TREASURE HUNTER: Chapter 2
A RANMA 1/2 FAN-FIC
BY:GREG HOUSLEY
Well, this is chapter 3. If you've missed out on reading chapters 1 and
2, Then you might of missed something if you've read it before. If this
is your first time and you haven't read chapters 1 & 2 then you've
missed alot. Anyway, I really hope everybody likes what I got here but
I'm open to all critisisms, so long as thier written with taste. I'll go
ahead and leave you alone now so you can read 3. Again respond at
coldmatrix@hotmail.com, and don't reply to this address, it's my dads,
and he hates getting mail thats not his.
This chapter uses some tabs to help the readers understand what is
happening.
(parenthesis) =Ranma under hypnosis.
'single quotes' =characters thoughts.
<<<< =flashback sequence.
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS ADDRESS
If you reply to this address I won't see it
EMAIL ME: Coldmatrix@hotmail.com or post your comments on the FFML I'll
see them there!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The moon shinned brightly over the ocean waters as if a god by it's
own right forever settled in the night sky. The light it illuminated
cast an awesome glow against the watery horizon off in the distance.
Only the simple calming sound of the washing waves and the sound of the
cool gentle coastal breeze could be heard. Pulsing white light cast down
from each individual star as if each contained a tiny prayer and wished
to share. The night was truly stunning! Though the peace and serenity
given off by this placid environment was something of a contradiction to
the last two days of Ranm-chan's life. Her mind was riddled with the
events leading up to this one perfect night on the beach.
>>>>"You have some mail, isn't that nice?" Kasumi said as she turned to
Nabiki. "Ranma?" She called.
Ranma paused from punching at a rope wrapped post and looked up
through the door. "You have some mail to."<<<<
Each moment seemed to play back in Ranma-chan's mind and she was
forced to analyze each one in retrospect.
>>>>"Really? From who?" Ranma asked as he grabbed for a towel and
proceeded to enter through the open door.
Kasumi looked down at the envelope. Nabiki grabbed for hers and looked
it over.
"IRA" Kasumi answered as Ranma reached for his.<<<<
'Man, what's happened to me? Everything has happened so fast. I'm
not even sure whats going on...' Ranma was forced to sigh in
frustration. memory after memory began repeating back in an endless
cycle.
>>>>"Ranma?" He heard a familiar feminine voice ask, and he proceeded
to take a seat next to her.
"Yeah it's me." He confirmed.
"Couldn't sleep either, huh?" Nabiki asked in a small whisper.
"Yeah." Was all that Ranma said.
"Where's your shirt?"
"I got hot." He looked up at her gaze and misread it. "Why you want me
to jump in the pond for you? Need some new photo's?
"No." Nabiki answered unconcerned. She let her chin rest on her knee's
as she pulled them in. "What do you make of the letter?" She finally
asked.
"You're asking me?" Ranma asked surprised.
"Don't let it go to your head Saotome, I'm just curious is all." She
responded without looking up.
"I'm not sure." Ranma replied. "I wonder why it's classified. Why we're
not supposed to tell anyone what we're doing."
"Who knows." Nabiki answered. "It was specific enough to instruct us in
what could be told, and what couldn't be wasn't it?"
"Yeah but I don't see why the fact that it's dangerous is such a
problem." Ranma stated.<<<<
Ranma-chan chuckled at the memory. 'Dangerous.... thats an
understatement. More like life-threatening.' She looked up into the moon
as if her answers lied there. 'What do you think?' She asked, though as
expected the moon did not respond back.
>>>>The next morning to Ranma's distaste came early. He was greeted by
the usual faces around the house and groggily marched himself into the
washroom. He dropped his boxers to the floor and began to run the water.
"Ranma?" He heard through the door. It was Nabiki.
"If you don't get your butt in gear we're gonna be late."
Ranma shut the water off. "Yeah yeah, be out in a minute." He said
uncarringly. He jumped into the tub and immediately jumped out. "It's
freezing!"
Ranma-chan threw on her boxers and proceeded to storm downstairs and
into the den. "All right what's happened to the hot water?" She demanded
Kasumi walked in from the kitchen and took notice of Ranma's bare
chest. "Oh my, Ranma. All the hot water must've been used up when Mr.
Saotome took his bath. Ranma's eyes narrowed as she turned her attention
on Genma. "I'll warm you some water." Kasumi offered disappearing back
into the kitchen.
"No time Kasumi." Nabiki called after as she came down the stairs. She
noticed Ranma's battle aura switch on and caught her by the arm. "Ranma
stop wasting time and get some clothes on." Ranma's aura dropped and she
spun around to meet Nabiki face to face. Something there seem to
register in Ranma's eyes and she proceeded to do as told.<<<<
'Dammit pop, you're the reason why I've got to stay a girl. Well
there was also Nabiki...'
>>>>"Young lady I was under the impression that you were a young man."
Sean said looking Ranma-chan over.
"I am most of the..." Ranma began but Nabiki elbowed her in the ribs.
"I beg your pardon?" He asked even more confused.
"Long story." Ranma stated simply.
"Uh, she likes to think of herself as a guy sometimes. Her father
raised her that way." Nabiki quickly recovered not willing to trust the
three gentlemen yet.
"Nabiki, I..." Ranma-chan started to protest, but she caught a warning
look from Nabiki and ceased.
"She's a little modest too I'm afraid." Nabiki assured. She was forced
to bite her lip at that lie.<<<<
'Why all the secrecy Nabiki?' Ranma-chan wondered at the memory.
'Why do want to keep the change a secret? Then, those guys are a little
bit strange, but still...' Ranma forced another sigh. 'Damn what is
going on here?'
>>>>.Nabiki sighed. "Look, sir, What happens if we agree?"
"You'll be given one week to wrap up any of your obligations and then
report back here. From there we'll take a jet to our first location and
begin your training. You'll be given weekly salaries until you can start
supporting yourself. And all other expenses will be taken care of by us.
"Weekly salaries?" Nabiki asked.
"Yes five thousand US Dollars." The man answered seriously. "Which I
believe converts to roughly five hundred and twelve thousand of your
Japanese yen. And three thousand one hundred of our United Kingdom
pounds."<<<<
'Yeah right! What happened to that week to wrap up any of our
obligations? Pops is probably worri... Well Akane is probably worried
sick about us, anyway... Mr. Tendo is probably balling his eyes out over
Nabiki... <sigh> I wonder when we'll be aloud to contact them...' Ranma
stuck her finger into the damp beach sand and began drawing.
>>>>'One week...' He repeated to himself remembering what the man had
said. 'One whole freaking week to wrap up any obligations.' He scratched
the back of his head in thought. 'Any obligations...' He emphasized
inwardly. 'Obligations like Akane...' The thought struck him as foreign.
'Akane's not an obligation is she? I mean sure the engagement is
arranged but I'm certainly not obligated.' I want to, he wanted to say,
but he couldn't even admit it to himself. 'Stupid tomboy would probably
be glad to be rid of me.' He spat in distaste. The sun began to sink
into the horizon slowly disappearing from view, at this the sky began to
take on a fiery orange glow. 'And what of my other fiancee's..?
Shampoo... Kodachi... Well not really a fiancee but no less than my
others I suppose.. And then Ukyo... . . . .' His mind began to consider
the pro's and con's of choosing to leave.<<<<
'What I wouldn't give to have that whole freaking week...'
Ranma-chan looked down to see Akanes name written in the sand and
quickly wipped it over in disgust.
>>>>"Akane!" Ranma screamed. Akane stopped her rant and blinked at the
pig-tailed martial artist. "Do you know what a Sad--ist is?" He asked
stuttering on the words pronunciation. Akane seemed to flare a bright
blue aura.
"What?! What'd I do?!"
Akane raised her mallet high. "BAAAKAAAAA!" The mallet came down with
lightning speed, though Ranma was just quick enough to sidestep the
blow. He however did not count on how quickly she would recover and
basically sat still for the next assault. *WHAM*
"Uhhhhhhh." Ranma moaned. "Akane." He tried weakly. *WHAM*
"Stupid... Tom..Boy..." *WHAM*
Akane looked down and realized for the first time what she had done.
Ranma was out cold.
"Ranma..?" She whispered. No response.<<<<
'Like she cares...huh. She's not worried at all.' Ranma noticed the
moon was slowly diving behind her and realized morning wasn't too far
off. She had arrived on the island several hours earlier and Sean had
had her shown to her room. Despite her efforts, sleep would not be
achieved. So she had crept out of bed and snuck down to the beach
earlier that night.
>>>>"He'th my mom'th bwotherrr..." She finally answered. She seemed to
consider something more then continued. "When motherrr dieeeed. (Hic)
Fatherrrr went to pieeeces. Kathumi-channn tried her hardetht to comfort
him, but she wath jutht a gurl at the time. (Hic) Jutht a ity bity gurl.
he hee he." She giggled. "Akane wath toooooooo young to realithe vhat
happened and tho I didn't hafe anybody to talk toooo or comfort me." She
seemed to sadden. "And I wath jutht old enough to barely underthtand
what happened to mommy." A tear slid down her cheek. "But then Unca
Thake (Hic) cammmme and he made everything alllll better!" Her face
brightened. "He wath my betht fwiend in the whole wiiiide world. But
then daddy he....he...he told unca Thake to leave. I didn't vant Unca
Thake to leave and I thaid, Nooo no daddy don't make unca Thake leave.
Butttt he did. I vater ffffound (Hic) out that Unca Thake had inthulted
him thaying he neeeeeded to act like a man and take care of hith family
inthead of thulkin like a godddd amn woman! (Hic)" Ranma blinked. He had
never heard anything like this before.<<<<
"Nabiki..." Ranma spoke her name aloud at the memory. 'How much
more about you do you keep locked away from everybody..?' Ranma-chan
pulled her knees up to her chin and renewed her attempts at art in the
sand.
>>>>"What do you mean we can't go back?" Nabiki asked in exasperation.
"Exactly like I said Ms. Tendo..."
"I saw you kill those guys back in japan..."
"Those were nothing more than hired guns. And only to one of the
several groups of people that are after us. Don't you see? That
information you dug up opened a lot of old wounds. It won't be safe for
you to return home for quite some time."
"And what of my family?" Nabiki shouted in response.
"Your family will be fine so long as you stay away from them."
"How do you know?"
"Just trust me..."<<<<
'Trust him he says...' Ranma thought to herself. 'We've got nothing
to go on here and he ask us to trust him.... What a load of bull...'
>>>>"We'll be flying from china to california and from there to
florida." Sean spoke over the microphone only several minutes after take
off from japan. "From Florida we'll take my private jet to my
island."<<<<
>>>>"We'll do it... But only for one million yen a week." Nabiki
finally agreed at the conclusion of her and Seans argument.
"One million huh?" Sean took out a calculator and began figuring.
"we'll since we'll only be a couple of miles off the coast of the United
States I'll pay you two off in US dollars. Agreed?"
"Thats fine." Nabiki confirmed.
"Lets see, How about I round it up to ten thousand five hundred
dollars?" Sean asked barely containing a very smug grin.
"Deal." Nabiki agreed simply.<<<<
'I could care less...' Ranma thought dully... Her thoughts began to
slowly muddle as she noticed the horizen begin to brighten. She looked
down to see she had drawn a large spiral in the sand. 'A spiral...' She
commented. 'Like my life...'
The last thing Ranma could remember thinking was how her life was
certain to never be the same....
<<o+++-------------<o>-------------+++o>>
Dawn had broke several hours earlier chasing back the shadows of
the night before. The sky beamed a bright blue aura gently carrying the
large white clouds across the vast open expanse in an almost parade like
fashion. The tide had slightly risen since the night before carrying it
further up the beach and under the still sleeping body of the redheaded
girl. She held herself tightly into a ball as to fight against the
invading chill as the repeative waters washed her from underneath and
the sea breeze, carried up from the waters current, rushed over her damp
body. Though despite it's best efforts, the beach could not invade upon
this one girls ever deepening slumber.
****************************
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK...
"Ranma, get up, we've gotta go see Sean." Nabiki called from the
otherside of the door to Ranma's chamber. The seconds trickled by and
still no response came. "Ranma, I said get up, now! You've slept long
enough, do you hear me!" Still no response could be heard and Nabiki
found herself growing increasingly impatient. "Ranma if you don't get up
right this second, I'm coming in..." Nabiki pursed her lips together and
counted to three. "All right Ranma thats it!" She reached to the knob
and pushed the door wide open. Inside Nabiki could barely make out the
outline of the bed as she trampled over to were the blinds had been
drawn shut. She reached over to the chord and pulled it so the full
amount of light possible could filter into the room. "Alright Saotome
get... huh?" Nabiki was forced a slight gasp as she finally laid eyes on
the vacant bed. "Ranma..?"
****************************
Her scent could easily be made out as the strong wind current blew
it up from the beach and to the creatures nose. It sniffed the air
carefully analyzing all the factors of the situation it could by her
scent. After drawing it's conclusion it slowly began to make it's
descent to the beach below careful of being detected. As it drew closer,
the scent began to grow more distinct, more profound, her aroma was
actually somewhat pleasing. It was clearly evident by her smell that
indeed she was just like him. He continued to cautiously pick it's path,
graceful in movement his swift nimble reflexes allowed him near perfect
stealth, and it was now he used this to his advantage.
Finally the beach came into clear vision and he doubled his best
efforts. He would not be detected. He moved with a fluid motion down
into the sand of the beach and quietly crept along as though nothing
more than a Rumor. The origin of the scent he had followed, the girl,
began to take shape in his view and he beagn to realize that depite his
caution the girl was simply asleep. Discarding his previous approach he
lumbered over to the huddled redhead and began sniffing her over deeply.
Her odor was ever more tantilizing in person. The small girl rolled over
to where her face was looking up into his, and though she did not awaken
he found himself purring in response. The girl seemed to smile at this.
*****************************
Nabiki glanced around the room, and sure enough Ranma-chan was
nowhere to be found. "where the he..."
"Nabiki?" Nabiki heard a voice call from down the hall. "Nabiki?
Are you.."
"I'm here Sean," Nabiki answered poking her head out of Ranma's
room and finding Sean several doors down the hall. "Have you seen
Ranma?"
"No I was hoping maybe you..." Nabiki shook her head in response.
"well no matter she'll turn up. I sent Rumor after her."
"Rumor?" Nabiki questioned.
"Yes he's my daughter's Bengal white Tiger.
"What..." Was all Nabiki could say.
******************************
Rumor found himself intoxicated by the beauty and smell of the
young redhead before him. His purring grew louder as he bent down and
nudged his giant muzzle against her soft face.
******************************
"Neko-what?" Sean asked as him and Nabiki raced down the several
flights of steps of the mansion and headed for the back door that led
down to the beach.
"Look we just got to hurry!" Nabiki called after. 'Without Akane
here lord knows what will happen if.... That happens' She found herself
thinking to herself.
******************************
The redhead seemed to have a positive response. She rolled over
til her belly faced up, and to Rumor's pleasant surprise, began to purr
back.
******************************
"Her father did what?!" Sean was incredilous. "Thats insane!"
"Look insane or not, I'm serious if we don't get there in time..."
Nabiki seemed to pause. "RANMA!!" She yelled out.
******************************
Rumor bent down and once again nudged the young girl in the face,
this time he also gave her a hearty kiss. Her face seemed to brighten in
response.
"RANMA!!!"
Rumor's ears cocked back at the intruding sound.
"RANMA!!!"
Rumor looked down at the young redhead and could see her eyes
begin to flinch.
******************************
"RANma" Nabiki let her last call die off as she finally caught
sight a gigantic white tiger bent over a small girl lying in the sand.
"Oh no we're too..."
"AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!" Nabiki felt a pit open in her stomach
as a familiar cry rang out through the air. Sean and Nabiki hastened
their approach.
"C-ccc-CA-CAT... B-b-Bb-BIIIIg C-Cat...!" Ranma after jumping
reflexively to her feet began to slowly back away from the large white
Tiger. The Tiger stared on curiously.
"Mwrow!" Ranma-chan let a meow slip and slapped both hands over
her mouth. 'Awww man I can't afford lose it here, not now. Who knows
what I'll do... Where the HELL did that big C-ca-cat-at come f-from
anyway?!!' Ranma-chan's mind was spinning.
The Tiger began to move closer as Ranma backed away. He began to
make a noise that Ranma couldn't distinguish between a growl or a purr.
'No I- I can't control it!' "Mrow!" The beast began to speed it's
approach and Ranma tripped on a mound of sand directly behind her. The
tiger approached and looked her in her eyes as she lay still against the
earth. "Mrow..! Mwrow!" 'Oh no here it g...'
******************************
"Rumor!" Sean called as he sped down from off the rocks and onto
the beach. "Rumor go home..!" Sean commanded "Leave!"
"MWROOOOOOWWWW!" The all to familiar cat call pierced the morning
air like a knife.
'Were too late...' Nabiki thought in defeat. 'Too late..."
Ranma-chan dropped to all fours and began pacing cautiously around
the two nervous humans.
"Sean..." Nabiki spoke his name softly without looking at him.
"Don't move." She warned. "When she's in this state she's not only
unpredictable but also more powerful than even that Tiger of yours,
actually from what I've seen in the past that tiger is nothing more than
a kitten in comparison when she's in this state.
"Well Ms. Tendo what do you suppose we do? Stand here til we fall
unconscious?"
"I don't know Sean I'm working on it."
"Well could you work a little faster. How did you cure this back in
japan?"
"I didn't. It was my little sister Akane. And it had something to
do with their relationship, I doubt it would work with me."
"Well we had better think of something!" Sean insisted.
"No kidding..." Nabiki answered back irritably.
Off to their left from over the rocks Rumor came into view again.
"I thought I told that animal to get back to the house!" Sean cursed.
Despite Seans obvious displeasure Rumor leapt down onto the beach and
slowly began to approach the aggitated Neko-Ranma.
"What is that forsaked cat doing?" Sean asked in irritaion.
Neko-Ranma quickly caught sight of the approaching white Tiger and
began a deep guttural growl in which Rumor simply responded by happily
purring. Neko-Ranma ceased her growl in confusion. The tiger slowly
continued it's approach careful not to make any sudden moves. He began
slowly closing his eyes and opening them again in a friendly cat manner
which only seemed to excite the neko-female even more.
"What is he doing?" Nabiki questioned Sean as they watched the
events play out before them. Sean simply shook his head.
Rumor finally managed to approach Neko-Ranma and began to gently
nudge her across the cheek. she reciprocated this action and they both
began to mingle their scents.
"I don't believe it." Nabiki heard Sean utter. "What is going
on?"
Rumor layed down on the ground, sloshing his tail contently in the
white sand beneath. Neko-Ranma lay down next to him and lowered her head
to rest on his side.
Nabiki and Sean both watched as The small girl began to slowly
close her eyes and begin to drift.
"Are... Are we free to go?" Sean asked, keeping a close eye on the
now already asleep Ranma-chan.
"Not yet..." Nabki responded. "Help me carry her back up to the
mansion or else this will simply happen again."
"I see." Sean responded simply.
Cautiously, so the young girl would not be disturbed, Sean
approached her and gently lifted her up into his arms.
Nabiki was forced to smile inspite of herself. Things were sure to
only get more complicated, and more STRANGE, from this point on.
<<o+++-------------<o>-------------+++o>>
"The Neko-ken hmmmm?" Sean questioned just to make sure he had
heard right.
"Yeah, thats right." Nabiki confirmed. "H... Uh she has an immense
fear of cats. I think Mr. Saotome called it Aluraphobia. Once her fear
of cats is taken too far she drops into a cat-like state acting
completely on instinct and emotion rather than logic. She is nearly
invincible in this state. In fact she even managed to defeat an old
amazon by the name of Cologne with it, once." Nabiki thought she might
have seen something flash through Seans eyes, but she wasn't sure...
'Recognition?' She wondered.
"The only problem is she can sometime mistake ally for foe in this
state, correct?" Sean asked assesing the situation.
"Thats right. She's very unpredictable while using the neko-ken."
"Hmmmmmm. So the legend is true..."
"What?" Nabiki asked confused.
"Yes I've heard of the Neko-ken. Not by name, mind you, though I
have heard of a unimaginably powerful martial arts technique that
eliminates the martial artist sense of awareness and replaces it with a
cat's instincts. As I had understood it, such a technique had been
banned, due to it's extreme danger."
"Yes, though stuff like that never really matter to Ranma's
father." Nabiki stated.
"I see." Sean simply said.
'Dammit I hate volunteering information like this, but our
situation is so fragile. This guy is the only one that can help us right
now.' Nabiki of course wasn't exactly happy that she needed to give out
this information but that still didn't change the fact that she had to.
'Well it seems clear to me that a decision must be made as to what
should be done about the Neko-ken." Sean announced.
"Huh?" Nabiki asked confused.
"Hmmmm, it's been what, three, four hours since Ranma fell asleep?
What time is it?
Hmmmm?" Nabiki questioned.
Unconcerned, Sean pulled back his sleave to reveal a very elaquint
gold watch. "Two forty three... Hmmm... How long does it take for Ranma
to recover from the Neko-ken.
"I'm not sure, why?" Nabiki's curiousity began to grow.
"Well it seems to me that we must decide weather the risk involved
with Ranma's Neko-ken out-wiegh it's usefulness.
"Hmmm? Are you considering geting rid of Ranma?"
"On one hand you have a technique that when employed has the
devistative power to destroy most of it's given targets... On the other
you have a technique that would just as soon harm it's allies as it's
enemy's."
"I think the decision is clear, though I shall leave it up to
Ranma." Sean declared while standing up.
"You think you may have a way to cure the Neko-ken don't you..."
Sean and Nabiki were both caught off-guard at the new voice. "That's
what you're getting at, right?" Nabiki looked over to the large double
doors that led into the study and found a very solemn looking Ranma-chan
standing at it's base.
Sean seemed unfazed at the directness of Ranma's question. "Yes as
a matter of fact it is." Sean answered confidently. He peered over into
the small girls eyes and found a striking determination there.
"I agree." Ranma-chan answered simply."
"You haven't even heard how I propose to do it." Sean pointed out
exasperated.
"I don't need to. Whatever is fine." The truth was Ranma was
scared. Nothing scared her more than losing control. The Neko-ken was
this and much more. Each time it stole a little more from Ranma and each
time afterwards she felt as though less remained. She was frightened to
think that such a simple thing could steal her control over herself. And
anything that even hinted at a cure was something she must try. The only
reason she had used it in the mountains against cologne was in a last
desperate attempt to regain her manhood, and nothing less would convince
her to use it as an alternative.
"Well then..." Sean began, not quite sure how to proceed. "I guess
nows as good a time as any." Sean finally finished. "Let see.... Have a
seat right here, Ms. Saotome." Sean escorted Ranma to a nearby red
leather chair and proceded to walk over to the many bookshelves lining
the walls. He began running his finger about several of the book spines
until finally stopping on one particulatr and pulling it free. He looked
over at where Ranma sat and then began thumbing through the pages until
he stopped at what appeared to be what he was looking for. "Ah here we
go!" He announced. After scanning through the text he gently closed the
book and laid it down on a table next to him. "Now Ms. Tendo, I'll need
complete silence from you..." He walked over to where Ranma sat and
kneeled down in front of her. Ranma took notice of how Seans face seemed
to take a very stoic expression. Sean reached into his side pocket
drawing a small polished zippo and flipped it open. Ranma watched as
Sean struck the lighter and held it directly in front of her eyes. "Now
Ms. Saotome I want you to follow this flame with your eyes only and
listen and do everything as i say, understand.?" Ranma simply nodded in
agreement.
Sean slowly began pacing the lighter left, then right.... Up then
down... left then right... Up then down... Sean repeated this action
several more times until he could see that Ranma's attention had total
focus on the flame before her. "Listen to my voice..." He spoke in a
calm yet commanding voice. "Listen to my voice... Hear ONLY my voice."
Ranma's eyes continued to obediantly follow the cross shaping flame and
felt her concentration lock. "Hear only my voice, do you understand?"
Again, Ranma simply nodded. "I want you to tell me your name...
Slowly..."
"Ranma... Saotome..." Ranma answered back.
"Hear only my voice..." Sean, still crossing the lighter, found
Ranma-chan remarkably focused. "I will now count down from ten to one.
By the time I reach one you will be completely asleep. You will be
completely under my control, do you understand?" Ranma, once again
nodded her acknowledgement. "Ten..." Ranma still focused her attention
to the flame. "Nine..." Nabiki watched in open anticipation as she
caught sight of Ranma's eyes begin to flutter. "Eight..." Ranma began to
feel an overwhelming drowsiness settle in. "Seven..." Sean looked down
into Ranma's eyes. Seeing that Ranma was indeed growing drowsy he began
to have a little more hope on the matter. "Six... Five... Four..."
Ranma's eyes finally, with one last flutter, closed. "Three... Two...
One... You are now completely under my control." Sean looked over to
Nabiki. "With her under hypnosis we should be able to isolate the
problem and maybe even find a way to cure it." Nabiki looked over in
awe. She was going to have to learn how to do that. "Now we just need to
make sure everything is in order before we continue. Ranma? when I snap
my fingers once you will think you are a chicken and begin to cluck,
when I snap them twice you will believe yourself a chicken no more."
SNAP!
Ranma immediately pulled her arms under her armpits and began
flapping them as though she were a chicken. Nabiki was forced to repress
a chuckle when Ranma began to seriously cluck like a chicken... "I'd say
that was proof wouldn't you Ms. Tendo?" Sean asked.
"Sure." Nabiki agreed. "Just change her back before I decide I'm
in the mood for some fried chicken." Sean eyed her curiously but did as
asked.
SNAP!
Ranma immediately stopped. "There." Sean replied satisfied. "Now
for the hard part." Sean Admonished. "Ranma tell me a little about
yourself." Nabiki's heart caught at this request.
(I Ranma Saotome, am a martial artist for the anything goes school
of martial arts. I was born to a one Genma Saotome and a one Nadoka
Saotome, on september twelveth. I am seventeen years old and heir to my
fathers practice.)
"This will get us nowhere Sean!" Nabiki finally interrupted not
willing to risk Ranma blowing their secret.
(I live with the Tendo's, Soun, Kasumi, Nabiki and my fianc...)
"Alright Ranma you may stop." Sean commanded. Nabiki felt herself
sigh in relief. "Ranma, What do you fear of cats?"
(They will get me...) Ranma responded simply.
"How will they get you Ranma?"
(They will get me using their claws, using their teeth, using
their minds...) Ranma dropped off at this.
"How will they get you, using their minds?" Sean asked, curiously.
(They will steal my consciousness... They will steal my soul...)
"And how is it they do this?"
(They took it once from me, when I was small... They fed off me,
tore me, until my will submissed. It was then that they breached my soul
and took my body. Now... that their hold on me has been established...
They can use me as they wish... When they wish...)
"Hmmmmmm." Sean openly pondered. "Interesting... Ranma? Where are
you now?" Sean asked out of simple curiousity.
(I'm not sure.)
"Describe your surroundings."
(I'm standing... In a field. No, a valley! It's misty here. Ponds,
or springs... Yes springs, dot the landscape for as long as the eye can
see. Wait no! They're everywhere! These springs, everywhere I turn from
horizen to horizen. They each have a pole sticking straight up from the
water.)
"This is pointless Sean!" Nabiki interrupted.
"No, I'm interested." Sean insisted.
"Sean your supposed to cure her alluraphobia not explore her
subconscious. You didn't ask Ranma if you could explore her
subconscious."
"She said she'd do anything."
"To cure her alluraphobia yes, but not to simply allow you to
prance around in her private thoughts."
"Ms. Tendo if I didn't know any better I'd say your hiding
something!" Sean declared.
"Thats rediculous!" Nabiki exclaimed.
"Is it? Then why..."
Nabiki didn't let him complete the question. "Look I just wouldn't
want anyone prying around in my subconscious without my consent, thats
all."
Sean eyed her skeptically. Nabiki didn't seem the type to hold
compasion for anyone. He caught the determination mirrored in her eyes
and shrugged. 'No sense making enemies out of those I would have work
for me, this early in the game.' He winked at her and turned to Ranma.
"Ranma, you are not in a valley of springs, but rather your standing
just outside the Tendo dojo." Nabiki kept a cautious eye on Sean as he
continued. "Your standing there waiting for your father to spar with you
when a cute cudley kitten walks up next to you and brushes against your
leg.
Instantly, Ranma began to shake in her spot. Sweat was evident as
it began to freely slide down her cheek. "Ranma how do you feel?"
(S-s-s-scared-ed.) She uttered back
"Now, Ranma I want you to concentrate on my voice. Do you
understand? I am your salvation, the kitten can not posses you as long
you can hear my voice. Understand?"
(Y-yes.)
"Good... Your growing calm. Calm. Calm. The kitten is cute and
will not harm you. Do you understand?"
Ranma continued to violently shake. "Ranma do you understand?"
"RANMA!"
(Make it stop make it stop!!!) Sean could see her shaking begin to
grow worse and decided to halt it.
"RANMA THE KITTEN IS GONE!" He yelled.
Ranma's shaking immediately began to stop and she seemed to relax.
Sean turned to Nabiki and arched an eyebrow. This, alluraphobia... It's
the strongest case of phobia I've seen. My commands barely reached her
in the presense of a kitten. Hmmmmm. I'll just have to try something
else. Ranma when I snap my fingers once you will be a cat with human
thoughts, when I snap my fingers twice, you will be one no more. Do you
understand me?" Ranma nodded.
SNAP!
"MWRROW!" Ranma-chan meowed as her usual Neko self.
"Ranma, what are you thinking?"
"MROOOOWWW!" Ranma continued to meow.
"RANMA WHAT IS IT YOUR THINKING?!" Sean attempted to shout.
"MMMMROOWWWWW!" Ranma replied back.
Sean sighed. SNAP!
Ranma stoped meowing. "Tell me your name." Sean commanded
(My name is Ranma Saotome.)
"Good..." Sean looked to Nabiki once more, who seemed to be
immersed in her own thoughts, no longer observing the scene before her.
"I think I'll just have to deal with the closer issue at hand and forego
any attempts at curing her alluraphobia..." Sean commented. Nabiki
didn't respond. "Nabiki?"
"Huh? Oh right, go right ahead." Nabiki replied obviously unsure
what she was agreeing to.
"Ranma do you know a large white animal with white stripes that
lives here?" Sean asked.
(Y-y-yes.) Ranma answered.
"Do you know what he is?"
(A T-tiggerrr.)
"No he is not a tiger... Do you know what he is?"
(A T-tiger.)
"No he is not a tiger... Do you know what he is?"
(A tiger?)
"No he is not a tiger... Do you know what he is?"
(N-no.)
Nabiki turned her attention to the display before her, casting her
previous thoughts aside to be dealt with later. She found this new
approach to Ranma's alluraphobia, intriguing.
"Ranma what is the large white animal with black stripes?"
(I... I don't know.)
"Is he a tiger?"
(No.)
"Then What is he?" Sean drove further seeing at small bit of
success on the horizen.
(A horse?)
"No not a horse. What is he?"
(A, a cow?)
"No not a cow. What is he?"
(A dog?)
"Yes, Ranma he is a dog. He is your friend."
(A dog? My friend?)
"Yes Ranma the large white animal with black stripes is a dog, and
he is your friend. Do you understand?" Ranma nodded. "Then repeat this
back to me."
(Yes Ranma the large white animal with black stripes is a dog, and
he is your friend. Do you understand?) Ranma repeated perfectly word for
word, even throwing an english accent in there with it.
"Great, even under complete hypnosis she's sarcastic." Sean
commented.
"Ranma, what is the large white animal with black stripes?"
(A dog. My friend.) Ranm answered back.
"Do you know your friends name?" Sean asked.
(No.)
"His name is Rumor." Sean explained.
(My friend is Rumor, a dog. He is a large white animal with black
stripes.)
"Exactly!" Sean confirmed triumphantly. "Ranma, I am about to
count from one to ten. By the time I reach ten, you will be completely
awake. You will consciously remember nothing. Do you understand me?"
Ranma shook her head yes.
"one...two...three...four...five..." Ranma's eyes began to slowly
flutter, faster then faster, until they began to seem like they must
open.
"six...seven...eight..." Ranma's eyes slipped open and the image
of the room about her began to take shape. "Nine...ten..." Sean
completed. "Ranma how do you feel?"
"Fine. Rested. Weren't you about to do something to cure my
alluraphobia?"
"I already have. My efforts failed."
"How is that possible?" Ranma asked confused.
"Ranma he did." Nabiki confirmed. "You just don't remember becuase
of what Sean did."
"He did?"
"Yes." Nabiki stated flatly. Ranma knew that tone. There wasn't
any arguing with it.
"Fine." Ranma-chan replied defeatedly. "I'm gonna get some sleep."
Ranma walked to the double doors and pulled the left one open. Rumor
curiously poked his head in through the door and looked up at Ranma.
Ranma looked down at the large tiger and patted him on the head. "Come
on boy, lets get some sleep." Ranma-chan then proceeded to grogilly
march out the room and up the stairs with Rumor close in tow.
<<o+++-------------<o>-------------+++o>>
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Here ends chapter 3. Thanks to all who read!!!
-Greg