Family Reunion 2

by Michael The-Zorch Haney

Complete! Tenchi goes to Nerima to attend college when a newComplete enemy arrives to threaten the world.

4. Part 4: Enter Ranko

DISCLAIMER: "Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki" is a registered trademark and copyright of AIC Inc. and Pioneer. "Ranma 1/2" is a registered trademark and copyright of Rumiko Takahashi, Viz Communications and Kitty Productions.
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T E N C H I 1 / 2: FAMILY REUNION II

By Michael "TheZorch" Haney
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PART 4: Enter Ranko

Kasumi awoke slowly from her wonderful dreams and emerged into a reality that was equally as wonderful, despite a certain ancient Chi Sorcerer who was on the loose. She felt the warm body that lay next to her and smiled. Kasumi rolled over and draped her arm over that body. The person stirred then rolled over to face her.
"Good morning, beloved." She whispered. "Did you sleep well?"
"Best sleep of my entire life." Hikaru replied softly. "But, I am still uncomfortable with this, it is really improper for us to sleep together before we are properly married."
"I know, but I couldn't help myself." Kasumi smiled.
"Nor could I." Hikaru smiled back.
The lovers embraced and kissed, which sparked more kissing, which eventually lead to a continuation of their activities from the night before in earnest. Downstairs, breakfast wasn't being neglected by Kasumi's absence as Sasami darted around the kitchen in her carrot motif apron with Ryo-Ohki in child form helping her. The girls were all gathered in the dining room enjoying tea and watching this incredible display of culinary wizardry take place.
"She sure has a lot of energy." Said Akane.
"She's not the only one." Said Ukyo as she watched the scantly clad twins, Salt and Pepper, spar with one another out in the yard. Both girls wielded twin scimitars which were flashing and whirling at blinding speed. The sound of metal meeting metal came as rapidly as a drum roll.
"Aiya! Shampoo almost forget about Hentai Twins!" Shampoo gasped.
"Hentai Twins?" Aeka said questioningly.
"One word of advice to all of you, don't let one of my nieces get one of your boyfriend's alone, keep a close eye on them." Rouge warned them.
"What's up with that?" Ryoko asked.
"The twins were very powerful chi energy manipulators when they were very young, in fact their powers developed very early, but caused side effects." Cologne explained. "The massive surge of chi energy within them kick started their puberty cycle when they were only six years old."
"Puberty, at six years of age!" Ukyo gasped.
"I heard of girls blossoming early, but this is ridiculous." Nabiki sighed.
"Yes, it caused severe hormonal imbalances in them to develop so young, which is also why they are so strikingly beautiful." Replied Cologne. "They appear to be only children at sixteen years of age, but they are truly adults of twenty-five years of age. They know how gorgeous they look, and its one of their many weapons. That is not all, however, their looks drew the attention of many young men in our village, and one day I'm not sure when one of them 'got lucky'."
"So they lost their virginity at an early age, so what." Said Ryoko.
"It effected them more than you think, soon after 'it' happened it was almost as if they were different people altogether." Rouge said. "They started dressing the way they do now, and flirted with just about every boy in the village, including Mousse."
"So what does that mean?" Akane asked.
"What it means, sugar, is they became a pair of nymphets and probably boinked every cute guy in sight." Ukyo explained.
"Oh my." Aeka gasped as she looked out at the two go at it like a pair of humanoid meat grinders.
"AIYA! They make finding good date almost impossible!" Shampoo groaned.
"Well, if they lay a finger on my Tenchi I'll shove those swords where the sun doesn't shine." Ryoko growled.
"So that's why you call them the Hentai Twins, eh?" Washu smirked.
"They're pretty selective with who they 'entertain', and if they think a boy is cute you can bet they do everything within their power to bed him as soon as possible." Rouge explained.
"The same power that turned them into two sexual dynamos is also the same power that will help us defeat Kun Lao's plans to get the Keys to the Chamber of Ascension." Cologne emphasized.
"They act rather, worldly for Amazons." Akane observed.
"Their profession requires them to travel beyond the boarders of Nyanchiczu lands." Rouge explained to her. "They've had more exposure to outside cultures than the rest of us."
"I bet they've had quite a many 'exposures'." Ryoko snorted.
Cologne looked at her fellow Amazon and asked, "Should we tell them about Beijing?"
"Why not, they'll probably hear about it sometime or other." Rouge shrugged.
"What about Beijing?" Ukyo asked.
"AIYA!!!! Is too embarrassing to speak of!" Shampoo gasped.
"On one of the twin's many outings they discovered Beijing University, or more accurately the boy's dormitory." Rouge spoke reciting the story. "So naturally my nieces didn't take a gift horse in the mouth and took advantage of the situation. The girl's dorm found out what was happening and it nearly caused a riot on campus. The twins, being what they are, decided to fix thing with some magic, but they kind of overdid it. So, for four hours, the entire campus of Beijing University turned into one giant roaring orgy! It caused such a scandal the communist government ordered it all to be covered up, but of course they were never able to link the incident to the Nyanchiczu."
There was deafening silence around the table until Ryoko broke out in hysterical laughter. "Oh damn, I don't know whether to love or hate those two, oh that was just too rich!" she guffawed.
"Geeze, who's worse, them or Happosai." Ukyo gasped.
"Oh, don't mention his name around them, they hate Happy with a passion." Cologne warned.
Ukyo and the others grinned brightly, "Oh, they do, do they."

Ranma and Tenchi bounded over the rooftops back towards the Tendo dojo. It was risky going alone to Hikaru Gosunkugi's place, but they had to see for themselves. The two arrived very early in the morning just as the sun was coming up and slowly inched their way to the boy's bedroom window. When they looked in the place was cleared out, the many books on the shelves were missing, the bed was gone, the desk, and a number of other items.
"Well, he's cleared out." Said Tenchi.
"Yeah, but where is he now?" asked Ranma.
Gosunkugi's parents were found in the living room. Neither boy knew how long they'd been dead. The two sat on the couch as if they were watching television together and had slumped to the side against one another. The youths quickly made a getaway from the place before anyone saw them lurking around the house. Now they were bounding over the rooftops headed home.
"That creep, why'd he have to kill them for." Ranma growled through clenched teeth.
"He's as sick as many of the stories we've heard about him." Tenchi commented.
They both arrived at the dojo at the same time and alighted in the back yard. Their arrival was noted by a pair of scantly clad twins who stopped their morning sparing and turned kawaii, surprised expressions in their direction.
"Uh oh, red alert at six o'clock girls!" Ukyo warned. They all turned to see Ranma and Tenchi in the yard, but what they were noting was the reaction from the twins.
"Ooooohhh! Cute boys!" the twins chorused.
"Uh." Tenchi let out stepping back.
"Oh boy." Ranma breathed seeing the way they looked at him and his cousin.
A loud rumbled came from the house and suddenly a wall of women stood between them and the twins. "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!" they call yelled at once.
"Hey, we saw them first!" Salt cried.
"Yeah, finders keepers, losers weepers!" cried Pepper.
"We're engaged to them you perverts!" the girls cried back.
The twins made those kawaii smiles and said in unison, "Oh, a challenge is it."
"Uh oh." Cologne sighed from the sidelines.
Rouge walked from the house and clapped her hands making the twins look in her direction. "Girls, you promised to behave when you were here, and Ranma and Tenchi are already spoke for so don't get any ideas." She told them.
"But Aunt Rouge!" the twins cried together.
"No, those two boys are off limits." Rouge folded her arms and gave the twins a stern look.
"Geeze, you're as much a wet blanket as Cologne." Salt sighed as the twins went into the house.
The girls watched them leave and Akane said to Rouge, "Thanks, you handled them well." The Amazon smiled at her saying, "Well, I practically raised them after their parents passed away, so I have some leverage with them." Cologne joined them and smiled, "But, don't think that will deter them forever."
"We intend to keep our eyes on them." Said Aeka.
"What was all that about just now?" asked Ranma, Tenchi stood beside him just scratched the back of his head.
"Oh, nothing you need to worry yourself about, sugar." Ukyo smiled at him.

In an abandoned building on the outskirts of the city of Hiroshima, stood a single figure draped in black robes. Kun Lao paced around in from of this imposing figure as if deep in thought. He had been extremely careless and foolish, and Kun Lao knew it. He gave away the fact of his existence long before he was ready to deal with Ranma Saotome and his powerful cousin. Now he had to double his efforts to find the remaining keys, but that would not be easy. Worse was the knowledge that his ancient nemesis Hikaru Kuno was alive and well and reunited with his lost love, who was a reincarnation of Sakumi. That whole affair had the stink of the Kami all over it. Kun Lao wasn't about to let that transgression go unpunished. Once he found all the keys and opened the sacred chamber he'd make the Kami pay dearly for interfering.
His attention had to be directed towards his enemies. It was unwise to underestimate your foe, and Kun Lao wasn't about to fall into that trap. He stopped his pacing and looked up at his companion who stood there as silently as death and did not move. Ranma and his cousin needed something to keep them busy, something of immediate urgency that would distract them from trying to follow him. He had to relocate to this place outside of Hiroshima. Upon leaving he mercifully freed Hikaru Gosunkugi's parents of their mortal coils instead of leaving them behind. He no longer needed them as camouflage and taking them along would have been bothersome. The Chi Sorcerer stopped his pacing and regarded the hooded figure before him.
"I have only one of the keys, and locating the others will take time." He said. The cloaked figure did not speak or move.
"I need you to provide a distraction for my enemies, use everything at your disposal, but keep them busy while I search." He went on. The cloaked figured nodded.
"Good, the place you need to be is a place called Nerima." Kun Lao told the thing. "You are my most powerful servant, do not fail me."
"Yes, sire." The cloaked figure spoke, its voice was high pitched and sounded hollow as if coming from a great depth. A pair of red, glowing eyes peered out from the darkness beneath the cloak. A pair of gloved hands emerged the billowing cloak surrounding the figure and began to weave an intricate rune pattern in the air. Within seconds the rune began to glow, the glow grew to the size of the cloaked figure and engulfed it. A loud sound like a clash of thunder resounded as the figure suddenly vanished.
"Now, we shall see how powerful you really are, Ranma Saotome and Tenchi Masaki." Kun Lao laughed. "Let us see you deal with my most powerful servant, the Lich."

The Hentai Twins sat in the middle of the living room face to face in lotus positions with the flat of their palms pressed against one another's. The two beauties kept their eyes closed as they softly chanted arcane phrases. A soft glowing aura surrounded them as they worked.
"Locating the keys this way will be hard the keys were made to evade detection unless you know how to find them." Said Cologne.
"So, it could take a few days?" asked Akane.
"Try a few weeks." The matriarch replied.
"But, what if that creeps finds the next one before we do?" Ryoko asked.
"Not likely, Kun Lao has to work hard to find the keys." Cologne explained to her. "They are sacred objects."
"So it's a race, us against him." Said Sasami.
"I'm afraid so, little one." Cologne told her.
Deep within the bowels of her subspace laboratory, Washu sat before her computer terminal looking over all of the data from her Josenkyo research. She wanted to get his project done so she could concentrate on helping to locate the keys before Kun Lao did. All the data she had on how the curse functions sat before her, as well as data scans of both Ranma and many cursed lab animals she had.
"Alright, if this works, Ranma will be one happy camper." She said.
A single white rabbit was held within a large specimen unit in the center of the room. Washu pressed a key and a spray of cold water showering the creature. The transformation was instantaneous. Where once there was a lab rabbit there was now a beautiful, and naked human girl. The girl looked around as if frightened with a wide eyed expression. She sat on all fours like a rabbit and sniffed the air for danger.
"If my analysis is correct, this cursed rabbit should be capable of human intelligence in this form if properly nurtured." Said Washu. "Which on a scientific standpoint is absolutely amazing! Also, the transformation goes against all the laws of physics, causing a rearrangement of the cellular, genetic, and molecular structure of the victim. There is also spontaneous growth of new cellular material to make up the rest of the bulk needed to change to full human adult size. In previous analysis and examination of the cursed subjects and of Ranma Saotome himself I have discovered a strange energy source common in each of them. This energy is ethereal in nature and exists at a rather high frequency on the bio-etheric spectrum. It is my belief that this is the energy pattern of the curse, and it is known that two opposing bio-etheric waves cancel each other out. Thus, subjecting the cursed subject to such a wave should cancel out the bio-etheric energy of the curse within them and effectively cure them of any further transformations. End log and save file."
The diminutive genius pressed another key and sprayed warm water into the chamber transforming the young girl back into a rabbit. She typed a series of commands into her computer, large waldos, a series of highly maneuverable mechanical arms, moved a doughnut shaped piece of instrumentation over top of the specimen chamber. The floor shook as the massive device was set into place.
"Testing phase level one." Said Washu. She pressed a series of keys and the device sprang to life. A smaller ring dropped down from the large doughnut shaped device and was lowered to the floor around the specimen chamber by three cables. "Phase two." Said Washu. The ring began to glow and the space between it took on a feint bluish luminescence. "Phase three." Washu went on. The ring slowly rose off the floor, the blue luminescence surrounded the little rabbit for a brief moment. Washu monitored the animal and watched as the bio-etheric energy levels within it slowly began to fade. She clapped her hands and smiled like a Cheshire cat. When the device was doing making its pass over the rabbit, it went the rest of the way up and back into the device where it came from.
"Now, the final test." Said Washu. She pressed a key and sprayed cold water into the chamber. The rabbit did not change.
Washu leapt from her chair and made a "V" sign with her fingers. "Alright, I am a genius!" she cheered.
A few hours later Ranma, Tenchi, and all the girls were gathered in the lab. Cologne and Rouge gaped in astonishment at the wondrous surroundings. The twins were still in the house divining the location of the next key. Washu learned a long time ago that long winded, jargon filled explanations of her technology just rolled over the heads of everyone else in the household. So she used simple words, to her distaste, and explained the machine and how it worked.
"So, this thing will like cure me and Shampoo?" Ranma asked.
"You got it." Washu smiled.
"Cool!" Ranma shouted.
"Aiya, no more cat curse!" Shampoo cheered and grabbed Ranma's arm.
"Do you truly believe curing Shampoo and my son-in-law will be that simple?" Cologne asked the pink headed genius.
"Of course, I tested the device myself on a cursed specimen." Washu replied with her hands on her hips.
The Amazon matriarch folded her arms as she balanced on her staff and said, "We shall see."
Washu ushered Ranma towards the device and pushed him gently into a large glass tube. She closed it and went to her computer terminal. "Lets see your girl half one last time." She said and pressed a key that sprayed cold water into the chamber.
"Say goodbye to your feminine side, Ranma." Washu continued and pressed the key that sprayed warm water. She typed a series of commands and device above Ranma began to hum. The ring dropped down and began to bath Ranma in its blue glow as it slowly tracked back upwards. He felt a strange tingling sensation throughout his body, similar to the feeling he had when he was first cursed. The machine finished its pass over him and Washu pressed the key spraying cold water again.
"Ahhh! Its cold!" boy Ranma exclaimed.
"YES!" Ranma cried as he looked at himself and noticed the absence of breasts.
"Aiya! Smart Washu do it, she cure Ranma!" Shampoo gasped.
"Your turn." Washu told the Amazon as she opened the chamber releasing Ranma and guided her in to take his place. Washu quickly ran through the same routine turning Shampoo into a cat and back again, but forgetting that she drops her clothes when that happens. Ryoko and Aeka cover Tenchi's eyes when a naked Shampoo appeared in the tube, threatening to give him a huge nosebleed, after a douse of warm water changed her back. The two girls eyed Washu with menacing glances.
"Opps, a simple miscalculation. I got some extra robes you can put on when we're done Shampoo." Washu grinned sheepishly. She started the machine and when it was done she sprayed cold water on the Amazon with the same predictable result.
"AIYA! Shampoo no more turn into kitty!" the Amazon cheered. Washu opened the chamber and gave the naked beauty a robe to put on. She immediately ran to Ranma's open arms and they kissed each other passionately.
"Do you doubt me now?" Washu asked the Nyanchiczu matriarch. Cologne looked look at her and said, "As I said, we shall see."
"You don't trust science at all, do you?" Washu asked her.
"It is not that," Cologne replied. "It is the blatant way you are underestimating the raw forces of magic. You cannot apply scientific explanations to it, if you try you are doomed to fail. I am merely biding my time until the moment comes when you finally see this for yourself. I only hope it will not bode badly for Shampoo and my son-in-law."
"You'll see, this cure will stick and nothing bad will happen." Washu frowned.
"We shall see." Was all Cologne would say as a reply.
Chatting with each other happily about Ranma and Shampoo's cure the group made their way out the lab and back to the Tendo house. Far back in the same section of the lab sat the test rabbit in its specimen chamber munching on a carrot. The little animal looked around at its surroundings nervously and sniffed the air. It could feel something strange, but was unable to see or smell it. Sensitive instruments in the chamber began to detect strange energy levels suddenly and spontaneously appearing inside the animal. The computers started recording data as the power levels increased at astonishing rate. A bright aura surrounded the little animal, it steadily grew into a bonfire of pure bio-etheric energy that lasted for several minutes. When the light finally died down the little rabbit was still munching away, but occupying the chamber with it was a tall, beautiful, and quite naked young woman.

It was later that evening, the twins sat at the dinner table with the others looking very tired from their intensive search. They explained that exerting that amount of power all day was draining and would need a good night sleep to replenish their strength for the next day. Ranma and Shampoo sat together, it was really the first time they could be this close without fear of the Amazon getting hit with cold water and turning into a cat. Ranma loved her just as much as the other girls, but also feared the Nekoken just as much. Kasumi and Sasami worked together to make dinner that night and it was a huge feast to celebrate their cures.
"We are in a dark time, with a new enemy threatening us, so it is good that we have this happy event to celebrate the curing of Ranma and Shampoo to lift our spirits." Said Aeka as she lifted her sake glass.
"I here that." Ryoko said, and lifted her glass.
"I'm happy for you both." Said Tenchi, saluting with his cup.
"This is indeed a happy day." Soun Tendo added.
"No more having to deal with guys making passes at me in girl form." Ranma smiled. "And no more groping from Happosai."
"Shampoo no have to worry about Animal Control when she stuck in cat form." Shampoo sighed.
"I do not understand how this was done, I was aware Josenkyo curses could never be cured, but I am happy for you none the less." Hikaru Kuno saluted with his glass with Kasumi sitting happily at his side.
"Our next goal now is finding the keys before Kun Lao does." Said Cologne.
"That we're working on, we might be close to finding the next one." Said Salt.
"Cool, then we can give that butthead a real pounding!" Ranma exclaimed slapping his fist into his other palm.
"Do not underestimate him." Hikaru warned. "He is a skilled warrior as well as a powerful magician."
"Yeah, we saw how he fought you last night." Ukyo pointed out.
"A dagger against a katana, he's gotta be pretty good." Nabiki observed.
"According to legend he defeated the great Ambrosia, Shampoo's ancestor, and the greatest warrior in Amazon history." Rouge explained to them.
Ryoko put an arm around Tenchi and hugged him tightly. "Well, he's no match for my Tenchi." She cooed.
"Nothing short of the Light Hawk Wings will defeat him." Cologne pointed out. "When the time comes to face him it will be the great test of courage either son-in-law or Tenchi has ever faced."
"That guy can't be a tough as Tokimi, could he?" Mihoshi asked, who was finally back from an extended assignment and was told about the situation.
"I hope not." Said a worried Sasami.
"I think the rest of us not actively working on locating the keys should start training tomorrow." Ranma suggested. "If this Kun Lao guy is really that tough it might take all of us to take him down."
"Sounds like a plan." Akane smiled.
"I haven't practiced Juraijitsu in ages." Aeka laughed.
"Mother is a grandmaster at it." Sasami added.
"I never knew Jurai had martial arts." Tenchi looked at the princesses with surprise.
Aeka laughed and covered her mouth saying, "But, Lord Tenchi, who do you think taught the Japanese their fighting styles."
"That's right, all modern day martial arts styles have their origins in basic Juraijitsu." Washu explained.
"You pull Shampoo's leg?" the Amazon looked at her.
"Wow, no wonder the Amazon's have legends about Jurai." Said Akane.
"Indeed, many legends." Cologne spoke up. "It is said the great Ambrosia herself was descended from Juraian royal blood."
"Huh?" Aeka looked at her with surprise.
"Ambrosia Shampoo's great, great, great, great grandmother." Shampoo smiled.
"But, that would mean that Shampoo is, uh, like a member of the royal family already." Said Ranma, astonished.
"Miss. Cologne, do you know the name of Lady Ambrosia's Juraian ancestor?" Aeka asked her.
"According to legend his name was Gaitoma." The matriarch answered.
Aeka gasped, "There is a Gaitoma in the lists of the royal family, he was the brother of Horuku Masaki, second Emperor of Jurai."
"I wondered where she got the purple hair from." Nabiki mused.
"Then it could be a good number of Amazons are descants of the royal family of Jurai." Soun realized.
"Very likely." Aeka replied.
"Great, more royals, you people sure have a way of spreading your seed around." Ryoko commented. "Tenchi is the exception though."
"Gee, thanks." Tenchi groaned.
"You didn't really expect my brother to live here on Earth for seven hundred years without having a romance or two." Aeka glanced over at the former space pirate.
"Lets get back on the main subject, ok." Ranma interrupted.
"Yes, Lord Ranma, you're quite right." Aeka replied.
"Starting tomorrow, Shampoo, Ukyo, Akane, Ryoko, Aeka, Mihoshi, and Tenchi will join me in the dojo so we start training." Ranma continued.
"What about me?" Nabiki asked.
"Well, I, uh, didn't want to speak for you cause I know you don't really know martial arts stuff." Ranma scratched the back of his head looking at her somewhat embarrassed.
She looked at him in the eye and said, "I going train like the rest of them, is that alright."
"Well, uh, sure, ok." Ranma stammered.
"Are you sure about this, Nabiki?" Akane looked at her in surprise.
"I can't sit back and watch the rest of you risk your lives, I want to help." Nabiki replied. There was more to it than that, but she was afraid to voice her concerns. If anything happened to them she would be alone without her sister, friends, and the man she loves.
"Too shall train with you." Hikaru spoke up.
"Good idea, he's had prior experience fighting Kun Lao." Tenchi commented.
"I suggest we finish this nice feast Sasami and Kasumi have made for us and turn in early." Genma suggested.
For once everyone took the panda's suggest to heart. The rest of the meal went peacefully with light conversation to get their minds off the crisis at hand. The twins, looking like they were about fall over, shambled into the dojo where their futons waited for them. The rest of them went up to their rooms. Tenchi said farewell to his lovely ladies before they left through the closet door. He kneeled down and kissed Sasami on the cheek, and shared passionate kisses with Ryoko, Aeka, and Washu in her adult form. They all smiled sadly as they left, wishing that there was room at the Tendo place for them to stay. As he was about to head for his own room Tenchi noticed Mihoshi hadn't left. He walked up to her and she hugged him.
"I'm scared." She said.
"It's going to be alright." He told her.
"Not for me, for you Tenchi, this guy sounds really bad." The blonde policewoman buried her face in his shoulder.
"Do you want to stay with me tonight?" Tenchi asked her.
Mihoshi looked up at him and blushed furiously, "Like, stay with you, in the same room."
"Yeah, my bed big enough." He said, blushing slightly himself.
"T-t-t-the same b-b-b-bed." Mihoshi looked at him with a wide eyed expression. Tenchi just smiled at her, reached behind her neck and pulled the blonde into a soft, passionate kiss. A tingle of warmth ran through the GP officer's entire body, she felt her breasts tighten and her nipples go rigid.
The blonde beauty was stunned and barely registered that she was being lead by the hand up the stairs to Tenchi's room. When the door was closed behind them, Mihoshi came out of her mental fog and returned Tenchi's kiss with earnest. The two fell back on the bed in each other's arms. God, she's so beautiful., Tenchi said to himself as he helped the girl slowly slide off her GP uniform. Naked and wrapped in each other's arms Tenchi and Mihoshi let nature take it's course. Of course, he knew they were going to pay for it come morning, but that was the furthest thing from their minds as they were intoxicated by the musk of their lovemaking.

A dark cloaked figure wandered among the crowded grave markers of Tokyo Cemetery. As far as the eye could see were thousands of closely spaced grave markers and mausoleums. The sleeping dead within this place called out to the creature beneath the cloak. He could feel them beckoning to him, like a siren song. It was very easy getting into the place. The groundskeeper had been trouble, but now even he would not get in the way. The Lich raised his gloved hands and formed a ball of green energy which he released into the air. The glowing ball fell into the Earth and a feint green aura spread across the ground.
"Awaken, my children." The Lich called in its high pitched, hollow voice.
The call was answered. The ground beneath the Lich's feet began to tremble slightly, then the first of his 'children' broke the surface. Hundreds of graves began to collapse as the occupants within began to tear their way to the surface. A gray hand reached out of the ground and grabbed at the Earth as it pulled the rest of itself out of the ground. Hundreds of shambling figures appeared out of the darkness, their eyes glowing a feint red, on those who still had eyes. The Lich surveyed his 'army' and was pleased. The stench of rotting flesh fermented over decades of entombment in the cold earth reached him and it was like the aroma of roses to his senses. The creatures before him, which had once been the loved ones of many families in the city of Tokyo, would obey no one but the voice of their lord and master. He turned towards the other location that was calling to him. Slowly the Lich and his 'children' began a shambling march towards Nerima.

Ranma stirred in his bed, the sound of blaring sirens outside his window was disturbing him. It was unusual to hear sirens like that in Nerima or anywhere else in Japan for that matter. Yes, the city had its fair share of house fires form time to time and accidents with power lines or traffic accidents. Despite popular belief Japan was not a crime free utopia either, they had plenty of crime, but unlike nations like the United States it was not out of control. There were also ancient codes of honor that even the criminals seemed to follow to a degree; the infamous Yakuza was chief among them. It sounded like there was a five or eight alarm fire going on somewhere in the city. When the heavy beating sound of three choppers roared over the house that was when Ranma sat up. It was still dark outside, he noticed looking out of his window.
The Saotome youth started climbing out of bed when he felt a warm lump next to him. Ranma smiled. One of his girls climbed into bed with him. It was still too dark to tell who it was. He laid back down and cuddled up close to her. It felt good to be able to opening show his feeling to the girls now. His hands roved over the figure under the covers. She had a wonderful figure, so it had to either Shampoo or Nabiki, or so he thought. He sought her face to kiss her. His hand reach the back of her neck and ran up to her hair. He felt a long braided pigtail? Ranma froze, none of his girls had a pig tail. Slowly he turned over and reached for the bedside lamp. Bright light flooded the room, it took a few moments for Ranma's eyes to adjust then he looked at whoever it was sharing his bed.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!"

Akane and Shampoo suddenly sat up in their beds and looked at each other. They had trouble sleeping for all the sound outside from the helicopters and sirens, which were responding to a large fire in the warehouse district or something. Now, there was the unmistakable sound of Ranma screaming at the top of his lungs.

"YYYYYAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"

The eyes of the two girls went wide. That scream wasn't male, it was female, and they very easily recognized it. That alone shocked the two girls into action. They ran out of the room towards the onsen entrance and into the secret entrance to Ranma's room which only they could access. The scene that greeted them was even more shocking. Ranma was on his feet in his boxers and little else. His face was in absolute shock, his mouth agape. The girls looked where he was staring and gasped in shock. A young woman was sitting on the bed wrapped up in a sheet to cover herself. She had red hair with a pig tail and extremely voluptuous figure. There was absolutely no mistaking this person what so ever. She was Ranma's female form, but Ranma was in his male form!
"Oh my Kami-sama!" Akane gasped.
"Aiya!!!" Shampoo's eyes rolled up into the back of her head and she passed out.

"What the hell is going on?" Ukyo demanded.
Just about everyone was downstairs now in the sitting room. Kasumi brought in a tea service she had just made in the kitchen and handed a cup to their unexpected guest. The young red head took the cup. "Thanks Kasumi." She smiled and took a sip. Akane, Shampoo, Ukyo and Nabiki watched this girl who looked exactly like Ranma's female form. Tenchi was totally unable to fathom how this could have happened. He remembered one of Ranma's many stories he was told last year during their first meeting. Ranma told him about the mirror doppelganger who ran around like a boy happy nymphet. This girl clearly wasn't like that, she wasn't trying to seduce him, and she wasn't dressing in anything overtly sexy. There was one obvious difference with this girl that was very different with Ranma, she seemed very comfortable about being a girl and even acted like one through and through.
"Shampoo bet Kun Lao do this!" the Amazon fumed.
"But to what end?" Hikaru Kuno tried to reason.
"What are you guys talking about, and who is that guy who looks like me?" the female Ranma pointed to the male Ranma who winced when she did.
"I'm Ranma Saotome." Ranma replied.
"Yeah, tell me another one, you're another doppelganger thingamabob or something like that." Female Ranma accused.
"Excuse me, but you're the doppelganger here." Akane pointed at the girl.
"Akane, what's wrong with you?" female Ranma gaped at her. "It's me Ranma."
"You're not Ranma, at least not the real Ranma." Akane wrapped her arms around male Ranma's left arm.
"If they're both Ranma, then how did she get here?" Nabiki inquired.
Everyone look at the male Ranma then towards the closet door. Tenchi sighed and murmured, "Washu."
"I can't be, Ranma's cured!" Akane protested.
"I warned her." Cologne sighed and shook her head. "I told her the magic of Josenkyo could not be circumvented by science, no matter how advanced it is."
The old woman came out of the shadows balancing on her staff.
"You mean?" Ukyo began pointing towards both Ranma's.
"The process of curing Ranma must have somehow set into motion a separation of his male and female halves." The Amazon Matriarch surmised.
Female Ranma jumped to her feet and shouted, "What! I'm not some creation, I'm Saotome Ranma!"
"Yes, and so his he." Cologne gestured towards the male Ranma.
"That can't be!" the female Ranma cried.
"Its is, and he's my iinazuke." Akane told her.
The female Ranma's eyes went wide. "Akane Tendo, self-proclaimed hater of all men has an iinazuke!?"
"You mean you're not engaged to Akane?" asked Tenchi.
"Huh?" female Ranma gasped. "EWWW! I'm not a lesbo!"
"Interesting, it would seem this Ranma is not only a girl in body, but also in mind as well." Cologne realized.
Tenchi climbed to his feet and went towards the closet. "I'll go wake Washu." He said over his shoulder.
"Uh, I got a question." Mihoshi spoke up.
"Yes young lady?" Cologne replied.
"Uh, how did she get here again?" the blonde GP officer inquired. Everyone immediately face faltered.

Lt. Katari Myamara ran through the streets of Nerima, occasionally she looked over her shoulder hoping and praying to the Kami that nothing was behind her. Much has changed for the detective since the Fureinken rape case, which was suddenly and mysteriously closed and sealed by someone higher up in the government. Soon after she was reassigned to a different division, homicide, and given a promotion under the express condition that she never speak of the Hinako case ever again to anyone. She found this most unusual and wondered if it had anything to do with those two American FBI agents that came to her office that same day. She tried to remember their names, Moldy and Skula, no that didn't sound right.
Those thought were the furthest things from her mind now as she ran down the abandoned streets of the city in a near panic. She along with nearly the entire precinct in her area was directed a specific location. What happened would haunt her nightmares for the rest of her life. It was like a scene out of one of those Resident Evil videogames, but in real life! After her fellow officers went down under the marching wall of living dead making its slow advance she ran for her life. She threw down her revolver which she had already spent firing into the oncoming horde of zombies to no avail. She only prayed that some of her fellow officers were able to get out alive. She could still hear gunshots in the distance, sirens blaring, and screams in the distance. She rounded a corner and came up short. She recognized the address she was running past, it was no less then the Tendo household where Akane Tendo and Ranma Saotome lived. After seeing the army of zombies she was starting to give the wild stories surround Ranma Saotome some credit. If the living dead was real then a boy who can jump thirty feet and threw blasts of energy can't possibly be an urban legend! It was still dark outside, the sun hadn't come up yet, thus adding to Katari's fright.
Ranma and the others sat inside trying to understand the puzzle that was his female form in physical attendance. Washu ran a scanner over the girl and checked her readings.
"She's perfectly fine." She said. "I also have to admit something though, I found that the test animals I used the cure on also split like this also."
"NANI!?" Every gasped.
The pink haired genius laughed and scratched the back of her head. "Yep, I got a bunch of naked girls running around my lab who think their rabbits."
"Washu, how did this happen?" Tenchi demanded.
"Relax, I think the attempt to negate the bio-etheric energy of the curse may have caused a chromo-paradyne shift." She reassured him. The only reply she got was several sets of eyes blinking in incomprehension.
"Its complicated ok, I can't explain it any simpler than that without giving you all a fourteen hour lecture on the subject, just take my word for it." She said exasperated.
"I wish you could have found this out 'before' you tried to curse me." Ranma growled.
"What, you mean you don't want me around?" female Ranma accused him.
Ranma replied stammering, "Uh, well, you see, uh."
"Look, what's done is done, beside what would it hurt having her around?" Tenchi tried to defuse the situation before him. Ranma's iinazuke gave him vicious glances. Of course, Tenchi's girls all know what they could be thinking. Did this new girl have designs on Ranma, since she did come from him after all.
Ranma." Said Akane.
"Yeah Akane." Both Ranma's said at the same time.
"That's gonna get confusing, why don't we call her Ranko." Ukyo suggested. "That's the name Ranma uses sometimes when disguised in his girl form."
"Ranko, I like that." The newly named Ranko smiled.
Washu looked at Cologne who had been eyeing her the whole time she was checking Ranko's status. "You can tell me you told me so, ok!"
"Alright, I told you so." Cologne beamed.
"Who is that at this hour?" Kasumi wondered hearing loud banging on the front door. She went to the front of the house and a figure literally fell into the doorway as she opened the door.
"CLOSE THE DOOR, PLEASE, NO KAMI-SAMA!" the figure cried.
"Oh my!" Kasumi gasped.
"Its, its Lt. Myamara who interviewed us after Miss. Hinako was attacked." Akane remembered. The policewoman looked up, saw Ranma, and ran to him sobbing.
"HUH?" he gasped as he caught the woman before she feel down.
"What's wrong with her?" Ukyo asked with concern.
"Their all dead, all of them!" Katari cried.
Everyone froze with shock. With everything happening with Kun Lao there was no telling what was going on. They could still hear the sirens and what sounded like thunder. "What do you mean all dead?!" Ranma asked in surprise.
"She's in shock, post traumatic stress disorder from the way she's acting." Washu guessed.
"But what freaked her out?" Nabiki asked.
That was when everyone noticed Mihoshi pointing towards the front gates to the house visible through the windows in the living room. "That maybe?"
"Huh?" They all looked and their blood ran cold. A single figure in shadows shambled in through the front gates to the property. The way the figure, man or woman, was walking didn't seem natural.
"Aiya!" Shampoo cried.
"What the hell is that?!" Ranma gasped.
Tenchi pointed. "There's more!" Several dozen more such shambling forms started coming out of the gloom of the night.
"THEY'RE COMING, THEY'RE COMING, OH KAMI!" the policewoman screamed.
Ranma threw open the front door and run into the night yelling, "Come on Tenchi!" Tenchi's face took on that seriousness it usually did before a battle, opened the tiny subspace pocket Washu created for him to keep the Tenchi-ken hidden, and followed his cousin. Ranma reached the first shambling form first and unleashed with the Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken or "Chestnut Fist". To his sudden surprise and horror the form literally disintegrated, and the smell was nearly unbearable. Tenchi came up behind igniting the blade of the Master Key and cleaved the next form into three sections with on fluid move.
"What are these things?" Ranma looked with disgust at his fists which were covered with some black ooze that stank worse than anything he's ever smelt before.
"I don't know but we're outnumbered!" Tenchi cried as he felled another creature and pointed down the street. Hundreds of the things could be seen shambling down the street towards the Tendo home, their red eyes illuminating in the darkness of the night.
"Uh, what do we do?" Ranma asked him.
"Running would be a good idea." Replied Tenchi.
Both cousins ran back to the house, the were immediately repelled by the stink on Ranma's hands. Cologne recognized the smell and forced herself not to gag.
"Ranma, wash that off with hot water and quickly!" the Amazon matriarch told him. Ranma ran to the kitchen while Akane turned on the hot water while holding he nose with her other hand. He used dish soap to wash the gunk off, but when he was done he could still smell the stench but it wasn't as bad as before.
"What was it?" Ranma asked the diminutive old woman.
"Rotted flesh turned to a near liquid." She replied making Ranma and nearly everyone else around her turn green.
"Nani?" Ranma gaped.
"This must be the work of one of Kun Lao's servants." Hikaru Kuno surmised. He came into the room wearing a new samurai robe with his sword scabbard slung across his back.
"Yes, the Lich." Cologne named their enemy.
"The Lich?" Ranma questioned her.
"One of Kun Lao's most powerful servants, a hideous creature neither alive or dead and who can control the very dead themselves." Cologne explained.
"Wait, you mean those things are, uh, zombies?" Ranko gasped.
"In a manner of speaking, yes." Cologne looked at her seriously.
"The living dead, isn't that a contradiction of terms." Washu folded her arms.
"Uh, Washu, sweetie, those things look awfully real to me out there." Tenchi said to her.
A hand broke through the front window making Nabiki scream and jump back. Shampoo jumped in front of her and batted the zombie away with a bonbori mace. "Aiya! They surround house, what we do?" Trough the shoji doors and other windows they could all see the forms moving through the yard. Akane took a fighting stance.
"This is my family home and I'm not letting a bunch of walking dead people trash it!" she raged.
Ukyo pulled out her Baker's Peel and joined her. "I'm with Akane, I say we make a stand."
Ranma and Ranko feel in with them. "I never run away from a fight!" they both said together.
"Washu, go get Aeka and Ryoko we need them!" Tenchi shouted over his shoulder as he beheaded a zombie trying to come through the shoji doors.
"What about you?" she shouted from the closet door.
"Just go, and protect Sasami!" he waved her on.
The sound of a sword being drawn filled the air and a loud battle cry resounded through the house as Hikaru Kuno went into action with his katana. The battle, if it could be called that, raged on for several minutes as the faster and better coordinated fighters quickly decimated the force of attacking zombies until they reached the front gates.
"Aiya, that easy fight, yes?" Shampoo smiled.
"I was too easy." Ranma said nervously.
"I agree son-in-law." Cologne nodded.
Ukyo held her nose. "Uh, this place is gonna reek for months!"
The Hentai Twins and Rouge came running up after cleaning out the zombies that wandered into the dojo. "All clear!" the twins chorused.
"In here yeah, but not out there!" Ukyo shouted back at them. She moved along with Ranma, Tenchi, Shampoo and Akane to push the steel gate to the Tendo property closed. Akane set the lock, despite the fact that the lock is hardly ever used in a city with such a low crime rate. The remaining zombies outside pressed against the gates and it was immediately apparent that the lock wouldn't hold for long. The gate was mainly for show and not designed for any real defense.
"That's not gonna hold long." Said Ranma.
"TENCHI!" came a shout from the house as Aeka and Ryoko ran out to their iinazuke. They immediately noted the bodies and the stink made Aeka suddenly turn a sickly green.
"Aeka, you ok?" Ryoko asked her.
Aeka held her nose closed and said, "I'll be alright."
"If I have to smell these things one minute more I think I'm gonna puke." Ranko clenched her nose. Suddenly the zombies beating on the gates stepped away and shambled off into the shadows leaving everyone inside stunned that it was over that quickly. A cold shiver ran up Ranma's spine, he could somehow sense that something was very wrong.
"Uh, something tells me I'm not gonna like what just happened." Ranma voiced his concern out loud.
"When I stormed Kun Lao citadel at Josenkyo I faced the undead such as these, but the walking dead are but only one of the servants of the Lich." Hikaru explained to them. He did not want to alarm his new friends and family by recounting what horrors he faced fighting his way to Kun Lao to save Sakumi. They would find out on their own.
"What's that sound?" Akane asked hearing high pitched screech sounds in the distance. The noise set her teeth on edge, like someone raking their fingernails across a chalkboard. Soon they all began to hear the sound and low rumbling, deep throated roars.
"Ghouls!" Hikaru hissed and fell into a defensive stance with his blade held ready. Everyone fell into a fighting stance right along with him hearing the sounds closing in on them.
"Ghouls?" Aeka blinked.
"Vile creatures with a mouth of long, sharp fangs and wicked claws on their hands." Cologne told her. "They are carrion eaters, they feed upon the flesh of the dead."
"EEEEEWWWWW!!!!" was the response from Ranma's iinazuke, except for Nabiki who stayed in the house with Kasumi to keep Lt. Katari calm.
The first of the creatures emerged from the darkness. Despite showing some resolve at being tough the girls, including Ryoko, could not suppress a scream of horror of revulsion. The things had skin that was a sickly dark gray, their mouths were wide maws lined with spike-like fangs that looked to be almost two inches long, and their long arms ended with long claws that extended beyond their fingers like those old American horror movies about a burnt up ghost who killed teenagers with a razorblade glove. The creatures were grabbing the fallen dead off the ground and cramming them into their huge mouths as they ran. The sight of this was almost too much for Ukyo and Aeka. They dash off holding their mouths hoping to reach the bathroom before their stomachs erupted.
"The gates won't hold them back." Tenchi realized.
"Let'em come!" Ryoko growled forming an energy ball in her hand.
"At last a real fight!" Pepper cheered.
"Beware, ghouls regenerate unless destroyed by fire!" Hikaru warned them.
The creatures came snarling and crashed into the gate. For a brief moment it held, then the bricks around the hinges gave way and it fell in. Just at the gates dropped Ryoko loosed her bolt of energy. An explosion lit up the night sky sending mangled ghouls flying in all directions. The battle became a free for all as the monsters surged into the yard behind the ones that were just obliterated. Ukyo returned to the battle with her Baker's Peel, she deflected the wicked claws of the creatures and lashed out at them with the sharpened end of her trademark weapon. Shampoo was a whirlwind of fury sporting her bonbori maces, with every swing she batted away a ghoul or crushed it under the tremendous force of her thrusts. Akane stuck close to Ranma, her fighting skills still weren't anywhere near his yet she managed to stay clear of those claws that could have easily cut her in two with a casual swipe. Ranma was a one man wrecking crew demolishing dozens of the monsters at every turn, his speed allowed him to flow around their claw attacks while he delivered Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken blows. Ranko faired about as good and gave as good as she got from the monsters. Her Moko Takabisha blasts filled the night sky with bright light, each blast vaporizing some of the monsters. Salt and Pepper did what they usually do in a fight, work as a team, and nothing got passed their whirling scimitar blades. From time to time one of the twins would guard the other as she formed a spell, usually fireball, to bring the monsters down. For Hikaru Kuno it was déjà vu, he'd been in such a battle before with these monsters, but this time around he had allies to back him up while before he faced these creatures alone. He demonstrated to anyone who was able to take the time from the fight to watch that he had considerable sword fighting skills, his katana cut a swath through the vile creatures. Cologne of the Nyanchiczu, despite her age, was one of the most formidable fighters among her people and her performance in the battled showed this to be true. She bounded through the oncoming monster using her walking stick to bat them away or crush in their skulls with machine like precision. Ryoko and Aeka fought back to back. The princess' mini-guardians surrounded groups of the monsters and lashed out with bursts of energy. Ryoko had her energy sword in hand and protect herself and Aeka with her energy shield. It became apparent however to everyone that the onslaught wasn't slowing, for every dozen that fell two dozen too their place. The fighters were pushed back toward the Tendo house as more of the claw monsters rushed them gnashing their gaping maws in anticipation of devouring warm flesh.
"There's too many of them!" Ukyo cried desperately fighting off the creatures from all sides.
"MOKO TAKABISHA!!!!" Ranma cried. A mass of the monsters that surrounded Ukyo suddenly vaporized under his massive chi blast. It gave her the time she needed to regroup with the others as they retreated quickly to the house.
"Get to the house I'll cover you guy!" Ranko shouted. She ran into the midst of the snarling monsters, dropped one knee and thrust a single finger at the ground, "BAKUSAI TENKETSU!!!" The ground erupted in a massive explosion that sent hundreds of the monsters flying through the air. Ranko came running out of the murky dust cloud the technique created. Ranma held open the front door for her and slammed it shut behind her.
"Close all the doors and windows!" he shouted into the rest of the house.
"That will not stop them!" Cologne protested.
"You got any better ideas?" he asked her.
Snarling ghouls began climbing through the windows and smashing through the thin shoji doors. They advanced on the others slowly. Ranma shot a glance at his father and Mr. Tendo who were both in total shock. Those two will be useless in this fight., he reasoned. Nabiki, Kasumi, Mihoshi, Lt. Katari, and Rouge yelped as ghouls broke into their part of the house.
"Yes, I do." Cologne replied. "RUN FOR IT!"
Nobody wanted to debate that idea as they turned and run. Akane grabbed Nabiki's hand as Ranma grabbed up Lt. Katari into his arms. A steel three section staff suddenly appeared in Rouge's hands as she protected their flank. Tenchi ran to Mihoshi and grabbed her arm. The two older men snapped out of their bewildered shock and ran for it too.
"My lab, we can take cover in my lab!" Washu cried.
She ran towards the closet door when suddenly an invisible barrier sprang up into place in front of it. She slammed into it hard and fell back.
"A magical wall of repulsion!" Salt realized.
"This is the Lich's doing!" Hikaru snarled.
"Why am I reminded of the Alamo all of a sudden?" Ukyo whirled and smashed a ghoul with her Baker's Peel.
"HAPPOH FIRE BURST!!!!" came a cry from outside followed by a loud explosion.
"Great, the Master has returned from his nightly rounds!" Soun was never happier at that moment to see Happosai returning home to the Tendo dojo.
"Ghouls, haven't seen things like these in ages!" The diminutive pervert darted around the monsters with lightning speed. The renowned "Most Evil Martial Arts Master" bash, battered, and clobbered every creature that dared to raise its claw in his direction. The creatures pressed the attack, they came burst through the walls and their claws made kindling out of furniture.
"THAT'S IT THIS END NOW!" Tenchi cried before throwing himself into the mass of snarling undead. A bright white light erupted causing everyone to shield their eyes and the ghouls screeched in annoyance. A massive force pushed the monster away from Tenchi as the Light Hawk Wings unfolded before him. Aeka and Ryoko watched as Tenchi merged with the wings like he did on the Soja and when fighting Lady Tokimi. Shielded by Light Hawk armor and holding the magnificent Light Hawk Sword Tenchi looked like a very formidable sight. The ghouls sensed his power and took no chances.
"Lord Tenchi is one of the Kami?" Hikaru gasped.
"No, but he might as well be." Washu told him.
"YYYAAAHHHH!!!" Tenchi roared as he lashed out with the Light Hawk Sword. The blade vaporized the undead monsters the moment it touched them. His powerful, well measured strokes and thrusts pushed the creatures back from his family and friends.
"AMAZING, THE POWER THAT BOY IS PUTTING OUT IS INCREDIBLE!" Salt and Pepper gasped in astonishment.
"Let's help him!" Ranma cried and threw himself into the fight.
The tide of the battle suddenly shifted against the undead. Dozens of the ghouls fell to Tenchi's Light Hawk Sword, meanwhile the rest of the family who could fight and even some who couldn't threw themselves into the battle to protect their home. In no less than twenty minutes the battle was back outside and nearing the ruined gates to the Tendo property.
"Impressive, I can see why the master sent me to deal with them." The Lich said out loud as he watched the battle from the roof of one of the nearby houses. The cloaked creature raised its hand forming a ball of energy and clenched it in a gloved fist. The energy flared around its fingers and suddenly took the shape of a wicked scythe with a long, curved blade. The Lich leapt into the air, its cloak flapped it in the wind as it soar over the battle and descended into the Tendo yard.
"What the hell is that!?" Ranko shouted as she saw the figure coming.
The Lich alighted in the Tendo yard and immediately attacked. Hikaru Kuno's katana blade came to meet the creature's scythe. Steel sang against steel as the two battled one another.
"I defeated you one, I shall do so again!" Hikaru snarled through clenched teeth.
"I remember you." The Lich hissed. "You will find I have become much stronger since we last met."
"NIGHTSHADE!!!" the Lich cried as it swung its blade. A dark aura surrounded the blade of the scythe and it lashed out with dark tendrils. The black energy struck Hikaru like a hundred whip lashes knocking him off his feet and raising painful whelps on his skin.
The creature would have advanced to finish his prey but found himself having to deflect blows from a pair of bonbori maces.
"A pity I must kill you, the master would have liked playing with one as lovely as yourself." The thing hissed. Shampoo snarled and pressed the attack. The Lich leapt into the air avoiding a powerful swing from the Amazon that would have easily killed a lesser opponent. He alighted on the ground behind her and swung his blade.
"CHILL OF THE DEAD!!!" he shouted as he attacked. A wave of intense cold struck Shampoo sapping the strength from her muscles. Suddenly her maces seemed too heavy for her lift and she fell to one knee.
"BREATH OF THE DRAGON!!!" Hikaru cried as he swung his blade. A tongue of flame lashed out from the sword and engulfs the cloaked monster. The Lich cried out in rage and agony as the flames quickly spread over his cloak. The flaming monster hurled himself into the air and away from the battle.
"Are you well noble Amazon?" the samurai asked as he helped Shampoo stand.
"Hai. Shampoo feel better now, where creepy monster go Shampoo no done bashing in head." She looked around to see where the Lich had gone.
Bits and pieces of the Lich's cloak still burned as he stepped towards the warriors. With the cloak gone they could see what was underneath. The Lich was a walking skeleton adorned in the ornate armor of a Chinese warrior. A eerie green light shown through the gaps in the armor emanating from within the creature's ribcage. An unholy red glow emanated from the Lich's eye sockets.
"That's the Lich!?" Ranma gasped seeing the thing.
"It is his true form." Cologne nodded. "Destroy him and the ghoul army will return to the underworld from whence they came."
"COOL!" Ranma threw himself at the skeletal warrior intending to shatter him. The Lich saw the attack and swung his blade to counter. Ranma was faster and flowed around the strike. He allowed himself to fall to the side, landed on the ground with one hand, then heaved his body into the air delivering a sideways mule kick with both feet at the thing. The Lich didn't fly apart like Ranma though he would. That bastard's touch than he looks!, Ranma realized in surprise.
"NIGHTSHADE!!!" the Lich unleashed the attack on Ranma, but to the monster's surprise his target was suddenly gone. Ranma materialized behind the Lich and struck his back with one finger.
"BAKUSAI TENKETSU!!" His finger hit but nothing happened.
"HUH?!" Ranma gaped looking at his finger.
"Fool, I am a magical creature that techniques only works on non-living mundane objects!" the Lich snarled and attacked.
"Ok, how about this!" Ranma raised his hands forming a ball of energy. "MOKO TAKABISHA!!!" The blast hits the Lich's chest plate armor. The heat of the energy causes the metal to warp and buckle, and force of it delivered at such close range throws the monster off its feet.
"Finish him now son-in-law!" Cologne cried as the Lich slowly tried to stand.
"I think not!" the Lich roared raising his weapon. "SOUL DRINKER!!!"
Ranma suddenly felt his strength and his battle aura dwindle down to almost nothing. He fought to stand but even that was too much for him to do and he fell like a rag doll.
"AIREN!" Shampoo cried and threw herself between him and the Lich. Hikaru joined her and together they force the creature away from Ranma to give him time to recover. Slowly Ranma felt his strength return to him and felt a pair of strong arms lifting him up. He looked up into Akane's face which at the moment was a mask of immense worry.
"Ranma, are you ok?" she asked with concern.
Ranma steadied himself. "Yeah, he surprised me that's all."
"Aiya!" Shampoo cried as she came flying towards the house and smacked into the wall.
"Shampoo!" the two cried and ran to the fallen Amazon.
"Ranma, Akane, that thing stronger than he look." The Amazon groaned as the two picked her up.
"There's only one thing that'll stop this thing." Ranma said and he just what to do. He ran to where Hikaru was still fighting the monsters then yelled out at the thing.
"Hey, bone bag, your mamma was a dog's chew toy!"
"What Ranma doing?" Shampoo wondered as Ranma started dodging the Lich's attacks and ran round the creature.
"AIYA!" she realized what he was up to, sprang to her feet and ran to Hikaru Kuno.
"Samurai best get out of Ranma way!" She told him once she got to the young warrior. "Monster about to meet painful end."
"Nani?" Hikaru looked at her.
"Listen to her, take cover fast!" Akane warned him. Reluctant to fight his samurai code to never run from a fight, the warrior conceded and followed the two girls. They watched as Ranma goaded the monster into more frantic attacks as he ran around and around the creature in a spiral pattern.
"What's he doing?" Aeka gasped.
"Winning the battle." Cologne said with a smile.
About this time Tenchi and the rest arrived to watch Ranma's antics. The young Masaki had already dispelled the power of the Light Hawk Wings after chasing off the remaining ghouls. The creatures were still out there, that was evident from the number of sirens and gunshots they could hear all around in the city. Lt. Katari, Nabiki, and Mihoshi came out and watched Ranma's battle. Ranko just folded her arms and enjoyed the show.
The young Saotome felt the rising heat of the battle around him and knew the time was getting near. Just a little more., he told himself. The Lich lashed out again and again in frustration at not being able to hit his target. He tried his magical techniques to no avail. Then, Ranma felt that the energy around him was just right.
"HIRYU SHOTEN HA!!!"
A whirlwind of chi energy erupted from where Ranma initiated the technique and the Lich was hurled into the air. Everyone who had never seen Ranma use this technique before gasped in awe and wonder. Lt. Katari watched with morbid fascination and realized all the stories she heard about the boy were true. Washu had her computer out analyzing the attack with immense fascination. High in the air the immense forces of the whirlwind tore the Lich apart. First to go were his arms and legs, then the armor on his chest, and finally his ribs began to fly apart. The mass of green energy housed within his ribcage was pulled and shredded by the forces of Hiryu Shoten Ha. When the winds finally died there was no trace of the creature left but one thing. As the winds calmed the monster's skull landed in the yard, the eerie lights that had been inside its lifeless eyes slowly faded to nothingness.
"RANMA!" the young Saotome was suddenly tackled to the ground by four amorous woman who smothered his face with affectionate kisses.
Tenchi and Ryoko heard a sound behind them and they whirled around in time to see a group of ghouls advancing on them. Before they could attack the monsters suddenly grasped themselves and began to cry out in agony. Slowly the creatures liquefied and began to slowly seep in the ground as their cries echoed as if they came from a deep pit.
"With the power of their master no more they are return to hell where they belong." Said Cologne.

"Mr. Saotome, have you ever considered a career in law enforcement?" Lt. Katari asked Ranma. The battle was well over and everyone was taking the time to relax and recover their strength. With the Lich destroyed the chaos in the city outside suddenly died down. The TV was on and news reports were frantically giving accounts of what happened that night. Everyone was in the sitting room just resting or sipping tea prepared by Kasumi and Sasami.
Ranma scratched the back of his head. "Never crossed my mind." He smiled awkwardly, his entire body ached from the battle hours ago.
"A man with your incredible skills would be a true asset to the force." She replied.
"The police of this land are governed by strict rules, I fear confining young Ranma to such rules would be a waste of his talents." Cologne told her.
"How so?" Lt. Katari asked her.
"You are more suited to dealing with criminals and breakers of the law who are more or less mundane and possess little not any special talents." Cologne explained.
"You mean they can't bench press bulldozers." The police woman said.
"In a manner of speaking." Cologne went on. "Ranma's talents lean in different direction, he is suited for dealing with foes that would prove fatal for the police to encounter."
"Like those zombies." Lt. Katari sighed.
"They are the least of our problems." Spoke up Akane.
"That creature was summoned by a foe the authorities had best leave to those who know what they are doing." Hikaru Kuno added.
"You mean this Kun Lao character Kasumi was telling me about earlier." Lt. Katari remembered.
"The very same, a enemy who's power is well beyond the power of the police or an army for that matter." Cologne told her.
"I heard stories from the students of Fureinken High when I was investigating the rape of that teacher." Lt. Katari sat up and looked at Ranma. "They told me some pretty wild stories about how Ranma Saotome can jump thirty feet in the air, throw blasts of energy from his hands, and what I have seen so far has proven them all true and then some. This whole experience has opened my eyes to a world that I've never realized existed and was right there under my nose all this time but I never could imagine it was there."
Ukyo put a hand on the woman's shoulder reassuringly. "There, there, sugar, since coming to Nerima looking for Ranma honey I've seen lots of bizarre things, you get used to it." She said.
"I also heard that he turns into a girl." The policewoman added.
"Oh, I'm cured of that." Ranma smiled.
"I don't know, Ranma honey, after what happened last night." Ukyo reminded him and pointed at Ranko.
Without a warning Akane upended a glass of cold water over Ranma's head. To his dismay he felt the familiar tingling all over his body and looked down at the considerable bulge in the front of her Chinese shirt.
"It's not fair." Sighed a now female Ranma.
"But, if he still turns into a girl then that means-WAH!" Ranko began when she felt cold water pouring over her head. She looked down and noticed the absence of her ample breasts.
"Uh, I guess we're both still cursed." A now male Ranko sighed.
"Unbelievable." Gasped Lt. Katari.
"I don't get it, neither of them should be cursed." Washu scratched her chin.
Cologne sighed. "Well now, maybe you'll leave dealing with magic and curses to those who know what they are doing next time."
"Err." Washu growled and the two women glowered at one another.
"Miss. Myamara would you like a ride back to your office?" Soun offered.
The policewoman blushed a bit and said, "No thank you, but thanks for the offer Mr. Tendo, with things the way they are right now it would be better to keep as much traffic off the streets as possible until things can be cleaned up."
"Guess there's a lot of damage in the city." Nabiki said looking toward the TV which was showing the aftermath of last night's incident from the view of a helicopter.
"Of course you all know why the Lich was here." Said Cologne
"To pound us into the dirt." Ranma told her.
"No, to distract us while he finds the next location of the keys." Cologne corrected him.
"Oh, that." Ranma groaned.
"Matriarch, does not legend say one of the keys is hidden near Joketsuzoku?" asked Rouge.
"Legend says it was buried with the great Ambrosia in her grave, which sits beneath a shrine at the center of the village." Cologne remembered recalling the story.
"Keys?" the policewoman looked confused.
"Long story, sugar." Ukyo smiled.
"Well, if one of the keys is there we should go and get it before that hentai get its." Suggested Akane.
"Aiya! Shampoo agree, we get key before nasty sorcerer get it." Shampoo seconded.
"I take it you people are leaving then?" Lt. Katari asked.
"Yes, for China, we will journey into territory not even the communists dare venture into." Cologne told her.
"Son-in-law, I see that look on your face." Cologne warned Ranma who suddenly had a happy expression in her eyes. "Do not go anywhere near Josenkyo until we can determine the nature of the change that has taken place due to Washu's tampering."
"Tampering!" Washu fumed. She calmed when she felt Tenchi's hand on her shoulder.
"Rats." Ranma and Ranko sighed.
"How are we going to get there, repairs to the house are going to cost a bundle, and we don't have that much in the bank." Nabiki gestured around at the damage.
"We?" Ranma looked at her. "Where we're going is pretty danger, you and Kasumi should stay here with pop and your dad."
Nabiki look at 'her' with her hands on her hips. "Any more dangerous than it was a little while ago."
"He speaks the truth young Nabiki, the lands around Josenkyo are not for the uninitiated." Hikaru added. "There are places in that region not even the Nyanchiczu dare enter."
"Kun Lao is targeting me and Tenchi." Ranma pointed from 'herself' to 'her' cousin. "And he's more interested in finding the keys than coming back here."
"I just don't want to be left out, I'm the your only iinazuke who can't fight." Nabiki sighed.
"Huh, you have more than one iinazuke?" Lt. Katari looked surprised.
Ranma-chan smiled and scratched the back of her head. "That's another long story."
"You can tell it to me another time, I'd better be getting to my office." The policewoman said as she stood up. "Assuming its still standing."
"Thank you all for everything, I want you to know you have a friend in the police department if you need anything." Lt. Katari told them before bowing and heading for the door.
"Ok, we'd better decide who's going and who's not." Ranko suggested.
"I'll stay, I'll just slowly guys down, beside I have to get a contractor in here to fix the damage." Nabiki sighed. "Hopefully the insurance covers attacks by zombies."
"Its not just that Nabiki, I be really worried about you if you came along." Ranma-chan told her.
"I know, I guess that's why I fell for you, huh." Nabiki smiled back at her.
"I'm going." Said Ukyo.
"Me too." Akane chimed in.
"I want a piece of that asshole, I'm going." Ryoko joined in.
"Count me a part of this venture also." Aeka added.
"Me too I guess." Said Tenchi.
"A hundred wild horses could no keep Shampoo away." Shampoo smiled.
"Once again I journey to Josenkyo, I shall go with you." Hikaru Kuno nodded.
"As an officer of the Galaxy Police it is my duty, count me in too." Mihoshi bubbled.
"I must go and report what has happened to the other elders." Cologne told them.
"We'll go, if Kun Lao is after the same key you'll need us along." Salt spoke up.
"I follow my nieces." Said Rouge.
"Tendo and I will stay here to watch after Nabiki and help fix up the house." Said Genma.
"You mean lay around and play shoji all day with dad while I handle everything so you don't bungle it." Nabiki eyed him.
"Uh." The elder Saotome stammered nervously.
"I'll stay, we can use my robots from the lab to fix the house to save on expenses." Said Washu.
"Thanks." Nabiki smiled at her.
"That's it then, when do we leave?" asked Ranma-chan.
"First thing tomorrow morning, I will arrange transportation for us through our usual channels." Said Cologne. "We Amazons do no travel by regular registered transport, we use methods where few questions are asked about our destination."
"In other words you have contacts in the Yakuza." Ukyo guessed.
"A few, we have some mutual understandings." Cologne nodded. "Same thing in Hong Kong, we have alliances there as well."
"Figures, that's how Shampoo knew me and pop went to Japan ain't it?" Ranma-chan asked.
"Uh huh." Shampoo nodded smiling. "Shampoo track down airen easy."
"At least that has turned out for the best." Cologne smiled.
"Yeah, my iinazuke problems are pretty much over except for Kodachi." Ranma-chan smiled at 'her' loves.
"Alright, I'll go too." Ranko-kun spoke up.
Ranma-chan shrugged. "Don't see why not."
"Uh, Kasumi could we both have some hot water?" Ranma-chan asked.
"I'll be right back." Kasumi smiled. Over her shoulders she said, "I'll stay home too, I know how to fight, or one of my past selves does, but I want to help with fixing up the house."
Kasumi returned with a kettle. Ranma and Ranko both sighed with relief as they changed themselves back to normal.
"At least we don't have high school anymore to worry about." Ukyo broke the silence.
"As if we need that hanging over our heads, I hope we can get all this resolved before college starts." Akane nodded in assent.
Ukyo slapped her knees and said, "Hey, lets all go to the shop and I'll personally make everybody some okonomiyaki."
"Okonomiyaki?" the twins looked at one another questioningly.
"Japanese pizza." Rouge explained.
"Oh, I prefer Chicago style myself." Pepper smiled.
"That's the American/Italian style, Okonomiyaki is very different." Ukyo told her.
"Right now I think a good meal sound very good." Ranma climbed to his feet and smiled.
Akane playfully nudged him in the ribs laughing, "You're always hungry."
"I don't really feel like going back to the Nekohautan right now, I'll go too." Cologne sighed and smiled at the young people around her.
And so the heroes and heroines of the Battle of Nerima left the ruins of their home and headed for Ucchan's for a victory breakfast. Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away a lone figure paced back and forth fuming. Kun Lao felt the energy of his servant the Lich suddenly wink out. The Lich was defeated, so quickly, how?, he wondered. He knew how, Ranma and his cousin. Against ordinary foes the Lich would have won a battle in no time, but then Ranma Saotome and Tenchi Masaki were not normal foes by any stretch of the imagination.
He stopped pacing, his latest conquest lay naked and unconscious on the mattress in the corner of his room. He'd have to send her away soon, whipping her memory away and any evidence of their coupling. Kun Lao sat lotus style on the floor and drew a complex rune in the air in front of it. It shimmered with chi energy in mid air for moment then transformed into one of his spectral minions. The tiny ethereal creature flew out the window and raced the long distance to Nerima where it found the ruins of the Tendo home. Slowly it phased through the walls and came upon the people inside who were in discussion.
So, one of the keys IS in Joketsuzoku as I guessed., Kun Lao realized. "Interesting." He thought out loud. It had been a long time since he ever walked the lands of Josenkyo or ventured into the lands of the Amazons. In his absence he was certain that the Musk Dynasty will have taken back the land he acquired for himself so long ago. That could not be allowed to continue, those fools would have to be taught their proper place. There were the Nyanchiczu and these arrogant Communists who had to be brought down a peg or two. Yes, they would most certainly have to be taught who is the true lord and master of China.
His next task was to send his latest playmate away. He cleared her memory and removed the evidence of their lovemaking before giving her a mental instruction to return home. After she was dressed and out the door he returned to his room and made to prepare his next spell. Kun Lao closed his eyes and concentrated his thoughts. He allowed the chi of the universe to flow around him and concentrate into the spell he needed, visualizing the runes of the spell and manifesting them. The runes sparked into existence around him and he felt his mind stretching outward towards China.
"Awaken my old friend." Kun Lao said knowing his voice was heard on the other side. "Gaal, awaken."
He felt a response on the other side and the smiled. "Yes, it has been a long time." He went on. "My old dear friend, I have a job for you."
__________
To be continued...

Next time...
Part 5: The Battle of Joketsuzoku
One of the sacred Keys that open the Chamber of Ascension has been located in the village of the Amazons. Tenchi, Ranma, and the gang race there to get it first, but they arrive to find a full scale battle taking place, and at the forefront is a vile creature they would soon love to forget....Gaal the Crusher.