, and fiery red hair, wet and clumped together,
stuck to portions of her shaking frame.
Every little task was proving to be difficult this morning, including
just opening her eyes. It took some time, but finally, they adjusted to
the thin veil of light, which barely illuminated the room. Perhaps a
more poetic soul would have looked about herself, and noticed just how
much this room's feel mirrored that of its occupant. Disarray.
Emptiness. Cold. What few possessions she had, strewn about, as if
tossed in a bout of madness. No control. No control.
Walking towards the door to the room, she was at last able to find her
voice.
"Uh, What a nightmare. Dreamt I was married to that uncu...," she began
before a tug on her left foot caused her to fall on her face. She looked
back to see that it had been shackled to the floor.
"You put up quite the struggle last night boy."
Ranma-chan turned her head to the corner of the room from which the
voice had come and met the shadowed outline of her father's form.
"Don't worry son, you're just a little nervous is all. In a few short
hours, it will all be over," came Soun's voice from the opposite
darkened corner.
You will have joined the ranks of the damned.
With great effort, the two fathers battered and bruised shapes came into
the light, and in that instant, it all came back to Ranma. The slow walk
home yesterday, the hellish nightmare, his desperate attempt at flight,
the pitched battle with the two fathers, the fact he would marry Akane
in a few hours.... MARRIED!!!
It was at this time, that the man who had faced all manner of challenge,
from wayward martial artists, to mythical beasts with barely a whiff of
fear in his gait, bolted from the room with a look of unbridled terror
in her eyes, screaming like a girl. The chains at her ankle breaking, as
if papier-m�ch�.
Genma and Soun pursued as best they could, but the fight last night had
taken too much out of them. The fact they were able to stop him last
night had been a miracle, a testament to their conviction to see their
families joined. It would take a lot more strength than they could
muster to bring Ranma back this time, however. Even in their prime, they
would have fell short.
Nothing of this Earth could stop Ranma Saotome this day. The shouts of
"stop" and "wait" from Akane, Nabiki, and Kasumi went unheeded as she
made her way to the front door and the obstacle before it.
They each stood still but for a second, eyeing each other.
"This isn't very manly."
"I love you like mother, but...." without completing the sentence,
Ranma-chan's hands snaked out, grabbed his mother, tossed her over the
shoulder and on to her tush. With nearly a look back in regret, she
raced out the door, leapt over the barbed wire that lined the yard, and
smashed through the gates of the dojo, despite the steel bar.
Ranma-chan allowed herself a slight smile, as the bright rays of freedom
greeted her as she round the gates of the dojo.
"I made..." she began, and then it all went black.
She had almost made good her escape, when and arm materialized out of
thin air right around neck level, and clotheslined her. Her body did one
revolution, before falling face first into the pavement.
"What's your hurry, little girl?"
Ranma-chan looked up into golden feline eyes looking back down at her.
Her ailurophobia gripped her for a moment, but only a moment, as it was
eclipsed by a far more consuming fear. Lifting herself slightly with her
arms, she swung a leg around, sweeping the pale blue haired girl off her
feet. Flipping herself back up on her own feet, she resumed her escape
only to find, she could no longer move! A dozen small wooden cylinders
floated in the air about her, she could only assume, they were the cause
of her immobility. She looked around frantically for their source.
Across the street stood a young woman with long purple hair tied into
twin ponytails, which almost reached the ground. She was watching
Ranma-chan struggle in the force field, wearing a satisfied smile.
"Who are you people? Why are you doing this!"
"We are.... friends, here to help you, Ranma-san."
"If you're friends here to help me, then let me go! I have got to get
out of here."
"I am afraid, that we can not do that."
"You don't understand the situation I'm in. I NEED to get OUT OF
HERE!"
"Oh, but I do understand your situation, Ranma-san, perhaps better than
you understand it yourself. Believe in my sincerity when I say, we have
your best interests in mind."
Ranma-chan stared wide-eyed at the woman before her, her face a mask of
disbelief. But then, her eyes wandered to something beside the woman,
and there, she found solace. For about five seconds.
Just when a feeling of peace and solidarity began to wash over her, a
red-orange blast of energy blew away the symbol she found so comforting
and the wall it had been painted on only the night before. Ranma-chan's
eyes followed the path of the blast to its source, the blue haired girl
who had originally stopped her. The girl gave her a preditorial grin.
Ranma-chan lowered her head down in defeat, as she was slowly lifted in
the air and floated back within the gates of the dojo.
"Baka, you are not running away, NOT TODAY!" Akane said bursting on to
the scene and running straight in to the floating Ranma-chan. "Wha...
the... No- No, no, noooooo! Not today! NOT TODAY! NOTHING
WEIRD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TODAY!" She was screaming and
pounding her fists on the force field incasing Ranma-chan. Suddenly, the
field
was gone, but either Akane did not notice or did not care, she continued
to
lash out with her fists, Ranma-chan at the receiving end.
"Umphf...Akane...AKANE...I weren't runnin' away or nothin', I was just
goin' for a walk is all," Ranma-chan said beneath the rain of blows.
"Akane-san, Akane-san, I'm sure Ranma-san speaks the truth, when he
says, he has every intention in joining with you in marriage today.
Isn't that right Ranma-san?" The purple haired girl said while walking
towards them, looking pointedly at Ranma.
Seeing no allies in the faces surrounding her, she decided that
discretion was the better part of valor, at least for now. She nodded.
"Besides, Akane-san, he is not much good to you unconscious now is he?"
"Oh, I don't know. I can think of some things you can do with an
unconscious man."
"RYOKO! Do you mean to tell me, that all those times he woke up to you
in his room, you were...." she said advancing on the space pirate. Her
accusation was answered only with a grin. "It is because of you, that he
is so troubled now!"
"Excuse me," Akane said recognizing the beginnings of a battle
royal.
"Hey, It is not my fault!"
"Excuse me," said Soun.
"Oh! Then whose fault is it? You are the one who dropped him on his
head."
"Excuse me," said Nodoka
"If you hadn't tried to put that damn force field around me, I wouldn't
have dropped him on his head!"
"EXCUSE ME!", shouted the entire Tendo and Saotome families, save for
Ranma-chan. She was quietly crawling on all fours toward the exit,
Akane quickly grabbed her into a headlock.
"Huh," came duel responses.
"Who are you people? You aren't more amazons are you? Or maybe more
fianc�es?" Akane asked angrily, the headlock on Ranma-chan tightening,
and her face beginning to redden.
"I assure you that *I* am *not* an Amazon! My interest in your Ranma is
merely to see him married to you. He is a means to an end," she hissed
out, bristling at the insult. 'An AMAZON!'
"Yeah, what she said" Ryoko was not nearly as upset as her companion.
"Forgive my daughter. She is under a lot of stress today."
Ranma-chan's face was now dark red in color.
"Yes, forgive Akane-chan, Its just we have not yet been properly
introduced," Nodoka said facing the two strangers, and placing a calming
hand on Akane's shoulders.
"Oh, of course, of course, forgive my manners, we have all been under a
great deal of stress as of late. My name is Aeka," the princess said
bowing her head slightly. " And that person over there is Ryoko," she
added in a tired voice.
"Gee princess, you sound as if you don't want me here?"
"Ryoko, not in front of the natives," Aeka whispered.
"Why not, they're going to find out everything in a little while
anyway."
"How do you know that Ryoko? We should be more discrete, then perhaps we
can catch them unaware."
"Excuse me again, but what is going on? Why are you so interested in
seeing Ranma marry Akane?" Soun asked.
Ryoko and Aeka looked at each other and had a wordless conversation.
Both were wondering just how much they should reveal to the group in
front of them.
Just a slight touch of purple could now be seen in Ranma-chan's
complexion.
"We... we uh... just like marriage ceremonies," came Ryoko's brilliant
response.
"Thank you, Washu's daughter"
"Well I didn't see you coming up with anything!" said Ryoko spinning on
Aeka.
Just when the two were getting warmed up, their argument was
interrupted.
"EXCUSE ME," Nodoka said after clearing her throat, getting both girls'
attention. "We appreciate your interest in our family, but we believe we
have everything under control, thank you and have a good day." At that,
both the Tendo and Saotome families bowed to the two women and turned to
reenter the dojo."
"Wait... wait.. You really do need our help! Someone is going to try and
brake up the wedding," Ryoko said frantically.
"WHO!" Akane shouted out, they could stop the wedding only over her dead
and rotting corpse. Ranma-chan's color was now a beautiful reddish
purple.
"You haven't seen a black Lexus around here lately, have you?" asked
Aeka, not quite ready to answer Akane's question yet.
"A Lexus? Around here? You've got to be kidding," Nabiki said, speaking
for the first time.
"WHO... IS... GOING... TO... STOP... MY... WEDDING?" Akane was shaking
now. Ranma-chan was pretty blue.
"The M.L.O.," Ryoko and Aeka said simultaneously.
And as if summoned, crying tires could now be heard, screaming towards
them. In seconds, a black Lexus S.U.V. was stopped in front of the gates
of the Tendo dojo. It was impossible to see inside, as the windows were
heavily tinted. In fact, the entire car was black, from the windows, to
the bumpers, to the rims; even the headlights had black covers. The
driver's side door opened, and a young man stepped out. The passenger's
side door was just beginning to open. Apparently, they hadn't yet
noticed they had an audience.
"Hey, maybe we can grab this Ranma guy and make a quick getaway," said
the driver.
"Boooooorrrrriiiinnnngggg," answered his passenger.
"Well, deal with it," said the driver, coming around the side of the
truck and into full view.
"TENCHI!!!!!" Screamed Aeka and Ryoko in unison.
"Oh, SHI..," not quite finishing his sentence, Tenchi quickly jumped,
slid across the hood, and into the truck. Both doors slamming shut.
Ryoko quickly disappeared, but instantly reappeared.
"Something is blocking me from teleporting into the truck!"
"HE'S MINE!" Power *erupted* from Aeka, her tiara glowing fiercely, her
long purple hair flowing wildly in the waves of energy. Dozens upon
dozens of logs formed concentric circles around the S.U.V. as Aeka
summoned even more power from Ryo-oh. Blue arcs of electricity crackled
in the air, and cracks began to form in the street and surrounding
walls. It was quite the display.
The Tendos and Saotomes were in awe. Aeka smiled, Tenchi was hers.
Or so she thought, but she had forgot something. Ryoko, however,
remembered and disappeared.
"Cease your struggle Tenchi-sama, it is over now," Aeka said haughtily
"Its not over 'til one of you rests this control from my hand," Tenchi
said waving something that looked like a remote to a TV out the window.
In a flash of light, the logs forming the force field around the S.U.V.
simply cease to be. Instead they reappeared around Aeka and the two
families.
"Whaaa...," Aeka was speechless. It was then that Ryoko reappeared. She
knew that would happen. Floating in the air, she split into two. Then
she and her double aimed for both sets of tires, firing orange blast of
energy. But no matter where they fired, a small shield would form
moments before, deflecting the blasts.
Crying bloody murder, the trucks tires screeched again, and Tenchi was
away with both Ryokos in pursuit. On two wheels, the Lexus rounded a
corner and headed down a dead end street.
"Ha! Gotcha!" both Ryokos said.
But Tenchi wasn't braking for anything, and that included brick walls.
Just when they were about to collide, a hole in subspace opened up,
swallowing the S.U.V. in its depths. Only the music, which had been
blaring from the truck's stereo, remained. It echoed eerily and
tauntingly through the air.
"Unstoppable, Unstoppable, Unstoppable..."
Back at the dojo, the force field surrounding the group had finally
vanished, and the families began to recover from what they had just
witnessed.
"Tha... That was the truck from last night! The one that stopped Ranma
and me on the way home!"
"But what do they want with Akane and Ranma?" Kasumi asked.
"They don't want Akane, they just want Ranma- and to break up the
wedding," answered Aeka.
"Who are these people?? What right have they to interfere in my daughter
and future son's wedding!" Soun demanded.
Aeka started to answer, when Ryoko rematerialized. Aeka turned to her.
"Well?"
"They got away."
"Honestly Ryoko, you and your so called powers are completely useless.
Nothing but flash."
"Oh like your powers did a hell of alotta good. What were you thinking
anyway? I told you we should of brought Sasami with us."
"After what she pulled! I think maybe we should call Washu."
"Hah, I'm not letting her anywhere near my Tenchi. Besides, this is her
fault to begin with."
"Your Tenchi?"
"Girls please, who are you people? Who were those people in the truck?
And what interest do they have in my son and his impending marriage?"
"I must apologize to you Soatome-san, on Tenchi-sama's behalf. He... has
not been feeling well as of late. I am Aeka Jurai, and this is Ryoko
Hab..."
"Masaki."
"And when did YOU become a Masaki??"
"The day Tenchi was born."
"Utter NONSENSE, Tenchi has been mine since BEFORE he was born!"
"Girls... My son? ...His wedding?"
"Forgive me Soatome-san, the young man driving the Lexus was Tenchi
Masaki, my fian... a mutual friend of Ryoko and mine. He is also the
leader and founder of the M.L.O."
"The M.L.O., who are they? I've never heard of them." Nabiki had a rare
look of confusion on her face. She thought she knew all the power
circles in Nerima.
"That does not surprise me Nabiki-san, as you are a woman."
"What are they then? Some kind of he-man women hater's club?" Genma
asked, the last of the group to recover from the day's events.
"No, they don't hate women. I'm sure that Tenchi lov..." Aeka giving
Ryoko the evil eye gave her pause.
"They are a group of wayward and confused men, in need of love and
guidance," Aeka finished.
"Well... well, maybe they'll give up now, since you guys stopped them
and they know your here."
"They're are alotta things, Akane, but quitters is not one of them.
They'll be back."
"Ryoko-san is correct. They will be back, and in force, but we will be
ready for them. If all goes well, yours will not be the only wedding
this day, Akane."
"In any case, let us go inside, I would like to hear more about this
M.L.O. Would you girls care for some tea?"
"Tea would be delight Soatome-san."
"Got any sake?"
"Ryoko!"
"What?"
The group made their way back towards the entrance of the Tendo home.
Ranma-chan, recovering from oxygen depravation, was surrounded on all
sides, including up. Ryoko floated above her. Aeka was a few meters in
front. Her mother was on her right side and Akane had a lock on her left
arm. The two fathers took up the rear. A healthy color finally returning
to her cheeks, Ranma-chan asked Aeka a question.
"What does M.L.O. stand for?"
"I was wondering that myself."
"You're not the only one Tendo."
Without pausing in her step or turning around to address them, Aeka
answered in an even voice. " THE MEN'S LIBERATION ORGANIZATION," she
said crossing over the threshold into the house. "Ryoko," Aeka whispered
to the space pirate, who was now standing guard at the door. "Did you
see who else was with Tenchi?"
"No, but I'll give you three guesses as to who I think it was."
"I only require one. I will give you know who a call."
A little later, Ranma, finally male, found himself in his room, putting
on a tuxedo. The wedding was a little less than two hours away and guest
were just beginning to arrive. Ryouga, who had been called in by Akane,
was Ranma's only visible guard in the room.
"Traitor."
"...."
"I thought you'd be happy, if I didn't marry Akane."
"....."
"You know Ryouga, I knew the first girl you slept with would have you
wrapped around her little finger. You're pathetic."
"I love Akari, she loves me, we're a happy family," Ryouga said in a
lifeless, monotone voice.
"Pathetic."
"Soon, soon you will be one of us," Ryouga replied fingering his wedding
ring.
One of the damned.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
C&C appreciated
damien_searight@msn.com
ICQ: 24113246
"Wha's a matter? Think I'm weak cause I'm a girl!"
Tenchi looked at the red head and then gave a glance back at Ryoko and
Aeka. "That's not it. I know some fairly intimidating girls."
Second Best: Match 2
Taking a Dive