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A Saiyan Tail
Part 19
Another demon in Nerima?!
+++++++
Ranma woke up lazily from his sleeping bag and smiled as he walked
outside onto the mountain. The sound of laughter seemed to fill the air,
giving the day an almost surreal feel. He glanced up and saw Akane
floating through the branches of the forest cheerfully. The girl was
watching a bird feed its young on a nearby branch.
He smiled and floated up next to her. "Nice day isn't it?"
Akane jumped in surprise and blushed slightly. "Oh, you're up."
"Pop's still sleeping, we got a little time before we head back," said
the pigtailed boy cheerfully. "What ya doin anyway?"
"Just watching the birds. The little ones are so cute," said the girl
with her smile widening slightly as she looked back at the tiny balls of
fuzz resting inside the nest. The adult had flown off in search of more
food.
"I guess so, never really thought about it really," commented Ranma as
he looked at them for a moment.
"It figures," grumbled the girl as she rolled her eyes. She often
wondered if he was trying to ruin the moment at times.
He turned back towards her with a gentle smile on his lips. "You know,
you're right Akane."
She felt the heat build up in her face suddenly as he gazed at her. A
gentle breeze blew by them through the trees, shifting his hair slightly.
Akane could feel herself growing slightly lighter in her stomach.
"Ranma..."
The boy turned away and looked back at the baby birds again. A long
silence drifted through the air between them. He slowly turned towards
her again. "Akane..."
"Yes?" she murmured.
"I'm hungry. Let's go wake Pop up."
++++++++++
Saotome Goku yawned as he left his tent and glanced around. It was
another beautiful day. He glanced back at the small shelter and chuckled.
He never had things like this in his own youth. He stepped over the
fallen form of his son and blinked. "Huh?"
Ranma was lying on the ground with what appeared to be a shattered
boulder scattered around his head. He bent down and glanced around at the
camp. Akane was sitting on a log with her arms crossed over her chest,
grumbling to herself angrily.
"Son, what did you do?"
"I don't think I'm allowed to eat anymore," muttered the boy with a
horrified stare.
"What?!" cried his father in shock.
"I just said I was hungry, and she blew her top!" whispered the boy as
he gave his fiancee nervous glances.
"Man. Even Nodoka wasn't that bad," muttered Goku as he stared at his
future daughter in law for a moment.
Akane spared them both an annoyed stare and they cowered away from her
for a moment. "Idiots."
+++++++++++
Meanwhile, in Nerima...
"Shampoo, those men should be returning today, with your fiancee," said
Cologne as she sipped lazily at her tea.
The two teens were preparing the restaurant for business. The young girl
bounced up and down cheerfully, in a display that would send any boy at
Furinkan to his knees as he tried to stop the blood from violently
escaping his nostrils.
"Shampoo so happy! Soon, she get to be with Airen, yes?"
Mousse scowled at the scene and resumed his scrubbing. "At last! I can
have my revenge! That girl won't beat me this time!"
Cologne nodded to herself at both teens' reactions. Everything was going
according to plan. How to find that girl though? She was quite elusive.
"We'll go see them later. I have some things I'd like to discuss with
that girl's father."
+++++++++++
Ryoga Hibiki sat in a small bar in Japan. There was about a foot of show
outside, so he figured that he was somewhere on Okinawa. A cup of hot
sake sat in his hands, helping to push away the cold outside.
"Hey, how long you gonna sit there?" said the bartender as he noticed
the boy had not yet moved.
"I've just got some things on my mind," replied the boy lazily.
"Eh? Like what?" said the man lazily.
"Life, death, the usual I suppose. I've just got a lot to sort through."
"Woman troubles? We get a lot of that here," said the barkeep as he
nodded understanding.
"Actually, yes. Not the way you're thinking though," replied the boy as
he looked down at the small flask next to his hands. He refilled his cup
and downed it in a single gulp.
"You've really been putting those away. I don't want no trouble, and
you're a little young..." started the man with a worried tone.
"Doesn't effect me too much these days," said Ryoga coolly. "I'm not
ordering anymore. Don't worry. I just wanted something hot." He did
notice that he was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol though.
"Oh, all right then," said the man with a small nod as he turned away.
"Damn you Ranma. How long am I going to have to wait?" he muttered while
pouring himself another drink.
The doors to the bar opened, and a figure wearing a long cloak stepped
inside. His face was a scowl, and was well hidden in the shadows of his
coat. He walked up to the bar and knocked against the wood to get the
bartender's attention.
"I'm looking for someone."
"So are a lot of people," said the barkeep with a shrug.
"His name is Saotome, sound familiar?" The cloaked man reached across
the bar and pulled the much larger man up by his collar, lifting him off
the ground easily.
The barkeep shook his head from side to side violently. "Nope. Never
heard of him."
"I don't need to remind you of anything do I?" snarled the stranger
angrily.
"I'm tellin ya! I don't know no Saotome!" said the man nervously.
"What would you want with the likes of him?" said Ryoga suddenly.
The stranger turned his head and stared at the boy at the end of the
bar. He was sitting calmly and had not moved yet. "That's none of your
business."
"I guess I can't help you then," said the lost boy as he stood up and
walked towards the door.
"I'll make you tell me then!" snapped the stranger as he jumped forward
and punched at Ryoga.
The lost boy caught the strike easily and smirked. Whoever this was, he
was no match for Ranma. Then again, who besides him was? "Heh, You'll
find him in Tokyo, Nerima." He released the arm and walked out the door.
The stranger growled under his breath and lowered his arm. "That guy's
better than I thought he'd be. I'll come back and find him again later.
I've got business to take care of first." He followed the boy out into
the street. "Then again, no one does that to me and lives." He saw a few
tracks leading away from the bar in the snow. He paused when they
suddenly ended about ten feet away.
+++++++++++
"I'm home!" called Akane as she walked into her house with a wide grin
on her face.
A brown blur, moving at almost inhuman speed slammed into her from
nowhere. She hung her head as her father attempted to squeeze the life
from her body.
"Wahhhh! My baby girl has returned! Oh! How I've missed you!" cried the
man.
"Daaaadd!" grumbled the girl in embarrassment as Ranma and Goku appeared
behind her in the doorway.
"You should really get out more, Tendo," commented Goku as he watched
the pathetic display in front of him.
"Hey! When's dinner? I'm starving!" said Ranma cheerfully.
"Oh! I'm glad you're back Ranma!" said Kasumi as she poked her head out
of the kitchen and smiled at the boy. "Dinner will be ready in a bit, but
I ran out of soy sauce. Could you go to the store for me?"
"You bet!" said the boy cheerfully.
Akane frowned at him, she could have sworn she heard his stomach growl
under that statement.
"Come on Akane!" said Ranma as he turned towards the door.
"She asked you to go," snapped the girl.
"I'm gonna fly, it'll be faster. You need the practice," said the boy as
he opened the door.
"We just got back!" snapped the girl in irritation.
"Now Akane, I think it's sweet that your fiancee wants to spend time
with you," said the elder girl.
"I guess so..." muttered the reluctant girl as she stalked out the door
after him. "Hey! Wait up you jerk!"
"Race ya!" chimed Ranma from just above her.
"Ah, that brings back memories, Saotome," said Soun wistfully as he
watched the pair fly away.
"Yup," agreed Goku as he walked into the home.
++++++++++++
"I told you! We just got back! I didn't have time to recharge!" snapped
Akane as they walked home from the store.
"Sorry, I forget you're still learning," said the pigtailed boy as he
flipped the plastic bag with the soy sauce over his shoulder.
"Yeah," muttered Akane as she forced herself too look away.
The sky was growing dark above them and it looked like rain would fall
soon.
"You wanna run for it? I bet we can beat the rain," said Ranma with a
smirk on his face.
"No. I think it's kind of nice here," said the girl with a slight blush
on her face as she subconsciously moved closer to his side. "It's so
peaceful right now."
"Yeah, it is nice," said the boy as he looked up at the clouds.
"Ranma Saotome?" said a new voice from behind them.
Akane whirled around with a flash of anger in her eyes. "Who?"
"Yeah," said the boy cheerfully as he also regarded the cloaked man
standing behind them.
Without a word, the stranger attacked.
"Ranma!" cried Akane in alarm as the boy's arm met with empty space as
Ranma vanished from sight.
"Who the heck are you?" snapped the pigtailed boy in irritation.
"Huh," chuckled the evil looking boy as he threw his cloak off and stood
in front of them. He was wearing a strange vest that looked like it was
made of scales, and loose fitting black pants, he also had a pair of
nylons tied around his waist like a sash.
"Who the?" muttered Ranma as he tried to think of who the stranger was.
"We've never met," said the boy with a slight smirk. He charged forward
again attacking with a flurry of punches and kicks. He never even touched
his target once.
"Hey! Cut that out!" snapped Ranma lazily. He stopped cold and landed a
punch in the boy's midsection.
The stranger flew into a nearby wall and shattered it on impact.
"Ranma! What have you done?" gasped Akane as she started to move towards
the pile.
"Don't worry, he can take it," replied the pigtailed boy as he walked
over to where the stranger was dusting himself off and glaring at him.
"You'll regret that."
"What the heck do you want?" snapped Ranma.
The rain began to fall lightly around them. "Huh," chuckled the boy as
he spread his arms wide. As the water changed Ranma into a girl, he began
to grow into a massive beast. It had the head of a bull and the body of a
Yeti, with hooves for feet. An eel waved behind its back in place of a
tail, and two crane wings spread out from behind its shoulders. "Bu fu."
"What the heck is that?" said Ranma in shock. It was enough for the
beast to get a good shot in. The pigtailed girl was thrown into a wall
opposite the thing and shattered it as well.
"Ranma!" cried Akane in alarm as she moved towards him.
"Why you dirty..." grumbled the girl as she slowly rose from the debris.
The beast didn't waist any time though, it lowered its head and charged.
A moment later, its two horns were impaled in the ground where the
redhead had once been lying.
"You crazy jerk! What the heck are you tryin to do?" snapped Ranma from
beside it.
The thing blinked and looked over at her in surprise.
"Look, if you're mad about the springs... I'm really sorry. I didn't
mean to blow them up, it was kind of an accident," grumbled the girl in
embarrassment.
This caused the beast to pause. "She blew up Jusenkyo? What the?" It
staggered back and noticed the other girl standing on the sidelines.
"You're too fast to catch, even like this. So I'll make you come to me!"
it thought evilly.
Akane gasped as the thing picked her up in its hand and started to fly
away. "Put me down!"
"Akane!" cried Ranma as she blasted into the air after her fiancee.
The beast looked behind it and spun around in mid air as the redhead
flew up into its face. The girl stopped dead in front of him and scowled.
"Let her go. Now."
The thing looked at the angry girl in his hand. She didn't look
particularly scared at the moment. Just plain pissed off. With a shrug it
released its grip and she fell away, promptly plummeting to the ground.
He paused when he noticed that the redhead hadn't gone after her. He
really wished he could talk right now, he had no idea how the hell she
was flying.
"You bastard! You tried to kill me!" snapped another voice from behind
him. The beast turned to see the other girl hovering in the air just
behind him.
"Uh oh," muttered the redhead as she seemed to disappear from in front
of him.
"Uh oh?" thought the beast. "Oh, shit."
"Ka me ha me haaaa!" screamed Akane as she blasted the thing out of the
sky. It stayed for a moment, simply smoking in mid air. Finally, it
plummeted headfirst into the ground.
"What the heck was that about?" said Ranma in confusion. She landed on
the ground and retrieved the soy sauce.
"I don't know, but that guy was a real jerk!" snapped Akane.
"Um, can we go now? I'm kinda hungry," said Ranma with a little
uncertainty.
"Me too," agreed Akane as she started towards home.
The beast glanced up at the retreating teens and snorted. They were too
young to be the ones he was looking for anyway. He slowly staggered to
his feet and checked the next name on his list. "Goku Saotome." He
thought about it for a minute and crossed that name out as well.
"Happosai." It nodded for a moment and seemed pleased with itself.
"Anything to be out of this crazy place." With that said it flew into the
air, and limped away across the sky.
++++++++++
"Cologne, is it?" said Goku.
"Yes. According to our laws, your daughter has to marry my Shampoo. I'm
sure you understand. This is a matter of honor." Cologne sat with the two
Chinese teens on either side of her.
"That's fine, but..."
"But?" said Cologne with a raised eyebrow. "The laws are quite clear.
I'm afraid I must insist."
"Well, I don't think..."
"I really must insist Mr. Saotome. This is not something our people take
lightly. If your daughter does not wed my Shampoo, there will be
consequences; both to Shampoo, and your daughter." Cologne seemed quite
insistent.
"But I don't have a daughter," said Goku finally. "Ranma, is an only
child."
"Pardon?" said the elder with wide eyes. "Then who is that girl? She is
of relation to you. I can tell that much by just looking at her."
"Well, it's kinda complicated," muttered Goku in embarrassment.
"How hard can it be? You must tell her that she has to marry my
Shampoo!" snapped the old woman angrily. "I don't care if she's your
third cousin. The laws are very strict."
"Ranma has to marry my Akane!" interjected Soun.
"Tendo, you aren't helping," muttered Goku to the man. Soun glared at
him, but fell silent. "Look, Ranma's already engaged. I can't break that
promise."
"I wasn't speaking of the boy! The girl, she is the one we want,"
snapped Cologne.
"Oh boy," muttered Goku as he tried desperately to think of some way to
calm everyone down long enough to explain things
"We're home!" cried a familiar voice from the hallway. Akane walked in
with her fiancee in tow. Ranma was still a girl of course.
"Sorry we took so long," said Ranma as she handed her delivery over.
"I was getting worried," said the elder girl cheerfully.
"We ran into this weird monster. It attacked us, and tried to kidnap
Akane. She took care of it though," said the redhead happily. "She's
gotten real strong!"
"Thanks," muttered Akane with a blush.
"Well, there you are, Daughter in law," said Cologne as she hopped in
front of the pair.
"Daughter in law?" said Akane in confusion.
"Aiya! Airen!" chimed Shampoo as she latched onto the confused redhead's
neck.
"Prepare to die!" screamed Mousse as he charged forward.
"Now, let's be nice. We are guests after all," said Cologne as she put
the angry boy down with a poke of her staff. "Now young lady, why don't
you come back with us now. You're betrothed would like to get to know
you."
"How many times do I have to say I ain't like that!" snapped Ranma.
"I'm sure you'll learn. Come along now," said the old woman coolly.
"Who the heck are you to make demands like that?" snapped Akane.
"You should learn to respect your elders young lady," replied Cologne.
"I ain't goin with nobody!" said Ranma angrily.
"Very well, perhaps another time then," said the old woman cheerfully.
"No way," said Ranma angrily.
"Child, please calm down. We aren't trying to harm you, but you must
understand that Shampoo must return home with her wife. You do not have a
choice in this matter. It is a matter of honor." Cologne sighed and
motioned for the others to follow.
"What the heck is she doing here anyway?" said Ranma with a small frown
as she watched them move down the hall.
"She came and told me that you had to marry Shampoo," said Goku with a
small shrug.
"You'll marry my Shampoo soon enough," cackled the old woman as she
attempted to poke Ranma in her stomach as she passed by. The redhead
moved out of the way easily and blinked. "Soon you'll be begging me too."
"I doubt that," she muttered as she watched them walk out the door.
"Saotome! Don't just sit there! Help me fix this hole!" said Soun with
tears in his eyes as he nailed boards over Shampoo's entrance.
"I guess they don't have doors where she comes from huh?" said Goku as
he walked over to help his friend.
"This is getting out of hand," commented Akane as she eyed the hallway
angrily. "Who does she think she is? Just barging in here and making
demands like that? The nerve!"
Ranma nodded and walked towards the bath. "She's right, it is getting
out of hand. I'd better do something about this."
+++++++++
"That girl is good. Too good," thought Cologne as she walked back
towards the Cat Caf� with her two charges behind her. Actually, Shampoo
was carrying Mousse over her shoulder. "How can a girl that young be so
skilled? It shouldn't be possible..."
"How we get Airen to come with us?" said Shampoo with a slight
frustration in her voice.
"Easy. That girl's pride is enough to ensnare her," replied the old
woman. "We just need to trap her. That shouldn't be too hard. I've got a
trick or two up my sleeve, don't worry."
"Yes Great Grandmother," said Shampoo with a small sigh. She didn't
really want to marry a woman, but it was better than getting herself
killed challenging her. Unfortunately, Cologne seemed to be
underestimating the girl as well. She had warned her, but the old woman
refused to believe that someone so young could be that strong. "What we
do?"
"It has already been done," replied the old woman. "Now we simply wait.
That girl thinks I was aiming at her."
+++++++++
At the Tendo Dojo, Akane Tendo rubbed at her stomach in irritation as
she ate. She lifted up her shirt a little and noticed a small red mark on
her belly. "What the? What is this?" She didn't recall doing anything
that would cause a bruise like that. "Oh well, I must have gotten it
training or something."
"D'ya say somethin Akane?" said Ranma as he noticed her inspecting her
stomach.
"No, I'm going to take a bath now," said the girl as she stood up from
the table.
++++++++++
No more than three minutes later, the entire household was on their feet
as a blood curdling scream ripped through the air.
"Akane!" cried Ranma as he rushed into the bathroom. Only to receive a
shampoo bottle in his face, followed by other bathing supplies that
chased him out of the room.
"Pervert! Get out!" screamed the girl from inside.
"Let me Ranma. You really shouldn't, you're not married yet," said
Kasumi sweetly as she walked by the confused boy.
"Now what the heck did I do?" he muttered as he walked back to the
concerned men.
A moment later, Akane emerged, dressed in a dirty looking dogi. "Sorry
if I scared you. I just scalded myself."
Ranma walked into the room and noticed Kasumi testing the water. "It's
barely warm," noted the girl.
Ranma walked up to the water and did the same. "She's right."
"But if felt so hot!" snapped Akane as she plunged her arm into the
water. She promptly screamed in pain and pulled it out. The skin was beet
red where she had gotten it wet.
"It was that old woman! When she missed me, she hit Akane. I didn't
think anything of it at the time, but..." said Ranma after a moment's
thought.
"That old bat did this to me? I'll kill her!" snarled Akane.
"We'll go over there tomorrow, Akane," agreed Ranma. "I've got to settle
this, once and for all."
+++++++++++
TBC...
Next time: I'm assuming all of us know where this is going.
As for why I used the 'Full Body Cat's Tongue' instead of something
else? I was feeling lazy, and didn't want to think of anything new. It
would be annoying to a normal person, not as much as a cursed one, but
still irritating.
C&C to Carrotglace@juno.com
Previous parts can be found at Http://www.fanfiction.net and R&C Books
International Fanfic Company at Http://members.nbci.com/rc_books_int.html
Ja!