Here is Part three of my Cryptkeeper series....C&C are
welcomed......

The Cryptkeeper : The Hand of Goddess PT III
by Michael �Ranma13� Cerda

Revised 10/04/02

I do not take credit for the Ranma 1/2 characters. 
They are owned and created by the goddess Rumiko
Takahashi.  The rights go to her and Viz
communication.  This is my own story and in no way
express how Rumiko wanted her story to go.  With this
at mind, enjoy.

----------------

The moon rose over the mountain casting the night rays
over the forest that lied below.  The only thing that
could be seen was a pair of headlights weaving its way
down the road from the mountain.  Dirt was trailing
the vehicle as it took the turns at a dangerous speed.

Inside the jeep Ranma and his new companion were
bouncing around inside from the bumpy road.  �Thanks
for saving me.�

�I figured you could handle the situation.  We�ve been
through much worse. Still it�s better to be safe than
dead.�

Nodding as he quickly turned the steering wheel to
make a very sharp turn, �So how did you end up here?� 
Smirking, �Not that I mind.�

Grinning, �A week ago an artifact was stolen from the
British Museum.  The trail led me to a warehouse here
in Kyushu.  I was able to stow away on one of the
trucks that took me to the excavation site.  Sneaking
around I saw that they were surrounding you, so I
decided to step in.�

�What was the stolen artifact?�

�The Hand of Goddess,�

Ranma immediately stopped the car as they jerked
forward.  Turning to Lara, �You�re kidding me.� 
Turning back to the road, �Damn, I thought I
recognized the necklace Bolo was wearing.�

�Bolo has it?�

Pressing the gas, the jeep sped back up, �Yeah, I saw
it around his neck.�

�When I heard about the mirror being found I knew it
was more than a coincidence.�

Ranma thought, �This dig was a cover up for a
government project.  Bolo doesn�t sell his services
for cheap.  I have a bad feeling about this.�

Lara shrugged, �When we get back to Tokyo.  I have a
few contacts.�

Ranma nodded, �There are only a few group of people
who know everything that�s happening in Japan.�

�The Yakuza.�

�Yeah, They have the biggest information network.�

Handing Ranma a card and key, �This is where I�m
staying.  Use the key in the elevator, it�ll take you
to my penthouse.  Meet me tomorrow night at nine.�

Taking the key, �Yeah sure.�  Looking straight ahead,
�Thanks again.�

Lara turned to Ranma, �We have too much history.�

Ranma smiled, �Yeah,�

~~*~~

Kasumi was in the training dome punching and kicking
at invisible targets.  Jonah was outside watching her,
analyzing her movements.  He was impressed with what
he saw.  Jonah didn�t see any of the brute strength
like her sister tried to display.  Rather he saw a
very graceful martial artist who had the potential to
be much more.

�Kasumi, do you mind if I make a suggestion?�

�No, not at all.�  She was a little nervous, �Why did
you see something wrong with my technique?�

Shaking his head, �No, not at all.  It was just that I
overheard Master Ranma mention that you needed to work
on your speed.�

Kasumi thought about the morning and how he was able
to so easily overwhelm her.  �Yes your right.�

Getting out a small electronic pad, Jonah pushed a
couple of spots on the LCD screen.  Off to the side of
the dome, the floor slid open.  A tiny insect flew in
front of Kasumi.  She examined the tiny creature
further and found it to be a wasp.  

�What you�re looking at, is your speed training.�

Kasumi looked at the creature hovering in front of her
further.  Turning to Jonah with a quizzical look, �I
don�t understand.�

�What you�re looking at is the latest in technology. 
That�s a very small robot designed to look like a
wasp.  The object to the exercise is to hit before
being hit.  The wasp simulate the behavior of real
wasp and have electric markers at the end to act as
stingers.�

�That doesn�t seem to hard.�

�Ahh, but the beauty of this exercise is,� Jonah
tapped a couple of more screens,�let�s see how you do
with one hundred total.�

Kasumi turned around and saw a swarm coming toward
her, �You�re kidding.�

Jonah laughed, �A camera above you marked you as their
target.  They move just like real wasps.  When you tag
one, it will fall to the ground.  You need to hit all
hundred before your marked ten times.�

�What if I damage them?�

�Don�t worry.  They�re nearly indestructible.  You
would need to be very powerful to destroy one.  Are
you ready for level one?�

Gulping, Kasumi stood ready, watching the swarm in
front of her.  She had no choice, �Yes.�

Jonah started the exercise.  The swarm started buzzing
around Kasumi.  She quickly took care of the few that
tried to attack her.  She found out quickly that the
exercise was not going to be easy.  Within a couple of
seconds, she was marked four times.  Growing
frustrated, Kasumi became sloppy leaving more holes in
her defense.  In twenty seconds, the tiny robots
stopped and moved away.  The ones deactivated came
back alive and joined the others.  

Jonah entered the dome, �Well it says that you hit
forty.  Not bad for your first time.�

Kasumi was astonished, �I didn�t think that I hit that
many.�

�It�s getting late, would you wish to continue?�

Thinking about it, �Yes, just a little bit longer.�

Bowing, �As you wish.�

�By the way, how many can Ranma hit without getting
marked.�

Jonah thought, �He�s at level hundred, his record is
twenty-five thousand without getting hit.�

�What??�

Laughing, �Let�s start again.�

~~*~~

Slowly opening her eyes, Nabiki groaned.  The annoying
birds outside were chirping as she tried to fall back
to sleep.  Struggling to not wake up, Nabiki sat up
cursing the noise.  Getting out of bed she clumsily
made her way to the bathroom.  Splashing cold water
onto her face, she looked into the mirror.  Having her
father leave today was depressing.  Nabiki would never
admit it, but she enjoyed having him around.  With him
gone things weren�t going to be the same for her,
Kasumi and Nabiki.  She knew the reason why he was
leaving.  With him being in the house, he wouldn�t be
in the way for them to get to know Ranma better.  Her
father really wanted one of them to uphold the
agreement.

Turning on the shower, Nabiki undressed and stepped
in.  The hot water hitting her sensitive skin felt
great.  Her mind wandered to Ranma.  She knew that she
had feelings for him.  He had an incredible body, a
very strong fighter and the most important trait for
Nabiki.  Ranma was very intelligent.  It didn�t hurt
that he was rich, but to the surprise of most people,
that wasn�t the most important quality she looked in a
guy.  She respected Ranma and it took a lot for
anybody to earn her respect.  There was something
special about Ranma.  Finishing her shower, Nabiki
turned off the water and grabbed her towel.

Drying her hair, Nabiki walked into the bedroom.  The
cool air felt good against her warm bare skin.  Taking
out some clothes for the day, she quickly dressed and
exited her room.  Listening for anybody in the house,
she figured they were in the dojo.  Hurrying, she
definitely didn�t want to miss the fireworks.  Heading
downstairs and out the French doors in the back
hallway, Nabiki went out into the courtyard.  Ahead in
the grass, she spotted Jonah in a very formal Yuka
kneeling with his eyes closed.  Walking up to him, she
felt that something was wrong, �Good morning Jonah.�

�Good morning, Ms. Tendo.�  Without opening his eyes.

�What�s wrong?  You look so sad.�  Nabiki was worried.
 She only lived in the house for a couple of days, but
she grown fond of Jonah.

Opening one eye to look up at her, �Today is the
anniversary of the death of my wife and children.�

Nabiki was taken back by what he said, �I didn�t know
you had a wife let alone had children,� pausing, �I�m
very sorry for being rude.�

Jonah patted the ground next to him, �Don�t worry
about it.�  Nabiki knelt down next to him, he looked
out at the courtyard.  �It happened three years ago,
on Tuesday, Eight-nineteen in the morning.  My wife
was going through her normal morning routine.  She
would walk our eight-year-old son two blocks to school
and then walk one block to work.  The roads were wet
from the early morning rain.�  Taking a deep breath,
he felt the reassuring touch of Nabiki on his arm.  He
looked down at her and smiled.  Looking out at the
courtyards again.  �From what the reports said, the
driver lost control.  Swerving to avoid a parked car
that swung their door out.  The swerving car hit my
wife and son as they were crossing the street.  My
wife died instantly.  The paramedics tried to save our
unborn daughter who was only three months away from
being born, but they couldn�t do anything.  My son was
taken to the hospital, but he passed away four hours
later while in a coma.�  Jonah looked down at Nabiki. 
He reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes. 
�Please don�t cry Ms. Tendo, I�ve cried enough for the
both of us.�

Nabiki didn�t know what to say tears were running down
her cheeks.  She felt completely helpless.

Continuing, �A week after the accident, I was drowning
my sorrows in a bottle of Tequila that night.  Walking
along the Golden Gate Bridge.  I stopped and looked
down at the water.  Thinking about it now, it�s almost
frightening.  The water below the bridge looked so
warm and inviting.  I could almost hear it beckoning
to me.  Telling me that it would be so easy to just
jump.  My pain would be gone.  I wouldn�t have anymore
pain and sorrow.  All I had to do was just take the
plunge.  I stood on the second railing, still looking
down at the water.  From that point on, I decided to
jump.�

�Right when I was about to jump, still looking down at
the water.  I heard somebody yelling for me to stop. 
I looked over and saw a boy not much older than
thirteen or fourteen.  I told him to go away, and to
mind his own business. He said that nothing was worth
taking ones own life.  I don�t know why, but I told
him about my wife and children.  He just listened to
my story.  When I was done he told me that his mother
and father died from a drunk driver a few year before.
 I looked up and saw the fire in his eyes.  He had so
much life in them.  You could look at that kid and
tell he was going to live life to the fullest.  I
looked back down at the water and I didn�t see the
warmth that I felt before.  All I saw was cold and
blackness, as if it was the Grim Reaper himself.�

�I stepped down from the railing and sat on the
bridge.  All I could do was cry uncontrollably.  He
walked up to me and told me that my wife wouldn�t have
wanted me to die in such a way.  I thought about it
and agreed.  She wouldn�t have.  My wife was so happy
and full of life.�  Smiling, �She was the total
optimist.  He made me promise that I wouldn�t commit
suicide.  I agreed, but you know what?�

�What?�  Nabiki was totally engrossed with the story. 
Tears were flowing freely from her eyes.

�That was one promise, I knew that I couldn�t break. 
He said his name was Ranma Saotome and he would hold
me to that promise.  I looked up and he was gone.  I
thought that at first he was an Angel.  You know, like
�It�s A Wonderful Life.� Instantly I quite my job and
searched for Ranma.  It took me a year, but I found
him.  From that day on I pledged my loyalty to the
young man.�

Nabiki didn�t� know what to say, she saw Jonah look
out at the courtyard and close his eyes again.  She
did the same, saying a small prayer for his family.

Ranma stood on his balcony watching the two on the
lawn.  Upon their arrival he checked the three girls
out and Nabiki to him was the most interesting.  At
her school she was the most feared, due to her ways of
blackmailing people.  She also was a booky and loan
shark.  The name Ice Queen came up many times, but
what Ranma saw knew otherwise.  He knew the Ice Queen
was just a facade.  There was more to Nabiki than
meets the eye.

Jumping down from the balcony, Ranma landed softly has
he headed toward the two.  Reaching them, he put his
head down as he said a prayer.  Putting his hand on
Jonah�s shoulder, he gave a little squeeze.  Watching
Jonah nod, Ranma left heading to the dojo.

Jonah stood up, �Why don�t you relax Ms. Tendo.  I
have things to take care of. And Oh, Thank-You,�
Giving Nabiki a big smile.

Nabiki didn�t know what to say.  Nobody ever really
thanked her before, �Your welcome,� She smiled back,
�I�ll be in the dojo, Jeeves.�

Jonah bowed, �Very well, Ms Tendo,�

Leaving in opposite direction, Jonah headed to the
mansion while Nabiki caught up with Ranma.  She
latched onto his arm as they walked to the dojo.

Ranma was taken by surprise.  Looking down he saw the
happiness on her face.  A word wasn�t said between the
two as they entered the dojo.

(incomplete)



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