Once again, and hopefully not for the last time, thanks go
to Mark Engelbert and Slacker for their help by pre-reading.
Previous chapters are avalible at
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/KasumiandRanma/ and
http://tannim.anifics.com/
Also, when the list goes down, I will still be posting to
the above places. So if the list is gone for an extended
ammount of time (hopefully not too long) the chapters will
be going there directly. Therefor my loyal fans on this
list (all three of you) can keep cursing me out for my
demented ideas and evil endings ^_^
-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --
-- File: rbane13.txt
Disclaimer: All but a very few characters in this work of fiction are not my creations. They belong to the original creators and owners.
Ranma's Bane
By Andrew Wilson
Chapter 13: Tears of Sorrow and Joy
"They are here?" The collection of generals winced at their master's question. All but one. Then again, that one never looked agitated or frightened. He just kept smiling no matter what.
Xelloss nodded. "Yes, my lord. I do not know what they want, but they may be after your collection."
Ahriman nodded, the turned to Bester. "What of you?"
"I sense nothing unusual in the entire fortress, my lord. If they are here, they must have a null-field active."
"But none of them can..." Ahriman trailed off, and his minions were treated to a rare look of shock on his face. "The staff. One of those vermin is using the staff!"
"Impossible," Bester insisted.
"Nothing is impossible, Alfie," Xelloss scolded.
"Enough," Ahriman commanded. "Tofu, find them and bring me their heads."
Tofu finished securing his darkmetal plate armor and nodded. "As you wish, my lord."
Ahriman stopped Tofu before the warrior could leave, and tossed him an object. "Take this."
Tofu caught the silver sword hilt, then smiled as he donned his helmet. On his way through the door, he dropped his fake pair of eyeglasses to the ground, and ground them under his boot.
*******
Ranma stared at the glowing container. Well, most of the cylinder was covered in metal plating and black tubes, but a few gaps radiated an orange glow. Since the glow had been steady for the past day and a half, and Washu looked satisfied with her work, Ranma assumed that the glow was a good thing. Actually, the glow was about all he had to go on, since the pink haired scientist's muttering about "cross referencing the samples" and "accelerated growth process" went over her head.
"How long?" Zelgadis asked for the fifth time in as many hours.
Washu glared at him in reply. "I said the process would take thirty-six hours. Not thirty-four, or thirty. It will be done soon, and then we can move on to the hard part."
Everyone blinked at that statement. "Harrrd parrrt?" Ranma asked.
"Of course. Growing a body is easy. Linking the soul to the body is the hard part. There are all sorts of risks. Loss of memory and identity, insanity, all sorts of personality disorders..."
"Is there a safer way to do it?" Kasumi asked.
"Not that I can think of," Washu replied. "Besides, I have all sorts of fun ways to try the process. It should be interesting."
*He planned this,* Zelgadis brooded, *and it's just like him.* Xelloss had given Zelgadis the Archmage's Eye for the express purpose of torturing him in this manner. Nothing else made sense and it would be just like the trickster demon.
His cure, or Setsuna's life. The one thing he had searched a century for, or someone he had known for less than a month.
*...Zel?...*
*Not now," he told the mental voice. The image of a dark haired, hyperactive young sorceress erased Zelgadis' doubts.
"Not again!" he shouted. Washu, Kasumi and Ranma turned their attention to him.
"You finish the body," Zelgadis told the scientist, reaching into his pocket, "I'll handle the soul."
*...Zel...no...*
*Yes,* he told Setsuna, pulling out the key and Eye.
Washu looked disappointed. "You're no fun."
"Do it."
With a sigh, the pint-sized scientist began making adjustments to the glowing container. No one breathed as the glow faded, and the covering began to retract, revealing a woman with long black hair, her legs tucked up in the fetal position.
"It worrrked," Ranma gasped.
"But she's not breathing," Kasumi observed.
"Of course not," Washu explained as she began draining the orange liquid. "It's just a body, not ever really alive. We have about twenty minutes to merge the soul with it before it begins to decay."
"Then let's not waste any time," Zelgadis said.
As the cylinders glass wall rose, Zelgadis lifted the body's right hand. He then placed the amulet in the palm an over that lay the miniature staff. Closing the fingers around the objects, Zelgadis channeled a small dose of energy into the Archmage's Eye.
There was a brief flash as Zelgadis withdrew his hand. For a moment, nothing seemed to happen, then Setsuna's eye's shot open, and she took a gasping breath. Several coughs racked her body as she rose to a sitting position, supported by the staff, which had resumed its full size.
Kasumi took a hesitant step forward. "Setsuna?"
The woman on the grilled platform was too busy studying her own hand to acknowledge the question. Her hair was it's normal length, hanging to her knees if she were standing, and was rapidly shifting hues from black to green.
Ranma was a bit more bold than Kasumi, and tapped the woman on the shoulder. "Hey, are you you or are you someone else?"
Setsuna's eyes shot to Ranma, then to Zelgadis, then finally to her own nude form. A mental cry of *Perverts!* accompanied a pair of mind bolts knocking Ranma and Zelgadis back.
A look of embarrassment washed over Setsuna's face, and Kasumi noted that her eyes had acquired the familiar crimson color. Kasumi quickly pulled a spare set of her clothes out of Ranma's pack and tossed them to Setsuna.
"We're about the same build," she replied to the questioning look. "And we had to abandon your pack back in Chicago. These will have to do for now."
Setsuna nodded and quickly began getting dressed. *It...* the mental voice was hesitant. *It's good to be back. Thank you.*
Kasumi smiled. "Anything for a friend."
Setsuna's smile was cut off by a groan from Zelgadis. "Just remember something: friends don't blast friends.
*I'm sorry.*
"Tearrrry rrreunions laterrr," Ranma said, "escape now." She briefly bowed to Washu, then threw open the lab's door. "Let's go."
Zelgadis followed Ranma out, leaving Kasumi and Setsuna alone with the mad scientist.
Washu smiled. "Can you stay for just a little while? Long enough for a few tests?"
Kasumi and Setsuna quickly exited.
*******
Halfway down the corridor, Ranma spotted a figure blocking their path.
"This doesn't look good," Zelgadis observed, mentally noting the black armor and sheathed sword.
"What makes you say that, Zel?" Ranma commented. "I've seen tougher. Besides, I think this guy is nuts."
The cause for Ranma's comment was the figure holding up his sword, which had no blade. The design of the hilt tickled at Zelgadis' memories, but he couldn't quite place it.
"If you're so sure," Kasumi said, "then why aren't you attacking?"
"Well... I want to see him make the firrrst move."
The figure's first move was to extend a blade of pure light from the sword hilt. Zelgadis wasted no time, and sent a pair of fireballs towards the figure.
"Hey, he was mine!" Ranma complained.
With two quick movements, the swordsman parried the fireballs, and absorbed them into his sword. The blade seemed to flare for an instant before returning to it's original shape.
"This is bad," Kasumi said.
"No kidding," Ranma commented. She and Zelgadis wasted no time, though, and charged the swordsman with their own weapons. Behind them, the gem on Setsuna's staff flared as she sent a volley of mind bolts towards the figure.
There were a dozen bolts sent in the volley. All of them were spread out, aiming for different points on the swordsman's body. All of them were moving at close to the speed of light.
All of them were blocked with a pair of swift parries.
Ranma's darkblades and Zelgadis' enchanted sword were met and deflected by the blade of light. Strike after strike was turned away with casual ease, and blinding fast counters were barely deflected. Kasumi couldn't get by the two in order to strike, so she hung back, watching for reinforcements. Setsuna stayed back, apparently doing nothing, and studied the conflict.
"Zel," Ranma grunted between strikes, "you got enough powerrr for that sworrrd?"
"Might as well try," Zelgadis replied, and left Ranma to deflect the swordsman's strikes by herself. This time, when calling the Ragna Blade, he conserved his energy, keeping the blade in existence for a few seconds, just long enough to strike.
Of course, the long incantation and huge blade gave his opponent ample time to parry the strike, and absorb the magic into his own blade. The flare of the light jogged Zelgadis' memory about that particular artifact.
"Ranma," he said as the swordsman swung his blade around in preparation for another strike, "run. Now!"
Zelgadis wasted no time, and ran as fast as he could away from the glowing sword. He grabbed a frozen Setsuna on the way past, and was pleased to see Ranma and Kasumi right behind him. Spying an open cell to the side, he jumped into that, at the same time that the swordsman's blow landed on the stone floor.
The four companions ducked into the cramped cell, narrowly avoiding a wave of energy that filled the corridor. The shock wave from the blast shattered stone all around, and almost buried the group under a pile of rubble.
"What the hell is that thing?" Ranma asked.
"The Sword of Gorn Nova," Zelgadis replied.
"The what?" Kasumi asked.
"There were a dozen crafted eons ago, to give mankind an equal footing in the wars between gods and demons that kept springing up from time to time. Only one's known to still exist, and Ahriman acquired it a couple centuries ago."
"How do you know this?"
"An old friend of mine, the same one who gave me the book with the Ragna Blade in it," Zelgadis saw Setsuna nod in recognition. "That sword belonged to her husband."
"And now?" Ranma asked.
"And now we have to get away from here, because whoever is in that armor knows what he's doing."
Another wave of energy caused the corridor walls to crumble further.
Ranma peeked out, and quickly ducked back in the cell as a third blast swept by. "How many of those things does he have?"
Zelgadis considered the question for a moment. "Since he's using the power from a Ragna Blade, I'd say quite a few more."
"That's all well and good," Kasumi commented, "but what do we do now?"
Ranma ran a hand over the stone floor. "I wish I could've learrrned the brrreaking point frrrom Rrryoga."
"The what?" Zelgadis asked.
"Poke a rrrock, it explodes. Any questions?"
Zelgadis smiled. "Ranma, how quickly can you punch?"
*******
With a shudder of rock the tunnel collapsed in, startling a worm into moving away to find another place to nap. Ranma stuck her head into the tunnel, verified that it was clear, then dropped to the ground.
"Clearrr," she called up.
Kasumi dropped to the ground as soon as Ranma moved, followed by Setsuna and Zelgadis.
"Let's go," Ranma ordered, "Those blocks you two set up won't last forrreverrr."
"No kidding," Zelgadis replied. "Which way?"
Ranma paused for a moment, unsure of the direction they needed to go.
*That way,* Setsuna told them, pointing over Ranma's shoulder.
Zelgadis made a mental note to discuss over-use of telepathy when they got out of the Nightlands. "Then let's go."
"You know," Ranma commented, "we seem to be running away from danger a lot lately."
Zelgadis smirked. "I guess you're one of those people who can't tell the difference between prudence and cowardice. Escaping from an enemy you cannot defeat is not cowardice."
*******
Tofu bowed before his master.
"You failed," Ahriman said, pacing in front of his throne. "You were sent to kill the intruders, and you failed."
"Yes, my master," Tofu said, his head down. "Do with me what you will."
"You expect me to kill you?" Tofu tensed but nodded. Ahriman chuckled. "You should know better, Tofu. Killing you would be a waste of resources."
Ahriman slowly sat in his throne, lost in thought. "There may be a way to salvage the project. But there are other matters to be attended to first. Bester, Washu has proven herself untrustworthy. Kill her."
"That may be difficult," Xelloss explained. "She fled shortly after Tofu's encounter with the group, or perhaps during that little battle. She took all the records, and left behind enough explosives, of her own design, to reduce all the equipment in the lab to slag."
"Clever girl," Ahriman mused. "Washu is of no real concern, but those pests are. Send out the teams. Kill all of them except the project, bring it back, alive and intact."
"Master," Xelloss once again ventured, "what if the minions fail? Greywords and the Saotomes have proven to be a nuisance in the past. And they did manage to eliminate Magog. Perhaps another method is needed."
Ahriman smiled. "Assign Kodachi to the task."
*******
Ranma studied the hole in the tunnel ceiling with caution. It was impossible to tell whether there was anything waiting above.
"Well?" Zelgadis asked.
"Skip it," Ranma replied, "its prrrobably an ambush. Not close, but close enough that they'll have us when we come out of the hole."
"Then how do we get out?"
"Think it thrrrough, Zel," Ranma smirked at finally being able to turn the tables on the stone man. "Rrrememberrr those hounds the first time we drrropped in herrre? Therrre must be an entrrrance to the tunnels arrround somewhere. And the timing of our encounterrr with the worm tells me that it can't be back towards the forrrtress."
"Good point," Kasumi said.
"So we keep going," Ranma surmised.
They found the entrance an hour later. It was a cave beyond a knot of tunnels that Ranma guessed the worms used to switch paths. The cave was halfway up a set of cliffs that ringed a narrow valley. The valley itself seemed familiar to Ranma.
"Jusenkyo," she spat.
The valley looked the same, but the springs were very different. Instead of over a hundred pools of water, there was the same number of crystalline mounds that glowed with a faint light. Ranma dropped to the ground and look at the nearest one. It showed a small piglet squirming around in obvious pain. A metal plaque at the base simply said "Little Black Pig."
Ranma moved to another, and shuddered as she saw a cat, in the same predicament as the pig.
"What is this place?" Kasumi asked.
"It's where the souls from the must go," Zelgadis answered. "Trapped here, in eternal torment. Must be Ahrimans's favorite vacation spot.
The next crystal to draw Ranma's attention contained a young western man. He had brown hair and a beard the same color. His mouth opened in a silent scream as his form changed into a pink-haired little girl with a strange, carrot-shaped hairstyle. The plaque read 'Insane Fiction Writer.'
"Is there anything we can do for them?" Kasumi asked.
"No," Zelgadis replied. "I know about this place. I thought Jusenkyo would be a way to cure my condition. But when I did some research, I found this place."
Ranma ignored the conversation, and was instead drawn to a very familiar location near one end of the small valley. In that crystal, marked by a plaque that simply said 'Girl,' was a slim young woman with silvery blue hair.
"So that's herrr," Ranma whispered.
"I guess so," Kasumi concurred.
*We have to get out of here,* Setsuna informed them.
"I rrrememberrr the way," Ranma assured them.
Zelgadis waved towards the near end of the valley. "Lead on."
Ranma tried not to look at the crystal prisons as she led her friends out of the curse region. She silently swore that she would find a way to free the souls trapped, for her peace of mind if nothing else.
*******
A doorway of darkness formed at the edge of a thick forest. Four figures stepped out, two of which immediately began studying the village below. It appeared simple, with wooden walls and buildings that acquired a rose hue him the late afternoon sun. Of course, Ranma and Kasumi recognized it immediately.
"'Remember the way,' Ranma?" Kasumi asked as the pair banished their morphus.
"Well," Ranma was sweating under Kasumi's look. "It was the way Pop and I came after Jusenkyo."
*What is this place?* Setsuna asked.
"Long story," Ranma said. "A friend lives here, kinda. Whatever you do, don't accept any challenges."
*Why not?*
Zelgadis responded before Ranma could. "Some archaic, barbaric, and utterly ridiculous laws that are still enforced here. I remember hearing about them. Don't accept any challenges, because I would like to leave this village in one piece when we leave."
*That makes even less sense.*
Kasumi sighed. "If an outsider fights a woman of the village and wins, two things can happen. If the outsider is a man, the woman marries him, whether he want's to or not. On the other hand, if the outsider is a woman, the village woman must kill that person."
"The three of us are immune to that law," Ranma continued, "but you're not. Plus we don't take too kindly to people trying to kill our friends. All those things together mean that if you win a challenge, and we also know you will, a good portion of the village might be destroyed before anyone understands that stupid laws take second place to survival."
*I see. Why can't we just skip this place?*
Zelgadis sighed as he slipped on his mask and hood. "I've had enough days on the road lately, I'm sure we can find a place to sleep here. Plus we have a slight problem with our food supply."
"Which is?" Ranma asked.
"It was destroyed when we were escaping the fortress. By one of the swordsman's attacks, unless I miss my guess."
"Great," Ranma grumbled. "I hope the Old Ghoul has a couple spare huts open."
*******
Cologne, elder and oldest living war leader of the Joketsuzoku tribe was cursing at the newest class of trainees. They class consisted of young girls that had just reach the age of training, and older (though still young) women that had been accepted into the tribe recently.
Cologne knew that the first lessons would focus on discipline and control, which was the cause of her frustrations. Why she volunteered for the task years before was a mystery to most of the tribe, even Shampoo. What they did not understand was that the trials Cologne had placed the Saotome boy through had rekindled her love of teaching.
Of course they didn't understand, which is why they stuck her with the lowest class to start out. And had done so for the fourth time in as many years.
*If only something would happen to break this monotony!*
Seconds later, Cologne remembered why such ideas should not be expressed, even internally. She had just completed the thought when a commotion brought her attention to the main gates.
"Class," she commanded, "continue with the exercise."
The groans from the class brought a chuckle as Cologne pogoed towards the gate on her staff. The Japanese punishment of holding buckets of water at arms length was a perfect way to improve arm strength, muscle control, stamina, and concentration.
At the gate, a group of four was striding by the guards, eyes searching the immediate area. Three moved like warriors, and the fourth possessed startling grace. Cologne's heart nearly stopped when she saw the faces belonging to two of the warriors.
A flying leap sent Cologne over the heads of the stunned crowd and set her down directly in front of a very familiar pig-tailed man.
"What are you doing here, Ranma?"
Ranma smiled. "We were in the area, and though it might be nice to drop in, see how everything's going."
"You know we are forbidden from unnecessary contact, so why did you come?"
Ranma deflated, allowing Kasumi to do the talking. "We need to purchase supplies, and perhaps a place to sleep for tonight. Times have been hard since we last saw each other."
"Phoenix Mountain?"
Kasumi nodded. "There is much to tell about who destroyed it. I believe the information may be of use to you."
Cologne studied the four for a long moment. "And if you bring trouble?"
"We will leave," the masked one replied, "after the cause of the trouble has been annihilated."
Nodding, Cologne turned to the crowd. "These are my guests, they are to be shown every courtesy."
There were several disappointed grumbles, mostly from the women in the audience eyeing Ranma and Zelgadis. Cologne led the group off, sending a runner to dismiss her class before their arms fell off. Once they arrived at Cologne's home, on of the largest in the village, she sat them at a table in the main room.
"Alright, tell me exactly what has happened."
*******
The storytelling took close to an hour. When it was finished, Cologne simply shook her head.
"I should have guessed you'd get into trouble like that. I have to brief the council about this. Excuse me."
Ignoring the stunned looks on her guest's faces, Cologne pogoed out of the house, leaving Shampoo staring in awe at the group.
Zelgadis noted several empty rooms off the main one. Standing, he turned to Setsuna.
"We need to talk," he said, stepping to the doorway. Receiving a nod from Shampoo, he entered the room, and gestured for Setsuna to follow.
Setsuna shrugged, and followed him. Before closing the door, she exchanged a long glance with Kasumi, during which the latter's face drained of color.
*******
When most people think of a council of elders, visions of stern faces in ceremonial robes sitting around a table come to mind. For the Joketsuzoku, however, the private meetings were much more relaxed.
Usually, anyway.
Once drinks had been served, and the servants shooed out (after being instructed to leave the bottles), the elders got down to business. Cologne wasted no time, and immediately repeated to the women present every word Ranma and his companions had told her.
"I think," Brush commented, "we can ignore the normal, run of mill problems for one night."
"Agreed," Perfume stated. "This evenings events are very troubling, Cologne, the news even more so. What do you suggest we do?"
Comb barked a laugh. "More like what should we do to her for allowing Nightbane into the village. Have you any notion, Cologne, of what will happen to us if that lot brings their troubles here?"
"Yes," Cologne calmly replied, "I do. I also know the price for turning them away. Perhaps you have forgotten the report I gave a week ago, the one from my colleagues in the Seekers."
"Yes, yes," the eldest present, Soaponaroap, replied. "We have heard your report on the death of the American Nightlord. What of it?"
"In our history, there is only one instant of Nightlord attention that was directed at us. Half the village was destroyed, including all but three of our shamans and mystics, along with all but a handful of warriors. And that was just a Night Prince."
"We know our own history," Comb snapped, "answer the question."
Cologne smiled, anticipating the reaction to her statement. "These four, there might have been a fifth person involved, but reports are sketchy about that, are the ones that killed the Nightlord, alone."
Eight jaws hit the floor at the same time.
*******
Setsuna closed the door, then turned to Zelgadis, who had seated himself on the rooms bed. *What did you need to talk about?*
Zelgadis brought his Talent into play. Most Nightbane possessed certain strange powers, Kasumi had her invisibility and aura reading, Ranma had his energy bolts, both had the ability to transfer themselves to the Astral Plane, while Zelgadis had a shield over his mind and soul. The shield completely blocked all forms of psychic communication, along with providing a measure of protection against draining that Nightlords and some minions could perform.
"No telepathy. Talk."
Setsuna glared at him.
"What is that for?" he asked. "Did that mad scientist take out your vocal cords?"
"No," Setsuna whispered, her voice scratchy from lack of use.
"That's better. Now why were you so uneasy about talking?"
"Habit," she replied, leaning her staff against the wall. Already her voice seemed stronger. "To you I may have been in that staff for two weeks, but there was no way for me to tell time. The only contact I had were your surface thoughts, and there were times when I couldn't get anything from you."
Zelgadis' voice softened in sympathy. "What was it like?"
"Hell," Setsuna replied, taking a seat next to Zelgadis. "A complete lack of anything. Total emptiness. It was enough to drive someone mad."
"So why aren't you a raving lunatic?"
Setsuna smiled. "I guess you're responsible for that. You gave me something to focus on."
Zelgadis nodded. "Was there nothing else?"
Setsuna shook her head. "No. Not even the staff itself. I'm beginning to wonder whether the intelligence I once sensed in it was just my imagination."
"There must be another reason," Zelgadis countered. "I remember what you said before about it."
"Maybe." Zelgadis noticed that Setsuna's voice had changed a bit since her rebirth, it possessed a slightly lower pitch, and seemed to carry authority with it.
"Who is she?"
Zelgadis' observation about Setsuna's voice was buried under surprise at her question. "Who?"
"Just before you set your mind to using your cure to bring me back, I had an image of someone, I guessed she was important to you."
Zelgadis had to force down a lump in his throat before answering. "She was my wife."
"You're married?"
Zelgadis shook his head. "Was. She died about the same time I was cursed."
Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "The two events are connected, aren't they?"
"Yes," Zelgadis let out a long sigh, reluctant to bring out the memories. "I've never told anyone about this."
"Then why tell me?"
Zelgadis stared Setsuna straight in the eyes. "I trust you."
It took several minutes for Zelgadis to compose his thoughts. "She was the first person in a long time to look past the fact that I was a Nightbane. In fact, she didn't care what I was. Not that it mattered much back then, since I was still able to shift back and forth. She was a princess in a country near the Persian Gulf. She gave up everything, even ran away from the life she had lived, in order to be with me."
A note of compassion entered Setsuna's voice. "You don't have to go on."
"I have to," Zelgadis insisted, "you deserve to know."
The turbulent emotions caused by the recollection was straining Zelgadis' mental discipline, collapsing his Soul Shield. "We had been wondering for a year, happy together, when I first met Xelloss. He taunted and teased us for months, eventually deciding to see what Amelia would think of me if I were trapped in my morphus. When even that didn't affect our feelings, he upped the ante."
Zelgadis paused, gathering himself before continuing. "He kidnapped her one night. When I found where he had taken her- an easy task, since he was baiting me the entire time- I was presented with a choice, my cure, or her life. For one selfish instant I hesitated, thinking there would be a way to have both."
Anger, grief, depression, and hopelessness assaulted Setsuna, forcing her to pull back the light mental link she had with Zelgadis. The emotions rolling of him were so strong that any psychic within one hundred feet would be breaking down in tears. Setsuna pulled herself together quickly, ridding out the mental storm.
Zedlgadis' voice dropped to a whisper. "I would have chosen to save her, but Xelloss said that my time was up, and that I had lost. He made the cure vanish, then disappeared, taking Amelia with him. I found her body a few days later..."
Zelgadis trailed off, unable to continue. The mask that held his emotions in check fell away, and a few tears leaked from his eyes. Setsuna slowly placed an arm around Zelgadis' shoulders, fighting back her own tears.
Neither moved for a long time.
*******
"What's wrong?" Ranma asked as the door closed.
Kasumi stood up and moved away from the table, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"Kasumi?"
"I- I'm alright Ranma, just a little shocked."
Ranma turned to Shampoo. "Is there a place were we can get some privacy?"
Shampoo wordlessly pointed to another room. Ranma nodded thanks as he led Kasumi though and shut the door.
"What's wrong?"
"It's something Setsuna said she noticed. You'd better sit down."
Ranma sat on one of the rooms chairs, worry beginning to creep into his mind. "What is it?"
"She claimed that she could sense certain changes in a person's body. Minute changes that it would normally take a hospital to tell."
Now Ranma was really worried. "Kasumi, just say it. I mean, is it some disease? Cancer?" Ranma remembered Kasumi saying her mother had died of cancer.
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh, is that all? Thank God! I thought you were going to say you were dying or...some...thing." Ranma's voice slowed as Kasumi's words registered. His eyes rolled up in his head and he hit the floor with a thud.
End Chapter 13