______________________________________________________________________________ A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: S T E L L A R C R A F T by: Eric Warner (evwarner@anet.bna.boeing.com) ************************* DISCLAIMER: All characters of the Ranma series are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan Inc. Tokyo, and Viz Communications Inc. and are used without permission. All names and places are purely intended to be the work of fiction. ************************* Guide: "Someone is talking" "" "{Someone is talking in Nexus Talk}" ______________________________________________________________________________ Author's Intro: This is my first fanfic. I first became acquainted with Fanfiction and Ranma in May of '97. I have never seen the series and have picked up all I know from FAQs, shrines and other Fanfiction writers. The following story was inspired in part by: WebDragon's "Namida no Okonomiyaki", "Stellarcraft" -- a story I originally started while attending college (but never finished), and a few ideas I picked up while reading other fanfics. I haven't written a piece of fiction in 20 years and now I mostly write technical works and software. So if I've screwed up on some spellings or punctuation, forgive me, English is only my second language. I don't know if this story counts as an 'alternate` or not. I have *tweaked* a few of the characters motivations and history, just a little. The thoroughly versed should be able to catch it. Also, some sections may border on lime. ______________________________________________________________________________ S T E L L A R C R A F T CHAPTER 1 : The Necklace Ranma toiled away endlessly at his homework, one hand stuck to his forehead, the other twirled a pencil in repeated cycles through his fingers. For several minutes, he kept staring at the same math problem. But his latest exams proved that he needed to study or he wasn't going to pass. Again, the pencil repeated its cycle over and over again, without ever touching the paper. All at once, Ranma's battle sense came alive, his seemingly sixth sense that told him of impending danger. He couldn't quite locate it yet, but his eyes darted quickly around the room, then out the window for any possible attack. The hair standing up on the back of his head told him that it was something close by, but where? In two leaps he pounced up to closet door, flung it open, and jumped back into a defensive stance. Nothing happened. Slowly, he walked up to the closet, and looked. Still nothing. He began searching to find the source of what had alerted him. Examining several objects, he came upon one of Genma's old backpacks, something inside tinkled as he picked it up. Carefully looking inside, he saw an old piece of jewelry in one of the pockets, possibly a necklace of some type. An uninteresting green stone dangled precariously from an old metal chain. It appeared that the craftsman had mounted it in haste, and had used little, if any, artistic skill. The stone was loose in its mount, and it seemed that little effort would have been involved in pulling it free. Ranma remembered as he examined what was to him a piece of junk. He thought back to that fateful training ground in China, and remembered Genma haggling vehemently with the seller trying to purchase this worthless bauble. Genma insisted on keeping this with him, even though one of the rules of the road is to travel lightly. Ranma held up a finger. "Any extra and unnecessary weight should not be tolerated," he said mockingly. It had been Genma, himself, that had taught him that. Still, he insisted on keeping it, and he had never explained why. While Ranma was examining the chain, he thought he saw a flash from the stone, but quickly dismissed it as a trick of the failing sunset. "Ranma, it's dinner time!" Akane called from down the steps. That one word 'dinner` made him forget his earlier sense of danger, and what he held in his hand. Ranma ran toward the door, and stopped. he thought. He sometimes wondered whether Akane and Kodachi had the same cooking instructor, but then remembered that Kodachi attended a different high-school. The images of Akane laughing maniacally over a boiling cauldron, dumping in highly questionable and random ingredients with wild abandon, crossed his mind. He quickly shook the image away. The smell of cooking wafting up from the kitchen was enough to inform Ranma that this was one of Kasumi's meals, and not one of Akane's toxic mixtures. He raced out the door and down the hallway with renewed enthusiasm. Absently, he tucked the necklace into his pocket as he ran. A sound from Akane's room caught his attention, bringing him to an abrupt halt. Out of habit, he knocked first before entering, knowing full well that Akane was downstairs. The room had darkened with the fading light of evening. A gentle breeze blew in through an open window, softly flipping up the edge of homework pages strewn across Akane's desk. Upon the futon, P-chan was rummaging around on one of Akane's undergarments. Ranma grew enraged at the sight. "Hey pig-boy! What are you doing?" P-chan's eyes grew large when he saw Ranma, and what he had just woke up on. The long-lost P-chan had just arrived, and being tired, he had absently fallen asleep on the bed, not noticing what was there. Apparently, Kasumi had put Akane's clothes away in the drawer, but had left some of the clothes out on the bed (does not happen very often). The smell of the morning freshness still hung on the garment. Ranma marched over to the futon and grabbed the black pig in one hand and Exhibit A in the other. "Well, well Porky, I never would have suspected. I guess your bacon's in the fire now," Ranma smiled evilly. P-chan bweed in protest. "Ranma, it's dinner time," Akane said rounding the bedroom door from the hallway. "What are you doing in my ro...?" Akane's face lost all expression when she saw Ranma, and what he was holding. "Wait, Akane, I can explain...," said Ranma, immediately dropping both pig and panty to the floor. Akane's bright blue battle aura was enough to inform Ranma of his impending doom. He raised a hand up in primal fear, fingers splayed in a warding gesture. "Ranma no BAKAAA!" Akane screamed as her hyper-dimensional mallet came out of nowhere. In a driving stroke that would have made Jack Nicklaus sick with envy, the mallet connected with Ranma's jaw sending him flying out the window, bound for what Akane hoped was geo-synchronous orbit. "Foouurrrr!" Akane yelled out, but then wondered where that had come from, having never played golf. Tucking the mallet back into hammerspace, she reached down and picked up P-chan, holding him a little too tightly to her chest. "And you, you naughty piggy, where have you been? I've missed you." P-chan struggled to break Akane's hold on him, since he had this nasty habit of wanting to breathe. Finally, Akane released him and set him on the bed. P-chan's legs wobbled for a bit, and then gave out as he drifted away into unconsciousness, unnoticed by Akane. She reached down, picked up the undergarment, and put it away in the drawer. "It's seems that that PERVERT Ranma not only attacks you, my P-chan, but he's picked up some bad habits from that old hentai Happousai." Closing the drawer, Akane turned back and spied P-chan seemingly asleep on the bed. "Poor, poor P-chan. Are you tired after being gone so long, or do you have some lady piggy that keeps you up and awake at night?" She laughed at the thought, then turned back toward the hallway and down the steps. she thought as she left, Happily, she skipped along back to the dinner table, at least she had her P-chan back. ***** "...mumble mumble mumble stupid kawaiikunee tomboy mumble mumble...," said Ranma under his breath as he walked along back from Dr. Tofu's office toward Ucchan's. The bandage on his chin made it difficult to speak or move his jaw effectively. As usual, Ranma's trajectory brought him to a nice three-point landing near Dr. Tofu's office. The doctor's manner had been almost routine as he patched him up, and little was said in the way of conversation. Ranma was tired of all this. Tired of being bashed over the head whenever Akane misunderstood his acts of protecting her honor for something vile. Tired of not being able to tell Akane P-chan's true identity because of his own honor. Tired of his parents forcing an engagement against Akane's, or his, will in the name of their honor. Tired of the whole fiancee affair, period. Ranma never had to look for trouble, trouble always managed to find him. Just as Ranma was a magnet for fiancees, so was he also a magnet for trouble, and sometimes, trouble and fiancees came in the same package. "Nihao, Ranma!" said Shampoo as without warning her bicycle plowed over his freshly-bandaged head. She had been making her rounds delivering ramen for the Nekohanten. With a noticeable pop, Ranma peeled himself from the pavement. Bicycle tracks ran down the back of his red Chinese shirt, and the contents of his pockets were spread out on the ground. Before he could reach down to pick them up, Shampoo glomped on him. "You take Shampoo on date, yes?" "Shampoo! You know I can't date you. You know I'm..." Ranma trailed off. Shampoo's expression lost its ear-to-ear smile when she looked down and saw the necklace. She let go of Ranma as if he we red hot. Ranma followed her gazed down, and then looked back. "What is it? Does this mean something to you?" Ranma inquired as he picked up the necklace and waved it in front of her. "Sh...Shampoo no remember. Something familiar..." Shampoo's unusually serious countenance had a searching look to it, she seemed lost in thought. She quickly looked up and saw the clock on a nearby bank building. "Oh, Shampoo must go, husband," she said bubbly. It was as if the previous moment had not occurred. Ranma watched curiously as she sped off into the distance with great haste. Ranma reached down and retrieved the rest of his fallen possessions, stuffing them back into pockets. Looking up again at the retreating Shampoo, he shook his head and continued his trek toward Ucchan's. ***** Ukyou flipped over the okonomiyaki with well-practiced ease. Looking up from her grill, she appeared concerned as she watched Ranma sitting on a stool. He had a lost and vacant expression on his bruised face, and was stooped down with a cheek laying against the counter. He slowly rolled some type of necklace back and forth across its surface. The rest of the restaurant was deserted since it was close to closing time. The 'Closed` sign had long since been flipped on the door, just so she could attend to her special customer. she corrected herself. She didn't mind, after all this was her 'Ran-chan`. Ukyou started to smile as another thought came to her. She quickly drew a goofy face with its tongue hanging out on the okonomiyaki in hopes of raising her fiancee's spirits. Dropping the Japanese pancake onto a plate, she slid it to Ranma, and waited. Still, the bauble rolled back and forth without fail like some miniature tennis match, the plates contents went unnoticed. Ukyou sighed and shook her head. She examined the bruises and Dr. Tofu's handiwork on her 'Ran-chan's` face. It was always her that he ran to when he was in trouble with Akane. Her shoulder was always there for him to cry on (at least when he's in his female form anyway). What could he possibly see in that violent girl that made her a potential marriage prospect? Her head continued to shake. Her eyes travelled back down to piece of jewelry that had captured so much of Ranma's interest, and then to the clock. "Ranma...Ranma?...RANMA!" The jewel stopped its motion, Ranma looked up. "I have to close the restaurant. Will you help me?" "Sure, Uc-chan, sure." Ranma got up from the stool and stretched as if getting up from a prolonged sleep, then he proceeded to clean tables and gather dishes in silence. In the interim, Ukyou began the chore of breaking down the grill and preparing its utensils for washing. Even though Ranma still seemed distant, the restaurant was made immaculate in short order and ready for the next day. When all was done, Ranma started to walk toward the door. "Ranma?" called out Ukyou. Ranma stopped, and he turned around with a lost but none the less grateful look on his face. "Yes, Uc-chan?" Ukyou's gaze was wistful. "You can always...stay here. Remember I have a spare room." Ukyou shifting nervously from foot to foot. Her eyes returned to his face. Ranma looked down for a moment in thought. "Nah! I suspect I'd better get home and face the music." Ukyou's eyes fell to the floor along with her hopes. "Yeah, I guess you should. After all, we have school tomorrow. And Ranma?...Good luck!" she said as she looked back up. Ranma turned toward the door, and in opening it, spoke without turning around, "Thanks, Uc-chan. I'm glad I have you as a friend when I need it. I'm glad we had this talk." And then he left. "Sure thing, Sugar, and I wish I could be more than just a friend," Ukyou said under her breath to no one in particular as she locked the door. She turned away from the door momentarily and suddenly looked back, "And what talk? He never said a thing all evening!" But then again, he never had to. This scene had been played out so many times before that talking about what happened had become unnecessary, almost routine. No doubt something he said, or did, caused a violent overreaction from Akane. Akane and Shampoo, both women of extreme violence. Ukyou hadn't missed some of Shampoo's markings across Ranma's back when he had left. Admittedly, she never considered her own skills to be of any small degree, but still, she used her spatulas in self-defense...mostly. She found herself perplexed that Ranma's decision as to which fiancee shouldn't choose her as the most obvious and likely of all choices. Akane seems like she doesn't want him most the time. Shampoo connives, tricks and poisons him in order to take him away, and all according to some non-applicable Amazonian law that has no bearing or recognition in either Japanese or modern Chinese society. Kodachi, Ukyou knew, was never part of the equation. Ukyou gave a soft sigh as she turn out the lights, she proceeded up the steps to her room listlessly, it was all so frustrating. In her reflections, she failed to notice the untouched okonomiyaki still sitting out where Ranma had left it. Also, she failed to notice the necklace left on the counter, nor saw its faint glow. ***** Shampoo stole stealthilly into Cologne's quarters. Though she seldom disobeyed her great grandmother, her curiosity had been peaked. On the ride home, she suddenly remembered where she had seen that necklace Ranma had before, or at least one like it. Cologne had always kept one in her bag of tricks. Cologne was away on business for the Nekohanten, but still Shampoo wanted to keep quiet in case Mousse, who was downstairs, overheard her rummaging into Cologne's things. Shampoo thought as she opened Cologne's closet. Mousse may have been all but blind, but she knew he still had ears honed by years of martial arts practice, and he was not to be taken lightly. Shampoo opened up the box that contained Cologne's amulets of magic, and she peered inside. she thought, feeling relieved that Ranma had not somehow acquired it from Cologne, nor through some other questionable means. She lifted the amulet up and examined it closely, it stood out brilliantly against all the others. The green stone was mounted solidly in a little crown and suspended from a chain made of a gold alloy known only to the Amazons. It looked nothing like the earlier amulet Ranma possessed save for the green stone. This amulet looked priceless; Ranma's amulet was shabby at best. she thought as she pocketed the amulet. Cologne was not scheduled to be back until Monday. Slowly, Shampoo lifted up Cologne's book of magic spells and potions. The book was quite heavy. She had carefully noted the position of things before she touched them, returned everything back to the way they were, and made a quick exit for her room. She had been lucky, the unsuspecting Mousse was too absorbed with the affairs of closing the restaurant to have heard a thing. Having concealed the amulet away in a safe place, she laid down upon her bed and opened up Cologne's book. Cologne's spellbook was really a scrapbook of sorts, meticulously organized by sections and sub-headings. The sections included all sorts of magnificent spells, potions, weapons that could be used on a enemy, wards against demons, etc. Some of the pages were recent, recent meaning of this century; whereas, others were very ancient. Some of the oldest pages were covered in a vinyl plastic covering in an effort to preserve their pages. Many appeared that they would crumble away to dust if not for this protective covering, their pages old and faded, barely readable. Some of the newer pages had Cologne's own personal annotations on the side on improved methods of administering the spells or potions, in order to increase their potency. Some she recognized as having been tried on Ranma. She stifled a giggle. Despite all of Cologne's best magic, wisdom and effort, Cologne still had not turned the heart of this mighty warrior to Shampoo. Ranma was a very formidable opponent, indeed. Her great grandmother's desire was for Ranma to marry Shampoo and ring in a newer, stronger and more powerful race of Amazons. The ancient matriarch's vision was to re-awaken the former glory of her Amazon tribe. Cologne had been grooming Shampoo as a potential leader of her tribe, if not the Amazon race. Though she would gladly take this position if asked, as any true warrior would, Shampoo's heart really cared for none of this. She wanted Ranma. The feel of his strong chest against her's whenever she *glomped* on him, made her heart sing. Shampoo found the section on amulets following the section on shiatsu points. She carefully noted diagrams of secret pressure points that when conducted in a certain order on a victim yielded different results. Flipping ahead she noted each amulets' picture until she found the one she wanted. Though the picture page was new, the instruction page had to have been among the oldest in the book. Shampoo struggled to read the ancient manuscript on a page faded and chocked full of holes. She could only make out certain facts: Apparently, there were four such amulets known in existence. Their origin was a mystery, a secret long lost to antiquity, though there had been many legends that had placed them around Jusenkyou. Only the matriarches had welded them, and they were thought to harbor such tremendous power that it was advised that they seldom be used. It was a huge status symbol among the matriarches to possessed one, a lot of prestige. It could destroy an enemy with a mere thought. There was something about teleportation. It was used to ward off evil spirits and... Shampoo's eyes grew large. It was used to prevent or remove *curses*. she thought. Why had Cologne possessed the means of removing her curse and that of Ranma, yet failed to use it? Was she toying with them? Was she just simply waiting until their marriage, and then provide it as a much-valued wedding present? Had Cologne simply forgotten she had the amulet? Or, had she forgotten its use? Shampoo seldom questioned her great grandmothers' wisdom, but this was more than she had ever imagined Cologne capable of. She shook her head slowly in disbelief. Shampoo tried to read on to glean away more facts, but the rest was spotty: A least two amulets were needed to release their power. Perhaps that's why Cologne had not used it. She only had the one amulet. Shampoo frowned, when she began wondering where Ranma had acquired one. If they were of such great tremendous power that only a matriarch possessed them, then the one Ranma had must have been stolen. The world of the matriarches was such a secret society, an amulet could have turned up missing and no one in the rest of the tribe would have been remotely aware of it, even if they knew what one was. She remembered its appearance, how shabby and worthless looking it was, and she raised her eyebrows. Perhaps its shabbiness was a ploy to hide its true value. An ordinary looking and worthless piece of jewelry would be easy to transport, gather little in the way of attention. After all, the power of the amulet would be in the curious green stone, not in its chain or mount. That was just mere decoration. She tried to read further but could make out very little. She couldn't quite figure out whether the amulet's power was activated by the two owners exchanging the amulets with one another, or whether it was activated by combining them in some special way. She read further and nearly jumped off the bed. "Aiya!" she said excitedly, then covered her mouth and looked at the door. Moments passed and still no Mousse. She shook her head, because in her excitement she had almost blown it. She looked back at the page and could barely contain her joy. There had been some reference about activating 'true love` between two people. ***** Ranma returned home to the Tendou Dojo without incident. It was night and all had long since gone to bed. Quietly, Ranma walked up the stairs and stopped at Akane's door. He stared at the duck-shaped nameplate and debated whether he should check in on her. He shook his head no. It was late and he was too tired to risk another incident. She would probably not be very understanding at this hour, he sometimes wondered if she ever was. Ranma went to the room that he shared with Genma. Genma was fast asleep in his panda form making snoring noises. Ranma never knew why Genma liked to sleep in his panda form, except that it was probably warm on cold nights. Of all those who were the cursed of Jusenkyou, Genma seemed the one most comfortable with his cursed form, and maybe even enjoyed it. Ranma laid back on his futon and stared up at the ceiling. He suddenly remembered Akane and her smile. The smiles didn't come as often as they used to. Was all the battering at her hands worth all the trouble he received? Ranma fell asleep before he could offer up an answer. ***** "Where are you going Ranma? School is this way," said Akane. Ranma, who had been walking along the fence, had suddenly dropped down and headed off in a new direction. "I left something at Ucchan's," replied Ranma throwing a hand up as he kept walking away. "So!" Akane said stiffly with hands on hips, "You were with Ukyou last night. Weren't you?" When he didn't stop, she turned and stomped her way to school. "Hmmpf! Stupid Jerk! Go to her for all I care." She continued on her way. A single tear dropped to the ground. Ranma ran toward Ucchan's. He would have to hurry so as not to be late for school. Standing outside the classroom door holding buckets of water was not his idea of a good time. Hopefully, he could intercept Ukyou before she left the restaurant and get the jewel back. Ranma didn't know why he should even care whether he got that piece of junk back or not, but still, upon his honor, it wasn't his, so he should try to retrieve and return it. "Ranma! Ranma!" It was Shampoo cycling up behind him out of nowhere. Ranma stopped and looked back reluctantly, he really didn't have time for this. As Shampoo rode up to him, he noticed she had something in one of her hands, it caught the glint of the sunlight. "What is it, Shampoo? I have to get to school." Shampoo held up a necklace not unlike the one Ranma had earlier, except that this one appeared to be much more expensive. Still, there it was, the same green stone hanging from the mount. "Husband might find this interesting. Is amulet with power to remove curse." Ranma's eyes grew large, that had his interest. Shampoo slowly handed him the amulet with a smile on her face. Ranma was examining it carefully, hope in his eyes. Shampoo remembered that the amulets power could be released by exchanging the amulet with another. Her smile became mischievous. Shampoo spoke softly, "Airen, let Shampoo see amulet from last night." "Oh? Oh that. I left it at Ucchan's," said Ranma, still examining the amulet. "Ranma!" said Shampoo as she stomped a foot disappointedly with hands on hips. Before he could respond the skies opened up, and raindrops fell. Neither had bothered to checked the weather report, both wished they had. The change was instantaneous. "C-c-catt!" Ranma-chan shouted in shock. In front of her a white and pink cat with a purple mane slinked away, running toward the Nekohanten. Ranma-chan was fortunate, either her momentary exposure to Neko-Shampoo was not enough to trigger the Neko-ken, or her transformation had freed her in time. It took a few moments to calm down, but she finally started running back to Ucchan's. She still had Shampoo's amulet; she was doubly interested in retrieving the other. ***** Ukyou had just found her umbrella when she heard frantic knocking at the front door. She had her boy's uniform on and was about to take off for school. She grabbed her schoolbag on her way toward the door. She opened it, and was surprised to find a soaking-wet Ranma-chan standing there. The schoolbag hit the floor. "Uc-chan, the necklace, the one I left here last night. Where is it?" Ranma- chan asked hurriedly. "Ran-chan! Wha...?" She turned and looked at the counter, the amulet was still there. It glowed brightly, as did the amulet Ranma-chan now held up in his hand. Ukyou moved out of the way to let Ranma-chan in, but her eyes never left the counter. When Ranma-chan walk past her, both amulets started to glow brighter, and Ukyou then saw the amulet Ranma-chan held for the first time. Ranma-chan stopped next to the counter, visibly shaken. When Ukyou strode up next to her, Ranma-chan said, "Shampoo called it an amulet that could remove my curse." Ukyou's excitement grew. "This looks like some of Cologne's magic. Did Shampoo say how to use it?" Ranma-chan's hopes fell, and it showed in her voice. "No. We both got caught in the rain before she could say." "Oh," said Ukyou disappointed, then she brightened and said with determination, "Well, we'll just have to go out and find her." Ukyou reached down and picked up the amulet off the counter. The brightness of the stones doubled in strength, bringing them both to a halt. Ranma-chan was now having second thoughts as to whether this was a good idea or not, the excitement of a possible cure being replaced with intense fear. Dabbling into magic, especially *unknown* magic, could be dangerous. It could be lethal in hands of someone as inexperienced as herself. Ukyou had noticed something else. A pattern in the two stones, almost like the pieces of a three-dimensional puzzle. "Ranma, could you hold up your amulet for a second." Ranma-chan complied. Ukyou brought the amulet she was holding up and slowly brought the two amulets together into the pattern she saw. Both amulets flared, then all went dark. ***** Neko-Shampoo ran to the Nekohanten as fast as her little legs could carry her. She ran through the pet entrance that had been placed in the back door of the Nekohanten. Immediately, she ran to the hot bath still there from the early morning and jumped in. When Shampoo rose out of the water, she cried. "" she yelled out before remembering her current predicament. Mousse ran into the bath area and upon seeing Shampoo, he turned around. He successfully contained a nosebleed. Shampoo quickly covered herself and dried her tears. She steeled herself and once again thought as a proper Amazon warrior should. "" Shampoo spoke in mandarin. Mousse, realizing that Shampoo had covered herself, turned suddenly and asked, "" "" "" "" Mousse winced at that. "" Shampoo suddenly became agitated and screamed, "". Mousse quickly left the bath area so Shampoo could resume dressing. ***** The next thing Ranma knew was that he was falling. The second thing he knew was that he was now a *he*, and not a *she*, but that seemed of very little importance in comparison to the first thing he knew. Ranma opened eyes he didn't realize until now were closed. He was amazed. All around him was fire, liquid fire, like the surface of the sun. It seemed to be in all directions no matter where he looked, almost as if he were staring at the sun from the inside. The distances to the flames must have been immense. Though he had the sense of falling, he could spot no references, nothing to tell him in which direction he was falling. Also absent, was any sensation of heat from the flames, or cold. He also noticed he wasn't breathing. He looked at himself, and was surprised. He was naked with skin that was translucent. He easily saw all his internal organs and bones, like some three-dimensional x-ray. He reached down to touch his stomach, and noticed that his hand passed right through, like reaching into a liquid. He could feel himself but nothing was solid. He pulled out his hand and brought it in front of his face. Again, it was like looking at an x-ray. He could easily make out healed fissures in the bones of his arm from injuries sustained through his years of martial arts. On the surface of the skin of his hand was a red aura, almost like his battle aura. He couldn't help but notice a thin layer of black aura that seem to ride on the surface of the red aura. Though the sensation of falling and the images all around him should have been frightening, he was not afraid. In fact, he noticed he had very little emotions at all. It was almost like he was a casual observer and as calm as a Sunday in the park. He had all his memories and the new sensations that greeted him now, but it seemed all else had been taken away and removed. A tiny speck caught his eye, a mere dot set against a violent background. Though there were no details, something within himself registered what the object was. From what he could tell, he had nothing to propel himself against. He couldn't tell whether it was just a thought, or some feeling he had, but something inside him told him to reach out to her. He did. At first, it seemed nothing was happening, and then he saw that she was somehow getting closer. He continued to reach out. For what seemed like several minutes, Ukyou got closer. He also saw that just as he was reaching out to her, she was reaching out to him. When they came within a small distance of each other, Ranma dropped his hand and Ukyou did likewise. Immediately, all relative movement stopped, and they regarded each other. Though both were naked and translucent, there were no feelings of embarrassment. Ukyou, likewise, had an aura around her much like his, except it was blue and, Ranma noted, did not contain the black outline his aura did, nor was it as large as his. To Ranma it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. The look on Ukyou's face was not one of fear, but amazement. Together they smiled. A voice within him said, "{Ran-chan.}" He couldn't make out the source of the voice, but somehow knew it was from Ukyou. The voice had come at him very quickly, mere fractions of a second in this timeless place. He responded, "{Uc-chan?}" He didn't know how it was he was responding, but it seemed natural. The voice he spoke in was just as rapid as her's had been. He didn't speak it with his mouth, because it didn't move. He wasn't just thinking it. It was through some other means he wasn't aware of. Almost imperceptibly, Ranma noted a tinge of white aura extending from his aura toward Ukyou, and Ranma looked up. Ukyou's aura also had the same white projection pointing towards him, but it was much stronger and much more pronounced than his. The white projection added greatly to her beauty, Ranma felt strangely attracted towards her. Ukyou reached out again, Ranma was slowly moving closer. As he was drawn closer, he felt a feeling of euphoria in his stomach, and the white projections grew more prominent. Ranma felt compelled to reach out to her also, but was too awestruck to move his arms. "{NO!!!}" A voice within him almost boomed between his ears, shaking him awake out of his reverie. This voice had not been from Ukyou. Before he knew it, the two white projections touched each other and the world flashed around him. Memories, and memories of feelings, flooded into his consciousness and were brought to crystal clarity. He and Ukyou were one. Ranma started remembering the frantic tears and feelings of abandonment at being left by the side of the road by Genma, as if it were his own memories. The pain of being a rejected dowry-less daughter, forced to live out the rest of life as a boy. The rage and feelings of revenge carried through ten years of searching for a shameless man and his son. The pain of binding yourself around the chest tightly, and uncomfortably, just to pass yourself off as male. The joy of successfully making an okonomiyaki with your father. The unquenched love you have for a martial artist that does not return that love. The sheer panic of trying to stop a wedding that could end your life. Ukyou remembered all the embarrassing moments and pain associated with Ranma's Jusenkyou curse. The constant pounding received by Akane and Genma. The frightening moments of being locked up in a cellar with fish-sausage strapped to you, surrounded by cats. The events surrounding Herb and Saffron. The frustration of all of Genma's forced engagements and fiancees. The fear of hiding from a mother that may ask for your suicide because of your curse, and wanting nothing but love from that mother. She remembered the letdown Ranma experienced at the botched wedding ceremony, and his secret desire to have had it succeed. Memory after memory brought Ukyou to a newer and more complete understanding of her 'Ran-chan`. The love she had felt for Ranma in her heart all those years seemed fledgling to the love she felt for him now. Each now completely understood the other. Their hopes, fears, dreams and ambitions. What brought them to greater joy and happiness; what brought them to despair. They gained a feeling of serendipity, becoming a greater part of the whole, in tune with the universe, and creation. Before Ranma knew it, he and Ukyou were once again at their original distance. The white projections were still there, but were no longer touching. Ukyou's aura had changed somehow, it now had a reddish tint and displayed a thin black layer like his own. His own aura, he noticed, now seemed bluer in appearance. He was still quite attracted to Ukyou, but a distant object stopped him from moving closer again. The object gained in size rapidly and was like a huge diamond, two pyramids joined at the base. The size of the object was immense. It moved underneath them and slowed. At the apex of the diamond, the top of one of the pyramids, was a platform. As the platform came within distance, Ranma felt a tug develop. Suddenly, he was pulled down to the platform with a sucking sound. Ukyou also was pulled down with the same sound. Ranma looked over at Ukyou, then over to a ring that was floating in the center of the platform. A being was in the ring, it almost looked like a stick figure made of multi-colored lights. The being shone very brightly, almost with the brightness of several suns. Ranma was amazed that he could gaze up at the figure and not be blinded. The being spoke. "{Oh good, a couple. It's about time I got a couple.}" Ranma and Ukyou regarded each other, and looked back. "{I was growing tired of all those silly matriarches they keep sending me. A motley sort, them. Always making power grabbing wishes like I was some freshly-popped genie or something making their evil ambitions come true.} Ukyou and Ranma both shared lost expressions. "{Let me introduce myself. I am Tori. I'm a lightroid.}" Ukyou was the first to partially recover. "{I'm-I'm Uk...}" "{Yes, yes, I know. You are Ukyou Kuonji, and this is Ranma Saotome. I know all that. I'm here to answer your questions, there is no need for me to ask any.}" Tori stopped in order to allow time for them to digest this. Ranma finally blinked. "{W-what's a lightroid?}" asked Ranma hesitantly. "{A lightroid is a being of pure energy and intelligence. I once served the great Starmasters when they were in power. The last one...died?...so long ago that I just barely remember him. He died on your Earth to be precise.}" "{Earth?}" inquired Ranma, "{What is this place? Is it hell? Are we dead?}" "{I can see the parallels you are drawing to one of the stories you were told as a child. No, this place is a nexus, a portal between two universes, yours and mine. This 'plane of existence` is interspersed with your physical universe, but exists at a higher dimension.} "{And no, you are not dead, or we wouldn't be having this conversation. What you are experiencing is a higher level of existence. Here, your 'essence`, everything you are, is visible and is no longer hidden.} "{You have an expression on your planet that will do nicely in an analogy, 'every man is an island`. Imagine that you, and Ukyou here, are two nearby islands in the sea. If you look in your physical world, all you see is the top part of the island, the rest of the island remains hidden under the water. The top part of the island is your physical selves, and what you allow others to see. The rest that remains hidden is your mind, soul and spirit. In this nexus area, the seas have been removed. Now, instead of islands you see two tall mountain peaks. What was hidden, is now visible. And if you look deep enough, you'll see that you both are joined at the same common base. That is the rest of the universe.}" Ranma shrugged. "{By the way, you two really shouldn't have done that.}" Tori scolded waving an appendage. "{Done what?}" asked Ukyou taken aback. "{Another aspect of this place is there isn't any real individuality. When you two...*contacted* each other, you melded together and almost became the same person. Now, he is a part of you, and you are now part of him. What he had is yours, what you had is his. While I'm on that subject, let me take care of something.}" Tori raised an appendage and Ranma felt a twinge. Then he saw that the black outline that was around both him and Ukyou disappeared. His aura glowed with the same bluish tint that Ukyou's had. His aura now seemed smaller than before. "{What happened?}" Ranma asked recovering. "{That inky appearance you had in your auras was your curse. When you joined with Ukyou, she gained that curse too. (We're kinda responsible for it, but I'll save that for a later time.) Now you are both free of it.}" Ranma felt sincere happiness. "{So you mean I would have been just as cursed as he was?}" Ukyou said surprised. "{Yes, with cold water you would have changed from having dark brown hair to red hair, but I have removed all that.}" "{S-so what was the white aura?}" asked Ukyou. "{Oh that, that's not a curse, don't worry. That's simply your love for each other.}" The jaws of both Ranma and Ukyou flopped open, then Ukyou smiled and looked knowingly over at her 'Ran-chan`. Ranma was incredulous. "{B-but I thought I was in love with Akane.}" He was also surprised that he had just admitted that so readily. "{Oh, you are, but human love never has to be toward one specific person. It doesn't mean you are being unfaithful, it simply means that love presents itself through many facets and aspects. You apparently had some love for Ukyou, also. This experience just re-awakened those feelings. Perhaps this is why you had such a hard time deciding which fiancee to choose. If Shampoo, and yes even Kodachi, were here, you would have some love for them as well, only with differing degrees of complexity. I sense there are others, too.}" Ranma was dumbfounded. Ukyou wondered why she wasn't feeling intensely jealous. Tori continued, "{Now, fortunately or unfortunately, because of your joining with Ukyou, I'm afraid all those other loves will be secondary.}" Tori paused. "{You'll find there is no going back.}" Ukyou, in confusion, spoke up, "{You mean we can't go home?}" "{No, I mean you will never again be who you were before. You will be much more. Once I release you, once you're back in your own physical world, you will find that you will not be able to leave one another. This is why I tried to stop you before you connected. To make sure this is what you both really wanted before you joined in this manner.} "{I already knew that answer before, though, but you didn't. Ukyou was already so in love with you, Ranma Saotome, that she wouldn't have hesitated a moment. To her you were her entire world, her reasons for existing even over her okonomiyaki. You, however, would have preferred Akane. Now I am afraid you are too late. Once you go back, you will forever be in love with Ukyou. Not even I can change that now. If I may take a moment to be sarcastic, 'you may now kiss your bride`, because now you two are closer than any bride and groom have ever been on your planet. You both are husband and wife, sister and brother, mother and son, father and daughter. Your language really has no words to describe what you really are now, except maybe to say that you are one and the same persons. Your bodies will be different in the physical world, but your minds and spirits are twins.}" Ranma and Ukyou looked at each other, they wanted desperately to touch each other again, hold hands, but thought better of it. Tori looked at them both and changed subjects. "{And now, I have a question for you.}" "{B-but, I thought you didn't need to ask us any questions.}" interjected Ranma. "{Oh, I don't. For me its rhetorical. Since I already know your answers before you do, but I need you to play the game anyway.}" He paused for a moment. "{Basically, I need your help, just as you will need mine once you return. I need to re-awaken...the Starmaster. I cannot do that from here, and those greedy matriarches who came before you didn't want to bargain with me. Oh, I granted their...'wishes` anyway, but they didn't want to cooperate with me in any of my...ventures.}" "{How can we help?}" asked Ukyou. "{Yeah!}" responded Ranma. A change in intensity came over Tori that Ranma somehow interpreted as a smile. "{You can help me retrieve the two remaining amulets away from these old crones, the matriarches.}" Ranma facefaulted. "{You've got to be kidding.}" "{No, I am not. Don't worry, you will not be facing them alone. You will have my power behind you and at your disposal.}" "{Still, what you ask will be no easy task, especially if Cologne is any example,}" responded Ranma. "{You will discover that, given the right persuasion, they will gladly give them to you.}" A grateful Ukyou thought, and then steeled herself. "{So, what do we have to do?}" The interpreted smile became greater in intensity. "{That's my girl, and what about you, Ranma?}" "{Y-yeah, I'll play along,}" Ranma said after a little thought. "{Good. All I want to do for now is join with you two, as you joined with each other. I cannot go to your world without a host and it would only be temporary. Your lives, your choices and your actions will still be yours. In fact, most of the time, you'll hardly know I am there at all. I will leave you to yourselves after we have retrieved the other two amulets. Is this acceptable?}" "{I guess.}" responded Ranma reluctantly. "{Yeah, Sugar.}" responded Ukyou. "{Very well. Here we go.}" The ring on the platform enlarged and encompassed both Ranma and Ukyou. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End chapter 1. A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: S T E L L A R C R A F T by: Eric Warner (evwarner@anet.bna.boeing.com) CHAPTER 2 : Disasters Shampoo ran as fast as she could toward Ucchan's, she outpaced Mousse by several car lengths. The rain had long since stopped and they were both dodging puddles. "" huffed Mousse trying to keep up. Shampoo just wouldn't let up. She came upon her bicycle, it was still where she had left it when she had met with Ranma earlier. She quickly mounted it, and then peddled away. Mousse stopped, leaned over to catch his breath, then ran after her. All the hardware he carried in his coat rattled noticeably, it was beginning to feel heavy. His glasses kept sliding down his face. Finally, Mousse stopped, he took several deep breaths and thought for a moment. Mousse went to a safe place where he could put his clothes, and stepped into a puddle. The change was instantaneous. He flew and passed Shampoo on her way to Ucchan's. ***** Ranma was startled awake, as if from a dream, he felt weak. He was laying on the floor of Ucchan's. Sensing a weight on top of him, he looked down. Ukyou's head laid upon his chest, her breathing deep as if sleeping. He could smell the fresh scent of her hair, and admired her dark brown locks. She awoke. "{Ran-chan?}" Ranma was startled, it had been no dream, Ukyou was still using the same means of communication used in the nexus. He became calm and joyous when she raised her head and looked up at him, a strand of hair in her face. "{I'm here,...my love.}" He smiled down at her and, reaching over, removed the stray lock of hair. She returned his smile. Slowly, she shifted her weight and brought her head up with his. They kissed a soft, gentle kiss. Ranma found a strange feeling in his stomach. A sense of euphoria that he had never felt before with anyone. A part of him wanted Ukyou more than anything that could possibly be. While they kissed, he noted something else and started to laugh. Ukyou slowly pulled away still smiling. "W-what's so funny?" Ranma looked down, then look back and said, "Your still wearing a boy's uniform. What *must* this look like?" Ukyou giggled, pulling a hand to her mouth. When the memories re-emerged, her memories, Ranma lost his laugh and his smile. "My God, how lonely you were. I can see the world you lived in through your eyes now. I can feel the anguish you felt when you got up day after day to this cold restaurant, with nothing but your dreams of us together to comfort you. I now hurt as you did." Ranma said that last line as if choked. She tightened her grip on him. Ranma continued, "Even this morning you were in despair, thinking about how much you desperately wanted to reach out and comfort me last night, even when all I was thinking about was Akane. I never realized until today how much of a good friend you were. How much you really cared about my happiness and future, even if that future didn't include you." Ukyou slowly lifted herself up to peer into his eyes with a concerned expression, she was shaking waiting for the other shoe to drop. It never came. Ranma smiled, "Now I know there can *be* no real future...without you." She hugged him tightly and batted away a few tears. The front door was still open from when Ukyou had led a thoroughly soaked Ranma-chan in earlier. A duck flew in and started to flap its wings frantically in their faces. The duck flew over near the counter and pulled the two amulets behind him, and waited. Shampoo barreled in the door, out of breath with bonbori drawn. Both Ranma and Ukyou jumped to their feet. Ranma felt himself staggering and very weak, he felt very sleepy. "{Careful, Ranma. Take it easy.}" said Tori in his head. "{W-what's going on? Why do I feel so powerless?}" Ranma inquired. "{Though it was pretty easy to remove your curse, that curse was once a part of your ki. When I removed it, a large part of your ki was removed, also.}" "{Can't you replace it? 'Cause I need it, now.}" "{No, I'm afraid I can't do that,}" Tori said sadly, "{Only you can generate your own ki field. It can be built up, enhanced, shaped, you can gain it from others of your own kind, and I can teach you how to do all that, but I am afraid you don't have the time to learn those techniques right now. Given your remarkable recovery skills, you'll replace it yourself in due time.}" This conversation took place in mere fractions of a second. Shampoo looked them over curiously. "What spatula girl do here with Ranma? Where amulets?" Mousse made a squawking noise, indicating the amulets with his beak. Ukyou tried to reach down for them, but was nipped by Mousse, she drew her hand back. "{Go ahead. Let them have the amulets. They're mostly deactivated anyways, their power was diminished once you two crossed into the nexus,}" said Tori. "{You mean they can only be used once?}" asked Ukyou at the ready. "{Well,...it is a little more complicated than that, but in your cases? Yes!}" replied Tori. Shampoo had her bonbori out and moved toward Ukyou. Ukyou's eyes grew wide and she backed up. She swore to herself for not having time to snatch up her combat spatula, or any of her throwing spatulas, before she had been interrupted by Ranma-chan, earlier. Shampoo continued her approach in a effort to herd Ukyou away from a shaky Ranma. She stopped and took a momentary glance at Ranma before moving back to stare holes into Ukyou. "What did spatula girl do to you, husband?" "I'm fine, Shampoo, now will you..." Ranma started. "You no look fine," Shampoo interrupted. While Ranma and Ukyou were preoccupied with Shampoo, Mousse waddled behind the counter and spotted the hot water pot Ukyou kept for when Ranma came to visit. He up-ended the contents, and released a small shriek when he realized it was fresh. Grabbing a nearby tablecloth to cover himself, he picked up the amulets and took a defensive stance behind Ranma. "Really, I'm fine, Shampoo. I just...didn't get enough sleep last night, that's all." Ranma lied. Mousse tilted his head in disbelief, there was something more to it than that. He had seen Ranma and Ukyou in a...questionable position when he flew in here. "Uh, yeah!" responded Ukyou over near part of the counter, she was now within snatching range of her combat spatula. "Ranma, had a dizzy spell and...and he fell...a-and I helped him up," she said trying to look sincere. Shampoo looked at the two, doubtful. "Did anything...happen with amulets?" "Uh,...No! W-was something supposed to happen?" Ranma asked questioningly. He big-sweated. Shampoo thought for a moment, then brightened happily. "No, I suppose not." She then glomped onto Ranma. Ukyou crossed her arms in a huff. "What Airen need is good bowl of ramen. It perk you up. Come to..." Shampoo said trying to pull Ranma out the door. Ukyou released Ranma from Shampoo's grasp and started to escort the Amazon out. "Well, it just so happens that I just got through making one of my special okonomiyakis for Ranma. You see?" she indicated, pointing to the okonomiyaki that had been left out from the previous night. "That will perk him up, too." Ukyou said with a sudden affirmative head jerk. Ranma agreed. Mousse took this opportunity to leave with the amulets in hand. Before he left he peered at Ranma and Ukyou incredulously. Shampoo was not put off, and was about to turn around and say more, when Ukyou closed the door on her. Ukyou made a show of dusting her hands and grew a smile. Ranma just laughed and shook his head. He made a show of wiping sweat off his brow. "Were you jealous?" he smiled as he asked. "You bet I was, Sugar." Ukyou said, trying to sound serious, but failingly miserably. They both laughed again. "You know you could have told her." "Yeah. I could have, but I want to start with Akane, the Tendous and my pop, first," said Ranma. "Yeah, I suppose that's best," replied Ukyou thoughtfully, then added, "You know you may need a new place to stay after this, the Tendous may not want you around anymore. My offer of a spare room still stands. Just do me a favor and leave that fat panda you have behind." "Well, that 'fat panda` is going to be your father-in-law someday," Ranma said matter-of-factly, crossing his arms. Ukyou was stunned for a moment, when the full implication of what Ranma just said, hit her. She remembered what had been said in the nexus, but only now were its implications of *marriage* dawning on her. She made a show of holding her stomach at the thought of Genma being her father-in-law, but in truth it was a ploy to hide her giddiness. Ranma gave her a smirk. "Yeah. I know what you mean." After a moment, he spoke to Tori, "{Hey, Tori? Uh, what do we do now?}" Ranma asked. "{For now, I suggest you continue on with life as normal,... or as normal as life will become for you two. Things are not yet in place for us to begin our journey to retrieve the amulets, but the time will come soon.}" responded Tori. "Well, Ran-chan, I guess we still have to go to school," Ukyou spoke with almost a slight question. "Uh, yeah, I guess we should." Ranma said, also out loud. They looked at each other for a moment, neither one moving, both had serious faces. Ranma saw Ukyou give a momentary twitch with her right arm, then they teleported into each others arms with a firm hug and a final kiss. ***** Ranma slept. As he slept, he dreamed. He dreamed of the fields he and Ukyou used to run, and play, and wrestle in, near Kyoto. He dreamed, remembering a time when he and Ukyou came upon a stream and laughed each other silly trying to catch fish with their bare hands. They both had become thoroughly soaked to the bone when they were finished. Ranma remembered being exhausted from laughing so hard. He wondered why then he couldn't tell that Ukyou was a girl, but back then, that wouldn't have really mattered. They were both too young, and he had never needed to ask. He had assumed Ukyou was just another boy, like he was. "Ranma." It was Akane, she was whispering forcefully. "Ranma?!" "Go away! I want to sleep some more." Ranma responded. "Ranma! It's time for school." Akane said exasperated, she was still in a rough whisper. "No! I said, 'Go away`!" Ranma said groggily. He was brought wide awake when an chalkboard eraser bounced off his head. There was laughter and giggles in the classroom. "Ranma Saotome." It was Hinako-sensei, she was in her girl form. "Were you asleep in my classroom?" "Uh, No!" Ranma lied. Miss Hinako approached from her desk. She looked like she really didn't belong in a classroom full of high-school students. She had a fifty yen piece in her hand, she held it aloft. Ranma thought. "Then, I suppose you can share with us the answer to the last question I posed to the class?" Ranma was shaking. He was ready to target her five pressure points that would stop her ki sapping. Tori came to the rescue, "{The answer is 'it's a noun`.}" Though he didn't need to, since no one but Ranma and Ukyou could have heard, it sounded like Tori whispered the answer. "It's a noun! It's a noun!," Ranma immediately shouted out. Hinako-Sensei was surprised, she then looked doubtful, then looked upset. She threw her fifty yen piece into the air and caught it in a tight fist. "Correct, Saotome." She returned to her desk. "Now, can anyone tell me..." "{Way to go, Ran-chan!}" That was Ukyou. "{Tori?}" "{Yes, Ranma?}" "{Thanks.}" "{Sure thing. I can't have her sucking up your ki when you are already depleted enough as it is. I still need you to retrieve the amulets.}" "{Where were you when I took all those exams last week? I could've used you back then.}" asked Ranma. "{That probably wouldn't have been a good idea. Your life is your own to pick and choose as you want. Remember you have Ukyou now to think about. Through your own choices, through your own actions, and through your own dreams, you decide your own destiny. I won't be there all the time to pull your butt out of the fire. You will have to do that for yourself. You could cheat on a test, but then, you would be cheating on life.}" "{Tori?}" "{Yes, Ranma?}" "{Thanks.}" "{Sure thing.}" ***** [ [ Author's Note: I don't really know if they have a study hall period [ in Japan. I'm just making this up as I go along. Ranma and Ukyou met in the hallway on their way to study hall. Akane was scheduled to attend her Home Economics class at this hour, so was not around. When Ranma was positive no one was looking, he slipped Ukyou a kiss. Hiroshi chose at that moment to round the corner. Ukyou, still in her boy's uniform, said, "Oops!" Ranma just gave Hiroshi a stern look. Hiroshi just raised his hands and said, "Hey,...I-I didn't see a thing. No one would believe me anyway. Uh, w-why don't I just go this way," and quickly ran off. Ukyou and Ranma went on to study hall, grinning. Ranma was in study hall along with Ukyou. On the surface and to the other students, it looked like both were hard at work and had their noses buried into their books. The truth was a little different. "{I love you, Uc-chan!}" "{Yeah? Me too.}" "{You mean you love you, too?}" "{Yeah, that's true.}" "{But if you love you, what about me?}" asked Ranma. "{Oh, I love me, too}" "{What?!}" He looked up at her. "{I am you, silly. Don't you remember? At least in part.}" said Ukyou returning his gaze. "{Oh, how could I forget?}" "{Okay, you two. Knock it off.}" That was Tori. "{I just said, 'I love you, Uc-chan`.}" "{And I said, 'Yeah? Me too.`}" said Ukyou. "{Then I asked...}" "{I think I'm going to be sick.}" interjected Tori. When there was finally some restful silence, Tori changed the subject. "{Okay, since this is a school, let's have our first class.}" "{First class?}" they both asked surprised. "{Yeah. First. Class.}" Again, there was silence. "{Now, since Ranma needs to build his ki back up, we will start with that subject..." Tori then went into exhaustive detail about the human aura, and its relationship to the rest of the universe: How it could be built up, how it can be shaped, how it could be released, and how it could be used as an effective weapon. Ranma wasn't surprised at all that a lot of what Tori taught him were things he already knew about in part, and had used many times before, but he had overlooked things that now seemed obvious to him on reflection. Like when Tori used the example of breaking bricks: If just the hand is used, the hand will break. If the hand surrounded by a concentrated ki field is used, the bricks will break. It was simply a matter of moving them both in unison. Letting your ki take the brunt of the force. Tori also instructed them on how to broadcast their aura. How people do actually read the aura of another person subconsciously, they just aren't aware of it. Through this subconscious reading they can detect when a another person is calm, agitated, excited or aggressive. They were taught that this, too, could be used as a weapon to allay a persons' fears, or make the other person take the first punch. Both their heads swam after this and they practiced on each other until everything became second nature. The entire class took over a second. In unison, they lifted their heads to looked at each other, and then looked up at the clock. Forty-nine minutes to go until their next class. ****** The fishing was good this time of year on this southern lake. The bass and trout were always excellent and tasty. Michael Parks had gone hunting and fishing all his life, and this was always his chance to get away from the city and its hectic pace. He ran a central gun shop in a town 40 miles away. He came to this spot every year just for the peace and quiet. Until recently, this area was undisturbed with its lush greenery and crystal clear water. About two years ago, all that changed when a microwave antenna was erected on the northern bank. The company that had installed it swore up and down that there was no chance of any damage to the local Eco-System, but that still didn't explain why fish had been found belly up near the northern shore. Mike sat in a boat with a line in the still water. He had caught two large bass that day, his mouth watered already. A flock of geese took to the air and flew north. He watched as they flew in interest and saw the reflection of the tower in the water. A brilliant flash burned his vision. ***** The mall was crowded that day because of the approaching holiday. People scurried left and right to get their last-minute shopping done. A jolly fatman entertained the kids. A man carrying two leather-bound briefcases drifted down the central aisle. The cases had stickers, so security thought they were freshly purchased. They were wrong, dead wrong. The shattered store windows and the appalling gore sat as a sad reminder of just how wrong they really were. ***** Ranma sat down to eat lunch under a tree. Ukyou had left to go open her restaurant. He could not find Akane, and had spotted Nabiki eating lunch with Kunou. It looked like they were making a deal. he guessed, he was unruffled. "{Ranma?}" it was Tori. "{Uh, yeah! What is it?}" He was looking around, like he could see who he was talking to. "{It's time I shared something more with you. There have been some...recent developments that require your attention.}" "{Oh yeah, what's that?}" "{I am not the only one from the nexus that is here. There are now others, and they have entered your world. Even as we speak, they are wreaking havoc.}" Ranma jumped up and caught some strange looks from nearby students. "{I thought you guys had to have a host, or something.}" "{That's true, but I am one of the good guys. I asked you first if you would host me. These beings don't bother to ask, they just take.}" "{You mean like a possession, like the Exorcist?}" "{You've got the concept.}" Ranma dropped his jaw. "{So, why are they doing this all of a sudden? Haven't you guys been around for a while?}" "{Yeah?!}" it was Ukyou. "{Ukyou, are you listening to this?}" asked Ranma. "{I've been listening all along, Ran-chan,}" Ukyou responded. Tori continued, "{When you and Ukyou entered the nexus, you joined with each other. When you did that, you became the brightest object in the nexus. You definitely drew some attention. When you returned, your afterglow opened a trail into your world and provided a doorway.}" "{Can't you close it?}" asked Ranma. "{I am afraid there are only two ways to close it: I can either re-awaken the Starmaster, and he can close it, or close it myself by killing the both of you.}" Ranma hunched down like he was expecting a bomb to go off. "{Don't worry,}" Tori added, "{I have no plans to do that,...unless it is your choice. You could choose to sacrifice yourselves together in order to close the portal, and save your world, but that would only delay their takeover. The next time the nexus is opened, they would flood in like a horde of locusts. The true answer lies in finding the remaining amulets.}" "{Well, it sounds like we have some amulets to find. Don't you agree, Ran- chan?}" asked Ukyou. "{Uh, yeah! So, when do we start?}" Ranma was ready to go. "{I am still waiting for certain...events to transpire first. All I can say is soon, real soon. Just do me a favor, will you? Stay away from reflective surfaces: like mirrors, or lakes. Don't ask me to explain why just yet, because it's complicated. Just do it.}" "{Okay,}" both Ukyou and Ranma responded. Ranma just shrugged. ***** An urgent wire had come for Ukyou, it bore tragic news. Her father was dead, killed when a bomb exploded on board a JAL flight to Kyoto. She was devastated. She was an only child and had no close living relatives she could depend on. The wire said that she would be notified when there were enough pieces put together to identify the bodies. Ukyou closed her restaurant after the lunch rush ended and dismissed Konatsu for the day, she sat in her room. The tears came, and she stared at the floor. She had not notified Ranma yet of the recent events. She felt he would already have his hands full with what he was about to tell Akane, the Tendous and his father about their newfound relationship. At one moment, she almost blew it. "{Uc-chan, are you okay?}" Ranma suddenly asked, sounding concerned. He was still at school. She tried to sound cheerful. "{Yeah, w-why wouldn't I be?}" "{I don't know. Something inside me feels sad, for some reason. I guess it's this depleted ki thing.}" "{Yeah. Yeah, that must be it.}" Ukyou responded, wiping a tear away. "{Love you!}" Ukyou felt warmed by his sincerity. "{I love you too, Ran-chan!}" Despite her melancholy, Ukyou gave a small laugh, but it was short-lived. "{Do you miss me?}" asked Ranma. "{Oh,...I miss you more than you realize, Ran-chan.}" Her eyes started to well up, again. "{Okay, see you later, bye! I'll try to stop by tonight, if I can.}" "{See you then, Ran-chan.} Ukyou laid her head on the bed. In short order, she fell asleep for a small nap. When Ukyou awoke, she cursed herself for closing her restaurant. She needed to keep herself busy in order to keep her mind off the tragedy. She tried cleaning, solitaire, her new okonomiyaki recipe, etc. Nothing worked. So she went out for a stroll and sat by a river. She began throwing rocks into the river, and thinking and remembering. When she was younger, her and her mother were never close. When her mother died, there was only a short period of grief on her part. Ukyou was closest to her father, he had been the one that had taught her the family business and was there to take care of her. All that changed when Genma left her by the side of the road, and ran off with the yattai (okonomiyaki cart), her dowry. It was then that her father, too, became distant, and forced her to become a boy instead of a disowned daughter. Still, her father had always been there when she needed help and assistance, needed advice. All that was gone now. Ukyou sighed. She wanted desperately to be comforted, she wanted to go to Ranma, but still didn't want to burden him further. After all, there was a good chance that he, too, would be disowned by the end of the day, especially after his parents found out about their relationship. She wanted to talk to Tori, but knew that whatever they talked about would be picked up by Ranma, like a three-way party line. Still... "{Tori? Are you there?}" "{Yes, Ukyou.}" Tori's voice was soft, gentle, fatherly. "{You know, don't you.}" "{Yes, Ukyou,}" Tori responded. Ukyou had a thousand questions she wanted to ask, mostly about her father, but knew she couldn't. She had a theory though, and wanted to test it. "{Tori, you said in the nexus that you knew what our answers would be before you asked them.}" "{Yes, that is correct.}" "{Then, can you predict the future?}" "{To you, it is a prediction; to me, it is a reality. As I said, I am a lightroid, a being of light and intelligence. Light is the same whether you go forwards or backwards in time, one of your own Earth scientists discovered that, just this century. To me, time is a dimension that is the same as the other three spatial dimensions you're familiar with.}" "{Huh?}" inquired Ukyou. "{What I mean is, I can see your future and your past the same as you can see this river, this tree over there or those ducks swimming by.}" "{So you already know whether we are going to find the amulets or not, don't you.}" "{Yes,}" Tori said. "{Will you tell me?}" "{You know I couldn't, shouldn't, and wouldn't do that. To do so, would be to create a time paradox. I've seen three in my lifetime, and if you've ever seen one from my perspective, they are pretty repugnant, they're like a hole without a middle. And besides, if I told you, that would spoil the surprise.}" "{What surprise?}" No response, then Ukyou remembered something else. "{In the nexus, you said you could just barely remember your former Starmaster. Could you please tell me why? Especially, if you are able to see the past, as well as the future.}" "{Funny, I don't really know,}" responded Tori. Ukyou was astonished. ***** Ranma was slowly walking home from school. He had trouble following Ukyou's conversation with Tori. "Ranma! Wait up." It was Akane. Ranma stood by a fence, and waited. As Akane approached, he could see that there was still some small spark of love for her. he thought. But his love for Ukyou was by far the strongest. Ranma couldn't get the image of the color of Ukyou eyes, and the smell of her hair out of his mind. Also, they had shared something, something far deeper, and far more meaningful than anything he had ever felt with anyone, including Akane. When Akane stopped in front of Ranma, she spoke with a concerned voice, "Ranma, w-what's going on? I didn't see you at lunch, and you weren't there at the first class. Where were you?" Ranma looked her straight in the face and said, "I was at Ucchan's." "You were with Ukyou, weren't you." Ranma could see that a battle aura was starting to form around Akane. "{Ran-chan,...a-are you going to tell her?}" interjected Ukyou from somewhere far off. She sounded sad for some reason, but under the present circumstances, Ranma dismissed it. "{Seems like as good a time as any, I suppose. Hold on to your okonomiyaki, here it goes.}" Ranma tried to radiate calm, but found it difficult. "Yes, I was with Ukyou." Then he added, "Akane,...I-I'm in love with Ukyou." Akane was stunned, her mouth began resembling a carp. She looked wide-eyed at Ranma, and then grew angry,...incredibly angry. "Why you...you...you STUPID JERK!!!" Out came the mallet from hell aimed at Ranma's head. Ranma simply raised his hand, the mallet struck his hand, his hand never moved. The force, however, threw Akane back against the fence where she fell and caught her uniform on a jagged edge protruding from the fencing. It produced a rip in her uniform and caused a bleeding gash to form. Akane cried uncontrollably and ran off before Ranma could catch her. "{Sounds like she took that well,}" said Ukyou. "{It was as I...expected,}" said Ranma threw his hands up sadly, before running to catch up. Ryouga had been walking along a pathway that paralleled the fence trying to find the Tendou Dojo (which was, of course, in the opposite direction). Akane passed him, and he could see she was visibly shaken and in tears. He also saw her ripped uniform, despite her best efforts to cover up. "Akane, what the...?" Then he turned and saw Ranma giving chase. He, of course, jumped to the wrong conclusions. "RANMA SAOTOME...PREPARE TO DIE!!!" Ranma could see Ryouga's green aura build up and his anger. He stopped and radiated calm, he knew what was going to come. Ryouga didn't disappoint him. "{Careful, Ran-chan!}" "{Don't worry, Uc-chan, I've got it covered.}" "SHI-SHI-HOKODAN!!!" The ki blast had been the largest Ranma had ever seen Ryouga produce. Ryouga was throwing everything but the kitchen sink into it. Ranma simply raised a hand and it dissipated. Astonished at his lack of results and drained, Ryouga dropped to his knees and wept. "Ranma, what did you do to her?" he inquired incredulously. Ranma walked up, went down on one knee and placed a hand on Ryouga's shoulder. He continued to radiate calm. "Akane fell back against a fence and it tore her school uniform." Ryouga somehow sensed Ranma's sincerity and accepted that, then Ranma added, "I told her that I was in love with Ukyou, and she...overreacted." Ryouga stared at Ranma for a moment stunned, then laughed. "Huh, I bet she did." Ranma stood, then reached down a hand to pull Ryouga up. Ryouga accepted, he wobbled, still lightheaded. "Come," said Ranma, "let's go see if the dojo is still standing." They both laughed. ***** Kasumi was in the living room, dusting furniture. At first, she heard the bang of the front gate, then the front door. Akane didn't even bother to take her shoes off. "Akane! Honestly..." began Kasumi. Akane didn't even stop, she just tracked mud all the way up the stairs. Before she hit the top of the stairs, she bursted out into tears...loudly. "Oh my!" Kasumi said, bringing her hand to her mouth. She dropped her feather duster and went up the stairs after Akane. She heard Akane's bedroom door slam. Kasumi walked up to the door, and listened for a moment, she heard weeping inside. "Akane?" Kasumi knocked. No one answered, just more weeping sounds. Kasumi tried the door, it opened, and she walked in. "Akane, what's wrong?" "Onee-chan!" Akane flew off the bed and grabbed Kasumi in a tight embrace. Tears streamed onto her apron and down to the floor. In the embrace, Kasumi noticed the rip in Akane's uniform, she became more concerned. Kasumi tried again, quiet, yet firmly. "Akane, what's wrong?" "E-e-everything!" Akane lifted up her head, she was a mess. "R-Ranma s- said..." Just then her eyes grew large, and she looked over. Ranma was standing in the doorway behind Kasumi. Akane lowered her head again, and fell silent. Kasumi looked back and forth at the both of them, then raised her eyebrows at Ranma. "Ranma-kun, do you know anything about this?" Ranma tried to radiate as much calm as he possibly could. Try as he might, he couldn't look Kasumi directly in the face, so he, too, lowered his head. "Kasumi? I told Akane...that I am in love with Ukyou." The results were predictable. "Oh my!" ***** The Nekohanten was hopping. For some reason there was more business tonight than usual, many new faces Shampoo didn't recognize. Mousse worked the kitchen, and Shampoo would take and pass out orders, both Amazons were exhausted. Shampoo wished Cologne were here to help relieve some of the pressure. When there was a lull, she went into the restroom to freshen up. She looked at herself in the mirror, her purple locks were in streams. She quickly cleaned herself up and returned to the restaurant. When she took a break, she thought of the mess she was in. Mousse now knew about the amulets. Though he didn't know what they were used for, he knew she had them and that they belonged to the matriarches. In her haste to retrieve them that morning, she had enlisted his help. That morning she had sworn him to secrecy not to tell Cologne and avoided his question when he had asked why. She worried about what Cologne's reaction would be if she found out Shampoo had them. Shampoo went straight up to her room and retrieved Cologne's spellbook and amulet out of hiding. The other amulet she kept locked away for safe keeping. Knowing that Mousse was still busy downstairs, she stole back to Cologne's room and placed the amulet and spellbook back the way she had remembered it, then left to go for a short walk. She thought back to that morning's event with Ranma and his spatula girl. Something was wrong and she just knew it, she could feel it. Ranma knew that the amulets could remove his curse, but he gave them up too easily. Mousse had seen something too, but wasn't saying what. Plus, there was the event that took place between her and Mousse once they had gotten back to the Nekohanten. While they were fumbling with the amulets, they had inadvertently exchanged them, nothing happened, and she was sure that was how the amulet's power was released. Part of her was relieved, and she swore to herself in mandarin when she thought of spending the rest her life tied to Mousse. ***** Ranma was beginning to feel like Typhoid Mary. He had told all those at the Tendou-ke that he wanted to marry Ukyou. It didn't go well. Akane wouldn't speak to him, and would turned up her nose whenever he was around. Nabiki called in all her loans that he owed, and wouldn't loan to him anymore except at highly-inflated rates, and would double the interest if he didn't pay on time. When Souun wasn't bawling, he was giving him that demon-head thing. Genma just punched him. Kasumi was, well, Kasumi. When all was said and done, Genma and Souun concluded that it was just another phase he was going through, and would wait until he got...better, but he still had to eat and sleep in the dojo. Ranma had left to go somewhere. Akane had a headache and had just went to sleep. Nabiki was trying to catch the latest business reports on the television, but they were abbreviated because of all the disaster coverage. Genma and Souun were as usual cheating at Shogi. "Well, old friend, what are we going to do?" said Souun solemnly. "I haven't a clue, Tendou," said Genma moving a piece. "Do you think that girl added something funny to one of her okonomiyakis?" "Well, that's possible, it's happened before. If so, I sure hope it wears off soon." "Yeah, me too," as Souun took his turn. "I'm calling in Nodoka," Genma said looking up. "Do you think it's that serious?" Souun sat back surprised. "I hope not, but she can be...persuasive." "Do you think she'll bring her katana?" asked Souun. Genma sat back feeling his neck. "No-chan always brings her katana." ***** Despite the news he had given the Tendous and his father, Ranma was feeling better. He had spent time in the dojo practicing his art and employing the ki rebuilding techniques he had learned from Tori. He put on a jacket and walked swiftly toward Ucchan's. Something, maybe it was a gut feel, or an inkling, told him something was terribly wrong, something was up with Ukyou, and he needed to find out what. When he arrived at Ucchan's, he was surprised to see that it was closed. He went around to the back door and knocked, no one answered and there were no lights on. Ranma was about to throw a pebble up to Ukyou's bedroom window, in case she was asleep, when he spotted a figure walking up the street, slowly. At first, he thought it was a beggar woman, but finally realized it was Ukyou when the woman got closer. He was stunned, then he felt sick to his stomach. "W-what happened?" he asked. Her eyes were downcast, and slowly she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze. She jumped into his arms. "Hold me," she cried, and then latched on tight. He stroked her hair with great concern and waited for her to recover. "R-Ranma, my father is...dead. I-I have no one," then she cried intensely. He continued to try and comfort her. "Ukyou...*Saotome*,... you will always have me." Her grip became tighter and she actually laughed a moment before loosing her smile again. He reached over and pulled her hair out of her eyes and wiped her tears. A lone figure stood wide-eyed, but quiet, off in the distance, watching the whole thing. ***** Ukyou and Ranma sat at a table in the restaurant, drinking the green tea Ranma had made from her supplies. It was already past midnight. Ukyou had stopped her tears, but her eyes were red and puffy. She had on Ranma's jacket over her shoulders. Both were practically still and off in their own reflections. Ranma spoke without looking over. "I told the Tendous and Oyaji." "A-and?" asked Ukyou looking up. Ranma gave a short laugh. "I have to sleep in the dojo." She, too, laughed shortly and then returned to gaze at her tea. Ranma continued, "I'll probably have to move out soon." "I still have that room." said Ukyou hopefully. "I-I don't think that would be...*proper* just yet. I...don't know if I would be able to trust myself." he said shyly. Ukyou looked up suddenly. "Why, Ranma Saotome,...are you thinking of my honor?" she deadpanned. Ranma looked her square in the eyes. "I love you, Uc-chan. I don't ever, ever want anything to happen to you. I want everything between us to be perfect." Ranma was shocked by his own words, at what had come from his heart, and then looked down at the floor in stunned silence and embarrassment. Ukyou rose up and came around the table to sit next to him, and moved up close to his face. Ranma continued to stare down. Ukyou reached an arm around and pulled his pig tail down gently, causing his face to rise up to her's. She leaned over brushing her lips across his, and kissed softly. She pulled away slowly and brought her other arm around his other shoulder. Ranma seemed lost and in a whole different world, until he was brought out of his trance. "{May I remind you two that you have school tomorrow!}" said Tori suddenly. Both Ukyou and Ranma dropped their arms as if they'd been caught at something. Ranma sobered and looked put off. "{And who are you, my mother?}" He looked over at Ukyou and began an oration, "It seems like people are always reminding me I have school tomorrow. First, it was Akane, then it was Uk..." Ukyou shut him up by placing her mouth back on his, "Ym mmm-mm mm mm- mm...MMMMMmmm!" Tori sounded relieved, "{Thank you, Ukyou.}" Ukyou broke the kiss. Ranma was silent, he was in heaven. "{My pleasure,}" said Ukyou. Ranma was still smiling. He stood up finally, picked her up and carried her up the stairs. He put her to bed, pulling up the covers. Ukyou looked up at him seriously and said, "Ran-chan,...thanks for being there...when I needed someone. What would I do without you?" "I hope you never have to find out." "Yeah, me too." said Ukyou. Ranma gave her a slow farewell kiss on the forehead and left. ***** Shampoo was redecorating her room...pieces at a time. Mousse just stood out in the hallway watching wide-eyed, dodging an occasional object that would come flying by. He didn't ever remember her being this...emotional before. The restaurant had become suddenly deserted when a purple-headed Amazon began throwing bowls and utensils everywhere on her way through the kitchen and up the steps. Finally, the crashing stopped and Mousse slowly crepted in among the chaos that had resulted. Shampoo sat in the middle of the wreckage with a bonbori in one hand and the palm of her other hand on her forehead. She wasn't happy, and there were silent tears. "" Mousse asked cautiously through a side-glance. "" Shampoo returned. She then dropped her hand from her forehead and admired her handiwork, and started to cry, "" Mousse was slightly relieved, but tried not to show it. he thought. "" Shampoo continued to cry, "" Mousse frowned in confusion. "" Shampoo looked over at him incredulously. "" She then continued, "" "" asked Mousse. "" "" "" Shampoo reported. "" he snapped. Shampoo looked down at her bonbori, back at Mousse, then off into space in anger. "I am going to have to kill this *spatula girl* in order to break the spell.>" ***** "{Ukyou, wake up! UKYOU, WAKE UP!}" Ukyou was startled awake, it was Tori. "Uh-what?" she jumped, peering into the darkness. "{Sshhhhhh! Someone is about to attack you.}" "{Who is it?}" Ukyou asked, but moved just in time to avoid a bonbori hit that landed beside her. Her pillow erupted, there was the rain of bird feathers in the air. Someone moved swiftly in the darkness. She didn't have time to grab any of her spatulas, so she blocked with her ki field instead. Ukyou jumped off the bed in time to avoid a third hit and slammed on the lights. It was Shampoo. She didn't look friendly. "{What's going on?!}" Ranma piped in urgently. "{Ran-chan! It's Shampoo,}" Ukyou responded. Elsewhere in Nerima, Ranma took to the roof as fast he could in route to Ucchan's. He almost consider popping off an insult to Akane, just so he could get *airborne* and get there faster, but knew she was too unpredictable. "{Hold her off as long as you can. I'm on my way!}" "{Ukyou! Remember your techniques,}" reminded Tori. Ukyou jerked her head in remembrance, she started radiating serenity and tranquility. Shampoo hesitated for only a moment, but then launched a fierce attack. Ukyou did well at blocking her blows, but was being pushed back. Shampoo came at Ukyou with increased savagery. Ukyou finally cupped her hands in front of her and shouted, "MOUKO TAKABISHA!" Shampoo was blown out the window by the resulting blast. Ukyou ran over to the remains of her window, and peered out. Shampoo was flat on the ground unmoving, her bonbori a pile of smoldering molten metal. Ranma ran out of nowhere and checked the Amazon. She wasn't dead, but, then again, she wasn't well either. Ranma looked up at the hole in the wall of Ucchan's and up at Ukyou, he whistled in astonishment. Ukyou was shaking, then she fainted out of sight. Ranma ran to the door -- it had been forced, then up the steps. When he got to the bedroom, he picked her up and laid her on an undamaged part of the bed. Ukyou came to with a start. "Calm down! Calm down! You're safe," reassured Ranma, holding her down. Ukyou sat back and looked up at him, then asked. "How'd I do?" Ranma looked toward the window and shook his head unbelieving. "Well,...I'm sure glad your on our side." Ukyou smiled. ***** -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End chapter 2. From: Eric Warner Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Stellarcraft.3 A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: S T E L L A R C R A F T by: Eric Warner (evwarner@anet.bna.boeing.com) CHAPTER 3 : The Ceremony "The Crusher" was a traffic ticket on wheels. That was the nickname Ted Martin gave to his shiny, red and fully-restored '69 Chevy Camaro. It was complete with full mag wheels, bucket seats, and some...special modifications. A suspicious-looking scoop nosed its way out of a hood that covered an *illegal* engine. The special gearbox, Ted had designed himself, had four positions plus overdrive and, uh, warp drive. He kept it mostly in a garage behind his home in a quiet Houston suburb. He seldom took it out. After installing some new heads, Ted took "The Crusher" out for a test drive on Old County Line Road. He was in awe at the compression, and was mesmerized by its feel and handling. Pulling away from a stop sign, Ted was shoved back in his seat by the acceleration. The smell of burnt rubber and exhaust fumes was intoxicating, two parallel lines were drawn in the road where the car had once stood. The patrolman was posted at a speed trap behind a billboard sign. It had a worn-out cigarette ad on it. There had been rumors that some of the local kids brought their street machines here to race. When a red streak went by, the officer called for back-up. When he read the 3-digit number off the radar gun, he swore and called for a helicopter. He took off in pursuit, but had already guessed it was futile. What used to be Ted Martin never saw a member of Texas' finest in the rear view mirror. That Ted Martin saw only a flash from the central top of his windshield as he passed a billboard. Near the end of Old County Line Road was an oil refinery. Despite the drying up of most Texas oil wells, business was booming. Several huge tanks were brimming with processed gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuels. A tanker truck was just loading up when a car crashed through the front gates. The truck driver said a prayer when he saw the car coming straight for him, head-on. He never got to say 'Amen`. ***** When Shampoo woke up in the hospital, she felt like she had been hit by a car. She gave a soft groan. Twin tubes blew gas up her nose. An IV bottle dripped clear liquid into her arm, a hand held the other one. She looked over and saw it was Mousse. He was asleep in a chair, and he looked so peaceful. Her first reaction was to remove her hand, but she was cold and his was so warm. She looked up. she wondered. What had gone wrong? She should have caught her quarry by surprise and dispatched her quickly. Somehow, her foe had been ready, but how? She had been so quiet. After all, she had been trained in these stealth techniques since she was a child. It should have been so easy. She looked back at Mousse. His glasses were on his head. She remembered having to protect him when they were children from the teasing of others because of his vision problems. Out of anyone she knew, he had followed her for over a decade and across China and Japan, just to be with her. She had mostly spurned his advances. She found herself for a moment admiring his chiseled features and his long, raven black hair. She tried to shake it off, but couldn't move that readily. ***** Ranma was brought wide awake by an overly aggressive Genma. "On your feet, boy!" He was thrown out of the dojo. Though he began to block with his ki field, he found his feet a little too late before he was introduced to the koi pond. A soaking wet *male* Ranma rose out of the water. Genma stepped back incredulously. "H-how...?" The normally stoic Nabiki dropped her abacus, mouth open. Everyone else had been inside. "It's a long story, Pops. I need a bath." Ranma walked by a wide-eyed Genma, whistling. A dripping Ranma walked up to the bath house and found it 'occupied`. He started to wait by a wall when the door opened, it was Akane and she was carrying her towel and things. Upon seeing Ranma, she immediately went into her high-nose routine. Ranma was unruffled. On her way past him, her comb started to drop. Ranma kicked it up with his foot, caught it and gave it back to Akane. No words were exchanged and Akane continued on her way studying the stratosphere. Ranma proceeded on his way into the bath house. After taking a few more steps, Akane stopped suddenly and went wide-eyed. The comb Ranma had given her had been wet from his touch -- *cold* wet, and he was a *he*. ***** Ranma again walked the fence, as was his usual, on his way to school. Following behind him a little ways on the sidewalk was Akane. They still were not speaking to each other, but Ranma noticed that something was different. Akane had stopped giving him the high and mighty attitude of last night and started giving him curious glances instead. When Ranma reached the road that lead to Ucchan's, he dropped down and walked in that direction. Akane stopped and stared sadly after him until he had turned a corner, then proceeded on to school. She was deep in thought. Ranma arrived at Ucchan's and could see for the first time the resulting damage from last night in broad daylight. He was still amazed. It had taken Ranma a year to develop the Mouko Takabisha technique. It originally had come about when he couldn't master Ryouga's Shi Shi Hokodan. It was his own and tailored after his own style and confidence. Though not as powerful as Ryouga's, it had served him well through many a fight. Now Ukyou had mastered it overnight, and she had done it using his own memories and experiences. Ranma gave his head one last shake and knocked on the door. When Ukyou answered the door, she didn't have her uniform on. "Ohayo, Uc-chan. Aren't you coming?" He gave her a peck. "No, Ran-chan. I have to get that window fixed, remember?" "Uh, yeah. How could I forget?" Hitting his head with his palm. "And besides," Ukyou lowered her head, "I have to begin the preparations for the funeral." "Yeah. I know what you mean," he said solemnly. "Listen, i-if you need any help..." he trailed off. "Yeah, yeah. I'll let you know," Ukyou replied thankful. They stood together in silence. "I'll be opening the restaurant again today. At least that wasn't damaged." She paused in reflection. "I think I have to keep myself busy to keep my mind off...things." "Well, I'll try to take good notes for you while I'm in school," Ranma added, since he and Ukyou shared a lot of the same morning classes. Ukyou was in shock. "You? Take notes? What *is* this world coming to." "Hey! I have to take care of my best girl, don't I? You ought to know that." Ukyou continued her stunned expression, then lightened. "Just make sure you don't fall asleep when you do it." "Yeah, yeah, yeah." They hugged before he took off for school. ***** Akane didn't know the person who sat next to her in class: he was attentive, he took notes, asked and answered questions and, surprisingly, he didn't sleep. His teachers noticed that, too. This was not the same Ranma she knew, the one she was, or were until recently, engaged to. This Ranma was different. She had heard some of the other students notice, also. "Hey, Hiroshi! What's up with Ranma?" whispered Daisuke. "Gee, I-I don't know!" said Hiroshi stunned. She looked over and curiously noted that Ukyou was absent. Her eyes narrowed, she suspected. Akane thought back to that morning. Ranma was wet, *cold* wet, and he hadn't changed to a girl. Her eyes grew large. ***** Akane caught up with Nabiki at lunchtime. She was staring off at Ranma who was eating lunch under a tree. She seemed to be studying him intently. "Nabiki?" said Akane. The normally unshakeable Nabiki gave a start. "WHAT?! What?" She quickly looked around to see if anyone saw her jerk, she didn't want anyone to see her lose her 'Miss Cool` image. After all, she needed to keep the plebes in line. Akane looked around to make sure no one was listening. "I think something is wrong with Ranma, and...I think Ukyou has something to do with it," she whispered. Nabiki stopped to consider this. "You know, I think your right. This morning Genma threw Ranma into the koi pond, and...and he didn't change." Nabiki gave an evil smile while tapping her chin. "I think I need to do some investigating." ***** Nabiki made a few phone calls. Her sources told her that Ukyou needed to hire a construction crew to fix the frame and windows of Ucchan's. The construction foreman owed her a favor and she went to collect. While he was fixing the window she had him install bugs -- listening devices in certain key locations around the restaurant. She waited. ***** "{Ran-chan?}" Ukyou called. "{I'm here, my love.}" Ranma was still at school. "{I'm going to introduce my new recipe today. If you get a chance, stop by and try it.}" "{I can hardly wait.}" replied Ranma, he was getting curious looks from the other students watching him salivate. "{Take care!}" Ukyou said. "{Love you, bye!}" responded Ranma. Ukyou started to warm up her grill. As she waited for it to get hot, she noticed one of the workers who was fixing her window doing something with the counter. She grew curious, but was interrupted by a phone call. The remains of her father had been recovered and they were asking what she wanted done. She made arrangements to have the body laid to rest next to her mother in Kyoto. She would travel the next day to attend the rites. When she hung up the phone, fresh tears emerged. The tears were short-lived when she had to attend the business of opening the restaurant. She brightened a little when she thought of her new recipe. Just then, the phone rang, it was Konatsu. When she was finished, she remembered that she had better make reservations and have flowers sent. "{Ran-chan? Are you there?}" Ukyou asked. "{Yes, I'm here. I've been keeping good notes. You shouldn't have any trouble getting caught up.}" "{Thanks, Ran-chan.}" Ukyou turned somber. "{They have my father ready for burial. The funeral is tomorrow in Kyoto. I'll bury him next to my mother. He would have wanted it that way. Do you think you can come?}" "{If you want me there, I'll be there,}" said Ranma. "{Yes. Yes, I think I am going to need you there. I don't think I could do this, and face it alone. I'll make reservations for two on tomorrow's flight. Okay?}" "{Thanks, Uc-chan. I was beginning to wonder how I was going to get there. It would be tough to get a loan out of Nabiki right now.}" "{Hey! Us *Saotome's* have to stick together, right?}" Ukyou brightened. "{Yeah, your right!} then he added, "{I still have my tux from the wedding. Would it be okay if I wore that?}" "{Well, at least you'll get some use out of the thing. Oops! That reminds me. I need to get a dress for the funeral. Sorry, gotta go!}" Ukyou then dialed JAL ticketing, Shinobu's Flowers in Kyoto and made arrangements for a dress. ***** Ranma headed directly to Ucchan's after school. Despite not being engaged to her, he had just helped Akane put down some of the advances of Kunou, by stepping on his head. But before she left, he had told Akane he would be eating at Ucchan's instead of home. She only shook her head and walked away. Ranma just shrugged and went on. He was in a hurry to try Ukyou's new recipe; he was in a hurry to see her. Tori piped in. "{Ranma, can I ask you a question?}" "{I thought you knew all the answers.}" "{True, true. Just bear with me, okay?}" responded Tori. "{Okay.}" Ranma shrugged. "{What did you learn today?}" asked Tori. "{Huh?}" inquired Ranma, then he listed it, "{Well, let's see...I learned how to bisect a triangle, learned about Genghis Khan, about metabolism...}" "{No. What I mean is, what did you learn about *life* in general?}" "{Huh?!}" Ranma stopped walking. "{Look at what's in your hand, tell me what you see?}" asked Tori. Ranma pulled up the pages and gave them a brief glance. "{They are Ukyou's notes.}" He seemed perplexed. "{Yes, but who took them for her?}" "{Well, I did.}" Ranma said matter-of-factly. "{Why?}" "{'Cause...'cause she needed them. So she doesn't fall behind.}" Ranma seemed exasperated. "{Have you ever done this for Akane?}" Tori asked. Ranma tilted his head. "{No. No I never did.}" Then, something was slowly dawning on him. Tori drove his point home, "{Some of your actions are because some of Ukyou's personality is in you, but now it is much more than that. Your starting to act with a little more maturity now, aren't you Ranma? Before, when you thought only for yourself, you slept in class and weren't very attentive. Now, you not only are thinking of yourself, your thinking about Ukyou and her cares and needs, too. I'm proud of you, Ranma.}" Ranma thought about that, and smiled. He continued on his way with a spring in his step. ***** "Ukyou! Aren't you adding too much sesame oil to that?" Ranma pointed to the okonomiyaki batter Ukyou was mixing. The restaurant was already closed save for these two. Ukyou, who had been lost in thought about her father, placed her hands on her hips. "Ran-chan, what would you know...Oh! That's right." A hand came to her mouth as she suddenly remembered that just as she had some of Ranma's memories, he had some of hers -- including how to make okonomiyakis. "Sorry, Ran-chan. You're right. I must have been distracted." Then a thought occurred to her. "Come here." Ukyou beckoned with a flexing index finger. Ranma was hesitant and pointed to his chest. "Me? Why? What are you going to do?" "Just come here. Right here next to the grill." Ranma come around the counter and had a suspicion of what this was leading to. Ukyou stepped away from the grill and folded her arms. "Now. Your going to cook me an okonomiyaki." Ranma started to smile. "A special or a deluxe?" he asked. Ukyou place a finger to her mouth and thought. "Let's make it...a special." "Okay!" said Ranma, "But only on the condition that I help you eat it. Deal?" "Deal!" she said smiling, putting her hands behind her back. Ranma quickly put in the rest of the ingredients Ukyou had started into the batter mix and stirred. When he was finished with the batter, he set about making her secret sauce for the special. Ukyou was impressed at Ranma's cooking skills and recognized some of her own techniques being copied. In no time, Ranma grilled up a special with the sauce and toppings in perfect order. "Now for the fun part," said Ranma popping the freshly cooked okonomiyaki onto a plate. "We get to eat it." Ukyou took the okonomiyaki and cut it into smaller pieces, placing the finished product on a table. When they both were seated, she took the first piece and popped in her mouth. "Mmmmm...I'd say you got it right on the first try, this is very tasty," she said savoring the taste. In short order, Ukyou and Ranma began devouring the okonomiyaki until there was only one piece left. Ranma decided to turn the last piece into a game. "When I say 'GO`, you try to get the last piece before I do. Okay?" "Alright!" she brightened. She remembered all those times back when they were children when they used to fight over okonomiyaki. Back then, Ranma was always stealing her's away. She was bound and determined not to let him win so easily this time. "Re-e-eady...Go!" said Ranma. It totally surprised him when his chopsticks came away empty. He should have had plenty of practice fighting Genma over food. Ukyou was glorying in her triumph, and waved the last piece in front of Ranma. "Ha! Ha! HA!" She was about to place the last morsel into her mouth when Ranma adopted a new strategy, a lost puppy-dog expression. "HA! That's not going to work." Ukyou was pulling the okonomiyaki closer to her mouth when his expression started to tug at her heart. Her triumphal expression was slowly replaced with that of pity. She started to slowly move it over to his mouth instead. When Ranma opened his mouth, Ukyou suddenly reversed course and the tiny morsel disappeared. "See? I told you it wasn't going to work." The chopsticks Ranma held snapped. ***** Jim Alvarez was a dirt farmer. He had worked all his life trying to scrape a living out of a small, dry patch of earth nestled in central Nevada. Every morning he rose up way before the sun ever did. After killing his alarm clock, he stumbled into bathroom for a quick shower and shave. Holding up his electric razor, he tried to clear the stubble from his face. He stood before a mirror. Behind him on the ceiling was a sun lamp set above a cot that he had installed so his daughter could sunbathe during the winter months. By accident, it had been left partially on. A flash from the lamp caught his eye. He turned and stared at the sunlamp, it was now full on. He continued his stare. ***** A train whistle sounded in the distance. It was still dark. The lead train consisted of an engine and a security car. They were in charge of clearing the tracks. Overhead flew a helicopter. Two miles behind was another train. It, too, had an engine and a security car, it also had five cars of radioactive waste bound for a disposal site in northern Nevada. The lead train crested a hill where several farms, mostly abandoned, paralleled the tracks. The lead train continued down the tracks, the train's personnel and accompanying helicopter hadn't spotted a thing. When the train passed, a lone man came out from behind a tree and walked up to the tracks. He stood in the middle of the tracks and saw a light off in the distance. Slowly, he started walking toward the light. A train whistle blew. He moved a little faster. There was a low thrumming sound, as from a diesel. He started to run. The single light that he saw began to clarify into four distinct lights, a pair on top and two on the bottom. He ran faster. The earth started to shake beneath his feet. He ran a little faster. The engineer in the train saw an object off in the distance, but it was too late to hit the brakes. The man became a blur. ***** The governor had called out the National Guard. It had been named the worst train disaster in history. An area 15 miles in radius had to be cordoned off and evacuated. The National Transportation Safety Board, the EPA, and the Atomic Energy Commission all had representatives flown into the area from Washington, D.C. No one really knew what happened. No one really knew what blew a hole of about six feet in diameter straight through a solid train engine, a security car and five thoroughly radioactive freight cars. Some thought it was a meteor. The locals thought it was aliens from Mars. ***** Ranma rose up early in the morning before everyone else was up. He had to pack a few things and catch the early morning flight with Ukyou to Kyoto. He went to the kitchen and found Kasumi humming away fixing breakfast. "Ohayo, Kasumi." "And good morning to you, Ranma-kun. Your up bright and early," Kasumi said in a cheery voice. "I have to help out a friend, we're attending a ceremony, so I'll be gone most of the day." "Do you want to take some breakfast before you go?" said Kasumi filling up a bowl of rice. "Yeah, thanks," replied Ranma. He quickly devoured his meal and left carrying a backpack and a suitbag. "Bye, Kasumi, I'll probably be back tonight for dinner." ***** Nodoka arrived at the Tendou-ke late Sunday morning with a concerned expression on her face. She wondered what mess Genma and her son had gotten themselves into this time. She carried with her a long, wrapped object on her back. Kasumi answered the door politely. "Auntie Saotome! Please, please come in." "Kasumi-chan!" Nodoka acknowledged walking in and giving her a hug. She made a show of looking around. "I'm always impressed at how neat and clean you keep this place." "Why thank you, Auntie," Kasumi beamed. Nodoka then lost her smile. "Now tell me, where's Laurel and Hardy?" "Excuse me?" asked Kasumi with a lost expression. "Your father and the freeloader," Nodoka translated grimly. "Oh. They're in the living room. I-I'll just go get some tea." Kasumi excused herself quickly. Genma and Souun were in an animated discussion about the rules of Shogi, when they fell silent. Nodoka regarded the two. Genma's face was white, they both were shaking. "So, where's my son?" asked Nodoka. Kasumi, who arrived with a perfect tea set, replied, "I think he said he was helping a friend. He won't be back until around dinner time. "So!" Nodoka turn back to Genma and Souun, "What gives?" Kasumi handed her a tea cup, then left to go get some snacks. Genma spoke up first. "Our *son* doesn't want to marry Akane anymore. Again. He wants to marry Ukyou Kuonji!" "The one that blew up the wedding ceremony?!" asked Nodoka incredulously. "The same," interjected Souun. Genma then added, "He insists he serious this time." "Do you think it was just an overblown fight with Akane?" "She doesn't think so. She insists they were getting along fine, just as they normally do." "I see." She started to pace thoughtfully, then asked, "Any potions? Strange spells? Bizarre Amazon rituals? ...Voodoo?" "We don't know," said Genma, then he remembered, "Although, there was something strange that happened yesterday morning. I threw Ranma into the pond and... he didn't seem to change." Nodoka and Souun went wide-eyed. "Oh?!" ***** Nabiki ran home from picking up her recordings from Ucchan's, the workers had been discreet. She saw Nodoka when she arrived, but dismissed it as just a social visit. She made her apologies and went to her room claiming she had some homework left to do. She checked her equipment and listened to the tape recordings made at Ukyou's restaurant. Most of it was construction sounds and a few room noises, then she heard a phone ring and Ukyou's voice. "Moshi Moshi? Ucchan's Okonomiyaki-ya!" said Ukyou in the recording, then her voice became somber. Nabiki swore and smacked her head, she had forgotten to have the phone bugged. "...Oh...Oh, I see...Well, at least I have Ranma here...No, no one else knows...Yeah...What do you expect?...Yeah...I've already taken care of them... I said, I've already taken care of them!...Yeah!...We'll put him next to my mother...In Kyoto...Okay...No, that's fine...We'll be prepared for the ritual tomorrow...Tomorrow afternoon?...Yeah, that's fine...Yeah, thanks...Thanks, bye!" The rest was more room noises and something frying, until the phone rang again. Ukyou was whispering joyfully, "...Yeah...Yeah, it's a new recipe... Believe me it's magic...That's right I've created another...No, no one else knows except my Ranma...It's my secret...It will be a surprise for everyone...Sorry?...No, I'll be gone tomorrow at the ceremony...No...No, I don't know when I'll be back...At that time?...No...No, by then it will be too late...For everyone...Yeah, I'm sure?...Yeah, I'm positive that's what I want...Okay?...Okay, bye!" Ukyou then made some phone calls for airline reservations for two to Kyoto for the next day and for flowers to be sent to a chapel. Then the tape ran out. Nabiki turned off her machine. "Hmmm." ***** Akane arrived home after doing some brief shopping and was surprised to find her Auntie Saotome. "Auntie Saotome, I didn't expect you." Nodoka gave her a hug. "Well, I had some messes to clean up in the area so I decided to drop by. How are you doing in school?" "Fine." Akane started thinking about the 'messes` she was in now. "Good, good. If you don't have any homework to do right away, why don't you help me in the kitchen. I want to bake some cookies before lunch. Plus, I want to have a little talk." Akane jumped for joy; everyone else, jumped for the hills. When Nodoka and Akane walked into the kitchen, Kasumi was off in a different area of the kitchen, preparing lunch. Akane and Nodoka did their best to stay out of her way. Kasumi was whistling a quiet tune while she worked. "So!" said Nodoka greasing a pan, "I hear my son has decided to dissolve his engagement with you...Could you pass me the flour?" Akane looked down depressed -- with her hands on the pepper. "Yes, yes he told us day before yesterday that he wanted Ukyou." "I see...No, not that, the flour," said Nodoka. "So, where's my son now?...No! No! That's the curry powder, that one...Yeah!" Nodoka pointed. "I don't really know. He left sometime this morning," Akane said finally handing Nodoka the flour. "I see. Have you noticed...anything funny about him recently?...Hand me the sugar will you." Nodoka was measuring out the right amount of flour. "Yeah. Yes, I have." Akane reached into a cabinet, extracted a box. "What did you notice?...No! That's rat poison, dear," said Nodoka frantically. Akane looked down, gasped and quickly switched boxes. "Oh!...Well, he came to the bath house yesterday morning and he was wet, and the water was *cold*, and it didn't seem like he had *changed*," Akane said handing the sugar. Kasumi continued to work, but had stopped her tune in mid-note. "Yeah. I got a similar story from my husband. Bring me the water, dear." Nodoka poured the measuring cup of sugar into a bowl. Akane picked up a container and was about to pour. "Also, in school, he was...acting funny." "Oh? How funny?...No, that's Drano! I need water," Nodoka looked up in time. Akane smacked her forehead and reached for the right container. "Well, he was: more attentive to the classes, he was polite to the teachers, and...and he didn't sleep," deadpanned Akane handing over the water container. Nodoka stopped for a moment gazing at Akane surprised, she was considering this. "Hmmm...I need some baking powder, dear...Please. Please, go on!" Nodoka said with interest. Just then Nabiki walked in. "Excuse me, Auntie, I need Akane urgently for a sec." Akane bowed and excused herself and left with Nabiki whispering. Nodoka continued the cookie making, and thought. ***** Nabiki replayed the tape that contained Ukyou's telephone conversations. She switched off the machine. Akane was shaking in rage and astonishment. "What do you think?" Nabiki asked finally. "It sounds like she gave him some type of love potion, maybe in her okonomiyaki, and they are going to...*elope*." "All we have is just her side of the telephone conversation, but yeah, I would have to agree with your assessment," said Nabiki coolly. Akane got animated. "Nabiki, do you know what this means? This means that Ranma, *our* Ranma, is going to be married to that...bimbo chef...probably before he even realizes it and recovers from whatever she's poisoned him with. We have to stop her." Nabiki shook her head in agreement. "Nabiki! When was this recorded?" "It was recorded sometime yesterday." "Then,...we don't have much time, do we?!" said Akane jumping to her feet. Before Nabiki could get up to respond, Nodoka entered the room. "I originally came up here to tell you two that lunch was ready,...but I don't really think we're going to have time for that...are we?" Nabiki and Akane looked at each other, then took off following after a running Nodoka. Genma and Souun were already sitting at the table. Genma looked like he was ready to devour his plate and was just waiting for the word 'GO`. Nodoka, followed by the two girls, ran into the room. "Quick! I have reason to believe Ranma is going to elope, elope with that Ukyou girl." "Nonsense," Genma smiled assuredly, "...the boy wouldn't dare." "Oh my!" It was, of course, Kasumi who had just entered the room and now had a shocked expression. "When Ranma-kun left this morning, he had a suitbag with him. He doesn't have any suits, he does have a tuxedo though. And he said that he was attending a 'ceremony`." Everyone headed out the door immediately except Genma, who looked longingly at his lonely plate before he, too, followed. On the way to the train station, Genma hit a pool left from yesterday's rain. He almost missed the train as it was pulling out when he had to run into the bathroom to change back, since they didn't allow animals on the train except in cages. ***** When Ranma and Ukyou arrived at the chapel, friends and distant relatives, who had come to pay their respects, were already seated. The casket was up near the altar with the lid open. A wreath of flowers decorated a tripod off to one side which had a picture surrounded by ribbons in the center. The picture was a portrait of the caskets occupant. Ukyou found it difficult to breathe and stood back a ways from the casket, not able to view its contents from where she was standing. Ranma, dressed in his tux from the disastrous wedding, looked sharp and had a flower in his lapel. He stood at her side with his hands held in front and head down. Ukyou had acquired a white kimono and would have looked stunning except for her downcast countenance. Steeling herself, Ukyou gripped Ranma's arm and slowly they walked up to the casket. Ukyou was amazed, despite the explosion, her father's face was still intact. In fact, the embalmers had done an excellent job of reconstruction. The only thing noticeable was a slight notch in the left shoulder, plus her father wore white gloves in which the left hand didn't look quite right. But the face, Ukyou couldn't tear her eyes away from the face. "Even in death, he looks so handsome," Ukyou said almost to herself. Ukyou paused for a moment, then added, "Despite all the hell he put me through, I still can't hate him. I still find that I love him." Ukyou's eyes started to well up and Ranma pulled her in tight next to him. Tori spoke up in a solemn tone. "{Only when we stare death in the face, does the true meaning and value of life become precious to us.}" Both Ranma and Ukyou nodded, but remained silent. When she could finally take her eyes off her father, she buried her face in Ranma's chest and wept, then they seated themselves and waited for the service. ***** The funeral ceremony was presided over by Father Fujiyama, who Ukyou had known since childhood. The priest was a bald man and looked more like he would be at home in a Buddhist monastery. What Ukyou found most appealing about him was his no nonsense approach, and his natural ability to command respect and attention. The funeral ceremony was conducted in short order, amid a few tears and occasional wailing. Friends and relatives, both known and unknown, rose up to eulogize and say fond farewells. Soon the ceremony was over and the casket was draped over in preparation for the funeral procession. Father Fujiyama spoke, "It is time for the funeral procession where we will take the body of our dearly departed to his final resting place. This is the way I wish the procession to proceed: I will lead the way to the burial site. Next, I want the immediate family, followed by the wreathbearer. The pallbearers will then pick up the casket and follow us out. Any friends and relatives who wish to attend the burial ceremony, may then follow behind the casket. Is that clear?" A few nods and vocalized agreements. "Good. Now we will start with the immediate family." Ukyou rose from her seat dragging Ranma with her into the aisle and arm-in- arm they walked up to the front of the chapel. The father regarded Ranma with a scowl. "And you are?" "Ranma Saotome, sir." Ranma spoke through downcast eyes. "A friend of Ukyou's." Ukyou spoke up. "Father,...I-I need him with me." Father Fujiyama looked at Ukyou for few moments and smiled reassuringly. "Very well, then. He may accompany you." Just then the doors to the back of the chapel burst open and Nodoka, Genma, followed by the Tendous, rushed in. Nodoka had her katana drawn. "Stop! Stop, I protest!" The controlled anger on Father Fujiyama was openly apparent. He came around the pulpit and said, "And who might you be?!" "I am Nodoka Saotome, mother of Ranma Saotome. I will not allow this...this *ceremony* to proceed any further." said Nodoka with a haughty expression. Father Fujiyama seemed like he was remembering something. "Saotome... Saotome...I've heard of that name somewhere...Ah, yes! Aren't you the same Saotome's that attended that failed marriage ceremony in Tokyo. A colleague of mine who had presided over it told me all about it." Then the Father's expression became stern. "Where is your honor, madam? Where is your shame?" Nodoka gripped her katana tightly and looked like she was about to use it. "MY HONOR! M-MY SHAME! My son conducts a *wedding* behind my back and you talk about honor? HOW *DARE* YOU!" The Father looked at Nodoka wide-eyed, he looked at Ranma and Ukyou who were still in front of him but at the ready, and started to howl in laughter to the amazement of all those present. When he regained control of himself, and wiped away a tear, he was chuckling. "Wedding ceremony? Ha! This is no wedding, this is a funeral." "WHAT?!" Nodoka dropped her katana and the Tendous dropped their jaw. "You- you mean this is a *funeral*, like in...someone's dead?" For the first time since arrival, they notice the covered casket behind the priest. "Yes! This is a funeral for Ukyou's father." said Father Fujiyama indicating Ukyou and becoming more serious. Nodoka just had to sit down in disbelief, then turned to her son. "W-why didn't you tell someone." Ranma spoke shyly, "Well, except for maybe Kasumi, I-I wasn't exactly on speaking terms with anybody else...e-especially after that announcement I had made." Nodoka became stern. "We will discuss that 'announcement` of yours...*in detail*...later." Nodoka then turned to Ukyou. "On behalf of my family and the Tendou family, I wish to give you our sincerest apology for bringing ruin to this solemn occasion...and our deepest sympathies at your loss." Ukyou spoke with a vengeful grin. "Apology accepted...*Mother* Saotome." Nodoka, the priest and quite a few others raised their eyebrows at that, but Nodoka forced herself to keep silent. Ranma turned and tried to contain a grin. Genma and the Tendous took their seats. Akane was the last to recover and take her seat. "NOW! If we may continue...without any further *interruptions*," Father Fujiyama emphasized, peering holes through Nodoka who had to finally drop her gaze, "...the procession will be as follows..." ***** The funeral procession and burial ceremony went off without a hitch, and without any further complications. After the ceremony, there were still some people milling about, including one concerned mother with a katana strapped to her back. At first, Nodoka hung back to observe Ranma and Ukyou together, to see if there was anything...strange. Despite the recorded telephone conversation she had overheard, she saw nothing in their appearance that would suggest anything out of the ordinary. Ranma's behavior during the entire service seem to be that of a concerned friend more than some ravishing lover influenced by a magic spell or potion. There were a few tender moments she noted, but nothing that would be considered unseemly outside of a true relationship. She also observed Ukyou. thought Nodoka. But then Nodoka thought back to the time she had lost her own father, and how wonderful it would have been to have someone like Ranma there to comfort her. She noted how he seemed to show complete understanding and proved that he really cared for Ukyou. Upon seeing this care, and for a moment, Nodoka's heart went out to this girl and thought what a wonderful daughter-in-law she would make. She did seem to be very bright and very pretty, and had established herself in a successful business. She shook it off. Promises had already been made to Souun and the Tendou family, and family honor demanded that those promises be kept. Having seen enough, Nodoka went up to Ranma, who was talking with Ukyou and the priest, and tapped him on the shoulder. "I think it is time we had...our little *talk*." Ukyou and the priest remained, but kept silent. "Concerning this *newfound* engagement to this girl, I will not allow you to jeopardize and throw away our family honor. You have already been promised to one of the Tendou daughters." Ukyou lowered her head. "What about the honor of Ukyou's family? What about that?" responded Ranma, hands on hips. "What about her honor?" Her expression changed to one of urgent concern. "Are you in trouble?" Ukyou and Ranma both went wide-eyed and both blushed. "Oh! No! No! 'Nuthin' like that." Ranma quickly countered with waving hands. "I mean Genma engaged me to Ukyou, also." "He did?" said Nodoka surprised, then she recovered. "B-but the Tendou engagement was in place before you were born, so it should have precedent over any other claim." "Why?" asked the priest, butting in. "What do you mean?" Nodoka challenged. "I've been with the Kuonji family, oh...oh, since before Ukyou here was born. I know all about their family business...including some things I shouldn't talk about." Ukyou blushed again. "I also know a little something about this *engagement business* and how your husband, I believe, promised an engagement, then left a poor, defensiveless six-year old child by the side of the road and ran off with her dowry: a yattai, that her family used to conduct their only livelihood with. I know something about how that same six-year old was forced to act as a boy by her father the rest of her life, because she had lost that self-same dowry. "Now let me ask you about *family honor*. You say that Ranma's engagement to one of the Tendou daughters has precedent. As I said before I am already aware of that failed wedding that took place. Akane, I think her name is, still has her dowry, the Tendou Dojo, it has never been given and still remains. Ukyou's dowry, however, has already been spent. So now, let me ask you, whose claim really has precedent?" Nodoka's eyes were huge. "I...I never knew. Genma never told me about *any* of this." Ranma added the final straw, "Oyaji, was always promising me away, for food. Mostly, for his own fat belly." Nodoka spun and reached for her katana. "GENMAAA!" Genma was at the refreshment table. He froze white with solid fear, especially when the cup he had been holding was sliced clear through by a katana. It was hot tea. "You...you BASTARD!" *SLAP* Genma reach up to the red-mark on his face. "How could you? How could you leave this child behind? How could you steal her dowry?" Nodoka indicated Ukyou, who had ran up followed by Ranma and the priest. A crowd was gathering, a safe distance away. "B-but I asked..." Genma began, before he was slapped with a matching red mark on the other side of his face. Nodoka continued, "When we get home, you have some *real* explaining to do. I'd have you commit seppuku right here on the spot except, Ukyou..." she indicated Ukyou again, "...needs someone to give the bride away since her father is now gone, and you..." she poked him in the belly "...are going to do it. And after her wedding, I may still have you commit seppuku. Do you understand me?!" Ukyou jumped for joy. Ranma smiled ear-to-ear. Akane, who was listening nearby, fainted. "Yes, Nodoka-sama!" Genma said dropping on shaking knees. ***** Nodoka hugged her future daughter-in-law and said her last farewells, then left with the Tendous, dragging a still catatonic Genma onto the train back to Nerima. After the funeral, Ranma and Ukyou changed out of their clothes. Ranma was glad to shuck the tuxedo. It was too tight and cumbersome, just like he had remembered from the wedding. He preferred loose-fitting clothes like his Chinese shirt and drawstring pants. They still had some time to kill before their flight back to Tokyo, so they went and visited their old stomping grounds where they used to run and play as children over a decade ago. It was Ranma's idea, to help relieve Ukyou from her depression. They took a casual stroll near a meadow by the stream that was, with few exceptions, just as they had remembered it. At first, Ukyou was quiet, still in deep reflection of her father, but Ranma could see that she was lightening when familiar and happy memories came back. "Remember this spot?" asked Ranma indicating the stream. Ukyou peered off in the direction he indicated blank-faced, then grinned in sudden recognition. "You mean fishing?" "Yeah, that. I don't think I was ever so thoroughly soaked in my life," Ranma laughed, "...and coming from me, that's saying a lot." "Remember the fish we caught?" asked Ukyou. "Fish? Mostly, we just caught hell from our parents." "Yeah, that's true." Ukyou nodded, then looked across the meadow and brightened. "Do you remember that rock? The rock that I beat you at when we had that foot race." "You never beat me." Ranma looked serious. "What?! Yes I did." Ukyou corrected forcefully, hands on hips. "No, you didn't! You cheated." Ranma said, daring her to say otherwise. "I DID NOT!" Ukyou denied vehemently, but was half-smiling. "Yeah you did! I started right over there," Ranma turned indicating a spot, "...and you were...HEY!" By the time Ranma had turned back, Ukyou had took off running for the rock. Ranma gave chase. "Oh no you don't! Not this time." Ukyou had a clear lead and was giggling, Ranma did his best effort to catch up. Before they reached the rock, Ranma tackled Ukyou and they both went tumbling to the ground amid laughter. When they recovered, Ranma was on top. He quit laughing and looked down at a still chuckling Ukyou in admiration. She returned his gaze. Ranma took her face in his hands and gave her a lingering kiss. "{Excuse me?}" Tori tried to interrupt, but they continued to kiss. "{Uh, pardon me?}" Again, they continued unabated. "{Uh, Ranma? Ukyou?}" "{Go away, Tori, can't you see we're busy?}" said Ranma irritated, the nice thing was that he didn't have to rely on human speech, and could respond to Tori without breaking...what he was doing. "{Sorry! I need to remind you two that you have a flight to catch in 45 minutes.}" That had them running for the airport. ***** After dropping Ukyou off at her restaurant, Ranma came back to the Tendou home. When he arrived, he found a few changes starting to take place. He and Genma would be moving out within a week to join Nodoka at her home. Also, there were already plans in the works for the wedding of Ranma and Ukyou. Both Ranma and Ukyou, as ecstatic as she was, insisted on waiting at least until they had graduated high-school first. With great reluctance, Ranma's parents agreed, or rather Nodoka agreed and Genma agreed with Nodoka. "Ranma," Nodoka spoke as she found a place to talk next to the koi pond. "I've agreed to your engagement, because what Genma did to that girl was just too unforgivable, but there are still some...loose ends. Some things I need to know." "Yes, mom." Ranma said, trying to gather thoughts as to how to explain what he knew was coming. Unnoticed to both, Akane had arrived in the shadows and was within listening range. She had P-chan with her. "Genma and others say that they think you are no longer cursed. Why is that?" "{Tori? Tori? What can I say to her?}" "{Try the truth,}" Tori answered. Ranma went into a brief explanation of the events of three days ago. Nodoka was too stunned to stop him, until he finished. "Ranma that is the most incredible story I have ever heard. So, your saying it's not a love spice or some such thing that caused you to fall in love with Ukyou, it's these amulets?" "No Mother, it was not the amulets that made me fall in love with Ukyou. It was what happened to us in the nexus. Ukyou and I shared something that no one has ever dreamed possible, our full lives with each other. There are no real secrets between us, no petty jealousies or suspicions that will ever keep us apart. She and I are almost the same person now. Everything that I was, is in her. Everything that she was, is in me. There could never be any other choice in my life, ever, no matter what engagements were promised." Akane, off in the shadows, teared up at the beauty of his words. A concerned P-chan nuzzled against her leg in an effort to comfort her. "So, you need to find these other amulets?" asked Nodoka. "Yes." answered Ranma. "That sounds so dangerous. Haven't you had enough trouble from these...Amazons?" "Yes, I have, but..." *SPLASH* Before Ranma knew it, he was wet. "He!...He-he-he!" It was Happousai, who dropped down from the roof and glomped onto Ranma, a *male* Ranma. "Huh?!" Happousai dropped back and lifted a slow finger to point at Ranma's chest. "My lovelies! My darling lovelies! W-where are they? What have you done with them?" He was trying to feel for... *them* and finally looked up. "...And to yourself?" "They're gone for good I'm afraid, Jiji." Ranma said with an evil grin. Happousai returned a gaze to Ranma's chest and looked like he might cry. "Pity." Happousai turned and looked like he was going to attack Nodoka next, but her extended katana convinced him that that wasn't such a good idea. Ranma then booted him into a lunar trajectory. ***** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- End chapter 3. From: Eric Warner Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Stellarcraft.4 A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: S T E L L A R C R A F T by: Eric Warner (evwarner@anet.bna.boeing.com) CHAPTER 4 : White Butterfly Ranma had a lot on his mind, so he woke up early in the morning to go workout in the dojo before school. After doing some warm-up exercises, he began some simple katas. Akane came into the dojo soon after in her yellow gi. Ranma stopped his kata and stared at her for a moment. "Akane," Ranma nodded a greeting to her. Akane looked over in surprise, then responded quietly, "Ranma." Ranma gave her a smile and continued his kata. Akane went back to her warm- ups. Kasumi came to the door of the dojo. "Ranma-kun, you have a visitor," she announced. Ranma and Akane both stopped and looked toward the door. Ukyou came walking in with a box. She was dressed in a gi with small okonomiyaki designs on a light-blue field. "Ohayo, Ran-chan!" said Ukyou in a bright cheery voice. "Ohayo, love!" responded Ranma giving her a peck on the cheek. Akane gaped openly at the display, and turned around angrily. She began collecting bricks. "I brought you one of the new recipe okonomiyakis. If you want, you can bring it to lunch with you," beamed Ukyou. Ranma grabbed the box and gorged on a piece like he was starving. "Mmmmm, is that good." Ranma was in heaven. "Ran-chan, I'd like to do some sparring, if you don't mind," Ukyou said seriously. Ranma stopped in mid-munch, "Are you serious? I'd like that." Ranma set down the open box on the table by the wall. He licked his fingers, while Ukyou began her warm-ups next to Akane. She exchanged a greeting to Akane who returned the greeting casually. Ranma went to the center of the dojo and Ukyou joined him. He stopped and stared expectantly. Ukyou was becoming self-conscious, "W-what are you staring at?" she asked. "Your bandolier of spatulas, your not carrying any?" Ranma indicated with surprise. "Oh," Ukyou smiled with understanding, "I wanted to practice the Musaabetsu Kakutou style of martial arts." Ranma and Akane both gaped openly. Ranma was the first to recover. "The Anything-Goes style?" "You got it," said Ukyou. Ranma stood at attention and Ukyou quickly followed. After a courteous bow to each other, they began. Ukyou took the first initiative and fired a punch easily blocked by Ranma. Ukyou followed with several rapid blows mixed with a few kicks that Ranma blocked with some difficulty. He began to smile, the style Ukyou was using was his own. Ukyou smiled back, then released a rapid punch that caught Ranma by surprise in the shoulder. After a few blocked kicks, Ukyou repeated with the same rapid punch. Ranma was able to block the punch and realized that the punch copied some of Ukyou's spatula moves, only using a hand instead of a spatula. Ranma was impressed, Ukyou had adapted some of her own skills with some of Ranma's skills. This was part and parcel of the Anything-Goes style of martial arts. Combining different techniques and applying them where appropriate. Ranma thought. Ukyou then threw another punch, which Ranma blocked left with an open backhand. Ukyou laughed when she realized that this was one of the moves she performed with her battle spatula. After a few minutes of sparring, Ukyou was starting to lose her smile. She finally stopped with hands on hips. "Ran-chan, your not fighting back. Your not throwing any punches, your just blocking." Ranma stopped jumping about. "You ought to know, I don't hit girls." Akane, who had been watching the match, rolled her eyes. She had heard this line before. It had angered her, too, on many occasions and Akane felt insulted that Ranma wasn't taking her seriously as a martial artist. "H-how am I going to improve my skills if you don't go on the offensive. What would you do if I were Ranko? You wouldn't want anyone pulling punches if it were you." Ranma looked down and thought a moment, then said, "Okay, Okay. I see your point." Ukyou went immediately back into a stance and fire a volley of punches, all blocked by a retreating Ranma. Ranma then threw some soft punches that Ukyou immediately realized would be easily blocked. Ukyou countered with a left punch that Ranma ducked under and planted a kiss on Ukyou's left cheek. Akane, who had been watching the match, had to cover her mouth to stop a giggle. After a few more punches and kicks, a kiss was planted on Ukyou's right cheek. Ukyou, who continued to spar was blushing visibly. Ranma went on a short offensive with a few easily blocked kicks, but it backed Ukyou up toward the wall. Ranma dodged another of Ukyou's punches and planted a kiss on her left cheek again. Ukyou was cherry-red with embarrassment but cooled when she was suddenly struck with an idea. She threw the same kind of punch with her right, but before Ranma could plant a kiss on her right cheek, Ukyou lifted up the okonomiyaki which ended up in Ranma's face. Ukyou started laughing and pointed at Ranma who was now a statue dripping with sauce on his face. Akane was rolling on the floor at the sight. Ranma just smiled, visibly red underneath the sauce. "Well, as you know, anything goes," Ukyou laughed. "You know, you're right!" said Ranma pointing a thoughtful finger. He slowly picked up the disastrous okonomiyaki and began to chase a giggling Ukyou around the dojo in a threatening manner. After backing her into a corner, he grabbed her and part of the okonomiyaki landed on her face and the shoulder of her gi. Both went to the floor in laughter. When the laughter had finally died down, Ranma pulled a topping away from his face and threw it at a laughing Akane. "And you, be quiet!" Akane, who easily dodged the flying piece, just stuck out her tongue and resumed giggling. Ranma turned back to Ukyou and pulled a piece off her cheek and ate it. "Mmmmm, sweet. Just like you?" He licked his fingers. Ukyou tilted her head and said, "Ah!" She pulled another piece off her face, and fed it to him. ***** When Cologne arrived home at the Nekohanten, she was not in a good mood. She hated all the Japanese business practices with all their go-betweens and confusing customs. Why couldn't it be simpler? Why did it all have to be so complicated? But, when in Rome do as the Romans do, or as it was, do as the Japanese insisted on doing it. The whole thing gave her a headache, she pressed a pressure point. She found a disturbing note left by Mousse saying that Shampoo was in the hospital. He didn't elaborate and say why. After getting settled, she went and collected both Mousse and Shampoo. Under Cologne's frightful gaze, a wobbly Shampoo gave her entire story. Cologne was not pleased. "" Shampoo was near tears, but did her best to steel herself. An Amazon warrior who had failed would not cry in front of a matriarch. In front of Cologne, that would be considered bad taste and weak, weaker than she already felt. She had to be a warrior, no matter what the circumstances were. "" Shampoo said softly through downcast eyes. "" Shampoo had never seen Cologne panic before. Under the worst conditions, Cologne had always kept her bearing, her center. Something in Cologne's voice frightened her even more, more than just the simple bawling out she knew she deserved. Cologne seemed on the edge of panic. Shampoo looked up. "" Cologne gave herself some time to calm down, before she continued, "" Shampoo noted that Cologne didn't call him 'Son-in-Law`. "" Cologne indicated Shampoo with an accusing finger, "" Shampoo's eyes grew large at the implication. ***** "{Ranma, it is time for our second class,}" said Tori. Ranma had just finished eating lunch under a tree at school and was trying to meditate. He found that meditation was difficult because he kept becoming distracted. Ukyou was thoroughly busy with the lunch rush at Ucchan's and her anxieties were coming across whatever connection it was that bound Ranma and Ukyou into one spirit. "{Go ahead, Tori. I can't think about what I was doing anyways,}" said Ranma frustrated. "{It's difficult to concentrate now, isn't it? When either one of you are busy with something, the other will find it easy to become disoriented. It turns out that that is one of the lessons I want to teach you.}" Tori went into detail on helping Ranma keep his center and concentrate when he was in meditation or even when he was fighting. He gave advice Ranma could use to keep his emotions in check and the emotions of Ukyou from becoming too distracting. Ranma applied the lesson and found he could meditate even when Ukyou was at her busiest. Another lesson Tori taught, Ranma called the 'magic show`. It dealt with the casting of illusions by his own ki to make him appear elsewhere or to disappear entirely. Ranma recognized some of these aspects from what Genma at one time tried to teach him. It gave Ranma the foundation he could build upon. Ukyou when she had time, tried to catch some of the lessons. ***** "{Ran-chan! Ran-chan!}" Ranma was startled awake from a small nap he took after dinner. He wiped the sleep from his eyes. "{Uh, yeah. What's up?}" "{I just had a strange visit from Shampoo. We were in a dinner rush, Konatsu was taking orders and I was at the grill. I guess I must have been pretty preoccupied. Sensing something, I turned around, and there stood Shampoo. She slowly walked up to me, kissed me on the cheek, and then ran away.}" Ranma jumped out of bed. "{Oh, NO! The 'Kiss of Death`. That means that Shampoo is prepared to hunt you down to the ends of the Earth until she either kills you, or you kill her. You'd never be safe.}" Ranma thought for a moment, then said, "{Okay, okay. I'll take care of it. I think I know a way. I'm going to go have a few words with the fossil. It's time I put an end to all this Amazon business, anyway.}" "{I don't know what you've got planned, but take care of yourself. Okay?}" added Ukyou. "{Don't worry. I will, my love.}" ***** BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! It was late at night and someone was pounding on the Nekohanten front door. Mousse ran to the window, and looked out irritatedly. "We're closed Saotome. Come back again tomorrow when we are open for business." Mousse didn't even wait for an answer, but turned around and walked back toward the steps to his room, and back to precious sleep. At once, the door hinges exploded, throwing the door across the room, it knocked over a table and careened off the counter. Ranma walked in. Mousse turned around, his hands in his sleeves at the ready. Despite his dramatic entrance, Ranma radiated calm. "Saotome, I know what Shampoo did, and I'm sorry about it, but you'll still have to go through me before I'll let you harm her." Mousse was still at the ready, but was relieved that Ranma was not ready to fight him. Ranma looked up at the stairs and said, "Mousse, I promise you that before this night is over, Shampoo will be yours." That got him. Mousse's eyes widened, and a smile formed. He dropped his stance. "Really? I will marry Shampoo?" Mousse winced when he was suddenly struck in the back of the head by Cologne's staff. "That will never happen, boy. I would never allow Shampoo to marry a spineless jellyfish like you," said Cologne. Mousse bared his teeth evilly, but kept silent, and backed out of the way. Cologne turned to Ranma and brightened. "So, Son-in-law, have you finally come to your senses and come to retrieve your bride, Shampoo?" Cologne then turned cold. "Because if not, then we have nothing further to discuss. I have a business to run, and will be doubly busy in the morning fixing that door you just broke." Ranma continued to radiate calm. "Cologne, you know why I am here. I've come to end this charade, once and for all." "Oh?" said Cologne surprised. She was surprised also that Ranma had used her proper name, and had not referred to her as simply 'Old Ghoul`. "So then, you have come to marry Shampoo. I'm glad you've finally accepted the inevitable." Shampoo slowly came down the stairs in her pajamas and stopped about mid-way, watching in silence. Her face was still a little scarred from the night she attacked Ukyou. Mousse took a seat at a table. "That is not what I meant. This whole Amazon marriage thing with Shampoo has always been your idea. Shampoo probably would have given up a long time ago if it were not because of your persistence. My fight isn't really with her, it is with you." Cologne really was surprised. "So then, you have come to fight me. Good! You do know that if you fight me, you will lose. You will die. That is acceptable. Your marriage to Shampoo, or your death, either way the honor of my tribe is satisfied." Ranma dropped to a ready stance. "If I win, then you will call off Shampoo's claim on me, and her claim on Ukyou." Cologne didn't move, but said, "So be it, Son-in-law. It will be as you say if you win,...but you will lose." Cologne still didn't move, but Ranma could tell from her aura that she was ready to strike at anytime. Cologne first tried a taunt. "By the way, I've heard about your recent switch in lady of choice to your spatula girl. Really, Son-in-Law, I don't really care what you do here with some of these local tarts, but don't think you'll be hopping from bed to bed once we get to China." Ranma couldn't help but turn red at that. "Mousse! Shampoo! Whatever happens, stay out of it," said Ranma moving into a new defensive stance. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of interfering, Saotome!" said Mousse, who sat back grinning. Shampoo kept her silence, but nodded. She had no visible expression. All at once, Cologne lashed out, but before she could connect, Ranma had her staff. He took a step back, and began to twirl her staff in his left hand, rapidly. It began to make a sound like an airplane propeller, moving Cologne back. He slowed, and brought it to a halt with the staff perpendicular to the ground. He noted the butterfly design engraved into the top of the staff, then brought the staff down in front of him, laying both hands across the top of it gently. The jaws of both Mousse and Shampoo gaped, visibly. Cologne was impressed. Never in all her ancient years had someone disarmed her so quickly, and efficiently. Cologne for the first time in a long, long time was frightened, and she made an effort not to show it. She was about to attempt another strike for a pressure point, when she was stopped. "" said Ranma in a voice that was as steel, but calm, soothing, mesmerizing. It was a voice that reminded Cologne of her father long ago, when he was about to give her some piece of advice. Ranma was radiating serenity. Ranma raised a hand up. "" In the minds of all those present, a picture formed. It was of an open meadow with wild flowers on it. From different directions, two white butterflies approached each other, and began circling each other. On and on they circled, first one way, and then another, a silent mating dance that was soothing and tranquil. They continued to waltz, until they finally joined. Later, hundreds of little butterflies fluttered around and danced much like the first two. The picture then started over. Again, it was the same open meadow, and the white butterflies fluttered in, and danced. Cycling round and round, first in one direction, then reversing. Suddenly, a bird flew out of the sky and snatched one of the butterflies in its beak and flew off to consume it. The remaining butterfly continued to flutter around helplessly searching for its mate, until finally it landed on the ground, and died. The picture then cleared. All were stunned into silence. Cologne thought for a moment, then looked up. "What kind of magic is this? This fable has no meaning." "Doesn't it?" asked Ranma. He was not put off. Cologne was about to strike again, when it hit her. The memories: The first memory was of Cologne when she was about seven years old. For over a year, her parents pushed her into becoming a great warrior. Daily, she attended exhaustive practices in weapons, in martial arts and other wisdom. She remembered one day when she was attending staff practice. A straw dummy had been erected and her training instructor was having her, along with several other girls, take strikes at it. While she was awaiting her turn, she looked off into the distance and saw several children playing in a field. They were laughing and running among the flowers chasing butterflies. It looked like fun, and they were having such a good time. Cologne remembered reflecting on how she wished she was with them. She was tired of all the strenuous exercises, and just wanted to run and play like the other children, but her parents had pushed her into other pursuits. The last thing she remembered was being struck in the head. When she came to, she was bleeding out the side of her head, and the instructor was yelling at her to pay more attention. The instructor said that if it had been an enemy, Cologne would be dead now. When she had arrived home, her parents were furious, and they doubled her training schedule. The next memory was of a evening when she was walking along with her newly- wed husband. They were taking in the sights of the forest. She remembered that he stopped all of a sudden, and asked her to take a look. He pointed to a low branch on a tree where an object was hanging down, a cocoon. There was movement within it. First, it broke through the outer fabric of its shell and dropped down, hanging upside down. It started to open and close its wings in slow, careful beats. After a while, it finally fluttered its wings and flew off. Cologne remembered her and her husband trying to run after it, laughing, before it disappeared off into the distance. They sat down on a quiet peak, and watched the sun go down. The next memory was of a tragic affair that had occurred after her first daughter was born. Her and her husband were travelling back from a nearby village visiting relatives, when a band of thugs ambushed them. Though Cologne fought bravely, she was outnumbered and wounded. Her husband had taken an arrow, and laid down on the ground dying. Her daughter was still in her basket, crying with all her might. She attended to her husband, since he was the more seriously injured. As he lay dying, she placed his head in her lap and was crying. Her husband asked her to be brave. Slowly, she reached down to try and kiss him. Before their lips met, a white butterfly flew in and landed on his nose. Despite the tragic affair, Cologne remembered she couldn't help but laugh. Before she could shoo the butterfly away, her husband slowly exhaled his last breath. The butterfly flew off. Cologne buried her husband. She didn't want to construct a funeral pyre since it might bring back the thugs. After burying her husband, Cologne remembered travelling through swamps and high mountains carrying her daughter. Badly beaten, her daughter seemed like she too was dying. When she reached her village, she laid in bed sick for a while, another woman took care of her daughter who eventually survived the experience. The villagers mounted a search, and eventually found and executed the ones responsible. It still didn't relieve the pain, longing and anguish Cologne had felt in her heart at the loss. Cologne dropped her head. She wepted. "I finally see the truth in your parable. The first picture was of you and this...Ukyou. It is of events that would transpire if no one interferes with your newfound love for each other. The second picture you gave was of tragic events that would occur if there was some outside interference, like Shampoo's claims, hampering that love affair. "Son-in-Law...Son, you have beaten me. Not once, but twice. Though you didn't kill me, it seems like it would have been better if you had. Your weapons are much more powerful than mine and are *devastating*. You have used 'grief` and 'regret`, but I also recognize that your power has been derived from the amulet Shampoo gave you. If this is a token example of that power, then we are helpless against you. I release the claims against you." Shampoo started to protest, coming down to the bottom of the steps. "No! NO!" "SHAMPOO!" she commanded, and them calmly, "Great Granddaughter, you will release your claim on this warrior, and his...chef." Shampoo's eyes started to gloss, she was in shock. The hole in her heart was constricting, and she found it hard to breathe. It hurt so much. Slowly, she dropped her head and replied in what was just barely a choked whisper, "Yes, Great Grandmother." Cologne regarded Shampoo for a moment, then said, "Come child, it is time we went home." Cologne reached for her staff and Ranma gave it to her. She looked for a moment at the butterfly design on the top of it, then went up the stairs slowly. Shampoo looked up at Ranma for a moment, then lowered her head and followed behind her great grandmother. Ranma turned to go, but he was stopped by Mousse who place a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks, Saotome." "Shampoo is badly hurting and is going to be needing someone. Just be patient." Mousse nodded and Ranma continued out the door. ***** Moeller 12375 was the most dense object known to exist and could only be picked up by radio telescope. Though small, the object harbored a massive black hole whose power output totalled the combined energies of millions of suns. Imagine the surprise on the faces of the scientists who one day trained their dish up to the heavens...and found it missing. ***** The lunch rush had just ended and Ukyou took an opportunity to get away from her grill and help Konatsu clear tables. While cleaning one table she found that one of her customers had left a newspaper, the local shinbun. She couldn't help but notice that the front page was frantic about all the disasters and weird happenings going on around the world. Some events were minor, some were major, and some were unprecedented. She became concerned. "{Tori?}" Ukyou inquired. "{Yes, Ukyou?}" She held the paper up in front of her. "{Are all these events caused by these...beings from the nexus?}" "{Some are natural, but...the more dramatic ones *are* nexus-related.}" "{They're increasing their attacks, aren't they?}" "{It is spreading, yes.}" She put down the paper when a thought occurred to her. "{Tori, I have to know and I don't care what laws you have to break to answer it. Did these...beings cause the air disaster in Kyoto that took...}" "{Took your father?}" finished Tori. "{Yes, did they kill my father?}" Ukyou asked quickly, closing her eyes. There was a dramatic pause and then, "{Yes. Yes they did, Ukyou. And...and no laws were broken in telling you that.}" Ukyou slammed a fist onto the table; lucky enough, she didn't employ her ki field. She did, however, capture the attention of the entire restaurant, that grew quiet. She forced a smile and radiated calm. Slowly, all present returned to their meals and their conversations. Under her forced smile, she was smoldering. "{If I get my hands on these, these *creatures*, I'm going to rip them apart.}" "{Of that, I have no doubt,}" responded Tori. "{Tori?}" It was Ranma. He was taking a pop-quiz when he overheard the entire conversation and looked up suddenly. "{Who are these creatures from the nexus?}" "{They are Pu-Optuah from my universe. Their sole purpose is the destruction of the nexus.}" "{Why?}" asked Ukyou recovering, "{Why destroy the Earth in order to destroy the nexus?}" "{The nexus is a conduit between the two universes, yours and mine, and acts as a safety valve to prevent the two from mixing. Should they touch, the two would combine and form a new universe, leaving the old ones destroyed. It is kinda like blowing up one balloon inside another, as the new balloon expands, it displaces the old, leaving destruction in its wake.}" "{But why the Earth?}" Ukyou asked again. "{These beings need energy. There is a central theme to both universes, that matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed. It can, however, be borrowed and exchanged. By *stealing* this energy the Pu-Optuah hope to destroy the nexus, and then form a new universe of their own design. And...it is not just confined to the Earth.}" Ukyou and Ranma both went big-eyed at the implication. Tori continued, "{These beings also need a different form of energy, *ki* energy. That is the reason so many lives are being lost, the Pu-Optuah are sucking their ki. Though they can do it directly, it's much easier to take it at the moment of death. Besides feeding off of it, they claim they need this form of energy to help them survive the initial destruction of the old universes, and to help mold and shape the new universe they'd create, and form its laws.}" "{They sound like demons to me,}" said Ranma. "{Ha! If only you could be so lucky,}" deadpanned Tori. Jaws dropped. ***** Tori spoke happily, "{Congratulations. I can now report that all necessary events are now in their proper sequence. We may begin our journey. The first stop for you after school, Ranma, is a little talk with Cologne.}" Cologne was in her room at the Nekohanten packing. "Cologne, I need your help," said Ranma in the doorway. Cologne looked up from her things and said, "You shouldn't need my help, you have the power of two amulets behind you. I saw that last night. Nothing should be a problem for you." "I need to retrieve the other two amulets." Ranma said folding his arms. Cologne stopped and regarded Ranma. "Now you do have a problem. I know the two matriarches that have the remaining amulets and I assure you, they are not going to just simply give them to you, especially to an outsider." "Will you let me try?" "Let you try? Why should I help you?" "I want to lead a team of martial artists to help battle the beings that are responsible for all the disasters that have been occurring. The two remaining amulets are the key to battling these beings." Cologne continued her packing. "You shouldn't need the amulets magic to scare off a few demons. You've done quite well on that score before without resorting to any of their magic." "These aren't demons, Old Ghoul, these are enemies from the *nexus*!" Ranma shouted. Cologne was about to grab her staff to hit Ranma at the reference to 'Old Ghoul`, but the word 'nexus` froze her in place. "N-nexus?" Cologne asked wide-eyed. Ranma was baffled at finally seeing something akin to fear on Cologne's face, it was an unforgettable expression across her ancient countenance. "These 'beings` are from the *nexus*?" Ranma nodded. "Then our destruction is near, isn't it?" Cologne sat down and seemed distant. "Not if we get to the amulets in time. Like I said, I want to assemble a team to cross into the nexus with me and battle these beings right where they live. The added incentive is that I can remove the Jusenkyou curses once we cross into the nexus." "Shampoo go." Shampoo said, suddenly appearing from behind Ranma. Ranma turned and Shampoo looked him in the eyes. "Shampoo life mean nothing now. Shampoo die at side of Ranma." "No one will die, not if I can help it," reassured Ranma. "Besides, I've got allies in the nexus." Cologne's eyebrows went up at that. ***** Ranma and Cologne assembled a team of cursed martial artists together in the Tendou Dojo: Mousse, Shampoo, Ryouga (when he found him) and Genma (happy for any reason to get away from Nodoka). He repeated the plan he had spoken to Cologne and added a few words relayed to him by Tori. He proved to all that he was no longer cursed by pouring ice cold water on himself. All agreed to join with the hope of removing their curses and ridding mankind of these 'fiends`. The added benefit was that Cologne now had a crew to help her move back to China. Akane hung around outside the dojo and listened in to the minutes of the meeting. Ryouga saw her in the doorway. When the meeting was over, Akane left suddenly. Ryouga saw something in her eyes, and he guessed what it was. ***** "NO! Absolutely not! And that's final!" said Ranma with his arms crossed. "But I'm a trained martial artist like Ukyou or Shampoo or..." explained Akane. Ranma shook his head insistently. "NO! You do not have a tenth of the skill of Ukyou or Shampoo. Besides you have no reason to go, you're not cursed." "Yeah, but there are lives in danger. As a martial artist, I have to do what I can to protect lives." "I'll look after her," interjected Ryouga. Ranma turned around to see Ryouga. "I don't need your protection, Ryouga. I can look after myself." Ranma looked up. "{Hey Tori!}" "{Ranma?}" it was Tori. "{I need some help here. I need some way to convince this girl to stay out.}" "{Ranma, let her go.}" "{WHAT?!}" asked Ranma incredulously. He unfolded his arms. "{I said, 'Let her go`. She'll be going with Ryouga looking after her. He'll protect her and see that no harm comes to her.}" "{Are you sure about this? She is not as skilled as the others.}" "{I think you'll find that she'll surprise you with just what she can do.}" Akane was about to stick a finger in Ranma's face and make another point when Ranma suddenly turned around and said, "Okay, your going," then walked out of the room. Akane just stood there stunned with her finger extended and her mouth open. Ryouga who stood off to the side with his arms crossed, just tilted his head. ***** "Ranma, I hope you are not going on a fool's errand. I just got you back from Genma a couple of months ago... and now you are leaving me again?" said Nodoka with a pleading look. "Mother, I've been on quests like this before and have come back every time." "I just hope your over-confidence won't be your undoing. What about Ukyou? I thought you cared for her. What does she think of you taking off like this? Are you going to leave her mourning over a dead fiancee?" "Mother,...Ukyou is going, too. And so is Genma." Nodoka looked at Ranma stunned. ***** Genma held up a hand to his mouth and whispered. "This way I can get away from Nodoka, if you know what I mean." Genma made a show of swallowing and holding his neck. "I wish I were going with you, old friend. I miss those days of high adventure we used to have." said Souun wistfully. "We did tear up the roads, didn't we, Tendou." laughed Genma giving Souun a nudge in the ribs. "We sure did." Souun was reminiscing, and then he came back down to Earth. "You come back now. I still need a Shogi partner...though I'll miss sitting across from a panda." "When I'm cured, I'll be back." Genma picked up his pack and shook hands with his friend, giving him a final hug. "Look after that little girl of mine," Souun said as he started bawling watching Genma leave. ***** Sergei Topolev was drunk. He had just spent his last ruble on a bottle of vodka, trying to wash away his sorrows at the loss of his wife, Tasha, and his 11-year old daughter, Anna, by the liter. His wife had just left him after a seemingly perfect 13-year marriage for a steel worker. He couldn't understand what happened, but thought suspiciously that it had something to do with a year of an increased workload at the Poliarsk Nuclear Facility. The government kept promising reforms, but still he had not been paid in weeks and his savings was rapidly diminishing. He had heard that his wife may have left because this steel worker had...western connections. then he swore. He had made his own arrangements to *score it big*. In the bathroom was a little cylinder. His job consisted of the removal and disposal of the active warheads that were attached to the SS- 18's and SS-20's, the nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles that the former Soviet Union had in it arsenal, in compliance with the START II Treaty. The Russian security apparatus was not like it once was under the KGB. Though difficult, it was possible to removed *highly-questionable materiel* from the facility. He had removed it in a lead-lined thermos. Feeling a wave of nausea, Sergei staggered into the bathroom and poured out his guts into the toilet. The strain brought more tears to his eyes. When he released the last of his dinner, he looked up at himself in the mirror. he thought, as blood-shot eyes stared back at him. He looked over at the reflection of his thermos in the mirror. It was sitting up on the tub. He turned and slowly opened the thermos and admired the warm glow that was pouring out it. he laughed to himself. A flash stopped him cold. ***** The security guard was reading the newspaper. A man came up slowly and flashed his I.D. card. It seemed routine, after all people came through the facility all the time and at all hours. The guard waved the man on his way and returned to his newspaper. He suddenly detected the smell of alcohol in the air, but thought nothing of it. He had been told that a party had been given in honor of the director's daughter, at her winning of a bronze medal in the Olympics. He turned the page of his newspaper. That was the last act of his life as he was thoroughly wiped off the face of the Earth. ***** In the U.S., NORAD went under full alert. Satellite tracking had detected an *anomaly* in southern Russia. Whatever it was, was pretty huge. To the relief of many, radar and satellite surveillance detected no incoming missiles, but it was obvious that a new crater had been formed in the former U.S.S.R. and whole sections of the Earth's atmosphere had been ripped away. The number of casualties were staggering. The U.S. president called and offered his deepest sympathies and any humanitarian assistance possible. ***** ---------------------------------------------------------------------- End chapter 4. From: Eric Warner Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Stellarcraft.5 A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: S T E L L A R C R A F T by: Eric Warner (evwarner@anet.bna.boeing.com) CHAPTER 5 : The Amazons Joketsuzoku in China, several weeks later. Ranma and company camped by the Joketsuzoku village front gate marked by two upright totems with Chinese markings. Being outsiders with the exception of Shampoo and Mousse, they were not allowed to stay in the village. Mousse and Shampoo would come and go as they visited friends and relatives, or an occasional old rival or two. Two large tents were erected with Shampoo, Ukyou and Akane in one tent; Ranma, Genma, Ryouga and Mousse in the other. Despite the rains that came this time of year, no one with the exception of Genma were changed into their cursed form as they crossed China. Genma still insisted on sleeping as a panda. Ranma didn't mind, Genma's fur was still warm on cold nights. He did mind the snoring, though. ***** Akane and Ryouga were gathering fire wood and having an interesting discussion. "You're going to try to go with them when they go to this *nexus* thing, aren't you?" asked Ryouga tapping Akane on the shoulder. "Yes, yes I am." challenged Akane turning to face him. "But you might be hurt. I don't think Ranma, even though he has Ukyou now, would want you in any kind of danger." "Ranma?!" Akane said a little too loudly. "Well, Ranma doesn't have a place in my life anymore. I don't see how he, or you, can stop me. Ryouga, I'm a trained martial artist and there are lives to protect. I have to go and you know it." Ryouga dropped his gaze and looked like he was speaking from the heart. "Yeah, I know. It's just...I don't want to see any harm come to you either." "Ryouga?" she stood wide-eyed. During the weeks that they had traveled, Ryouga was always there in her shadow. Though he never said anything in words, Akane could tell that she was the primary focus of his attention. At first, she thought he only wanted to protect her, as he promised he would. Then she started to realize that it was becoming more than that. She, too, found him...interesting and 'cute`, especially with that yellow bandanna, just like her P-chan's. Ryouga continued, "I've seen Ranma and Ukyou. I've seen the absolute bliss in their eyes, and how much they really care for one another." Ryouga suddenly became quiet. "It's kinda the way I care for you." He looked into her eyes with a tender expression, and it made her heart melt. Akane, stunned, took a step back and almost tripped. Before she could recover, Ryouga caught her. Ryouga hugged her and she slowly hugged him back. "Well, I guess Ranma's going to have to put up with the both of us in the nexus." said Ryouga. Akane hugged him tighter. "Thanks, Ryouga." ***** Ranma was helping Ukyou clean up some of the cooking utensils when Ukyou noticed Akane and Ryouga talking very intimately. "Ranma, haven't you noticed that Ryouga and Akane seem to be spending more time together?" asked Ukyou looking over Ranma's shoulder. "Doesn't surprise me. Ryouga always been in love with Akane." said Ranma continuing to work. "Yeah, but now I think Akane is starting to pay more attention to Ryouga," said Ukyou. Ranma looked over at Ryouga and Akane seemingly happy talking together. A slight twinge of jealousy hit him, and through their connection it didn't go unnoticed by Ukyou. She looked at him in concern. "I can sense that you still have some feelings for her." Ranma suddenly turned back with a smile. Instinctively, he was about ready to counter her statement with a denial, but remembered that she could sense his feelings. Instead he dropped his head in guilt. "I think it was just habit. For a year I was engaged and almost married Akane." Ukyou dropped her gaze when she remembered the wedding and her part in its demise. Ukyou felt his feelings of guilt, the sense of being caught with one's hand in the cookie jar, and she couldn't bring herself to get mad or jealous. It brought her to a new awareness and understanding of this connection that bound her to Ranma. If she could ever get angry with Ranma, she would in turn feel her own wrath being thrown back at her through their connection. She would be hurting herself. Love was the only thing that brought their connection into true balance. Feeling his sadness that he may have hurt her, she immediately hugged him tight until those feelings abated. When Ukyou glomped onto him tightly, he too, came to the same conclusions she did. Together, they brought the connection into balance without words, flooding the connection with their love for each other. They also realized that their connection was growing stronger. Ukyou looked serious then smiled, "Those rotten old feelings for Akane will go away in time." Ranma laughed, "Yeah, I'm sure your right." Ranma looked her in the eyes, then added, "No, I think Akane and Ryouga are made for each other. Ryouga gets lost on his way to the bathroom, and Akane gets lost in the kitchen. Sounds like a perfect match to me." "Yeah." Ukyou laughed. Somewhere out in the nexus, Tori was smiling. ***** As Ranma was fixing one of the tents, Ryouga was bringing up water in buckets from a nearby stream. Now, you would think that a trained martial artist stumbling wouldn't be possible, but occasionally anything is possible. If Ryouga changing into P-chan wasn't bad enough, Akane, who had been chopping up firewood (with her bare hands, of course), saw him change. At first, she was stunned, and then she was mad. "RYOUGA NO BAKA!" P-chan became a black streak as she punted him through the twin towers of the gate. Ranma seemed almost unconcerned as he looked up and saw P-chan...leave. "Looks like a 'field goal` to me." "And YOU!" she pointed an accusing finger at Ranma. "You knew all along, didn't you?" "Yes." Ranma said without a moments hesitation and in a tone that implied 'and it's about time you figured it out, too`. Akane was about to slap him, but Ukyou caught her arm. Akane kept her eyes pinned on Ranma. "Why? Why didn't you tell me." "I-I promised Ryouga I wouldn't. I was the one that knocked him into the spring-of-the-drowned-pig. So, I promised I'd keep his secret. That was before I knew you...and before he became your pet." "All this time," Akane dropped her arm out of Ukyou's grasp, "You knew all this time." she said unbelieving. "I tried to drop hints that wouldn't compromise my honor, but..." "Your honor? Your Honor?! Your so big about *honor*. What about my honor, Ranma? ...Huh?" Ranma just dropped his head. Akane regarded him for a moment, then went stomping off into her tent. "I wish I could have handled that better." said Ranma looking on after her. "I think you did all you could, Ran-chan. In fact, I know you did. It's now something Akane will have to deal with." said Ukyou. ***** The Amazon Council of Elders were in secret conference at the center of the village, the Great Hall. One of their own had returned to them. "" began Cologne. "" challenged Ling Po, a very vocal rival of Cologne's. "" another rival spoke up. "" continued Cologne, drawing gasps from around the room. "" said Ling Po. "" commanded the Great Elder. The heads of those around the council bowed in silence. With a loud thud, something hit outside the walls of the Great Hall, and everyone thought they heard a pig squeal. When nothing further occurred, everyone was seated. "" the Great Elder indicated with a gesture. Cologne bowed again before she continued, "" "" cried out one of the matriarches. "" Gasps came forth from the council and some came out of their seats. The Great Elder spoke what was on the minds of some of those around her, "" "" countered Ling Po. "" corrected the Great Elder. Ling Po bowed low, but her face hid her outrage. "" A series of 'No's` echoed around the room. "" said the Great Elder. "" announced Ling Po, who cowered under another warning glance from the Great Elder. "" Cologne spoke gravely. ***** The Great Elder met with Cologne outside the Great Hall. "" The Great Elder turned to gaze at the unusual pink haze of the evening sky, before turning back and almost whispering. "" Cologne *was* surprised, " "" Cologne nodded agreement while she watched a large man with a meat cleaver chase after a somehow familiar-looking black pig, "" "" Cologne slowly turned her head to meet the Great Elders gaze. ***** It was long after dark when P-chan ambled into camp. Ranma and Ukyou were still up keeping watch. They had been chatting about an okonomiyaki recipe when all conversation came to an abrupt halt, they watched a badly bruised and scarred black pig wander over to the campfire. "Ryouga, you look like hell," said Ranma who picked up a tea pot and poured the contents onto the black pig while Ukyou looked the other way. Without a word, a dripping Ryouga slowly walked into the men's tent and went to sleep. He had looked stunned and heartbroken. "Your remembering your curse, aren't you?," asked Ukyou, who turned back around after she heard the tent flap close. Ranma was still staring after the tent. "Yes, I am. All those times I was like Ryouga. Those times I was dropped into embarrassing situations by my curse. The typical would be when I'd bad-mouth Akane at school. She'd hit me with water or push me into a pool, then I'd have to run home trying to avoid someone like an over-zealous Kunou who wanted to date me, or a maniacal Kodachi who wanted to kill me. Like Ryouga, by the time I'd get home I'd be so battered and bruised, and tired, that I couldn't deal with anything more." "Do you think Akane will forgive him?" asked Ukyou. "Would you?" Ukyou kept silent. "I'll be glad when everyone's lives can be back to normal. When Oyaji, Ryouga, Shampoo and Mousse don't need to be afraid and avoid water anymore." Ukyou suddenly remembered something and looked up at Ranma in concern. "{Tori, you said at one time you were somehow responsible for the Jusenkyou curses. What did you mean by that?}" Ranma snapped his head back around to gaze at Ukyou, like he was surprised. "{Yeah, I think I remember that, too.}" "{Well, it's kind of a long story...}" An image formed in the minds of Ranma and Ukyou. They were in space high above the Earth, slowly the constellations came into view as they slowly turned to the right. All at once, they were traveling at a great speed and distance and the stars went whisking by them. Ahead of them they saw a distant galaxy slanted to one side. They entered the galaxy and saw a dust cloud up ahead. Though still traveling at a high speed, they slowed upon entering the dust cloud and saw a single bright star surrounding by an asteroid field. Obscured by the haze of the asteroids, a bowl-shaped object appeared ahead of them cast in a violet hue. Ranma could see that the structure was very huge and very old and had suffered some massive destruction to several areas. Tori spoke again. "{Somewhere in a nearby galaxy, the star Siris-El consumes the heavens above this massive dome of a once majestic space-city like a universe all its own, bathing it in a purplish glow. Perhaps upon request it can tell of the fate that struck down this once mighty space metropolis. Tell how a thriving civilization was born, grew and died here, leaving this solar system-size husk behind as witness of their former glory.} "{One of the last Starmasters heard a rumor that the Pu-Optuah were in search of a doorway through which they could freely travel in great numbers instead of using the nexus transport system. The nexus transport system is kind of like a spiderweb of interconnecting nodes that allow limited travel from the nexus and various locations throughout your universe and mine.}" Ranma saw an image of two large globes connected together with a smaller globe in between. There were tiny threads interspersed throughout the globes connecting areas together. Ranma could easily see that a spiderweb was a most accurate description. "{This last Starmaster had found evidence of this new doorway in the ruins of this ancient space city. Most of the city had been destroyed when Cellulon-Nu, the companion star to Siris-El, went critically super nova. Only a few of the sub-levels here are still capable of supporting life.}" Ukyou gasped when the image changed to show a low, heavy and hideous-looking creature with many projections. Upon seeing many of these projections, it was hard to determine if they were arms or legs. The creature had a thick shell, like a tortoise and was surrounded by a bubble. "{My last master was hosted by an Ial, a creature well adapted to these deep space conditions. Thinking that my master was some sort of god, it obediently obeyed all his commands without question. Searching through the rubble, he found the main library complex and brought to life long-dead machines. This former space society apparently had a deep desire to preserve their knowledge and culture, and so had gone through great pains to insure that the library complex survived. At the time the Starmaster accessed their knowledge, the city had been dead for about a million years.} "{Through their library, he found many wondrous things and would have like to have brought that knowledge back to our universe, but his soul purpose was to discover the nexus doorway technology before the Pu-Optuah discovered it. Hidden in a kind of vault, he found a green crystal nodule, almost perfectly spherical and secured it on board a waiting ship. While he was transporting this nodule on board the Ial's ship, the Pu-Optuah, led by their leader Syrr, attacked. The Starmaster just barely escaped.} "{The Starmaster was enroute to the closest transfer point, a node to bring him back to the nexus, when his damaged ship crash landed on this planet, Earth. The Starmaster was killed when the Ial was destroyed and the crystal nodule he had been transporting shattered into four pieces. These four pieces form the stones in the amulets.}" Ranma saw the Earth again and was looking high above China. A streak flew out of the sky and impacted on a plateau surrounded by high mountains. Ranma guessed that the area was south of Jusenkyou but was somehow different. "{Three millennia ago, a farmer around the Jusenkyou plain discovered the broken crystal. While playing with the broken shards, he inadvertently found himself transported into the nexus, in front of me. As is common among primitive lifeforms, he thought I was a god and he begged to have his son back. His son had apparently drowned in one of the local pools that surrounded the area. Having heard that others had drowned because of the slippery banks surrounding most of the pools, he made an unusual request that whatever drowns there, comes to life again. I took pity and granted his request, in the exact terms that he specified.} "{Now, because of his request, the entire water system around Jusenkyou and up on Jusendou is... *cursed*. The man got his son back, but the residual effect is the Jusenkyou curse.}" Ranma was stunned. Here was a being that had entered his life over a month ago, whom he had hosted and supported with great friendship. Now, he discovered that the very curse that had kept him enslaved for over a year, was caused by that same being. Ukyou sensed Ranma's anger but recovered first. "{If you caused all these curses, why can't you lift them?}" "{I can only lift the curses if the recipients are here in the nexus. Once we get the two remaining amulets, I need you to lead them to the Cave of the Fire Dragon. There is a nexus transfer point there.}" "{Where is that?}" asked Ukyou. "{I can't say right now, because it is within your destiny to find it. You'll need to follow up on the Legend of the Fire Dragon. It will lead you there.}" "{Why can't we just use the two amulets, like we did before?}" asked Ranma. "{Transporting one person is easy. Tranporting two or more exhausts their energy, and then they would be useless for fighting the Pu-Optuah with.}" said Tori. ***** Across the universe, another battle for a space city was being waged. Like army ants, the Pu-Optuan forces under Syrr were clearing whole sections of the Oti-Y galaxies in search of energies and the even more precious commodity, *ki* energy. The Anaxonian Space Station fought bravely against the Amaton space fleet that the Pu-Optuans had taken over. They were not going to go down without a fight. Sheer numbers, however, brought them to the realization of their fate, and they soon succumbed to the brute strength brought against them. Though this was a completely minor skirmish, Syrr liked to get his hands dirty from time to time. The space station held 100,000 citizens not including those of its space navy. The leader of the space station was brought aboard the Amaton flagship in chains. "What are the terms of our surrender?" asked the Anaxonian leader in abject fear. Syrr, who just barely acknowledge the leaders presence, was staring at a large viewscreen. The viewscreen gave a three-dimensional view of the Anaxonian Space Station and the surrounding area of space. Syrr continued to watch in amusement. "There is no surrender. There is no life. We come and we go as we please, and none are there to stop us. You and your people will be terminated at once. Your energy will fuel our ships; your life forces will feed my army." The Anaxonian leader shook visibly at Syrr's pronouncement. Syrr continued, "Observe." The Anaxonian leader watched with renewed panic and disgust as the top of the space station was pealed away. Like popcorn in a pan, the Anaxonians ceased to exist as their debris were scattered into the vacuum of the surrounding space. A ship stood off to the side and it was plain to see that it sucked in little blue lights that the leader knew was the life force energy of his people. When the last was collected and the bodies floated out of view, Syrr turned around and laughed. "And now it is your turn." The leader backed up, but before he knew it Syrr held up a round clear ball, touched him, and the ki energy was sucked into the ball. "Jettison!" Syrr commanded as one of his soldiers removed the ex-leader. As the body was being taken out, a messenger arrived. "Speak!" commanded Syrr. "We are making headway into the nexus. We think we have located the Starmaster's ship." said the messenger. "Good. That is good news. Once we have destroyed the remaining Starmaster and his ship, nothing should impede our progress." "There is a problem." Syrr looked up in concern. "And what is this 'problem`?" he growled. "We have detected trace patterns in the doorway that match the signature of the Starmaster's ship." said the messenger. Syrr stood up immediately with another ball. The ki energy of the messenger disappeared inside on contact. Syrr slowly held up one of the nodules in front of him and admired its bluish glow. "Foolish, foolish Starmaster. What games are you playing on that planet your protecting? Who is it that is hosting you? Do you not know that there are natural ways to destroy a planet without using the power of the nexus?" Syrr held up both balls in front of him and consumed the contents. He laughed hysterically as he felt re-energized. ***** The Great Elder was in her chambers combing her hair before a mirror. Looking down she grimaced when she saw the volume of hair attached to her brush. She slammed her brush down on the vanity and gave her hair a couple of pushes to hide her bald spots. Cologne was just about her age, yet she envied Cologne's bushy tufts. She thought back to Cologne's announcement and Ling Po's growing impertinence. She knew only too well that Ling Po was after her seat on the council. she thought, She tried to smile in the mirror, it was no improvement. She lost the smile. What to do about Ling Po? She raised her eyebrows. What to do about this whole nexus thing, that really had more priority than simple politics. she thought with finality. She picked herself off the seat and moved over to a hidden cupboard. From there she extracted her amulet, a gold metal chain with a coarse green stone mounted in a crown. The stone was larger and heavier, she knew, than on the amulet Ling Po had. she mused. She moved back toward the mirror, and noted that the green stone was starting its glow. She looked about to make sure no one was around. Earlier she had commanded her entourage that she would be sleeping, and was not to be disturbed under any circumstances. In a well-practiced move, she brought the amulet near the mirror and made an exchange motion, almost as if she were exchanging the amulet in the mirror for the one she held in her hand. The stone brightened considerably, then all faded to dark. ***** The Great Elder appeared directly on the platform. When she was on Earth, she had nightmares about this place with it voluminous caverns of fiery plasma that surrounded her. Here, all those fears seem to disappear. She stood as she always stood before the Nexus Spirit. His intense light always filled her with awe. Why such beings would subject themselves to the whims of such lowly creatures like herself was beyond her, still, she would take advantage while it existed. She noticed something was somehow different. Inside the floating ring that the Nexus Spirit occupied were two more apparitions behind him. They looked like human ghosts but she could not detect that anyone was inside. They seem to change in intensity like a strobe light caught in a thick mist. Also, off in the distance, behind the Nexus Spirit, was a bright light, like a huge star. The Great Elder found this strange, the star had never been there before. She sensed impatience coming from the Nexus Spirit. "{Great Spirit, you are all wise and powerful and...}" she began. "{Let's do away with the pleasantries, old woman, noting your age you haven't the time.}" "{All right, then!}" she responded quickly though she couldn't muster any anger, "{I need protection for my village from the disasters that seem to be plaguing the rest of the world. There have been rumors that the villages around our area are being wiped out one by one by giant meteors that have come crashing down out of the heavens. Do you know of this?}" "{Of course, I am aware of all that goes on on your planet. I grant your wish, your village and its surrounding area are under my protection from these meteor strikes. You may go now.}" Tori spoke dismissively. "{One more thing, Great Spirit," the Great Elder interjected, "I wish that a certain... couple of outsiders who have visited my village be destroyed, before they cause my people great harm.}" Tori gave the appearance of staring at the Great Elder for a moment. She noted also that several dark objects seem to be converging on their location from a great distance away. "{Your wish is denied. I know of the couple that you speak of and they are under my personal protection.}" Tori indicated the two figures behind him. "{I assure you that they will not destroy your village, but are your only hope in saving it, and indeed save all your planet.}" Tori changed in intensity and continued in a hurried fashion, "Now I will make a request of you. It is in your best interest to cooperate fully with this particular outsider couple. You will need to give them the amulet that you used to contact me. And since it is within your power, it is necessary that you order Ling Po to do likewise.}" "{It is forbidden by our laws to give the amulets to outsiders,}" the Great Elder countered. "{I'm sure you will think of a way. You have no family, I believe. You may go.}" Tori quickly raised an appendage and the Great Leader found herself waking up from the vanity. The amulet lost its glow in the mirror. The Great Elder put the amulet into a secret compartment of her staff. Before she closed the latch, a thought hit her and she looked up. ***** When Akane got up early the next morning, she noticed Ranma and Ukyou were already up and performing a series of simple katas in a field next to camp. After her warm-up exercises, she joined them having recognized the forms. During the entire series, no one spoke or said a word. Each was lost in the performance of the kata. When the series ended Ranma and Ukyou began a new series of katas Akane didn't recognize. She noted that Ranma and Ukyou hadn't spoken a word to each other but for some reason knew what kata series to perform next. In anger, Akane bowed out and watched the two from the sidelines. She noticed that Ryouga was staring at her from a distance and she quickly jerked her head away. When she looked back, he was gone. How embarrassing, P-chan had been party to some of her innermost secrets, secrets she never would have told anyone. She stomped on the ground. The poetry-spouting upperclassman Tatewaki Kunou had been the butt of many a joke for his failure to deduce that his Osage no Onna was none other than Ranma in his cursed form, though he had enough hints thrown at him. Had people been laughing at her for being just as naive? How obvious it all was in 20/20 hindsight. Ranma had known about P-chan all along, and *had* dropped enough hints. Because of his honor, she remembered. Ranma had somehow promised Ryouga that he wouldn't tell anyone and he stayed true to his word, despite dropping those hints. She looked back at the pair, and then realized that no, a new ingredient had been added to Ranma's persona -- it was love. Love now directed Ranma above all honor and pride. Unfortunately, that love was now directed totally in favor of Ukyou and no longer at her. Ranma and Ukyou dipped and swayed, blocking, parrying, punches followed by kicks to some unknown kata. Akane was being mesmerized, the two moved like mirror images of each other. Each of their movements were carefully timed and the distances their limbs traveled perfect. Each looked like they were dancing to some tightly choreographed number set to music that existed only in their heads, music only they heard and no one else. In their movements was such great beauty and harmony that tears started to form in Akane's eyes. "Nihao, Ranma!" came Shampoo's voice as she broke into Akane's concentration. Ranma and Ukyou stopped and looked up to a running Shampoo. She came up to Ranma and was breathing in winded breaths. "Great Elder want to speak with Air...with Ranma. Say urgent." Ranma's eyes widened and he ran over to the men's tent and grabbed a towel and a change of clothing. After wiping off the sweat and washing his face in a basin, he donned new clothes and followed Shampoo into the village. ***** Ranma was brought to the Great Elder's court. The Great Elder sat high above in a jeweled throne that almost looked to Ranma like a judges bench. Dark stairs wound on either side of a large podium. After he was announced, the Great Elder dismissed her court. One of the guards raised open objections, but the Great Elder was insistent. "" the Great Elder reassured. The guards reluctantly left them alone. The Great Elder regarded Ranma for a long time from her throne, until she finally got up and hobbled down the right set of steps. She carried with her a huge staff slightly curve at the top. Her appearance was frail, but she carried herself with a dignity that demanded nothing less than total respect. "The Nexus Spirit must think pretty highly of you, young man. He does not offer his protections easily. I'm surprised he has offered those protections to outsiders. But then, you *are* the promised couple from legend, are you not?" Ranma was confused, but honored to be speaking directly to the Great Elder. Her command of the Japanese language was flawless. Ranma also knew enough about Amazon practices to know that it was seldom that an outsider was ever granted a *private* audience with the Great Elder herself. He tried to appear humble and radiated calm and reverence. "I know nothing of your legends, Great Leader, so I don't know what this 'promised couple` is or what they are supposed to do." The Great Elder spoke almost mystically, like she was reciting a poem or an incantation, "There is a mountain far beyond the Jusenkyou plain," she waved her staff in a wide arc, "where the sun always sets between two peaks. High in this mountain is a cave, the Cave of the Fire Dragon. Legend has it that a special... couple, a man and a woman from a far away land will come with great powers and fight this dragon in a terrible battle. Before this great battle, there will be great disasters and signs in the heavens. The victor of this battle will don the crown of many worlds and bring either peace or destruction to our world. Now I ask you again, are you and your wife this couple?" Ranma thought carefully about how to answer. He tried not to show surprise at the reference that Ukyou was his 'wife`. He knew that the Great Elder was very wise and that it could not have been just a mistake or mere slip of the tongue. He knew that she had knowledge of the nexus and could only guess that the term 'wife` was in reference to Ukyou and Ranma being twin spirits. "Again, I can not say whether we are this 'couple` or not, but we are receiving assistance from the nexus." The Great Elder regarded him for a moment, then turned and pressed something on her staff. She extracted an amulet from a compartment in her staff and the green stone shone brilliantly when brought next to Ranma. She moved the amulet away and it receded in strength. The Great Elder snapped the amulet to her chest. "My amulet has answered the question for you." The Great Elder turned and regained the left set of stairs. "It is against our laws for me to simply give this to you, young man. I cannot just hand this over to a male and an outsider, but I think I may know a way around that law." She regained her throne and looked at him for a moment. "I have been...told that your wife is now without parents. I, being so old, am without sons or daughters, I have outlived them all. With your wife's consent, of course, I will adopt her. By this, she will immediately be declared Amazon. I can then give my amulet to her and no laws are broken. Is this acceptable?" Ranma paused a moment, then bowed low. "I have spoken to her, and she agrees...since it fulfills the purpose of our visit. She said she would be honored to be included into so great a family." The Great Elder showed surprise, then smiled with understanding at how they probably were able to communicate so quickly. "Yes indeed, you are this couple of legend." She pulled something off her wrist and threw it to Ranma in one smooth motion. Ranma caught it effortlessly. "You will give that to my...daughter." It was a jeweled circlet with the Great Elder's own crest on it. Her face then lost expression, "I have commanded one of the other matriarches to give up the remaining amulet, but I don't think she will comply. I plan on calling a special session of the council tomorrow to help...pursuade her." The Great Elder knocked her staff against a gong and her guards appeared immediately. "You may escort my...Son-in-Law...to his camp." The guards showed surprise and confusion. Ranma almost winced at the term 'Son-in-Law`, remembering how Cologne had used to call him that. Instead, he bowed low expressionlessly, and followed the guards out. ***** When Ranma arrived back at camp, he was surprised that news traveled faster than he did. Several Amazons including a few matriarches were already giving Ukyou the royal treatment. They were bestowing gifts and clothes, and whispering for special favors. Ranma just stood back and watched her receive all the attention. Genma came up to him and slapped him on the back. "Congratulations, son. The head Elder herself is throwing a big bash tonight to celebrate the adoption." "Yeah well, just make sure you eat only what's set before you, Oyaji. We don't need anyone to give you the 'Kiss of Death` if you eat one of their prizes again." Genma lost his smile, shook his head in quick agreement and disappeared into the tent. Akane, too, was watching the attention Ukyou was receiving, sticking her head out of the girls' tent. When Ryouga came back out of the woods, Akane grimaced and disappeared back inside. Ranma just shook his head in sadness. Ryouga came up to Ranma effortlessly carrying a heavy load of firewood. "What's the deal?" he asked. "Ukyou, there, is going to be adopted by the head honcho herself. In exchange, she'll give us one of the amulets. Something about one of their laws." "I see! Looks like a coronation," Ryouga said, throwing the firewood onto a pile, and causing the ground to shake. "In some ways, I think it is. The Amazons have never had a king or a queen, but the Great Elder sure comes pretty darn close to that. So, anyone in her family is treated like royalty," he pointed, "including Princess Ukyou." Ryouga laughed and went into the tent to cool off. Mousse and Shampoo joined the activities and offered their congratulations to Ukyou. Ukyou looked around and spotted Ranma watching with arms folded, leaning up against a tree. "{'Husband`.}" Ukyou nodded his way grinning. "{'Wife`.}" Ranma nodded back. "{We're not married yet you know.}" "{That's okay, I forgive you.}" "{WHAT?!}" Ranma stood quickly away from the tree and unfolded his arms. "{Well, you took your sweet time before you finally chose to marry me, didn't you?}" "{Yeah, but I had some help from a little *light* fellow about this high.}" He indicated a size. "{Ranma, you know better than that!}" Ukyou scolded. "{Yes, Ranma, you know better than that.}" It was Tori. "{So, how do you like all the attention, my Princess?}" Ranma raised his eyebrows questioningly. "{'Princess`, huh? I like that. Kneel slave!}" She pointed down. "{Ha!...Ha!}" said Ranma mockingly. He refolded his arms and leaned back against the tree. Ukyou only laughed at him. When Ukyou turned back, Mousse and Shampoo were looking at her strangely, wondering what all the hand gestures were all about. Then Shampoo brighten, "You adopted into great family. Is high honor given by Great Elder. You like queen now." "You'll always be my queen, Shampoo," interjected Mousse dreamy-eyed. Shampoo turned suddenly with almost a smile, then grimaced when she remembered it was Mousse. "Shut up, Mousse!" Shampoo turned back, and re-smiled. "And now..." "{Ran-chan!}" Ukyou gave Ranma a momentary look while Shampoo was rambling. "{Why don't we give Mousse some help with Shampoo?}" She grinned menacingly. Ranma nodded silent agreement and stood behind Mousse. Together they radiated love to the both of them. Ukyou radiated to Mousse and Ranma radiated to Shampoo so that the impression was that they were giving off signals of love to each other. Shampoo continued to ramble looking unaffected, and Ukyou acted like she was following every word. Finally, Shampoo said, "We see you at celebration. Uh, bye now. Come, Mousse!" Shampoo turned and absently grabbed Mousse by the hand, practically dragging him away. She seemed to be in a hurry for some reason. Ranma and Ukyou just stared after them. "Boy, they're a tough nut to crack," said Ukyou shaking her head. "Yeah, but at least she's touching him, and it isn't to punch him out. I'd say that's progress," Ranma added. "Amazons have such tough relationships," said Ukyou. Ranma and Ukyou immediately turned and stared at each other, then broke out into laughter. "Oh," Ranma remembered, "I'm supposed to give you this." He pulled out the circlet that the Great Elder had given him, and handed it to Ukyou. "The Great Elder's way of saying, 'Welcome to the Family`." "Oh, it's lovely. I'll wear it tonight at the festival." "Ryouga calls it your 'coronation`." Ukyou put her hands on her hips. "Ha!...Ha! Your just jealous." Ukyou could feel Ranma's reaction through the connection and sensed that she was partially right. "Well, at least I'm marrying 'royalty`." Ukyou momentarily lost her smile and came close. "Marrying you means more to me than marrying the Emperor himself, or a dozen like him. I'd trade twice that many just to be with you, Ran-chan." Ranma pulled Ukyou in close and kissed her. He heard loud cheering inside the men's tent and Genma stuck his head out with an ear-to-ear grin. "That's. My. Boy!" "Oh, shut up, Oyaji!" Ranma pushed Genma's face back into the tent and Ukyou giggled. ***** While the celebration was in full swing, one of the matriarches of the council was suspiciously absent. Ling Po regarded herself in a full-length mirror. She stood proud and thought highly of herself. She was the youngest matriarch to ever hold a seat on the council and now she was two steps below the seat of the Great Elder herself. No one in Amazon history had climbed so fast, so rapidly. She laughed at her success, and then it faded. She looked at the scroll sitting on her desk. She had been ordered to give her amulet of power to some upstart that the Great Elder had *adopted* to make her appear 'Amazon`. She found the whole business appalling and shook her head. The great ancestors themselves should turn in their graves at such sacrilege, such insolence. All because of some primitive superstition passed down by word of mouth. She reached into her armor and held out the amulet before the mirror. It's glow brightened when brought close to the mirror. In one swift motion, she performed an exchange maneuver in front of the mirror. The amulet flashed and she was in the nexus. ***** It didn't take long for Ling Po to realize that something was amiss. She was in the nexus standing on the platform where she normally stood, but instead of seeing a being of great light in a ring, she saw something that looked like a hideous black cloud where the floating ring used to be. The ring she noted was laying to one side and bent. All around her were dark objects hovering against the fiery backdrop, and off in the distance was a brilliantly bright object, almost star-like in appearance. Another dark cloud that was taller and thinner than the first floated next to and behind the first cloud. The first cloud then produced a spherical object and began to bounce it up and down. "{Welcome, human.}" A voice boomed between her ears. The object continued to bounce before her eyes. She detected that something was awesomely wrong with the cloud, and that if she were to witness the same event on Earth she would be dead out of fright, but here in the nexus so few emotions existed, least of all...fear. "{W-where is the Nexus Spirit?}" she asked. The ball stopped. "{I was hoping you could tell me,}" said the hideous voice. The ball began to bounce again. "{Tell me why you are here?}" "{I have come to free my world from destruction, and my people from tyranny and superstition.}" she responded. "{A noble cause.}" Some of the black objects were starting to drift in the direction of the bright 'star` in the distance. "{And this...'Nexus Spirit`, does he usually grant you your wishes?}" "{Y-yes!}" she responded, and was beginning to wonder how she could return on her own back to her world without the Nexus Spirit. Though there wasn't any fear, there was the sense of urgency, a sense that one's life was in great peril. The ball stopped. "{Then can I do any less? I grant your, uh, 'wish` on the grounds that you bring me the other amulets, plus the amulet you used to transport yourself here. In return, I will see to it that there is no destruction to your world, and that you are seated in a position of power among your people. In this manner you yourself can decide against this 'tyranny` and 'superstition`. Agreed?}" "{Thank you, Great Spirit, thank you. Now, can you send me back?}" In a wink she was gone. The large central cloud turned to the taller cloud behind him and they both shook. It could be interpreted as devious laughter. ***** Ling Po woke up on the floor of her chambers. Outside were the sounds of great celebrations and an occasional rifle being fired into the air. She found herself beginning to shake and sweat when she began remembering the hideous cloud and that object that kept jumping before her. With the Nexus Spirit, there was always a sense of peace and tranquility in all her encounters. With this dark apparition, there was deep dread and awesome danger. Then she remembered his promises. She was to be made leader of her Amazon people. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw herself adorned in the robes of the Great Elder, carrying her leaders staff and sitting high on the Topaz Throne. Just as the emotion of fear was hidden in the nexus, so was ambition. But to her on this world, ambition was just as real as fear, and in Ling Po, ambition was stronger than her fear. She heard a knock at the door. She quickly hid the amulet in a safe place and answered the knock. A guard relayed to her a message from the Great Elder that she be present at the celebration. The guard made it very clear that it was not a request, but a command. Ling Po left immediately gritting her teeth. ***** Ranma got up early the next morning and, after warm-ups, began a series of katas in the field next to the camp. Ever since the funeral incident, Genma never got up to fight or spar with him anymore. Ranma missed some of the early morning *exercises* he used to have with his *old man*. He was soon joined by Akane just like yesterday. He kept the katas simple for her benefit this time. While he worked out, he thought about last nights festivities. He spent most the night trying to keep Genma out of trouble. Finally, a lull was reached when Genma changed himself into a panda and began entertaining some of the Amazon children. Genma was fascinating to watch and Ranma wondered where all of Genma's enthusiasm for little children came from. He couldn't ever remember Genma being like that when he was little and they were traveling. 'Princess Ukyou`, he liked to call her, was also fascinating to watch. She enjoyed all the attention, but still found time to spend with him. In fact, she kept saying, "{I love you!}" the whole night. Maybe, Ranma thought, Ukyou was trying to keep him from feeling left out. When the celebration was over, Ukyou was given quarters at the Great Elder's enclave. Until their *real* marriage, Ranma was still considered an outsider, so had to stay in camp. There had been one dangerous moment during the celebration when Ukyou was challenged by one of the matriarches to prove her worthiness to be an 'Amazon`, by sparring with a champion of the matriarches choosing. The matriarch, Ranma noted, was a rival of Cologne. Ranma was ready to step in and bring an end to the idea as soon as it was brought up, but Ukyou insisted that she could handle herself. And that she did. In no time, the Amazon was downed by a few quick moves, moves that Ranma recognized as being his own when he was Ranko. The swiftness of her attack allayed any claims to her not being 'Amazon` material. Ranma also noticed that Shampoo and Mousse were getting along better at the party. She no longer seem to be ignoring Mousse's advances. He also noted that Mousse looked tired for some reason. He smiled and wondered whether that trick he and Ukyou pulled yesterday on them may have been a bit too much. Almost on cue with his thoughts, Shampoo again came running up to Ranma breaking his kata. "Great Council met in session. Ling Po still refuse to give up amulet. Amulet belong to Ling Po. Great Elder simply can't order her to give up amulet. She say she keep trying. Cologne try, also." "Thanks, Shampoo." Shampoo ran back through the gate. "What are we going to do, Ranma?" asked Akane with a worried expression. Before Ranma could answer, Genma's voice spoke up behind him. "Well, we could steal it." Ranma turned slowly around to face Genma, then his eyebrows went up. ***** Akane led a panda bear through the center of the village. Behind them were a parade of the curious, consisting mostly of children. Children who recognized the entertaining panda from the festival of the other night. They stopped outside the estate of Ling Po, and a crowd began to gather. The panda began performing tricks to the amusement of those gathered. From what Akane knew, Ling Po and the other matriarches were meeting in session in an effort to 'request` a determined Ling Po to give up her amulet to the mysterious couple that came from the Japans. Or, at least, to the newly-adopted daughter of the Great Elder. Ling Po steadfastly refused. While the crowds were outside and busy watching the entertaining panda, no one noticed a duck flying in through an open window of Ling Po's estate. The duck flew downstairs and opened the latch-type front door. A black pig ran in through the open door and up the steps. The black pig had one of Cologne's amulets hidden in the yellow bandanna around its neck. The pig began searching the estate followed closely by the duck. Outside, the council session had been dismissed and was re-scheduled to begin again in one hour. An angered Ling Po was returning from the session followed by an equally determined Cologne. They were in heated debate. Ling Po was brought up short when she saw the gathered crowds out in front of her home. She became very suspicious when she recognized the panda and the girl. Cologne tried to step in front of her to continue talking, but Ling Po was not put off and began to run over to her home. Akane, recognizing the matriarch also stepped in front of her and was brutally pushed aside. When no one was looking, Akane pulled her hammer from hammerspace and bonked the matriarch on the head. She dragged the unconscious matriarch next to a set of bushes while Cologne tried to hide her actions. Akane noticed that several others formed a barrier next to Cologne to keep Ling Po and Akane's actions hidden. When the pig came to one room, the amulet began to glow as it neared one of the walls. P-chan bweed in excitement. Together the duck and the pig pulled away a panel and another amulet, which was glowing also, was hidden inside. The duck dragged the amulet over to a window and in pushing it open, passed the amulet to a pink and white cat with a purple mane clinging to a tree. Suspending the amulet between two branches, the cat placed her neck into the doubled metal chain and took off running from tree to roof. ***** Thirty miles away from Joketsuzoku, a meteor came down and destroyed the Amazon village that had stood there for centuries. The explosion lit up the night sky. An open crater now stood in what was the center of the village. On the fringe of this village lay many who were dead, burned by the heat and exploding shrapnels of rock. Amid the smoking ruins, one by one they rose back up again picking up their arms and weapons. Like a huge army, they marched into the forest. An army of the dead. ***** Late at night, Shampoo was just putting the amulets away in a safe place when she was suddenly hit over the head. Ling Po grinned evilly as she picked up two of the brightest amulets and admired their glow. One she recognized as her own; the second she recognized as belonging to the Great Elder. She was about to reach for the other two, when she was interrupted. "" said Cologne balancing on her staff. A much-angered Mousse stood behind her. "" Ling Po turned and pointed her staff at Cologne in one single motion. A dart was fired from her staff hitting Cologne in the shoulder. Cologne felt her arm going numb and a paralysis beginning in her lower limbs. "" Cologne shouted before she went down. Mousse immediately fired chains to wrap up Ling Po's legs. Shampoo, who had just come to, pulled herself over to Cologne and removed the dart. "" Cologne's breathing was labored. All Cologne could do was just watch the battle between Mousse and Ling Po. Mousse was amazed at his own success, after all, this was an Amazon matriarch. An not just any matriarch, but Ling Po, whom the Amazon village considered one of the best of the best. But perhaps he had learned something in his failed attempts to fight Ranma in the past, who he had to admit was also one of the best of the best. At first, he had tried just anything, almost in desperation, to get back at Ling Po for injuring Shampoo, his Shampoo. He had lashed out in anger, but in his fury he had somehow discovered a weakness in the old matriarch, and was now doing his best to exploit it. He didn't know whether it was because of Ling Po's age, or her overconfidence, but even through Mousse's thick glasses he could see something in Ling Po that telegraphed her moves ahead of time. He kept tangling her up, taking the suggested limb or two out of the fray, and kept her off balance. He didn't know quite how to end this fight, but would keep up the pressure while it lasted, until an opening and suitable conclusion could be found. Genma entered the room to receive the amulets. When he saw Cologne's condition, he shouted outside for medical help. Before he could join the fight, Ling Po threw a poison dart his way, which he was able to avoid. Genma tried to grab the amulets away, but was thrown back when partially hit in the shoulder by one of the chains Mousse had thrown. Mousse continued to keep Ling Po wrapped up. As soon as she would break one set of chains, Mousse would fire another while dodging her staff. Cologne was impressed that Mousse could have this much success against Ling Po. In her waning state, she recognized some of the strengths and forms she had admired in her husband so long ago. Perhaps Cologne had been too harsh in her criticisms of the boy. Cologne was able to raise a slow finger and point it at the fight. "" Cologne's vision was starting to tunnel. Shampoo held Cologne and looked over at Mousse, and gasped when Mousse managed to dodge a similar dart to the one that hit Cologne. Mousse kicked the feet from under Ling Po and threw two shuriken. Ling Po blocked both with her staff. Shampoo, too, was impressed at the fierceness in Mousse's attacks and in his apparent confidence. Cologne pulled her staff up to her and gazed one last time at the butterfly pattern in the top of it. She grabbed onto Shampoo's wrist with a shaky hand. "" said the dying Cologne. Shampoo caught Cologne as she lost consciousness in her arms. With tears starting to form in her eyes, Shampoo shouted, "" Mousse's concentration was broken when Shampoo yelled for him. Ling Po, who had narrowly avoided another set of chains to her legs, caught Mousse in the stomach and ran out the door. Genma tried to catch Ling Po on her way out and took off running after her. When other Amazons arrived to take care of Cologne, Shampoo and Mousse followed. ***** "ALARM! ALARM!" The gatekeeper shouted when she saw the movement of several hundreds coming slowly out of the forest toward the Amazon village. She frantically rang a bell. The watch had earlier been doubled when an explosion had been sighted far off in the distance. As proof of their military readiness, the gates were secured and in no time an impressive number of Amazons took to the top of the battlements. "Look! Are these the remnant forces of some great battle? They look like they've been hurt and wounded," said one of the matriarches who had just arrived on top of the gate. She could see that many who came out of the forest were dragging limbs, had limbs missing or had huge gaping wounds. As they got closer, the matriarch could see that this was something entirely different. She raised her sword on high and yelled, "Amazons, ATTACK!" Almost as one, the battlements emptied and the gates slammed open to release hordes of Amazon warriors. The battle became fierce as the living tried to repel the dead. ***** "Akane?" called Ryouga into her tent. "Go away, Ryouga, I don't ever want to speak to you." A voice said inside the tent. "Akane? I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. I didn't ever want to hurt you." "Hurt me?" Akane went flying out of her tent and started pounding into his chest with an accusing finger. "Yeah, but you...you slept in my bed and you...you watched me *change*. Y-you were there when I wrote in my diaries." "Yes, I did everything I could to be near you, just to be next to you. You can't imagine the misery I went through when I had you so near to me, and you were thinking of Ranma all the time. You can't imagine the hurt I felt." "B-but, Ryouga..." she began in realization. "You looked cute in that teddy." Ryouga smirked. Akane's resolve was starting to melt. "Ryouga, Ranma rarely called me 'cute`." Akane started to smile. "Akane, I-I love you." Ryouga finally said, and the two embraced each other. "Ryouga?" "Yes, Akane." Ryouga looked into her eyes. "Maybe I *can* imagine the hurt you felt, the misery. That night by the koi pond when Ranma told about what happened out in the nexus with him and Ukyou. I couldn't help but feel...envious, jealous. It was so beautiful. Oh, how I wished it was me he fell in love with." "Do you still love him?" asked Ryouga. "I suppose a part of me still does. Funny, I used to be so afraid to say that out in the open, but that's over with now. He has Ukyou, and I...I still have my P-chan." Ryouga and Akane were about to kiss when Ranma ran up. "Hey, bandanna boy, we've got trouble." Akane and Ryouga followed a running Ranma to the other side of the camp where Ukyou and an out-of-breath Shampoo were already gathered. Akane gasped. Ryouga looked incredulous at the sight of all the zombies, "W-what kind of army is this? It looks like 'Night of the Living Dead`." "There are so many of them." said Akane. "The Great Elder and the rest of the Matriarches are busy with another wave that are attacking on the other side of the village. I came to warn you." said Ukyou. "Ling Po run off with amulets. She crazy. She hurt Cologne." said Shampoo to Ryouga with her bonbori out and a cloth held to her head. "Genma somehow got through them and ran after her," said Mousse running up to them and showing concern for Shampoo. "{Ranma, this is only a delay tactic used by Syrr. He's trying to keep you occupied so he can take off with the amulets.}" said Tori urgently. Ranma stepped in front of the rest. "{How can we stop them?}" asked Ukyou running up next to him. "{Well...the direct approach always works.} responded Tori. Ukyou and Ranma nodded heads to each other. "Ryouga! Use your 'Shi Shi Hokodan` on my signal. Clear a path straight ahead." said Ranma pointing towards the woods. Ryouga charged up. "Now!" yelled Ranma, when the zombies were within range. "SHI SHI HOKODAN!!!" Ryouga blasted. Ranma and Ukyou gathered to the left and right of him. "MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!" Both Ukyou and Ranma yelled simultaneously clearing the remainder on both sides of Ryouga's ki blast. What used to be zombies, vaporized. "Aiya! We got them." shouted Shampoo holding her bonbori up in triumph. Ranma lead a charge to run after Ling Po. ***** Ling Po ran near the stream. The mud along the banks and her age slowed her progress. She could sense that someone was pursuing her and was getting closer. She stopped next to the bank, put the amulets around her neck, and brought her staff up to the ready. She felt relieved when she found out it was Genma. "Get back, panda man, you are no where near the skills of your son, and I have heard Cologne has defeated him many times in battle, and I am better than Cologne." Genma stopped and stood ready. "Hand them over, old witch. I taught my son what he knows." "Not everything he knows." Ling Po batted the water with her staff sending a column of water toward Genma. While he was busy dodging the water, she struck the first of a series of three pressure points that would bring about his death. Genma looked like he was stung, but quickly recovered. Genma swung a low foot which Ling Po jumped over easily, but not before he withdrew one of the amulets. He threw the amulet behind him and stood back into a stance. "That's one," he yelled. Ling Po went into a series of hits that Genma blocked, but was backed up. Genma spun and kicked her in the mid-section. Ling Po's staff came down and hit the second pressure point. "That's two, panda," she snarled. Genma could feel tingling in his spine and a slow paralysis creeping into his legs. Though his responses were slowing, he went on the offensive backing Ling Po towards the river again. Genma threw a series of punches, then he disappeared. Ling Po looked around, her staff following her gaze. Still no Genma. Cautiously, she moved toward where she had seen Genma throw the other amulet. "Ha!" Genma dropped behind her and tried to extract the second amulet. Ling Po swung her staff around and caught him in the belly. When Genma lurched forward, she hit the final pressure point. "Three strikes your out, panda man. HIRYUU SHOUTEN-HA!!!" The resulting whirlwind blew Genma up against a tree. He could not feel his legs anymore and his vision was starting to tunnel. Genma knew he was dying. he swore. "Flying Cannonball Attack" he yelled and launched himself at Ling Po while curled into a ball. The momentum and delivery was perfect: Ling Po was crushed. "Just like old times, eh Tendou?" Genma thought reminiscently of his old friend and winced when he found that his legs no longer worked. He still had use of his arms and dragged himself over to Ling Po's dead body and took away the final amulet. When the amulet was freed from her neck, Genma joined Ling Po in the Kami Plane. ***** "Oyagi? Oyaji! ... FATHER!" Ranma ran at full speed through the thickets when he saw the whirlwind off in the distance. His gut feeling was that the worst was happening to Genma. Ling Po was just too powerful a foe for him to take on. Ranma worried that he would not be able to get there in time. When he got to the river, he stopped and saw Ling Po and Genma side-by-side, ...neither moved. In slow steps, he went up to Genma and sat down. He quickly checked Genma's breathing and pulse -- both were gone. Ryouga and Ukyou arrived through the underbrush and stopped, and observed. "You silly, silly old man." Ranma whispered burying himself in Genma's neck. Ranma cried. He cried with tears he never thought a man should cry. Amid all their fights, through all the outrageous training he had receive from this man, through all his ridiculous antics, he found the spark of love still there. And he felt alone at his loss. Ryouga checked Ling Po. "The Amazon is dead," he declared. "Ran-chan?... Ran-chan." Ukyou hugged him from behind, trying to consol him. She gripped tighter when she thought of her own recent loss, and how she felt. Ranma slowly pulled away from Genma's neck and looked up. "All those years he taught me how to fight, but I hardly ever saw him fight himself. I used to think he was just a coward. I'd see him connive and steal family treasures. Now I know that he is probably the bravest man I ever knew." Ukyou looked back at him with tear streaked eyes and a quivering lip. Ranma picked up the amulet out of Genma's hand. Ryouga found the other one and gave it to Ranma. The amulets glowed and lit up the river bank. Ranma placed an amulet on Ukyou's neck, making sure not to exchange them, and he wore the other one. Together they stood by the river. "Now, we go find this...Cave of the Fire Dragon!" Ranma said wiping the last of the tears away. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ End chapter 5. From: Eric Warner Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Stellarcraft.6 A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: S T E L L A R C R A F T by: Eric Warner (evwarner@anet.bna.boeing.com) CHAPTER 6 : The Journey Shampoo struggled hard to contain herself and show herself brave and unmoved at her loss. When she had heard the news last night that Cologne had died, Shampoo just walked slowly to the girl's tent and closed the flap. A part of Ranma wanted to go and comfort her, since he, too, experienced a loss, but he knew that in Amazon tradition the emotions at the loss of a loved one was not something to be shared openly. Occasionally, during the night, Ranma almost thought he heard the sounds of soft weeping from the tent, but it could have simply been the wind. Early the next morning, the Great Elder assembled the group of martial artists in her court, consisting of Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, Mousse and Ryouga. She sat high upon her throne when all had entered. She was leaning on the arm of the throne with her hand on her forehead and a scroll in her lap. After the group had bowed, she dismissed her guards for a private session with a casual wave of her hand. Ranma saw the same reluctance as before on the part of the guards, but soon they were left alone with the Great Elder. There was a moment of silence while the Great Elder gathered her thoughts. She raised the scroll, "See this? These are the casualty reports. Over half of my village was wiped out in last night's attack by this fiendish army. In the thousand year history of this village, we have never suffered such high losses. Our village has always stood at the pinnacle of battle and has seldom lost a campaign. No other Amazon village in China, nor any army in the world for that matter, could have made such a claim. But all that ended last night. Dozens of friends and comrades in arms that I have known since childhood are now dead." The Great Elder stood up and shouted, "I want these 'nexus demons` stopped!" All who were present jumped. She let her echo settle around the room before she slammed the scroll down on her throne angrily and descended down the right set of steps with her staff in her hand. All kept their places and remained silent. She stopped at the last step before she continued, apparently onto a different subject. She raised an accusing finger in their direction. "I've heard about that little stunt you pulled yesterday." Ranma and company dropped their heads. "Let me tell you that breaking and entering into the estate of a matriarch under Amazon law is punishable by death. The theft of capital property is punishable by death. Attacking a matriarch of this court is also punishable by death. The five of you leave me in an awkward position." "The six of us." Shouted Ukyou from her hidden position near the left set of steps. Ranma jerked his head up in surprise. "I stand by my friends in this." She stepped down and stood next to Ranma. Ranma wondered how it was she was able to enter the room. The Great Elder didn't seem surprised. "Daughter, my sources inform me that you were kept at my enclave all day yesterday except for last night during the attack. How could you be involved in any of this?" "I fed information to Ranma on when the council would be in session so that they would know when Ling Po would not be at her estate," responded Ukyou. The Great Elder slowly nodded her head. "Then it would seem that the seven of us have a little problem." Ranma and company looked around in confusion, before the Great Elder looked at Akane and continued. "It was some of my guards in regular street clothing that hid your actions while you took care of Ling Po yesterday." Akane's eyes flashed in understanding. The Great Elder looked up at the top of her staff. "I am too old and have been around too long not to expect that something like this would have been attempted. Especially at Ling Po's growing reluctance to release her amulet." She looked back at them and approached. "So it would seem that in some ways you have performed for me a great service. Ling Po, my main opposition on the council, was dealt with, along with her defiance of my wishes. Such defiance was an open threat to my power, and a leader cannot maintain power if there is such insubordination." She placed a hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Your father's sacrifice was not in vain." She next placed a hand on Shampoo's shoulder. "Nor was your's." Shampoo dropped her head back down. The Great Elder moved back towards the steps and turned. "I have called for special funeral rites to be given to Cologne, Genma...and Ling Po. This morning I released a statement saying that they all died valiantly defending the village from last night's attack. That their actions were above and beyond the call of their station, and they are to be given a hero's funeral. In this way also, we will not discredit Great Sisters' Ling Po and Cologne, so that the image of the matriarches are not tarnished. First, by Ling Po's open defiance, and second, by Cologne's involvement in yesterday's...event. We will administer those rites early this afternoon." "Though I cannot condon yesterday's activities on your part, I cannot deny my own involvement. In truth, by our laws we should all be punished, but I do not think that would be in the best interest of our village. And besides, a great woman once told me that 'the laws of our people will not mean a thing if there are not any people to populate our villages`. So I charge all of you to see to the destruction of these 'nexus demons`. You will leave immediately following the funerals. My staff even now are working on gathering the provisions for your journey." She approached Shampoo and stood straight. "Sister Shampoo," began the Great Elder in a commanding tone. Shampoo snapped to attention with open surprise on her face at being addressed as a matriarch. "I charge you with the honor and responsibility of guarding my daughter on this journey. You are to see to her conduct and safety as my representative. When these demons have been properly delt with and thoroughly vanquished, you will return to this village and take the final steps necessary to become a full-fledged member of the Great Sisters of the Circle." Shampoo remained at attention, but was shaking with the amount of joy she held within. The Great Elder relaxed into casual conversation and developed a smile. "I believe Great Sister Cologne has thoroughly educated you for this position and think you would be a great asset to my staff. Your position would also be in honor of my departed sister...and good friend, Cologne." The Great Elder lost her smile. "I only know of one failure against you." The Great Elder grabbed Ranma by the shoulders and resumed her smile. "You failed to snatch this young man as your husband." Shampoo smiled, but her face hid a conflict of emotions. The Great Elder let go of Ranma, looked him up and down wistfully like a piece of merchandise and returned next to the steps. "Daughter," she spoke in a tone that was both joyful and motherly. Ukyou came forward. The Great Elder turned to face her. "When the Nexus Spirit *hinted* at your adoption, I was at first very hesitant to bestow such high honors to an outsider. But since I've come to know you, I've been quite happy with that choice. You have a natural regal air about you, as if you were born for royalty and command. Most villagers I've known would have let all this pomp and ceremony go to their heads, but you haven't, have you? You've earned my respect." Ukyou smiled and gave her a big hug. The Great Elder continued, "I've had two sons and one daughter, all are dead now. My sons were both cowards," she waved her hand dismissively, "but at least they honored me by having the good sense to go and die in battle." The Great Elder brightened. "My daughter, however, had she lived and not died of a disease, would have made a great matriarch. She was brave and would have done anything asked of her. You remind me so much of her." She spoke that last line as if reminiscing. "Do an old woman a favor and visit me from time to time, after you've finished your journey." Ukyou gave her another hug and stepped back. The Great Elder next regarded Ranma. "And you, young man." The Great Elder pointed her staff at him threateningly and spoke half-serious. "You take good care of my daughter, or you'll have the wrath of the Amazons on your head. Do you hear me?" Ranma smiled ear-to-ear and bowed low. The Great Elder turned and ascended the left set of steps. "And promise me plenty of grandchildren." Ranma and Ukyou both blushed and smiled at each other. The Great Elder returned to her throne and hit the gong with her staff. Guards appeared immediately. "Show these splendid warriors out and prepare the village for the funeral," the Great Elder commanded. ***** The entire Amazon village showed up for the funeral of Cologne, Ling Po and Genma. Many more Amazons had died repelling the zombies, but their funerals would be taken care of separately, each according to their rank and the military honors they had accumulated. Shampoo and Ranma stood side-by-side in the center of the village and in unison lit the fires of the funeral pyres that would consume Genma and Cologne. The Great Elder herself lit the fires for Ling Po. Ranma seemed to sense that the Great Elder enjoyed the experience, though she gave no outward sign. As the fires roared to life, Ranma remembered back to all the events of his life where he had been influenced by Genma. Like Shampoo, he put on a brave face in front of the crowds, but inside he was intensely hurting. Ukyou sensing this, took his hand and showed her love and support. "Now, it's my turn," he said to her. She placed her head on his shoulder in understanding. After the funeral, the Great Elder told Ranma to first seek out the Jusenkyou guide. She said he would have a scroll that would lead them to the Cave of the Fire Dragon. She ordered the Amazons to provide ample supplies for their journey and gave them an honorable send-off. ***** Ranma and company left shortly after the funeral proceedings and headed in the direction of the Jusenkyou tourist village. On the way, Mousse kept turning around to look at Shampoo who seemed lost in thought. He wanted to comfort her, but felt afraid to approach her just yet on the subject. Mousse's glasses were on his forehead so he was just following the shadows that were in front of him: Ryouga and Akane. One time when Mousse was turned around, he walked backwards straight into a tree. "" yelled Shampoo angrily. She put down her pack and picked up a sprawled out Mousse off the ground. Mousse sat up with his back up against the tree and he reached up to his forehead, his glasses were missing. "My glasses...," he said and began to grope around on the ground. Shampoo picked up the glasses that were off to one side and was about to put them on his face, when she stopped. "" Mousse grabbed onto Shampoo's wrist and pulled himself up, just like a blindman. Despite his predicament, Shampoo began feeling pity for Mousse and found herself once again admiring his chiseled countenance. She remembered Cologne's parting words. Slowly, she placed the glasses on his face and looked into his eyes with a smile. Mousse returned the smile. With a short laugh Shampoo turned Mousse around, dusted off the dirt from his pants, and gave him a smack on the butt to push him off in the direction of the others. When Shampoo had gathered her pack, she ran up to Mousse and grabbed him by the arm. Together arm-in-arm they walked down the road. ***** Ranma and company arrived at the Jusenkyou tourist village. The Jusenkyou guide, hearing of their exploits, offered a chance to dine with him in honor of their victory and to wish them well on their journey. He had just married a new wife who was reputed to be an excellent cook, and wanted to show off her talents, and his good fortune. After accepting the guide's invitation to dine, Ranma sent a wire to his Mother, telling her about Genma. In the wire he simply said, "Genma Saotome, the Panda, is dead. He fought bravely, and he died as a 'man among men`." Ranma found his hand shaking after he sent it. He also made arrangements to send Genma's ashes, which were kept in a highly decorated jar. The Great Elder herself had issued the decree that Genma was to be buried with high honors and dignity. So her own craftsman had produced and decorated the burial jar. Before the dinner, the Jusenkyou guide found the scroll the Great Elder said he had, which told of the legend of the Fire Dragon. The dust he blew off of it stuck in Ranma's throat while he listened to it. A society had been built up around the legend about 3000 years ago, and was so enclosed and isolated that they spoke their own language. The mountain they had once inhabited and protected was still called by the name they had given it, 'Xeng Kyu Dou`, which in their langauge was roughly translated to 'Gates of Hell Mountain`. The mountain, the guide indicated, was just on the other side of Jusendou and had shown signs of volcanic activity in the distant past. Much of the rest of the legend was as the Great Elder had discribed it. In addition, the legend stated that those of the society were the ones responsible for the waters of Jusenkyou being cursed, when an evil wizard of their village had cast a spell on the valley and mountain below. Ranma had great difficulty keeping his mouth shut. ***** Ranma and company had just sat down to eat a big feast that the Jusenkyou guide threw in their honor before they began there journey to Xeng Kyu Dou Mountain. The guide rose up to speak holding up a glass. "I give a toast in your honor, folks. May you have success on your journey, luck on your side,... and not live in interesting times." "Here! Here!" Someone shouted. Ranma held up his tea, since he didn't drink. The guide sat back down. Everyone started to dig in. "So much food," stated Mousse gazing around the table. Mousse picked up a delectable looking morsel of meat and popped it in his mouth. "Yes. My wife is an excellent cook." said the guide proudly as he held up a finger, "You young men, always marry a girl who can cook. That is my advice to you." Plum, the guides daughter, just shook her head, she had heard all this before. Ukyou nudged Ranma in the ribs and Ranma returned a smile. Akane dropped her head for a moment, then gazed around the table. She tried the same dish Ryouga was tasting. "What is this, it's delicious?" asked Akane indicating a dish. "Well, this is Mu Shu Pork, that's Peking Duck, and this over here..." Suddenly, it looked like Mousse and Ryouga were holding a spittoon contest. As Ryouga spat out his meal, it ricocheted off the back wall and landed in Ranma's tea cup. *Pyeewww* *Twang* *Plop* Both Mousse and Ryouga began turning green. The guide was stunned by the sight and looked insulted. "Why don't you like..." Suddenly, the guide had an expression of realization on his face." "Oh, you're...?" The guide indicated to Ryouga and he nodded. "...and you're...?" The guide then pointed to Mousse, and he nodded. The guide then burst out laughing bringing all others, except a still green Mousse and a sick-looking Ryouga, into laughter with him. Akane tried to control herself and just hugged Ryouga, but couldn't help but chuckle anyway. Shampoo was laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. Until Mousse reminded her with hands on hips, "There still are some places in China where they eat *cat*." Shampoo suddenly went cold and looked at him. Mousse just wagged his head. Ranma and Ukyou shuddered at the thought. "A thousand apologies! I hadn't realized. I'll have my wife prepare something else immediately." The guide was about to summon his wife when Mousse interrupted. "No, I'll think I'll eat these vegetables. If you don't mind." "Yeah. Me too." said Ryouga picking up a root with his chopsticks. Ranma, who was about to drink from his tea cup, then turned to the guide. "Could I have some more tea...in a different cup?" The guide's daughter Plum looked at the morsel floating in the cup and promptly replaced it with another cup of tea." ***** They left the Jusenkyou tourist village early the next morning and traveled south around Jusendou for about half a day to Xeng Kyu Dou Mountain. Ryouga, looking through field glasses, was the first to spot the cave entrance high in the side of the mountain. "Look up there...between the two low-hanging ledges." "That must be Cave of Fire Dragon," added Shampoo. Using grappling hooks fired by Mousse, they began climbing the rock face. They tied each other together by rope for safety purposes. There were areas along their climb that were sheer drops. The sun was high in the sky and began warming the rock face. Snow, that was caught in ledges and crannies, began to melt, making the climb treacherous, since they had to avoid areas of flowing and dripping water coming down from the rock. Mousse, Ryouga, Ukyou and Akane had just cleared a cliff about halfway up the mountain. Shampoo, followed behind by Ranma, were still making their climb. High above was a second cliff with icicles hanging off of it. The icicles were dripping with cold water. All at once, one of the icicles came loose and fell. It hit Shampoo and knocked her off the rock. Some of the cold water in the icicle must have also struck Shampoo as she transformed into a cat. Though she had been tied by a rope, her new form was much smaller than the loop in the rope, so she fell through it. Ranma had been busy trying to find a foothold, when he felt a release in the tension of the rope and an object fall on him. It knocked him off the rock and he found himself hanging by the rope. The rope, after Shampoo, had next been tethered to Mousse and he found himself almost pulled off and over the edge of the cliff. Ryouga, who was experienced in rock climbing, since he had used it on his travels around the world, had been smart enough to tie his end of the rope to a rock jutting out of the cliff while he waited. It prevented him from being pulled over the cliff as well. Using his strength, he pulled Mousse up and over the cliff edge. Ranma, having said a silent prayer, opened his eyes and found himself suspended by the rope in mid-air. He looked up and saw Mousse and Ryouga straining to hold their end of the rope. "Shhhhooo!" he said big-sweating, he smiled and began wiping the sweat from his brow. He looked down and about went into shock. "Ahhh! C-c-cat-tt!" Ranma called out closing his eyes again and reflexively lifting his legs up. He shook visibly, more than he had been shaking before. A wide-eyed Neko-Shampoo was desperately clinging onto one of the footholds about two feet below where Ranma was suspended. Her hold on the rock was tenuous at best. At the moment, only her claws kept her from a certain death. "SHAMPOOOO!" yelled Mousse, straining against the pull. Akane, who had been looking over the edge, said, "Oh no! She's a cat." She realized its implications on Ranma. Ukyou, looking down next to her, said, "He's going into the Neko-ken." She could sense he was loosing consciousness through the connection. Ukyou found that she, too, was frightened by the sight of a cat, and all but closed her eyes. She never used to be shaken by the sight of a cat, but that was before she had joined with Ranma in the nexus. Bringing herself under control, Ukyou began radiating as much calm as she could. It had an immediate effect on those around her, but Ranma and Shampoo were too far away to feel its effects. Ukyou tried to fill the connection with love and peace. Though shaking, she employed her meditation exercises she had picked up from Tori's conversation with Ranma. "{Ranma, NO! You have to fight it. Don't let it take you. Shampoo needs your help.}" The peace Ukyou was sending through the connection was helping. Ranma, who was just barely on the edge of loosing consciousness to the Neko-ken, was responding. He was still curled up in a ball with his eyes held tightly shut. "{Ranma, you have to get Shampoo. Hurry!}" Ukyou spoke slowly and with determination. She turned to look over her shoulder at the straining pair holding the rope. "Let some of the rope out, he needs to be able to reach her." Akane, who was not frightened by cats and had the greater visibility from her vantage point, helped direct Mousse and Ryouga to release just enough rope to lower Ranma to within grabbing distance of Neko-Shampoo. "{Ranma, you have to reach out. You *have* to reach out!}" said Ukyou. Ranma popped his eyes open for a moment. When he saw the cat, he re-closed his eyes and shook his head 'No` vehemently. "Saotome, you bastard! Get her!" yelled Mousse. His teeth were gritting and he was starting to lose his grip. "{Ranma! Shampoo will die if you don't save her. Reach out, now!}" Ukyou strained to send as much love, peace and calm through the connection as possible. She then added, "{Ranma, if you love me, save Shampoo!}" Ranma slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Ukyou. He kept his eyes fixed on Ukyou and her face. She smiled back at him. He could see in his peripheral vision a frightened object in front of him as he swayed from side to side blown by the wind crossing the rock face. With his eyes still on Ukyou, he reached out with his arm until it contacted fur. Instinctively he recoiled, then he reached past it and steadied himself by hanging onto the foothold. Neko-Shampoo scampered across his arm and clung onto his backpack. Ranma winced when he felt the claws dig into his arm and almost lost it again to the Neko-ken, but he kept concentrating on Ukyou's face. He could feel the added weight on his back, and did his best to ignore it. Mousse and Ryouga, helped now by Akane and Ukyou, pulled Ranma and Neko-Shampoo to safety. Upon clearing the cliff, Neko-Shampoo scampered to safety and hid behind a rock shaking badly. Ukyou closed her eyes so that she, too, didn't enter the Neko-ken. When Ranma cleared the rock, he grabbed onto Ukyou and held her tight. "Thank you, Saotome." said Mousse, patting him on the shoulder as he ran back to hug a frightened cat, making sure to keep it out of Ranma's field of vision. "I want to thank you, too, Ranma. I didn't think you could do it." said Ukyou, looking him in the eyes. Ryouga and Akane held each other close and watched. Ranma shook again as he remembered the event. He brushed his face against her cheek and breathed in the fragrance of her hair. It helped him to recover. "I just thought about loving you, and it helped me to pull out of the Neko-ken. Thank you...my love." he whispered into her ear. She hugged him until he had calmed down. After resting and recovering, they continued their climb to the ledge that overlooked the cave Ryouga had spotted. Neko-Shampoo rode in Mousse's backpack on the journey up. Ryouga carried Shampoo's pack as well as his own. It took about an hour longer for all to make it to the ledge overlooking the cave. On top of the ledge, which turned out to be a small plateau, Ranma looked out and over to the cave, then turned to the rest. "Since it's already close to evening, we'll camp up here tonight then search the cave in the morning." Being weary from the hazardous rock climb, the others agreed. Ranma stood up and looked back toward the plateau. Off in the distance he could see a meadow. Beyond the meadow he could see some old ruins that he guessed was the village spoken of in the legend. ***** After making a dinner from the provisions in their packs, they were captured by the beauty of the evening sunset. The pinkish skies along with their high-altitude gave a feeling of being on top of the world. The reddening sun was in striking contrast to the purpling mountains and hillsides off in the distance. Finding a grassy area that lead to a small meadow out and away from the ledge, Ranma and Ukyou sat next to each other warmed by the last of the evening's rays. Soon, Ryouga and Akane joined them next to a tree. Mousse, who had wondered where the others went, was soon joined by Shampoo who hugged his back while she, too, observed the remarkable sunset. "{Isn't it so wonderful that such beauty exists on this world.}" said Tori with a touch of awe in his voice. Ukyou sat on Ranma's lap and gave him a kiss. Not to be outdone, Akane was startled when Ryouga stabbed his umbrella into the ground and picked her up off her feet. She hugged him and they to shared in a kiss. Shampoo, who was still behind Mousse, came around to one side and kissed him on the cheek. He looked into her eyes and they traded smiles. All were too busy and lost in each other to notice the sun sink behind the twin mountains in the distance. ***** Ranma and party clambered over the ledge the next morning, lit torches and went inside the cave. They were stopped about 30 meters inside the cave by a shallow wall. "{Tori, the cave is blocked off.}" said Ranma. "{See that piece of rock jutting out of the left side?}" "{Yeah, what about it?}" asked Ranma. "{It's a door.}" said Tori. "{A door? How do we get inside?}" asked Ukyou. "{Well, you could always knock first.}" responded Tori bluntly. Ukyou nodded her head at Ranma and he went over to the rock Tori indicated. "KACHUU TENSHIN AMAGURIKEN!!!" The sudden barrage of blows reduced the boulder to mere pebbles. Ryouga, who felt left out, crossed his arms. "Well, I could have done that." Ranma thought for a moment, turned and answered, "Yeah, but you would have probably brought the entire mountain on top of us, too." Ryouga just nodded and looked inside. The walls of the new entrance were as dark a coal and the light from the torches were quickly swallowed up inside. A feeling of foreboding came upon all present as a distant scratching noise could be heard. "That must be Fire Dragon," said Shampoo ominously, eyes wide. Akane gasped. Ranma took the lead and slowly crept into the entrance, the others followed. "Look! The walls have been burnt." A slow breeze was blowing in their faces from deep in the cave carrying a putrid, foul stench. Each had to pull out cloth to cover their noses. The tunnel started to dip down and soon the floor became slippery and wet. "Ranma? H-haven't you noticed something?" asked Akane following behind Ryouga. "What's that?" "That scratching, i-it's stopped." Ranma stopped to listen and found that Akane was right. All he could hear now was an occasional dripping coming down from nearby, and a low rumble from somewhere down and far away in the tunnel. As they continued the low rumble was becoming more noticeable, like the sound of grinding rock. Ranma also noted that the temperature was rising as they went deeper. He saw a red glow from up ahead. ***** The HELIOS project was given a scientific grant to study the sun. Combining satellites and ground-based observatories, they collected large amounts of data on the ordinary star at the hub of our solar system. One day, satellite imaging began picking up a red tint to the sun's surface and some strange rainbow-like projections extending from the two poles of the sun. Something seemed to be draining the sun in huge quantities. ***** There was a sudden turn in the tunnel that opened out into a huge black cavern. A very large ledge leaned over a gaping river of lava flowing noisily from their left. A thin precarious bridge arched over the fiery mass as it went rumbling by. The bridge connected with an island on the opposite side. Ryouga noticed a dark apparition sitting in the center of the island. "We have to cross the bridge." Ranma yelled over the deafening roar of the flowing lava. Ranma was about to take a step when he was stopped by Ryouga. "What's that?" Ryouga pointed to the apparition. Ranma just shrugged. "I guess we have to go find out." Ranma took inching steps out onto the jagged bridge and Ryouga followed soon after. Akane followed Ryouga, next was Shampoo and Mousse with Ukyou taking the rear. Underneath lava flowed swiftly by except around some occasional rocks that stuck up out of the flow. These projections created eddies and tide pools where it was easy to see that the lava was very gelatinous and plastic as huge bubbles slowly formed and burst back into non-existence. The roar of the flowing lava was overwhelming and they had to cover their ears. In trying to cover her ears, Akane lost balance and started to fall, she lost her torch as it disappeared into the angry muck below. In a move that should have *hurt*, Ryouga dropped down and locked his legs on both sides of the bridge and caught the falling Akane by the arm. With an assist from Ranma and Shampoo, Ryouga pulled Akane to safety. Ranma just stood and stared at Akane with a warning glare, but she was too wrapped up by Ryouga to notice. When Ranma turned back, he noticed a swirling of white light in the dark apparition, like smoke billowing from a camp fire. As they drew near, the swirling increased in speed. "Look! Something's forming." said Mousse, pushing his glasses back into position while trying to keep balance. No one could quite make out what the object was. When all had reached the island, the swirling mass suddenly resolved itself into a fire-breathing dragon. It roared and shook the earth beneath their feet. Mousse and Ryouga jumped protectively in front of their respective choices. Ranma and Ukyou took up defensive positions on opposite sides of them. "It's Fire Dragon!" said Shampoo, sounding very frightened. Tori broke in, "{Ranma, this is an illusion, it is not real. It's a kind of trap that's powered by the fear it generates. The more afraid you are, the more deadly it becomes.}" "{Keeps the tourist's away, I bet,}" said Ranma, once again employing Tori's meditation techniques to calm himself down. Ukyou did likewise and turned to the others and radiated calm. "It's not real! It doesn't exist. Whatever you do, don't be afraid of it." "Are you crazy? I can feel the heat of its breath." said Mousse holding up a protective hand. A blast of fire shot over his head. "No! It's not real. Just calm down. Don't be afraid of it." yelled Ranma, trying also to radiate calm. The dragon roared again and lightening arced across its back. The dragons tail swished around and made a scratching sound. "{Ukyou, I've got an idea,}" said Ranma. He continued out loud over the deafening din of the dragon. "Everyone hold hands and form a chain. I'll lead you through the illusion." "{Ranma, we need to put Shampoo near the end. She's the most frightened.}" said Ukyou. "Shampoo, hang on to Mousse's hand. I'll hold your other hand." Ukyou took Shampoo's hand and took up the rear of the chain. She tried to bathe Shampoo in as much calm as she could generate. Ranma did the same for Akane who was holding his hand. "Close your eyes. Ignore what you hear and feel. Remember, it's not real."shouted Ranma. Everyone but Ranma and Ukyou closed their eyes and he lead them through the center of the apparition. Ranma brought his fear under control and tried to keep his center. The image was an awesome sight, and he could feel Ukyou wavering also through whatever connection it was that bound them together. Akane and Shampoo kept stopping in reluctance, but eventually their fears evaporated when they heard the dragon's roar end up behind them. No one broke their grip. Ranma saw a small platform in the center of the island. As soon as he set foot on the platform, the cavern lit up bathed in white light. The lava and dragon disappeared out of existence like someone turning off a light switch. He could see a patch of clear water in the back of the cave and an object with a funny looking green glow above it. All was calm, and the calm itself caused a ringing to form in the ears, a leftover from the roaring din of a moment ago. When all had stepped onto the platform, it too, disappeared. ***** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ End chapter 6. From: Eric Warner Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] Stellarcraft.7-end A Ranma 1/2 Fanfiction: S T E L L A R C R A F T by: Eric Warner (evwarner@anet.bna.boeing.com) CHAPTER 7 : Mirror, Mirror Ranma and Ukyou were once again in the nexus. Only this time, they stood on a platform that was part of a huge network of interconnecting projections that stretched as far as they could see. High above was the same liquid fire undulating an immense distance away that Ranma remembered on his last visit to the nexus. He looked down and saw that he and Ukyou both were translucent and were highlighted with an bluish aura, larger than he had seen before. The white aura was not projecting between them but was all around the both of them. Behind him he saw Shampoo, Mousse, Akane and Ryouga just as he was, only they didn't seem to be moving. "{Tori, where are we?}" asked Ranma. Suddenly, Tori jumped over Ranma's head and from Ukyou's head as if he had been riding piggy back and coalesced into a single being in front of them. "{The platform you stepped on back on your Earth was a transfer point to this part of the nexus. Those strands you see connect different parts of the nexus to areas scattered throughout both universes. That strand you see below us glowing bright yellow connects us to Xeng Kyu Dou Mountain.}" Tori's voice then changed as if he were reminiscing. "{This is near the center of the nexus. I haven't been here in a long, long time.}" "{Ran-chan! Look at the others, they look...frozen. Tori, what's happened to them?}" asked Ukyou. "{They are merely suspended in time. They're fine.}" answered Tori. "{We can move. Why can't they?}" asked Ranma. "{You are citizens of the nexus due to the two amulets you carry. They were never prepared in that way; therefore, they will be locked in time until they return to your Earth.}" Ranma looked over his companions and noticed their white auras, too. As he expected white projections extended between Mousse and Shampoo and also from Ryouga and Akane. Smaller projections extended toward him from both Shampoo and Akane. Ranma smiled when he saw that Akane's love for Ryouga was now much larger than for him. Also, all except Akane had a thin dark band around there aura. Ryouga, he noticed, had two. "{Look, Ukyou, Ryouga has two curses. Isn't that right, Tori?}" "{You are correct, Ranma. Ryouga has his drowned-pig curse from Jusenkyou and a curse put upon the Hibiki family long ago that makes them lose their sense of direction and produce fangs.}" "{Can you remove that, too?}" asked Ukyou. "{Yes. Yes I can.} With a wave of what could be perceived as an arm, Tori removed the curses. All participants had normal blue auras now. "{When they return, they will be weakened as you once were, Ranma, but they should recover.}" "{Can you cure Akane of her lack of cooking skills? That's a curse if I ever saw one.}" asked Ranma half-serious. Tori just slumped. "{Ranma, I not a miracle worker.}" ***** Shampoo, Mousse, Ryouga and Akane re-appeared on the platform, exactly as they had left. To them, in their timeless state, it seemed that Ranma and Ukyou had mysteriously disappeared off the platform while they watched. The cave was still bathed in a white light save for the green glow from a light above some water at the back of the cave, and the dragon and lava that had been there earlier was gone. "Ranma! Ukyou! Where are they?" asked Akane. Ryouga took a step toward where he had last seen Ranma, and fell. "By all the Kami, I feel so weak." Akane reached down to help him up, when she saw something odd. "Ryouga!" Akane shrieked, "Your fangs!" Ryouga place a finger on his eye teeth and was surprised to find they were normal, he was also surprised he didn't feel disoriented and knew the way out of the cave. "Look!" said Mousse pointing off into the distance. All turned. A large image was forming. It was a giant three-dimensional image of Ranma. "Friends!" the image began, "I have great news. Your curses have been lifted." Everyone started whooping and cheering. Mousse was so thrilled that he ran to the small lake in back of the island and jumped in. He was still Mousse. He was quickly joined by Ryouga and Shampoo and they began splashing each other with water happily. Akane watched the fun from the platform, she, too, was relieved. "Ryouga!" said Ranma's image, "Ukyou and I still have work to do in the nexus. We will destroy those responsible for all the disasters. I need you to lead the others out of the cave." "You mean...me?" asked Ryouga incredulously, he was pointing a dripping finger at his chest. "Ranma, you can't be serious." said Akane, drawing a look from Ryouga. "Ryouga shouldn't have any trouble." Ranma raised a hand and Ryouga felt stronger. "Once everyone is off the platform the dragon and lava will reappear. Just remember that it is not real and do not be afraid of it. That will weaken it. Ukyou and I will join you outside the cave later." Then Ranma's image disappeared. Ryouga successfully lead the others back to the ledge where their camp was, to the surprise of himself and the others. The dragon and lava had reappeared just as Ranma said it would, but it didn't seem as frightening as before. The real fright came when all had stepped outside to a reddish sky, and looked up to see strange projections extending from the sun. ***** Through some *magic* of Tori's, Ranma was able to communicate with the others who had returned back to Earth and pass on to them advice as to how to return safely from the cave. Ranma donated some of his ki to help strengthen Ryouga who had a full third of his own ki removed along with his two curses. He could see the joy that his *friends* had experienced when they were informed that their curses were lifted. A part of him wished he were there to celebrate along with them instead of in this fiery inferno he found himself in now. "{Thanks, Tori, for helping my friends out. Now what?}" asked Ranma. "{Now I need you two and those amulets your carrying to re-awaken the Starmaster and help remove the Pu-Optuan invasion of your universe. Follow me.}" Ranma and Ukyou walked off the platform and followed Tori through the maze of projections. Though Ranma and Ukyou *walked*, Tori, it seemed, didn't have legs that moved. He just kind of glided along instead. As Ranma walked along he could see that the amulet he wore kept moving in and out of his body as it hung. He felt that if he tilted his body just right, the amulet would fall through entirely. He looked and found that the chain that the jewel was hanging from *floated* on his shoulders and could just as easily slide through his neck. They arrived at an open area where high above were two huge globes and a central, smaller globe. Ranma could see that the two globes seem to be floating as if tethered to the central globe. "{Ranma, I need you up there in that pod.} Tori lifted an appendage to indicate one of the large white globes. "{And I need Ukyou in that one.}" Tori pointed to the other large globe. "{I will be in the center one.}" Without waiting for a response, Ranma found himself in a sea of white, like sitting in a cloud. Though he could stick his hand out of the globe, something in the globe pulled him toward the center. "{Tori, I can't see a thing.} said Ukyou. "{You're in the 'Starmaster`,}" said Tori. "{The STARMASTER?! I thought the Starmaster was a person.}" said Ranma. "{Yeah. So did I.}" Ukyou added. "{And so you are. When your in the Starmaster, you *are* the Starmaster.}" responded Tori. "{Are you saying *we* are the Starmaster you've been waiting for, and wanted to re-awaken?}" asked Ukyou incredulously. "{Long ago, my people discovered the twin universes and this high-dimensional zone (the nexus) that existed between them. They erected these networks of passageways that are the nexus transport system in order to travel freely through the nexus and study the both of them. The Pu-Optuah originally were our allies and helped in its construction. When we discovered the Pu-Optuah had other plans, plans to conquer the nexus, we erected this Starmaster equipment that could be used to keep both universes in balance; and thus, thwart the plans of the Pu-Optuah. Only those of my universe may operate it.}" "{But we're not *from* your universe.}" countered Ukyou. "{That is why we needed the two amulets. Under their power, you represent *Starmasters* from my universe and are able to operate both within and outside the nexus. This is why the Pu-Optuah were so interested in the amulets. It would allow them to operate the Starmaster outside the nexus and destroy that balance, as well as create the doorway necessary for a huge invasion force to enter your universe.}" "{So where are your people? Why aren't they here to operate this...this *Starmaster*?}" asked Ukyou. "{I don't really know. I haven't been contacted by my people since the last Starmaster was here over 3 millennia ago. Perhaps by operating this equipment, I can find out. That's why you are here, I can't operate the Starmaster machinery by myself, I need you two in the other pods.}" "{Let me get this straight, you need two more people besides yourself to operate this machine. Correct?}" asked Ukyou. "{Correct.}" answered Tori. "{The last Starmaster died a long time ago. Right?}" "{Correct.}" answered Tori. "{So then, where is the other Starmaster? There would've had to have been three of you, wouldn't there?}" Tori seem to take his time in answering. "{Strange, I don't seem to remember him. It's like he never existed.}" There was silence for a long time. "{So what do we have to do?}" asked Ranma getting restless. "{Concentrate on the amulets and their power. The two large pods represent both universes. Ranma, the pod you are in represents the universe in which your planet Earth exists. Ukyou, your pod represents the universe that my people and the Pu-Optuah are from. I, in the smaller, central pod, will represent the nexus, the area of pseudo-space that binds the two of you together.}" Ranma concentrated and meditated on the amulet and the amulet grew in brightness, strength and power. The amulet melted into his body and moved toward the center of his being. In an instant the white cloudiness was pushed aside and he saw a round object as if he were looking at it from the outside. Within it he saw objects swirling about: galaxies, groups of galaxies and clusters. He could see dust particles and black holes in great detail. He could sense and see everything down to the last atom and in between. He could see millions of civilizations: some advanced, some fledgling, some dying. He could see his own planet Earth, see the people in panic because of their dying sun. See their despair because of the excessive disasters that have occurred. And he could see the same thing happening on countless other worlds. Ukyou was just as enthralled. She could see the other universe which looked like a reversed image of her own. The laws of this universe were different: It had five dimensions plus a time dimension. At first, she had trouble thinking in five dimensions, but the Starmaster's equipment helped her perceptions. Everything in this universe was based on ki energy. This, she figured out, is why the Pu-Optuah needed to feed off of it, because they were made of it. Somehow she realized that this universe was much smaller and older than the universe she grew up in. It held vast civilizations with a wealth of knowledge and had technologies that were baffling to her. Ranma and Ukyou both felt a shudder and a blackness descend upon them. Both sensed that whatever had caused the shudder was not in the universes they were observing. "{They're dead. They're all dead.}" said Tori in a low melancholy voice. Ukyou took a look and confirmed what Tori had just said. She found evidence of a race of beings that controlled a group of eight galaxies in a dark corner of her universe. In their place and in their ruins stood the Pu-Optuah who had somehow conquered and destroyed them despite being less technologically advanced. She could easily see that they did it with sheer numbers, like a huge, unstoppable plague. "{W-who's dead?}" asked Ranma confused. "{His people. I've just found them. The Pu-Optuah have destroyed them all. I can see the extent of their devastation and their evil, it's unbelievable.}" said Ukyou. "{Yes, I see it here, too.}" Ranma responded, seeing world upon world reduced to smoldering cinders. "{The Pu-Optuah do not have the word 'mercy` in their vocabulary. Such a concept is foreign to them, to their way of thinking.}" said Tori. "{How do we fight them? 'Cause as far as I am concerned, they're dead.}" asked Ranma. A fight was something he could understand. "{Yeah, I want a piece of them, too. I have a score to settle with them for taking my father away from me.}" She was openly ready to strike out in revenge. "{What you are talking about is genocide. To do that, would make you as evil as they are.}" Tori warned. "{B-but we can't just let them continue.}" Ranma insisted. "{Yeah, they'll destroy everything, and everyone.}" pleaded Ukyou. "{We can't destroy them all, but there is a favorable alternative. Look here...and here.}" Ranma saw Tori indicate an area of the universe that didn't seem quite right, an inflated area in space like an overblown tire. Somehow he sensed that Tori had shown Ukyou a likewise anomaly in the universe she was observing. "{It looks so...round.}" said Ranma. "{Here it looks flat.}" said Ukyou. "{These areas are caused by the great number Pu-Optuah that exist in your universe, Ranma. Their causing both universes to be out of balance.}" "{Is there any way to balance them?}" asked Ukyou. "{That's exactly what I want you two to do. As you are certainly aware by now, you two are connected together by a link between both your spirits. Ranma, in the Starmaster equipment, while you are observing your universe, you *are* that universe. Ukyou, you are, likewise, the universe you are observing. What I want you two to do is to concentrate on these areas of imbalance and move the excess from Ranma's universe to Ukyou's universe. You'll find an interesting side-effect occurs once you do that.}" "{How do we do it?}" asked Ukyou. "{It is kind of like the nexus speech you are using right now, just concentrate on moving it, and it will happen.}" said Tori. Ranma and Ukyou concentrated on the imbalanced areas. Like a sudden surge, Ranma felt the movement of material from one universe through to the other. The amount of material, Ranma knew, was awesome, and he could feel the link between him and Ukyou strained by the amount of the flow. When he recovered enough to look at the result, he was amazed. The beings that were influenced by the Pu-Optuah were either dead, or freed from their influence and disoriented. The power drain on the Earth's sun had disappeared. "{Ranma, are you okay?}" asked Ukyou, sounding ragged. "{I feel a little...burned, how about you?}" asked a weary Ranma. "{Yeah, I know what you mean, but I'm okay... Hey Tori, what happened to all the Pu-Optuah? I'm registering only a few around their home world.}" said Ukyou excitedly. Ranma could see that only a few still remained in his universe. "{When you moved material from one universe to the other, we changed the nature of the two universes. Remember I told you before, matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed, but can be borrowed and exchanged. In order to move this material, it was necessary to create a time paradox to reverse another time paradox that occurred 3 millennia ago. That's when the bulges first started to occur. Any Pu-Optuah that appeared after this period, ceased to exist as of a few moments ago, since it was their presence in your universe that cause these imbalances in the first place.}" "{Why was there a time paradox 3000 years ago?}" asked Ranma. "{I don't know, I can't see past it. Whatever it was, it's pretty hideous.}" ***** Ranma and Ukyou stepped off the transport pad and found that the dragon and lava reappeared. Though the noise was ominous, they knew the secret of the cave, that none of what they saw or heard was real, so ignored it. The dragon grew quiet because there was very little fear to feed its terror. "Hopefully, Ryouga and the others got out safely." said Ranma. "{That they did.}" said Tori. Ranma and Ukyou started for the lava bridge when a shadow crept up behind them carrying a round object. Before Ranma knew it, Ukyou, who had been holding his hand, dropped to the floor and the sound of booming laughter sounded in his head, bringing with it a wave of nausea. He couldn't sense Ukyou through the connection anymore. Ranma turned in time to see a black cloud carrying a bright ball-like object move toward the back of the cave. Ranma took off in pursuit. When Ranma crossed the platform, the lava and dragon disappeared for a moment, until he ran off of it again. The cloud ran to the low lake on the other side of the lava island. High above the lake was a green source of light. The cloud disappeared into the lake. When Ranma jumped into the water, he found that the waters were very shallow. "{Tori? Tori? Where did he go?}" asked Ranma frantically. "{Syrr disappeared into the nexus transport system. Step out of the water and I'll explain how it works. First, you need a source of radiation, like that green glowing light above you. Then you need a reflective surface. On all reflective surfaces there is a zone where light is slowed down. In your case, if you hold the amulet while jumping into this zone, you'll be transported into the nexus transport system that connects you with various points around both universes and nexus. Just like the platform you just came from.}" "{Sounds like 'Alice in Wonderland`. So, all I have to do is jump into this reflective surface and hold the amulet?}" asked Ranma ready to jump. "{Yes.}" Ranma didn't even wait for the waters to become still, he jumped into the water while holding the amulet to his chest. ***** Ranma found himself in a huge cylindrical chamber. All around him were tiny whirlpools off in every direction. He found that everything was now multi-dimensional and that each dimension had two vortices associated with it. Some were dead, others came to life in an instant and just as quickly blinked out of existence. "{Tori? How do I know where to go? There are millions of these doorways.}" "{Ranma, it is possible to follow Syrr wherever he goes by looking for a grayish ki field. One aspect of the Pu-Optuah is that they stink, horribly. They leak a ki residue produced from dead ki that you should be able to follow. Just look for this trail of smoke.} "{Remember, you can go wherever you want and return to this transit link as long as you have a reflective surface such as a mirror or body of water, and a source of radiation, such as the sun shining on it. The mirrored surface must be big enough for you to pass through. This particular transit link is for your world. There are places that connect with other transit links, so be careful.}" Though the chamber had some mists all around it, Ranma was able to pick out a portal that looked promising. Wasting little time, he jumped into the swirl. ***** When Ranma popped out of the mirror, he was in a bedroom. The morning sun was shining through a window onto the mirror, blinding him so he could not see the rest of the room. He heard a groaning sound coming from somewhere. He moved forward and stopped suddenly. He was now out of the sunlight and could see something moving on a bed. A lit cigarette was all but ashes in an ashtray, grey smoke hung in the air. He heard the sound of giggling as if someone was being tickled. "Stop!" said a female voice from under the covers. Ranma's eyes grew large when he realized what he had stumbled into. He tried to turn around and jump back into the mirror, but his foot kicked a wineglass that had been dropped on the floor. It tinkled when it was kicked. The covers on the bed came down and Ranma could see an embarrassed-looking blond and a rather large dark-haired man with a thick moustache staring back at him. The man was not impressed. "YOU!" the man said with a thick Italian accent. "Yaahhh!" Ranma tried to jump back in the mirror, but found that the sun's rays were no longer shining on it. The mirror broke. The man got up out of the bed and began chasing Ranma around the room while the blond just pulled the covers up to hide herself. Ranma almost tripped over a maid's outfit. Finally, Ranma ran into the bathroom and locked the door. The big man outside the door began pounding and shouting in Italian. Even though Ranma didn't speak Italian, he needed no translation to get the gist of what the man was saying. The sun was shining onto the bathtub in the restroom. Ranma spotted and grabbed a small hand mirror off the vanity and directed the sunlight from the bathtub toward the large mirror above the sink. The man was starting to break through the door. Before the door hinges gave out, Ranma jumped into the mirror. The man burst through the door and his towel fell away. He was surprised when he found that no one was there, and the bathroom window was locked. ***** Ranma slowly raised himself out of the water. He could see that there were several military jeeps parked next to a pool of water. He stood up to take a look around. Judging from the appearance of the area, Ranma was in some type of desert encampment. He could hear the sounds of distant shelling and fires burning. All around him was packed sand, fencing and several camouflaged buildings. He could not see any grey ki field trail in any direction he looked. Ranma was about to jump back into the pool when the ground was suddenly strafed in front of him. A second or two later, an alarm sounded followed by the sound of running footsteps and the shouts of men in some unknown language. Ranma just ran. He didn't care which direction, he just ran to try to avoid the bullets that followed closely at his heels. He could hear the sound of barking dogs behind him. Ranma ran and found himself cornered by some high fencing. He was about to climb the fence, when he saw that the top was lined with barbed wire. Men were running up behind him. Ranma just turned toward the fence and yelled, "HIRYUU SHOUTEN-HA!!!" and got down. The resulting depression field ripped through the fence and sent a shower of sand into the faces of his pursuers. It bought him time. Ranma ran through the hole in the fence and behind a building before those behind him could recover. He took a moment to rest when one of the distant windows in the building was shattered and someone began firing at him. He ran off and just about passed a well when he realized that the sun was directly overhead. Ranma jumped into the well just in time to avoid being strafed by a shower of machine-gun fire. ***** It was way after midnight when the man came staggering down the street. He swayed from side-to-side as he walked. His shoulder hit up against a lamppost and he stopped, trying to keep from falling. Looking down into an adjacent trashcan, he spotted a newspaper, the pages looked fresh. When he extended his hand to extract the newspaper, the odor from under his arm was overpowering, even to him. He pulled the newspaper out and tucked it safely away. Taking another swig from a bottle wrapped in a paper sack and wiping his mouth, he continued on down the street. The man came to an alleyway, this was his favorite spot. It was dark enough at night and quiet so he could sleep it off. It was also next to a restaurant that threw out plenty of delicious trash during the day. Taking refuge inside a cardboard box, he spread the newspapers on top of him. This was his blanket to keep out the night's chill. He took his final swig for the night. he reminded himself. He heard a sound and dragged himself up to peer over the box. A mist was flowing out of the sewers from across the street. There was a shallow pool of water in the middle of the roadway from when they had dumped some of the fire hydrants. A radio tower stood high on one building and he could see its reflection in the water. The man blinked and looked again, something moved in the water. He thought he saw a head pop out of the water. Though dark, he thought it was of a young man with a ponytail. The head looked all around and popped back into the water. The man grew scared and pushed his back up against the wall. He was about to take a drink from the bottle when he stopped and looked at the bottle. "I've hat t'much t'drink," said the man, and he threw the bottle away with a crash. Frightened, he curled up into a ball until he fell asleep. ***** Ranma followed the trail into a vortex. The next instant he found himself on a moving platform that had a piece of cut metal on it. He looked up and moved in time to avoid the beams of a cutting laser. It was for certain he was not going to be returning that way. Ranma looked around and could see the grey ki trail leading through a set of double doors at the end of the room. He moved cautiously over to the doors and followed the trail. Opening the door slowly, he saw people dressed in loose white jumpsuits with cloth over their heads and faces wearing some type of goggles. All kinds of unidentifiable equipment dotted both sides of an aisle where these people were working in a long large room. "Hey you! Close that door!" someone yelled at him in muffled English. "What are you doing here?" someone else yelled when the first had drawn attention to Ranma. A few seconds later he heard the familiar sound of an alarm going off. Ranma ran straight down the aisle in the direction of the grey ki trail. A large man tried to grab him but he slipped under his grasp. When Ranma had reach another set of double glass doors at the end of the work room, he turned and could see two men easily identified as security guards rushing into the middle of the room in pursuit. Ranma ran through the double glass doors and down a narrow hallway lit only by overhead lamps. Despite the pursuing security, Ranma was still following the grey ki field. The trail ran through a maze of hallways and double doors. Ranma kept running into people and objects which lined the hallways as fast as his legs would carry him. Ranma stopped to catch his breath behind a door, when he realized that he had somehow lost the security guards that were pursuing him. Ranma could see the grey ki field disappearing across the hallway into a room easily recognized by the sign as the women's restroom. he thought. He continued to observe the door and no one came in or out. Looking both ways, he sighed, He walked into the door and pressed himself to one side looking around the corner. He couldn't hear any activity though he could clearly see the grey ki field trail leading into the third stall. Ranma quietly brought himself next to the stall. He tried the door without making a sound and found it was locked, so he waited. Around him he could see an obscured window with the sun shining on it. Across from him he could see the windows glare in the mirror. He realized that all he needed to do to get out is to open the window and allow the sun to fall on the mirror. When he heard a noise out of the third stall like the rustling of clothes, he crouched low next to the opposite side that the door would open. He heard a flush and the lock on the door opening. When the person was within range, he quickly grabbed her and covered her mouth. It was a rather pretty Japanese girl about a head shorter than he was. She mumbled and struggled for a little bit, but stopped when Ranma radiated calm and tranquility. Her eyes were full of surprise, but she seemed to be cooperating and had quit her struggles. "Do you speak Japanese? Can you understand me?" Ranma whispered to her. She gave a short nod. Ranma couldn't see the grey ki field on the girl, but could clearly see the trail ending into the third stall. Ranma concluded that the trail must be old, and the girl just happened to be in the right place at the wrong time. Ranma released an arm from around the girl and held a finger up to his lips. "Shhhh!" The girl nodded in understanding, so he slowly released her. While the girl stood and watched him intently with a fightened expression, he went through and checked the other four stalls and found them empty. Ranma figured that Syrr must have somehow got away and it would be better to watch for any new signs of him from the nexus transport chamber. Again, he raised a finger to his lips and said, "Shhhh!" to keep the girl calm. Ranma slowly backed up to the window, keeping the girl in sight. He reached one hand up to try and open the window, it wouldn't budge. Ranma had to reach both arms up to the window to open it. Unfortunately, that caused him to lose his attention on the girl for a moment. "{Ranma! Look out!}" yelled Tori. Ranma turned just in time to look in the mirror and see the girl produce a round clear object that he recognized. He jumped up and around kicking the globe before the girl (Syrr) could use it. The girl gave several blood-curdling screams like she was being raped and disappeared into the mirror that the sun was now shining on. Before Ranma could get up from the floor, two security guards burst in through the door with guns drawn. "Freeze!" one of the guards yelled. Ranma slowly got up and raised his hands high above his head in defeat. One of the guards spotted the ball-shaped object on the floor and crept over to it. He reached down to grab the object. When he touched it, the guard dropped to the floor and the globe began to glow with a bluish tint. The other guard tried to catch his partner and Ranma took advantage of the distraction to run into the mirror. Ranma had just passed through the mirror when it was shattered by a bullet fired by the remaining guard. ***** Ranma came out of the water onto the beach of an inland lake. All around him it looked like a tropical paradise with high palms and thick foliage. Exotic birds chirped and jumped around in the trees. Ranma saw a grey trail of ki drifting into the underbrush. He took off in pursuit. As he ran through the rainforest, plants continued to whip into his face making progress slow. He could see an open clearing and a huge slope thick with foliage. The trail led up the slope and he could see he was on some sort of volcanically-produced island. Using vines, he pulled himself up and over a ledge, and could see that it was small island as the blue ocean was visible all around him out to the horizon. Higher up the grey trail thickened. thought Ranma with renewed hope. He used more vines to pull himself higher until he found a cave. The trail lead into the cave and the grey ki field was so thick that he could just barely see into the cave. Ranma pulled himself to the side wall and the grey field began to clear. He could see the same Japanese girl he had seen earlier slowly backing up away from him. Her face, though pretty, was scratched and scarred from the thick foliage she had passed through. The sun was shining into the cave and he could now see his reflection and her back in a mirror. The girl stopped backing up when she was about a foot away from the mirror. The girl produced a ball that Ranma could see glowing bright blue. "{Your in luck, human. I am all out of nodules and this one is occupied.}" A deep male-like voice boomed in his head. Ranma could sense that the 'nodule` that Syrr was holding up now had Ukyou's ki in it. "{Give me that, you Bastard!}" returned Ranma. He was about to jump for the nodule when the girl threatened to slam it up against the cave wall. "{Nah-ah-aaah! Shall I destroy it for you first, human? It's obvious she means something to you.}" the deep voice said as the girl continued to threaten to smash the nodule. "{NO! No! No! Don't do that.}" Ranma frantically waved hands in front of him. Ranma was again hit by a wave of nausea and the sound of booming laughter. The laughter slowly trailed off and was replaced by a curious expression on the face of the girl, then brightened in recognition. "{Congratulations, *Starmaster*. You have been a worthy adversary. You have destroyed my people and a new universe that took thousands of your years in the planning. The new universe we would have created would have been glorious. My people have destroyed whole galaxies and you, from this third-rate world, come along and destroy us with a mere thought. Is it really such a small consolation that I take this nodule with me, as payment for all the troubles you have caused me?}" Ranma was near tears and found himself dropping to his knees begging. "Please, please don't take her from me. She is my life!" Another wave of nausea hit Ranma as more laughter boomed in his head. "{Yes, yes I know. I can see the fragile tendril that connects her life to yours. It will be a pleasure to me when I sever it. Just like I severed the connection with that lightroid friend of yours long ago.}" "{Ranma! Did you hear that? That means he's one of the prior Starmasters. And I bet he created the first time paradox to allow his Pu-Optuan army into this universe! Now it all makes sense to me.}" shouted Tori. "{I don't care who he is. I just want Ukyou back.}" The girl began bouncing the nodule in front of Ranma almost carelessly, continuing to laugh, almost taunting Ranma to make a move or a grab for it. While the taunting continued, the sun was starting to leave the back of the cave and the mirror. When the girl almost dropped the nodule, Ranma leaped to catch it, but the girl was too quick and disappeared into the mirror. Next thing Ranma knew was that he was picking himself up from outside the cave. An explosion had blown him out onto the ledge. Slowly at first, Ranma re-climbed the slope and crept into the cave. The cave had gore all over it and flies were gathering, but surprisingly, the mirror was still intact. Ranma started to run, to make the jump to follow, when he was brought up short. "{RANMA! DON'T!!!}" shouted Tori. "{This passage leads to the other universe, your body cannot exist in this other universe! That's why there was an explosion, the woman couldn't exist in that other universe, but Syrr who could, got away.}" "{But I have to follow him. I have to try!}" Ranma started to run again. "{NO! YOU WILL DIE! You can't save Ukyou this way.}" Ranma stopped and dropped to his knees in frustration. In anger, he pounded the cave floor. He picked up a rock and threw it at the mirror with all his strength and frustration. "YYYAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" The mirror shattered into a million pieces. Hot tears came down to sting Ranma's eyes, he was in despair and kept saying, "No!" with a shaking head. "{Come back, Ranma. We have to care for Ukyou's body,}" Tori's voice kept repeating. Ranma just sat alone in the cave until the sun made it entirely dark. Slowly, Ranma turned and descended from the ledge. He almost slipped on several occasions on his descent and there was a part of him that just didn't care anymore. At one point, as he returned through the forest, he got tired of being stung in the face by the thick foliage and tried to release a ki blast to clear it. Since his ki blast was based upon his confidence, the blast became just a fizzle. He returned back to the inland lake and just dropped into the lake to make the transition. ***** When Ranma re-appeared from out of the lake in the back of the cave, the tears started coming down his face in droves. Like suddenly re-awakening from some vicious nightmare, his full emotions started kicking in and Ukyou's loss began to hit him like being slugged in the belly. "NO! No! No!" he cried out only to hear his echo return. He turned. Ukyou's body was on a small platform that hung in the air a few feet off the ground. It was like one of those magic acts where they run a ring over a girl suspended in mid-air. Ranma ran to the small platform and tried to grab onto Ukyou's body, he was thrown back. A small force-field hung a few inches above her body and arced when he attempted to contact her. Ranma threw himself again at the force-field with eyes streaming and was again thrown back to the point of losing consciousness. He slipped on the ground trying to get back up and began pounding the ground in agony. He stood up to launch himself one more time at the platform when Tori stopped him. "{NO! Ranma don't!}" "{What have you done to her, you bastard? Can't you leave the dead in peace?}" Ranma fell to the ground in fresh tears. "{Ranma, I have preserved Ukyou's body in a suspension field powered by one of your local stars. This field should hold Ukyou's body right at the moment of death for billions of years. Almost indefinitely by your perspective.}" "{For what purpose? A body means nothing without a soul, and you know it.}" Ranma cried out. "{Ranma, Ukyou will always be alive through you. You have to know that Ukyou died for a purpose: to preserve two universes, and to destroy the Pu-Optuah wherever they were.}" "{I don't want to live...can't live in a universe without Ukyou...}" Just then Ranma was lurched with unbelievable pain. Something deep inside him felt like it was being torn to pieces, like glass being shattered in a tornado. Ranma was thrown to the ground like he was having a seizure. "{T-Tori...?}" Ranma gasped and doubled over in pain. "{It's Syrr! He must have opened and consumed Ukyou's ki. You have to fight it, Ranma!}" The pain Ranma felt was so fantastic that he could just barely maintain consciousness. "{Fight it, Ranma. Don't give in to it. Don't let go of Ukyou.}" With that, Ranma now understood what was happening. Syrr had just now consumed Ukyou's ki, and Ukyou was experiencing something that went beyond simple death. Like being constantly chewed and crushed while maintaining full consciousness, Ukyou's ki was being ripped apart and she was fighting a losing battle to maintain integrity. The pain was so terrific, that Ukyou was now totally animalistic with sheer terror. What was once human thought and reason was replaced by complete animal madness, caused by an incredible amount of unendurable pain. Ranma felt every bit of it coming through the connection. "{Ranma, remember your meditation exercises!}" Ranma employed the meditation methods Tori taught him to keep out external and internal distractions. Slowly, he was able to force back the pain that was coming across the connection he had with Ukyou. With great effort, he brought himself to his center and concentrated with all his might on fighting the distraction. He forced himself to breathe in controlled gulps of air. A thought occurred to him. Using the Starmaster machinery, he was able to transport huge energies across both nexus and universes with controlled thought. Maybe he could do the same here. With all his strength, he flooded the connection with love. He thought of their earlier time in the nexus and the evenings that they spent together. He thought of the joys and splendid memories they experience in childhood. He thought of her hair, her face and her eyes. He thought of the euphoria and heaven he experienced every time he kissed her lips. Ranma forced himself into a lotus position facing Ukyou's body. He continued to force all his love through the connection. He could feel Ukyou responding as she paused to take notice through her constant torture. Though still animalistic in nature, he could sense Ukyou grasping onto the connection with savage fury, like someone desperately clinging to a rope while hanging over a huge precipice (like he once did). He gave her a thought, "{MOUKO TAKABISHA!}" and kept repeating the thought. Within a few moments, he could sense the dawning of understanding coming across the link. He could sense Ukyou pulling herself together, and building up for a ki blast. Ranma gave a forced laugh. "{Are you ready, Tori?}" Knowing that Tori already knew what he had planned. "{Ready when you are.}" Tori's voice carried joy with it. It increased Ranma's confidence that he was on the right track. Ranma pulled his cupped hand in front of him and pointed at Ukyou's body. "{NOW!}" He felt Ukyou's surge and could sense an explosion as Syrr was being blown apart. With great determination, Ranma pulled Ukyou through the link and a blast of blue ki shot out from his cupped hands, it hit the suspended body in front of him. "{Well done, Ranma!!!}" said Tori. Ranma ran to the platform and caught Ukyou in his arms at the instant the suspensor field was released by Tori. "AAAAAAAYYYYYYAAHHHHHHH!!!!" Ukyou was screaming at the top of her lungs, and kept screaming and flailing about. Ranma had to finally fall on top of her and hang on for dear life as Ukyou tried to recover from the memories of torture and pain at being consumed by Syrr. Ranma did his best to radiate calm and tranquility while flooding the connection with as much love as he could muster. Slowly, Ukyou grabbed and hugged him in a crushing grasp as she slowly brought her screams to a whimper. Ranma stayed on top of her until she was calm. Now, everything that Tori had taught Ranma, suddenly made sense to him. Tears of joy were streaming in his face as he looked up. "{Tori?}" "{Yes, Ranma?}" "{Thanks!}" There was a pause, and then, "{Sure thing.}" ***** Hawaii, six years later. "We got a letter from Akane!" said Ranma looking up from his desk where he had been sorting the mail. "Oh yeah. How are they doing?" Ukyou called from the restroom. "She says they're doing fine." Ranma reads further. "She says Ryouga is opening a tourist agency. Says their slogan is 'Get lost in a world of luxury`." "Well, I guess he should know." Ukyou giggled walking into the bedroom. Ranma grinned and read further. "She's congratulating us on the birth of our daughter." Ukyou looked over surprised. "News must travel slowly there." Ranma returned her gaze. "Yeah, I guess so." Ranma looked over at Reiko playing in her highchair. Ranma looked back at the letter and started laughing. "Ha! She wondering if we would like to arrange a marriage of our daughter to their son." Ranma and Ukyou looked at each other. "Uh-uh!" they both said in unison, Ukyou shaking her head no. Ukyou started applying sun lotion to herself. Ranma continued, "She says she hasn't heard from Mousse and Shampoo in a while. Last time she heard from them, one of their sons had to get glasses." "Oh, poor thing." Ukyou said applying sun lotion to Reiko's face. "Kasumi's doing fine with..." "Ranma?" Ukyou interrupted slipping into her bikini. "Yeah?" Ranma looked up. "Let's read that later. I want to take a walk on the beach." "Yeah sure." He put down the letter and took another look at her and whistled. "Mm-mmm! You look delicious." said Ranma eyeing her up and down. "I'm almost back to my normal weight now." Ukyou started displaying her figure like she was in a fashion show. "Come here," Ranma said getting up from the desk. He picked Ukyou up and spun her around to the amusement of Reiko, who giggled and clapped her hands softly. They kissed for a moment. "I don't mind being a girl now, Ran-chan," Ukyou said wrapping her arms around his shoulders and looking into his eyes. "Well, I minded being a girl," Ranma responded. Ukyou giggled. "Yeah, but you weren't one originally." "Does that mean you'll let me wear the pants in the family?" "Why yes, Sugar, you wear them so well," said Ukyou giving his muscles a squeeze and embracing him in a hug. Ranma put her down after a moment. "Okay. Let's go!" ***** "Ran-chan?" asked Ukyou walking side-by-side with Ranma in his arm along the shoreline. "Yes, love?" "I think I'm going to open a fifth restaurant right here in Hawaii." "Uc-chan, let's not talk about business now. Let's enjoy the sunrise and the morning." Ukyou brightened. "Okay." She hugged a wrapped Reiko a little closer to her and heard her coo. "{I love you!}" said Ranma. "{Yeah,... I love me, too.}" Ukyou responded. They continued their walk along the quiet beach, the surf ebbing and flowing with the tide. Overhead a kite twists and turns pushed by the morning breeze. Children throw bread crumbs up to waiting seagulls who swoop down and catch them in their beak. A well-tanned man in a fishing hat hunts for treasure with a metal detector. Scoring a hit, he reaches down to dust sand away from a metal chain. At the end of the metal chain is an ordinary-looking green rock. ***** THE END *****