Obligatory Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma or the game this fic is based on

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Akane stopped dead as she entered the Terminal Room. After She, Ranma, and Ranko had made their way back down the Obelisk, they had headed back to find Nabiki.

Nabiki, however, looked horrible. Her hair was rumpled, the bags under her eyes suggested she hadn't slept, and she smelled rather bad.

"Nabiki… what happened to you?"

Nabiki gave her sister a wan smile. "I didn't sleep. I've been learning too much from this Terminal. It's probably the first time I've been so enthusiastic about this kind of thing…"

They don't need to know, Nabiki thought to herself, that I've been fighting Ryoga for control of the Terminals.

Akane grinned inwardly. She was going to enjoy this. "Well, then, do you know what happened at the top of the Obelisk?"

Nabiki looked confused. "No, why?"

Allowing a smile to slid across her face, Akane stepped aside, allowing Nabiki to see what was behind her.

Nabiki saw Ranma standing next to his female form. Both next to each other.

WHAM.

Ranko and Ranma stared at Nabiki's prone form. They said in eerie unison "That went well."

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One Quick Resuscitation and an Explanation Later…

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"She was called Aradia?" Nabiki asked. The three nodded.

"I've heard about her through the Amala Network. She's the Goddess of Freedom, worshipped by witches and wiccas hundreds of years ago."

Ranko quirked an eyebrow. "Then doesn't that mean she's evil?"

Nabiki shook her head. "Today's perception of witches is an evil old crone, but that's just not true. They were normal women who were persecuted for their beliefs, which happened to be different from usual belief. Human nature fears what is different, so the Catholic Church published the Malleus Maleficarum, and the Salem Witch Hunts began. With her followers gone, Aradia had to flee."

Nabiki paused her eyes downcast. The she straightened up. "Getting off that subject, I've got some good news: While you were gone I learned that the Manikins are rebuilding the city of Asakusa. They're planning to live there. I can take you there if you want."

There was no hesitation; Akane, Ranko and Ranma all nodded. "I mean, I wouldn't mind going there. Akane probably wants to see Kasumi again." Ranma added.

Nabiki, Ranko, and Akane all stared at Ranma for this sudden bout of generosity.

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Hikawa paced furiously. He had sensed when the Hellfire System was shut down. That clearly meant that the Moirae Sisters had failed in what he had ordered them to do. One thing was sure, however: if they were still alive, they would die a very painful death.

Mousse stood by the door quietly. He had never seen Hikawa so worked up before. Then again, he had never seen Hikawa express any emotion whatsoever before. Not that Mousse could blame him. Hikawa had worked for ages on perfecting the Hellfire System, only to have it wrenched from his grasp. Twice in the past half hour, Hikawa had ordered a Shijima Follower into the room just so he could kill him.

"Commander! Commander!"

Mousse's attention was drawn by the sound of hurried footsteps in the corridor outside. The doors burst open as a demon in grey armor dashed breathlessly in.

"Commander Hikawa sir-"

Hikawa wheeled violently. "What?"

The demon gulped, then continued. "There's trouble in the floors below, sir! We're under attack!"

Hikawa clenched his teeth. "By whom?"

"The guards say it's a child, sir! In a yellow dress! She's cutting us down like dominoes! We're being slaughtered, sir!"

Hikawa's eyes blinked, then widened in comprehension. Unable to control his fury, he raised his pendant, sending an electrical spell into the demons metal armor, killing it instantly.

Hikawa knew who was coming for him. And he knew she would probably kill him.

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Ranma was surprised. He hadn't really expected much from the Manikins, but he was once again proven wrong. The Manikins seemed to be doing quite well for themselves. New Asakusa was a living, thriving city full of shops, buildings, even what looked like a Church. Ranma even heard talk of a Manikin Holy Land, Mifunashiro, in the center of New Asakusa.

Hundreds of brown-robed Manikins went about doing their daily business. Some recognized Ranma and Akane from the Ginza Underpass.

Akane had gone out and found Kasumi and Dr. Tofu and bought them to Nabiki. As the two reunited sisters caught up, Ranma and Ranko stood to the side.

Ranko watched Ranma out of the corner of her eye. He had been staring at Akane for the past five minutes. Ranko turned her head toward Ranma. "Did you really decide to come here so Akane could see Kasumi again?"

Ranma looked rather awkward. "Yeah. I did."

"Hm."

There was more silence between the two. Ranko spoke again, whispering this time. "Do you love her?"

Ranma sputtered in shock. "What?? I-"

Ranko smiled. "It's okay, Ranma. I'm you, you can tell me."

Ranma sighed. "Honestly, Ranko, I don't know. Sometimes I want to hug her, and sometimes I want to kill her. I really don't know."

Ranko gave him a small pat on the shoulder. "I won't say anything."

Ranma smiled. "Thanks."

Folding his arms, he turned his head back to gaze at Akane. Had he kept looking at Ranko, he would have seen her sigh, and turn to look at the ground. Her eyes were downcast.

Kasumi smiled. "Everyone, Tofu and I have some news for you." Grinning, she and Dr. Tofu held up their left hands. A ring glittered on each of their second fingers.

Nabiki yelped. "You finally proposed??"

Tofu grinned sheepishly, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Just last night. Being reincarnated as a Manikin seems to have cured me of my Kasumi-fits."

Akane beamed. "Congratulations, you two."

Ranma and Ranko grinned. "It's about time."

Any further conversation was cut off by the Terminal door opening. A Manikin with grey hair entered. He quickly crossed the room, then leaned in and whispered something in Tofu's ear.

Tofu listened carefully, then straightened up. He's just informed me that the Leader of the Manikins has learned of your arrival, and wants to see you. He is waiting in our holy land, Mifunashiro."

The four travelers blinked. "Okay." They started to the door. The grey-haired Manikin held Nabiki back. "He has not asked for you. I am ordered to escort the martial artists, and I can tell by your physique you do not practice the art."

Akane glared at him. "Come on, let her come."

The grey-haired Manikin shook his head. "I have my orders."

Nabiki nodded. "It's okay, guys. I want to stay here and learn more through the Terminals anyway."

Akane nodded slowly. "Alright, Nabiki."

Kasumi headed back to her and Tofu's shared house as Tofu led Ranko, Akane, and Ranma through New Asakusa.

Akane whispered to her two friends "I'm a bit worried about Nabiki."

"What do you mean?"

"I think she's using those Terminals too much. You heard her, she's not even sleeping. It just doesn't seem healthy."

Ranko nodded her agreement.

They soon came to a huge, round door, which they entered. The three gaped in awe.

They had entered a huge, cool entrance hall. Blue columns lined the walls, which were carved beautiful, artistic bulges. Spirit wards hung from ropes stretched between the columns. It was a beautiful room.

Futomimi, the psychic Manikin they had met at Kabukicho, was waiting in front of a column. Giving them a small nod and a smile, he fell into line with them.

Futomimi and Tofu flanking them, they approached another large circular door. They stopped before it. The door quietly slid opened, revealing the Leader of the Manikins behind it.

Ranma was struck dumb. The Leader was not a Manikin, like he imagined.

Nabiki was wrong. She wasn't the only human to survive both the Conception and the demons. There was another. He was standing before Ranma. And it was someone he knew quite wel.

"Herb?"

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In the Amala Manual Network, Ryoga wandered aimlessly. The Manual Network was a system of mazes, so Ryoga was right at home with his sense of direction.

The walls appeared to be made of gold. Magatsuhi flowed along the passages above him, just out of reach.

Ryoga knew that he had gone crazy. But he wasn't alone. He thought back to just after the Conception. After leaving the hospital a thousand years ago, he saw a survivor running through the streets, screaming 'Good Food, Good Meat, Good God, Let's Eat' at the top of his lungs. They were both crazy.

Ryoga laughed, a low, humorless ha. "Good God Let's Eat." He mumbled to himself.

Opening another door, Ryoga stopped.

He had found was he was looking for.

At first glance, it appeared that the room was full of sand. The Magatsuhi flowing through the Manual Network had gathered here, in such a large quantity that it had clotted, and solidified, creating huge piles of red sand. Solid Magatsuhi.

Dropping his umbrella to his side, Ryoga remembered what he had learned. One had to ingest Magatsuhi into their body in order to start a Reason.

Ryoga knew he was one step closer to his Creation.

"Good God Let's Eat" he said again, and began to shovel sand into his mouth.

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Brr. I think that was some of the creepiest stuff I've ever written. I think I may have overshadowed the Manikin Leader's Identity with that bit with Ryoga.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Good Kwanza, and all the rest to you all!