{Part 7- Shock resistance?}
"Master Kuuuunnnnnoooooo! master Kuuunnnooo! Where are you!? Nabiki-saaaaaaaaaaaan?
Anyone?"
Sasuke calls out through the woods as he searches for any signs of his search party, but there is
nothing. Only the sounds of the occasional bird, and the rustle of leaves in the wind. He sighs as
he slumps down besides a tree-trunk and looks up. A grey squirrel with large claws scampers up
to him, looks at him, tries to nibble him, but regrets it when Sasuke unknowingly rests a (rather
smelly) foot on its head.
Sasuke: "Ooooh..... Master Tatewake, where did you go? Don't leave your loyal servant behind!"
A shadow passes overhead. Sasuke blinks. He stands up, and the poor squirrel-demon squeaks in
pain.
Sasuke: "Huh? What was that!? Too big to be a bird! A demon!? He might have Tatewake-sama!"
In a single leap, he hops onto one of the tallest trees in the area and stares out to the just-passed
source of the shadow. He spots from behind (Old voice : And what a behind! *BAM* Ok, ok, I
get the message....) a girl with wings.... bat wings.... carrying Ranma! Sasuke's eyes widen for a
second, then he quickly starts hopping trees to catch up with the evil being that is carrying away
one of the members of the group under his protection.
Sasuke: "Hey! Stop! You evil demon! Stop! Release Ranma now!"
At the mention of Ranma's name, the.... winged demon stops and hovers, then turns around to
look at Sasuke.
Sasuke sucks in his breath as the visage of another of "his" group greets him. He shakes his head
resolutely as he stares at the all too familiar face in front of him.
Sasuke:
Akane stares at Sasuke, balancing on a treetop, and blinks. A smile of joy creeps along her face at
seeing a 'friendly' face, and relief floods through her system in the most comforting manner.
Akane: "Sasuke! You're all right! I thought everyone was done for!"
Sasuke blinks in surprise as the Akane-lookalike speaks his name and actually sounds relieved.
He's more surprised at her proclamation of his well-being. The final shock comes when she
actualy flits over to HUG him.
Sasuke tries to speak while Akane's chest is.... well, his face is in her chest.
Sasuke: "Mmph...ah....A....Akane-san?"
Akane doesn't look down from hugging Sasuke, as she holds Ranma in one hand.
Akane: "Yes?"
Sasuke, face buried in Akane's chest, uses a finger to point to Akane. She notes that much.
Sasuke: "Yourh.... er... bohdy."
Akane looks down, then 'O's her mouth and backs off apologetically. She sticks the tip of her
tongue out in embarrasment, then smiles at Sasuke. Her excitement betrays itself in her voice.
Akane: "Sorry. But whatever, it's so good to see you're ALIVE & WELL Sasuke!"
Sasuke: "Excuse me?"
Akane: "You... didn't know? Oh... er....hmmm."
Akane ponders this for a few seconds, before a slight shaking in her right hand reminds her of
Ranma's presence.
Pulling her arm up, Akane holds Ranma up to face level looking at him, and Ranma looks
indignantly back at her.
Ranma: "Could we pleeeeeeeeeease land somewhere before I lose my arm to blood loss?"
Akane: "Oops. Oh... er, ok.... what about camp?"
Ranma: "As good as any."
Akane is about to turn to leave when she remembers Sasuke. She floats over to him and grabs him
by the arm too.
Sasuke: "Huh? Akane-san?"
Akane: "You don't think I'll leave you here? Come on!"
Sasuke: "M..m..matte, Akane-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan........!"
-=-=-=-=-
In the main camp, Kasumi is busy serving tea to three kappas as well as happily passing them their
favorite treats, cucumbers, while chatting with them. Apparently the three of them decided to
check on their missing buddy and found Kasumi pleasant chatting company as they found her
hanging up clothes. Apparently she finds them good company too. A rather oversized kappa is
looking over Kasumi's shoulder to the casualty lying on a nearby tree stump, shaking his leathery
head.
Kasumi: "Oh my, I'm awfully sorry about that incident.... I'm sure..."
Bald Kappa: "Oh, don't worry about him. He's not dead, just shocked. He'll heal. That big idiot,
always getting too nosey for his own comfort."
Kasumi looks over to the kappa on the tree stump nearby, bandaged over the gaping hole in his
shell, stirring. She 'O's her mouth in concern as she passes some cucumber salad to a medium
sized, head-hairy kappa who looks more like an english sheepdog than a turtle-man-spirit.
Kasumi: "I hope he's alright."
Shaggy Kappa: "Awmph, heh'llgh beah alfrite. Mm, sayth, thish saladh ish delishious!"
Kasumi: "Really? Thank you!"
Kasumi bows, and the kappa, being too polite as is normal of their race bows back. Well, does its
best anyway.
After swallowing, the turtle-demon waddles over with a paper and pencil and lifts a lock of hair
with its webbed hand, exposing one admiring eye under all that hair.
Shaggy Kappa: "But, Miss Kasumi, you MUST give me the recipe! The guys back home'll love
it!"
Kasumi smiles happily and claps her hands together before taking the paper and pencil.
Kasumi: "Gladly!"
As she happily writes down the recipe, Akane comes landing down behind her with Ranma in one
hand and Sasuke in another. The three are staring at the kappas in front of Kasumi, and the three
are subsequently staring back at them. Especially at Akane. The fat kappa scratches his head
thoughtfully.
Fat Kappa: "Say, guys, I don't remember seeing this succubus on the island before, do you?"
Both of them shake their heads. The bald one scrutinizes Akane closely as Kasumi continues
writing down the mixing technique for the salad. Akane stares down at the turtle examining her,
as do Ranma and Sasuke.
Akane, Ranma & Sasuke: "............" *sweatdrop*
Finally, the bald one turns back to the other two and shakes his head.
Bald Kappa: "Nope, definitely a new one."
The three of them waddle together and confer for a minute or so, and just as Kasumi finishes
writing down everything, they part. The shaggy kappa takes the paper and thanks Kasumi while
the other two make their way to Akane. Akane is still watching them, her head-wings twitching.
Kasumi's gaze follows the two others as they do so, and she spots Akane. She smiles happily.
Kasumi: "Ara! Akane-chan! I'm so glad you and Ranma are back! The rest have gone out looking
for Shampoo!"
The kappa's stop near Akane's feet, then look behind them, at Kasumi. Since they're on all fours
and generally exist that way, they do the best they can for a shrug. Their necks just bend. Akane is
still staring at the two, as are Ranma and Sasuke. Akane begins tapping her foot.
Akane: "Just who the heck are you guys?"
Ranma and Sasuke nod in agreement, and the three kappas look at each other before "shrugging"
again and plopping down onto the sandy ground.
Fat Kappa: "Why not everyone sit around here and let us explain something....?"
-=-=-=-=-
Lina, the silver-haired one, and Shampoo are taking a walk around the cavern which Kuriimu lives
in. All around them, monsters and demons part before Lina like a wave, and not once do any of
them get close to Shampoo. The last one that did is still trying to locate its missing lower torso to
gain some mobility again.
Lina is showing Shampoo Kuriimu's throne room in the vast labyrinth at the moment, currently
empty.
Lina: "You see, Kuriimu is the Lord of this Island. He was trapped in a massive tree centuries ago
and was only recently freed by your.... bird of steel. He has much to be grateful for, and marrying
you is the one way he can show his gratitude."
Shampoo crosses her arms and huffs, looking away from the throne.
Shampoo: "Shampoo no want to marry ugly cat demon."
Lina looks at Shampoo with a raised eyebrow for a second, before flashing her a smile.
Lina: "Ah, I see. But he doesn't have to stay like that, just like you don't have to remain in your....
cursed form forever."
This gets Shampoo's attention. She looks back to Lina, her posture becoming more relaxed.
Shampoo: "Silver-haired Lina say furball can become man, like Ranma?"
Lina nods.
Lina: "Yes."
Shampoo: "Hm.... then what Lina was before changing?"
Lina: ".........." (@_@*)
***
Looking over the "prison" in the chamber, Kuriimu examines his 'prizes' and the strength of their
souls each, planning to have the best ones first.
Kurimuu: "Hm... so many choices, so little people. I wish there were more people around....."
All the demons around him nod their agreements, then Kuriimu's eye falls to Nabiki.
Kurimuu: "Ah, very well. I shall have your soul first."
Soun quickly steps in front of her to shield Nabiki, smoke beginning to pour from his nostrils.
Soun: "You touch one spiritual hair on her and...."
A big, purple head with forked tongue takes Soun's place. (Yes! It's his Big Head skill!)
Soun: "Gaaaaaaah! You'll have to deal with me first!"
Kurimuu ends up staring into the face of Soun's Big-Head floating high in the air. He blinks. Then
he laughs.
Kuriimu: "Neeeeearrw! You are funny, little man!"
Then with a twist, Kuriimu turns into a giant hunting cat, the cavern suddenly getting a lot less
spacious. Evil clouds surround him, and Soun's head looks like a toy ball compared to him. A
second later, Nabiki is trying to soothe Soun as he lies on the floor, shivering. Kuriimu peers at
them again.
Kurimui: "No matter. I shall have your soul now, girl."
-=-=-=-=-
With a sad sigh, the fat kappa ends his tale of the island's history and the reason all of them are
here.
Fat Kappa: "And that's how it is. We're all stuck here, all us poor demons, because of some stupid
priest who trapped us all here with some spell. Don't know why, don't care why."
Akane can feel herself crumbling with this last sentence, and so does everyone else, who pick up
the general gist of what the fat kappa's trying to say. Akane looks lost, as she realizes what it
means as well.
Akane: "But that means...."
Shaggy Kappa: "Yeah, it's sad ain't it? No chance to surf, no sand but this lake's...."
*donk!*
Lifting a foot, a bald kappa with a head so smooth and shiny sunlight reflects painfully off it
stomps the shaggy kappa's head, sending a few strands of hair flying as well.
Bald Kappa: "You dummy! Don't you get it? This girl here can't go home! She's trapped on this
island, dimwit!"
Shaggy Kappa: "Hey, I was only tryin' ta get her mind off it!"
Kasumi, Ranma and Sasuke all look at Akane concernedly, while Akane is still trying to digest the
news. However a distraction comes around.
*rustle*
Everyone in the group turns to the source of the rustling.
Voice: "W....where...am I.... now!?"
Ranma manages to recognize the stumbling voice from behind the bushes.
Ranma: "Ryouga?"
He quickly gets up and runs towards the bushes, where Ryouga, battered, cut, bloodied and
almost unconscious stumbles through. Ranma grabs Ryouga and supports him.
Ranma: "Hey, you look like hell, pork-boy."
Ryouga: "Feel like it."
As Ranma helps Ryouga over to the group, Ryouga can feel his vision blurring in and out. But he
almost swears when he sees someone resembling Akane.... only with wings and wearing much,
much less. He shakes his head groggily.
Ryouga:
However, as Ryouga almost falls over even with Ranma's support, the person in his view gets up
and trots over to help support his other side. He turns to look at the friendly and concerned face
in front of him, then down past the neck to the chest and beyond. He looks back up to the face in
bewilderment.
Ryouga: