Chapter VIII Part One: Trapped Caves, Unknown Challenges

"Well this is it then." Mai said, as Ranma and Hotaru stood with their packs on their backs. They were on the outskirts of Jokokona ready to continue onwards.

"Yes. It was nice to see you again. Be sure to take care of yourself."

"You too handsome. And keep your head up Hotaru, you gotta whole town cheering for you."

"Thanks Mai."

"See you two down the road!"

As their good-byes wound down Ranma and Hotaru began down a new path, ready to meet any new challenges.

---

The Tendo Home has seen many things. Many challengers. And the oddest things this side of The Addam's Family. However this was a new sight.

Kasumi cleaning the kitchen with a sandblaster.

Akane's cooking was usually neater than this, only looking like a tornado passed through or World War Three decided to take place in the kitchen.

But never before had it looked like a nuclear warhead went off. And she had to literally PEEL the wallpaper off just to clean the walls. You'd think it couldn't be worse.

But this was Nermia where Murphy's laws were proven repeatedly and a one in a million chance happened every Tuesday.

And Murphy probably sat back and laughed as Akane took what she could scrape up putting in on a plate, fork at the ready, waiting for a taste- tester (AKA: Person ready to commit suicide) to show up.

"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW!?"

And that was the point in time Ryoga Hibiki had to stumble into the Tendo yard. Maybe it was luck, maybe it was the lost curse or maybe just Murphy having a good laugh. Whatever it was Akane opened the door carrying a plate of something.

"Hello Ryoga!"

And Ryoga literally stopped to bask in the sight of Akane Tendo, the kindest, gentlest person on Earth. A goddess among human kind.

It should be noted that with all the blows Ryoga took to the head since studying the Art of Combat, and the fact that the Hibiki line was never the smartest in the universe, and hatred for Ranma made Akane look like a princess in need of saving greatly influenced his views of the youngest Tendo daughter.

Not all of them quite right.

"Hey Ryoga, you OK? You spaced out a bit."

Shaking his head to regain his senses Ryoga responded by saying, "Yes Akane, I'm fine."

"Good, I just made this, want to try some?"

Nodding he took a fork from the plate, scooped up whatever it was and chewed.

Shortly thereafter a very non-aerodynamic missile left Nermia with a cry of 'RYOGA NO BAKA!!' following. Akane stomped back into the house wondering why Ryoga acted like he was dying. It may have only been a little overcooked.

Jacob's Law, or Murphy's Law, subsection fourteen, Akane's Collaterally: To err is human. To blame it on someone else is even more human.

---

Monster cards, Hotaru noted, had many uses. Duelling, protection, and what she was currently doing.

Insisting that Ranma shouldn't be carrying her when she got tired, since she felt that he would probably need his arms for something else and it was too much work to carry her everywhere, she found a new mode of transportation.

Ranma attempted a counter by saying he carried a three hundred pound pack while swimming across the Sea of Japan so carrying a girl was hardly an effort, Hotaru employed the secret weapon: Puppy Dog Eyes.

Even Yami was starting to falter in the face of the mighty Puppy Dog Eyes assault.

Hence why her Axe Raider was giving her a piggyback ride. Ranma still chose to walk himself and insisted on Hotaru walking when she wasn't tired to build strength. Before long day began to wade and camp was set up as Ranma showed Hotaru the finer points of fire starting. They went over more strategies and Ranma started to lecture on the more advanced duelling techniques.

Soon supper was made and eaten as the two entered their tent, sleeping bags side by side.

"Ranma... will we ever get home?"

Ranma rolled over to look at his companion. "I'm sure we will. Someday."

"Good. I just wish I could let everyone know I was fine. I don't want to worry them."

"It'll be OK Hotaru-Chan. We might look back on this someday and laugh."

"Maybe. Good night Ranma."

"Night Hotaru-Chan."

---

Night turned to day. Morning came, Ranma spared with a monster, taught Hotaru more about the Shadow Games. They then ate breakfast, broke camp and kept going down the road.

"So, you said my deck is warrior based?"

"Yes it is, heavily warrior based too. Still gotta couple of dragons, maybe for flavour, I don't know."

"Maybe, but I'm glad I have Red-Eyes. He helped out against Teak."

"Just remember, trust in your deck and... What is this...?"

Ranma's little speech was cut short as the Millennium Puzzle let out a soft glow.

'Yami! What are you doing?'

'This is not my work Ranma, it's the puzzle itself!'

"Ranma, what's going on? Why is your puzzle glowing?"

"I... have no idea..."

Soon the item began to float in front of Ranma and pointed in to the forest and away from the path.

'Ideas Yami?'

'Follow the puzzle. It maybe leading us somewhere.'

Making up his mind Ranma began to walk where the puzzle was pointing, Hotaru close behind.

---

Set homework here, books there, and shoes over there and heat up instant soup. Something many collage students do upon returning to a dorm room or apartment.

This was also true for the young woman studying finances at a small Tokyo Collage, while helping to manage the dorms for extra money.

She brushed a hair from her head and sighed. Things were going well, but ever since her father had hired that private investigator it was like going uphill with a weight trying to drag you back down.

And with that thought Nabiki Tendo plotted her next move. Finding a boyfriend. If being a Tendo meant having a backwards view of the world at large then the name didn't suit her. Hence she planned to find a nice guy to marry. She wasn't sure how, but she would.

---

By the time that the puzzle stopped pointing they were deep inside the forest. They were taken to a cave with a statue of an Egyptian Pharaoh outside the cave mouth.

"Ranma, what is this place?"

"I'm not sure, but I want to take a look."

With that the pair entered, finding the inside of the cave rather dark. Ranma looked through his deck for a card, and then summoned it forth.

"Flame Champion, arise!"

In a flash of light the Flame Champion came out. He wore silver roman-like armour and bared a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. The shield in question burst into flames, warding the darkness back like a torch.

With the fire warrior leading the way they began to enter deeper into the cave.

---

"My Brother, these two must be of what our forefather speak."

"Test them we must, before rewards are reaped!"

"Shall we use our traps to send them to the maze?"

"Yes! Only true duellist can withstand such a daze!"

"Then the cousins shall duel them, Gemin-Nai!"

"The truth it is, far from a lie!"

---

"These cave walls have carvings of duel monsters all across them."

Hotaru looked on as Ranma and the Flame Champion began to look at the man-made alterations to the walls. As he took a step back neither knew of the floor's altercations.

---

"Positions correct, they are in!"

"Hit the traps! Let it begin!"

---

Without warning two separate trap door were activated, one beneath Ranma and the Flame Champion, the other under Hotaru. As they began to fall they could only think of one thing.

"RANMA!"

"HOTARU!"

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To Be Continued...

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Author's Note: CLIFFHANGER! OK, so it was short but it's only a third of chapter eight. The other two parts begin at the same point in time as we follow Ranma then Hotaru before they reunite. And if anyone wants to know, YES Flame Champion is a real card. It is not the Flame Swordsmen. OK?

Next Chapter: Cousins Gemin-Nai? Ranma takes on Gemin, one on one.