Some of you may have read this before, I've revised it and added a new scene
at the end.
Also, Randy, My computer died so I got a new one, but that means I don't
have your addy. If you'd be so kind and send me something so I can get it
again.



Big Trouble in Little Midkemia

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Ranma and characters used are the creation of
Rumiko Takahashi and owned by her and Shogagukan, Kitty and Viz
Communications. Magician is the work of Raymond Feist published by Bantam. I
will not make a penny of any of this.

C&C much appreciated.


Chapter 9:  The Storm Hits


Ranma twitched slightly as he lay next to Nabiki, recalling a time from a
year ago through a dream.

^_^_^_^^___^_^__^^_^__^_^__^^_^_^_^

"Ranma, would you go tell Nabiki that dinner will be ready soon?"  Ranma
looked up at Kasumi from the scroll he was supposedly reading.  Tathar had
given them some scrolls on various subjects and the three of them were
reading the scrolls as 'homework' for their language lessons.

"Sure, Kasumi.  I'll go find her."  He jumped at the chance to stop
studying, and the news that food would be ready soon spurred him into
action.

He wasn't sure where she would be, on a hunch he decided to try the branch
above their house.  He couldn't see through all the leaves but it would be a
quick climb.

When he had made it to the branch he found Nabiki sitting there staring at
the sunset.  He noticed maybe for the first time that she really was kinda
cute, sitting there in the twilight, the orange glow illuminating her face
in stark contrast to the background of dark green leaves.

He was about to announce his presence when he noticed the small frown upon
her face, a feeling of concern crossed him as he remarked to himself how out
of place it was. She had never really shown much emotion, and he couldn't
remember ever seeing her sad.  He had seen her angry at times, shocked once
or twice, and even occasionally happy.

Akane, on the other hand displayed every emotion instantly.  There was no
guessing involved, only trying to withstand the hurricane of anger or ride
the waves of her happiness.

He seated himself next to her, watching as her body jerked slightly from
being startled.

"Hey, you okay?"  he queried sincerely.

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm fine, Ranma."  Her face became blank again as she appraised
him.  He could see no trace of the sadness that had been present moments
before.

"Ya looked a little down.  Wanna talk?"  He gave her a crooked smile, trying
to make her feel better.  He didn't know how to talk to girls, especially
this one.

Nabiki turned back to looking at the setting sun.  "I said I was 'fine',
Ranma."

"Ya didn't look fine.  You know you would probably look a lot cuter if ya
smiled more often."  There, whenever he told a girl she looked cute it
always cheered them up.  It usually got him in trouble, for some reason he
couldn't begin to fathom, but it did cheer them up.

"Why would that matter?"  She asked in return, her voice flat.

"Um, I dunno.  I thought girls liked to be called cute."

"I guess you're right," Ranma missed the note of challenge in her voice.
"Boys usually say that when they want something.  So what do you want?"  she
asked accusingly.

"Hey, I don't want nothing.  Just trying to cheer you up,"  Ranma replied.

She turned to regard him, a small smirk on her face.  She looked at him and
gave a small snort.  "Everyone wants something for themselves."

"Naw, not everyone.  Hey, we're in this together.  Might as well make the
best of it."

"Right.  We're stuck in this place.  No way to earn a living.  No real
future, and..."  she trailed off.

"It ain't that bad.  We got a place to stay.  The elves are helping us out.
We're still together, and you'll figure something out.  I have faith in
you."

"Huh?  Me?  I thought you were the hero?"  she asked.

"Me?  Ya, if someone needs beating up.  You're the one with all the smarts.
You'll figure out how we get back.  You're even the one who's picking up
that magic stuff the best."  He watched as her face become contemplative,
hoping that she'd feel a little better.

"So, why are you being nice?" Nabiki asked, while still gazing at the
sunset.

"I dunno.  You looked kinda down, what are friends for?"  Ranma said
casually.

"Friends, huh?"  she responded.

Ranma smiled his brightest smile as he answered.  "Ya, friends."

"You really believe that?"

"Yup, if you need somethin I can do, I'll do it for ya.  I know you'd do the
same."

Nabiki looked at him with the start of a small grin forming on her lips.
"We'll see, Ranma.  We'll see."

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^
(present day)


Ranma awoke from his dream with a start.  He looked down at the mop of brown
hair belonging to the person he was holding.  He blinked twice and stopped
himself from bolting or bracing for blows.  "It's Nabiki."  He told himself
and smiled.  He was surprised at how nice it felt to wake up with her in his
arms.

There was comfort in the fact that she was sleeping on him that he hadn't
realized he wanted.  Most of his life had been spent in constant motion.  He
was never one to linger in bed, especially not with his father around, but
he had no desire to leave this situation for quite a while.

He thought about the dream he just had, a memory of a year ago.  It had been
the first time her had thought of her as a person, a person he still didn't
understand, but not as Akane's annoying older sister.

His stomach growled, signifying his hunger.  He wasn't sure how to negotiate
his current situation.  He didn't want to wake her, he was enjoying the
situation too much, feeling more content with this person then he had ever
felt with anyone, but his stomach was speaking to him, especially since he
skipped dinner last night.

He tightened his grip a little, giving Nabiki's sleeping form a make-shift
hug. He wondered for a second if he should be doing this?  He felt he was
taking advantage of the situation.  He answered his own questions with
memories of the previous evening.

"I guess we love each other," he whispered to her sleeping form.  He had
come to the realization before but had never said it out loud.  There was an
additional comfort in the fact that he was pretty sure she wouldn't yell or
scream at him when she woke up.  He also liked the fact that the chances of
someone coming and attacking him in bed were also pretty slim at the moment.

He smiled, remembering last night again, Nabiki had come to see him, saying
that she loved him.

He had thought Akane loved him, but the words were never spoken.  He was
beginning to realize how significant the statement was, how much those words
actually meant when they were said with feeling and belief behind them.  He
wondered how different his life would have been if he or Akane had said them
to one another.

He pondered the question of what his life would be like if he had still been
in Nerima.  He'd  probably be fighting with the old man or Akane.  He
thought morosely, realizing how useless those actions really were.

He had thought he was the cause of all the turmoil, all the fights and
everything, but since coming here he didn't know anymore.  Here, he had only
really fought the Tsurani, not anyone else.  He wouldn't say he had made any
real good friends here either, but he was getting attacked everyday.   He
considered why he had fought all the time, sure some of it was good
training, but all of it?  What was it about the people he used to know that
made them attack him?  Was there something about him that caused him to be a
target?

He thought for the first time that if it weren't for the war, this place
might not be so bad.  He squeezed Nabiki again, kissing her on the top of
her head, in part to reassure himself that she was really here, for him,
because of him.

He felt her stir in his arms.  Nervousness arose in him again as he wondered
what her reaction to the situation would be.  He knew if this was Akane in
his arms she'd get mad and attack him, ruining the courage and good feelings
that had been built up the previous evening.  No, that wasn't completely
fair, he realized, he had his share of the blame for their blow-ups.

Nabiki lifted her head to look at him. He watched her blink and the look of
confusion on her face turn to a small smile.  "Mmm.  Morning, Ranma," she
said sleepily.

"Good Morning, Nabiki," he replied, smiling, he felt his whole body relax as
the apprehension he had been feeling quickly melted away.

"This feels nice, we should try this again," she said stretching forward a
little and placed a light kiss on his lips.

"Ahh, maybe," he replied nervously.

He tensed slightly as their lips met before relaxing with the light touch
she applied.  He was startled slightly when she kissed him again, quickly,
slightly widening her lips to grab a hold of his lower lip, before
retreating again.  He felt a momentary compulsion to kiss her again.

"Maybe we should take a bath first.  I can scrub your back,"  she said
hopefully.

"Ahh. No thanks!"  he hastily stammered.  He noted with a mild amount of
shock that the idea had some appeal.  Maybe they could kiss again.  He felt,
with a little alarm, the stirring of certain points of his anatomy when he
thought about bathing with Nabiki.

"Oh, alright!  I'll meet you in the kitchen in half an hour," she said,
disappointment evident in her voice.

"Okay."  he answered.  He was hoping she'd leave soon, before some
embarrassing facts became too obvious to ignore. Ranma watched as Nabiki
rose from the bed and was pleasantly surprised when she turned around and
kissed his forehead once again before heading towards the door.

He watched her saunter across the room, noting with some appreciation the
sway she put into her hips.  He wondered if she was doing it for his
benefit, not remembering noticing it before.  He thought about asking if she
was serious about that bath.

Just as she reached the exit she stopped and turned to look over her
shoulder.  He quickly adjusted his eyes to a more 'proper' place.

"You know it's not polite to stare, Ranma," she teased.

"I.. ah... I wasn't staring or nothing," he stammered.

"As I was saying, its not polite to stare unless you ask first.  Bye,
Ranma-chan."
Ranma watched as Nabiki exited the room, a goofy smile on his face.

Ranma looked around, happily noting that the room was empty.  He hadn't been
paying attention but he was pretty sure there had been other present last
night.  He wondered why no one had woken them up!  He had duties to perform
before nightfall and someone usually came and roused him out of bed around
noon so he could go take of things.  He had insisted that he would work like
all the other soldiers;  Arutha had said they were guests but he wanted to
fit in as much as possible by taking on the same responsibilities that the
other soldiers had.

He jumped out of bed, taking a towel and some bathing supplies before
departing.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^^_^_^__^_^^__^^__^^_^_^__^^__^^__^

Lunch was over but Kasumi, Arutha, and Carline lingered at the table.  The
conversation was light and friendly, in direct contrast to the duties they
were postponing by talking.

"Arutha, how long do you think this will last?"  Carline asked her brother.

"I'd say if we can hold out for another month, the reinforcements will have
arrived by then.  Probably sooner, but a month at the most,"  Arutha
answered.

"That's good news.  I didn't know help was coming,"  Kasumi said, a small
note of surprise evident in her voice.

"Yes, after we were sure the Tsurani were moving against the keep, I sent
pigeons ordering reinforcements.  We should receive around ten thousand men;
more than enough to drive the Tsurani back!"  Arutha replied forcefully.

"Is that how you send messages?  How clever."  Kasumi smiled at this.

"It is the fastest way to send word.  How do you send messages where you
come from?"  Arutha responded, puzzled.

"Telephone, telegram, or mail are all ways of sending messages.  People
don't use telegrams very much these days though," she took on a thoughtful
look for a second before continuing, "People are also using e-mail,"  Kasumi
finished.

"Pardon me for asking, Kasumi.  This e-mail, does it carry messages as fast
as a pigeon?"  Carline queried.

"Well,  I'm really not sure how fast e-mail travels, I think as fast as
light, but I'm not really sure.  I wonder if Nabiki knows?"

The two others stared at her for a minute with their jaws hanging open..

"Well, at least this siege will be over soon,"  Kasumi sighed as she picked
up the lull in the conversation.

"Yes, we'll drive them out eventually,"  Arutha reiterated.

"Why did the Tsurani attack the Kingdom at all?"

"We don't know, Kasumi."

"Did anyone ever ask?"

"We have a Tsurani here in the keep.  He says it has something to do with
the 'Game of the Council'.  Political motivation is their apparent reason."

"Is this 'Game of the Council' so important that war, death, and conquest
are so  necessary to these people?"  Kasumi inquired.

"According to Charles it is the most important thing to them.  He was never
very high up in their 'Game', so he doesn't know much, but apparently the
nation is broken up into clans and houses.  They have a ruling council were
prestige and influence are fought over viciously.  It is apparently the most
important thing to them.  Charles says success on the battlefield is the
easiest and surest way to gain prestige in the council.  Their world is
short on precious metals and conquering these lands which have them in
abundance will bring lasting glory to the parties that are in charge of
it."  Arutha finished his lecture by taking a deep breath.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't sound that different from the history of my
country.  Japan has seen the error of its ways and is currently at peace
with most of our world.   Earth for the most part has seen the folly of war.
I wish I could say it didn't exist, but maybe one day..."  Kasumi replied
wistfully.

"You must miss your home,"  Arutha said.

"Yes I do.  You are all very nice people, but I worry about my father and
sister. I hope they've gotten over us disappearing so suddenly. I really
worry about how they're handling everything."  Kasumi frowned slightly as
she thought about her family.  She worried about who was doing all the
chores, especially the cooking.

"Kasumi, if there's anything I can do to make your stay more enjoyable let
me know."

"Thank you.  That's very sweet."


^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^

Ranma met Nabiki outside the kitchen, where they ate most of their meals.
Tomas's parents, Magya and Megar, both worked in the kitchen and they had
taken an instant liking to the pair, while Ranma had taken an instant liking
to their food.  The two cooks fussed over the two and treated them almost
like their own children, making sure they were well fed and getting along in
their new home, however temporary it turned out to be.

They had occasionally eaten with Arutha and the rest of the court in the
main dining hall but the experience had been too formal for Ranma's
enjoyment.  The constant elbowing and whispers to watch his manners from
Nabiki had destroyed any desire he had for fine dining.

The commoners hall where the unwed soldiers ate was equally distasteful to
Nabiki.  Her presence as the only woman had been a noticeable detriment to
conversation and the soldiers' attempts at 'polite' conversation had been
laughable.

The kitchen was the perfect compromise for the two of them.  Magya had
instantly taken them under her wing and saw to their needs, while the other
servants were always too busy to bother them.  She was a kind, well-meaning
woman who reminded Nabiki of a nice aunt.  A little too bossy at times but
enjoyable company.   Nabiki also enjoyed the fact that most information
flowed through the kitchen at one point or another.  She had learned more
about the keep and its inhabitants from her conversations over lunch or
dinner than all other times and places combined.

"Nabiki, was anyone looking at you strangely?"  Ranma asked as  Nabiki
walked up to him.

"Hello to you too!" she replied sarcastically.

"Sorry.  It was just so weird.  Most of the people I passed were looking at
me funny and smiling, like they were about to laugh."

"I noticed it also.  Don't worry about it."  They entered the large kitchen
and sat at a small, out of the way table.  After they had settled, Magya
came over with some water and the pair noticed she bore a huge smile and
broke into a soft chuckle when she set the glasses down.

"What?"  was Ranma's annoyed response.

"Magya, what's so funny?"  Nabiki sighed humorlessly.

The older woman visibly gained control of herself before she spoke. "You two
lovebirds is what's so amusing.  I think the whole keep knows you slept
together in the barracks by now." She tried valiantly to keep a straight
face, but failed miserably as a few snorts of laughter come forth as she
turned to walk away.

"Hey! It ain't like that!"  Magya's began cackling loudly as she returned to
her other duties, while Nabiki slapped him playfully on the back of the
head.

"Oow.  What was that for!?!"  He turned to the girl as he rubbed the back of
his head.

"You have to learn to take a little teasing,"  she replied straight-faced.

Ranma scowled at her, looking perturbed at the rough treatment.  Nabiki
simply stared at him, a challenge issued on her face.  They stared at each
other like that for a minute before Magya returned with two plates full of
food.

"I was teasing a little, but you really shouldn't carry on like that in such
a public place," the older woman admonished the pair.  "I remember being
young and in love also, but sleeping together before marriage is something
you shouldn't advertise,"  Magya's voice had grown stern and both children
had the good sense to look contrite.

"We didn't do nothing,"  Ranma commented lamely.

"He's right, Magya, we were talking and just fell asleep.  Nothing improper
happened,"  Nabiki explained.

"I know, *children*, and so does everyone else.  Just don't let it happen
again.  Let me go get your food."  She replied before turning and leaving
again to resume her cooking.

"Next time, my room,"  Nabiki said softly when Magya was out of earshot.

Ranma looked at her for a second, a reply forming on his lips before bowing
his head, realizing discretion was the better part of valor.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^__^^^_^_^_^_^__^^_^


The next few weeks passed slowly as the Tsurani methodically wore down the
defenders.  They had not made an attempt at the other walls, but if things
didn't change they may not have to.  Ranma was standing idle at the edge of
the wall, one eye on the enemy soldiers, the other watching the skyline,
looking for the first telltale rays of light that would herald the
approaching dawn.

He took a break from his scrutiny of the outside world to turn and scan the
courtyard. He spotted three familiar figures making their way into the keep.
He wondered what they were up to, figuring he'd find out later he hoped that
they could have another 'talk'.  He often wished of late that he could be
bold enough to one day soon, succumb to his desires and fall asleep in her
bed.

The teasing from the night she visited him had died down after a couple of
days but the worst part was the hearing the few women in the keep comment on
the incident. The men's teasing he took in stride, they were a lot more tame
than the moron's back at Furikan.  The other soldiers had been far less
graphic and a lot more subtle in their commentary and questioning.  The
women on the other hand positive embarrassed him, their comments ranged from
the sickening sweet, "OH how cute!"  to admonishments, "How dare you sully
that girls reputation before marriage!".  The worst part was he still didn't
know what to do, he had no idea what was expected of him.  Well, he had some
idea, its just none of his ideas felt right.

One of the things that had changed was he was always sure to stop by
Nabiki's room before he went to bed.  As enjoyable as the night was, a
repeat performance was something he wasn't emotionally ready to handle yet.

When they were together he was happy, happier than he could have really
imagined.    He had never really derived happiness from someone else before
and he never felt this amount of trust in someone else.  "Nabiki, of all
people," he thought.  He was still waiting for her to turn around and sell
him, like his father had done so often, like SHE had done when they were
engaged before.  If he asked her to marry him, would she act like that
again, like he was some commodity, or would nothing change?  If nothing was
supposed to change, why get married?

"Keep alert Ranma!  They have time for one more attack if they stick to
their pattern,"  Algon the Horse-master said.  Ranma jerked his head back
from the doorway the women had long vanished into.

He blushed slightly at the admonishment as he met the older man's eyes.
Algon was a nice man but he really was most suited for dealing with horses.
Ranma nodded in reply, focusing again on the battlefield, already aware of
the situation and his duties.  Being a soldier was not to his liking.  He
tried hard to do what he was told, to perform his duties, but it just wasn't
his style.

His sojourn in Midkemia had given him a slight insight to some of his
problems in Tokyo.  He didn't like authority, he didn't like responsibility,
and he hated sitting tight and doing nothing but being one of the masses.
Ranma wondered if he would make a good leader someday since taking orders
definitely wasn't something he was good at.   He was also sick of sitting on
this wall.  There must be something he could do to drive the Tsurani from
the forest.

Ranma noticed Roland approaching Arutha, being trailed by a man he
recognized from the kitchen area.  Curious as to what was going on, Ranma
moved closer the Prince.

"Arutha, this is master Alfar.  He's in charge of the keep ferrets.  He has
something to show you."

"Alright, Alfar, what is it?"

The small man, in response to his summons, walked forward cupping a dead
ferret in his hands.

"Beggin, your Majesty's pardon, but this here's Jessup, found him this
morning as he crawled out of the sewer.  His back's been broke.  Must of
crawled for a while.  They're all well trained to return every night, 'cept
none has been back for a couple days."  Arutha looked at Roland for an
explanation.

"The ferrets kill rats in the sewers under the Keep."

"Sappers!" Arutha gasped in sudden realization. "They're using sappers to
dig a hole under the wall!  The cellar!  Roland, take some men! I'll go find
the hole."  Arutha and Roland shouted for some men to follow them as they
ran.  Ranma followed Arutha instinctively.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^^_^

Carline, Nabiki, and Kasumi were on their way to Nabiki's room.

"I'm tired of this. Do you think this siege is ever going to end?"  Nabiki
queried.

"I think it will eventually.  The men are doing the best they can and Arutha
says reinforcements should be arriving any day now,"  Kasumi replied.

"I know, big sister. It's just that Ranma's getting restless.  I think he's
planning something stupid,"  Nabiki fretted.

"Oh My! I hope he'll be careful."

"It doesn't matter if he's careful or not.  I think that bonehead wants to
go attack their camp.  He was asking if the catapults were capable of
reaching that far with burning oil," Nabiki replied exasperated.

"Surely he doesn't think a fire will end this siege?"  Carline scoffed.

"I think it's one of his martial arts moves.  He can create a tornado from
heated air.  That idiot,"  Nabiki spat.

"That sounds...  are you serious?" Carline sputtered out the question.

"He hasn't admitted it but it's the kind of thing he would try."  Nabiki was
fretting.  A year and a half ago she would have sold tickets to his attempt
and taken bets on the overall destruction, number of soldiers caught in the
tornado, how long it would last, and any other incidental things she could
think up.  Now she just wanted a way to talk him out of it.  He hadn't said
it exactly but she was beginning to understand how his mind worked.  Her
biggest problem was her arguments were selfish and for some reason that made
her feel low.  So far he had been vague so she couldn't outright forbid him.
He had talked about going scouting with Martin tomorrow when the huntmaster
was taking off.

"If he really could destroy their camp they would be forced to retreat,"
Princess Carline's simple statement brought home the selfishness of her
argument.  Maybe if she could get him to admit his plan she could find holes
in it to dissuade him.  If she tried to outright forbid him she didn't like
the chances of him listening, maybe he'd agree, but she was pretty sure he'd
sneak away and there would be a not so mysterious funnel cloud forming in
the enemy ranks.

The girls rounded a corner and stopped at the sight of four Tsurani soldiers
trotting briskly towards them.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^

Roland ran as fast as he could towards the cellar.  It was the lowest part
of the keep and some of the women were still there.  He had taken several of
his men from the wall and now led close to forty as they had picked others
up along the way.  They rounded the corner to the cellar and saw Tsurani
soldiers running out going down the other hall.  He could hear the screams
of women from beyond them as he charged.  He savagely took down two soldiers
right away, sending a third soldier down the steps back into the oncoming
Tsurani.  "Split-up half with me the others track down the soldiers that got
in."

He didn't wait for a reply as he charged down the stairs after the invaders.
Crashing into the soldiers at the bottom of the steps he didn't have space
to slow his descent as he and the Tsurani soldiers fell back into the hole.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^^

Algon stood atop the wall worrying about the interior of his keep and his
own ability to lead the wall defenses.  The Tsurani were charging, a charge
that began moments after Arutha had departed.  It was his duty and he
accepted it readily, but he had no wish to lead men.  Horses were his life,
his calling, and his love.  His position as third ranking officer of the
keep was honorary, depicting his position and the importance of horses to
the Kingdom and this keep.

He had no real skill at fighting or warfare, and the only men he ever led
before this incident were stable boys that moved on by the time they were
twenty.  It was one thing to order boys and young-men to perform duties he
knew better than most but it was completely different to order men who new
their duties better than he knew his.

He wished fervently that Fannon was up and about.  Algon knew what was
needed to be done, but it was now he himself who was giving the orders, not
another.  The men now looked to him for strength and confidence, something
he had never worried about showing before.  He straightened in defiance of
the oncoming charge, ordering the first cauldrons turned over as the first
ladders appeared over the battlements.

^_^_^_^_^^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^^_^_^^_^_^_^^_^_^_^

Arutha led men around the keep grounds, frantically searching for sounds of
movement under the earth.  It was excruciatingly slow work.  The whole
entourage would move ten feet, stop and listen. After a few moments they
would continue to the next stop along the courtyard to repeat the process.
He noticed Ranma had come along, but the boy didn't appear to be listening
to the ground like the others.  Ranma's actions were peculiar enough to
catch Arutha's attention momentarily.  The boy appeared to be staring at the
ground, searching for something while tracing something unseen to others
along the grass.

He returned to the task at hand, scampering a few feet along the edge of the
wall before stopping again to bend his ear to the earth.  There was the
faint sound of rustling and scrapping. "Here, start digging the counter
tunnel."  He scrambled out of the way as men with shovels started working.

The men made quick work of building a counter tunnel connecting to the
Tsurani's.  As soon as the counter tunnel was dug Arutha led men inside,
leaving a few to fortify the entrance.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^

Ranma noticed the tunnel being built, he had cursed the ground for not being
solid enough to find a breaking-point.  He was confident he could have
pulled it off, even without ever doing so before.  He considered the Moko
Takabisha, but quickly dismissed the thought.  There was no way he could
explain to Arutha and the other soldiers how he could create a tunnel
faster.  The Shishi Hokodan was for clay mining, so the Moko Takabisha
should definitely work on soil

The soldiers quickly finished the tunnel, making all of Ranma's musing mute.
Ranma watched Arutha jump down into the darkness and quickly followed,
snapping his staff in two as he followed.

He quickly found himself in a small cramped tunnel, about five feet tall and
three feet wide, tall enough for him to only bend slightly two men too
shuffle side by side, slowly.  Flaring his battle aura he charged ahead of
the other Crydee soldiers cutting down two Tsurani from behind before the
commotion alerted the others to his advance.  Moving methodically through
the soldiers he felt both exhilarated and disgusted as he felt the bodies
crumple under his onslaught.  This was the first real contact he'd had with
individual fighting since the siege started, but it meant a return to
killing up close and personal.

In a weird way he preferred it like this.  If he was going to be the bringer
of death this was the way to do it.  He wouldn't be able to deny it was his
hand that cause their deaths and it gave  his opponents more of a chance
than the carnage at the wall.  He also welcomed the revulsion, he had felt
himself becoming too detached to his actions.  He didn't like killing, but
if he was forced to do it he wanted to feel it, the disgust he felt at his
actions reaffirmed his sense of humanity as he waded through the carnage he
created.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^

Nabiki and Kasumi both took defensive stances while Carline drew her ever
present sword. "Kasumi take the princess to safety!"  Nabiki shouted.

"NO!"  Carline countered.

"We'll stay here, Nabiki,"  Kasumi agreed.

Nabiki said a silent thanks, she really wasn't the hero type, but she had
instinctively thought to protect her sister.  The soldiers slowed as they
approached, not sure what to make of three women trying to stand their
ground.  Nabiki and Kasumi had been the first to react, taking up lead
positions facing the soldiers.  The hallway was wide enough for four or five
abreast, but that would be tight and cut down on everyone's movements.
Nabiki was grateful Carline didn't try and squeeze into the front line,
instead staying a step behind and in-between the two other women.

"Carline, keep an eye on our rear,"  Nabiki called out before the first
Tsurani swung at her head.  It was a lazy swing that she easily avoided.
She felt her adrenaline surge as she struck at the soldiers wrist.  It
wasn't a powerful blow but she knew it stung, the soldiers shocked face was
confirmation enough for her.  She quickly stepped back as one of the
trailing soldiers had come up and swung at her.  Carline swiped at the
soldier drawing blood along his wrist, quickly following through with a
killing blow through his chest.  The soldier that had first struck at Nabiki
deciding that Carline was the biggest threat turned and viciously swung at
her.

Nabiki's biggest asset was her speed, the soldier had taken an overhead
swing with the apparent attempt splitting the princess's skull in two.
Nabiki noted the lack of attention the soldier paid her and used it make her
attack; springing out of the slight crouch she had assumed and lunging at
the soldier.  She impacted against his shoulder driving through him with all
her might, like a linebacker taking down an unsuspecting running back,
taking him off his feet.

While Nabiki and Carline were taking care of the two other Tsurani, Kasumi
was having problems of her own.  She wasn't as fast as Nabiki and her larger
frame made dodging without backing up a tad more difficult.  She had avoided
a couple of swings and thrusts while returning a few jabs of her own but
hadn't had an opportunity to disarm her opponent as his movements were short
and quick. The slightly cramped conditions impeding her limited abilities to
move more than she would have liked.

Just then the opening she had waited for was presented, not by her opponent
but by the fourth Tsurani soldier who had thought to strike from her side.
She had seen him coming from around the other soldier, apparently attempting
to flank her.  He charged in with a powerful sidearm swing.

What Kasumi lacked in speed or strength she made up for in a very acute
battle sense.  Kasumi dashed toward the Tsurani swinging at her quickly,
pivoting with his swing.   She grasped the man's forearm and accelerated her
spin.  Feeling a surge of exhilaration and excitement she released her enemy
into the other Tsurani that ha been frozen by the unexpected actions of this
woman.

The two fell to the ground just before Nabiki and the soldier she had
tackled crashed to ground on top of them.  Nabiki spun off the pile, landing
on all fours as she scrambled to get away.  Carline darted forward with her
rapier, thrusting indiscriminately into the pile.  The soldier that Nabiki
landed upon, bent forward, Carlines blow missed him as he swung forward
widely at the woman crawling away from him.

Nabiki let out a short howl as the sword tore threw her leg.  She turned
over quickly, sliding away from the soldier stumbling to his feet and
raising his sword again.

Carline had removed he sword from the impaled Tsurani and turned to run
through the other Tsurani that had injured the young girl.  She turned in
time to witness Kasumi plunge one of the Tsurani's sword into the last of
the invaders before dropping it and running to her sisters side.

Kasumi knelt at Nabiki's side, examining the wounded leg.  The cut was deep,
not quite to the bone, muscle tissue was clearly visible as Kasumi began to
treat her sister's wound.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^__^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^

Ranma continued to make his way through the tunnel, lighting his way with
his chi.  He had been going for a while now, unsure of his whereabouts.  He
estimated that he had cut down at least twenty soldiers and looking forward
he saw no signs of the tunnel exit.

^_^__^___^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^^_^_^_^_^_^_^^_

Arutha looked around the tunnel entrance, it appeared clear of Tsurani
soldiers at the moment.  "CLEAR THE HOLE!" he shouted before calling for the
soldiers who carried the torches.

"EVERYONE OUT NOW!"  he bellowed as the first log took flame.  He scampered
out of the tunnel, taking a guard position at the entrance with other
kingdom soldiers, watching as ally after ally emerged from the tunnel.  The
occasional alien emerged from the tunnel and was quickly dispatched by one
of the other Kingdom soldiers before the sounds of the fortifications
collapsing resonated out of the hole.

The last of the flames rose out of the whole as he stumbled away looking
back at the dust rising from the remnants of the counter-tunnel.  He sighed
and looked around at the other soldiers sitting in relief or helping wounded
comrades to the infirmary.

His eyes stopped wandering as they took in Amos swaggering up to him.

"Good fight there,"  Amos started.

Arutha grunted in response, "We were lucky they didn't breach farther.  We
should have been on the lookout for something like this."

"Aye.  We should've,"  the seaman replied seriously, "but don't kill yerself
with  should'ves.  You survived.  That's enough to be grateful fer.  You
just don't make the same mistake again."

Arutha nodded in response, "Have all the intruders been taken care of?"  he
inquired.

"Yeah, I just got word that yer sister and those alien girls took care of
four of them Tsurani bastards themselves,"  Amos said with gleeful wonder.
"I'm beginning to think that Ranma wasn't boasting when he said those girls
could take me."

"Carline?  Kasumi? Are they okay?"  Arutha asked worriedly.

"I hear she's fine, the girl Nabiki, got herself injured though,"  Amos
replied,"  They took Nabiki to her room to tend to her."

Arutha nodded his thanks to the other man as he ran to check on his sister
and Kasumi.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^__^_^_^_^^^_^_^

Ranma heard the rumblings from behind him followed closely by the alien
shouts of the Tsurani.  He quickly killed the soldier in front of him,
breaking his windpipe when he saw the soldiers all turn around and run.

He glanced over his shoulder watching as flames engulfed the tunnel.  He
could see the smoke approaching quickly and turned back to face the
retreating Tsurani.

"No you don't,"  he breathed evilly to the empty tunnel as he took off in a
trot after the retreating soldiers.  He barely gave a thought to how he was
going to return to the keep now, his focus on making The Tsurani rue the day
they messed with him.

^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^

Nabiki lay on her bed complaining about everything in general.  The wound,
which Kasumi healed as much as she could, still throbbed, and she would be
hobbled for a while.  The tears to the muscles had been repaired "mostly"
Kasumi had said.  They would still require time to heal properly and the
wound would leave a scar.

Carline had sent the Lady Marna out to find out information on the invasion,
after they had calmed her down sufficiently.  Nabiki had quickly grown
annoyed at the lady's insufferable coddling of Carline, when Nabiki had been
the one injured!

Kasumi had given her a cup of ale, the stuff tasted horrid, but she must
admit she was feeling a little relaxed right now.  This had the unfortunate
effect of making her wound all the more annoying.  Every time she shifted
her leg, the pain would intrude, annoying her more.  She would then settle
into a comfortable position only to move again and the process was repeated.

The door to her room opened again and she watched as Arutha strode in.

"Are you ladies okay?"  he asked immediately upon entrance.

"We're fine,"  both Carline and Kasumi replied.

Arutha visibly relaxed at their words, looking directly at Kasumi.

"They're fine, I'm the one hurt,"  Nabiki grumbled under her breathe.

"Did you say anything, Nabiki?"  Kasumi asked sweetly.

"No, nothing except, I'm hurt!"  she growled.

"Oh My!  Would you like some more ale?"

"Sure Kasumi,"  Nabiki replied enthusiastically.

"How are you, Nabiki?"  Arutha asked, finally shifting his attention to her.

"Just peachy, I love the feeling of having my leg cut open," she replied
drolly.

"Nabiki, be nice! He's just concerned for you."  Kasumi handed Nabiki
another cup of ale while turning to Arutha, "She's a little testy, the
injury was pretty severe."

"Oh, what happened?"

Kasumi informed Arutha of their earlier encounter in the hall.

"Where's Ranma?"  Nabiki asked suddenly, a chill forming in her bones.

"He was fighting in the tunnel with us.  I didn't see him in the courtyard,
I'm sure he came out in the cellar,"  Arutha answered.

Nabiki definitely didn't find comfort in his words. "You're sure he came out
in the cellar,"  she replied slowly a bit of venom in her voice.

"Ahh..."  Arutha stuttered.

Nabiki began to rise when Kasumi came over and placed a hand on her, "I'm
sure he's fine, Nabiki.  Arutha, would you have someone go bring him here?"
she asked.

"Sure,"  he replied quickly before leaving even more quickly.

"I'm sure he's fine, Nabiki,"  Carline said, trying to reassure the girl.

Nabiki head jerked toward the princess, leveling a glare at the young woman.
She didn't utter a word as Carline backed away refusing to meet Nabiki's
hard glare.

_<_>_<<>_<>_<>_<_><_<>_<>_><_><_><_><_>_<>_><_><_<>_>_<

Ranma had overtaken and killed the last of the Tsurani that had still been
left in the tunnel.  He continued his run down the tunnel, without bothering
to check to see if any of his fallen adversaries still lived.

All the pent up stress from his confinement in the castle was now driving
him forward.  The cramped fighting in the tunnel had further fueled his need
for release, his need to go wild.  A burst on energy he had no right to feel
after an entire night of fighting, had energized him and a need to take the
fight to the enemy was spurring him on.  He wouldn't wait around any more
for them to attack him.  He would be their attacker.  He had lost all
semblance of rational thought, he was left with only a need to drive them
out of the area or destroy them utterly.

He exploded out of the tunnel into a group of unsuspecting Tsurani.  Smoke
from the burning timbers followed him out of the tunnel, casting the
appearance of a man shot like a bolt from a ballista.  The rays of the sun,
hanging low in the horizon, shot from over his shoulders blinding those
unfortunate soldiers that turned to face their unknown threat.

Ranma didn't waste a second in thought or remorse as he began to unleash
death around him.  The first two went down together, two simultaneous
strikes destroyed two undefended windpipes.  The sound of their necks being
crushed barely registering in his mind as he continued his movement, lashing
out with either stick at those that would threaten to get too close to him.

He flowed through the first two, slamming one of his short staves down on
elbow, still reaching for a sword.  The bone cracked, splintering out
through the skin.  Ranma didn't notice as his other staff came across the
Tsurani's face, cracking the neck as the dead body dropped bonelessly to the
ground.

He hardly cared when the Tsurani began encircling him, all emotion had been
replaced by a calm clarity.  It was a simple fact, like the sun would rise.
No worry or excitement involve.  He was acting and reacting without thought.
His mind on auto-pilot.  Registering the data his senses relayed to his
mind, which responded automatically, without real thought.  When questioned
later he would never be able to recall this battle.  These moments never
lasted in his mind long enough to imprint into memory.

He waded through soldiers, destroying a kneecap of someone, followed by a
jaw, then a breast-bone.  Not all of his blows were fatal, but all were
critical and skillfully placed.  No effort was wasted on extra movements, no
thought was placed on retreat, or eventual exhaustion.

A soldier ran at him from behind, sword raised, crying in defiance.  Ranma
removed the stick from the caved in chest of the soldier in front of him,
turning his shoulder slightly he whipped the short staff around, breaking
the wrist of the soldier charging him from behind.

People talk about a 'zone' a state where the world slows down around them
and they perform by themselves for themselves.  Ranma had reached that state
with himself, with the world around him.  His mind was working at
full-capacity dissecting and destroying all those around him.

He spun, lashing out at the soldiers that continued to press him, sending
soldiers sprawling away.  The momentary respite allowing him to center
himself and surge forward again.  Taking a few more soldiers of balances, he
moved low, attacking the legs and ankles of those unfortunate to be in his
path.

The howls and screams of the dying and injured filled the airs, in contrast
Ranma uttered no sound moving through his enemies like a stiff breeze of the
ocean.

Warrior's would call it going 'berserk'.  The body turned into a machine.
No rationale thought existed, only instinct.  Instinct ingrained into the
mind and body of a youth from birth.  Instinct of one trained to use his
body as weapon, as a tool.

A sword was stopped inches from his face.  Ranma met the eyes of the
surprised soldier briefly as his foot found the groin of another soldier
that had rushed him.  Ranma quickly turned, sending an elbow into the first
soldier's jaw with the necessary force to break the neck.  He used the short
spin to send the jagged end of the staff he had used to block the deadly
strike into the neck of the stunned Tsurani.  Pivoting on his other foot he
ripped the stick out of the dying soldier and used the blunt end to send the
next soldier's nasal passage into his brain.

The carnage continued.  Ranma was unaware of how far he had traveled since
emerging from the tunnel.  He neither felt nor cared about the physical toll
this exertion was taking upon his body.  The adrenaline was overpowering.
The small nicks and scrapes he was receiving went unnoticed.

All of a sudden he was free.  There was no one left standing around him. His
mind slowly returned to normal, while weariness began to overcome him.  He
took a deep breath and looked at the bodies strewn around.

His first conscious impulse was to vomit at the gore surrounding him.  It
may have been worse if he had used a sword, but there was still plenty too
make him sick at the realization of his actions.  He looked at one
particularly gruesome sight, a soldier had his head torn off, not a clean
cut, flesh had been ripped from his skull and hung loosely from his neck, as
blood still poured out from a heart that was probably still pumping, still
unaware that it could stop.

He steadied himself from the sight, fighting to gain control of his stomach
and his bladder.  He never heard the arrow coming or he might have been able
to dodge, but he felt the piercing pain in his back as he toppled forward.

_<>_<>_<_>_<>_<>_<_<>_<>_<>_<>_<>_<>_<_<>_<_><>_<>_<

I found some inspiration for where this is going so hopefully I'll pick up
the pace a little.  The pace has been disrupted by the continued computer
problems I've had.  Hopefully the next part won't be that long in coming.
It's partially written and I have the outline in my head.

If you hadn't noticed I've been writing another story I'll plug here:)
"Prince of Time", check it out.

Next chapter,   Nabiki won't be to pleased with Ranma's disappearance, she
takes some matters into her own hands and is helped in her search for her
lost love.  The siege will definitely be over.

http://home.att.net/~kpjam/index.html



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