Retro's thoughts: Here's nine for ya. Peace out! :)
Chapter 9
Ukyou surveyed the large heap of rubble that was once her restaurant and her home. She stepped narrowly over a large boulder through what would have been her door. Looking down she spotted a spatula on the ground twisted and broken. She picked it up and moved it through her fingers bringing back many fond memories. She dropped it to the ground and moved on looking for things that are more important.
Ukyou was glad Konatsu wasn't present to witness this. He had won some kind of contest in the mail and was awarded a trip to China. He didn't want to leave her, but she made him so he could be out of her hair for awhile. Ukyou moved upstairs which was now mostly situated downstairs. She picked up a frame of her and Ranma back when they were little. He hasn't changed a bit, she thought. She frowned as she noticed the crack that split the glass, but shrugged it off and brought the picture with her to the close. She removed a small backpack and began placing necessary things in it. She would have to stay at the Tendo's home for a little while until she could get a new place.
She frowned as she remembered herself so confident in believing she wouldn't have to pay for insurance. She thought she would have been able to defend her home against attacks. Guess I should have thought a lot more about accidents, she thought hauling the bag over her shoulder. She exited what was left of her store and headed for the Tendo Dojo. Could things be any worse, she thought. She wasn't surprised when it started to rain.
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(The Kuno Mansion)
Tatewaki sat on his futon pondering yesterday's events, his mind never drifting from the stand up his pig-tailed goddess delivered most harshly to him. How could she, he thought, I knew I shouldn't have left her there at school. No...It must have been that swine Saotome. He keeps her locked in his dungeon night and day. A picture of Ranma dressed all in black with a complimentary handlebar moustache and black top hat looming over his pig-tailed goddess tied to rail-road tracks filled his mind. He calmed himself down after he added himself, dressed as a Canadian Mounty pummeling Ranma with a sword, to the dream.
"Then that solves it." Kuno stood up and brandished his bokken in the air. "I shall go and save my goddess, and the fair Akane Tendo while I'm at it."
Sousuke stumbled in and bowed before his master. "Master, a guest has arrived to see you sir and I think you would be quite pleased to see her as well". The petite ninja stepped to the side and none other than Ranma-Chan stepped before him more ravishing than ever before Kuno's eyes. In other words, she looked the same as she always did.
"Sorry Kuno, but I was..busy last night with other things, therefore I couldn't attend our little date, but I would be more than happy to go tonight." Ranma worried a little as to whether he would accept or not, but then reminded herself that this was Kuno she was talking about.
Kuno's Crusade for his loves and his memory of the stand-up faded quickly as he took Ranma's arm and escorted her outside. "All is forgiven my sweet flower. Hmmm, it appears that the rain wishes against us." Kuno spoke holding his hand into the air feeling drops of water hit it.
"Doesn't matter." Ranma said curtly snuggling closer to Kuno hoping he wouldn't go back inside.
"Are you sure my sweet, because I can easily reschedule." Kuno said beginning to turn around to go inside.
"NO, I mean no. A simple thing like the weather won't bother us, will it?" Ranma knew her big puppy eyes would win him over. Kuno smiled and nodded as they continued.
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(The Tendo Dojo)
Kasumi poured a cup of tea for Mousse and the now sobered up Shampoo. She was still distraught and didn't acknowledge anything around her but at least she stopped crying. Akane sat next to Mousse at the head of the table and leaned towards Mousse.
"Don't you think she's over-reacting a little?" Akane spoke just loud enough so Shampoo could here. Maybe to get some kind of response out of her, but none came. She still stared blankly at the untouched tea.
"Oh no. Shampoo takes Cologne's advice and orders very seriously. She follows them to the letter. She feels horrible that Cologne told her to watch the store and now the store is gone." Mousse looked over to see Shampoo bawling again, and let her lean on his shoulder. He looked back at Akane and shrugged.
Akane looked down at her cup of tea and thought of Ranma and where he is. Just like him to go and run away during a thing like this, she thought, he's probably off fighting Ryouga. Akane had tried very much since the Saffron ordeal to cut her Ranma insults to a minimum, but lately her anxiety and Ranma's absence had contributed to the rise of the old feelings.
Akane looked up to the rain now pouring outside when she heard a knock at the front door. She got up and went to go answer since Kasumi and now Nabiki were both absent. A drenched Ukyou walked in with a worn look on her face and a backpack over her shoulder. She looked at Mousse and Shampoo then to Akane.
"My place is wrecked can I stay here for awhile?" Ukyou didn't have to ask the question, she was always welcome in their home. Akane gave her a small nod and a smile and showed her upstairs. Akane escorted her down the hallway past the opened doorway of Ranma's room. Ukyou noticed the empty room and shot a look of confusion to Akane. She ignored it as she showed Ukyou into the room. Akane was about to leave when Ukyou stopped her.
"Akane, where is he?" Ukyou said forcefully with a restraining hand on Akane's shoulder.
"Who?" Akane played dumb partially because she wanted to leave but mostly because she didn't know where he was either, and it worried her.
"You know who Akane. Ranma, where is he?" Ukyou said a little annoyed, seeing right through Akane's facade.
"I..I don't know. The last time I saw him was with you at school remember." Akane spoke in a small voice; her head hung a little low.
"My god Akane that was a couple days ago! What if something happened during the earthquake?" Ukyou said in a worried and frantic voice moving to the door but Akane stopped her.
"He's alright." Ukyou gave her a quizzical look. "I don't know how but I just..know." Her statement did not leave room for questioning. Akane left the room for downstairs leaving a stunned Ukyou.
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"God damn you Ryouga, where the hell are we?" Nabiki said frustrated. She had to warn the others and here Ryouga is getting me lost.
"I swear this is a short-cut. I remember these right here." He pointed to two large rocks several feet off the main road.
Nabiki turned to him with a look of absolute fury. "That's because were going in CIRCLES!" Nabiki sighed and looked around and praised the government for putting telephones every 10 miles or so on the main road.
She walked past Ryouga shooting him a nasty look walking towards the telephone. She picked up the receiver and an operator answered.
"Hello, what is your emergency." The woman on the other end had a perky voice that hurt Nabiki's ears.
Holding the ear piece, an inch away from her ear Nabiki spoke into it. "Yes me and my," Nabiki rolled her eyes as she looked at Ryouga and saw him trying to slap a fly in the air with his hands, "boyfriend are lost, I would like you to pinpoint our coordinates and send them to a Hiro Mikosawa of Tokyo airport. Tell him I'm calling in a favor and to come get Nabiki Tendo. See if you can get hold of the Tendo residence in Nerima. Tell them if they see Ranma to not interact with him, oh also tell them to get over to the Kuno residence and get Tatewaki to a safe location, possibly the police. Ok?"
"...Would you like a tow-truck ma'am?"
Nabiki ground her teeth together and looked over to see Ryouga pouring a handful of sand on a frantic bug. "Didn't you hear anything I just said!?"
"...No, but you must remain calm in situations like this."
Nabiki screamed in rage as she was put on hold for an assistant, Ryouga began to jog off into the trees, and it began to rain. What else is new?
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(Warehouse district)
"Corporal set that up over there by those steel crates. Jenkins take point on that building over there; it's the highest. DAMNIT O'Hara get in position." Sergeant Higgins walked back and forth on the main dock waiting for the target to approach. "Tower where is the target?" The Sergeant barked his orders into a walkie-talkie hooked onto his shoulder.
The radio came back with a scratchy but audible response for the sergeant. "Target is coming down road 3 it appears he might head for the main dock but it's still unsure." A man sat at the top of a tall building several kilometers from the main dock observing Ranma and Kuno walk down the streets.
The sergeant looked around, and satisfied with his work ran and jumped behind a box on the dock as the water poured relentlessly down on him. "Station 1 status?"
"Go."
"Station 2?"
"Go."
"Station 3?"
"Go."
The sergeant sighed and looked around waiting for Ranma to come to one of the suggested target points.
Ranma walked with her hands in her pockets beside a drooling Kuno, well you couldn't tell he was drooling because of the rain, but you just knew he was.
Ranma felt worried at the quietness of the streets. True, most Nerimans were probably trying to leave the city now, and he didn't expect much activity in the warehouse district, but still. Ranma's eyes darted from left to right and in her pocket, she played with her ring some more. It had become a habit of hers since she had gotten it. Ranma saw the main dock ahead of her but felt something eerie that made her neck hair stand on end. Something isn't right, she thought. Ranma quickened the pace, took a right instead of straight, and walked to the farthest pier.
Ranma stepped to the very edge and saw the twenty-foot drop to the water. Definitely not fatal enough, Ranma thought. Ranma looked back to a wet, cold, and confused Kuno. Ranma felt it time to tell him.
Ranma walked up to Kuno and forced a smile finishing it with a sharp knee to Kuno's stomach. Totally unexpected by the blow, Kuno crumpled to the ground gasping for air. Ranma laughed shrilly and kicked Kuno in the face rolling him over. Ranma picked him up by the scruff of his shirt and was blinded by several floodlights and darts headed straight for him.
Time seemed to slow as Ranma saw every individual dart headed for her. She dropped Kuno to the ground, doing the same for herself. She landed on her belly and spared a second to look up to her left and saw four figures covered in body armor from head to toe firing at Ranma. Ranma rolled to her right straying dangerously close to the edge of the dock. She got up feeling the whips of darts zipping by her head. Ranma ducked behind three boxes stacked like a pyramid on a corner of the dock.
Ranma caught her breath and analyzed the situation for a second. Who are these people and what do they want with me? She looked around her and saw a fishing rod and a net on a piece of rotting board. She faked the soldiers out by throwing a net to the left when she ducked to the right taking refuge behind more boxes. She stole another glance and planned her attack. They had surrounded her by cutting off all exits from the front of the dock forming a half circle. She took another breath and ran up to the first assailant. Ranma saw the darts fired from the man's rifle headed for her torso and head so she fell to the slippery dock on her back and slid her feet into the mans shins knocking him down. Ranma tumble rolled past an opening of crates avoiding gunshots this time. She grabbed the stunned soldier on the ground and used him as a shield as she charged the second man.
The second man let off round after round of darts into his companions chest until he realized it wasn't Ranma anymore. He readjusted his aim for Ranma's head, but was knocked down with his companions incapacitated corpse on top of him.
"Sergeant! Sergeant! We are under attack. Confirmed target. Send reinforcements", the third and closest man from Ranma issued into his radio. Reaching for his assault rifle, he released several salvos for cover fire in Ranma's direction before turning to retreat and wait for reinforcements.
Ranma avoided the shots narrowly taking cover yet again. She looked to her right and kicked the box lying on the ground towards the running man. The box drifted perfectly across the slick boards knocking the man in the back of his legs causing him to falter. Ranma took this opportunity to rush forward, jump on top of him, and disarm the man. Stunned the soldier reached for his rifle at his side. Ranma saw this and stopped the hand from reaching the rifle, but was surprised when the man pulled a combat knife out with his opposite hand. The soldier was now on top of Ranma; their faces separated by a knife.
Ranma wrestled the knife away from her face allowing enough room for her to connect her fist with the man's face. The man, dazed from the hit, fell back only to have his head gripped by Ranma's hands and connected with Ranma's knee. He stumbled back into several soggy cardboard boxes and stopped moving unconscious. Ranma ran forward to her next target and grabbed him in a headlock. Ranma was about to snap his neck when he felt something weird. It wasn't a he; it was a she! Ranma overcoming her inner voice took the better option and turned her around slugging her hard. She crumpled into Ranma's arms. Ranma sighed and heaved her towards the end of the pier.
Ranma looked around and moved for Kuno when she heard about ten more troops heading strait towards her. She gasped and flipped away from the oncoming darts taking refuge yet again behind more crates.
The men started to take cover behind crates on the right side of the warehouse providing suppressing fire, not allowing Ranma to move at all from his spot. Ranma heard they cry of their leader over the general chaos.
"Switch to your sidearm. Incapacitating shots only!" The sergeant screamed his order into his walkie-talkie.
Ranma stole a peek over one of the crates and ducked immediately as a well placed shot almost took her head off. Ranma took another look but looked at the rooftops and saw the miniscule blast of light from atop a warehouse several kilometers away. She heard the shots of bullets and realized they were getting serious now. Ranma planned her attack in her head and looked at the dazed Kuno still out of it.
"I'm not done with you yet," Ranma whispered as he heated the rain falling around him with his chi. The hot water hitting his body effectively changed him back into a man. Exerting a little bit of energy to keep the water around him hot, he ducked to his right heading for more boxes. The soldiers took aim, but stopped noticing it wasn't the Ranma from before, but then took aim again remembering from the report that he had two forms. This gave him a nice window of opportunity to duck behind a box, take another breath, and leap behind another. Stunning the enemies, he jumped into the air a good twenty feet and came foot first into a soldier's face. Once Ranma landed he performed another change, and using his female speed, dodged several more shots. She looked to a group of three soldiers well positioned on top of a support beam of the dock. Ranma sent forth a moko takabisha destroying the beam, and collapsing that part of the dock with the soldiers on top. They tumbled into the water; one hung on, but he too fell due to the sheer weight of the body armor.
Ranma didn't have time to celebrate as another well placed shot nearly took off her head. Changing again, he took cover behind another box and thought out his plan. His heart sunk as he saw more troops come from the same direction as the others did. He was now squaring off with about sixteen men; hardly fair odds. Ranma smiled, this should be exciting, he thought.
Ranma leapt on top of the warehouse that blocked most of the exit off the dock. The soldiers fired into the air trying to hit him, but rain caused much misfire among them. Most of the soldiers are on the right side of warehouse so... Ranma got an idea and concentrated as best he could with the chaos erupting around him. He crossed his arms across his chest extending his fingers. Gunfire ceased as the troops saw a bluish-white light surround Ranma. A shot echoed from the tower and pierced Ranma's leg. Ranma had never been shot before and winced at the pain, but continued his exercise. When he thought that he was ready Ranma shot his arms forward and pronounced his move, "TSUNAMI KEN". The aura that had surrounded Ranma now shot out his hands toward the water twisting like a tornado. The water began to bubble and take the same glow that Ranma had. Ranma fell and slid off the right side of the roof dodging the renewed fire. He landed on his wounded leg and pain shot through his body like a tazer. That bastard's gonna pay, he thought, now where is he?
Most of the soldiers didn't see it, but for those who did screamed until they were silenced. A gigantic well-coordinated tidal wave had engulfed the pier and had thrown the men closest to the edge into the water. The tidal wave created total chaos, as it seemed to have a mind of it's own.
Ranma wasted no time as he ducked, ran behind the warehouse, and leapt on top of another warehouse and another and another, heading for the sniper's position, and ignoring as best he could his injured leg. Ranma saw the bullets aimed for him like he did last time and dodged easily finally leaping on top of the building that the sniper temporarily resided on. Ranma jumped into a sharp crescent kick, bringing his foot down on the man's head knocking him out. Ranma landed on the leg with the bullet in it reminding him of his wound. He gripped his now agonizing leg, which wouldn't stop bleeding. Ranma screamed in rage and a small comforting voice told him exactly what to do. Ranma picked up the sniper by the neck and heaved him off the four-story roof. Several snaps were heard as the man landed at an odd angle on the ground.
Ranma looked down into the chaos of the post-tidal wave to see several soldiers helping their comrades up and retreating. Ranma watched this and lurched as his heart twisted inside him. It battled for control against an invisible foe that had slowly taken him over since almost a week ago. Ranma's mercy and forgiveness had been absent as he sailed down to the troops and began to without hesitation slaughter them one by one. Some fought back and some pleaded for their life but all ended up the same.
The sergeant watched the genocide of his soldiers at the hands of the boy who was not to be underestimated. He removed two revolvers from his sides and began to unload their magazines; both guns aimed at Ranma. Ranma ran forward avoiding each shot with amazing speed until he reached his opponent.
Kuno awoke to a graveyard of soldiers. He looked around and withdrew his bokken* preparing for a good fight when his eyes landed on a soaked boy kneeling on a soldier with his hands around the man's throat. The boy had a wound on his left leg that bled badly. Kuno charged and, catching the assailant off guard brought his bokken down upon the boy's head snapping the kendo practice sword in two. The boy looked up with tears streaming down his twisted face.
Ranma grabbed Kuno by the neck and heaved him across the dock, dangerously by the edge. Ranma's aura of a brilliant gold mixed with a little red and orange burned like a flaming star in the cold rainy night. His eyes were elsewhere as fiery orbs were left in their stead. Kuno stood up and brandished a brand new bokken out of his cloak. Ranma smiled and charged at Kuno with speed the kendoist could only dream of.
You are the cause of my problems, Ranma thought still smiling running towards Kuno and the fight that awaited him, and after you are purged of this world, everything will be better.
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(The Tendo Residence)
The whole gang sat in the small room each turning over in their stomach what Nabiki had just told them. No one believed it, but deep down they all knew it was possible. Akane sat staring at the floor contemplating what should be done. What could be done? Ranma was more powerful than every one of them, and if what Nabiki said is true than he was more powerful than every one of them combined.
"That settles it then," Mousse sat up and adjust his glasses", we must kill him".
"WHAT!?" Akane and Ukyou both screamed at the same time, standing up to meet Mousse.
Mousse looked around at the solemn faces around him. He didn't want it any more than the others didn't, but Ranma caused many deaths today with that earthquake. What COULD they do to stop him? "I'm sorry Akane, but it's the only way I can think of. If you have a better way then I will gladly hear it."
"Shouldn't we let him explain himself first, maybe it's also causing him to do these horrid things. Daddy you agree with me don't you?"
Mr. Tendo put on a serious face and placed both his hands on his youngest daughter's shoulders. She looks so much like her mother, he thought. "Akane I can think of nothing else to do. Ranma might be innocent, but that doesn't change the fact that hundreds maybe thousands died by his hands."
Akane couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked to each of their faces and saw the same resolve in each one.
"You all are despicable for thinking such a thing!" Akane looked behind her to see her older sister Kasumi with bandage around her hand, and her hand in a cast. Dr. Tofu stood behind her with just a shocked face as everyone else in the room.
"Kasumi.." Akane looked at her sister and smiled, silently thanking her.
"If Ranma is being manipulated by this ring, how do you think he's feeling right now? Don't you think he would need our help and support for something like this? And what do you all want to do; go out and murder him."
"And what if this ring isn't controlling his mind? What if he's out slaughtering more right now huh?" Mousse countered quickly
"Then we bring him to his senses and make him see the error of his ways."
Nabiki gasped remembering Ranma had a date that he had bragged to her about attending. "Oh my god. KUNO!" Nabiki rushed out the door into the street when Akane beckoned her back in.
"No. I'll go find him, besides the rain is starting to let up. Don't worry I'll be back soon." Akane marched out of the living room into the streets of Nerima.
Soun looked on with worry etched on his now aged face. Dr. Tofu walked forward and put a friendly hand on Soun's shoulder. "I'll follow her and make sure no harm comes to her." The good doctor left on out the door in pursuit of Akane.
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Akane had been running for an hour now and still had not found any sign of Ranma. She scanned the City Street and let out a heavy sigh. Ranma where are you?
She jumped as she heard the sound of sirens off in the distance. Thinking that the noise might lead to Ranma, she headed in that direction, but stopped when she heard sniffling in the alley to her left. She shifted her direction and saw a sight she never would have imagined. Before her was a broken Ranma. He sat with his knees drawn up to his body with his forehead resting on them. He looked up at Akane and she realized that his face was a mess. His hair was clamped on his damp head. His shirt was torn and dirty, and his pants had...
"Oh my god, Ranma, your hurt. Here let me help you up." Akane kneeled next to him and began to place his arm around her shoulder to lift him up. His body was weak as she picked his arm up, but he snapped it back to his legs.
"Stay back Akane", he said as he looked down at the ground, avoiding her eyes, "I don't want you to get hurt too, so just stay back".
"Ranma I'm here to help you. I don't care what you've done. I'm here to help you Ranma." She outstretched her hand and waited for Ranma to take it, but he didn't he only looked far away tears streaming down his battered face.
"I didn't mean to Akane. I can't control myself anymore. It's starting to control my every move like it's taking over. Akane you have to leave before it takes me again. I can't last much longer. Tell Nabiki I'm sorry." Ranma's voice cracked as he spoke, his eyes never leaving the ground.
"What is, Ranma? Tell me who is doing this to you? Is it the ring?" Akane grabbed his shoulders, and was surprised when he slapped them away.
"DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!" Akane jumped back as if she had just been struck. "It is NOT the ring. This ring is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It's given me the power to finally make the right decisions, but what about you Akane?" Akane stared at him with a dumbstruck face shrugging a little suggesting what do you mean.
"You sit in this hell hole forced into decisions, having no say for yourself. Why? If you are undecided, then I have a solution for you. Run away with me Akane. I feel the power from this ring and it can bring me whatever I want. Whatever WE want. I'll share the success Akane, how about it?" Ranma was now standing offering his hand to Akane. His eyes didn't look like they had awhile before. Now they were...forceful, almost threatening.
"What are you saying Ranma?" Akane was confused tremendously, but she had a small idea where he was going although she didn't like it.
"You know yourself Akane. They're afraid, afraid of what I can do with this ring. We can kill them all Akane. They don't matter, only we matter." He was advancing on Akane who was slowly backing into a wall.
"Ranma! Come to your senses. Think of what your saying, the ramifications of your actions. You want to kill your friends? Is that what you want?"
"You are a fool Akane," Akane looked at him with shock as he began to yell in her face, "you're just like Nabiki, but don't worry I fixed her bandwagon. I killed that idiot Kuno. I wonder what she'll have to say to that."
A hard slap made its way across Ranma's face right after the last word left his mouth. "So that's what this is? Nothing but a grudge against my sister? I thought you better than that Ranma Saotome, but I guess I was wrong." Ranma's shock turned cold as his features turned menacing, and he advanced on Akane. She stood her ground looking him straight in the face. He was halted in mid stride as two fingers pressed themselves into his hip and he crumpled to the ground paralyzed. His eyes screamed in rage as the faces of Dr. Tofu and Akane loomed over his non-respondent body. They fear what they don't understand, he thought looking into their fearful eyes, and this silly technique won't work on me, Doctor. Soon I'll be able to move again and I'll be able to destroy you all.
Bokken - A wooden sword
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Retro's thoughts: Hello boys and ghouls. Wow things are really starting to heat up with Ranma now. Mystery, Adventure, Action, and Romance all in the next installment of
~*The One Ring*~
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Chapter 9
Ukyou surveyed the large heap of rubble that was once her restaurant and her home. She stepped narrowly over a large boulder through what would have been her door. Looking down she spotted a spatula on the ground twisted and broken. She picked it up and moved it through her fingers bringing back many fond memories. She dropped it to the ground and moved on looking for things that are more important.
Ukyou was glad Konatsu wasn't present to witness this. He had won some kind of contest in the mail and was awarded a trip to China. He didn't want to leave her, but she made him so he could be out of her hair for awhile. Ukyou moved upstairs which was now mostly situated downstairs. She picked up a frame of her and Ranma back when they were little. He hasn't changed a bit, she thought. She frowned as she noticed the crack that split the glass, but shrugged it off and brought the picture with her to the close. She removed a small backpack and began placing necessary things in it. She would have to stay at the Tendo's home for a little while until she could get a new place.
She frowned as she remembered herself so confident in believing she wouldn't have to pay for insurance. She thought she would have been able to defend her home against attacks. Guess I should have thought a lot more about accidents, she thought hauling the bag over her shoulder. She exited what was left of her store and headed for the Tendo Dojo. Could things be any worse, she thought. She wasn't surprised when it started to rain.
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(The Kuno Mansion)
Tatewaki sat on his futon pondering yesterday's events, his mind never drifting from the stand up his pig-tailed goddess delivered most harshly to him. How could she, he thought, I knew I shouldn't have left her there at school. No...It must have been that swine Saotome. He keeps her locked in his dungeon night and day. A picture of Ranma dressed all in black with a complimentary handlebar moustache and black top hat looming over his pig-tailed goddess tied to rail-road tracks filled his mind. He calmed himself down after he added himself, dressed as a Canadian Mounty pummeling Ranma with a sword, to the dream.
"Then that solves it." Kuno stood up and brandished his bokken in the air. "I shall go and save my goddess, and the fair Akane Tendo while I'm at it."
Sousuke stumbled in and bowed before his master. "Master, a guest has arrived to see you sir and I think you would be quite pleased to see her as well". The petite ninja stepped to the side and none other than Ranma-Chan stepped before him more ravishing than ever before Kuno's eyes. In other words, she looked the same as she always did.
"Sorry Kuno, but I was..busy last night with other things, therefore I couldn't attend our little date, but I would be more than happy to go tonight." Ranma worried a little as to whether he would accept or not, but then reminded herself that this was Kuno she was talking about.
Kuno's Crusade for his loves and his memory of the stand-up faded quickly as he took Ranma's arm and escorted her outside. "All is forgiven my sweet flower. Hmmm, it appears that the rain wishes against us." Kuno spoke holding his hand into the air feeling drops of water hit it.
"Doesn't matter." Ranma said curtly snuggling closer to Kuno hoping he wouldn't go back inside.
"Are you sure my sweet, because I can easily reschedule." Kuno said beginning to turn around to go inside.
"NO, I mean no. A simple thing like the weather won't bother us, will it?" Ranma knew her big puppy eyes would win him over. Kuno smiled and nodded as they continued.
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(The Tendo Dojo)
Kasumi poured a cup of tea for Mousse and the now sobered up Shampoo. She was still distraught and didn't acknowledge anything around her but at least she stopped crying. Akane sat next to Mousse at the head of the table and leaned towards Mousse.
"Don't you think she's over-reacting a little?" Akane spoke just loud enough so Shampoo could here. Maybe to get some kind of response out of her, but none came. She still stared blankly at the untouched tea.
"Oh no. Shampoo takes Cologne's advice and orders very seriously. She follows them to the letter. She feels horrible that Cologne told her to watch the store and now the store is gone." Mousse looked over to see Shampoo bawling again, and let her lean on his shoulder. He looked back at Akane and shrugged.
Akane looked down at her cup of tea and thought of Ranma and where he is. Just like him to go and run away during a thing like this, she thought, he's probably off fighting Ryouga. Akane had tried very much since the Saffron ordeal to cut her Ranma insults to a minimum, but lately her anxiety and Ranma's absence had contributed to the rise of the old feelings.
Akane looked up to the rain now pouring outside when she heard a knock at the front door. She got up and went to go answer since Kasumi and now Nabiki were both absent. A drenched Ukyou walked in with a worn look on her face and a backpack over her shoulder. She looked at Mousse and Shampoo then to Akane.
"My place is wrecked can I stay here for awhile?" Ukyou didn't have to ask the question, she was always welcome in their home. Akane gave her a small nod and a smile and showed her upstairs. Akane escorted her down the hallway past the opened doorway of Ranma's room. Ukyou noticed the empty room and shot a look of confusion to Akane. She ignored it as she showed Ukyou into the room. Akane was about to leave when Ukyou stopped her.
"Akane, where is he?" Ukyou said forcefully with a restraining hand on Akane's shoulder.
"Who?" Akane played dumb partially because she wanted to leave but mostly because she didn't know where he was either, and it worried her.
"You know who Akane. Ranma, where is he?" Ukyou said a little annoyed, seeing right through Akane's facade.
"I..I don't know. The last time I saw him was with you at school remember." Akane spoke in a small voice; her head hung a little low.
"My god Akane that was a couple days ago! What if something happened during the earthquake?" Ukyou said in a worried and frantic voice moving to the door but Akane stopped her.
"He's alright." Ukyou gave her a quizzical look. "I don't know how but I just..know." Her statement did not leave room for questioning. Akane left the room for downstairs leaving a stunned Ukyou.
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"God damn you Ryouga, where the hell are we?" Nabiki said frustrated. She had to warn the others and here Ryouga is getting me lost.
"I swear this is a short-cut. I remember these right here." He pointed to two large rocks several feet off the main road.
Nabiki turned to him with a look of absolute fury. "That's because were going in CIRCLES!" Nabiki sighed and looked around and praised the government for putting telephones every 10 miles or so on the main road.
She walked past Ryouga shooting him a nasty look walking towards the telephone. She picked up the receiver and an operator answered.
"Hello, what is your emergency." The woman on the other end had a perky voice that hurt Nabiki's ears.
Holding the ear piece, an inch away from her ear Nabiki spoke into it. "Yes me and my," Nabiki rolled her eyes as she looked at Ryouga and saw him trying to slap a fly in the air with his hands, "boyfriend are lost, I would like you to pinpoint our coordinates and send them to a Hiro Mikosawa of Tokyo airport. Tell him I'm calling in a favor and to come get Nabiki Tendo. See if you can get hold of the Tendo residence in Nerima. Tell them if they see Ranma to not interact with him, oh also tell them to get over to the Kuno residence and get Tatewaki to a safe location, possibly the police. Ok?"
"...Would you like a tow-truck ma'am?"
Nabiki ground her teeth together and looked over to see Ryouga pouring a handful of sand on a frantic bug. "Didn't you hear anything I just said!?"
"...No, but you must remain calm in situations like this."
Nabiki screamed in rage as she was put on hold for an assistant, Ryouga began to jog off into the trees, and it began to rain. What else is new?
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(Warehouse district)
"Corporal set that up over there by those steel crates. Jenkins take point on that building over there; it's the highest. DAMNIT O'Hara get in position." Sergeant Higgins walked back and forth on the main dock waiting for the target to approach. "Tower where is the target?" The Sergeant barked his orders into a walkie-talkie hooked onto his shoulder.
The radio came back with a scratchy but audible response for the sergeant. "Target is coming down road 3 it appears he might head for the main dock but it's still unsure." A man sat at the top of a tall building several kilometers from the main dock observing Ranma and Kuno walk down the streets.
The sergeant looked around, and satisfied with his work ran and jumped behind a box on the dock as the water poured relentlessly down on him. "Station 1 status?"
"Go."
"Station 2?"
"Go."
"Station 3?"
"Go."
The sergeant sighed and looked around waiting for Ranma to come to one of the suggested target points.
Ranma walked with her hands in her pockets beside a drooling Kuno, well you couldn't tell he was drooling because of the rain, but you just knew he was.
Ranma felt worried at the quietness of the streets. True, most Nerimans were probably trying to leave the city now, and he didn't expect much activity in the warehouse district, but still. Ranma's eyes darted from left to right and in her pocket, she played with her ring some more. It had become a habit of hers since she had gotten it. Ranma saw the main dock ahead of her but felt something eerie that made her neck hair stand on end. Something isn't right, she thought. Ranma quickened the pace, took a right instead of straight, and walked to the farthest pier.
Ranma stepped to the very edge and saw the twenty-foot drop to the water. Definitely not fatal enough, Ranma thought. Ranma looked back to a wet, cold, and confused Kuno. Ranma felt it time to tell him.
Ranma walked up to Kuno and forced a smile finishing it with a sharp knee to Kuno's stomach. Totally unexpected by the blow, Kuno crumpled to the ground gasping for air. Ranma laughed shrilly and kicked Kuno in the face rolling him over. Ranma picked him up by the scruff of his shirt and was blinded by several floodlights and darts headed straight for him.
Time seemed to slow as Ranma saw every individual dart headed for her. She dropped Kuno to the ground, doing the same for herself. She landed on her belly and spared a second to look up to her left and saw four figures covered in body armor from head to toe firing at Ranma. Ranma rolled to her right straying dangerously close to the edge of the dock. She got up feeling the whips of darts zipping by her head. Ranma ducked behind three boxes stacked like a pyramid on a corner of the dock.
Ranma caught her breath and analyzed the situation for a second. Who are these people and what do they want with me? She looked around her and saw a fishing rod and a net on a piece of rotting board. She faked the soldiers out by throwing a net to the left when she ducked to the right taking refuge behind more boxes. She stole another glance and planned her attack. They had surrounded her by cutting off all exits from the front of the dock forming a half circle. She took another breath and ran up to the first assailant. Ranma saw the darts fired from the man's rifle headed for her torso and head so she fell to the slippery dock on her back and slid her feet into the mans shins knocking him down. Ranma tumble rolled past an opening of crates avoiding gunshots this time. She grabbed the stunned soldier on the ground and used him as a shield as she charged the second man.
The second man let off round after round of darts into his companions chest until he realized it wasn't Ranma anymore. He readjusted his aim for Ranma's head, but was knocked down with his companions incapacitated corpse on top of him.
"Sergeant! Sergeant! We are under attack. Confirmed target. Send reinforcements", the third and closest man from Ranma issued into his radio. Reaching for his assault rifle, he released several salvos for cover fire in Ranma's direction before turning to retreat and wait for reinforcements.
Ranma avoided the shots narrowly taking cover yet again. She looked to her right and kicked the box lying on the ground towards the running man. The box drifted perfectly across the slick boards knocking the man in the back of his legs causing him to falter. Ranma took this opportunity to rush forward, jump on top of him, and disarm the man. Stunned the soldier reached for his rifle at his side. Ranma saw this and stopped the hand from reaching the rifle, but was surprised when the man pulled a combat knife out with his opposite hand. The soldier was now on top of Ranma; their faces separated by a knife.
Ranma wrestled the knife away from her face allowing enough room for her to connect her fist with the man's face. The man, dazed from the hit, fell back only to have his head gripped by Ranma's hands and connected with Ranma's knee. He stumbled back into several soggy cardboard boxes and stopped moving unconscious. Ranma ran forward to her next target and grabbed him in a headlock. Ranma was about to snap his neck when he felt something weird. It wasn't a he; it was a she! Ranma overcoming her inner voice took the better option and turned her around slugging her hard. She crumpled into Ranma's arms. Ranma sighed and heaved her towards the end of the pier.
Ranma looked around and moved for Kuno when she heard about ten more troops heading strait towards her. She gasped and flipped away from the oncoming darts taking refuge yet again behind more crates.
The men started to take cover behind crates on the right side of the warehouse providing suppressing fire, not allowing Ranma to move at all from his spot. Ranma heard they cry of their leader over the general chaos.
"Switch to your sidearm. Incapacitating shots only!" The sergeant screamed his order into his walkie-talkie.
Ranma stole a peek over one of the crates and ducked immediately as a well placed shot almost took her head off. Ranma took another look but looked at the rooftops and saw the miniscule blast of light from atop a warehouse several kilometers away. She heard the shots of bullets and realized they were getting serious now. Ranma planned her attack in her head and looked at the dazed Kuno still out of it.
"I'm not done with you yet," Ranma whispered as he heated the rain falling around him with his chi. The hot water hitting his body effectively changed him back into a man. Exerting a little bit of energy to keep the water around him hot, he ducked to his right heading for more boxes. The soldiers took aim, but stopped noticing it wasn't the Ranma from before, but then took aim again remembering from the report that he had two forms. This gave him a nice window of opportunity to duck behind a box, take another breath, and leap behind another. Stunning the enemies, he jumped into the air a good twenty feet and came foot first into a soldier's face. Once Ranma landed he performed another change, and using his female speed, dodged several more shots. She looked to a group of three soldiers well positioned on top of a support beam of the dock. Ranma sent forth a moko takabisha destroying the beam, and collapsing that part of the dock with the soldiers on top. They tumbled into the water; one hung on, but he too fell due to the sheer weight of the body armor.
Ranma didn't have time to celebrate as another well placed shot nearly took off her head. Changing again, he took cover behind another box and thought out his plan. His heart sunk as he saw more troops come from the same direction as the others did. He was now squaring off with about sixteen men; hardly fair odds. Ranma smiled, this should be exciting, he thought.
Ranma leapt on top of the warehouse that blocked most of the exit off the dock. The soldiers fired into the air trying to hit him, but rain caused much misfire among them. Most of the soldiers are on the right side of warehouse so... Ranma got an idea and concentrated as best he could with the chaos erupting around him. He crossed his arms across his chest extending his fingers. Gunfire ceased as the troops saw a bluish-white light surround Ranma. A shot echoed from the tower and pierced Ranma's leg. Ranma had never been shot before and winced at the pain, but continued his exercise. When he thought that he was ready Ranma shot his arms forward and pronounced his move, "TSUNAMI KEN". The aura that had surrounded Ranma now shot out his hands toward the water twisting like a tornado. The water began to bubble and take the same glow that Ranma had. Ranma fell and slid off the right side of the roof dodging the renewed fire. He landed on his wounded leg and pain shot through his body like a tazer. That bastard's gonna pay, he thought, now where is he?
Most of the soldiers didn't see it, but for those who did screamed until they were silenced. A gigantic well-coordinated tidal wave had engulfed the pier and had thrown the men closest to the edge into the water. The tidal wave created total chaos, as it seemed to have a mind of it's own.
Ranma wasted no time as he ducked, ran behind the warehouse, and leapt on top of another warehouse and another and another, heading for the sniper's position, and ignoring as best he could his injured leg. Ranma saw the bullets aimed for him like he did last time and dodged easily finally leaping on top of the building that the sniper temporarily resided on. Ranma jumped into a sharp crescent kick, bringing his foot down on the man's head knocking him out. Ranma landed on the leg with the bullet in it reminding him of his wound. He gripped his now agonizing leg, which wouldn't stop bleeding. Ranma screamed in rage and a small comforting voice told him exactly what to do. Ranma picked up the sniper by the neck and heaved him off the four-story roof. Several snaps were heard as the man landed at an odd angle on the ground.
Ranma looked down into the chaos of the post-tidal wave to see several soldiers helping their comrades up and retreating. Ranma watched this and lurched as his heart twisted inside him. It battled for control against an invisible foe that had slowly taken him over since almost a week ago. Ranma's mercy and forgiveness had been absent as he sailed down to the troops and began to without hesitation slaughter them one by one. Some fought back and some pleaded for their life but all ended up the same.
The sergeant watched the genocide of his soldiers at the hands of the boy who was not to be underestimated. He removed two revolvers from his sides and began to unload their magazines; both guns aimed at Ranma. Ranma ran forward avoiding each shot with amazing speed until he reached his opponent.
Kuno awoke to a graveyard of soldiers. He looked around and withdrew his bokken* preparing for a good fight when his eyes landed on a soaked boy kneeling on a soldier with his hands around the man's throat. The boy had a wound on his left leg that bled badly. Kuno charged and, catching the assailant off guard brought his bokken down upon the boy's head snapping the kendo practice sword in two. The boy looked up with tears streaming down his twisted face.
Ranma grabbed Kuno by the neck and heaved him across the dock, dangerously by the edge. Ranma's aura of a brilliant gold mixed with a little red and orange burned like a flaming star in the cold rainy night. His eyes were elsewhere as fiery orbs were left in their stead. Kuno stood up and brandished a brand new bokken out of his cloak. Ranma smiled and charged at Kuno with speed the kendoist could only dream of.
You are the cause of my problems, Ranma thought still smiling running towards Kuno and the fight that awaited him, and after you are purged of this world, everything will be better.
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(The Tendo Residence)
The whole gang sat in the small room each turning over in their stomach what Nabiki had just told them. No one believed it, but deep down they all knew it was possible. Akane sat staring at the floor contemplating what should be done. What could be done? Ranma was more powerful than every one of them, and if what Nabiki said is true than he was more powerful than every one of them combined.
"That settles it then," Mousse sat up and adjust his glasses", we must kill him".
"WHAT!?" Akane and Ukyou both screamed at the same time, standing up to meet Mousse.
Mousse looked around at the solemn faces around him. He didn't want it any more than the others didn't, but Ranma caused many deaths today with that earthquake. What COULD they do to stop him? "I'm sorry Akane, but it's the only way I can think of. If you have a better way then I will gladly hear it."
"Shouldn't we let him explain himself first, maybe it's also causing him to do these horrid things. Daddy you agree with me don't you?"
Mr. Tendo put on a serious face and placed both his hands on his youngest daughter's shoulders. She looks so much like her mother, he thought. "Akane I can think of nothing else to do. Ranma might be innocent, but that doesn't change the fact that hundreds maybe thousands died by his hands."
Akane couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked to each of their faces and saw the same resolve in each one.
"You all are despicable for thinking such a thing!" Akane looked behind her to see her older sister Kasumi with bandage around her hand, and her hand in a cast. Dr. Tofu stood behind her with just a shocked face as everyone else in the room.
"Kasumi.." Akane looked at her sister and smiled, silently thanking her.
"If Ranma is being manipulated by this ring, how do you think he's feeling right now? Don't you think he would need our help and support for something like this? And what do you all want to do; go out and murder him."
"And what if this ring isn't controlling his mind? What if he's out slaughtering more right now huh?" Mousse countered quickly
"Then we bring him to his senses and make him see the error of his ways."
Nabiki gasped remembering Ranma had a date that he had bragged to her about attending. "Oh my god. KUNO!" Nabiki rushed out the door into the street when Akane beckoned her back in.
"No. I'll go find him, besides the rain is starting to let up. Don't worry I'll be back soon." Akane marched out of the living room into the streets of Nerima.
Soun looked on with worry etched on his now aged face. Dr. Tofu walked forward and put a friendly hand on Soun's shoulder. "I'll follow her and make sure no harm comes to her." The good doctor left on out the door in pursuit of Akane.
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Akane had been running for an hour now and still had not found any sign of Ranma. She scanned the City Street and let out a heavy sigh. Ranma where are you?
She jumped as she heard the sound of sirens off in the distance. Thinking that the noise might lead to Ranma, she headed in that direction, but stopped when she heard sniffling in the alley to her left. She shifted her direction and saw a sight she never would have imagined. Before her was a broken Ranma. He sat with his knees drawn up to his body with his forehead resting on them. He looked up at Akane and she realized that his face was a mess. His hair was clamped on his damp head. His shirt was torn and dirty, and his pants had...
"Oh my god, Ranma, your hurt. Here let me help you up." Akane kneeled next to him and began to place his arm around her shoulder to lift him up. His body was weak as she picked his arm up, but he snapped it back to his legs.
"Stay back Akane", he said as he looked down at the ground, avoiding her eyes, "I don't want you to get hurt too, so just stay back".
"Ranma I'm here to help you. I don't care what you've done. I'm here to help you Ranma." She outstretched her hand and waited for Ranma to take it, but he didn't he only looked far away tears streaming down his battered face.
"I didn't mean to Akane. I can't control myself anymore. It's starting to control my every move like it's taking over. Akane you have to leave before it takes me again. I can't last much longer. Tell Nabiki I'm sorry." Ranma's voice cracked as he spoke, his eyes never leaving the ground.
"What is, Ranma? Tell me who is doing this to you? Is it the ring?" Akane grabbed his shoulders, and was surprised when he slapped them away.
"DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!" Akane jumped back as if she had just been struck. "It is NOT the ring. This ring is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It's given me the power to finally make the right decisions, but what about you Akane?" Akane stared at him with a dumbstruck face shrugging a little suggesting what do you mean.
"You sit in this hell hole forced into decisions, having no say for yourself. Why? If you are undecided, then I have a solution for you. Run away with me Akane. I feel the power from this ring and it can bring me whatever I want. Whatever WE want. I'll share the success Akane, how about it?" Ranma was now standing offering his hand to Akane. His eyes didn't look like they had awhile before. Now they were...forceful, almost threatening.
"What are you saying Ranma?" Akane was confused tremendously, but she had a small idea where he was going although she didn't like it.
"You know yourself Akane. They're afraid, afraid of what I can do with this ring. We can kill them all Akane. They don't matter, only we matter." He was advancing on Akane who was slowly backing into a wall.
"Ranma! Come to your senses. Think of what your saying, the ramifications of your actions. You want to kill your friends? Is that what you want?"
"You are a fool Akane," Akane looked at him with shock as he began to yell in her face, "you're just like Nabiki, but don't worry I fixed her bandwagon. I killed that idiot Kuno. I wonder what she'll have to say to that."
A hard slap made its way across Ranma's face right after the last word left his mouth. "So that's what this is? Nothing but a grudge against my sister? I thought you better than that Ranma Saotome, but I guess I was wrong." Ranma's shock turned cold as his features turned menacing, and he advanced on Akane. She stood her ground looking him straight in the face. He was halted in mid stride as two fingers pressed themselves into his hip and he crumpled to the ground paralyzed. His eyes screamed in rage as the faces of Dr. Tofu and Akane loomed over his non-respondent body. They fear what they don't understand, he thought looking into their fearful eyes, and this silly technique won't work on me, Doctor. Soon I'll be able to move again and I'll be able to destroy you all.
Bokken - A wooden sword
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Retro's thoughts: Hello boys and ghouls. Wow things are really starting to heat up with Ranma now. Mystery, Adventure, Action, and Romance all in the next installment of
~*The One Ring*~
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