Chapter Fifteen

Ukyo Kuonji stood outside her restaurant and swept the ground with a wicker broom. After she finished and made things neat for tomorrow morning, she went back inside, unknowingly forgetting to lock the door.

She went behind the frying table and had just turned off all the lights when she realized her fault.

She went to lock the door and suddenly noticed a stranger dressed in dark clothing standing outside on the sidewalk where she had just swept. It was dark and she couldn't see his face. She wanted to retire for the evening, but instead fell prey to her nicety business owner instinct to welcome all customers and opened the door. She said, "May I help you?"

But the moment she had said that, the stranger pushed her back and burst through the door. She was knocked off her feet and fell to the floor, landing on her rump. "Ow!" she mouthed.

He stood above her. Ukyo looked at him both confused and angry at what he had done, and at that moment she wished she had her giant spatula because she would give this guy a hard whack across the face for his impertinence. However, the broom she was using to sweep the sidewalk was leaning against the fry table, and it was the only think near by, so she figured she could use that.

She quickly grabbed it and leapt to her feet, twirling it in her hands like a baton. She brought it to within striking distance of the intrusive stranger and swung it at him. But much to her surprise he brought an arm up and blocked her attack, grabbing hold of it with his hand, as if anticipating her response.. She tried to yank it away from him, but his grip on the broom was remarkably strong, so she let go of it. The second she did, the stranger took it in both hands and snapped it in half. Then it magically burst in flames before her very eyes. He dropped them to the floor.

She gasped in disbelief, and then panicked fearing the fire would spread. She thought quickly and went to snatch one of the table clothes off the table to smother the flames. But the stranger quickly grasped her left upper arm and held on tight. "Let it burn," he said. "It's needs redecorating anyway."

Ukyo struggled fiercely against his iron-clad grip, but to no avail. And he began to squeeze harder, hurting her. She felt the pressure increase around her muscle, bruising the tendons. "Let me go, you creep," she growled adamantly. "Can't you see my livelily-hood is on fire!" The stranger didn't seem to care and held on to her tightly as she continued to pull against him.

All of sudden and without warning, much to her surprise, he let go of her, and she dropped to the floor, banging her knees hard. She turned and looked at him bewildered at why he had released her. She rubbed her knees as she stood on her feet. She wanted to ask why, but then returned to her main concern and that was the flames that were creeping across her restaurant floor. She pulled a table cloth off the nearest table and smothered the flames.

After the fire was out, she snapped back to him, giving him a mean look. She was extremely pissed off and wanted to know who this creep was. She snorted angry. "What in the hell did you think you're doing?" she said angry. "Tell me who you are and I'll decide whether or not to beat you to a pulp for this."

"I've come for you, Ukyo Kuonji," the stranger proclaimed. It was then that he flipped back his hood and revealed his identity. "You are the last one I need."

Ukyo's eyes widened with startling shock, and she let out a short gasp. She said, "Ryoga? What the hell do you think you're doing? Ranma will hear about this and then you'll be big trouble."

"I'm counting on it," Ryoga said smirking deviantly.

Ukyo looked at his expression confused, and was unnerved by his response.

"You were nice to me the other day," he said. "What, no friendly greeting for me this time? No free Okonomoyaki? Come to think of it, I am hungry. Doing what I've been doing this night has made me a little parched. Feed me."

Ukyo was taken back by his uncharacteristic behavior. Ryoga was usually so polite and nice, not rude and obtrusive.

"No," she said flatly. "Not until you tell me what's going on with you! You burst in here and nearly set my restaurant on fire. What the--! What really baffles me, however, is how the broom spontaneously caught on fire. How did you--"

"I've come to collect you for my Master's army," he said straightly, avoiding answering the question. "He's in need of your special skills," he continued. "Also, there's an opening in the kitchen that needs to be filled. After I told my Master about how wonderful your Okonomoyaki was, he immediately wanted you."

"I'm not cooking for anyone who sends a messenger and then threats my livelily-hood," she said firmly. "You're not Ryoga. The real Ryoga would never do something like this. He's a kind and gentle person. Who are you?"

"I am Ryoga Hibiki," he said flatly.

Quickly his faced appeared to cringe and he put his hands to his face. He bent over and grunted out loud as if he was in tremendous pain. "No, I am the real Ryoga Hibiki, give me back my body," he then shouted loudly, looking back up at Ukyo. His expression was that of in great pain. "Ukyo, help me! This demon has taken control of my body and if he isn't stopped--Ranma is in terrible danger!"

"Quiet you fool!" Ryoga then said. "She can't help you, no one can."

Ukyo didn't know what to do and just stood there watching this all transpire.

It was then that Ryoga started to calm down. He face returned to normal and the aggravated muscles in his face retreating back behind his skin. He breathed a little heavy after the ordeal, but then eyed Ukyo and chuckled. "So, now you know my little secret," he said. "I had hoped to avoid it, but he continues to surprise even me with these spontaneous outbursts of aggression. However, as he persists he weakens and I get stronger. It doesn't matter anyhow, there's nothing that can save him." He continued, "I've been authorized to take you by force if necessary. My Master is eager to met you and to add you to his army. I hope you'll be more cooperative than the others."

"What others?" Ukyo wondered.

"The Kuno siblings: Takewaki and Kodachi, and those annoying Chinese immigrants: Shampoo and Mousse. They all put up a fierce fight, but in the end, their own arrogance and overbearing confidence in their skills defeated them."

"What did you do to them!" she demanded to know, her hands gripping the table cloth tightly, her nails digging into the fabric. She felt her sharp nails digging into her palms. She was trying to think of a way to use it against him in the most effective way possible, but as of yet nothing had come to mind.

His expression was plain. "They're quite safe, I assure you, better then they're ever been, in fact," he said. "They've become my Master's newest personal army, which you will join, Ukyo. They all enjoy their new position."

"They're slaves," she said straightly.

"Not slaves, but warriors to a greater cause; a worldly cause, and they will be the harbinger of doom for Ranma Saotome and his father."

"What does Ranma have to do with this?" Ukyo asked.

"Everything, but I don't need to explain my Master's reasons to you," Ryoga said. "All will be explained in due course. Fortunately, I can tell you who I am and what my purpose is." He paused for a brief moment, and then spoke. "I am second Seize to my Master, Lord Xi'an, who died at Jusenkyo. I also drowned in one of its deadly springs. I was reborn when my Master was reborn and now I serve him. I have taken this boy's body as a vassel for my consciousness and spirit. I have been charged to gather a powerful army for my master to use to lay seize across the land in this new era. And with these new, young warriors, my Master's victory will be assured. But first, he wants settle a score with the last remaining Saotome clan members, Ranma Saotome and his father."

Ukyo had a thought. "What spring did you fall into?" she asked.

"Of what consequence is it. I'm not afflicted with a curse like Ryoga Hibiki is. I am a non-corporal being inhabiting a corporal being; my body eroded away eons ago and so did whatever curse my body may have contracted. Fortunately, I have learned to control Ryoga's curse and now he no longer changes."

"Ryoga fell into Jusenkyo?" she said with surprise. She didn't know that. She was only aware of Ranma, Shampoo, Mousse and a select other few who had taken the plunge. Ryoga had never advertised he had a curse. But maybe he wanted it that way. Then that would explain a number of things and why he was often afraid of water. "What does Ryoga change into?" she asked.

"I'm getting annoyed," he said in a huff. "He changes into a little black pig," he said with a snort. "But I've nullified his curse with my powers. He should be pleased. He finally got what he's always wanted."

"A little black pig?" she said. She mulled the image over in her mind for a moment and then realized that he could only be referring to... "Akane's pet pig, P-Chan?" she then said, poising it more of an inquiry.

"Correct," the spirit said. "And he sees it as both a curse and a blessing, and it's small price to pay to sleep in Akane Tendo's bed at night. He's never been closer to her. But in his heart he wants to be rid of it, so I made it happen… for a price."

"Yes, his life; and that's not fair!" Ukyo said. "You've already lived, he's still young." Then a thought struck her. "But wait a minute! I may not know a lot about curses, but you can't wipe one out on a whim, it has to be treated. A curse is an unknown spell not bound by the physical laws of the world. You're only masking it."

"Hmpf." He smiled. "For a cook you're pretty smart."

"I'm a cook and a half, and I probably know a lot more than you think."

"You're only partially right, however," he said. "To cast a spell and have it circumvent properly is to bend the physical laws of the world, and the spiritual world is capable of doing this. However, there is another way for a curse to be broken, one where the human psyche plays in bonify part. Ryoga believes his curse could not be cured, but the improbable is only a figment of the mind. The Naniichuan springs constitute a series of curses brought about from thousands of years of suffering, and each one has a cure. But you're right, Ryoga isn't cured, I am merely keeping his curse back. To completely eradicate a curse from the body you must seek a higher source, and Lord Xi'an is that source. Once Ranma and his father are dead, he'll permanently cure this body of that curse."

"And what will you do with Ryoga's spirit?"

"His spiritual presence will be eradicated, of course. Two souls in one body will eventually create an unstable conflict that will drive the host insane. So far I have been able to control Ryoga's presence, but if his spirit isn't dispelled soon, he will go insane, and this body will be useless. But why am I telling you this? You won't be able to help him." He extended a hand in front of him and ripped the table cloth from her hands. Parts of the fabric stayed in her hands, the pieces that she had her hand clenched around. "Time to come with me, Ukyo," he finally said. "The Master is eager to meet you."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Ukyo said, dropping the pieces of fabric. She scooted around the same table she took the table cloth from and pushed it over, to use as a shield. She twisted off one of the legs to use as a possible weapon. However, Ryoga used an invisible force to throw the table aside, exposing her. Ukyo stood there gripping the table leg, ready to fight. She really wished she had her giant spatula, but it was behind the fry table and she wasn't near it. She didn't have a chance without it.

"I notice you don't have your giant spatula," he said. "Where is it?"

"None of your business," Ukyo snapped back at him, unintentionally eyeing the fry table.

Unfortunately, Ryoga saw her gaze, and looked at the fry table. "Ah, so there is it," he said. He extended the other arm towards the fry table, opened his palm upright, and used his power to lift her giant spatula in the air from behind the table. "I've seen, or rather Ryoga has seen you use it. It's quite a formidable weapon." He had it float to him; he grasped the handle. "Yes, a lovely piece of craftsmanship."

Then he threw it to her and Ukyo caught it in her hands.

She looked at him confused. "Why Am I allowing you fight with it, you're probably wondering," he said. "'Cause I hate a one-sided battle, I prefer a challenge and you look like you could provide one."

"You bet your ass I can," Ukyo said confidently, gripping the handle to her giant spatula tightly. "Now that I have my spatula, I'm ready to take you on. And I show no mercy. Ranma can be a testament to that!"

"I know." Ryoga cocked his head slightly to the right. "Show me the power you wield with it, I'm anxious to see first hand your skill," he said, smiling deviously. "This oughta be good."

Ukyo stood her ground and fought valiantly, but she was no match for the supernatural power Ryoga wielded. She fell, and Ryoga carried her over his shoulder, her body limp unconscious, out of the Okonomyaki Restaurant.

Outside, Cologne watched as Ryoga left the Okonomyaki Restaurant with Ukyo in hand. She could only stand back and watch, hiding behind a wall and do nothing. She knew she was no match for Ryoga at this point. He was possessed with a powerful demon and even her skills were inconsequential to that sort of supernatural power.

It was dark and raining, drizzling, and she noticed Ryoga was not changing into a black pig as he got wet. She theorized that the demon was probably using its supernatural abilities to inhibit the curse. But it was only a temporary measure, she knew, because a curse can not be masked forever, it must be treated or it will return. Unfortunately, as legend dictates, if the curse isn't treated soon or allowed to commute, festering in the body--the next time Ryoga changes, it could be permanent, and he will never be human again.

She wondered if the demon knew this.

As Ryoga walked in the rain, she sneaked from building to building following him. But suddenly, in the middle of the street, he stopped, and said, "I know you're following me, Cologne." He turned around. "Better get inside or you're catch your death of cold. You shouldn't be out in this weather."

"Where have you taken Shampoo and the others?" she demanded.

He signed tired, sounding annoyed with her. "You'll find out soon enough," he said. "I'll be in touch. I know you will tell Ranma all he needs to know. I saw you reaction when my Master's name was mentioned in the alleyway. You're familiar with the legend of his death, aren't you?"

Ryoga slowly levitated off the ground and rose in the air, turning around to face her, raising high. "Tell him everything, don't leave anything out," he said, and then floated away from her to disappear in the darkness of the night.

Cologne could easily bring him down with an alternation of the Dragon Spiral, but she didn't want to hurt Ukyo.

She had to find Ranma and fast!

Nabiki had a wild and uncharacteristic thought about her father. There was something that just didn't sit right with her about him. He was acting different. How, she wasn't quite sure, but being the daughter of a martial artist, you kind of get these feelings that tell you something isn't right, and she was getting one of those feelings about him now. But she had to ask herself why.

She wondered if it had anything to do with the other day when she saw Copycat Ken walking on the other side of the street, but if he was up to old tricks, what was he up to? And what would it have to do with her father? But maybe she was just being paranoid with all this Ryoga business, and Kuno and Kodachi suddenly disappearing from their mansion. And then there was Sasuke sleeping in a coma in the tea room. He'd been unconscious for nearly 48 hours.

Ranma had mentioned that Ryoga was somehow involved, but he couldn't be specific--all he had was a gut feeling. Right now, Ranma was walking around town looking for Ryoga in the hope that he hadn't left town yet. If she were him, she'd start with the Hiroshi residence. All these happenings seemed to start ever since he came to town. Though that was her gut feeling only. But she would never publicly advertise that to the family. They'd only say she was jumping to conclusions, and they maybe right.

But she had always very suspicious and cynical of people, it was her nature. Kasumi was the upbeat friendly homemaker, Akane was the angry tom-boy, and she was the analytical opportunist. And if you were an analytical opportunist, you had to determine the best investment to make the most money. But with a talent like that came a calculating mind where you had to read people and their character. Character was just as important as making the best investment. And she used her expertise to read her father's actions and determine he was acting strangely.

Presently he was upstairs sleeping. But that was strange because it was early in the evening and he didn't normally go to bed this early. She had been watching him all evening ever since he had come back from talking to Oro Hiroshi and announcing that he would be renting their dojo to him for the next couple of weeks while the Hiroshi Dojo was being repaired after Ryoga destroyed it.

That was another thing. She had been thinking about how Ryoga managed to destroy Hiroshi's Dojo all by himself.

She knew Ryoga had his Lion Roar Shot. While it was very powerful in its own rite, Ryoga was smart enough not to use that technique indoors. It was very strange he chose to use it inside Oro Hiroshi's dojo. He should've known such a powerful blast would destroy the building. He wasn't the brightest guy, but he wouldn't be that stupid!

She decided to conduct an investigation of her own and peak in on her father to see if he was actually in his room. So, she crept upstairs and opened his bedroom door. The room was completely dark. "Dad?" she softly called out. But he never answered. However, out of the corner of her eye, she did witness a glimpse of a shadowy figure jet across the curtained window in the back.

She took a step inside and turned on the lights. But to her surprise, there wasn't anyone here. She went in further and had a closer look around. Suddenly the door slammed behind her and she jerked around to see her father standing there. "Nabiki, what are you doing here?" he asked her.

"I came to see if you were alright," she replied. "You went to bed early and I thought you may be sick."

Soun Tendo smiled at his daughter. "Nice of you to care about your father, but I'm feeling fine," he said. "I came up for a little nap because I was feeling tired. Remember, I went to see Oro Hiroshi earlier today and the walk was a little tiresome. But your father is fine… I'm fine, Nabiki. Don't worry."

"Is something going on?" she asked him out straight.

"What do you mean?" he said.

"You're acting very strange. Earlier you were cursing about Oro Hiroshi and his dojo stealing business away from us, now you allow him to borrow our dojo, while his is in repair? Don't you think that's sorta strange?"

Soun Tendo looked at his daughter with an expression of confusion, and then smiled blankly. "I don't understand what you mean, I made a deal with Oro Hiroshi for use of our dojo, and he'll pay us, too. I think it's an equitable exchange. You're the innovative, opportunistic one in the family, Nabiki, you should know a good business deal when you see one."

"You're right," she said. "Oro Hiroshi gets what he wants and we earn a little money to pay off your financial debts. However, aren't you worried about the reputation of the Tendo Dojo? Our family is well known in Nerima. It may be okay for now, father, but the idea falters in the long run, don't you see? It hurts our notoriety."

"What would you have me do, then honey?" Soun Tendo's expression turned sour. "I'm surprised you don't see how much this helps me. You kids obviously don't care enough about me to get jobs to help pay the bills, so I had to do something to save this place. I think your mother would have approved."

"But I have been helping, daddy," Nabiki said, taken back by her father's comment. Don't care? How could he say something like that? Her father would never say something totally mean like that. "I've been collecting money from some of my usual sources and I have nearly 10,000 yen for you."

Soun Tendo's face lit up with elation, and he then said, "10,000 yen?" He grinned happily. "How on earth did you manage to get all that money, Nabiki-dear?"

"I'd rather not expose my sources," she said. "But it's all legitimate--honest, daddy!"

He continued to smile with a big grin. "I believe you," he said. "You wouldn't do anything dishonest." He opened the door and that was obviously Nabiki's cue to leave. "Don't worry about me, and thank you for going to so much effort. I'm sure the 10,000 yen will go a long way with the money Oro Hiroshi is giving me."

He proceeded to smile big as she made her way out of her father's room.

But she was still bothered. She turned back to him, and said, "By the way, who really destroyed the Hiroshi Dojo? I've been mulling it in my mind, and Ryoga wouldn't be that stupid to perform the Lion Roar Shot indoors. There had to be an outside factor. He had to have been fighting someone to muster than much power to perform the technique."

Soun Tendo then looked at his daughter with an unpleased expression. "And why do you think that?" he said. "Ryoga even admitted to his illicitness."

"I don't know," she said inquisitively. "I just think there's more to it than meets the eye."

"And who have you said this to?"

"No one," Nabiki said. "But I kind of gather you know more than you're telling us, daddy." She said "daddy" with an accusatory tone.

"How dare you say this about your father," Soun Tendo said angry.

"I would never accuse my father of any malice behavior. But, of course, you're not my father, are you," she said.

Soun Tendo gave her a look of shock and wonder. Then he sighed with a smirk. He grabbed her left arm and yanked her back into the room, shutting the door. Copycat Ken reverted back to his natural form, whipping out a cape and twirling it around himself. "What gave me away?" he said to her. Releasing her; she stepped away.

"A daughter's love of her father and a woman's intuition," she flatly said. "Also, from the view of a business woman, it was such a shotty deal. So, where's my father? And what do you have to do with the Hiroshi Dojo?"

"Direct, aren't you?" he said.

"It's my modus operandi," she said. "I have a duty to get the truth. I'm a business woman."

"He's perfectly safe. No harm has come to him--well, not yet. Hiroshi is holding him with the others."

"What others? And what did you do to poor Ryoga to make him act like he is?"

Copycat Ken crossed his arms across his chest, smiling smug. "Well, if I told you everything that'll ruin all the fun, wouldn't it? Hiroshi has big plans for Ranma Saotome and his father, but I'm afraid he can't know that, not just yet. You've ruined my little masquerade. I can't stay here now as Soun Tendo without questions being asked, so I'm gonna hafto leave… and I'm taking you with me. The time is at hand."

And he grabbed her arm. Nabiki screamed.

Ranma returned home after a futile search for Ryoga. He was tired, but his mind was racing with unanswered questions. And one of the questions that topped the list was why would Ryoga attack the Kuno mansion and kidnap Kuno and Kodachi.

He was slipping off his shoes in the front hall when he heard a loud scream come from upstairs. He jumped into action and leapt the entire distance to the landing and then jumped over the banister to the second floor.

Akane burst out of her bedroom where she was doing homework and stood next to Ranma as he stood outside her door, she also heard the scream.

"It wasn't you?" Ranma questioned.

"No," she said. "It sounded like it came from dad's room."

Ranma ran to Soun Tendo's room and smashed through the door, breaking the hinges, but when he entered there was no one there. However, when he looked around the room the window was open; a breeze was blowing the curtains in a westward direction. He went to the window and looked out and saw a figure carrying another figure in his arms running down the street.

He bounded back down the stairs and ran out the front door to the street beyond, skidding to a halt on the sidewalk. He quickly surveyed the area, but couldn't see any sign of the shadowy figures.

Akane came running out of the house. "Ranma!" she shouted out to him. "Dad and Nabiki are gone!"

"They've been taken," a familiar voice said. Ranma jerked startled as Cologne suddenly appeared in front of him. "Copycat Ken just ran off with Nabiki, and Soun Tendo is locked away."

"What are you doing here, old ghoul?"

They went inside, and Kasumi made her a cup of tea. "Copycat Ken and Ryoga are working together under the influence of a demon known as Xi'an, the son of a powerful Warlord from the Futile Era, who tried to overthrow an Emperor of that time," she started to explain as they sat around the tea table. "He's out for revenge and he won't stop until his blood thirst is quenched. What he's been doing is only a precursor of what is to come. He's been building an army and he plans to unleash it after he kills you and your father. Where is your father, by the way?"

"He's working late at Dr. Tofu's clinic tonight," Ranma said.

"He's in great danger, you must get to him before they do," Cologne said.

"What's all this about, old ghoul," Ranma said. "I want answers now. Alotta strange things have been happening around here and I have a sneaking suspicion you know something about'em."

"Ryoga's taken Shampoo, Mousse and Ukyo," she added.

"What!" Ranma said outraged. "How; when?"

And she explained the circumstances of each of their abduction. And when she told the story, Ranma, Akane and Kasumi were shocked and dumbfounded that Ryoga and Copycat Ken would do such a thing. "As I explained earlier, they're both under the influence of Xi'an, and he won't be satisfied until you and your father pay for something done by one of your ancient ancestors to his family."

"Which ancestor, and what did he do that would cause this Xi'an person to hate Ranma and his father so intently?" Akane asked. Ranma had idled on the same question, but Akane got to ask it first.

"Who is this Xi'an character anyway?" Ranma added.

"Evil, pure evil," she said, then went on to explain further.

To be continued...