Rain
Part 4
The first day, of the last day of my life.
++++++++++++
Blackness. It surrounded him, stretching far out across the
endless void. He simply stared out into it, not bothering to turn his
head, knowing that no matter where he looked, it would be the same.
"What is this? Where am I?"
"The beginning, or the end. It is the same," said a quiet voice
from behind him.
He didn't bother looking back, unsure of why.
"Because you are not yet ready. You will be, very soon," said the
voice in answer to his question.
"Why am I here?"
"Because I willed it," replied the voice. "Perhaps there is a
deeper answer to that, but it is enough for now."
He found himself nodding.
"They are waiting for you, those you left behind," said the voice
gently. It was almost a whisper, seeming to float by him on the wind.
But there was no wind, and he knew that. There was only him and
nothing. The voice didn't even have substance too it, and came out of
the nothing.
"Who are they?"
"Old friends, long forgotten, lovers, rivals, enemies. You are
about too enter a world where only you do not remember who you truly
are," whispered the voice.
"But, I don't want too know me," he said with a slight anger in
his voice.
"You don't want to know? Or you are afraid to know? Think
carefully," said the voice.
"I'm... afraid," he replied simply. That couldn't be right though,
he feared nothing. Or perhaps it was the nothing he feared?
"Everyone knows fear, your heart has a place for it just as it has
a place for love. Perhaps that is what you fear?"
"It couldn't be," he said to himself as he closed his eyes.
Nothing changed when he did. It was exactly the same as looking out
into the endless void.
"That is for you to find for yourself," said the voice as it faded
away.
"What is it I'm afraid of?" he asked himself.
An image formed in the back of his mind, a woman, her identity
blurred by an impossible span of time, more than should be possible.
He could tell she was beautiful, more so than any woman or goddess he
had ever seen. "Who are you?" he muttered.
"Forget about her," said a new voice from the darkness.
He opened his eyes and stared at the woman who stood before him,
clothed in the darkness. "Mara."
"I'm more real, I am not a phantom. I do not deny my love," she
said as she reached for him. "Come with me! Stay with me, you told me
we would always be together!"
He frowned, staring her dead in the face. "I never told you that
demon!"
Mara floated back slightly, as if she had been struck. He looked
down and saw an aura surrounding his body, burning as brightly as a
sun in the pitch blackness. "In a way, she has..." he muttered
quietly.
"I don't want too lose you again!" she cried. Tears floated off of
her cheeks, drifting away through the darkness and sparkling in the
light he gave off.
"You lost me when you betrayed me, when you lied too me," he
snapped as he glared at her.
"I had too! You think I had a choice?" she said bitterly. "You
don't know what it's like for me!"
"That is why we can never be together," he said with his face
softening slightly. "Stop this, I'll never come too you. Forget about
me."
"I can't! Damn you!" she screamed as she glared at him angrily. "I
love you! More than she ever did! Do you think she even thinks of you
anymore? She's forgotten!"
"I know that isn't true," he replied calmly. "You've always had
trouble telling the truth Mara, but you aren't very good at lying.
Being a demon doesn't suit you."
She turned her back on him, frustration clear on her features.
"What would you know?"
"Stop trying to tempt me, go away. Let me remember what I need
too," he said gently.
"What makes you think you're the one being tempted?" she said
without turning back to look at him. Then she faded into the darkness
again.
He frowned at that, but remained silent as he watched her vanish.
A few of her tears floated by, still sparkling despite the fact there
was no more light coming from his body. He hung his head, and looked
down at his hands for a moment. "What am I? Who am I? Who was that
girl?" The image returned too his head again, slower this time. It
started to become more clear, he could make out her gentle smile, and
the curve of her neck, the way her hair fell around her neck. Things
he'd once known better than he knew his own body.
+++++++++++++
Ranma Saotome sat up in bed; he gasped for breath and shook his
head for a moment. He quietly uttered a name, and froze in surprise.
"Who is..." He frowned as he found he couldn't even remember what he
had said a few seconds before. "Damn these stupid dreams." He grunted
in frustration and looked outside. The sun had not yet risen. He
cursed and got up from his futon.
+++++++++++++
"Ranma? What are you doing up so early?" asked Kasumi as she
looked at the boy.
"Huh?" He blinked at her and smiled. "Nothing, I just woke up a
little early today, that's all. I thought I'd go practice."
"Oh. Well, breakfast isn't for a few more hours," said the girl
sweetly. "I could call you then."
"Thanks," he said as he walked by.
"Oh my," said Kasumi as he strolled out towards the dojo. In the
whole time he'd been here, she'd never once seen him smile like that.
It looked so honest, and genuine.
+++++++++++
Keiichi Morisato lay awake in his futon. He stared up at the wall
in frustration, sprawled out across the mat. He turned his head in
either direction, glaring at the two gods snoring next to him. "Why?
Why can't I live in a normal house?"
Raiden and Fujin were both going at it like a pair of dueling
chainsaws. Nodoka, or rather Yamma, had forbid them from sleeping near
the Tendo home. They didn't feel like sleeping in the streets, so the
only place left was here.
Urd had been surprisingly indifferent about the matter when they
announced it. Skuld didn't seem to mind, and she remained silent.
Belldandy just smiled cheerfully and said something about finding some
extra futons.
Keiichi was another matter. He had fallen face first onto the
table, muttering about more freeloaders. The rest of the evening he'd
acted as if they had invited the lords of hell themselves to stay for
the night. There wasn't much he could do about it, so he simply
grumbled and sulked alone.
+++++++++++
A few hours later, Raiden and Fujin stood out on the porch with
Keiichi. They were both grinning too themselves. They were once again
in their older looking forms, as they always were when visiting the
home.
"Did you two sleep well?" he asked irritably.
"Yup," said Raiden cheerfully.
"You should feel honored, sleeping in the same room as two gods,"
agreed Fujin.
"Honor won't help me with my test today," he muttered sleepily as
he staggered away.
"Maybe we should do something for him?" asked Fujin.
"Okay," agreed Raiden. He looked up, and a lightning bolt slammed
into the ground in the direction the boy had wandered. Keiichi's
surprised scream echoed throughout the home. "There, that should wake
him up."
"Isn't it a little early for this crap?" grumbled Urd as she
staggered out of her room and glared at them.
"Hey, I thought you were playing high school girl today?"
commented Fujin when he noticed her adult body.
"Gah! You're right! I'm gonna be late!" cried the goddess as she
scrambled back into her room.
"Typical," snorted Raiden.
Skuld wandered out as well. "She better not be breaking Banpei
again!" she muttered to herself. She blinked when she saw the two gods
standing outside her room. "Oh. Hi."
"Well, how are you today?" said Raiden cheerfully.
"Fine I guess, have you seen Urd? I can't find Banpei," said the
young goddess irritably.
"Banpei?" said Fujin in confusion.
"Yeah! He's my robot! You wanna see him?" said the girl excitedly.
"Sure," said the pair with a shrug.
+++++++++++++
Keiichi was still lying on the ground with a look of surprise on
his face. He twitched every so often and stared up at nothing. Skuld
rounded the corner and saw him, and the scattered remains of her
beloved robot. "Oh no! What have you done to Banpei!?"
The boy was in no condition to answer her, he simply continued to
stare up at the ceiling.
Raiden cringed when he saw the pieces of the robot lying around.
"Oops."
Fujin merely chuckled too himself for a moment.
Skuld was standing over Keiichi with her debugger hefted over her
head. "What have you got to say for yourself?"
"Man, she's pretty mad," commented Raiden.
"Well, we wouldn't be lying if we didn't say anything," commented
Fujin.
"Right. Silence is our best option.
"Oh my! Skuld! Don't do that! I'm sure it was an accident!" said
Belldandy as she rushed up to the girl's side and dropped the clothes
she had been hanging out to dry too the ground.
Raiden sighed and hung his head as he walked over too the scene.
"I'm sure you can have all kinds of fun rebuilding...whatever that
was," he said as he put his hand on her shoulder.
Skuld looked up at him and smiled. "You're right!" She put her
debugger away and rushed off too her room, with the remains of the
robot in her grasp.
Raiden nodded and turned away, a sick look apparent on his face.
"Man, it still bugs me when I have to do stuff like that."
"Tell me about it," agreed Fujin.
They both started towards the gates of the home.
"Oh? Are you two leaving?" asked Belldandy as she pulled the
fallen Keiichi into her lap.
"Yeah, we aren't sure how long we have to be here," said Raiden
with a shrug. "We'll probably be back again tonight. That stuck up
witch won't let us near him yet."
"Huh?" said Belldandy in confusion.
Fujin glared at his brother and smacked him upside his head.
"Dope!"
Raiden blinked and looked at his brother for a moment. "Never mind
Bell, we'll see you later."
"Okay," said the goddess cheerfully.
++++++++++++
"Witch?" snapped Nodoka irritably as she clenched her teacup
tightly in her grasp. "When I get my hands on those two..."
Genma approached her carefully. "Um, are you all right dear?"
The woman blinked and looked up at him for a moment. "I'm fine
dear. Why don't you go play Shogi, instead of doing something useful
around the house."
Genma nodded and immediately did so.
Nodoka sighed as she watched him leave. She rested her head in her
palm and grasped the Katana that lay at her side. Even after all this
time, the man still ignored any possible intelligence that was hidden
in the deep and dark reaches of his mind.
Ranma stepped out of the dojo and walked into the house. "Stupid
Tomboy," he grumbled as he walked by her.
"Are you all right son?" she asked him.
He paused and looked at her for a moment. "It's nuthin, mom. Just
that Akane wanted to spar again."
"It isn't fair for you to fight her," said the woman calmly.
"Yeah, I know, but she keeps tryin," he said with a sigh as he
hung his head.
"She likes you," said the woman calmly.
"Can't tell," muttered the boy irritably.
"I think you can, but something about that bothers you," said the
woman calmly.
"Huh?" said Ranma dumbly as he looked up at her.
Nodoka looked at him and blushed for a moment in surprise. A
mindless smile formed on her face. "Ranma. Why don't you go out there
and speak with her. I'm getting old you know, and I'd really like a
grandchild before I die."
"Old?" said Ranma dumbly. "You look the same as the day you
married Pop. Why is that anyway?"
Nodoka's smile faltered a bit. He seemed to conveniently forget
that he hadn't been born yet when that happened. There were no photos
of the wedding either. "The women in our family always age well." Not
quite a lie either. Her smile broadened as she looked at him for a
moment.
"Oh." The boy stood up and walked away.
+++++++++++++
"Come on you jerk! We're late!" snapped Akane as she walked along
side the casually strolling Ranma. "What is with you today! It's going
to rain soon, you should be in a hurry!"
Ranma looked up, the sky was indeed overcast with clouds now. He
turned and smiled at Akane. "Not till around ten or so."
"What is with you? You've been acting weird ever since those two
guys showed up!" said Akane as she stopped suddenly and looked at him.
He'd been more cheerful today than she'd ever seen him.
"I dunno, I just think today is gonna be a good day."
"Outa my way! I'm late!"
Akane looked around in confusion, not certain of where the sound
had come from.
Ranma was staring at a small store, his eyes wide with shock as a
young girl with white hair burst through the door and rushed out into
the street. It was a small electronics store. "I coulda swore she came
outa..."
That was when she ran right into him, and they both landed on the
ground. A surprising feat, considering that he was standing on the
fence.
"Ranma, who is this?" said Akane as she looked down at the scene
with a dark looking frown.
The girl was lying on top of him, sprawled out across his chest.
He was merely frozen in shock, unsure of what had just happened.
The girl stood up calmly, and dusted her school dress off. "Sorry
about that."
"Well?" snapped Akane as she looked at her fiancee with a slowly
growing anger.
"How the heck should I know? I've never...Urd right?" Ranma looked
at her and blinked. Recognition flashing across his face.
This time it was the girl's turn to freeze in shock. "Um...you
know me?"
"Huh? I dunno," said the boy as he scratched the back of his head
for a moment.
"I knew it!" snapped Akane bitterly. "You jerk!"
"Huh? Come on Akane, I ain't doin nuthin! She just ran into me!"
snapped the boy as he flicked his ponytail over his shoulder in a
slightly frustrated gesture.
"Shut up," said Urd as she pushed herself between the pair for a
moment. "How do you know my name?"
"Who are you again?" said Ranma as he blinked and looked at her
dumbly.
"Urd! You just said it!" snapped the goddess angrily as she pulled
him closer to her face by his collar.
"Oh. Um, look I ain't sure. It's been kinda weird for me the last
couple a days or so," said the boy nervously.
"Who the heck are you anyway? What do you want with Ranma?" said
Akane irritably as she glared at the new girl for a moment.
"Want? What would I want with him?" said Urd as she glanced at the
girl.
Akane paused and looked at her for a moment. "What?"
"Ack! I'm late!" cried Urd as she dropped the boy and ran towards
the school.
"Hey. She's goin towards Furinkan," commented Ranma as he watched
the girl run off.
Akane elbowed him in his gut and frowned. "She's probably just a
new student. Come on."
"Oh," said Ranma as he started walking again. "Who was that?" he
wondered to himself as he walked along. "More importantly, how did I
know her name?" His smile turned into a frustrated looking frown.
++++++++++++
Urd giggled to herself as she strolled into the gates of Furinkan.
"That should start things going!" she said to herself happily. Ranma
hadn't noticed her slip that potion onto his skin when she landed on
him. In an hour or two, he'd be very active. He'd fight it at first,
but soon his passion would overwhelm him in the end. Her triumphant
smile quickly faded away though as she suddenly remembered that he had
called her by name. "How did he know that?" She turned her gaze back
to the gates, just as the pair walked in. "Who is this guy?"
+++++++++++++
Urd stood in front of the class and bowed deeply, exposing a good
portion of her chest to the boys in the room. "Hiya! I'm Urd! Nice ta
meet ya!"
Every boy in the class leaned forward, causing a collective groan
of the desk creaking as they did so.
"You'd better not be being naughty!" cried Hinako as she glared at
them.
Ranma and the other boys quickly sat back in their chairs again.
The pony tailed boy felt something slam into the back of his head. He
glanced down at the floor, taking note of where the new girl was
sitting as he did so. His eyes went wide as he saw Akane's notebook on
the ground. He picked it up and opened it to the first page.
"Pervert! What the hell are you looking at!?" said the first line.
The rest of the book was covered in a large and crude drawing of her
with a gigantic mallet, and a tiny flattened little him. He swallowed
and turned back to look at her and give the notebook back. He almost
jumped out of his seat when he saw her entire body glowing blue, and
the glare that was directed at him. He quickly turned away and sank
into his seat.
"Great," he muttered. He wiped his forehead off, he wasn't sure
why, but he was starting to feel pretty warm. The fact that Akane was
feeling a little cranky didn't help much either. Hinako was writing
something on the board, and he found his eyes drawn too her behind for
some odd reason. He quickly shook his head rather violently. "What the
hell am I thinking? She's not even a grown up right now!" The image of
the full-grown Hinako, completely in the nude suddenly popped into his
head, and he was suddenly feeling very light headed. That was around
the time he noticed something beginning to stir inside his pants. "Oh
man! Not now!" he said quietly. He desperately tried to think of
something else, and the image of Akane in the nude, just as she had
looked on his first day at the Tendo home appeared. The situation was
not getting any better. In fact, he was now fully aroused.
He opened his eyes again, and saw Miss Hinako was looking directly
at him. "Huh?" He realized that she had asked him a question and
stammered for a moment. "I uhh...I wasn't sleepin..."
"I'm glad to hear that Mr. Saotome, now if you would be so kind as
to come up to the chalkboard and finish this problem for me," said the
girl as she tapped her foot impatiently.
Ranma turned completely red and stared at her in horror. After a
moment he started to rise too his feet, he quickly changed his mind
and sat back down again. "No. I think I'll just sit here thanks," he
squeaked.
Hinako narrowed her eyes at him. "I really think you should do it
Mr. Saotome."
"No. I really think I should stay sitting here," replied the boy.
His voice was wavering slightly, and he realized that he now had the
attention of everyone in the class.
Urd was watching the scene with her hand over her mouth. This had
to be the funniest thing she'd ever seen. She hadn't meant for the boy
to become embarrassed. After all, she was just trying to get him in
touch with his true feelings a little easier. Now he had found himself
trapped in a messy situation. She turned her gaze towards the angry
girl and smirked. All that remained was to find something too get her
ready for him to express himself too her. "I think I've got just the
thing," she said to herself quietly.
+++++++++++++
It was lunch-time at Furinkan, and Ranma was still feeling warm.
Luckily, the effects had worn out a little, and whatever it was wasn't
quite so apparent from the outside anymore.
"I said, what did you do too me?" snapped Ranma angrily.
Shampoo was standing in front of him, with a confused looking
frown on her face. "Shampoo not know what talking!"
"Damn it Shampoo! You're the only one who does stuff like this to
me!"
"Maybe Great Grandmother know? Tell Shampoo what happen," said the
girl diplomatically.
"I..." Ranma froze as he realized what he was about to tell her.
"It's nuthin, just forget about it." He turned away and walked off
with his hands in his pockets.
"Okay! Ranma want Shampoo ramen?"
"Do I want your what?" said the boy dumbly as he turned to look at
her.
"Ramen? Noodle, pork, hot water, spice," said the girl as she held
the bowl forward.
"Oh. No thanks. I'm not feelin too good," said the boy as he shook
his head.
"Ranma is sick? Maybe Shampoo nurse back to health!" squealed the
girl excitedly.
The boy forced himself to look away as she jumped up and down. He
staggered slightly and clutched his forehead as he leaned against the
tree and slowly sat down.
++++++++++++++
"No! Get away from him you bimbo!" snarled Urd from her place in
the bushes nearby. She clenched her fist angrily and growled. "She's
going to ruin everything. I've got to do something." She stood up and
puffed out her chest, walking into the open.
Shampoo turned and looked at her for a moment. "Who you is?"
"I'm Urd, can I talk with you?" she said cheerfully. "It'll just
take a second."
"Shampoo busy right now," snorted the Chinese girl as she turned
her attention to the rather zoned out looking Ranma.
"But I..." Urd was cut off as a new person appeared in front of
them.
"Saotome! I find you at last!" Kuno rushed forward and stood
proudly in front of the boy.
"Huh?" muttered the boy halfheartedly as he looked up at him.
"I have come to free the lovely Akane Tendo from your vicious
grasp! Have at th..." Kuno was cut off as he noticed Urd standing with
Shampoo. "Who?"
"Um, hi," said Urd as she noticed the gaze she was getting. She
stepped back nervously.
"Who is this goddess?" said Kuno as he fell too his knees and
dropped his boken.
"Wha?" said Urd in shock. "How did you know that?"
Fortunately, no one seemed to notice.
"Go way stupid girl!" said Shampoo.
"Ngh?" muttered Ranma incoherently as he fixed his gaze on
Shampoo's chest.
"This vision of light has entered my greatness from the darkness!
Come into my arms, for I, the great Tatewaki Kuno shall, whose name
has no doubt been the focus of your heart from afar, shall date with
you!" The older boy grabbed Urd in a rough hug.
"Hey!" she cried angrily.
"Aiya! How cute!" exclaimed Shampoo.
Ranma merely nodded and looked up at the pair for a moment. "Get
your hands off of her Kuno." His face suddenly became very clear, and
he stood up, casually pushing Shampoo out of the way. "Right now."
"So, you dare to interfere vile sorcerer?" snapped Kuno angrily.
"Do as I say, or you won't live to regret it," said Ranma as he
stepped forward and cracked his knuckles.
Urd just looked confused, and no longer seemed to notice the boy
with his arms around her. "What the?"
"Very well! My dear, I shall return your embrace posthaste, but
first I must dispatch this villain!" said Kuno as he picked up his
boken and pointed it at Ranma.
Ranma moved like no one had ever seen him move before. Before
anyone could blink, Kuno was sprawled out across the ground with fist-
prints on several places along his face and chest. Ranma merely stood
over him, glaring down angrily.
Urd looked at him and smiled. "You didn't have too do that."
"It's all right, Akane and I can handle ourselves, but when he
starts picking on innocent people, I've got to draw the line," said
the boy as he flicked his ponytail over his shoulder again. "Let me
know if he doesn't stop. He can be dangerous to someone who can't
fight back."
"Huh? Can't fight back?" said Urd in confusion.
"You ain't a martial artist, I can see that much. He didn't hurt
you did he?" said the boy as he looked at her for a moment.
"Oh, I'm fine," said Urd cheerfully as she waved the comment off.
"Thanks anyway handsome." She gave him a small wink and smiled at him.
"Why Airen push Shampoo away?" said the Amazon irritably as she
recovered from the event and stomped up to his side.
Ranma gave her an irritated glare and turned away for a moment. He
paused and turned his head slightly. Urd was still watching them, she
sighed and looked down at Kuno, and then back up at Ranma, who was now
standing directly in front of her with an odd look in his eyes.
"Huh? Oh no! I forgot about the..." she thought to herself.
Ranma took her into his arms, and kissed her.
Shampoo could do nothing but stand there with shock on her face.
The bowl of noodles in her hands fell too the ground at her feet.
Urd struggled in his grasp for a moment, her arms were pressed
against his chest. He gently pried her lips open with his own, and she
relaxed. The world around them fell silent as they seemed to melt in
each other's arms. She felt her entire body grow lighter as she leaned
into him, causing him too squeeze her a little more.
Akane Tendo blinked as she walked around the corner and looked at
the scene for a moment.
Yuka and Sayuri stood on either side of her, and turned to face
her for a moment.
"Say Akane?" asked Yuka.
"Isn't that Ranma?" said Sayuri as she eyed the scene again
nervously. The pair showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
"Ranma?" muttered Akane quietly. Her expression quickly changed to
one of anger. "Ranma!"
The boy in question was still kissing Urd, she now had her right
leg lifted up and wrapped around his thigh. The blissful moment was
broken as Akane burst onto the scene. She cocked her arm back and
slugged the boy dead in his face.
Urd staggered back and released him, shock evident in her features
as she slumped to the ground and merely sat there for a moment. "What
happened?"
Ranma blinked a few times and looked at his fiancee in horror.
"Akane I..."
"You jerk! How could you!" said the girl with tears in her eyes.
She turned away and rushed out of the school grounds.
"Akane!" screamed the boy as he started after her.
Shampoo was still standing there, irritation clearly showing on
her features. "Why Ranma no kiss Shampoo that way?"
"Damn it! This wasn't supposed to happen!" snapped Urd as she
turned in the direction the pair had run. She was about to follow,
when a large round object attached to a black handle slammed into the
ground in front of her.
"You is obstacle!" said the violet haired girl.
"Huh?" said Urd as she stared at the girl dumbly.
"Obstacle is for killing!" snapped the angry Amazon.
"Oh boy," said Urd as she backed away slowly.
++++++++++++++
"Akane wait! It ain't what it looks like!" said Ranma as he chased
after the girl through the streets. "Come on! Lemme explain!"
She stopped in the middle of the road and turned to face him.
"What was it then?" she snapped. "You were only kissing a complete
stranger!"
"She isn't a stranger!" snapped Ranma angrily. He quickly covered
his mouth after he said it. "Um, I mean...look, it wasn't what it
looked like! I've been feeling weird all day!"
"And that makes it all right for you to grope any passing girl?"
said Akane coldly. "Just go away! I hate you!" She turned and ran away
again.
Ranma frowned and watched her go. "But..." He sighed and sat down
on the sidewalk. "Damn it."
++++++++++++++
"Man, what a day," grumbled Urd as she walked into the house at
the end of the school day. "I need a drink." She reverted back too her
full-grown body, not bothering to change as she did so.
Raiden and Fujin watched her walk into the room and smirked at
each other. The day's events had been quite amusing too them, but they
couldn't let on that they were watching just yet.
"What the hell are you two doing here again?" snapped Urd.
"You've got a spatula stuck in your hair," said Fujin calmly.
"Looks like you had a rough day," commented Raiden as he held up a
bottle of sake.
"You said it," grumbled Urd as she snatched the bottle from his
grasp and tore off the cap with her teeth. She spit it out onto the
ground and began to take large gulps.
"Well, why don't you tell us about it?" said Fujin cheerfully. He
already knew it would be an interesting story to say the least.
"Go away," said Urd with an irritated frown.
"Urd! I'm glad you're back!" said Skuld as she rushed into the
room with long sheets of paper in her grasp.
"Huh? What do you want?" said the goddess as she looked down at
her little sister.
"How was school?" asked Belldandy as she walked into the room,
followed closely by Keiichi.
"What the heck happened too you?" said Skuld in shock as she
noticed her sister's condition.
"Nothing, I just had a hard day," said Urd. "What did you want?"
"Remember that guy you told me too check on?" said Skuld
excitedly.
"Yeah, what about him?" said Urd with a frown.
"I ran his picture through the system today. He's not there," said
Skuld seriously.
"So? He probably got misfiled," said Urd with a shrug.
"No! I ran it through the main system, just too be sure! He's not
there!" cried the younger Goddess.
"Oh my!" gasped Belldandy.
"There's no way!" said Urd.
"What's the big deal?" asked Keiichi.
"If someone isn't in the main system, then there is no way for
them to exist here," said Fujin calmly. "That means he's either going
by a false name, or he isn't human."
"I double checked the image of him you gave me, Urd. This is what
I got back," said the girl as she handed the long printout to her
older sister.
"What the? Classifed? Access denied?" read the woman out loud.
"There are a lot of files like that in the system," reasoned
Raiden. "Fujin and I are restricted from most of them."
"That's because you two are demons technically. I'm restricted
from a lot of the system for the same reason," said Urd as she
narrowed her eyes. "But Skuld..."
"I should be able to access almost anything in the system," agreed
the girl. "I spend a lot of time debugging it, so I have to be allowed
more access than most."
"This grows interesting," said Raiden cheerfully.
"I wonder what a secret like that could be?" agreed Fujin.
"You two know something," said Urd as she turned to look at them.
"If it's this secret, what makes you think we could tell you if we
did?" said Fujin calmly.
"He's got a point," said Skuld.
"Maybe you should forget about this boy, Urd?" said Belldandy with
a worried frown.
Urd blushed and hung her head for a moment. "Yeah, but I screwed
things up today. I'm gonna have to see him again at least once more
before that."
"That's a big surprise," deadpanned Skuld.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" snapped Urd irritably.
+++++++++++
Ranma walked into the Tendo dojo and sighed. No sooner than his
foot was in the door, than Soun Tendo's giant demonic head burst
through.
"Ranma!" cried the man angrily.
"Wait! I can explain!" cried the boy fearfully as he backed away.
"How dare you cheat on my little, Akane!" cried the demonic head
as it began to chase after him.
"Wait! It ain't my fault!" cried Ranma as he started to run.
Soun quickly gave chase; he was dressed in his armor again, and
was shooting arrows at Ranma as he chased after him.
They passed by the back porch and Nodoka looked down at Happosai,
who was calmly smoking his pipe beside her.
"Do you think we should do something?" he asked her.
"No, let it be," replied the woman coldly. "If something like this
is going on, it may make it easier when the time comes."
Happosai nodded calmly and resumed his smoking.
++++++++++++++
TBC...
Part 4
The first day, of the last day of my life.
++++++++++++
Blackness. It surrounded him, stretching far out across the
endless void. He simply stared out into it, not bothering to turn his
head, knowing that no matter where he looked, it would be the same.
"What is this? Where am I?"
"The beginning, or the end. It is the same," said a quiet voice
from behind him.
He didn't bother looking back, unsure of why.
"Because you are not yet ready. You will be, very soon," said the
voice in answer to his question.
"Why am I here?"
"Because I willed it," replied the voice. "Perhaps there is a
deeper answer to that, but it is enough for now."
He found himself nodding.
"They are waiting for you, those you left behind," said the voice
gently. It was almost a whisper, seeming to float by him on the wind.
But there was no wind, and he knew that. There was only him and
nothing. The voice didn't even have substance too it, and came out of
the nothing.
"Who are they?"
"Old friends, long forgotten, lovers, rivals, enemies. You are
about too enter a world where only you do not remember who you truly
are," whispered the voice.
"But, I don't want too know me," he said with a slight anger in
his voice.
"You don't want to know? Or you are afraid to know? Think
carefully," said the voice.
"I'm... afraid," he replied simply. That couldn't be right though,
he feared nothing. Or perhaps it was the nothing he feared?
"Everyone knows fear, your heart has a place for it just as it has
a place for love. Perhaps that is what you fear?"
"It couldn't be," he said to himself as he closed his eyes.
Nothing changed when he did. It was exactly the same as looking out
into the endless void.
"That is for you to find for yourself," said the voice as it faded
away.
"What is it I'm afraid of?" he asked himself.
An image formed in the back of his mind, a woman, her identity
blurred by an impossible span of time, more than should be possible.
He could tell she was beautiful, more so than any woman or goddess he
had ever seen. "Who are you?" he muttered.
"Forget about her," said a new voice from the darkness.
He opened his eyes and stared at the woman who stood before him,
clothed in the darkness. "Mara."
"I'm more real, I am not a phantom. I do not deny my love," she
said as she reached for him. "Come with me! Stay with me, you told me
we would always be together!"
He frowned, staring her dead in the face. "I never told you that
demon!"
Mara floated back slightly, as if she had been struck. He looked
down and saw an aura surrounding his body, burning as brightly as a
sun in the pitch blackness. "In a way, she has..." he muttered
quietly.
"I don't want too lose you again!" she cried. Tears floated off of
her cheeks, drifting away through the darkness and sparkling in the
light he gave off.
"You lost me when you betrayed me, when you lied too me," he
snapped as he glared at her.
"I had too! You think I had a choice?" she said bitterly. "You
don't know what it's like for me!"
"That is why we can never be together," he said with his face
softening slightly. "Stop this, I'll never come too you. Forget about
me."
"I can't! Damn you!" she screamed as she glared at him angrily. "I
love you! More than she ever did! Do you think she even thinks of you
anymore? She's forgotten!"
"I know that isn't true," he replied calmly. "You've always had
trouble telling the truth Mara, but you aren't very good at lying.
Being a demon doesn't suit you."
She turned her back on him, frustration clear on her features.
"What would you know?"
"Stop trying to tempt me, go away. Let me remember what I need
too," he said gently.
"What makes you think you're the one being tempted?" she said
without turning back to look at him. Then she faded into the darkness
again.
He frowned at that, but remained silent as he watched her vanish.
A few of her tears floated by, still sparkling despite the fact there
was no more light coming from his body. He hung his head, and looked
down at his hands for a moment. "What am I? Who am I? Who was that
girl?" The image returned too his head again, slower this time. It
started to become more clear, he could make out her gentle smile, and
the curve of her neck, the way her hair fell around her neck. Things
he'd once known better than he knew his own body.
+++++++++++++
Ranma Saotome sat up in bed; he gasped for breath and shook his
head for a moment. He quietly uttered a name, and froze in surprise.
"Who is..." He frowned as he found he couldn't even remember what he
had said a few seconds before. "Damn these stupid dreams." He grunted
in frustration and looked outside. The sun had not yet risen. He
cursed and got up from his futon.
+++++++++++++
"Ranma? What are you doing up so early?" asked Kasumi as she
looked at the boy.
"Huh?" He blinked at her and smiled. "Nothing, I just woke up a
little early today, that's all. I thought I'd go practice."
"Oh. Well, breakfast isn't for a few more hours," said the girl
sweetly. "I could call you then."
"Thanks," he said as he walked by.
"Oh my," said Kasumi as he strolled out towards the dojo. In the
whole time he'd been here, she'd never once seen him smile like that.
It looked so honest, and genuine.
+++++++++++
Keiichi Morisato lay awake in his futon. He stared up at the wall
in frustration, sprawled out across the mat. He turned his head in
either direction, glaring at the two gods snoring next to him. "Why?
Why can't I live in a normal house?"
Raiden and Fujin were both going at it like a pair of dueling
chainsaws. Nodoka, or rather Yamma, had forbid them from sleeping near
the Tendo home. They didn't feel like sleeping in the streets, so the
only place left was here.
Urd had been surprisingly indifferent about the matter when they
announced it. Skuld didn't seem to mind, and she remained silent.
Belldandy just smiled cheerfully and said something about finding some
extra futons.
Keiichi was another matter. He had fallen face first onto the
table, muttering about more freeloaders. The rest of the evening he'd
acted as if they had invited the lords of hell themselves to stay for
the night. There wasn't much he could do about it, so he simply
grumbled and sulked alone.
+++++++++++
A few hours later, Raiden and Fujin stood out on the porch with
Keiichi. They were both grinning too themselves. They were once again
in their older looking forms, as they always were when visiting the
home.
"Did you two sleep well?" he asked irritably.
"Yup," said Raiden cheerfully.
"You should feel honored, sleeping in the same room as two gods,"
agreed Fujin.
"Honor won't help me with my test today," he muttered sleepily as
he staggered away.
"Maybe we should do something for him?" asked Fujin.
"Okay," agreed Raiden. He looked up, and a lightning bolt slammed
into the ground in the direction the boy had wandered. Keiichi's
surprised scream echoed throughout the home. "There, that should wake
him up."
"Isn't it a little early for this crap?" grumbled Urd as she
staggered out of her room and glared at them.
"Hey, I thought you were playing high school girl today?"
commented Fujin when he noticed her adult body.
"Gah! You're right! I'm gonna be late!" cried the goddess as she
scrambled back into her room.
"Typical," snorted Raiden.
Skuld wandered out as well. "She better not be breaking Banpei
again!" she muttered to herself. She blinked when she saw the two gods
standing outside her room. "Oh. Hi."
"Well, how are you today?" said Raiden cheerfully.
"Fine I guess, have you seen Urd? I can't find Banpei," said the
young goddess irritably.
"Banpei?" said Fujin in confusion.
"Yeah! He's my robot! You wanna see him?" said the girl excitedly.
"Sure," said the pair with a shrug.
+++++++++++++
Keiichi was still lying on the ground with a look of surprise on
his face. He twitched every so often and stared up at nothing. Skuld
rounded the corner and saw him, and the scattered remains of her
beloved robot. "Oh no! What have you done to Banpei!?"
The boy was in no condition to answer her, he simply continued to
stare up at the ceiling.
Raiden cringed when he saw the pieces of the robot lying around.
"Oops."
Fujin merely chuckled too himself for a moment.
Skuld was standing over Keiichi with her debugger hefted over her
head. "What have you got to say for yourself?"
"Man, she's pretty mad," commented Raiden.
"Well, we wouldn't be lying if we didn't say anything," commented
Fujin.
"Right. Silence is our best option.
"Oh my! Skuld! Don't do that! I'm sure it was an accident!" said
Belldandy as she rushed up to the girl's side and dropped the clothes
she had been hanging out to dry too the ground.
Raiden sighed and hung his head as he walked over too the scene.
"I'm sure you can have all kinds of fun rebuilding...whatever that
was," he said as he put his hand on her shoulder.
Skuld looked up at him and smiled. "You're right!" She put her
debugger away and rushed off too her room, with the remains of the
robot in her grasp.
Raiden nodded and turned away, a sick look apparent on his face.
"Man, it still bugs me when I have to do stuff like that."
"Tell me about it," agreed Fujin.
They both started towards the gates of the home.
"Oh? Are you two leaving?" asked Belldandy as she pulled the
fallen Keiichi into her lap.
"Yeah, we aren't sure how long we have to be here," said Raiden
with a shrug. "We'll probably be back again tonight. That stuck up
witch won't let us near him yet."
"Huh?" said Belldandy in confusion.
Fujin glared at his brother and smacked him upside his head.
"Dope!"
Raiden blinked and looked at his brother for a moment. "Never mind
Bell, we'll see you later."
"Okay," said the goddess cheerfully.
++++++++++++
"Witch?" snapped Nodoka irritably as she clenched her teacup
tightly in her grasp. "When I get my hands on those two..."
Genma approached her carefully. "Um, are you all right dear?"
The woman blinked and looked up at him for a moment. "I'm fine
dear. Why don't you go play Shogi, instead of doing something useful
around the house."
Genma nodded and immediately did so.
Nodoka sighed as she watched him leave. She rested her head in her
palm and grasped the Katana that lay at her side. Even after all this
time, the man still ignored any possible intelligence that was hidden
in the deep and dark reaches of his mind.
Ranma stepped out of the dojo and walked into the house. "Stupid
Tomboy," he grumbled as he walked by her.
"Are you all right son?" she asked him.
He paused and looked at her for a moment. "It's nuthin, mom. Just
that Akane wanted to spar again."
"It isn't fair for you to fight her," said the woman calmly.
"Yeah, I know, but she keeps tryin," he said with a sigh as he
hung his head.
"She likes you," said the woman calmly.
"Can't tell," muttered the boy irritably.
"I think you can, but something about that bothers you," said the
woman calmly.
"Huh?" said Ranma dumbly as he looked up at her.
Nodoka looked at him and blushed for a moment in surprise. A
mindless smile formed on her face. "Ranma. Why don't you go out there
and speak with her. I'm getting old you know, and I'd really like a
grandchild before I die."
"Old?" said Ranma dumbly. "You look the same as the day you
married Pop. Why is that anyway?"
Nodoka's smile faltered a bit. He seemed to conveniently forget
that he hadn't been born yet when that happened. There were no photos
of the wedding either. "The women in our family always age well." Not
quite a lie either. Her smile broadened as she looked at him for a
moment.
"Oh." The boy stood up and walked away.
+++++++++++++
"Come on you jerk! We're late!" snapped Akane as she walked along
side the casually strolling Ranma. "What is with you today! It's going
to rain soon, you should be in a hurry!"
Ranma looked up, the sky was indeed overcast with clouds now. He
turned and smiled at Akane. "Not till around ten or so."
"What is with you? You've been acting weird ever since those two
guys showed up!" said Akane as she stopped suddenly and looked at him.
He'd been more cheerful today than she'd ever seen him.
"I dunno, I just think today is gonna be a good day."
"Outa my way! I'm late!"
Akane looked around in confusion, not certain of where the sound
had come from.
Ranma was staring at a small store, his eyes wide with shock as a
young girl with white hair burst through the door and rushed out into
the street. It was a small electronics store. "I coulda swore she came
outa..."
That was when she ran right into him, and they both landed on the
ground. A surprising feat, considering that he was standing on the
fence.
"Ranma, who is this?" said Akane as she looked down at the scene
with a dark looking frown.
The girl was lying on top of him, sprawled out across his chest.
He was merely frozen in shock, unsure of what had just happened.
The girl stood up calmly, and dusted her school dress off. "Sorry
about that."
"Well?" snapped Akane as she looked at her fiancee with a slowly
growing anger.
"How the heck should I know? I've never...Urd right?" Ranma looked
at her and blinked. Recognition flashing across his face.
This time it was the girl's turn to freeze in shock. "Um...you
know me?"
"Huh? I dunno," said the boy as he scratched the back of his head
for a moment.
"I knew it!" snapped Akane bitterly. "You jerk!"
"Huh? Come on Akane, I ain't doin nuthin! She just ran into me!"
snapped the boy as he flicked his ponytail over his shoulder in a
slightly frustrated gesture.
"Shut up," said Urd as she pushed herself between the pair for a
moment. "How do you know my name?"
"Who are you again?" said Ranma as he blinked and looked at her
dumbly.
"Urd! You just said it!" snapped the goddess angrily as she pulled
him closer to her face by his collar.
"Oh. Um, look I ain't sure. It's been kinda weird for me the last
couple a days or so," said the boy nervously.
"Who the heck are you anyway? What do you want with Ranma?" said
Akane irritably as she glared at the new girl for a moment.
"Want? What would I want with him?" said Urd as she glanced at the
girl.
Akane paused and looked at her for a moment. "What?"
"Ack! I'm late!" cried Urd as she dropped the boy and ran towards
the school.
"Hey. She's goin towards Furinkan," commented Ranma as he watched
the girl run off.
Akane elbowed him in his gut and frowned. "She's probably just a
new student. Come on."
"Oh," said Ranma as he started walking again. "Who was that?" he
wondered to himself as he walked along. "More importantly, how did I
know her name?" His smile turned into a frustrated looking frown.
++++++++++++
Urd giggled to herself as she strolled into the gates of Furinkan.
"That should start things going!" she said to herself happily. Ranma
hadn't noticed her slip that potion onto his skin when she landed on
him. In an hour or two, he'd be very active. He'd fight it at first,
but soon his passion would overwhelm him in the end. Her triumphant
smile quickly faded away though as she suddenly remembered that he had
called her by name. "How did he know that?" She turned her gaze back
to the gates, just as the pair walked in. "Who is this guy?"
+++++++++++++
Urd stood in front of the class and bowed deeply, exposing a good
portion of her chest to the boys in the room. "Hiya! I'm Urd! Nice ta
meet ya!"
Every boy in the class leaned forward, causing a collective groan
of the desk creaking as they did so.
"You'd better not be being naughty!" cried Hinako as she glared at
them.
Ranma and the other boys quickly sat back in their chairs again.
The pony tailed boy felt something slam into the back of his head. He
glanced down at the floor, taking note of where the new girl was
sitting as he did so. His eyes went wide as he saw Akane's notebook on
the ground. He picked it up and opened it to the first page.
"Pervert! What the hell are you looking at!?" said the first line.
The rest of the book was covered in a large and crude drawing of her
with a gigantic mallet, and a tiny flattened little him. He swallowed
and turned back to look at her and give the notebook back. He almost
jumped out of his seat when he saw her entire body glowing blue, and
the glare that was directed at him. He quickly turned away and sank
into his seat.
"Great," he muttered. He wiped his forehead off, he wasn't sure
why, but he was starting to feel pretty warm. The fact that Akane was
feeling a little cranky didn't help much either. Hinako was writing
something on the board, and he found his eyes drawn too her behind for
some odd reason. He quickly shook his head rather violently. "What the
hell am I thinking? She's not even a grown up right now!" The image of
the full-grown Hinako, completely in the nude suddenly popped into his
head, and he was suddenly feeling very light headed. That was around
the time he noticed something beginning to stir inside his pants. "Oh
man! Not now!" he said quietly. He desperately tried to think of
something else, and the image of Akane in the nude, just as she had
looked on his first day at the Tendo home appeared. The situation was
not getting any better. In fact, he was now fully aroused.
He opened his eyes again, and saw Miss Hinako was looking directly
at him. "Huh?" He realized that she had asked him a question and
stammered for a moment. "I uhh...I wasn't sleepin..."
"I'm glad to hear that Mr. Saotome, now if you would be so kind as
to come up to the chalkboard and finish this problem for me," said the
girl as she tapped her foot impatiently.
Ranma turned completely red and stared at her in horror. After a
moment he started to rise too his feet, he quickly changed his mind
and sat back down again. "No. I think I'll just sit here thanks," he
squeaked.
Hinako narrowed her eyes at him. "I really think you should do it
Mr. Saotome."
"No. I really think I should stay sitting here," replied the boy.
His voice was wavering slightly, and he realized that he now had the
attention of everyone in the class.
Urd was watching the scene with her hand over her mouth. This had
to be the funniest thing she'd ever seen. She hadn't meant for the boy
to become embarrassed. After all, she was just trying to get him in
touch with his true feelings a little easier. Now he had found himself
trapped in a messy situation. She turned her gaze towards the angry
girl and smirked. All that remained was to find something too get her
ready for him to express himself too her. "I think I've got just the
thing," she said to herself quietly.
+++++++++++++
It was lunch-time at Furinkan, and Ranma was still feeling warm.
Luckily, the effects had worn out a little, and whatever it was wasn't
quite so apparent from the outside anymore.
"I said, what did you do too me?" snapped Ranma angrily.
Shampoo was standing in front of him, with a confused looking
frown on her face. "Shampoo not know what talking!"
"Damn it Shampoo! You're the only one who does stuff like this to
me!"
"Maybe Great Grandmother know? Tell Shampoo what happen," said the
girl diplomatically.
"I..." Ranma froze as he realized what he was about to tell her.
"It's nuthin, just forget about it." He turned away and walked off
with his hands in his pockets.
"Okay! Ranma want Shampoo ramen?"
"Do I want your what?" said the boy dumbly as he turned to look at
her.
"Ramen? Noodle, pork, hot water, spice," said the girl as she held
the bowl forward.
"Oh. No thanks. I'm not feelin too good," said the boy as he shook
his head.
"Ranma is sick? Maybe Shampoo nurse back to health!" squealed the
girl excitedly.
The boy forced himself to look away as she jumped up and down. He
staggered slightly and clutched his forehead as he leaned against the
tree and slowly sat down.
++++++++++++++
"No! Get away from him you bimbo!" snarled Urd from her place in
the bushes nearby. She clenched her fist angrily and growled. "She's
going to ruin everything. I've got to do something." She stood up and
puffed out her chest, walking into the open.
Shampoo turned and looked at her for a moment. "Who you is?"
"I'm Urd, can I talk with you?" she said cheerfully. "It'll just
take a second."
"Shampoo busy right now," snorted the Chinese girl as she turned
her attention to the rather zoned out looking Ranma.
"But I..." Urd was cut off as a new person appeared in front of
them.
"Saotome! I find you at last!" Kuno rushed forward and stood
proudly in front of the boy.
"Huh?" muttered the boy halfheartedly as he looked up at him.
"I have come to free the lovely Akane Tendo from your vicious
grasp! Have at th..." Kuno was cut off as he noticed Urd standing with
Shampoo. "Who?"
"Um, hi," said Urd as she noticed the gaze she was getting. She
stepped back nervously.
"Who is this goddess?" said Kuno as he fell too his knees and
dropped his boken.
"Wha?" said Urd in shock. "How did you know that?"
Fortunately, no one seemed to notice.
"Go way stupid girl!" said Shampoo.
"Ngh?" muttered Ranma incoherently as he fixed his gaze on
Shampoo's chest.
"This vision of light has entered my greatness from the darkness!
Come into my arms, for I, the great Tatewaki Kuno shall, whose name
has no doubt been the focus of your heart from afar, shall date with
you!" The older boy grabbed Urd in a rough hug.
"Hey!" she cried angrily.
"Aiya! How cute!" exclaimed Shampoo.
Ranma merely nodded and looked up at the pair for a moment. "Get
your hands off of her Kuno." His face suddenly became very clear, and
he stood up, casually pushing Shampoo out of the way. "Right now."
"So, you dare to interfere vile sorcerer?" snapped Kuno angrily.
"Do as I say, or you won't live to regret it," said Ranma as he
stepped forward and cracked his knuckles.
Urd just looked confused, and no longer seemed to notice the boy
with his arms around her. "What the?"
"Very well! My dear, I shall return your embrace posthaste, but
first I must dispatch this villain!" said Kuno as he picked up his
boken and pointed it at Ranma.
Ranma moved like no one had ever seen him move before. Before
anyone could blink, Kuno was sprawled out across the ground with fist-
prints on several places along his face and chest. Ranma merely stood
over him, glaring down angrily.
Urd looked at him and smiled. "You didn't have too do that."
"It's all right, Akane and I can handle ourselves, but when he
starts picking on innocent people, I've got to draw the line," said
the boy as he flicked his ponytail over his shoulder again. "Let me
know if he doesn't stop. He can be dangerous to someone who can't
fight back."
"Huh? Can't fight back?" said Urd in confusion.
"You ain't a martial artist, I can see that much. He didn't hurt
you did he?" said the boy as he looked at her for a moment.
"Oh, I'm fine," said Urd cheerfully as she waved the comment off.
"Thanks anyway handsome." She gave him a small wink and smiled at him.
"Why Airen push Shampoo away?" said the Amazon irritably as she
recovered from the event and stomped up to his side.
Ranma gave her an irritated glare and turned away for a moment. He
paused and turned his head slightly. Urd was still watching them, she
sighed and looked down at Kuno, and then back up at Ranma, who was now
standing directly in front of her with an odd look in his eyes.
"Huh? Oh no! I forgot about the..." she thought to herself.
Ranma took her into his arms, and kissed her.
Shampoo could do nothing but stand there with shock on her face.
The bowl of noodles in her hands fell too the ground at her feet.
Urd struggled in his grasp for a moment, her arms were pressed
against his chest. He gently pried her lips open with his own, and she
relaxed. The world around them fell silent as they seemed to melt in
each other's arms. She felt her entire body grow lighter as she leaned
into him, causing him too squeeze her a little more.
Akane Tendo blinked as she walked around the corner and looked at
the scene for a moment.
Yuka and Sayuri stood on either side of her, and turned to face
her for a moment.
"Say Akane?" asked Yuka.
"Isn't that Ranma?" said Sayuri as she eyed the scene again
nervously. The pair showed no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
"Ranma?" muttered Akane quietly. Her expression quickly changed to
one of anger. "Ranma!"
The boy in question was still kissing Urd, she now had her right
leg lifted up and wrapped around his thigh. The blissful moment was
broken as Akane burst onto the scene. She cocked her arm back and
slugged the boy dead in his face.
Urd staggered back and released him, shock evident in her features
as she slumped to the ground and merely sat there for a moment. "What
happened?"
Ranma blinked a few times and looked at his fiancee in horror.
"Akane I..."
"You jerk! How could you!" said the girl with tears in her eyes.
She turned away and rushed out of the school grounds.
"Akane!" screamed the boy as he started after her.
Shampoo was still standing there, irritation clearly showing on
her features. "Why Ranma no kiss Shampoo that way?"
"Damn it! This wasn't supposed to happen!" snapped Urd as she
turned in the direction the pair had run. She was about to follow,
when a large round object attached to a black handle slammed into the
ground in front of her.
"You is obstacle!" said the violet haired girl.
"Huh?" said Urd as she stared at the girl dumbly.
"Obstacle is for killing!" snapped the angry Amazon.
"Oh boy," said Urd as she backed away slowly.
++++++++++++++
"Akane wait! It ain't what it looks like!" said Ranma as he chased
after the girl through the streets. "Come on! Lemme explain!"
She stopped in the middle of the road and turned to face him.
"What was it then?" she snapped. "You were only kissing a complete
stranger!"
"She isn't a stranger!" snapped Ranma angrily. He quickly covered
his mouth after he said it. "Um, I mean...look, it wasn't what it
looked like! I've been feeling weird all day!"
"And that makes it all right for you to grope any passing girl?"
said Akane coldly. "Just go away! I hate you!" She turned and ran away
again.
Ranma frowned and watched her go. "But..." He sighed and sat down
on the sidewalk. "Damn it."
++++++++++++++
"Man, what a day," grumbled Urd as she walked into the house at
the end of the school day. "I need a drink." She reverted back too her
full-grown body, not bothering to change as she did so.
Raiden and Fujin watched her walk into the room and smirked at
each other. The day's events had been quite amusing too them, but they
couldn't let on that they were watching just yet.
"What the hell are you two doing here again?" snapped Urd.
"You've got a spatula stuck in your hair," said Fujin calmly.
"Looks like you had a rough day," commented Raiden as he held up a
bottle of sake.
"You said it," grumbled Urd as she snatched the bottle from his
grasp and tore off the cap with her teeth. She spit it out onto the
ground and began to take large gulps.
"Well, why don't you tell us about it?" said Fujin cheerfully. He
already knew it would be an interesting story to say the least.
"Go away," said Urd with an irritated frown.
"Urd! I'm glad you're back!" said Skuld as she rushed into the
room with long sheets of paper in her grasp.
"Huh? What do you want?" said the goddess as she looked down at
her little sister.
"How was school?" asked Belldandy as she walked into the room,
followed closely by Keiichi.
"What the heck happened too you?" said Skuld in shock as she
noticed her sister's condition.
"Nothing, I just had a hard day," said Urd. "What did you want?"
"Remember that guy you told me too check on?" said Skuld
excitedly.
"Yeah, what about him?" said Urd with a frown.
"I ran his picture through the system today. He's not there," said
Skuld seriously.
"So? He probably got misfiled," said Urd with a shrug.
"No! I ran it through the main system, just too be sure! He's not
there!" cried the younger Goddess.
"Oh my!" gasped Belldandy.
"There's no way!" said Urd.
"What's the big deal?" asked Keiichi.
"If someone isn't in the main system, then there is no way for
them to exist here," said Fujin calmly. "That means he's either going
by a false name, or he isn't human."
"I double checked the image of him you gave me, Urd. This is what
I got back," said the girl as she handed the long printout to her
older sister.
"What the? Classifed? Access denied?" read the woman out loud.
"There are a lot of files like that in the system," reasoned
Raiden. "Fujin and I are restricted from most of them."
"That's because you two are demons technically. I'm restricted
from a lot of the system for the same reason," said Urd as she
narrowed her eyes. "But Skuld..."
"I should be able to access almost anything in the system," agreed
the girl. "I spend a lot of time debugging it, so I have to be allowed
more access than most."
"This grows interesting," said Raiden cheerfully.
"I wonder what a secret like that could be?" agreed Fujin.
"You two know something," said Urd as she turned to look at them.
"If it's this secret, what makes you think we could tell you if we
did?" said Fujin calmly.
"He's got a point," said Skuld.
"Maybe you should forget about this boy, Urd?" said Belldandy with
a worried frown.
Urd blushed and hung her head for a moment. "Yeah, but I screwed
things up today. I'm gonna have to see him again at least once more
before that."
"That's a big surprise," deadpanned Skuld.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" snapped Urd irritably.
+++++++++++
Ranma walked into the Tendo dojo and sighed. No sooner than his
foot was in the door, than Soun Tendo's giant demonic head burst
through.
"Ranma!" cried the man angrily.
"Wait! I can explain!" cried the boy fearfully as he backed away.
"How dare you cheat on my little, Akane!" cried the demonic head
as it began to chase after him.
"Wait! It ain't my fault!" cried Ranma as he started to run.
Soun quickly gave chase; he was dressed in his armor again, and
was shooting arrows at Ranma as he chased after him.
They passed by the back porch and Nodoka looked down at Happosai,
who was calmly smoking his pipe beside her.
"Do you think we should do something?" he asked her.
"No, let it be," replied the woman coldly. "If something like this
is going on, it may make it easier when the time comes."
Happosai nodded calmly and resumed his smoking.
++++++++++++++
TBC...