Rain
Part 13
Blackness from hell.
++++++++++++
Kura sighed as he sat in the corner of the Ucchan and stared at
his one time best friend lazily. His head was resting in his arm and
he watched the customers come and go. "Because I don't work for you, I
just take care of you. That's why," he replied casually. "I'm not
Konatsu, and I'm not Ranma anymore. Don't expect me to act like them."
"What? You're not freeloading off of me buddy!" snapped Ukyo
angrily.
"I'll keep the store open while you go to school then," he said
with a small sigh.
Ukyo paused and stared at him for a moment. "You're not going to
school?"
"Why would I?" he replied with a small shrug. "I already know
everything I need too. It's not like I'll ever need a job, or have to
pay rent, or anything."
"Well, still..." grumbled Ukyo with a frown forming on her face.
"This place doesn't even have a proper bath," grumbled Urd as she
walked out of the bathroom clad in only a towel.
Ukyo choked and her customer's heads turned to stare at the
goddess as she strolled by and walked towards the stairs.
"What?" muttered Urd in confusion.
"What the heck are you lookin at!?" snapped Kura.
"Put some clothes on!" snapped Ukyo. She turned towards the god
and frowned. "How long do you have to hang around anyway?"
"Well, I promised to take care of you, so... probably for the rest
of your life," he replied with a small shrug.
"You know, I would have been so happy with this a few weeks ago,"
she grumbled irritably as she turned away.
Kura nodded and smiled to himself for a moment. "Yeah. I know."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped as she spun around and
pulled her baker's peel off of her back.
"It means that my plan failed. I wanted to distance all of you
from me. Why did you think I've been such a jerk lately?" he said with
a small sigh as he rubbed his temples for a moment.
Ukyo paused and stared at him. "What?"
"Ukyo, I was reborn for a reason. I don't want any of you getting
involved, it's very simple," he said with a small shrug. "I can't have
any of you playing brave and loyal fiancee, coming after me would only
get you all killed."
"What the heck are you talking about?" said the girl as she slowly
lowered her weapon.
"I'd have been subtler about it if I had more time, but I don't. I
wasn't reborn alone. There's something really nasty coming, and I'm
going to be the one to fight it. I might not survive, I didn't last
time," he said with a somewhat haunted look in his eyes.
"That's why you said you didn't love me?" she said quietly. "You
were worried about me?"
"That's right," he said with a small smirk.
"Hey! What about me you jerk!" snapped Urd as she appeared between
them. "Are you saying I didn't have anything to do with that?" She was
still dressed in her towel, and had the full attention of every male
in the restaurant.
"Well, he is my fiancee," said Ukyo as she glared at him.
"No, he's my husband," retorted Urd.
"Great, another Shampoo," grumbled Ukyo angrily.
"No, she's right Ukyo," replied Kura with a small shrug. "Urd and
I were married on the day Kami-sama told us we were soul mates."
"What?" gasped the girl in shock as she staggered back for a
moment. "But...it's till death do us part right? You died! So you've
parted!"
"Not in this case, most people who get married in heaven are
already dead Ukyo. The vows are different. It's till the end of
existence. I still exist, so we're still married," explained Urd with
a small shrug.
Ukyo growled and glared at her. "Still, what about my honor? I've
still got that contract..."
"Take it up with the Saotome family. They're the ones who lied,"
said Kura calmly.
"I can't blame them, they didn't know any better," muttered the
girl as she hung her head and sat down. It was about then that she
noticed Urd was still standing beside her with a towel on. "Will you
get dressed already?"
Urd sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine." She removed the towel and
flung it in front of herself, the instant it passed over her she was
dressed again. "Happy?"
"Show off," grumbled Ukyo as the customers clapped in appreciation
for the trick.
"She's not very happy about this," said Urd as she watched the
girl wander off.
"There's nothing I can do. I have to stay here now," replied Kura
with a small shrug. "I'm not going to start messing with the Ultimate
Force."
"What about those other girls?" said the goddess as she sat down
next to him and smirked.
"I'm not sure," said Kura. "Shampoo probably won't bother us, but
I'm going to be in town now. That means Kodachi won't give up, I'm not
sure about Akane, but I think she's accepted this. Venus will probably
be around too."
"That tramp had better keep her hands off you," growled Urd
angrily.
"Just like old times," muttered Kura as he hung his head and sighed.
"Hi," said a familiar voice. Nodoka Saotome walked into the
restaurant with a wide smile on her face.
"You!" said Ukyo. "What the heck are you doing here?"
"I came to visit my brother," said the woman calmly.
Ukyo seemed to remember something and calmed a bit. "Oh, right.
Tell me where that deadbeat husband of yours is!"
"Don't worry about him! It'll be ten years before he's even human
again," said the goddess as she waved the comment off. "He's being
punished for being such a terrible husband and father."
"What?" said Ukyo dumbly.
Kura blinked and looked up at her for a moment. "Huh? Come to
think of it...I haven't seen Pop for a while."
"I just sent him to China for about ten years or so, he'll be
fine. He can't turn back into a man until his punishment is over,"
said the goddess as she sat down at the counter and smiled at them.
"Um, Kura... are you sure we should be talking about this with all
these mortals around? Not that I mind, but Belldandy seems to
think..."
"Are you kidding? This is Nerima," said the god as he chuckled for
a moment. "Stuff like this is normal around here."
Urd blinked and looked around. Sure enough, other than a few
people looking at her body, no one seemed to care.
"So, where is the old man anyway?" said Kura as he stood up and moved
next to his sister.
"Get me a cup of tea would you dear?" said the woman as she looked
at Ukyo.
The girl merely nodded and put a cup on the counter.
"Anyway, I turned him into a panda and sent him to China," she
said sweetly.
"Yamma, I know when you're not telling me everything," said Kura
as he glared at her for a moment.
Yamma merely sipped at her tea. "It's nothing to worry about,
he'll be fine."
"You're not even a little bit worried?" said Ukyo with a small
frown.
"Huh? This is Genma Saotome we're talking about here. He used to
like being a panda remember?"
"Oh," grumbled Ukyo as she looked away.
"He's not enjoying it now," said Yamma cheerfully.
Ukyo frowned at the change in the woman's attitude, she was acting
so much younger and less formal than usual.
Kura frowned and walked behind the counter with Ukyo. He turned on
the sink and poured a glass of water on the floor just between himself
and the girl.
"Hey! What are you doing?" snapped Ukyo, she blushed suddenly and
stared at the ground. "Oh my! Is that Mr. Saotome?"
Yamma giggled and peered over the counter. "Yes, he's the one on
the bottom."
"What?!" said Ukyo as she suddenly turned green.
Kura looked up at her and narrowed his eyes. "That's sick."
"Please, you're not the only one who's had to suffer because of
that moron. I had to be married to him, this is as much for me as it
is you."
The god blinked and shrugged his shoulders. The puddle they were
watching the image in dried up in an instant as he turned away.
Ukyo was looking at Yamma with tears in her eyes. "I-I...I love
you!"
"Why thank you dear," said the woman as she cocked her head and
smiled warmly.
Raiden walked out of the back of the restaurant with a scowl on
his face. "I told you I don't do dishes." he was wearing an apron and
was covered in flour.
"Somebody has to do them," she said as she turned to glare at him
for a moment.
"Do you have any idea what will happen if I put my hands into that
water?" said the god with a sour frown. He raised his hands and made
electricity crackle between them for a moment.
"So let Fujin do them," said Kura with a small shrug.
"He's sweeping the sidewalk right now," said Ukyo.
"How come you don't have to work?" said Raiden as he glared at
Kura for a moment.
"Cause I'm stuck here, and Urd is married to me. We both have
legitimate reasons for being here. You two don't," said Kura with a
small shrug. "If you want to stay, you have to work. It's the rules."
"Konatsu never complained this much," commented Ukyo as she shoved
a pair of long rubber gloves into the god's chest.
"Thanks," he grumbled as he returned to his work again.
A group of people flew by the window outside with surprised looks
on their faces, the wall shook with the force of the passing wind as
they were blown away.
"Damn it! How many times to I have to tell him to use the broom!"
cried Ukyo as she rushed towards the door.
+++++++++++
"It is time," said one of the demons near the front of the horde
of monsters and devils.
Mara frowned, she was several hundred feet back with her own group
of minions standing around at her feet. She was dressed in battle
armor and held a long spear in her hands. "Goodbye Kura." She narrowed
her eyes as the lake of fire began to boil in front of her and the
army of hell.
Slowly, a black form rose from the flames and lava, it roared
triumphantly and reared its gigantic head back. The two red eyes now
fully opened. It was a giant dragon, hundreds of feet long, the head
alone the size of a city bus. Flames and molten rock dripped down it's
scales as it slowly climbed out of the pit and spread it's wings,
scraping the top of the massive cavern with the tips as it did so. "At
last! My army is before me, and the heavens await. We shall rain fire
down upon them, and destroy the forces of heaven at last!"
Spears, swords, pikes, and various other sharp instruments rose
into the air as the hordes of hell gave out a deafening battle cry.
++++++++++++++
Ryoga Hibiki was lost, that in itself was not unusual. However,
for the first time in a long while, he didn't have anywhere he really
wanted to be. He simply wandered, taking in nature and enjoying the
freedom of having his arm healed at last, and the joy of not being
cursed any longer.
"Akari," muttered the boy as he stood in the middle of a large
field and looked down at the photo in his hand for a moment. He paused
and looked up at the sky again. "Maybe...maybe I should find her?" He
smirked for a moment and sighed. She'd probably be a little
disappointed that he lost his curse.
After a long time of simply staring up into the clouds, he sighed
and adjusted the straps on his backpack. "I guess I've finally got a
destination."
His smile slowly faded away though, the ground rumbled and he
staggered for a moment with a look of confusion on his face. "What
the?"
His mind raced as he fumbled around and attempted to get his
bearings straight. The earthquake was massive, cracks began to form
down the center of the field where he stood.
"Damn! What the hell is going on?"
"Why, you're absolutely right," said a voice from behind him.
He spun around and gasped in shock as a woman slowly climbed up
from one of the crevices that had formed in the ground around him.
Behind her, deep in the earth, he could see thousands of eyes slowly
moving towards the surface. "Who?"
Behind him the ground exploded, fire shot up from below and a hail
of flaming stones pelted the ground. The grass started to burn as a
column of lava burst forth from the ground. Creatures seemed to ride
the flames up and cackled madly as the scurried across the fire and
into the field.
That was when it came, a huge black mass of teeth and scales
blasted up from the hole. It was long and thin, its body and wings
tucked at its sides as it seemed to slide into the sky. After a
moment, it seemed to hang for a moment before it exploded outward,
stretching its arms, legs, and wings all at once. It roared and
flipped once in the air, plants died just from coming in contact with
its shadow.
Ryoga staggered for a moment and looked on in horror as the sun
began to fade away, leaving only blackness in the sky. "What? Damn
it...I have to do something!"
"What are you going to do mortal?" said one of the demon things
that now surrounded him.
Ryoga faced them and clenched his fists, his cold stare making
them step back for a moment. "I'm going to send you back to hell." A
sheet of ice formed at his feet and he moved into a combat stance.
"I've got to get out of here! I don't stand a chance against all of
them, but maybe if I find Ranma...then we can..." His thoughts were
cut off as the things started to charge towards him.
++++++++++++
Cologne frowned as she saw the sky darken suddenly and turned
towards Shampoo and Mousse. The two teens were packing their things
for the return to China.
Shampoo didn't look happy, and she doubted if she would go through
with marrying Mousse. She had decided not to suggest it, it would be
better for her to suffer a little bit of dishonor rather than force
her great granddaughter to suffer like that. She would survive, and
the tribe would move on. This would mean that Shampoo would not be
able to serve on the counsel of elders. However, if she acted quickly,
and prodded the girl correctly, then her Great Great Granddaughter
might be able to remove that blemish from her family.
Unfortunately, that meant she had to get rid of Mousse somehow.
The boy was oblivious and seemed quite happy with his current
situation.
Cologne hobbled over to the pair and poked Mousse with her staff.
"Mousse, I have an important job for you."
"Huh?" said the boy dumbly. "But I..."
"There is a darkness forming in the sky. I feel a strange and
powerful force in the west. Go and find out what it is, and then
report back to us." She smirked as he looked up at the sky and
frowned.
"You're right, I feel something too," he said with a serious nod.
"Don't worry Shampoo, I'll come back soon."
"Shampoo not care," snorted the girl as she stopped packing and
turned away from him with her arms crossed.
"But Shampoo! I..." His pleading was stopped as Cologne whacked
him on the head. "Get moving boy!"
"Right," he muttered as he staggered away.
"This could work out for the best. If Mousse is killed, then
Shampoo's honor could be restored. After all, it can't be helped that
her future husband was killed fighting off demons." Cologne smiled to
herself as she thought of this.
"We not help Mousse?" said Shampoo as she looked at the old woman
for a moment.
"No child. He is aware of the danger, and the three of us may not
be any good against this power. It is very strong. It is best if only
one of us goes at the moment to see how bad this dark power really
is."
"Shampoo...understand," muttered the girl as she started working
again.
++++++++++++
"What is that?" stammered Nabiki as she looked up at the sky in
shock.
Akane frowned as she stepped back from the remains of a cinder
block and watched the blackness spread across the sky. "Ranma?"
"We should go inside," said Soun as he stepped out with them for a
moment.
"Father! Dinner is almost...Oh my," said Kasumi as she followed
and stared at the scene in shock.
"But, what is that?" said Akane as she glanced at him for a
moment.
"Something for the gods to worry about. Come inside Akane,"
replied Soun with a small frown.
"I feel...cold," muttered Nabiki as she clutched her arms and
rubbed them.
"Ranma..." said Akane again.
"He doesn't want your help, Akane," said Nabiki as she realized
what her sister was thinking about.
"I'm a martial artist too!" she snapped at her sister.
"But you're not a god," insisted Nabiki firmly. "You'll only get
in the way."
"She's right you know," said Happosai as he appeared on the roof
of the home. He was merely sitting and smoking his pipe. "Leave this
to us, Akane."
"But, Ranma has always helped me!" said the girl as she looked up
at him.
"Akane, why do you think he's pushed you away from him?" said the
old man as he stared at her for a moment.
"What?" she muttered in confusion.
"It's because he knew about this, and he knew that this is exactly
what you'd do. You are not strong enough to face this," said the old
man with a small nod.
"I guess...you're right," muttered Akane as she hung her head and
looked at the grass in the yard. It was quickly wilting away.
Happosai vanished in a small flash of light and left the family
standing in the yard.
"Come, we should go inside," said Soun as he pulled at Nabiki and
Kasumi.
"I don't want to disappoint him then," said Akane as she looked at
her father for a moment.
"Akane?" muttered the man dumbly.
She jumped up and over the wall, leaving her family standing
there.
"Akane! No!" cried Kasumi as she started after her.
"Idiot!" called Nabiki.
"Wahhhh! My baby! Come back Akane! Come back!" wailed Soun.
+++++++++++
"This does not bode well," said Tatewaki Kuno as he stared at the
sky above him. His boken was firmly clenched in his grip. "I sense a
great evil about this foul darkness. No doubt the work of the sorcerer
Ranma Saotome!"
Kodachi frowned at her brother's ranting, but was strangely
silent. "No doubt my trio of gods go off to defend me from this
terrible evil!" she thought to herself.
"It is only fitting that such a great warrior as myself go off to
face this great evil!" called Kuno as he raised his boken into the
air. A flash of lightning crashed into the ground behind him.
"Fear not, for I, the Black Rose, shall not allow you to face this
darkness alone my loves!"
"Hey Keiki!" said Principal Kuno as he walked by the pair with a
surfboard under his arm. It completely ruined their dramatic pose and
the pair glared at him.
"Tell me madman, where do you venture in this dour time?" said
Kuno as he pointed his boken at him.
"I is goin to da beach! Mighty big waves in da bad weda!
Kowabunga!" cried the man as he rushed off with tears of joy in his
eyes.
+++++++++++
"What is that?" cried Venus as she sat upright in bed and stared
at the wall in front of her. "No! It's..."
"Huh? Wha?" said the boy who emerged from under the sheets near
her legs. "What's up babe? I thought..."
"Look, Jiro, I've got to go now. I'll call you later...my fiancee
is in trouble and I've..."
"Fiancee?" muttered the man in confusion. "Hey! But I..."
"Bye!" said Venus as she blew him a small kiss with her fingers
and ducked out the door.
"But...you forgot your clothes..." muttered the dumbfounded man.
++++++++++++
"Where is she?" grumbled Benten as she scanned the skyline for a
moment, each of her eight arms held a weapon of some kind, and she was
dressed in battle armor. She was also tapping her foot impatiently as
she waited.
"My power has been blocked," muttered Amaterasu as she stood
beside the goddess. "I'm not going to wait much longer."
"She'll be here," said Benten with a small scowl.
Venus appeared in front of them with a proud looking grin on her
face. She was completely nude and covered in sweat. "Hiya!"
"Not you too," muttered Amaterasu in disgust.
"Well, we are love goddesses," said Benten with a small blush
forming on her face.
Venus reached over and shoved Benten's right breast under the
goddess's armor as she made her clothing appear on her own body.
A man appeared in the window and blinked as he saw the three women
standing outside the window. Benten hid six of her arms and smiled at
him.
"Where are you going starfish?"
"Um...just out for a while. I should be back in a few days or
so..." said the goddess nervously.
"But, I made you breakfast starfish. I figured we could have some
breakfast, and then maybe have some...Chad."
"Sorry, gotta go!" said the goddess as she jumped off the roof and
followed the other two.
"Was it the...food?" called the man as she rushed off.
"No!" called Benten.
"Was it...the pizza delivery job?" prodded the man desperately.
"No, it wasn't the job," said Benten.
"Was it...the Chad?" whined the man.
"It might have been!" called Benten as she finally turned the
corner and moved out of sight.
"We don't have time for this," snorted Amaterasu.
"Mine was cuter," said Venus with a smirk.
"Can we just go? Infinite evil has come to Earth you know,"
grumbled Benten.
"Was it the Chad?" asked Amaterasu with a smirk on her face.
Venus looked at her in surprise. "Huh?"
"Of course it was the Chad," said Benten with a smirk of her own.
With that, the goddesses vanished.
++++++++++
"I'm leaving now," said Kura as he stood outside and stared at the
sky hatefully.
"No!" cried Urd as she moved in front of him. "Don't leave me
again!"
"We have no choice," said Fujin from his place on the roof.
"Come brother, it won't be an easy battle," said Raiden.
"I'm going with you this time!" snapped Urd.
"If we fail..." said Kura as he grabbed her shoulders and stared
at her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I'm going. I
won't let you leave me behind again."
"Urd, I can't..." said Kura with a sad look in his eyes.
"Kura, we do not have an army. We need all the help we can get,"
said Fujin calmly.
"He is right, Belldandy and Skuld will also be there. I have felt
them, and they are aware," agreed Raiden.
"No! Not Skuld, she's too young! Her powers..."
"Are needed," said Fujin calmly. "You have never seen Amatsu
Mikaboshi. This is not to be taken lightly."
"Hey! Where do you think you're going? We've got work to do!"
snapped Ukyo as she poked her head out the door.
Raiden and Fujin looked at her for a moment and frowned. "Remain
inside, we will return shortly. If we do not, then prepare to die with
honor."
With that, the group vanished in a flash of light.
++++++++++++
"But Father! She's too young! We can't..." Belldandy went pale as
she stared at the phone receiver. "No! It can't be...I..." She
shuddered and tears fell from her face.
"What? What's going on?" said Keiichi fearfully.
"Skuld and I will be leaving for a few days. No matter what
happens, don't worry," said the goddess as she turned to smile at the
boy gently, holding in her tears as best as she could.
"Huh? What do you mean?" he muttered dumbly. "Is something wrong?
Are you crying?"
"Yes," said the goddess as she kissed him on the forehead.
"Yet?" said Keiichi with a small frown. "Wait! Tell me what's..."
He glanced around and hung his head. "Great. Gone already."
++++++++++++++
TBC...
Next Time: The Gateway!
Part 13
Blackness from hell.
++++++++++++
Kura sighed as he sat in the corner of the Ucchan and stared at
his one time best friend lazily. His head was resting in his arm and
he watched the customers come and go. "Because I don't work for you, I
just take care of you. That's why," he replied casually. "I'm not
Konatsu, and I'm not Ranma anymore. Don't expect me to act like them."
"What? You're not freeloading off of me buddy!" snapped Ukyo
angrily.
"I'll keep the store open while you go to school then," he said
with a small sigh.
Ukyo paused and stared at him for a moment. "You're not going to
school?"
"Why would I?" he replied with a small shrug. "I already know
everything I need too. It's not like I'll ever need a job, or have to
pay rent, or anything."
"Well, still..." grumbled Ukyo with a frown forming on her face.
"This place doesn't even have a proper bath," grumbled Urd as she
walked out of the bathroom clad in only a towel.
Ukyo choked and her customer's heads turned to stare at the
goddess as she strolled by and walked towards the stairs.
"What?" muttered Urd in confusion.
"What the heck are you lookin at!?" snapped Kura.
"Put some clothes on!" snapped Ukyo. She turned towards the god
and frowned. "How long do you have to hang around anyway?"
"Well, I promised to take care of you, so... probably for the rest
of your life," he replied with a small shrug.
"You know, I would have been so happy with this a few weeks ago,"
she grumbled irritably as she turned away.
Kura nodded and smiled to himself for a moment. "Yeah. I know."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she snapped as she spun around and
pulled her baker's peel off of her back.
"It means that my plan failed. I wanted to distance all of you
from me. Why did you think I've been such a jerk lately?" he said with
a small sigh as he rubbed his temples for a moment.
Ukyo paused and stared at him. "What?"
"Ukyo, I was reborn for a reason. I don't want any of you getting
involved, it's very simple," he said with a small shrug. "I can't have
any of you playing brave and loyal fiancee, coming after me would only
get you all killed."
"What the heck are you talking about?" said the girl as she slowly
lowered her weapon.
"I'd have been subtler about it if I had more time, but I don't. I
wasn't reborn alone. There's something really nasty coming, and I'm
going to be the one to fight it. I might not survive, I didn't last
time," he said with a somewhat haunted look in his eyes.
"That's why you said you didn't love me?" she said quietly. "You
were worried about me?"
"That's right," he said with a small smirk.
"Hey! What about me you jerk!" snapped Urd as she appeared between
them. "Are you saying I didn't have anything to do with that?" She was
still dressed in her towel, and had the full attention of every male
in the restaurant.
"Well, he is my fiancee," said Ukyo as she glared at him.
"No, he's my husband," retorted Urd.
"Great, another Shampoo," grumbled Ukyo angrily.
"No, she's right Ukyo," replied Kura with a small shrug. "Urd and
I were married on the day Kami-sama told us we were soul mates."
"What?" gasped the girl in shock as she staggered back for a
moment. "But...it's till death do us part right? You died! So you've
parted!"
"Not in this case, most people who get married in heaven are
already dead Ukyo. The vows are different. It's till the end of
existence. I still exist, so we're still married," explained Urd with
a small shrug.
Ukyo growled and glared at her. "Still, what about my honor? I've
still got that contract..."
"Take it up with the Saotome family. They're the ones who lied,"
said Kura calmly.
"I can't blame them, they didn't know any better," muttered the
girl as she hung her head and sat down. It was about then that she
noticed Urd was still standing beside her with a towel on. "Will you
get dressed already?"
Urd sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine." She removed the towel and
flung it in front of herself, the instant it passed over her she was
dressed again. "Happy?"
"Show off," grumbled Ukyo as the customers clapped in appreciation
for the trick.
"She's not very happy about this," said Urd as she watched the
girl wander off.
"There's nothing I can do. I have to stay here now," replied Kura
with a small shrug. "I'm not going to start messing with the Ultimate
Force."
"What about those other girls?" said the goddess as she sat down
next to him and smirked.
"I'm not sure," said Kura. "Shampoo probably won't bother us, but
I'm going to be in town now. That means Kodachi won't give up, I'm not
sure about Akane, but I think she's accepted this. Venus will probably
be around too."
"That tramp had better keep her hands off you," growled Urd
angrily.
"Just like old times," muttered Kura as he hung his head and sighed.
"Hi," said a familiar voice. Nodoka Saotome walked into the
restaurant with a wide smile on her face.
"You!" said Ukyo. "What the heck are you doing here?"
"I came to visit my brother," said the woman calmly.
Ukyo seemed to remember something and calmed a bit. "Oh, right.
Tell me where that deadbeat husband of yours is!"
"Don't worry about him! It'll be ten years before he's even human
again," said the goddess as she waved the comment off. "He's being
punished for being such a terrible husband and father."
"What?" said Ukyo dumbly.
Kura blinked and looked up at her for a moment. "Huh? Come to
think of it...I haven't seen Pop for a while."
"I just sent him to China for about ten years or so, he'll be
fine. He can't turn back into a man until his punishment is over,"
said the goddess as she sat down at the counter and smiled at them.
"Um, Kura... are you sure we should be talking about this with all
these mortals around? Not that I mind, but Belldandy seems to
think..."
"Are you kidding? This is Nerima," said the god as he chuckled for
a moment. "Stuff like this is normal around here."
Urd blinked and looked around. Sure enough, other than a few
people looking at her body, no one seemed to care.
"So, where is the old man anyway?" said Kura as he stood up and moved
next to his sister.
"Get me a cup of tea would you dear?" said the woman as she looked
at Ukyo.
The girl merely nodded and put a cup on the counter.
"Anyway, I turned him into a panda and sent him to China," she
said sweetly.
"Yamma, I know when you're not telling me everything," said Kura
as he glared at her for a moment.
Yamma merely sipped at her tea. "It's nothing to worry about,
he'll be fine."
"You're not even a little bit worried?" said Ukyo with a small
frown.
"Huh? This is Genma Saotome we're talking about here. He used to
like being a panda remember?"
"Oh," grumbled Ukyo as she looked away.
"He's not enjoying it now," said Yamma cheerfully.
Ukyo frowned at the change in the woman's attitude, she was acting
so much younger and less formal than usual.
Kura frowned and walked behind the counter with Ukyo. He turned on
the sink and poured a glass of water on the floor just between himself
and the girl.
"Hey! What are you doing?" snapped Ukyo, she blushed suddenly and
stared at the ground. "Oh my! Is that Mr. Saotome?"
Yamma giggled and peered over the counter. "Yes, he's the one on
the bottom."
"What?!" said Ukyo as she suddenly turned green.
Kura looked up at her and narrowed his eyes. "That's sick."
"Please, you're not the only one who's had to suffer because of
that moron. I had to be married to him, this is as much for me as it
is you."
The god blinked and shrugged his shoulders. The puddle they were
watching the image in dried up in an instant as he turned away.
Ukyo was looking at Yamma with tears in her eyes. "I-I...I love
you!"
"Why thank you dear," said the woman as she cocked her head and
smiled warmly.
Raiden walked out of the back of the restaurant with a scowl on
his face. "I told you I don't do dishes." he was wearing an apron and
was covered in flour.
"Somebody has to do them," she said as she turned to glare at him
for a moment.
"Do you have any idea what will happen if I put my hands into that
water?" said the god with a sour frown. He raised his hands and made
electricity crackle between them for a moment.
"So let Fujin do them," said Kura with a small shrug.
"He's sweeping the sidewalk right now," said Ukyo.
"How come you don't have to work?" said Raiden as he glared at
Kura for a moment.
"Cause I'm stuck here, and Urd is married to me. We both have
legitimate reasons for being here. You two don't," said Kura with a
small shrug. "If you want to stay, you have to work. It's the rules."
"Konatsu never complained this much," commented Ukyo as she shoved
a pair of long rubber gloves into the god's chest.
"Thanks," he grumbled as he returned to his work again.
A group of people flew by the window outside with surprised looks
on their faces, the wall shook with the force of the passing wind as
they were blown away.
"Damn it! How many times to I have to tell him to use the broom!"
cried Ukyo as she rushed towards the door.
+++++++++++
"It is time," said one of the demons near the front of the horde
of monsters and devils.
Mara frowned, she was several hundred feet back with her own group
of minions standing around at her feet. She was dressed in battle
armor and held a long spear in her hands. "Goodbye Kura." She narrowed
her eyes as the lake of fire began to boil in front of her and the
army of hell.
Slowly, a black form rose from the flames and lava, it roared
triumphantly and reared its gigantic head back. The two red eyes now
fully opened. It was a giant dragon, hundreds of feet long, the head
alone the size of a city bus. Flames and molten rock dripped down it's
scales as it slowly climbed out of the pit and spread it's wings,
scraping the top of the massive cavern with the tips as it did so. "At
last! My army is before me, and the heavens await. We shall rain fire
down upon them, and destroy the forces of heaven at last!"
Spears, swords, pikes, and various other sharp instruments rose
into the air as the hordes of hell gave out a deafening battle cry.
++++++++++++++
Ryoga Hibiki was lost, that in itself was not unusual. However,
for the first time in a long while, he didn't have anywhere he really
wanted to be. He simply wandered, taking in nature and enjoying the
freedom of having his arm healed at last, and the joy of not being
cursed any longer.
"Akari," muttered the boy as he stood in the middle of a large
field and looked down at the photo in his hand for a moment. He paused
and looked up at the sky again. "Maybe...maybe I should find her?" He
smirked for a moment and sighed. She'd probably be a little
disappointed that he lost his curse.
After a long time of simply staring up into the clouds, he sighed
and adjusted the straps on his backpack. "I guess I've finally got a
destination."
His smile slowly faded away though, the ground rumbled and he
staggered for a moment with a look of confusion on his face. "What
the?"
His mind raced as he fumbled around and attempted to get his
bearings straight. The earthquake was massive, cracks began to form
down the center of the field where he stood.
"Damn! What the hell is going on?"
"Why, you're absolutely right," said a voice from behind him.
He spun around and gasped in shock as a woman slowly climbed up
from one of the crevices that had formed in the ground around him.
Behind her, deep in the earth, he could see thousands of eyes slowly
moving towards the surface. "Who?"
Behind him the ground exploded, fire shot up from below and a hail
of flaming stones pelted the ground. The grass started to burn as a
column of lava burst forth from the ground. Creatures seemed to ride
the flames up and cackled madly as the scurried across the fire and
into the field.
That was when it came, a huge black mass of teeth and scales
blasted up from the hole. It was long and thin, its body and wings
tucked at its sides as it seemed to slide into the sky. After a
moment, it seemed to hang for a moment before it exploded outward,
stretching its arms, legs, and wings all at once. It roared and
flipped once in the air, plants died just from coming in contact with
its shadow.
Ryoga staggered for a moment and looked on in horror as the sun
began to fade away, leaving only blackness in the sky. "What? Damn
it...I have to do something!"
"What are you going to do mortal?" said one of the demon things
that now surrounded him.
Ryoga faced them and clenched his fists, his cold stare making
them step back for a moment. "I'm going to send you back to hell." A
sheet of ice formed at his feet and he moved into a combat stance.
"I've got to get out of here! I don't stand a chance against all of
them, but maybe if I find Ranma...then we can..." His thoughts were
cut off as the things started to charge towards him.
++++++++++++
Cologne frowned as she saw the sky darken suddenly and turned
towards Shampoo and Mousse. The two teens were packing their things
for the return to China.
Shampoo didn't look happy, and she doubted if she would go through
with marrying Mousse. She had decided not to suggest it, it would be
better for her to suffer a little bit of dishonor rather than force
her great granddaughter to suffer like that. She would survive, and
the tribe would move on. This would mean that Shampoo would not be
able to serve on the counsel of elders. However, if she acted quickly,
and prodded the girl correctly, then her Great Great Granddaughter
might be able to remove that blemish from her family.
Unfortunately, that meant she had to get rid of Mousse somehow.
The boy was oblivious and seemed quite happy with his current
situation.
Cologne hobbled over to the pair and poked Mousse with her staff.
"Mousse, I have an important job for you."
"Huh?" said the boy dumbly. "But I..."
"There is a darkness forming in the sky. I feel a strange and
powerful force in the west. Go and find out what it is, and then
report back to us." She smirked as he looked up at the sky and
frowned.
"You're right, I feel something too," he said with a serious nod.
"Don't worry Shampoo, I'll come back soon."
"Shampoo not care," snorted the girl as she stopped packing and
turned away from him with her arms crossed.
"But Shampoo! I..." His pleading was stopped as Cologne whacked
him on the head. "Get moving boy!"
"Right," he muttered as he staggered away.
"This could work out for the best. If Mousse is killed, then
Shampoo's honor could be restored. After all, it can't be helped that
her future husband was killed fighting off demons." Cologne smiled to
herself as she thought of this.
"We not help Mousse?" said Shampoo as she looked at the old woman
for a moment.
"No child. He is aware of the danger, and the three of us may not
be any good against this power. It is very strong. It is best if only
one of us goes at the moment to see how bad this dark power really
is."
"Shampoo...understand," muttered the girl as she started working
again.
++++++++++++
"What is that?" stammered Nabiki as she looked up at the sky in
shock.
Akane frowned as she stepped back from the remains of a cinder
block and watched the blackness spread across the sky. "Ranma?"
"We should go inside," said Soun as he stepped out with them for a
moment.
"Father! Dinner is almost...Oh my," said Kasumi as she followed
and stared at the scene in shock.
"But, what is that?" said Akane as she glanced at him for a
moment.
"Something for the gods to worry about. Come inside Akane,"
replied Soun with a small frown.
"I feel...cold," muttered Nabiki as she clutched her arms and
rubbed them.
"Ranma..." said Akane again.
"He doesn't want your help, Akane," said Nabiki as she realized
what her sister was thinking about.
"I'm a martial artist too!" she snapped at her sister.
"But you're not a god," insisted Nabiki firmly. "You'll only get
in the way."
"She's right you know," said Happosai as he appeared on the roof
of the home. He was merely sitting and smoking his pipe. "Leave this
to us, Akane."
"But, Ranma has always helped me!" said the girl as she looked up
at him.
"Akane, why do you think he's pushed you away from him?" said the
old man as he stared at her for a moment.
"What?" she muttered in confusion.
"It's because he knew about this, and he knew that this is exactly
what you'd do. You are not strong enough to face this," said the old
man with a small nod.
"I guess...you're right," muttered Akane as she hung her head and
looked at the grass in the yard. It was quickly wilting away.
Happosai vanished in a small flash of light and left the family
standing in the yard.
"Come, we should go inside," said Soun as he pulled at Nabiki and
Kasumi.
"I don't want to disappoint him then," said Akane as she looked at
her father for a moment.
"Akane?" muttered the man dumbly.
She jumped up and over the wall, leaving her family standing
there.
"Akane! No!" cried Kasumi as she started after her.
"Idiot!" called Nabiki.
"Wahhhh! My baby! Come back Akane! Come back!" wailed Soun.
+++++++++++
"This does not bode well," said Tatewaki Kuno as he stared at the
sky above him. His boken was firmly clenched in his grip. "I sense a
great evil about this foul darkness. No doubt the work of the sorcerer
Ranma Saotome!"
Kodachi frowned at her brother's ranting, but was strangely
silent. "No doubt my trio of gods go off to defend me from this
terrible evil!" she thought to herself.
"It is only fitting that such a great warrior as myself go off to
face this great evil!" called Kuno as he raised his boken into the
air. A flash of lightning crashed into the ground behind him.
"Fear not, for I, the Black Rose, shall not allow you to face this
darkness alone my loves!"
"Hey Keiki!" said Principal Kuno as he walked by the pair with a
surfboard under his arm. It completely ruined their dramatic pose and
the pair glared at him.
"Tell me madman, where do you venture in this dour time?" said
Kuno as he pointed his boken at him.
"I is goin to da beach! Mighty big waves in da bad weda!
Kowabunga!" cried the man as he rushed off with tears of joy in his
eyes.
+++++++++++
"What is that?" cried Venus as she sat upright in bed and stared
at the wall in front of her. "No! It's..."
"Huh? Wha?" said the boy who emerged from under the sheets near
her legs. "What's up babe? I thought..."
"Look, Jiro, I've got to go now. I'll call you later...my fiancee
is in trouble and I've..."
"Fiancee?" muttered the man in confusion. "Hey! But I..."
"Bye!" said Venus as she blew him a small kiss with her fingers
and ducked out the door.
"But...you forgot your clothes..." muttered the dumbfounded man.
++++++++++++
"Where is she?" grumbled Benten as she scanned the skyline for a
moment, each of her eight arms held a weapon of some kind, and she was
dressed in battle armor. She was also tapping her foot impatiently as
she waited.
"My power has been blocked," muttered Amaterasu as she stood
beside the goddess. "I'm not going to wait much longer."
"She'll be here," said Benten with a small scowl.
Venus appeared in front of them with a proud looking grin on her
face. She was completely nude and covered in sweat. "Hiya!"
"Not you too," muttered Amaterasu in disgust.
"Well, we are love goddesses," said Benten with a small blush
forming on her face.
Venus reached over and shoved Benten's right breast under the
goddess's armor as she made her clothing appear on her own body.
A man appeared in the window and blinked as he saw the three women
standing outside the window. Benten hid six of her arms and smiled at
him.
"Where are you going starfish?"
"Um...just out for a while. I should be back in a few days or
so..." said the goddess nervously.
"But, I made you breakfast starfish. I figured we could have some
breakfast, and then maybe have some...Chad."
"Sorry, gotta go!" said the goddess as she jumped off the roof and
followed the other two.
"Was it the...food?" called the man as she rushed off.
"No!" called Benten.
"Was it...the pizza delivery job?" prodded the man desperately.
"No, it wasn't the job," said Benten.
"Was it...the Chad?" whined the man.
"It might have been!" called Benten as she finally turned the
corner and moved out of sight.
"We don't have time for this," snorted Amaterasu.
"Mine was cuter," said Venus with a smirk.
"Can we just go? Infinite evil has come to Earth you know,"
grumbled Benten.
"Was it the Chad?" asked Amaterasu with a smirk on her face.
Venus looked at her in surprise. "Huh?"
"Of course it was the Chad," said Benten with a smirk of her own.
With that, the goddesses vanished.
++++++++++
"I'm leaving now," said Kura as he stood outside and stared at the
sky hatefully.
"No!" cried Urd as she moved in front of him. "Don't leave me
again!"
"We have no choice," said Fujin from his place on the roof.
"Come brother, it won't be an easy battle," said Raiden.
"I'm going with you this time!" snapped Urd.
"If we fail..." said Kura as he grabbed her shoulders and stared
at her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I'm going. I
won't let you leave me behind again."
"Urd, I can't..." said Kura with a sad look in his eyes.
"Kura, we do not have an army. We need all the help we can get,"
said Fujin calmly.
"He is right, Belldandy and Skuld will also be there. I have felt
them, and they are aware," agreed Raiden.
"No! Not Skuld, she's too young! Her powers..."
"Are needed," said Fujin calmly. "You have never seen Amatsu
Mikaboshi. This is not to be taken lightly."
"Hey! Where do you think you're going? We've got work to do!"
snapped Ukyo as she poked her head out the door.
Raiden and Fujin looked at her for a moment and frowned. "Remain
inside, we will return shortly. If we do not, then prepare to die with
honor."
With that, the group vanished in a flash of light.
++++++++++++
"But Father! She's too young! We can't..." Belldandy went pale as
she stared at the phone receiver. "No! It can't be...I..." She
shuddered and tears fell from her face.
"What? What's going on?" said Keiichi fearfully.
"Skuld and I will be leaving for a few days. No matter what
happens, don't worry," said the goddess as she turned to smile at the
boy gently, holding in her tears as best as she could.
"Huh? What do you mean?" he muttered dumbly. "Is something wrong?
Are you crying?"
"Yes," said the goddess as she kissed him on the forehead.
"Yet?" said Keiichi with a small frown. "Wait! Tell me what's..."
He glanced around and hung his head. "Great. Gone already."
++++++++++++++
TBC...
Next Time: The Gateway!