Fire of Love
"What the HELL?! This is not fair!!!" Ranma cried out in exasperation, wringing his shirt of water. Being a girl sure made him pretty grumpy.
"I didn't come all this way to get stopped by some tiny fire!" Haruka pouted. Before anyone could say anything however, Inu Yasha's eyes went red with fury.
"KOUGA! How dare you kiss Kagome!!!!" The angry hanyou charged toward the fire with reckless abandon. Haruka started after him, looked into the fire, and she too was swept up in anger.
"No.this-can't be!" She shrieked, following Inu Yasha swiftly.
"Now, what is WRONG with those two? Hey, come back here!" Makoto started forward as well, but Harry stopped her.
"Wait. Can't you see? The fire's.enchanting them." Harry whirled towards them. "Don't look into the fire!" But it was too late. Sakura was peeking around Li.
"What're you talking about? I don't feel enchanted." She blinked as Inu Yasha and Haruka submerged to the fire.
"Kyaa! They'll die, they'll die, they'll die!!!" Makoto was also looking dead into the fire. She was jumping around, blocking Ranma's vision. Li and Harry were also looking now, making Ranma the odd ball.
"What's going on?! Come on, Makoto, move!!" Ranma's whines went unnoticed as the group puzzled over their new problem.
"They're not dead. I'm surprised, seeing as they're standing in the middle of a FIRE." Li observed.
"You're right. They seem to be alive, and very angry. Seeing as both of them are swinging their fists at invisible objects." Harry said, incredulously.
"How come we're not enchanted?" Sakura inquired.
"I CAN'T SEE!" Ranma yelled, trying to push pass the formidable Makoto. Makoto finally looked down, her eyes went big, and she snapped her fingers.
"I get it!" The girl squealed.
"Please, enlighten us." Ranma glared.
"Well, Haruka is in love with Michiru and Inu Yasha seemed to have something going on with that Kagome girl. Inu Yasha also mentioned Kagome before he ran into the fire."
"So you're saying you have to be in love with someone to become trapped by the fire." Harry grinned. Li and Sakura were suddenly blushing, and backing away from each other.
"Yep." Makoto crossed her chest triumphantly.
"Well, the kids there are already in love. They shouldn't get trapped then, right?" Ranma jerked his head at Sakura and Li.
"Hey!" Li grumbled.
"If that's true, then I guess not. I mean, there both here already. I don't have a crush. You, Makoto?" Harry asked. She blushed and shook her head.
"Then we can all pass through, get the others, and finish the race with ease." Ranma smiled slyly. Everyone looked at him.
"What?!" He exclaimed at their suspicious faces.
"What about Akane?" Sakura sought her revenge.
"I'm not interested in that macho chick! Just cus she's my fiancée doesn't mean..Look! Are we going in or not?" Ranma sweat dropped.
"Fine, but one last question. What if those two don't feel the fire because they ARE enchanted. If we go in won't we be able to feel the heat, and.." Sakura trailed off ominously.
"Then we die." But Ranma's strut wasn't as confident as it usually was as they set off for the fire.
* * *
Sasami's group was only a little bit ahead of the last group now. Everyone was in everyone else's way. They were now climbing ropes that had been attached to trees over a swamp of quicksand.
"Michiru!!" Mina growled. "You almost made me fall!"
"All's fair in life and death, dear." Michiru was trying hard to cross ropes without looking down. Miroku was "helping" the girls get from rope to rope. Kero and Shippo were just sitting in the branches, watching with glee.
"I absolutely LOATHE heights." Ron moaned. Everyone was whining and spinning around on the ropes. They definitely weren't going to get anywhere. Sasami sighed at the utter turmoil.
The girl leaned her head against her rope. She couldn't work with all the yelling. Suddenly, she felt her fingers slip. She was falling. Where was the rope or anything for that matter, to hold on to?!
She shut her eyes, waiting for the gooey death of quicksand. It never came. Instead, her butt was bruised rather harshly when she hit the ground. Sasami opened her eyes to see a puzzled Ryoko standing over her.
"That was really strange. You okay, kid?" Ryoko helped Sasami up. Their weeping comrades who were lying down in the grass surrounded them.
"My gosh! That was CRUEL!" Tenchi sat up, rubbing his neck. Ryoko flew over to soothe him. Good thing Ayeka wasn't there to see the display.
"Poor Hotaru." Rini crowed over her friend, who was holding her back in pain. Ami and Hermione turned to Washu.
"What do you believe to have caused this, sempai? Being a super genius and possessing extreme knowledge, and all.." Ami asked eagerly.
"Something or someone must be tampering with the obstacle course's ability to perform its befuddling obligations." Washu beamed at being given the respect she deserved.
"But who-" Hermione began.
"Really cares! I just want to get to the finish line." Kyone swatted Mihoshi for poking one of her scabs.
"Too true. I thought I heard Inu Yasha call my name." Kagome was fidgeting to go on ahead.
"It wouldn't hurt to investigate, would it Professor Washu?" Hermione inquired. Ron was giving a contemptuous look of disgust at her usual teacher's pet act.
"I suppose not!" Washu strolled off with her two students in tow. Everyone shrugged and followed. A few minutes of trampling underbrush and skirting a lake, the group came to a clearing. Ahead of them lied a slightly singed Inu Yasha, Haruka, Ranma, Makoto, Harry, Li, and Sakura. They were sitting on the grass being served tea by Ayeka, who was wearing a very skimpy Playgirl outfit.
"Wow, wow, wowza!" Miroku blinked in surprise. Sango hit him roughly: tired of his perverted antics. Ron was also gaping. Ayeka was trying to hide her blush and look superior all at once.
"That's a good look for you Ayeka!" Ryoko grinned evilly.
"Ryoko! Leave her alone. What's going on here?" Tenchi blubbered.
"Well, we went through the last challenge which was a magical fire that--" Sakura started.
"Don't you say anymore about it!" Ranma was avoiding Akane's shrewd gaze.
"It did weird things to you. However, when we got out Ayeka was here. She said that the camp owners were making her dress this way." Sakura finished, giving Ayeka a sympathetic look. The girl was speechless with shame.
"Her punishment for not competing." Li shrugged. Ryoko and a few others burst out with laughter. However, a very angry group of girls didn't find it amusing in the least.
"Let me guess? She's supposed to serve you refreshments, because you all tied for first place." Hermione glowered at a very nervous Harry.
"And you let her." Michiru's voice was deadly.
"Dressed like THAT." Akane was obviously trying to control violent urges. Kagome, the last member of the displeased girls, wouldn't even glance at Inu Yasha.
"Besides, think of Ayeka! The shame for any woman to have to dress so!" Sango stroked upon another disagreement.
"I think it's cute. I want one!" Mina objected, but quickly quieted at everyone's piercing glances.
"I told her she didn't have to!" Makoto protested, ignoring Mina. "We didn't mean YOU, Makoto." Sango growled.
"So now, it's a gender thing, huh?! Just cus Haruka and the guys didn't object." Miroku and Ron stuck up for the others. Darien was about to agree as well, but backed down when he looked at Usagi.
"You're REALLY not helping, you know." Harry whispered.
"C'mon. I don't see why we all can't enjoy the food and explain!" But Inu Yasha knew he was in the doghouse.
"Insensitive jerk!!" Shippo shrieked from Kagome's shoulder. With that, he and the feminists marched off. The troubled lovers trailed after while shouting explanations, and the indifferent slogged behind. Ayeka sighed with relief, and then shook her fist at the sky.
"This is unforgivable! This shame, this outrage! You'll pay for this!" She screamed.
"Oh. Would you rather we took the outfit back now, and make you walk back to camp naked?" Alanna feigned innocence.
"That's quite all right! Never mind, never mind!" Ayeka squeaked and ran after the others.
"What the HELL?! This is not fair!!!" Ranma cried out in exasperation, wringing his shirt of water. Being a girl sure made him pretty grumpy.
"I didn't come all this way to get stopped by some tiny fire!" Haruka pouted. Before anyone could say anything however, Inu Yasha's eyes went red with fury.
"KOUGA! How dare you kiss Kagome!!!!" The angry hanyou charged toward the fire with reckless abandon. Haruka started after him, looked into the fire, and she too was swept up in anger.
"No.this-can't be!" She shrieked, following Inu Yasha swiftly.
"Now, what is WRONG with those two? Hey, come back here!" Makoto started forward as well, but Harry stopped her.
"Wait. Can't you see? The fire's.enchanting them." Harry whirled towards them. "Don't look into the fire!" But it was too late. Sakura was peeking around Li.
"What're you talking about? I don't feel enchanted." She blinked as Inu Yasha and Haruka submerged to the fire.
"Kyaa! They'll die, they'll die, they'll die!!!" Makoto was also looking dead into the fire. She was jumping around, blocking Ranma's vision. Li and Harry were also looking now, making Ranma the odd ball.
"What's going on?! Come on, Makoto, move!!" Ranma's whines went unnoticed as the group puzzled over their new problem.
"They're not dead. I'm surprised, seeing as they're standing in the middle of a FIRE." Li observed.
"You're right. They seem to be alive, and very angry. Seeing as both of them are swinging their fists at invisible objects." Harry said, incredulously.
"How come we're not enchanted?" Sakura inquired.
"I CAN'T SEE!" Ranma yelled, trying to push pass the formidable Makoto. Makoto finally looked down, her eyes went big, and she snapped her fingers.
"I get it!" The girl squealed.
"Please, enlighten us." Ranma glared.
"Well, Haruka is in love with Michiru and Inu Yasha seemed to have something going on with that Kagome girl. Inu Yasha also mentioned Kagome before he ran into the fire."
"So you're saying you have to be in love with someone to become trapped by the fire." Harry grinned. Li and Sakura were suddenly blushing, and backing away from each other.
"Yep." Makoto crossed her chest triumphantly.
"Well, the kids there are already in love. They shouldn't get trapped then, right?" Ranma jerked his head at Sakura and Li.
"Hey!" Li grumbled.
"If that's true, then I guess not. I mean, there both here already. I don't have a crush. You, Makoto?" Harry asked. She blushed and shook her head.
"Then we can all pass through, get the others, and finish the race with ease." Ranma smiled slyly. Everyone looked at him.
"What?!" He exclaimed at their suspicious faces.
"What about Akane?" Sakura sought her revenge.
"I'm not interested in that macho chick! Just cus she's my fiancée doesn't mean..Look! Are we going in or not?" Ranma sweat dropped.
"Fine, but one last question. What if those two don't feel the fire because they ARE enchanted. If we go in won't we be able to feel the heat, and.." Sakura trailed off ominously.
"Then we die." But Ranma's strut wasn't as confident as it usually was as they set off for the fire.
* * *
Sasami's group was only a little bit ahead of the last group now. Everyone was in everyone else's way. They were now climbing ropes that had been attached to trees over a swamp of quicksand.
"Michiru!!" Mina growled. "You almost made me fall!"
"All's fair in life and death, dear." Michiru was trying hard to cross ropes without looking down. Miroku was "helping" the girls get from rope to rope. Kero and Shippo were just sitting in the branches, watching with glee.
"I absolutely LOATHE heights." Ron moaned. Everyone was whining and spinning around on the ropes. They definitely weren't going to get anywhere. Sasami sighed at the utter turmoil.
The girl leaned her head against her rope. She couldn't work with all the yelling. Suddenly, she felt her fingers slip. She was falling. Where was the rope or anything for that matter, to hold on to?!
She shut her eyes, waiting for the gooey death of quicksand. It never came. Instead, her butt was bruised rather harshly when she hit the ground. Sasami opened her eyes to see a puzzled Ryoko standing over her.
"That was really strange. You okay, kid?" Ryoko helped Sasami up. Their weeping comrades who were lying down in the grass surrounded them.
"My gosh! That was CRUEL!" Tenchi sat up, rubbing his neck. Ryoko flew over to soothe him. Good thing Ayeka wasn't there to see the display.
"Poor Hotaru." Rini crowed over her friend, who was holding her back in pain. Ami and Hermione turned to Washu.
"What do you believe to have caused this, sempai? Being a super genius and possessing extreme knowledge, and all.." Ami asked eagerly.
"Something or someone must be tampering with the obstacle course's ability to perform its befuddling obligations." Washu beamed at being given the respect she deserved.
"But who-" Hermione began.
"Really cares! I just want to get to the finish line." Kyone swatted Mihoshi for poking one of her scabs.
"Too true. I thought I heard Inu Yasha call my name." Kagome was fidgeting to go on ahead.
"It wouldn't hurt to investigate, would it Professor Washu?" Hermione inquired. Ron was giving a contemptuous look of disgust at her usual teacher's pet act.
"I suppose not!" Washu strolled off with her two students in tow. Everyone shrugged and followed. A few minutes of trampling underbrush and skirting a lake, the group came to a clearing. Ahead of them lied a slightly singed Inu Yasha, Haruka, Ranma, Makoto, Harry, Li, and Sakura. They were sitting on the grass being served tea by Ayeka, who was wearing a very skimpy Playgirl outfit.
"Wow, wow, wowza!" Miroku blinked in surprise. Sango hit him roughly: tired of his perverted antics. Ron was also gaping. Ayeka was trying to hide her blush and look superior all at once.
"That's a good look for you Ayeka!" Ryoko grinned evilly.
"Ryoko! Leave her alone. What's going on here?" Tenchi blubbered.
"Well, we went through the last challenge which was a magical fire that--" Sakura started.
"Don't you say anymore about it!" Ranma was avoiding Akane's shrewd gaze.
"It did weird things to you. However, when we got out Ayeka was here. She said that the camp owners were making her dress this way." Sakura finished, giving Ayeka a sympathetic look. The girl was speechless with shame.
"Her punishment for not competing." Li shrugged. Ryoko and a few others burst out with laughter. However, a very angry group of girls didn't find it amusing in the least.
"Let me guess? She's supposed to serve you refreshments, because you all tied for first place." Hermione glowered at a very nervous Harry.
"And you let her." Michiru's voice was deadly.
"Dressed like THAT." Akane was obviously trying to control violent urges. Kagome, the last member of the displeased girls, wouldn't even glance at Inu Yasha.
"Besides, think of Ayeka! The shame for any woman to have to dress so!" Sango stroked upon another disagreement.
"I think it's cute. I want one!" Mina objected, but quickly quieted at everyone's piercing glances.
"I told her she didn't have to!" Makoto protested, ignoring Mina. "We didn't mean YOU, Makoto." Sango growled.
"So now, it's a gender thing, huh?! Just cus Haruka and the guys didn't object." Miroku and Ron stuck up for the others. Darien was about to agree as well, but backed down when he looked at Usagi.
"You're REALLY not helping, you know." Harry whispered.
"C'mon. I don't see why we all can't enjoy the food and explain!" But Inu Yasha knew he was in the doghouse.
"Insensitive jerk!!" Shippo shrieked from Kagome's shoulder. With that, he and the feminists marched off. The troubled lovers trailed after while shouting explanations, and the indifferent slogged behind. Ayeka sighed with relief, and then shook her fist at the sky.
"This is unforgivable! This shame, this outrage! You'll pay for this!" She screamed.
"Oh. Would you rather we took the outfit back now, and make you walk back to camp naked?" Alanna feigned innocence.
"That's quite all right! Never mind, never mind!" Ayeka squeaked and ran after the others.