Ranma stared into the firelight.  They had been traveling 
for a day and had no luck in tracking down the renegades.  
The burned out jeep had been found early in the morning, 
but the meager trails leading away from the site were 
conflicting.  Two sets of tracks had led from the site, and 
the ones he thought were Vash's had been accompanied by a 
woman's.  It had most likely been Minako's friend, judging 
from the size of the tracks, but they had inexplicably 
vanished, Vash's much sooner than the girl's.

He had been so close, but again came up empty.  Blaming the 
girls had been his initial reaction, but he wasn't going to 
take that cop-out.  An opportunity to kill had presented 
itself, but he had hesitated.  His father would have called 
him a sissy for it, and he would have agreed.  Something 
had held him back, forced him to listen to Vash instead of 
striking before Minako had interrupted.

He was now traveling with the girls that had interrupted 
him.  Chuckling at the irony, he had to admit Nabiki was on 
top of her knowledge.  The woman had confirmed what he had 
suspected concerning the identities of his companions.  
Words had come out of Tokyo.  News was uncommon, but the 
magic properties of the girls who ruled the city were known 
outside the city.

Nabiki had given him a bit of a hard time about the members 
of this makeshift band, and he would be loath to admit it, 
he was actually somewhat impressed with them.

The conversation during the day had been light and humorous 
at times.  He didn't remember the last time he had enjoyed 
the company of strangers.  His existence, except for Nabiki, 
had been one of almost complete isolation.

"Ranma."  The tentative voice filled the night-time air.

"Heya, Minako," he replied lazily while he kept his eyes on 
the dying fire.

He heard her take a seat next to him.  They sat in silence 
for a few minutes before Minako broke it.  "What's the 
purpose of killing Vash?"  The timid question shot trough 
Ranma like a volt of lightning.

"He has to pay."  His voice had lost all emotion, and he 
could feel the weight of them crash upon the cool crisp 
night.

"How much?"

"What?"  He blinked and looked at her askance.

"How much does he have to pay?  How much is enough?" she 
asked sadly.

"Enough to settle for my father, Mr. Tendo, Nabiki, Ukyou, 
Akane, Kasumi, the others in the shelter," he grated out 
through his teeth.

She said nothing for a while.  He assumed she was done with 
her questioning and started to relax, until he heard what 
he thought was a sniffle.  He turned and saw the firelight 
reflect form the moisture on her face.

"Out of my closes friends, only me and Usagi had both of 
our parents.  Rei's parents were in the states, Makoto's 
are dead, Ami's are divorced.  Mine are.... were perfect.  
The day the war started I was out with Makoto."  She 
stopped speaking and Ranma felt his heart sink to the 
ground, and felt like he wanted to sink even lower.

"We heard the sirens and decided we'd track down mom and 
dad.  They didn't have cell-phones.  We could get in touch 
with our friends and their parents all made it to a shelter 
safely.  Even Rei's parents made it to safety, and even 
made it back to Tokyo after the war," she said fondly, a 
cruel smile graced her porcelain face before she continued, 
"Makoto stayed with me as we searched shelter after shelter 
and nothing.  I remember Makoto finally dragging me to 
safety.  The next year.... the next year was the worst of 
my life."

Minako stopped speaking and the hurtful silence tore at 
Ranma's heart.  He wanted to make the confession stop.  He 
didn't need to hear anymore.

"During the year in the shelters, I convinced myself I 
could find them.  That they made it to another shelter and 
were waiting for me.... the only price I want someone to 
pay is to bring them back.  I'd pay whatever it was for 
that.  And no one can pay it," she shambled to her feet as 
Ranma tentatively reached for her.  Failing as she ran past 
him, around an outcropping.

As he watched her go, he noticed Hotaru standing there, 
looking at him pityingly.   He stared back at her, eyes 
coming alight with fire, challenging her assessment.

The deadlock was broken by a slight shaking of her head, as 
she turned and walked after her friend.


Xxxxxxxxx






Enemies of the Crystal State
Chapter 7 
by KPJAM

Creators of   
Scryed Yousuke Kuroda(scenario), Yasunari Toda(manga)
Trigun - Yasuhiro Naitoh
Sailor Moon - Naoko Takeuchi 
Ranma1/2 -  Rumiko Takahashi

Earlier episodes can be found at http://kpjam.anifics.com




Ranma slowed to a halt, the small trail they were traveling 
along passed near the crest of the mountain.  It was 
apparently the last mountain in this contiguous range.  
They had been moving for days at a decent pace, the girls 
making good speed on the donkey, which pleased the young-
man.

"Do you think they're down there?" Minako asked from her 
saddle.

"Dunno," Ranma grunted answering the question automatically 
without paying it much thought.  He had been a little extra 
uneasy around her for days, now.  Feeling like he should 
apologize wasn't a notion he was fond of and he she acted 
almost like he had done nothing wrong.  So why did she run 
away crying?

He looked at familiar town below, if it could be called a 
town.  A collection of scattered homes and tents centered 
around a small lake in the river that came down from the 
mountains.  It was the site of a fond childhood memory from 
his childhood turned into something horrible in this post 
apocalyptic world.
 
"Do you think we lost them?"  Hotaru queried.

Ranma turned to the two girls, taking in the view of the 
weird two headed girl that looked at him.  Hotaru has 
looking over Minako's shoulder, showing a comfort for each 
other that caused Ranma to suppress a pang of nostalgia and 
envy.

Sighing, he answered, "Don't know."   His instincts told 
him they had lost them.  Vash might have been able to keep 
a fast enough pace to stay ahead of them, or even outpace 
them, but he didn't think the other could.  There was also 
the magical girl out there.  She had been hot on their 
trail and apparently destroyed the jeep.  All of that meant 
that either the magic girl caught Vash and took him back to 
Tokyo, abandoning her friends, or they were traveling 
together and outpaced them, or just gone in a different 
direction.  All of these items he had talked over with both 
Nabiki the other night and the girls here.  The uncertainty 
and unanswered questions all frayed at the young-man's 
temper.

"I think maybe you two should stay here."  The abrupt 
request caused both girls to narrow their eyes.

"Why?" the high-pitched chorus sent a small shiver down 
Ranma's back.

"It's a particularly bad place."

"I think we can take care of ourselves," Hotaru's responded 
quickly and vehemently.

"It's nice that you're concerned, Ranma.  But we really can 
handle ourselves."  Minako replied sweetly.  It was the 
same double teaming he had come to hate.  If he attacked 
Hotaru's response, like he really wanted to, he was afraid 
he's upset Minako.  If he attacked Minako, it would open 
him up to a verbal onslaught by Hotaru.

He took in a deep breath of air as he tried to come up with 
a retort, anything to actually win one argument, but the 
words wouldn't form.  "Just looking out for ya," he 
responded finally as he turned and headed down the road 
back into another broken memory. 


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Minako rode closely behind the jogging Ranma, Hotaru rested 
against her back.  Their escort slowed his trot as they 
approached the outskirts of the village.  The irregular 
clatter of Bean's hoofs could be heard as the donkey 
stepped on the irregularly spaced concrete.  The slabs were 
remnants of the road that used to be here, now covered in 
years of dirt.

"How come there aren't any walls around this city?"  The 
blonde asked when they approached the first of the houses 
in the outlying area.

"Don't need 'em.  No one would try and take something from 
this place.  Not worth it," Ranma replied in a defeated 
voice.

Minako frowned, wondering what would cause such a reaction 
from him.  She felt she was a pretty good judge of people -
- as long as she wasn't romantically involved -- and this 
reaction seemed wrong from Ranma.  Dejection wasn't 
something she'd expect from him. 

"What's that supposed to mean, Ranma?"  

Minako shivered as Hotaru's breath tickled her ear.
 
"Listen, this place is full of the lowest people.  They 
have no morals.  They make money by preying on others.  The 
only income in this town is what they steal on their 
raids."

Both girls were silenced by the short speech, wondering 
kind of people inhabited this place.  They sounded no worse 
than some of the people they had already met on their quest.  
So why was Ranma acting so strangely?


Minako reared up as they crossed the invisible threshold 
that marked the border of the town.  Three monks, dressed 
in warn brown habits, came out of a house that was 
immediate in front of them.

They approached slowly and bowed.  "Welcome, Children.  Do 
you come to seek enlightenment?"  The tallest one, that was 
apparently the leader asked.

"Nope.  Already light enough," Ranma replied sourly.

"Ranma!"  Hotaru had mimicked Minako's instant admonishment.
 
"It's all right ladies.  We're used to the unbeliever's 
words.  He will see the light, maybe sooner than he 
thinks."

"I've been here before.  So why don't you just drop the 
act?" Ranma replied tiredly.

"I know not what you mean, Son.  Seek out our shrine by the 
lake, and speak to one there.  They will have answers to 
you questions."

"I know I won't find the answers I'm looking for there.  So 
why don't you just scram."

"I'm sorry our friend is so rude," Minako supplied, smiling 
brightly to the men.

"Yes.  He's a bit brusque," Hotaru agreed.  Minako could 
feel her nodding her head from behind.
 
"It's okay.  As I said, we are used to the words of such as 
him," the man said haughtily at Ranma.

"Geez.  Give it a rest, you crooks.  Last time I was here, 
you "clergy" tried to kill me with those guns you hide 
under those dresses," Ranma growled angrily.

"You are mistaken, my son.  The good work cannot be 
accomplished by the use of force.  It is a weakness of the 
mind and spirit."

"Grr... Fine!  Want me to prove it!" Ranma bellowed as ran 
at the lead monk.  The monk shied back, moving his arms 
into a defensive position: making a feeble attempt at 
warding off blows that never came.  Ranma instead went for 
the man's attire, quickly grasping the robe by the collar 
and pulling it down swiftly until it got stuck around the 
man's waist.

"Ranma!" both girls yelled in outrage.

"What do you think you're doing?!" the man yelled as the 
other two moved try and protect their leader.

Ranma ignored them, seemingly miffed about something as he 
examined the man's shoulder and midriff that were bare 
except for the white tank.  At some unannounced moment when 
the other two apparently moved too close, Ranma moved again.  
He seemed to blur quickly, meeting the charge of the other 
two, he stripped them both of their habits.  Leaving them 
standing there exposed to the world, one naked, and the 
other wearing a small white jockstrap.

"Since when do you losers leave your holes unarmed," he 
groused as he threw the clothing back at their faces.

Minako had dismounted while Ranma was stripping the clergy 
and took hold of Ranma, wheeling him around and yelling, 
"What the hell are you doing?!  They're priests!"

Ranma stiffened.  "You don't get it.  They wear the robes 
to conceal their weapons.  And to mock the _real_ order 
that used to be here.  They keep a few of the ones around 
for their sick kicks!"

She spun Ranma around quickly, making him face the poor men 
who were struggling to get dressed.  "Do they look like 
armed criminals or pious men?!"  She asked exasperated, but 
trying to regain her temper.

Ranma's shoulders slumped.

"Good," she exhaled, "maybe we can get this sorted out and 
be on our way before Ranma causes any more trouble."

Ranma jerked away from her lingering grasp and spoke 
without turning around.  "Stay in this area and try and 
find out any information you can.  There's a small shop 
five blocks that way," he pointed down the road, "a few 
doors down after that, there was a decent inn called 'The 
Habit.'  Meet me there in two hours.  Rent a room there as 
well."

"Where are you going?"  Minako called after him.

"I need to go to the other part of town, get information 
from a couple of old acquaintances.  If anyone has the 
information that we need, it will be one of them."  Ranma 
seemingly disappeared around a nearby corner before either 
woman could say anything further.

"We're very sorry about our friend," Hotaru said, walking 
up to the defrocked men.

"As I said before, it has happened before.  Although he was 
a bit more physical then we're used to."  He and the others 
began dressing.

"Can we make it up to you?"  Minako was feeling mortified 
at Ranma's actions.  She wasn't religious, but Ranma's 
unparalleled rudeness needed to be made up for.

"There is no need.  He will one day learn the error of his 
ways."  The three men finished dressing, and bowed to the 
ladies.  "I hope you enjoy your stay."

"I'm sure we will.  And again, we're sorry." Minako bowed 
in return.  

They watched the men disappear into the town.  Right before 
Minako suggested they check out that inn and see if they 
could find any information, they were interrupted.

"He's right, you know."

Both women spun quickly at the voice.  Standing in front of 
them was a young girl of twelve.  Her face was glistening 
with streaks of sweat as she carried two large buckets 
attached to a pole slung across her back.  An old matted 
apron with house frock underneath hung loosely from her 
slender frame.  Matted black hair trailed over her 
shoulders, tangles could be seen clearly, sending her hair 
in unexpected directions.  The dour expression on her face 
wrung at Minako's heart, as she couldn't believe someone so 
young could look so put upon.

"I'm glad of that.  Ranma should calm down, attacking 
priest is no way to go through life."

"Eh?"  The girl looked at them like they had grown more 
heads.  "I meant your friend was right, you ditz.  Those 
_priests_ are all fakes."

"Heh!  I am not a ditz!  And those nice men most certainly 
were priests!"

"Keh.  The only religion they know is perversion and power.  
You should get out of here while you still can.  If you're 
really not a ditz, you'll take your friends warning 
seriously and just wait for him outside of town."
 
"Then why are you still here?  If it's so bad, why stay?"  
Hotaru asked in a voice that conveyed both concern and 
disbelief while stepping up to the small girl.

"And go where?  How?  You both came from somewhere.  In 
fact, You both look like you came from someplace nice," she 
said, looking critically at the clothing the two girls wore.  
"A little travel stained, but nice stuff.  Probably made 
after the war, too.  No one comes here for any good reason, 
not even tradesmen.  They're smart enough to stay clear."

Minako frowned as she moved forward to stand next to her 
friend.  The next question on her lips died as a woman 
called from a short distance away.

"Luna!  There you are."  They both turned and dropped their 
jaws as a woman out of a bad story came running forward.   
If you could call the abbreviated strides she made in high 
heels and hose, running.   There was a red garter that went 
up under her black micro mini-skirt. The garter matched the 
panties that they were flashed with as the skirt rode to 
far up for decency from the woman's attempt at running.   
The tube top adequately covered her large breast, but the 
fit left nothing to either senshi's imagination.  There was 
a strong resemblance to the girl they were talking to; long 
black hair, although it appeared to be kept up and similar 
facial structure and eyes marked the newcomer as a relative 
of the girl they were talking to.  Although instead of the 
sour face the younger girl looked upon them with, the 
newcomer displayed a lascivious hunger in her eyes.
 
"I was getting worried, you'd been gone for much longer 
than usual.  Oh! Hi!" she exclaimed as she apparently 
noticed Minako and Hotaru for the first time.  "Luna, what 
have you been telling these people?"  She frowned at the 
little girl and put her hands on her hips.

"I was telling them what I wished someone would have told 
us:  to stay the hell away from this hell-hole."  She 
sneered in response, angry eyes blazing at the older woman.

They stared at each other for a minute.  The awkwardness of 
the situation kept both Minako and Hotaru quiet.  The 
strange arrangement was finally broken when the older girl 
relinquished her stance, shaking her head sadly, and 
turning to the two women.  "Forgive her, she just doesn't 
understand."

"I do too.  You sold your soul to the devil and don't even 
mind," Luna hissed at the older woman.

"My sister Luna here doesn't understand the ways of the 
world now-a-days."  She seemed to consider both Minako and 
Hotaru for a moment before she spoke again.  "You girls 
here for work?  Two beauties like you could make a killing, 
especially if you keep your wits about you.  I can put in a 
good word for you at the inn.  The pay sucks, but it sucks 
everywhere now.  But the tips can be lucrative," she smiled 
and moved closer to Hotaru.

"You are especially luscious looking.  She reached out, 
taking a hold of a strand of the stunned girl's hair.  "If 
you want," she purred as she leaned closer, "I can show you 
a few pointers.  I know I'd enjoy it."

"Ouch!" Hotaru exclaimed as the woman's hand was forcibly 
extracted from Hotaru's hair by the younger girl.

"Lina, stop that!  No one wants to do what you do.  It's 
disgusting!"  She shrieked and slapped her sister, before 
running off.
 
Lina sighed, "Kids these days just don't know what it take 
to make it in this world."   She walked over and picked up 
the buckets and pole that had been dropped.  "If you want 
work.  Look me up at "The Pleasure Palace."  I'll be there 
in about two hours.  Come by even if you don't want work, 
I'd love to entertain either of you... or both," she said 
as she lipped her upper lip before turning.  She stopped 
for a second, peering over her shoulder and saying, "Ask 
for Lina.  Lina Perverse.  I'll be waiting." 

Minako shuddered as she watched Lina saunter away. 


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Ranma ducked down the closest alley he could find.  Annoyed, 
frustrated, and just plain embarrassed about the whole 
affair.  He took some calming breaths, before pulling a 
scarf out of his pocket.  Taking a glance around to make 
sure he wasn't observed he cloaked his aura, invoking the 
invisibility technique of the Umi-sen-ken.  They reminded 
him of his father, and the mixed feelings he had for the 
man.  Extremely bothersome at times, he was great at 
certain things.  The two schools he had created, and passed 
on to Ranma to safeguard on his death bed, had been a 
testament to his skill and ability.  

Genma had asked two things of him on his death bed, he was 
proud of what he had done with the "art,' the other wish 
was still causing him headaches.  He briefly thought of 
Nabiki, and vowed to convince her once he finished this 
business with Vash and Knives.

He jumped up onto one of the small roofs, moving swiftly, 
but carefully across the rooftops.  The people who lived 
here knew nothing about making anything structurally sound, 
only wanting something to withstand the elements.  The 
shoddy workmanship made him extremely careful concerning 
where he stepped and landed, lest a roof tile cave in and 
dropped him into someone's living room.

His trip to the old abbey didn't take long.  Although the 
city was a bit spread out which made jumping from roof to 
roof troublesome, it wasn't all that large.  There was a 
small hill near the central lake that had looked incredibly 
goofy to him when he had first visited this town on his 
travels.  The hill was most likely man made, an affectation 
to the prominence the order that had run the town made to 
their religion and had also allowed the townsfolk and 
pilgrims who came to look up to the temple and religious 
head of the order.  The last time Ranma was here, he still 
had been an inhabitant of the hill, just not occupying the 
same living quarters within the temple.  He hoped he was 
still there.

There was an ornamental wall that surrounded the base of 
the hill.  Not bothering to make his way to the front gate, 
Ranma hopped over the side and made a bee-line up the hill.  
He noted the lack of guards around, surmising that the 
current leader of the community had effectively decimated 
the rival factions that had been in place previously.

The revamped tool shed, that was his current destination, 
was located on the side of the temple.  It was cleverly 
placed in a depression on the hill, making it difficult to 
see from the city.  Conversely, you could see one of the 
smaller plazas clearly from the window.  It was the 
auctioning plaza, and being able to see it from the shed 
was a special treat for its prisoner.

He glanced down at the plaza and regretted it instantly.  
Torn clothing and bloodstains littered the area, and he 
could clearly see the floor of the pit, or at least more of 
it than he wished to.  

Frolicking around the pit were dozens of denizens of this 
once pious town.  The scene caused an involuntary shake in 
the young man as he took control of his anger, promising to 
one day clean this place out when he had the leisure.  The 
occasional high-pitched scream and raucous laughter could 
be heard from his slight height.  He dismissed the vision 
he had just seen: the crowd that had gathered to watch the 
participants who were both willing and unwilling was thrown 
from his mind.

He needed to be gone from this place, he didn't know 
exactly what his current companions were capable of, but he 
didn't want them subjected to this.  Flashbacks from his 
last visit with Nabiki came back then, unbidden memories 
that weighed too heavily on his heart, another set of 
failures he had to atone for.

Nabiki had been rescued that time, if only barely.  But it 
was way too close for his pride to accept.  He should have 
never left her alone, and he worried he was repeating the 
same mistake this time.  The memory of her surrounded by 
leering half dressed men, men who he had thought were 
priest, while she lay on the ground motionless, disheveled 
and, wearing only her shredded blouse and panties caused 
him to involuntarily swallow, the taste of bile prominent 
in his mouth.  

He arrived at the shed.  Finding the window open, he jumped 
in quietly, looking around for people as he moved.  The 
only lighting in the room was provided by the open window.  
A single unlit candle rested on a rickety and otherwise 
bare nightstand.  The old man he sought was seated cross-
legged and meditating in the middle of the room, next to 
the single cot.

"Old Man," Ranma hissed with venom in his voice as he 
dropped his technique.  "Still think pacifism and goodness 
will save any of these people?"

The venerable priest turned his head to face Ranma, not 
moving any part of his body below the neck.  Ranma looked 
at the aged man, deep bags hung under his eyes, and 
wrinkles lay upon wrinkles.  He looked into the dusty gray 
eyes and saw a sadness that maybe matched his own.  He 
hated the man for not fighting back, for not leaving, and 
most of all for being right when he told Ranma to flee all 
those years ago.

"I can only do what I can do.  My life, what little there 
is of it, is only of use to try and give comfort to those 
here who still seek it.  You know this, Ranma."

Ranma nodded, wanting badly to rebuke the old man's words, 
but in a strange moment of empathy, and self awareness, he 
knew he didn't have the strength of this man.  He would 
throw his life away trying to win, only to fail, which was 
the crux of his hatred.  He had too much to lose by dying 
carelessly, and this would be a very careless death.

"Why have you returned?"  The monk asked, staring intently 
at Ranma before continuing, "I do not wish to see you 
harmed."

"Vash."

"Have you completed your quest, and now wish for 
forgiveness?"  The pity in his voice grated on Ranma's 
nerves.

"No!  I was following him and this was the direction he was 
headed.  He might have been with a few others, but probably 
alone."

The other man nodded solemnly.  Continuing to look straight 
at Ranma, straight into his soul, he said, "There have been 
few strangers here lately, thankfully.  I would have heard 
if your brother entered this town."

"He's not my brother!"

"He was.  Of that I was sure.  The other, Knives, had a 
troubled soul, as do you now.  But Vash was, and most 
likely still is, an innocent.  He would have made a 
wonderful addition to The Order," the last was said 
wistfully.

Ranma stopped, not wanting to fight with this man anymore, 
he glanced outside, regretting instantly his view of the 
debauchery.
 
"I'll never forgive these bastards. When I'm done, I'm 
coming back here to clean this place up.  I don't care what 
it costs."

"Son.  There are some things that must play themselves out, 
you can't force them with violence, no matter how good you 
intentions.  How is your arm by the way?"

"Fine.  I've always been a fast healer, and it was only a 
flesh wound."

"And Nabiki.  I'm sorry I couldn't have been of help."

"She's fine.  We came to an understanding after she 
healed."

"And did you two ever." the old man paused at the sound of 
people approaching.  "You must leave.  I have work to do, 
and your presence will only add to it."

Ranma sighed, again trying to remain calm.  He had gotten 
what he needed, if Vash had been through here, the 
destruction would have kept the old geezer busy tending to 
the wounded.
 
"Please, now.  It's bad enough as it is.  They get worse 
when they smell blood in the air, and if any recognize you, 
they'll all come.  Amateo put a large bounty on your head 
in response to the wound you gave him.  Even though he's 
gone, the bounty stands."

"Shame I didn't get to kill him," Ranma said coldly.

"Just go now, before all hell breaks loose again.  They 
took out their frustration on the townsfolk after you left 
last time.  I had to care for those they didn't kill."

Ranma reluctantly nodded shamed into silence, before taking 
out the handkerchief again.  He invoked the technique and 
slipped out the window just as two scrawny men lumbering up 
the hill, bellowing for the old man.  He considered for a 
second before he fled, rushing back to make sure the girls 
hadn't gotten in any trouble.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Minako and Hotaru entered the common room of the small inn.  
They had already registered and dropped their supplies off 
in their room.  It was a small room in a small bungalow 
that had another room for Ranma to stay in.
 
The establishment wasn't crowded, a barkeeper sat lazily 
behind the small bar that had barely enough space for the 
three stools that stood in front of it.  The room it was 
contained in had a few small tables that the patrons could 
kneel around.  One was full, a group of men sat around it, 
talking boisterously and sharing sake.  Another table was 
occupied by a couple of men sharing a meal.  Turning to 
Minako, Hotaru nodded in their direction and walked up to 
them, intent on pumping them for information.

"Hello," she said in the friendliest voice she could muster.  

They both turned to face the women, having ignored them to 
this point they seemed to come alive with interest showing 
clearly on their faces.

"Hi," the shorter and dumpier looking of the two said.

"You guys live here?" she continued, feeling they were her 
audience now.

"Last five years," the other man replied while his 
companion nodded.

"What's it like here?  You have any problem with the 
priests?"  Hotaru queried, trying to find a solution to the 
riddle of Ranma's earlier actions.

Both men visible reacted to the question, eyes narrowing 
and brows creasing.  Hotaru couldn't be sure if the 
question had caused the men to be surprised, insulted, or 
worried.  They glanced at each other before the first one 
replied, "Naw.  They get along with the townspeople just 
fine.  Why do you ask?" 

"A friend of ours said he had trouble here a few years 
ago." 

Both men chuckled nervously before the balding man spoke.  
"He probably tried to interrupt one of their ceremonies."

"That really would piss them off," the other man added 
before they both started laughing lightly at some joke 
neither woman could understand.

"Ah... that could be the reason.  What type of ceremony?"

Hotaru spun quickly when she heard a voice speaking from 
behind them.

"Just a ceremony where young women give up their belongings 
to provide a service for the order," the lead monk, who 
Ranma had humiliated earlier, said.  He was standing a foot 
away flanked by the others that had accompanied him earlier.

"So they donate their belongings to you guys and you throw 
a ceremony for them?"  Hotaru asked after she had regained 
her bearings of the situation.  Hotaru found the revelation 
strange, wondering if maybe they were extremely poor.  It 
must be something big for them to through a ceremony for a 
simple donation. 

"We are a very gracious organization, and everything helps.  
You can't overlook the importance of some things to some 
people, especially young women like you."   His lips curled, 
in what some might call a smile, Hotaru thought was hunger 
as his eyes seemed to travel the length of her body.

"I'm sure whatever it was that these women gave up was 
important, but it seems like such a big deal for merely 
possessions?"

"If you doubt the value of their offerings why don't you 
ladies make them as well?  It just so happens we came back 
to find you and see if your piousness was high enough to 
offer yourselves to our order."

"I think we'll pass," Minako said quickly, getting a very 
eerie feeling about the priest currently.

"I don't believe we have anything of significant value,"

"Actually, I think you both have things of extraordinary 
value to add.  Right?"  The question was addressed to his 
companions.  Who both agreed enthusiastically, nodding 
their heads and lewdly stared straight at the woman's 
breasts.  "You'll both come with us, right?"

Hotaru shifted back slightly, reflexively dropping into a 
defensive posture.

"If you think we're going with you, you have another think 
coming," Minako said arrogantly.  Hotaru inwardly winced at 
the flubbed line, but nodded in agreement, hoping to 
convince the monks of their earnest desire to be left alone.

The chuckled and the leader spoke again.  "I know exactly 
what's going to happen, and it's 'thing coming', not 
'think'."

"You're wrong on both accounts.  My friends and I aren't 
leaving here, at least not with you.  And it's 'think'!" 
she said the last tauntingly.

"Minako, it is 'thing'," Hotaru sighed, having had enough 
of these people.
 
"Nope."  Minako smiled and shook her head, "It's 'think'"

"'Thing' you silly bitch!" the head clergy growled.  
"Anyway, you _are_ coming with us, NOW!"

"It's 'think'.  It's the original saying from sometime in 
the early nineteen hundreds England," she said smugly.  
"And we aren't going anywhere with you!"

Hotaru turned and stared at her friend.  She didn't know 
what was bothering her more right now, that Minako was 
arguing a stupid point about a stupid saying, or that
Hotaru had the sinking feeling that Minako had actually 
gotten a saying correct.

Minako turned to her friend and offered her an explanation, 
"Ami used the wrong phrase once, and Setsuna was there to 
correct her.  They got into a disagreement and Ami looked 
it up in her computer.  Seems Setsuna was right.  Ami was 
sooo upset," she finished her small speech with a giggle.  
"Anyway, you guys can go now."   She shooed at the men.

"I think not.  If you ladies would be so kind," he took a 
step forward, reaching out for Minako.

Minako recoiled slightly and slapped his hand away.  "Hey.  
Don't you dare."

"That's enough," Hotaru yelled.

"You'll pay for that," the man said, as he massaged his 
hand were it had been slapped.

"Just leave now," Hotaru said before something large hit 
her in the back of the head and she lost consciousness.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Ranma entered the small lounge area hoping to see the girls 
at one of the tables. He brushed off the short pang of 
worry that formed in his chest.  The same scenario wouldn't 
play out twice, he wouldn't let it. He had warned these two, 
and they hadn't had any time to get into trouble. The 
receptionists had informed him they had already checked in, 
and had entered the lounge a mere thirty minutes ago. So 
why weren't they there?  He chided himself for his 
excessive worrying and stepped up to the bar.

"Hello," he said in way of greeting.

"What can I get ya," the lazy reply answered him.

"I was supposed to meet a couple friends here. Two girls.  
A blonde and one with purple hair.  Have you seen them?"

The bartender stared blankly at Ranma, not saying a word. 
Ranma was about to say something when he remembered a 
common rule: "You pay for everything."  A moment later a 
few bills were fanned on the counter under Ranma's hand.  
The bartender looked at the visible denominations and 
seemed to consider for a moment. Ranma sighed and began to 
slowly pick up the money when the spoke again.

"I seem to remember now," he said as his hand reached out 
to clutch the bills before they disappeared. "They were 
talking to two guys sitting at that table," he indicated 
one of the empty tables," a short while ago. I went back to 
get some supplies and they were gone when I came back.  The 
guys they had been talking too left a short while after 
wards.

"How long ago?" Ranma asked with a scowl now on his face.

The bartender motioned for more money, and Ranma quickly 
put another bill in the greedy man's hand.

"The guys left maybe ten minutes ago, the ladies about 
fifteen to twenty.

"Thanks," Ranma replied dryly. Turning and running out of 
the small lounge.  He stopped suddenly, barely avoiding a 
collision with a small girl.

"You looking for the girls you left before?" she asked, her 
face appraising him.

"Yeah!"  His reply came out more forcefully than he had 
intended it too, but she seemed unfazed by his action.

"I know where they went?"

"Where?!"

"You got to promise me something."

"What? Just tell me!" he his face contorted in confusion as 
he attempted not to bite this young girl's head of.

"Promise me you'll take me with you if you live!" she 
demanded, her right foot stomping to the ground punctuating 
her words.

"No.  I'll find them on my own!"  He turned to leave and 
was caught short when she yelled and stopped him in his 
tracks.

"I'm still a virgin!  You have to get me out of here!"  
When he didn't move she continued, "You know what that 
means here, don't you?"

He took a deep breath and nodded slightly.  Ranma was 
unable to say no to that request, but had no idea what he'd 
do with a little girl.  And what if she had more friends 
that wished to leave with them, he wasn't a travel agency, 
but he knew she had caught him.

"I saw three monks cart them away."  

"Which way?" he replied softly

"The pit.  They were laughing as they carried them away."

Ranma ran.  His heart was pounding as he cursed himself for 
being an idiot.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Minako woke from the flash of pain she felt to her back and 
head.  She rolled instinctively, moving the weight of her 
body to her side, away from the pain.  She moaned slightly 
as her eyes began to make out her surrounding. 

"One's up," a gruff voice called out loudly, way to close 
to her slowly throbbing head.  The call was answered by an 
enthusiastic cheer all around them.

She looked up at the source of the original voice, a tall 
man, not overly imposing, but apparently fit.  It took a 
moment before realization dawned on her that he was the 
leader of the monks she had been arguing with earlier.  He 
had shed his habit in favor of a pair of jeans and a t-
shirt.  Similarly attired, his companions stood next to him 
leering at the befuddled young women.

"What's going on," she said in a daze while she crawled 
over to check on Hotaru.

"It's an auction," he announced gleefully.  

Minako leaned over her friend, relieved when she heard the 
low groan and movement.  Looking up again, she replied, 
"Auction?"  

"Why yes.  We're going to auction you off to the highest 
bidder.  After they get a proper viewing first," he laughed.

Minako frowned, but didn't respond.  She kneeled 
protectively over the awakening girl and examined their 
surroundings.  They were in a rectangular pit ten by 
fifteen meters in length and width, and about four meters 
deep.  Deep enough to prevent most people from being able 
to jump out of it, if at all.  A small ramp was built into 
one side that she assumed was for exiting.  The edge of the 
hole was lined with men. A rough count had there number at 
fifty, all unarmed and unsavory.

A hand reached down and pulled her roughly away from Hotaru.  
She was unprepared for the strength of the man and tumbled 
backwards awkwardly.  Her earlier nervousness gave way to 
anger as someone pulled her up by the collar of her blouse. 
She heard, moments before feeling, the front of her top rip.  
The white buttons from her blouse fell to ground, taking an 
abnormally long time to fall and bounce around.  She 
followed them down quickly, landing on her rear as the 
blouse was ripped away from her body.

Her cheeks flushed red as she leapt to her feet away from 
her attacker.  She reached into her pocket as she turned in 
the air.  Quickly grasping what her hand had sought, she 
pulled forth her small rod and called forth for her 
transformation.

As soon as the change was over, she examined the situation. 
Two of the men had ganged up on her, while the third had 
stayed to torment Hotaru.  She didn't have time to make out 
exactly what the last man was doing; she only knew that he 
was hunched over her companion.  The momentary shock from 
her transformation still showed on her attackers face, 
giving her time to fire at them.  The small golden orb 
streaked across the meter that separated her from her foes 
before it struck.  The explosion rocked the tiny pit with 
enough force to send both men, who had earlier been 
masquerading as pious, across the pit floor.  One had been 
sent clear of the immediate area, while the other was sent 
hurtling into his comrade, knocking both clear of the 
purple haired beauty.  She rushed over and helped Hotaru 
unsteadily to her feet, ignoring the eruption of voices 
that surrounded them.  "You, okay?" she queried quickly. 
Relief flooded through her when Hotaru looked up and smiled.  

Hotaru moved to stand on her own.  Minako stepped away to 
give her room when the second henshin rod was raised 
skyward.  When the transformation was over, Hotaru looked 
at her friend and asked, "Do we run? Or fight?"  The 
malicious grin on the youngster's face told the answer 
Hotaru wanted.

It took Minako only a second to grin herself, realize the 
answer, and verbalize it, "We fight!"  Both girls turned to 
meet the onrush of men that had jumped down to subdue them.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Ranma ran, hoping to catch the girls before anything 
untoward happened. He kept having flashbacks to his last 
visit here and cursing himself for the repetitive nature of 
this one.  He had known what to expect this time, and still 
he had left the girls alone.  If anything happened...  
Hoping he was wrong, and he would find them safe and sound, 
he ran.  Hoping that the little girl he had run into 
outside the inn had been wrong, he ran as quickly as he 
could.  He thrust that line of thinking aside, as he 
hurried.  The streets had been surprisingly clear as he ran 
back towards the section of town he had left the old monk 
in, which enabled to drop his invisibility technique. It 
was draining and he had already used it for too long if he 
was going to need to fight effectively.  Very few people 
ever looked up, so as long as he kept upon the roofs, he 
should be able to make it to the two women unmolested.
 
Fighting was heard in the distance, as he closed upon his 
destination.  Dread suffused his body as he knew in his 
heart what was going on.  His only hope was that the girls 
were somehow standing defending on their own.  Maybe they 
could hold off until he got there he could get them out.  
The image of Nabiki, all but naked, lying helplessly in the 
dirt at the feet of these 'monks' came to his mind and 
wrung at his heart.

Not paying close enough attention, he failed to notice the 
hand grasp at his ankle.  The speed of his movements was 
too fast for him to be snared, but there was enough of a 
grasp to through him off balance.  He was agile enough to 
perform a somersault in the air when he realized he 
wouldn't make the other roof.  Bouncing off the building 
wall, he landed and turned to face the source of his 
interference.

A tall man, with sandy blond hair, shortly cropped met his 
gaze with a wicked smile.  Ranma's heart sped up as he felt 
his blood boil and all his muscles contracted and then 
exploded in fury.  A growl that sounded less than human 
came from between clenched teeth. "Knives." 


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Sailor Venus gave a long sigh of relief when her last 
attacker fell to the ground.  She looked around, there were 
still two men pressuring Sailor Saturn.  They were being 
understandably cautious of the glaive that she spun around.

A flick of the wrist and two chains were extended from 
Venus' hands that quickly entangled the men.  Saturn took 
the opportunity to reverse her blade, spinning the huge 
weapon effortlessly, and delivering two quick strikes to 
the bases of their skulls.  A look of extreme satisfaction 
crossed her face and was clearly visible as it showed 
brightly through the sweat and exertion of the battle.

A loud clapping was heard from the end of the pit.  They 
both spun, looking for the source of the sound to find a 
tall man with black metallic hair walking leisurely towards 
them.  White robes hung off his body as the loose ends 
fluttered gently in the post-battle breeze.  An amused look 
adorned his face as he applauded, which quickly gave way to 
a sickly grin as he said. "What a pair of troublesome 
bitches," he spat as he continued forward.

"Those who would subjugate others deserve to be punished. 
In the name of Venus, the planet of love, I will punish 
you," Sailor Venus yelled out as she again molded a golden 
orb of magic and sent it flying at her chosen target.  She 
watched nonchalantly as it traveled, fully expecting it to 
knock out the loud mouthed villain.  Shock etched across 
her face when he dodged it, effortlessly. 

"My, my, such a wonderful welcome."  The smile left his 
face as it hardened into a cruel mask of hate.  "It's time 
to stop playing and start paying for the trouble you two 
have caused."  A metallic nimbus appeared around the man as 
his facial features became more angular and his arms, which 
he had thrust in the air grew longer, the fingers molding 
together and forming pincers. "NOW" he bellowed and shots 
rang out in the small area. 

Minako fell to her knees as an unexpected fire burned in 
her shoulder, the pain had been instantaneous and searing, 
but she could already feel it changing.  The burning in her 
shoulders was beginning to throb as she looked up again, in 
time to see a claw swiped at her chest.  Dodging 
instinctively instinctively, she was relieved when she 
hadn't been hit.  A ball of golden light formed quickly in 
her hands and she fired it at her assailant.  Her heart 
sank again, when instead of dodging the attack, he 
negligently swatted it out of the air.

She looked to her Saturn, and she almost felt despair as 
Hotaru was on the ground, de-transformed.  Her visage was 
blank with shock.  Darkened trails of liquid traced down 
both shoulders, and Minako winced from sympathy.  Her 
empathy was short lived as the creature bellowed, drawing 
her undivided attention.

Minako ignored the throbbing in her shoulder as she 
concentrated on the creature, which now resembled a preying 
mantis with a human's head held Hotaru's blouse in its hand, 
she could see Hotaru's broach glittering in the sunlight.

"You want this?" he chuckled. 

She nodded before she realized she had responded.  Rational 
thought was not coming to her easily as she felt dizzy from 
exertion and loss of blood. Anger was running rampant as 
her body ached to have her powers back and beat this  
abomination into a bloody pulp.

He chuckled heartily and tossed the blouse with the broach 
out of the pit.  Her muscles strained to move after the 
blouse before she realized it was out of reach.  Her slight 
movement gave the creature an opening and she felt the 
breath leave her as he swatted her in the gut and sent her 
flying. 

She hit heavily against the far wall of the pit, and 
slumped to her knees.  She called forth her powers, 
creating the largest attack she could and sending it flying 
towards him.  He smiled in response, raising both of his 
claws, a shimmering field formed in front of him.  The 
detonation was massive, throwing both girls and the men 
lining the pit back onto their rears.  The sickening smell 
of human flesh quickly filled the area as the clothing of 
men, who had been left unconscious or dead, caught fire and 
burned.  Sailor Venus barely noted any of these things 
after she found herself on the ground again.  She looked at 
the cloud of debris that had formed where he had stood, 
hoping that when it cleared it his flesh would also be 
burning.  It seemed an exceedingly long amount of time 
passed before the cloud cleared, revealing to her ire, the 
laughing form of the insect man. 

"Very nice," he chuckled. "It's hopeless. I hope you see 
that now and will accept your fate. I'm sure your new 
owners will pay triple the highest price we'd had for such 
formidable geisha."


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


"I'm glad you still remember me, Brother," Knives sneered.

Ranma wasted no time as he moved to attack.  In that 
instant he forgot about those he had been going to help.  
He forgot about everything except vengeance.  The pain and 
anger rose in him to levels he only dreamed of as he felt 
the heat of his emotions rising from his exposed skin as 
visible steam in the late afternoon sun.

"No tearful greeting," Knives mocked as he jumped out of 
the path of the berserk young man. 

Ranma wasted no time redirecting himself toward his foe. 
None of the doubt, or potential sympathy existed here. This 
was Knives, whatever mysterious role Vash might have played 
didn't exist.  This was the man who had defeated him in 
single combat.  This was the man you had hurt Nabiki and 
killed his father in front of his eyes.  He knew that he 
was responsible for the explosion that had destroyed their 
shelter and killed the hundreds that had failed to escape, 
including Ukyou.

Knives danced to the side again, this time throwing a small 
knife when Ranma had passed by. "My, you're anxious."

"You can't die fast enough," he said as he neatly deflected 
the knife. He moved again, more controlled this time, 
preparing to hit the man no matter how he moved.

"Tsk. Tsk. You didn't know it last time, but you had a 
choice.  Participate in our little fight, or go save the 
lives of innocents," the other man taunted as he dodged 
another of Ranma's strikes.

Only this time, Ranma had been ready. Slightly altering his 
course, he lashed out with a leg, catching the other man 
unexpectedly in the ankle.  Knives went down 
unceremoniously and Ranma pounced. Adrenaline ruled Ranma's 
mind as he haphazardly reigned down blows upon the fallen 
man.  His lack of awareness cost him as Knives succeeded in 
drawing another blade from somewhere and sticking it into 
Ranma's side. The unexpected pain gave Knives the 
opportunity to roll away, not before delivering a kick to 
Ranma's side, landing on the blade that was still 
protruding from his side.

Ranma went down sideways.  He rolled awkwardly in a 
successful maneuver designed to keep from rolling onto his 
injury.  Bouncing up, he pulled the blade free. He felt his 
energy build as it was fueled by anger. "No more kid 
gloves!" he growled.

"Ah. But what of the lovely ladies? I hear they're the 
center of attention.  Why, a party is being thrown in their 
honor as we speak."  His words were punctuated by small 
explosion.

Ranma groaned inwardly, worry resurfacing as he stared at 
his nemesis.  He mulled it over quickly, finally deciding 
that they girls would have to wait, he attacked again, only 
to have Knives evade.  This time, instead of full-dodge, he 
sidestepped and took the less-than-full-force blow to the 
forehand, delivering a solid punch to Ranma's side. Ranma 
rolled away from it, delivering a back-handed blow to his 
blonde opponent as he moved to continue the fight.  Ranma 
caught him slightly unaware and delivered a massive blow to 
the stomach.  Knives flew, impacting a building and 
crashing through the wall.  Ranma grinned in satisfaction 
as he moved to continue, only to stop in his tracks when 
gunshots rang through the air. 

"Looks like you're too late, unless your woman brought 
bullet proof vests with them.  Did they?" Knives taunted 
Ranma as he stepped out of the hole in the wall, holding a 
woman closely to his chest, a knife poised at her throat. 
"But I don't think you have any choices any more. If you 
leave, she dies.  He pushed the knife in a little ways, 
drawing a little bit of blood.  "If you stay, your friends 
die... unless of course they're dead already." A wicked 
smile stretched across his face.

Ranma stared at Knives, looking right through the woman 
being held hostage.   Holding onto his composure he took a 
deep breath and concentrated.  A white nimbus began to 
appear around him.

"So you're going to give up on your friends!  What a man!" 
Knives gleefully cackled.  "Let's see what you got.  
Remember, no hurting innocents."

Ignoring the comment, Ranma focused on his attack.  Doubt 
was something he couldn't afford right now, and this was an 
attack he had practiced but never used.  "Strike of the 
Righteous!"  He yelled as he cupped his hands at Knives and 
released the energy he had pooled.

A white projectile sped towards the two, abductor and 
abducted.  Knives flung the hostage forward and dived out 
of the way.  The comet of force met the woman, and 
continued through her, traveling into the building and 
exploding inside.

Ranma paid no attention to the woman after the blast had 
passed her.  He had moved as soon as he finished his attack, 
taking too fateful stepped that removed him from the flying 
kick that had been aimed at his head.

A few steps was all it took for Ranma to meet Knives.  His 
shoulder struck the man square in the chest and his hand 
clasped the man's hand.   The two struck the wall of a 
house and Ranma heard the air go out of knives.  The wall 
reverberated with the impact, but stood.   No time was 
wasted as Ranma spun and planted his foot, hurling the 
dazed Knives at the newcomer.

Ranma stopped, as he caught a flash of the face of the 
other opponent, a skinny man with spiky-blonde hair.

 

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Hotaru rose slowly and watched in horror as the creature 
still stood.  She tried to rise, but the pain and fatigue 
battled her. The de-transformation had taken away the 
energy that she had been using to supplement her own 
depleted reserves. His spoken intentions jolted her, as she 
remembered what the apparent price of failure was. 

She looked over to Minako, seeing the look of determination 
on the young girl's face she cheered inwardly that she was 
still all right.  She examined the edges of the pit, 
looking for a way she could chase down her henshin rod.  
Her attention reverted to Minako when the young woman 
shouted.

"Never. I'll see you in jail for your crimes!"

Hotaru felt hope rise as the Minako began to prepare 
another attack; the golden ball of light and destruction 
formed in front of the woman. Then something went wrong as 
Sailor Venus turned back into Minako before slumping to her 
knees.  The broach that was their link to their planet's 
power floated away from the now slumped girl's body.  
Hotaru felt her heart at her throat as Minako seemed to 
crawl after their last hope as it joined with the free 
standing orb.  The ball flared upon contact, changing from 
orange to a fiery sphere, saturated with a multitude of 
color.  She watched in horror as Minako leapt for it, only 
to have it flare and strike at the girl, flinging her back 
again against the wall as she let out a soul rending scream, 
right before she slumped to the ground.

Hotaru wasted no time, ignoring the fist that seemed to be 
tightening around her heart as she jumped to action. 
Straining against the pain in her shoulders, she scurried 
towards the ramp intent on getting back her rod.  Suddenly 
pain coursed through her entire body as she was brought 
violently to the ground.  She lifted her head from the dirt 
only to scream in pain when the pain in her shoulder 
multiplied and she felt herself lifted from the ground.  
Defeat destroyed her will then, as her head fell forward 
lifelessly.  The creature had her by the shoulder, a claw 
sticking through it, the other applying pressure for the 
hold.  She felt the ribbed ends saw at her as he moved his 
claws and elicited another anguished cry from the young 
woman.


Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


fin


notes and stuff:
Earlier episodes can be found at http://kpjam.anifics.com
This was written last year some time, I postponed posting 
to add prior chapters in between.  Comments appreciated at 
noirchloe@nyc.rr.com.
Chapter 8, soon, and chapter 9, eventually.


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