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(I can't believe it's been well over a year since part 11!
Sorry about that; particularly given that [for the first
time in the series] I ended part 11 on a cliffhanger. Oh
well.)
A Gentleman from Where?
Part 12 of "Much Ado about Ranma"
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic by HK Miller
7 January 2001 - Prereader draft;
11 January 2001 - FFML draft; minor tweaks
Major characters copyright Rumiko Takahashi and licensees:
Shogakukan in Japan and Viz Communications in the USA.
No disrespect is intended by my unlicensed usage.
Mild lime warning: adult themes suggested.
The earlier stories in this series are are posted at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/5058
A summary follows this story.
Conventions: telepathy is delimited > <
Time: New Year's season, immediately following Part 11.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
PREVIOUSLY, in a cavern underneath the Musk Dynasty fortress,
into the floor of which was inlaid a large, spiral-shaped pattern
glowing a soft blue:
"<Da Wa! Is that you?>" Akane called. The boy Tibetan monk
altered as he walked the spiral, growing hooves, horns, and bat-
wings. As he reached the center, he laughed eeriely, then spoke.
"Tendo Ranma! Behold your nemesis!" The being who had been Da Wa
said. "Nerima will be destroyed!" He then vanished.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEN, high in an office building in Shinjuku ward:
"An Agent?" Jason laughed. "You might say that, I suppose. We've
met before, Tendo Ranma. This, however, is the last time. Once
you're eliminated, Nerima _will_ be destroyed. I always keep my
promises."
As he spoke, Jason's shape shifted to that of Da Wa, the eight-
year-old Tibetan monk, then to Ayutsuru, the robe-clad cult head,
then back to the smirking gaijin businessman. Jason twirled his
moustache, then gestured.
"Nabiki. Kill them."
An orange, burning aura formed around Nabiki. She rose into the
air and hovered, her arms spread wide. A look of unholy glee
appeared on her face.
Nabiki gestured, and the room exploded.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As he flew backwards through the shattering window, Ranma
reacted. He snatched Akane's wrist and pulled her in, spinning
to put himself between her and the flying debris. Akane wrapped
her arms around Ranma to free his arms.
Ukyou, Shampoo, Kodachi!< Ranma sent. >Try to get over to me!<
Kodachi managed to grab one of Ukyou's hands as they fell.
We're okay, Ranma-sama. Here I come.< Gauging her angles,
Kodachi tucked her knees into her chest and spun, then flung Ukyou
towards a nearby moonlit rooftop. The recoil sent Kodachi towards
Ranma.
Okay, I got you, Kodachi.< Ranma sent as his hand clasped her
wrist. >What about you, Shampoo? Shampoo?<
I saw Shampoo take a blow to the head when the room blew,
Ranchan. She may be unconscious.<
I see her, Ranma! Throw me her way, real fast! I can catch
her and land on that building over there!< Akane sent.
Ranma bit his lip, but nodded. He threw. Akane made the grab
and landed.
That just leaves me, holding Kodachi, and twenty stories to go,
straight down. Kodachi'll never survive it.<
But you will, Ranma-sama.< Kodachi blushed. >I'm flattered
you're even thinking about me.<
Kodachi, you're a teammate and a friend. Don't forget that.
Ah, I got it. Kodachi, I need hot ki from you. Get angry
or somethin'!< As he thought, Ranma assumed the 'soul of
ice', then started a variation on the Hiryuu Shoten Ha, pointed
straight down.
Not enough, Kodachi. Ain't you still angrier at Akane than
that? Dammit; no choice.< Ranma turned to Kodachi and gave her
an open-mouth kiss, simultaneously pressing certain strategic
nerve clusters with his free hand.
"Oooohhhh, Ranma darling. I'm all yours!" Kodachi moaned, then
began to move her abdomen rhythmically against Ranma's leg.
Ranma, you pervert!< Akane sent furiously. >What're you doing?<
That's better.< Ranma pointed his free arm down again and
repeated his whirlwind maneuver. Waves of hot lust emanating
from Kodachi fueled the attempt this time, and the two began to
slow.
Three stories above the empty street, Ranma realized they were
still going too fast. He threw Kodachi straight up. Ranma
landed, hard, just as Kodachi crested. >Damn! A leg fracture.
Got three seconds to heal it.< Ranma inhaled sharply, summoning
his ki, then grabbed his leg with two glowing hands and
concentrated. At just over two seconds, he cut his reiki, looked
up, and leapt, easily catching Kodachi and landing lightly again.
You guys better all get down here fast. We gotta get under
cover!<
What? Why? Nabiki's still up there on the thirtieth floor!<
Then what's that?< Ranma noted grimly, pointing at a glowing
figure swooping in their direction from the shattered office.
She's powered by a dragon, 'member, same as Herb, so she can
probably fly like he can.<
Oh.<
No time. Everybody, invisible NOW. Tactical withdrawal: all
you guys... uh, 'cept Shampoo, get outta here, invisible, stay
quiet, nobody turns around. Rendezvous ten blocks over, the
Danny's restaurant, booth in the back. Heal up there.<
What about you, Ranchan?<
I'm gonna scout Nabiki's intentions and capabilities, and give
you guys cover to get away. Don't worry 'bout me; I'll use the
Umisen-ken to break away. Shampoo, you stay in that alley.
You're backup. Don't do nothin' 'cept maybe probin' with the
rensu, got that?<
Understood.<
Ukyou and Kodachi left immediately, Akane after a short
backwards glance. Moments later, Nabiki arrived to find only
Ranma standing, feet spread and knees slightly bent, in the
middle of the dark, empty street. Nabiki hovered in the air, ten
feet up, still enveloped in a burning orange aura which outshone
the streetlamps. Nabiki smiled and licked her lips.
"What, only you, Ranma-kun? Where's my darling little sister?
And the rest of your harem?"
"What're you gonna do, Nabiki? That guy told ya to kill us. Ya
gonna do it?"
"Maybe." Nabiki grinned widely. "I haven't decided yet. I
could, you know. I can do anything I want."
"Akane 'n the other girls are away from here, safe." >Nabiki?
can you hear me like this?<
Of course, Ranma-kun... Ah, you lied. One of the girls...
Shampoo, I think... is still here somewhere. I can feel it.<
Resuming normal speech, Nabiki smiled, showing teeth. "Maybe
I'll... amuse myself... with Shampoo. For now."
"Ya think so? You can't even find her." Ranma watched Nabiki's
face carefully as he said that. Nabiki looked around the street
slowly, uncertainly, then focused back on Ranma.
"I know you have that invisibility trick. You're testing me,
aren't you?" Nabiki smiled nastily. "What if I say I'll hurt
Akane?"
Ranma leapt straight up at Nabiki, firing a couple of small, one-
handed Mouko Takabisha bursts as he did. Distracted, Nabiki let
him get too close. Ranma grabbed her shoulders and flipped
himself onto Nabiki's back. Nabiki's position in the air hardly
wavered.
Damn,< Ranma sent to Shampoo. >She's good at flying, Shiatsu
points aren't working, and her aura's burnin' me a bit.<
Flipping himself back to Nabiki's front, Ranma kicked her in the
solar plexus, then gave her a carefully-gauged rabbit-punch in the
throat. Nabiki just smiled wider. >Some kinda... resistance in
her aura or something, protecting her. My punches and kicks
aren't gettin' through.<
Ranma let go and dropped back to the street directly below Nabiki.
(She's putting out hot ki just like Herb did. Better use a mild
variant, though.) Icily calm, he extended his arms and spun in
place briefly, then punched straight up at Nabiki. A whirlwind
duly formed. Nabiki, however, didn't move from her hovering
position.
"Well, Ranma-kun? Your most powerful attack can't even budge me.
What are you going to do now?" Nabiki grinned down at Ranma.
Ranma looked up at Nabiki grimly. "I don't know. Yet."
Shampoo? We're outta here.< Ranma disappeared, thoroughly.
Nabiki lost her grin. She flew up and down the street briefly,
but found no trace of Ranma or of Shampoo.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Meanwhile, a few blocks away, the other three girls sat at a
large, three-sided booth in the back of a coffee-shop. Akane
fumed while Ukyou waved over a waitress. "Why pick _her_ to
stay?"
"I think you know why, Akane," said Kodachi, resting her chin on
the backs of her hands, her elbows on the table. "Ranma trusts
Shampoo to obey orders she doesn't like, due to her upbringing.
You would leap out of hiding the moment it looked like Ranma might
be in trouble. I might as well."
Ukyou glanced at Akane, then covered Akane's left hand with her
own and looked into Akane's eyes. "And... if worst comes to
worst, Shampoo will do whatever is necessary. Neither you nor I
could easily bring ourselves to harm Nabiki."
Akane looked down at the tabletop with worry. Ten minutes later,
Ranma and Shampoo appeared, standing by the booth. They slid in.
Slight disguises. Kodachi, since you can't, shift your position
so your back's to the window.<
Everyone but Kodachi cast slight illusions on themselves, enough
to look unlike themselves from street. In a few more minutes,
the waitress reappeared, and all five started eating their way
through large piles of pancakes. The waitresses and other
customers occasionally looked dubiously at the five's wrinkled,
ripped black tracksuits.
Nabiki's plenty powerful. It'll be real tough to beat her, if
we hafta. I'm not sure what she's thinkin'. She's no zombie,
under that guy's total control or nothin', but she's not her
normal self neither.<
Husband, the Nabiki we know has never been a strong warrior, nor
willing to work to become one. But now she has power, for free.
What effect would this have on her?<
Akane said nothing, but grew nervous thinking about it.
"There you are, Son-in-Law. We've been looking for you."
Cologne abruptly stood in the middle of the table, accompanied by
Chingensai, Ukyou's sensei.
"Oh? Either 'a you got any bright ideas what ta do about
Nabiki? Or maybe you've just remembered something important
about the Kagema, or this Jason character?"
"Husband!" Shampoo looked shocked. "You don't think great-
grandmother is keeping secrets from us?"
Cologne coughed. "...Uhhh, actually, Shampoo, I did just uncover
an old scroll about the Kagema's last appearance..."
"Ha! Thing is, son, I kinda knew about this too. Slipped my
mind, sorta. But it seems a tad important now."
"You could say that." Ranma snorted.
"A long time ago, Son-in-Law, the Kagema, which this scroll
describes as legendary demons from another realm, attacked China.
Four great champions arose and beat them back, and they were
thought to have disappeared forever. Now we know that that was
not so, and that they have returned."
"These 'four great champions' got any names?" Ranma asked drily.
"...this scroll doesn't give any..." Cologne murmured.
"Now, son, yew may have a parcel of pretty young things pantin'
after yew," Chingensai started, then "OWWWW!" he exclaimed as
Ukyou hit him on the head. Rubbing his head, he continued, "but
even you can learn a trick or two from us old fogies. Anyway,
I heard a thing or two about these Kagema while I was in China,
and I think the scalliwag we're dealin' with here is their
second-in-command, fellow by the name of Gnarliin. Stories say
he's the usual point man for any new thrust; good with disguises;
influential; hard customer to nail."
"THAT certainly sounds like this Jason creep, or Da Wa, or
whatever," Ranma commented.
"The Kagema disguise technique don't work the same as what
I taught you 'n the girlies," Chingensai nodded at Ukyou, Akane,
and Shampoo. "An' yew can't see through it the same way. The
Kagema don't just cloud yer mind, usin' some ki-based technique;
they got some high-falutin' way 'o bendin' light itself."
"There _is_ a technique, Son-in-Law, which will enable you to see
through Gnarliin's disguises, but it will take some time to teach
it to you. It is a variation on the astral body separation
technique which you've been studying, but a very complex one."
"My sensei, Fujiwara-sama, has spoken of the technique you
mention. I have only taken the first steps myself," Kodachi
noted.
"Forget that now! What about Oneechan?" cried an anxious Akane.
Cologne and Chingensai looked a bit downcast, then glanced
at each other. "Well, yew see..."
"...we don't know enough yet, Son-in-Law. Clearly Nabiki is or
was controlled by Gnarliin, and she is drawing her power from
the Dragon Medallion. To some extent, she also appears to be
intoxicated by the power of the Dragon. We must disentangle the
threads which Gnarliin has woven between himself, Nabiki, and the
Medallion. These must have been woven very carefully, as Gnarliin
cannot directly control the Medallion himself."
"Ya see, young feller, them Kagema have a wee problem with magic.
Its presence weakens and eventually kills them."
Ranma nodded. "Gnarliin, when he was that cult guy, told the
girls the Kagema were out to destroy magic items. I take it
that's because they're a threat to the Kagema?"
"Why, shore, that's the way we..." Chingensai was abruptly cut
off as Cologne's cane collided with his mouth.
"That's not important now, Son-in-Law. We must plan a way to
draw this dark version of Nabiki out, keeping her distracted
while we dissect the threads by which she is controlled."
Ranma rubbed his hands. "A good long fight'll do that, long
as we can keep from gettin' killed, or killin' her."
"You will need considerable assistance for this, Son-in-Law."
Ranma looked around the table. "Kodachi, can you give your
sensei a call, see if she can help the old fogies' brigade?"
"As you say, Ranma-sama." Kodachi rose and headed for a
phone.
"Might I suggest that you give Hibiki Ryouga a call, Son-in-Law?"
"Yeah, I was just thinking that. And Konatsu. Kunou? Hmmm, I
guess, but Nabiki might just be annoyed enough at the poor guy ta
really fry 'im. And I really hate that stupid new name he's
claimin'. Hmmm... wish we had time to get aholda Taro or Rouge,
but they're on their honeymoon."
"Rouge might be a match for Nabiki in power, Husband, but not
in strategy. And Nabiki is all too aware of Rouge's weakness:
hot water."
Ranma's gaze came to rest on Akane. A touch of real fear came
to his gaze, but Akane gazed steadily back.
Don't even think about it, Ranma. If you fight, I fight,
no matter the danger. And Nabiki-Oneechan won't hurt her own
sister.<
Reluctantly, Ranma nodded. "Okay, let's make some plans..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Much later, the group broke up.
"Ranma, should we go home tonight? What if Nabiki shows up
there?"
"No problem. We'll stay in some handy hotel so she can't find us.
Kodachi, you shouldn't go home tonight either. Better stay with
us."
Kodachi smiled sultrily. "As you wish, Ranma-sama."
Akane stared icily at Kodachi. "SEPARATE beds."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
At the Tendo household, Nabiki descended into the yard. Still
surrounded by a burning orange aura and floating ten centimeters
off the floor, she proceeded into the house. "I'm home!"
"Oh, Nabiki. Did the others return with you?" asked Kasumi,
wiping her hands on a towel as she stepped from the kitchen.
"They aren't here yet?"
"No; should they be?"
"We got separated. I'll check Ucchan's." Nabiki burst straight
up through the roof, leaving a hole.
"Oh my, now Nabiki's leaving holes just like Rouge-san. Well,
she'll just have to fix it herself when she gets back."
Nabiki tried Ucchan's, the Nekohanten, and finally the Kunou
household, but found nobody other than Kunou Tatewaki. Eventually
she returned to the Tendo household and slept in her own bed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day, the fifth day after Christmas, Kunou Tatewaki
answered his telephone. "It is I, whose voice alone can silence a
crying child, the Purple Dinosaur of Tokyo University! What
service can I render unto thee?" Kunou listened, then spoke
again. "Of a surety I shall aid thee, my fierce tigress of love!
I come at once!" Grabbing his bokken, Kunou dashed out of the
house.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Later, in a large park, Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, Shampoo, and Kodachi,
plus Ryouga, Kunou, and Konatsu, gathered.
"Everyone here? 'Kay, I've sent her our location; Nabiki'll be
here in a few minutes. Stay on your toes, 'n let's keep each
other alive. We gotta make this fight last as long as we can,
give the old fogies time to probe her."
"You especially be careful, Ryouga-san," Akane enthused. "You
have your baby daughter to go home to. And Akari-san will never
forgive us if we let you get hurt."
Ryouga looked stricken. Ranma elbowed him. "C'mon, P-Chan,
get it together. You'll be back raisin' pigs before you know
it."
Ryouga grew angry. "Shut up, Ranma! At least _I'm_ a father now!
What about you; your curse affect your virility?"
Kodachi looked a bit disturbed, but Akane, Shampoo, and Ukyou
just giggled for moment, exchanging looks. Ranma looked
disturbed momentarily, then chuckled patronizingly. "I'll worry
about that when the time... Uh oh; look sharp; here she comes!"
A glowing Nabiki glided into the clearing and hovered over the
group. "You MUST be joking. THIS is your challenge? I know all
your weaknesses, remember." Nabiki gestured, and a wave of water
came out of nowhere and crashed over the group, rendering Ranma
female, Shampoo feline, and Ryouga porcine. Kunou immediately
glomped Ranma from behind; Ranma reached back and grabbed a hand-
full of shirt, then threw the kendoist straight at Nabiki, who
idly swatted Kunou away with one hand.
"Mouko Takabisha!" Ranma cried as she fired a two-handed blast
at Nabiki. Behind her, Ukyou and Konatsu leaped to attack from
the rear. Nabiki gestured, and both were slammed out of the air
by her aura.
A ribbon whipped out, attempting to wrap around Nabiki. Nabiki
grinned nastily, caught it, and pulled. Grabbing Kodachi by the
leotard-front, she flung Kodachi straight up, then engaged
Ranma with a series of rapid-fire bursts which Ranma dodged.
Kodachi fell to the ground, one leg twisted underneath her.
Ukyou and Konatsu recovered and attacked anew. Nabiki dodged,
grabbed Konatsu by one foot, then threw him into Ukyou. This time
neither moved.
Suddenly a shi-shi hokodan caught Nabiki from behind. P-chan,
standing on his rear two legs, recovered, then dashed forward.
Nabiki fluttered to the ground. Ranma and P-chan closed, Ranma
leaping and kicking hundreds of times in one attack; P-chan
using the Breaking Point technique to explode the ground under
Nabiki's feet. Nabiki, motionless, just grinned.
Meanwhile, Akane held neko-Shampoo out of Ranma's sight. Three
times she almost dropped Shampoo and dashed out to fight, but
caught herself each time. Finally, when P-chan went flying and
didn't rise again, she acted.
Akane, desperate and crying, dashed out holding neko-Shampoo in
one hand, and shoved her in Ranma's face. Ranma's scream abruptly
cut off and was replaced by a yowl and she bent towards all fours.
Hissing, Ranma leapt at the hovering, glowing, smirking Nabiki.
Flame from Nabiki's fingers shot towards Ranma, who snarled and
shred it with her claws. Nabiki narrowed her eyes. Hands of
orange, burning aura spread out from Nabiki to meet Ranma's claws
in mid-air, halting them. Grinning, Nabiki gradually forced Ranma
back. Nabiki raised her leg and attempted to kick Ranma in the
groin. Ranma dodged her first four attempts. Nabiki grew angry.
"That's it, brother-in-law," Nabiki snarled. "You're history!"
Nabiki's aura suddenly expanded four-fold, hurling nekoken-Ranma
away. One arm of burning aura reached out faster, though, and
caught Ranma. The hand started to squeeze. Consciousness faded
from Ranma's eyes.
"Ranma! No, you can't, Nabiki!" Akane screamed. Picking up a
nearby boulder, Akane hurled it at Nabiki. It shattered on
Nabiki's aura. Nabiki dropped Ranma from a height of thirty feet,
then flew down and landed in front of Akane.
"Nighty-night, little sis," Nabiki grinned nastily as she plonked
Akane in the forehead with one finger. Akane's head snapped
backwards, then she fell to the ground.
"Now," Nabiki mused to herself, hovering casually with arms
loosely crossed. "What do I do with you all? Kill you?"
"No, you won't, Nabiki-chan."
Nabiki paused and looked about her.
Happosai, looking sorrowful, wheeled his wheelchair into
the clearing, a blanket covering his shattered legs. "I am in
part responsible for what has happened here. Though it cost me
all my precious darlings, I will put it right!"
"Huh? The old lech?" Ranma blearily raised her head, leaning on
her forearms. A quick check showed only herself and Kodachi still
conscious.
"Watch and learn, Son-in-Law. Use all your senses; this
battle will not be purely physical," came the subtle whisper.
Happosai's ki aura emerged, an enormous, ghostly version of
himself.
Nabiki sniggered. "And what do you think that can do to ME,
old man?" She casually raised one arm and pointed a finger at
Happosai. Nothing happened. She frowned. "Blocking my
power somehow, are you, old goat? Well, let's see you block
this."
Nabiki emitted her own ki aura, its blazing vastly overshadowing
Happosai's. Ranma raised one hand to shield her eyes.
"Use your astral senses as well, child," came another whisper.
Ranma partly freed her astral body and watched the battle.
She found that Nabiki's and Happosai's ki aura bodies were
mirrored on the astral plane, furiously exchanging blows.
"Now, see if'n yew can't watch both ways, young feller."
Ranma watched as Happosai feinted on the astral plane with
a grab at astral-Nabiki's bosom. Simultaneously, on the
physical plane, his ki body raised a huge hand to grab
Nabiki.
"Use your mind, Son-in-Law; feel their thoughts in conflict."
Ranma felt Happosai forcing thoughts of poverty and rejection
upon Nabiki. Thoughts flickered through his perceptions,
unfavorable visual comparisons of Nabiki's naked body to Akane's
and Kasumi's. Hot spikes of envy and embarrassment came from
Nabiki in response, distracting her from the conflict.
"Watch Happosai's techniques, his tactics, child. See how
he handles a more powerful opponent."
On the astral plane, quick flares lanced from Happosai towards
Nabiki, who tried to block them all. Nabiki countered with
a furious astral fist, only to miss Happosai entirely.
"Yew'll need pretty near ever' thing yew see 'ol Happi-kun do,
soon enuff."
On the physical plane, Happosai's ki aura withstood a flare
burst from Nabiki. Meanwhile, Nabiki's purpose faltered as
Happosai's thoughts reminded her of good times with her
family. Pictures of her mother smiling at her surfaced;
then Nabiki saw her mother watch her fight with Happosai
and frown disapprovingly at Nabiki.
On the astral plane, Happosai ignited a starburst in front
of Nabiki, through which dozens of slimy tentacles wriggled
to the attack. Nabiki, panicked, started to incinerate
them one-by-one, paying no attention to the long, dark,
roundabout tentacle reaching for the back of her head.
On the physical plane, Happosai's aura started to shrink,
his face drawn and tired. Nabiki saw herself regress in
age, held comfortably to her mother's bosom, helpless but
protected from every threat.
Nabiki fizzled out. She started to fall to earth, her
clothes restored to their original loose state. A revived Akane
dove and caught her, then laid her down, unconscious.
Cologne, Chingensai, and Fujiwara appeared, standing around
Nabiki and examining her closely. Fujiwara knelt and put a finger
to Nabiki's forehead.
Ranma stood and limped over to where Happosai now sat in
his wheelchair, struggling to stay awake. "Ranma my boy...
that took... all I had..." Happosai nodded once and passed
out.
"Nabiki-chan seems all right..." started Ukyou, watching intently
over the heads of the older trio.
"No, something's... not quite right..." Kodachi frowned, trying
to understand her perceptions. A restored Shampoo supported
Kodachi on the latter's remaining unfractured leg.
Cologne rose and looked at the assembled teens. "Nabiki is
physically fine, but otherwise not fine at all. Most of the
threads which Gnarliin bound between himself and her ego are
gone, but the link between her will and the Dragon Medallion is
still growing stronger. Gnarliin seems to have used some of his
own life force to establish that link, but it is also maintained
because Nabiki herself desires it. Happi managed to bind her
power temporarily, chaining her inner self, her id, if you will.
But these chains are already starting to loosen. We have maybe
forty-eight hours, perhaps a bit more, before Nabiki will be back
at full power and again at the mercy of her own darkest
instincts."
"What can we do? We can't kill Oneechan!"
"The alternative will be difficult. First, we must somehow kill
Gnarliin himself within forty-eight hours. The link he has woven
between Nabiki's id and the Dragon's power will then start to
unravel."
"Kill...?" Ranma replied, then clenched his teeth. "If we
absolutely gotta, then okay. How do we do it?"
"Not 'we', Son-In-Law. You alone can handle this, with Happosai
now so weak. Only Happi and you possess the raw power required.
We must spend the intervening time drilling you in the techniques
you will use."
Fujiwara looked at the girls. "And while your mutual love
interest is engaging Gnarliin's attention, some of you will have
another mission, to persuade the young lady to voluntarily
relinquish her link to the Dragon..."
"Nabiki-oneechan will listen to me!" Akane interrupted.
"...while she is still unconscious."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kunou and Konatsu turned out to need hospitalization. Ryouga
left for home, after seeing Nabiki safely put to bed in the Tendo
home. Then, in the dojo, Ranma's training began.
"To begin with, we'll give you some experience in fighting on
multiple levels, youngster. Your lady-friends will spar with you
physically, while Chingensai engages you on another level. Try to
keep Cologne from striking your shiatsu points." Fujiwara smiled,
then abruptly was on the opposite side of Ranma from Cologne,
wielding her fans. Cologne grinned. Both blurred forward. From
the front, Akane, Shampoo, and Ukyou attacked as well.
Ranma leapt, jumped, whirled, and dodged, blocking blows he barely
saw coming. The attacks came faster and faster. Sweat poured off
Ranma's brow. He grinned, enjoying himself, but wondered when the
real attack would start.
To one side, Chingensai grinned, then shut his eyes. Ranma felt a
sudden pounding in his head, a pressure he could not immediately
interpret. Suddenly sharp needles shot through his awareness,
disrupting his control of his muscles. Ranma felt his mind turn
itself inside out as a vortex of dizzingly confused images gyrated
through his mind.
Unable to concentrate, Ranma felt Cologne's cane, then one of
Fujiwara's fans, slip through his defenses to brush spots which
Ranma knew could paralyze him. "Resist!" came Chingensai's harsh
command. "Summon your will! Concentrate! Shift to meet my mind
at every point!"
Ranma focused on the back of his hands, pressing, he now saw,
against the dojo floor. He became aware that he was on hands and
knees, his other foes having let up for a moment.
Ranma gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. He took a
deep breath, then assumed a stance and nodded. Ignoring the
pain in his head, he blocked a new attack from Fujiwara but
let Ukyou's battle spatula slam into his side. Ranma went flying,
but he flipped himself upright and bounced off the dojo wall. A
moment later his finger stabbed out to brush a nerve cluster on
Cologne's arm. Gathering his ki, he shot an immaterial needle at
Chingensai, disrupting the next attack from that direction. He
dodged several more attacks as his headache eased.
The next time Chingensai struck, Ranma saw how the technique
worked. He shook his head, taking a kick from Akane in the side,
but, saw an opening in Chingensai's defense and struck back.
Immediately, Ranma's headache cleared up. Chingensai keeled over,
unconscious. It took another hour to wake him up.
Fujiwara called a halt. "Time for something more relaxing,
youngster: the technique required to see through Gnarliin's
deceptions."
Ranma, who had been looking at the floor, completely exhausted,
perked up a bit. "Oh, good. I want that one."
"It's quite simple in concept, but tricky in execution."
Fujiwara chuckled gently. "First, free your astral body the way
I taught you, but only partially. Keep your physical body
animated."
Ranma concentrated, clenching a fist. "Got it."
Fujiwara's eyes defocused and refocused momentarily. "Very good
for one so young, though you need some practice in tuning the
degree of separation. Pull most of your awareness back into your
body. Leave only the minimum astral presence needed for sight."
Ranma tried this, tentatively, until Fujiwara agreed that he had
it right. "Now disperse your remaining astral self; expand it.
Imagine yourself as a mist, grown to fill the dojo. Tenuous, but
sensitive. That's right... now tune your perceptions fully to
this plane, ignoring the astral. Good, good... Now: final step.
Imagine your astral body dispersing even more, extending your
presence outside the building. Watch Kasumi in the kitchen...
see Nabiki asleep upstairs... see your wives, sitting against the
wall here. Hold it so that you can see all three at once...
There; that's it. You have it."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That night, Akane & Ranma lay together in bed. Ranma lay on
his front, head on his arms, while Akane kneaded his back muscles.
C'mon, you guys, put some energy into it!< came Ukyou's
thought, chuckling.
Akane always likes your touch on that spot, Husband,< added
Shampoo, complete with the image of a spot marked on Akane's
body.
"YOU GUYS?!" expostulated Akane. "Can't we have any privacy?"
Nope,< chorused Ukyou and Shampoo together, smugly.
"See, Ranma, it's already this bad. Can you see why I don't want
Kodachi too?"
"I understand your point, Akane. Can't say I'm looking forward
to it. I'm just startin' to maybe agree with Ucchan and Shampoo
that maybe we got no real choice."
"Ranma!" Akane wailed in despair. "Where does it stop? First
it was you and me; then you and me and Ukyou; then Shampoo. Why
should I think Kodachi won't be followed by numbers five and six?"
"Akane, I... Look. I ain't sayin' this cause I wanna bed
Kodachi or nothing, ya understand? But I kinda think Kodachi
might be the last."
Ukyou and Shampoo registered surprise. Akane looked puzzled.
"There's a number of things. The four of you've been after me,
sorta, for two-three years now. ONLY the four of you. Why
think some new girl's gonna pop up outta nowhere now?"
"That means nothing, Ranma," insisted Akane, crossly. "The IHA
could assign some new girl to our team at any moment."
"Yeah, but... Okay. Here's the rest of it. I'm startin' ta think
this whole thing is some kinda big plan cooked up by the four old
fogies. And that they're still holdin' out on us. I mean, didn't
it occur to you that THEY might be the 'four great champions' in
the scroll? Chingensai practically admitted he was one 'fore
Cologne shut him up."
"What does that have to do with whether or not you sleep with
Kodachi?" Akane sat up, looking away from Ranma with her arms
crossed.
"Cause I think the ki recharge technique is central to their plan,
whatever it is. And the technique's limit is four, four women
and one guy. And that scroll said even the limit of four's never
been done before, but we've done it, right? And I looked over the
proof pretty good, and I think it's right: four IS the max. So
the plan can't use any more girls."
Husband may be right. If great-grandmother, Fujiwara, and the
two old lechers did beat the Kagema before, but they knew it
wasn't forever, they would of course begin to make plans for a
rematch.<
Exactly, sugar. And we know your great-grandmother guided your
entire upbringing; Chingensai had a lot to do with mine; Happosai
created the environment in which Ranchan and Akane grew up. And
didn't Kodachi say that Fujiwara-chan taught her off and on her
whole life?<
You guys got it. I think all five of us've spent our whole lives
bein' developed into some kinda weapon against the Kagema.<
Akane thought about this. "That's... frightening, Ranma. What
are we, just weapons?"
What else does Akane want to be? That sounds like a good destiny
to me,< Shampoo thought.
In the other room, Ukyou snorted and punched Shampoo in the
shoulder. >Seriously, Akane-chan, Ranchan's making sense to me.
and if it IS true, then Kodachi-chan belongs with us, AND she's
the last woman we'll have to share Ranchan with.<
I'll think about it...< replied Akane in a glum tone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On New Year's Eve, Kasumi decorated the house and dojo with pine,
bamboo, and plum tree branches. Nodoka hung the shimenawa, the
rice-straw rope, at the outside entrance to the Tendo household,
then hung paper lanterns on a string from the gate to the main
door of the house, and in the side yard from the veranda to the
plum tree. Akane closeted herself with Kodachi and Fujiwara in
her bedroom.
All day, students and neighbors called on the Tendos, many
bringing envelopes of money to Nabiki, paying back loans taken out
during the year. Nabiki never woke up, however, so a pile of
envelopes accumulated on her desk.
In the dojo, Ranma confronted Cologne and Chingensai.
"You must master ki aura combat as well as astral plane and
telepathic combat in order to defeat Gnarliin, Son-in-Law."
"Heh. I bet I can already do that one." Ranma concentrated, then
his aura expanded into a semi-transparent, much larger version of
himself.
"Not bad, sonny-boy, not bad." Chingensai matched the feat and
faced off with Ranma's aura-self. "I'm not Happi-kun's match at
this, but we'll see."
The two auras filled the dojo, but did little damage to it. At
first, Chingensai used basic maneuvers, to let Ranma grow
accustomed to manipulation of his aura-self, but then he started
using more and more complicated techniques.
After an hour, Cologne called a break. "You've done well, Son-in-
Law, but now we must conduct another exercise. Sit down, close
your eyes, and meditate for a few minutes, centering yourself.
This next step is a big one."
Ranma did as Cologne bid. After a while Cologne resumed speaking.
"Now cast your mind back to the Musk's fortress, and the cavern
beneath it. Picture to yourself the spiral pattern enscribed on
the floor; what it felt like to gaze upon it. Remember your first
step onto the path, the sparks flying up around you. Your second
step. Your third. The resistance; the willpower you exerted to
move your limbs. Yes... yes..." Cologne paced around Ranma,
studying his trance. She nodded approval. "There! That moment;
that feeling. The sparks have entered your body and are flowing
through your ki channels, opening up. Your perceptions of time
and space are shifted; remember that moment, capture it! You're
now at the center of the spiral path; you're picturing to yourself
where you want to go. Feel again that moment when your body faded
from one location; that hidden direction into which you stepped.
See it in your mind's eye. Study it; know how to find it again.
Remember again the sensation of being _between_, in that other
place; how you knew the direction in which to step. Then you
arrived; that feeling, that conviction that you were at the right
spot. Study its quality. Again, the step you made, reversing
your previous step, into that hidden direction. Remember all of
this now." Cologne, with a smile, repeated herself slowly.
"Remember..."
Ranma appeared frozen in his cross-legged posture, his back
straight and eyes closed. Cologne turned to Chingensai, who
nodded. "Okay, son-in-law, now remember the cavern itself.
Picture it to yourself. Now, in your imagination, retrace your
steps there, through that hidden direction. Are you ready? Then
take the step."
Ranma vanished. Cologne nodded, then vanished herself. A moment
later, both reappeared in the Dojo.
Cologne spoke to Chingensai. "He has it."
Ranma spoke. "Yes. This is how you and the old lech always
manage to just appear, standing beside us, without any warning."
Cologne smiled. "You are indeed perceptive, Son-in-Law."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Upstairs, Kodachi lay on Akane's bed, her leg in a cast,
conversing with Fujiwara, who sat in the desk chair.
Akane sat down on the other side of the double bed. Looking at
Kodachi, she frowned momentarily. "We could have used you
yesterday and today, Kodachi, to help train Ranma, if only your
leg were healed. I really hate the thought that Ranma might not
be getting all the help he needs."
Yet again, Akane lay her hands on Kodachi's broken leg and closed
her eyes, trying to apply the reiki healing technique. Akane
focused her will, calming herself, trying to put aside every
thought except healing Kodachi. Phantom images flitted through
her mind: Kodachi attacking her with a mallet, Kodachi hugging or
kissing Ranma. Nothing happened except that a tear escaped from
one of Akane's eyes.
Fujiwara's cell phone buzzed. She began to answer it as she left
the room and walked out into the hall. "Hainsu-kun? What is it
you couldn't decide without interrupting me? Your orders were..."
"Akane, why are you crying? My leg will heal sooner or later on
its own."
"Ranma might need you!" Akane burst out. "He needs everything he
can get; we have to win this fight for Nabiki-oneechan."
Kodachi looked down. "You don't really feel that way. You can't;
I'm in love with your husband, Akane. And Ranma-sama himself
doesn't need me or want me; he never has. You shouldn't try to
heal me; I don't deserve it."
Akane's voice strengthened. "You're part of the team, Kodachi.
We need you at full strength." Focusing, Akane tried again to
heal Kodachi's leg. This time, a weak blue glow appeared around
Akane's hands. "You deserve to be healed, Kodachi, as much as any
of us do."
Kodachi put one hand over Akane's. "Let me help."
Akane felt Kodachi adding her own ki to the process. "That's
helping." Akane smiled at Kodachi, but inside she felt uncertain.
Akane was shocked at how little ki Kodachi was adding to the
process. Thinking it over, she realized that Kodachi had never
received the benefit of the ki recharge technique as she herself,
Ukyou, and Shampoo had. The possible consequences of relying on
a teammate who was without the technique's benefits occurred to
Akane, as did the realization that it was largely her own
insistence that kept Ranma from using the technique with Kodachi.
Akane stopped when Fujiwara re-entered the bedroom. "Now,
children, let's continue where we left off. This time, I will
help Akane enter your mind, Kurobara-chan, so she can learn your
internal symbology. Later, you will assist Akane through the
astral plane to enter the mind of her oldest sister, Kasumi-san.
That should be enough practice for your attempt tomorrow."
Akane and Kodachi both relaxed and closed their eyes.
"Now, child," Fujiwara said to Akane, "don't think at Kodachi, but
just feel her mind next to yours. Think about her. Listen to her
thoughts. Now flow deeper, into the fleeting images which pass
through her mind at the threshold of her awareness..."
A six-year-old Kodachi training in gymnastics, subject to
complete indifference from both parents. Occasional kind
words from her teacher Fujiwara, a distant relative, spurring
her to greater effort.
At eight, Fujiwara finding more time to spend with her to
train her. Feelings of accomplishment as she posted national
rankings for her age-group in gymnastics, shogi, and go.
Hardly noticing when her mother moved to Tahiti for good.
At nine, her extreme disappointment when the frequency of
Fujiwara's visits had to be cut back. Resentment at the
attention her brother is receiving from her father.
At ten, gradual awareness that her family is much, much
wealthier than anyone else she knows. Seeing resentment of
her clothes, her leisure, and her private lessons in the
faces of her classmates.
At thirteen, her father leaving for Hawaii indefinitely.
General relief leavened with guilt at feeling this way.
At fourteen, discovering boys from afar. The fascination in
her occasional encounters on the street. Becoming wary of
their intentions, both towards her body and her money.
At sixteen, beginning to wonder if any male in the world was
really a physical match for her. Simultaneously becoming
jaded by the effect of her looks and money on boys her age.
Then, being saved by and meeting Ranma on the Tendo roof. The
glint of light on his teeth as he smiled, the feel of the
muscles in his arms as they held her safely.
Quick infatuation turning into something more as Ranma proved
indifferent to her money and her charms, but, on rare
occasions, willing to help her when she needed it.
Fujiwara's reentry into her life. Her realization of how she
was perceived by others for her gymnastic tactics. Gradual
acknowledgement that she was losing the contest for Ranma,
possibly had lost it already. Feeling the ego-boosts she
received from her poses of superiority flee more and more
quickly each time she gave the laugh or cheated in a contest.
Making up her mind to change, to seek more lasting
satisfaction following her mentor into public service. The
revelation that Ranma and her rivals were already government
agents.
Entry into Tokyo University with the appropriate curriculum
for a diplomatic or government career. Behind-the-scenes
coaching by Fujiwara; understanding how high a position her
erstwhile gymnastics mentor actually held, and why she hadn't
been around more often during Kodachi's girlhood. Obtaining
Fujiwara's grudging acknowledgement that she was ready
to join the elite "officeladies" team of agents during their
formal training in spycraft.
Akane found herself crying, to her surprise, at finally
understanding her most disliked rival. Impulsively, she gave
Kodachi a hug. "You belong on the team, Kodachi. I'm glad you're
here."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Back in the dojo, an exhausted Ranma, back flat to the floor,
stared up at his two mentors. Judicially, Cologne nodded.
Chengensai cackled and rubbed his hands.
"Ha! Now, sonny-boy, the fun part. There's just one wee final
step ya gotta take to be completely charged up and ready to go."
"Son-in-law, I'm sure you clearly remember the illustrated book
you borrowed from me almost two years ago."
Ranma flushed. "Uhh, yeah, I still got it if ya want it back..."
"No, no, Son-in-law. I call your attention to position 137, which
you may happen to remember: the position with the maximum ki
charging rate."
"Err... just possibly." Ranma began to sweat. "Not that I've
tried it or nothing."
"That position, as I know you are aware, requires one male and
three females. Now extrapolate: how would you vary that position
to accomodate a fourth female?"
"Huh? Umm... Oh, I know, you'd just..." Ranma's mind shut his
mouth down before it got any further. "Umm... let's just say I
can think of a way to do that."
"And would that be the optimal position involving four?"
"Hmmm...." Ranma thought aloud he envisioned the possibilities.
"Not quite; you'd move that girl over a bit this way, this one
that way... Yeah, that's it. That's the best ya can do." Ranma
felt completely certain that he had an optimal solution to the
problem.
Cologne applauded. Chingensai grinned. "Right. Now sonny-boy,
all's yew need to do for the next part is find four young, willing
fillies. Think yew can do that?"
Ranma stared into the two pairs of eyes watching him. "Lemme
guess... ya want me to do it tonight?"
"Bright boy, sonny!"
"While we cannot, as you are aware, Son-in-Law, calculate the
effects with any precision, we believe that the flow of ki
generated will be many times the most you have handled previously.
The physical and mental changes this will render on you should be
most... spectacular."
"I'm not gonna suddenly get short and wrinkled like you guys, am
I?" Ranma asked, suspiciously.
Chingensai smirked. "We old fogies can't be sure 'a that."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
At the Nekohanten, Ukyou and Shampoo conversed mentally while
they worked, Ukyou shifting between waitressing and helping
Shampoo's father in the kitchen as required.
So what was on your mind the other day, Sugar?<
Great-grandmother tried to help me understand you, Akane, and
Husband better. Specifically why I must be the "foreign
housemaid" in public, and why you expect me to play such a part.<
Oh. That.< Ukyou caught, flitting through Shampoo's thoughts,
a brief recap of some of the occasions where an abrupt shift from
private to public personas had caught Shampoo off guard.
I am not used to being one person in private and such a different
person in public. Nor do I enjoy the way Akane or Husband treat
me on such occasions.<
Ukyou thought that over while she chopped a few ingredients in
the kitchen, then placed them within easy reach of Shampoo's
father. >You know, Sugar, I guess I'd never really realized how
all this must seem to you. We're all pals, then suddenly you're
my brother's housemaid. And I shift my persona from a woman
flirting with Ranma, to being his adoptive brother. Sometimes I
pretend to flirt with you or Akane, almost without thinking about
it.<
I just don't understand: why? Why all this pretense? Why do
we not just be ourselves to the world at large?<
Ukyou replied slowly as she moved a number of hot dishes from her
tray onto the lazy susan on a large round table in the dining
room.
I guess it's sort of like why we try to hide the fact that we're
the famous "Officelady" agents. The important thing is preserving
the harmony of Ranchan's household. Lots of people around here
know who we are, but almost nobody ever mentions it in public, so
we don't get reporters badgering us all the time. Similarly, all
our schoolmates know that I'm a girl, and they probably all know
you and I are sleeping with Ranma, but they pretend otherwise in
public so that we can all relax and pretend our household is the
same as everyone else's. It's good for harmony.<
Household harmony...< Shampoo thought that over.
You know none of us, even Kasumi-chan and Nabiki-chan, really
think of you as a housemaid, or think any less of you, Shampoo.
It's just pretend.<
Then why can't we change positions sometime? Why can't Akane
be the maid?< Shampoo caught and juggled six bowls of ramen which
Ukyou threw through the kitchen window, then settled them on her
tray.
Think it through, Sugar. Everybody knows that Akane is Ranma's
official wife. They're not going to pretend she's someone else
while you or I are his wife.<
Akane is Senior Wife, true, but why cannot we take turns? She
can even have more turns, just as she spends more nights with
Husband than you or I.<
It just doesn't work that way in Japan, Sugar. I don't know how
else to explain it. Neither you nor I can be Ranchan's wife in
public. Household harmony requires that we all have to pretend
that our household is just like every other. Hmmm... but you
don't have to be just the housemaid. Maybe you can take some
other role. What else would you like to be?<
I have never thought about it. My ambition has always been to
raise strong warrior children for the tribe. I think I might
like to stay in the house and raise all our children. Neither you
nor Akane want to do that, and someone must.<
If that's what you want to do, Sugar, more power to you. But
that makes it hard to pass you off as anything other than the
housemaid or the nanny.<
Shampoo thought that over. >I think I begin to understand. Your
Japanese ways are so... Still, I am the one who must adapt.<
Tell you what, Sugar. Let me know any time you're confused or
annoyed, and I'll do my best to help. We all will.<
Serving a solitary male customer, Shampoo abruptly smiled. >Thank
you, Ukyou. I know you will.<
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Late that evening, the entire Tendo household except Nabiki
gathered to watch the annual New Year's television extravaganza.
Outside, the bells of nearby Shinto shrines could be heard
drifting on the breeze. Kasumi produced hot sake and fresh rice-
cakes. Shortly after midnight, after Nodoka, Soun, and Kasumi
had retired, the argument began.
Look, Akane, I'm sorry, but its gotta be tonight.<
Ranma, you pervert! Just last night you said you weren't
interested in Kodachi!<
Akane...< Ranma pulled his pigtail is frustration. >...things
have changed, and you know it. We gotta do it tonight, all five
of us, and I ain't sayin' that just to get in her pants or
nothin'. You know that perfectly well, if you'd just let yourself
see it.<
Then why, Ranma? Why tonight? Why so fast? Why all four of
us?<
Akane... you know what's at stake as well as I do. I have to
beat.. kill.. Gnarliin tomorrow, or Nabiki will die. And I need
every advantage I can get.<
Ranchan, how much difference is Kodachi going to make from just
the three of us?< Ukyou looked worriedly at Akane.
Who cares if it is even a small difference? Husband needs every
advantage, and I will help.<
I'm in,< Akane abruptly sent. >Sorry, I was just being stubborn.
I spent a lot of today thinking about Kodachi, about how she
needs the technique too, and how you do need every advantage we
can give you, Ranma. So we're set, if Kodachi's agreeable.<
The four climbed the stairs to Akane's bedroom and entered,
waking Kodachi from where she still slept. Ranma twiddled his
thumbs nervously, then started, "Kodachi, we got a favor to ask
of you..."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next morning, New Year's Day, the rising sun found Ranma and
all four girls waking up gradually in Akane's bed. Ranma
stretched, then checked Kodachi's leg. Finding it fully healed,
he broke the cast and discarded it, then gave Kodachi a smile and
ran one hand up and down the newly-healed leg. "Glad you're
better, 'Dachi. And welcome to the club."
Kodachi gave a tentative smile back, then sat up and gave Ranma a
quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you, Ranma-sama. I cannot tell
you how surprised and happy I am that this day has ever come."
"Shut your eyes, Ukyou, and come away from the bed," urged
Shampoo, one arm around Ukyou's shoulders, attempting to forestall
any violence from Ukyou's usual morning-after embarrassment.
"Ranma, what's..." Akane slowed and stopped, staring at Ranma.
Noting this, the other girls also looked more closely at him.
"Huh? What?" asked Ranma.
"It's... is it? Your aura..." Akane raised a finger to touch
Ranma's cheek. "You're... actually glowing."
Kodachi held out a hand, palm open, and closed her eyes. "It's
not his battle aura; it's his life force, completely at rest.
It's that much stronger today than yesterday."
Ranma checked himself in a mirror. "Well, THAT'S gonna make real
life awkward. Gonna have to see about damping this or hiding it
or something before my leave's over. But not now," his face
turned grim. "Today we got a battle to win."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Nabiki's room, Cologne gave Ranma his final briefing. "Place
your hands over her, on top of mine. Wait until you feel the
link between Nabiki and the Dragon medallion... There. That
spark fueling it is Gnarliin's life essence. It is inescapably
linked with him. Trace it, and you will find him, no matter how
he seeks to escape."
Ranma paused, feeling, moving his hands slightly until he was sure
he had the scent down. "Got it." Abruptly Ranma was gone.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ranma reappeared on the grounds of a crowded Shinto shrine in
central Tokyo. Ranma avoided the partiers, well-wishers, bell-
ringers, and omochi munchers as he twisted through the crowds,
senses alert, looking for his quarry. He felt it, turned, and
locked eyes with an apparent high-school student in a non-descript
school uniform. The 'student' snarled and leapt, sailing over
the crowd to the top of a nearby archway, his face altering.
"You think you've found me, Tendo Ranma? We'll see!" Gnarliin's
now dog-like visage snarled again, then he turned and fled. Ranma
leapt to the same rooftop, but found no sign of him. Sighing,
Ranma bowed his head, felt for the trace, and vanished.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Back at the Tendo household, Kodachi and Akane settled themselves
comfortably by Nabiki's side, closed their eyes, and began.
"You children must persuade the young lady to relinquish her
grasp on the medallion voluntarily, and you must do so within the
next two hours, before Happosai's bonds elapse."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"I hate waiting. Is there nothing we can do, great-grandmother?"
"I can think of nothing, Shampoo. Patience."
"I have an idea, Sugar. We did get the address where Mitsutomo
manufactures the drugs, just before Nabiki turned on us. Now, we
_could_ just hand it over to the police, but..."
Shampoo smiled, showing teeth. "...you and I can use the
distraction. Let's go."
The two headed for the dojo to grab some weapons. Then,
invisible, they bounded to the rooftops and headed for the train
station.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
There he is, Son-in-Law!<
Got it!< Ranma reappeared in a non-descript residential street,
where neighbors chatted, strolled, and visited, eating rice-cakes
and drinking mirin. He extended his aura, feeling carefully...
then spun and lashed out with a kick. A dog went flying, but what
landed was the gaijin businessman, Mr. Jason.
"Impudent pup! If you think yourself any match for me, you are
gravely mistaken." Abandoning his disguise, Gnarliin reassumed
his demon-like, bat-winged shape, extended his aura, and struck.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Back at the Tendo household...
...Akane and Kodachi found themselves holding hands by
the side of a large, moonlit lake, one they recognized
as Ryuu-ou Lake near Ushimachi, in which the Dragon King
lived. Before them a naked Nabiki ran her hands up
and down her sides and she smiled, gazing into the
lake. Something large and reptilian lurked just
below the waters. A pair of eyes, each larger than
their own heads, returned Nabiki's gaze.
"Oneechan! It's me, Akane!"
"So?" Nabiki replied, without turning her head. "My little
sister. The one who's SOOO good at martial arts, whom all
the boys chase after."
"Oneechan?" Akane, startled at the venom in Nabiki's tone,
took a step back.
"No, Akane," said Kodachi. "She resents you, as I did.
You must accept that fact in order to eliminate it."
"Nabiki, I love you! We all do! Why are you trying to
hurt us?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ukyou and Shampoo simultaneously burst through two well-separated
second-floor windows in an apparently-abandoned warehouse.
Shampoo went for the manufacturing apparatus, while Ukyou covered
her back. One guard aimed an automatic rifle at her; she split
the barrel with a quickly thrown hand spatula, then slammed the
same guard into and through the wall.
Shampoo slammed the heel of each hand, in her own variation on
the Bakusai Tenketsu, into each mixing vat as she came to it.
They shattered, spilling florescent green sludge onto the
concrete floor.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Gnarliin's and Ranma's battle auras quickly grew much bigger than
any of the houses in the area as they fought. Women screamed
and ran. Residents piled precious belongings onto two-wheeled
carts and fled for their lives as the battle raged.
Ranma fought down an impulse to smirk as he found himself
countering each of his foe's measures with one of his own newly-
learned techniques. "No, idiot," he told himself. "This's too
important. Don't go gettin' all cocky just yet."
On the astral plane, his own lances of red-hot ki disrupted his
enemy's footing even as, on this plane, his giant aura-body
evaded a sideswipe and landed a paw-strike on his opponent's
aura-jaw. When needles of doubt began to creep into his
awareness, Ranma was ready; noting their external origin, he
sent his own feelers snaking back along the direction from which
they came.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Hurt you?" Nabiki said slowly. She blinked a few times,
then resumed her trademark smirk. "You're not really
here, Akane. How could I hurt you? You're SOOO much
stronger than I am. I can only hurt you in my dreams."
"We need to change the grounds of her dream, Akane,"
said Kodachi quickly. "Concentrate; let's make the
sun come up."
Akane nodded. In the east, a pearly pink glow began
to grow. Nabiki turned to look, then blinked again.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As more well-armed guards ran into the warehouse, Ukyou grinned,
then willed herself invisible. She leapt for a catwalk, landing
as silently as she could. Pitching her voice low and disguising
its source, she started to laugh loudly, calling on her memory of
Kodachi's laugh. On the floor below, hoodlums looked about
wildly. A few fired randomly.
Swinging her bonbori and putting her shoulders into it, Shampoo
sent the last chemical vat hurtling across the floor towards
the drying racks, where the illicit merchandise lay in its final
stages prior to shipment. Catching Ukyou's plan, she paused to
project an illusion, the shadow of a shrouded, caped man, onto
a dimly lit wall across the room. The confused thugs, their
eyes tearing from chemical fumes, obligingly fired in that
direction. Shampoo then started towards the shelves of molds,
where the sweet, addictive chemical concoction was shaped into the
panty shape in which it sold.
Above, Ukyou noted Shampoo's illusion and giggled silently to
herself. She then raised her voice and spoke aloud, in a low,
loud, bass voice.
"Did you really think you'd get away with it?" She paused to
let that sink in, then added, "Did you think _I_ wouldn't know?"
Most of the guards' and hoodlums' nerve broke. Most fled; one
fired his rifle on full automatic at the looming shadow, his
laugh beginning to be tinged with fear.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
As the sun rose above the horizon, the reptilian head
receded into the lake.
"Oneechan," called Akane, "it's daytime. You really
should put some clothes on. What will people think?"
Nabiki looked down at herself, then up at Akane and
Kodachi. She blushed. "A- Akane?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Abruptly Ranma found himself unable to block a full-force astral
assault. "Damn, this guy's still pretty powerful," he said to
himself. "But I'm almost into his mind." His mental feelers had
tracked back along Gnarliin's probes almost to their origin.
Sweating, and beginning to feel the strain, Ranma double-feinted
again on the astral plane, an obvious frontal assault and a not-
so-obvious swing around behind, while striking physically
through his opponent's aura-body with a flying kick.
"I'm in!" Ranma gloated to himself as he handsprung back to his
feet again. "But... What the heck?"
Colors rioted madly in Ranma's perceptions. Up and down became
indistinct as he spun dizzily. "This some kinda weird defence?"
Ranma could feel his control of the other sides of the battle
starting to go.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Back in the warehouse, where all the guards were fled or
unconscious, Shampoo and Ukyou stood before the sole intact
machine in the building. Remarkably, the refrigerator-sized
device had resisted Shampoo's assault.
"What is this used for? The rest of the process I follow," said
Shampoo, gesturing at the wreckage of the chemical mixing vats,
the molds, and the drying racks, "but what is this?"
Ukyou pondered. "Maybe it IS a refrigerator, to store that one
ingredient Kodachi-chan couldn't identify?"
"Then the process cannot be followed with this device destroyed."
Shampoo grinned evilly.
"Sounds good to me, Sugar, but how? Your best effort didn't
scratch it."
"Let's see what is inside." Shampoo reached for the door handle
and pulled.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Akane walked slowly forward, hands outstretched. "It's
really me, oneechan." Smiling gently, she willed a
pretty robe into her hands, into which she enfolded
Nabiki.
"Akane? You wouldn't believe the dreams I've been
having..." Nabiki's eyes started to close sleepily.
"It's okay. That's alright. I never meant to make
you feel unloved or unappreciated or resentful,
oneechan. Just let it all go..."
Kodachi approached. "It seems she has released the
link, for her own part." Nodding her head, she
indicated the lake. "The dragon's head is nowhere
to be seen. I think we can return...
...to the real world," Kodachi finished, opening her eyes in
Nabiki's bedroom.
Akane enfolded Nabiki's physical body with a hug and wept.
Unnoticed, the Dragon Medallion fell off Nabiki onto the floor.
"A- Akane?" Nabiki opened her eyes slowly. "Was that...
really you? What... where am I?"
Akane said nothing. Kodachi started to explain.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"No; it's not a defense..." Ranma pondering, trying to make sense
of all this. "This is the guy's own image of where he came from.
Okay; now I just gotta find his self-image in here somewhere,
without knowin' what he really looks like." Ranma paused, then
grit his teeth and continued. "And then I kill it."
Ranma forced his awareness to take on the shape of his own self-
image as he prowled the byways of his enemy's mind. Elsewhere,
a portion of his awareness fought a losing defensive battle.
Gradually he realized that some of the blobs around him were
animate, others inanimate. "Where can this guy be from, if his
home looks like this?"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ukyou and Shampoo gasped in unison as the door to the
"refrigerator" opened. Inside, the device proved to be a door
to... somewhere else. Colors and shapes ran riot inside; ribbons
of light flew randomly across, under, and over each other. Ramps
going up at one point changed to going down, without any change
in direction. Their minds boggled.
"What... what IS this?" Shampoo asked in a hushed tone.
Ukyou extended the end of her battle spatula inside. Brushing one
colored ribbon, she was relieved to see it move in response to her
touch. She plucked a spatula from her bandolier and threw into
the device. The spatula appeared to follow a straight path for a
distance greater than the depth of the "refrigerator", even
though it went first over, and then under, the same oblong
flickering shape.
"I think... this is a DOOR... maybe to whereever that creep
comes from."
"Then if we destroy the door, perhaps our enemy cannot get home?
And the Kagema cannot bother us again?"
"Wouldn't count on that last, Sugar. But I'll bet they get that
one crucial ingredient from over there, through this door, so it's
still a good idea to destroy the door."
"Maybe it is more vulnerable from the inside?"
Ukyou grinned. "It's worth a shot." She inserted her battle
spatula into the door and started to swing it so that it collided
with each side in turn.
"That works." Both girls saw sparks flare from the inner sides.
"My turn." Picking her spot, Shampoo slammed one bonbori into the
side away from her, then turned and applied the heel of her left
hand to the inside edge on her right. A burst of light flared
from inside...
"Look out!"
...just as Ukyou grabbed Shampoo and dove for the floor, pulling
her battle spatula over the top of them. A wave of sound and
light erupted from the injured device. Both girls skidded across
the floor, through puddles of corrosive chemicals and heads-first
into a concrete wall.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Then Ranma caught the feel. His head stiffened, then turned. One
of the animated colored blobs was, he sensed, regarding him in
some fashion, astonished at his presence but recognizing his
identity.
Ranma leapt. Wrapping his legs around the semi-transparent blob,
he began to squeeze. A portion of his awareness registered a
sudden drop-off in the intensity of the attacks to which he was
subject elsewhere. He face split into an unpleasant grin. "Got
you!" He thrust his right hand forward, knife-like, into his
opponent's self-image body. Sinking the fingers of his left hand
into the fleshy skin, he pulled forward with his left hand even as
he reached further with his right. Then he felt it: deep within
the monster, his questing fingers found a slowly pulsing organ,
delicate to the touch. Grimacing, Ranma forced himself to grasp
it and squeeze.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Back at the Tendo household, Nabiki abruptly stiffened again,
then relaxed, turning her head from side to side.
"What was THAT? It felt like somebody walking over my grave."
Kodachi and Akane appeared for a moment to be listening to
something only the two of them could hear. Then they turned and
grinned at each other.
"That was it, Nabiki-san," Kodachi replied. "The end of your
captivity."
"You're free again, oneechan!" Akane leaped onto Nabiki with a
hug, crushing her onto her bed.
"Good work indeed, children. I will see that this..." Fujiwara
bent and picked the Dragon Medallion up off the bed, "is put away
in a safe place." Looking up at the girls, she smiled as she
turned to leave. "A very workman-like job. I must turn my
attention to other matters, however. You need not interrupt your
celebration to see me out."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In the warehouse, Shampoo and Ukyou groggily sat up and
tentatively checked their bodies for injuries. They quickly
healed the few that they found, then watched the roaring blaze
consuming the rest of the warehouse for a few moments.
"Well, I think this constitutes a wrap, don't you, Sugar?"
"I agree," replied Shampoo. "Shall we leave?"
"Might as well. The way we came?"
Shampoo smiled. "Of course. The harmony of our household would
be disturbed if anyone saw us. Invisible over the rooftops it
is."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ranma abruptly found himself outside Gnarliin's mind, back on the
residential side street. He released the remains of his aura
body, then sat down in an alley to rest for a bit. The sounds of
sirens, panicked pedestrians, and the occasional police helicopter
faded as he relaxed his body.
Everybody okay? I think Gnarliin bought it.<
I check that, Ranma-sama. Nabiki seems to have noticed his
passage a moment ago. I am scanning her to be sure.<
We're okay too, guys, Ranchan. We're on our way back. But what
WAS he? We found this weird doorway...<
Dunno, Ucchan, but I'm gonna find out.< Ranma forced himself
back to his feet, then slowly made his way back out into the
street. >I think he did have his real physical body here
somewhere; I'm gonna find it and take it to Doc Tofu.<
And then the victory celebration!< Ukyou impishly added.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Back in Nabiki's room, Kodachi put one finger to Nabiki's forehead
and probed. Akane ran her hands over Nabiki's body, a centimeter
from the surface, trying to find any abnormalities which might
require healing.
"No trace of our enemy..."
"You're fine physically, Oneechan, but... there's something..."
The door opened and Cologne hopped in. She began her own
examination. Nabiki began to chafe at the attention.
"Gnarliin's hold is indeed gone, as is all other trace of our
enemy. Your esoteric ordeal, child, is over, but it is not
without effect." Cologne held up one strand of Nabiki's hair.
"Premature grey. Oh joy." Nabiki noted in digust. "Well, I
can always use hair coloring."
"That is not all. Any thought on your part about resuming your
dormant warrior studies must now end, child. Your capacity to
generate ki has been permanently damaged."
Nabiki cautiously replied, "What does that really mean? Is my
life-span shortened or something? I mean, I don't really care if
I'm never in another fight in my life. And I certainly don't want
to join Ranma's harem."
Cologne chuckled. "No, you should enjoy a normal human lifespan.
And I don't think Son-in-Law is really looking for any more
women."
Nabiki shrugged. "So what's the harm?"
"Some, your younger sister among them, would feel quite crippled.
But, if you had no other ambitions, then I agree. You will not
miss it."
Akane's face ranged through horrified, then settled on sad as this
discussion took place.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
In Dr. Tofu's office, Ranma watched Dr. Tofu examine the
decomposing amoebic blob he'd brought in.
"I really can't say what this is, Ranma. Are you sure this was a
living creature? Its internal organization is... completely alien
to anything in my experience."
"I kinda thought you'd say that, Doc. Well, feel free to send out
samples to anybody you think might be interested in analyzing it;
I got no use for the thing."
"I know a few people who might be interested. What can I tell
them about its origin?"
Ranma shook his head. "That's what I wanna know myself. I got
the feelin' that whereever this is from, it's a LONG way from
here. And that we ain't seen the last of his kind."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Well, where are we going to celebrate, Ranma?" Akane asked.
The five sat together in the Tendo household watching the
television news announce the arrest of Mitsutomo's wily Tsugawa,
following his confession to the police, for his role in the
distribution of A.C.P., followed by the resignation of
Mitsutomo's president and vice-president to atone for the
company's disgrace.
"You are all welcome to come over to my place," announced Kodachi.
"My brother is still in the hospital, so we'll have the whole
house..." Kodachi paused to assume a sultry smile, "...including
our king-size hot tub, to ourselves."
Ranma raised an eyebrow. "Sounds good to me, Kodachi. Everybody
in?" Ranma glanced around at four blushing, but nodding faces.
"Then lead on!"
The End (of Part 12).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Epilogue, the next day:
"Sorry, Oneechan, but I'm not fixing the roof. I was not myself
at the time, so I'm not responsible. Ask Ranma to do it."
"Nabiki, I disagree. You WILL fix it, or... GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
APPROVAL!" In a swirl of light, Kasumi transformed. Clad in her
tiara and fuku, she posed, pointed her wand at Nabiki, and
pronounced, "...in the Name of Tidiness and Order, I WILL PUNISH
YOU!"
"AAAUUUGGGHHH!" Nabiki screamed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Notes:
The 'rensu' is adapted from Dr. Edward E. Smith's "Lensmen"
series. Some of verbage in Ranma's training scenes are lifted
from the third book of the series. The name "Gnarliin" is
also from the series, modified slightly, as is the plot point
of an early death for the enemy's second-in-command.
For those of you worried about how powerful Ranma is getting:
no, I'm not planning to continue this series indefinitely. This
series has a definite end, and the few remaining challenges are
of commensurate difficulty.
One prereader, Dave Roeder (thanks, Dave!), commented on the use
of lust to fuel the Hiryu Shoten Ha. This is canonical, from the
original Hiryu Shoten Ha story: after Ranma learns the
technique, he finds it impossible to make Happosai angry enough
to attack him, as Happosai knows that the technique exists and
manages to rein in his anger. However, Happi proves less able to
control another powerful, hot emotion...
Mitsutomo Trading Corporation and Tsugawa are from "Japan Inc.,
an Introduction to Japanese Economics (the Comic Book)," by
Shoutarou Ishinomori. Mr. Jason and Nabiki's seduction are
inspired by the original "Dark Phoenix" storyline from the
Marvel comic "X-Men", as is Happosai's appearance in a
wheelchair. Those who detect traces of certain movies
in Ukyou's and Shampoo's fight in the A.C.P. factory are correct,
as are those who detect something familiar during Ranma's pursuit
of Gharliin through Tokyo.
Information on Japanese holiday practices can be found at:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2064.html
and
http://naio.kcc.hawaii.edu/bosp/Horizons/horizons96/12JNYr.html
Situation at end of Part 11:
Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou graduated from Furikan High School
about nine months previous to this story. None are in
university, but Nabiki is. Akane and Ranma are now married,
as Tendos. Ukyou is now an adopted Saotome son and Ranma's
mistress, committed to carrying on the Saotome School, which
she is developing as a hybrid of Anything-Goes and her own,
under the tutelage of her master Chingensai, the founder of
okonomiyaki martial arts.
Shampoo is a second mistress, but her own description of
the situation is that Ranma has three wives, Akane the senior.
Nodoka helped engineer this situation, and is now conspiring
to marry Ukyou to Kodachi. Kodachi is torn by this: she
fears losing the friendship she now enjoys with Ranma, Akane,
Ukyou, and Shampoo, and resuming her previous state of
loneliness, but she still wants Ranma.
Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, and Shampoo have all learned Happosai's
ki-recharge technique, involving intimate contact with the
opposite sex. This technique is known to be making long-term
biological modifications to all four. Kodachi has also learned
the technique, much more recently than the others.
Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, and Shampoo now each possess personal
'rensus', small magical jewels which glow when in contact with
them, but are dark otherwise, and painful for others to touch.
These allow the wearer to understand any language, spoken or
written, to speak to another person in that other person's
native language, and to converse telepathically. They may
possess other attributes, as yet undiscovered. Kodachi's
sometime teacher, an old, shrunken woman named Fujiwara, was
instrumental in teaching Ranma how to make these.
Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, and Shampoo have been working for well over
a year as security personnel, working for the Imperial
Household Agency's security division. Most of their work has
been guarding receptions and conferences disguised as
female caterers, but they've also been sent as couriers to
Hong Kong and as spies to Qinghai in China. Twice, their
fights at major events made the national TV news. Both times,
the government denied that the "officeladies" involved were
in any way unusual. Nabiki helped produce a popular anime
series, "Typical Uninteresting Officeladies", to cash in on
public interest.
During the spy mission to Qinghai, on which Nabiki involuntarily
accompanied Ranma, Akane, and Ukyou, they learned of the Kagema,
legendary winged demons, one of whom instigated widespread
destruction in Qinghai disguised as an eight-year-old Tibetan
monk named Da Wa. The Kagema have since been responsible for a
series of thefts of magical items in Japan, and Da Wa
personally, disguised as a cult leader named Ayatsuru, almost
succeeded in releasing a deadly virus in Tokyo.
Nabiki spent the summer break before her sophomore year
interning at Mitsutomo Trading Corporation, where she met the
gaijin Mr. Jason, whom she later started dating. Ranma is now
an advanced martial arts instructor for the Self-Defence Forces,
traveling from base to base. Akane is a purchaser for the
clothes department of a large department store chain. Kasumi
and Tofu-sensei are engaged to be married. Ukyou is part-owner
of the Nekohanten now, as well as her original restaurant; she
and Shampoo shift back and forth as required.
Ranma, Akane, Ukyou, Shampoo, and Kodachi spent eight weeks
during the just-past autumn in Spy School together. At the
conclusion, Kodachi was officially made part of the team by
their IHA superiors.
The cliff-hanger at the beginning of this story is a result
of the team's search for the source of an illicit drug,
Addictive Candy Panties, which Nabiki finally traced to her
old employer, Mitsutomo, using clues gathered by Ranma and
the others. During this search Happosai was severely injured,
and Nabiki, who accompanied the team in a burglary of
Mitsutomo's offices (as only she could open the safe), was
abruptly and suddenly transformed by her paramour, Mr. Jason,
into a menace, powered by her Dragon Medallion.