Tattoon Ranma

Disclaimer: Well, I've got to disclaim, so here it is. Tattoon Master and Ranma 1/2 belong to their own respective creators, so don't bother me any more about petty details.

: Thoughts

Chapter 5

Havoc in Hiroshima

In the district of Nerima, certain parties were busily packing as they prepared for a trip to fulfill their dreams. However, unknown to any of them, the person in which they intended to retrieve to realize said dreams had changed in ways they would have never imagined. They all assumed that Ranma was the same naive, arrogant and clueless sap as he was before he had gotten angry and left. They had even disregarded that fateful day when Ranma had abandoned them and left without a trace. Now, with the information that Nabiki had provided for them, (at a very inflated prices of course), all parties were ready to claim their prize.

However, they all did not take one factor in account...

The 'prize' would not be as willing to return as they believed.

The Tendo home...

"Oh happy day! The schools will finally be joined!" Soun cried tears of happiness as he and Genma continued to pack their bags.

"Yes, Tendo. As soon as we get that boy of mine back here, we'll hold the wedding right away!"

"Oh my little Akane is getting married! I'm so happy!"

The two of them paused to take a pose.

"It's Soun's..."

"And Genma's..."

"Operation Get Them Hitched!" They said simultaneously.

Nabiki nodded as ran through the files. She had to give Ranma credit. He had actually managed to pull off a near-perfect escape. He had recruited some help from the computer nerds at Furinken, who had hacked through her security measures via the telephone modem. That was just after Ranma had obtained the codes from her personal hardcopy files that she kept hidden in a secret panel underneath her bed. Apparently, he had learned some very useful thieving skills from Genma. All of her files which concerned his outstanding debts and his secrets had been erased. The files that she had on the entire Computer Club and their debts were also wiped out by a virus that they had planted. In return, Ranma had helped them with the school bullies before he had left. Afterwards, those techno-geeks had used her files to free more than a half the student body and two-thirds of the teaching staff from her control.

Nabiki snorted. Ranma actually used his brain instead of his fists and succeeded in something that didn't involve the martial arts. It had been a very neat operation and she would have never expected something as complex as this from him.

Well, as soon as Ranma was brought back to Tokyo, Nabiki was going to be more on her toes and make certain that he doesn't pull another fast one. Ranma was just too big an income generator to let go. Kuno was in the mood for more photos of his pigtailed goddess, and Nabiki's supply had been all but exhausted since Ranma's departure. Then there were the betting operations she ran concerning his fights as well. Yet another lucrative sideline in jeopardy because Ranma just wouldn't accept his fate. Finally, there were those secrets that she had ferreted out about him that were worth their weight in gold. Secrets that people paid her to tell and Ranma paid her not to tell. Now without him present to blackmail and all of his files either wiped out or stolen, she would have to start from scratch again when she caught up to him. However, she was more than ready to put Ranma under her thumb again as she continued to pack for an extended trip to Hiroshima.

In her room, Akane was barely reigning in her anger and tears as she packed her own bags.

"That BAKA! Why do I have to go along? We were never engaged anyway!" Akane fumed to herself as she stuffed clothes and other things into her pack. She was still quite furious after learning the truth about P-Chan and the fact that Ranma had kept it from her. Naturally, she blamed Ranma for it. It always his fault! It always has been his fault! Even though she had pounded Ryoga for his deceit, she was still hopping mad at Ranma for leaving her in such a situation and all the problems which erupted due to his departure. Ukyo had snubbed her every time she came to her restaurant. Shampoo and Kodachi were constantly attacking her, blaming her for Ranma's absence. Kuno was unbearable and those boys at school kept attacking her for dates.

It was at this time that she realized that with Ranma gone, she now had to handle things on her own without him taking the blame. Her skills as a martial artist had not improved much since Ranma had come to Nerima. Ranma was no longer there to defend her, so she had to rely on her own mediocre skills, which were pretty much limited to breaking inanimate or slow-moving objects. She had gotten so used to Ranma taking the heat that she had not been training to improve. She had been the best martial artist in Nerima before Ranma came. However, her ranking had been moved from top to bottom. With all the constant fights between him the fiancées, and the rivals, everyone had been keeping their skills up and steadily getting better but her. Even Kuno had been improving in both endurance, (constantly attacking and getting pounded), and sword skill, (fighting with Ranma and being constantly defeated by him). Akane found out that she was out of practice. She had let her skills slide. She had been taking more hits every morning and was more exhausted afterwards, especially after dealing with Kuno. It was only because of the fact that Kuno still restrained from going all out that Akane managed to hold out against him.

That fact was of little comfort to her as she continued to blame Ranma for all of her troubles. He had been nothing but trouble as far as she was concerned. He was always insulting her and calling her uncute, (never mind the fact that he always defended her). He would never eat her cooking, always going off to eat Shampoo, Ukyo or Kodachi's food, and then flirt with them! She had worked so hard and he wouldn't even give her meals a try. Okay, so she needed just a little improvement. That was no reason to call her food toxic, (though in fact they were close enough), was it?

Ranma was nothing but trouble. He was a boorish, rude, egotistical jerk and she would have been better off never knowing him!

Akane continued to think this way as she continued to pack, silently making a vow to pound him flat the next time she saw him.

The Nekohanten...

"Now child, we MUST bring back your groom!" Cologne said as she and her great-granddaughter continued to pack. On the outside of the restaurant, a sign was on the door, saying that the establishment would be closed for a few days.

"Shampoo can't wait to see Airen again!' The purple-haired girl smiled at the thought of being reunited with her future husband. Ever since he had left Nerima, Shampoo had been constantly been pestered by that idiotic, nearly blind Mousse. She was more than eager to shower her true love with affection. In fact, she and her great-grandmother had decided that once Ranma was found, he would be taken back to China to fulfill the Amazon Law of Marriage.

Nothing could stop them now!

Mousse's room...

I won't let you steal my future bride Saotome! Mousse thought as he too packed for the trip to Hiroshima. Though he had been turned down by Cologne and Shampoo to accompany them, he had decided to go find Ranma first and eliminate him before they find him. Once he was out of the way, there would be nothing to stop him from claiming his beloved.

Along with necessities such as spare clothes and bath things, the Master of Hidden Weapons also decided to bring along some new equipment to remove Ranma from the equation once and for all. Despite the fact that Ranma no longer lived in Nerima, Shampoo still pined for him and rebuffed all of Mousse's attempts to win her over. His rage over how that egotistical jerk still held sway over Shampoo's affections continued to build over the past months. It was only after he had heard that Shampoo had purchased information about Ranma's current whereabouts that he came to a decision. It had cost him more than a month's salary to get the information from Nabiki, but now he was ready. He had decided that he had been going too easy on his rival for Shampoo's affections in the past. Honor and pride was what had been keeping him from his beloved, so who needed it?

Among his usual array of sharp, blunt, chained and varied assortment of melee weapons, he now laid aside the latest additions to his arsenal. This included a submachine gun, pistols, a few fragmentation grenades and several other pieces of military hardware.

Ranma will not stop him from achieving his lifelong dream of himself and Shampoo happily living together. He would see to that!

The Kuno Mansion, Kodachi's Laboratory...

The twisted sister of Tatewaki was busy preparing to leave for Hiroshima, She was more than anxious to beat the other girls to the prize and claim Ranma as her own. She was certain that the other harridans must had done something to him to have abandoned his one true love and she was determined to break him out of whatever spell was cast upon him.

"Do not worry, Ranma darling! I shall rescue you from their spell. I will follow you to the ends of the Earth, if need be. I will make you mine once again!"

Elsewhere in the bowels of the mansion, the other sibling of the Kuno family was also preparing to leave for Hiroshima. However, the reason why he was going was vastly different from his sister's.

"Ranma Saotome! You shall feel the righteous blade of the Blue Thunder! I shall rescue the pigtailed girl from your vile clutches and save the beauteous Akane from your foul engagement to her! This I vow!"

The Ucchan's...

"Oh Ran-Chan... why did you leave me?" Ukyo sighed as she put the closed sign over her front door and hefted her pack over her shoulder and prepared to head for the train station.

She had paid out a lot of yen for the scant information that Nabiki had sold to her for Ranma's current whereabouts, but it was better than just sitting around and pining for him. She had always considered herself as the real fiancée and Ranma's best friend. She could understand why he abandoned Akane and Shampoo, but why did he leave her as well? Wasn't she his Ucchan, the cute fiancée? Why would he be angry with her?

Ukyo had always thought that she would the best to make Ranma happy and it would be only a matter of time before he would realize it. She was his best friend after all. Wouldn't she be the most logical choice to be his future wife?

She still remembered the harsh words that he had last said to her when he unilaterally broke off all engagements. She couldn't believe that he could say such things or get as angry as he did. She kept telling herself that he really didn't mean those things, but after he had disappeared from Tokyo, her entire life had been filled with doubt. And the only way to relieve those doubts was to find her Ran-Chan! And those other hussies had better not get in her way!

Back at the Tendo residence...

"And just where do you think you two are going?" Happosai said as his two disciples groveled at his feet.

"M-M-Master! We have finally discerned that Ranma is in the city of Hiroshima and we were going to fetch him back." Genma stuttered as he employed his Crouch of the White Tiger.

"Oh? You found Ranma, eh?" Happosai said as he took a puff from his pipe. "Well, I will admit that panty raids have become boring without Ranma around to liven things up. And I have found out that all the other pretty ladies have also gone to find him as well. Without them, all the fun has gone out of it. So I will be accompanying you as well to get my star pupil back."

"You're coming with us, Master?!" Soun gulped. Both he and Genma knew about the ancient pervert's appetites and any trip which involved him always ended up in disaster. They could already see in their minds hordes of angry women chasing after him as he ran with a huge sack of stolen panties and bras over his shoulder. They could see him running out of restaurants and shops without paying for the things he stole. They could also see themselves taking the blame and the repercussions, a role in which Ranma had filled when he was here. They had already experienced it once before during their training journeys and they had no desire to repeat it. They must get Ranma back at all costs! He was the future of the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts and their ticket to an early and luxurious retirement. He was the one who should handle Happosai, not them!

Genma winced and silently lamented that he had been cursed with such an ungrateful son who had disregarded his family honor and left his poor father to such misfortune.

With Ranma gone, there was no one to keep Happosai in check and the area had suffered major underwear thefts and stolen goods. Though since Ranma had departed, the master had lost interest without any real challenge. However, Soun had been pushed to his mental limits at his master's escapades. The integrity of the dojo was at stake and if word should leak out that the infamous underwear thief was living there...

No they must get Ranma back! Genma had already invested too much in that boy to give up on his dream now! Without him, Soun would have no reason to let him stay and he certainly couldn't go back home to his wife without their son. He remembered very vividly the contract he had signed for Nodoka when he took Ranma away on that training journey. He preferred to have its head in its present position on his shoulders.

Meanwhile in Hiroshima at Ranma's apartment...

"Are you sure I can do this Balla? I mean, I can do martial arts, no problem, but I don't know anything about magic, besides that Jusenkyo curse I used to have."

"I'm sure that you will be able to master Tattoon Power, Eric. As my husband, you are part of the Tattoon Tribe after all and I've seen the power that you possess. You'll do fine." Balla gave her husband a smile as she instructed him to take up a lotus sitting position opposite to her on the floor.

Ranma was about to say that they weren't married, but decided to let it go for now. He was always interested in learning new techniques and decided that it wouldn't hurt to get to know Balla better.

Little did he know that he would soon need her support, when the Nerima Wrecking Crew came for him.

"So what exactly is this Tattoon Power?"

Balla thought for a moment before replying to him. "Tattoon Power was developed by my tribe to harness the power of nature by using our own life energies to manipulate the mystical properties of the environment around us. It's something like that ki power that you use, but much more refined." Ranma had explained his power over ki to her during one of his training sessions and it was similar to what she had been taught during her education as a Tattoon High Priestess. She then raised a hand and showed him the symbol that was usually hidden on the back. "These mystic tattoos allow us to focus our concentration and shape that power into any form that we wish." She then produced a globe of yellow energy under her hand and closed it into a fist. The energy elongated into a shaft and formed a pulsating energy sword. Ranma's eyes widened as he studied that energy construct. He nodded and held out his own hand with the palm facing up. He began concentrating, focusing his anger into his ki and furrowed his brow in intense concentration.

Soon a ball of red energy formed above his palm as Ranma continued to increase his concentration. He then closed his fist around that sphere and to Balla's amazement, it too elongated into a shaft of light. However, he was unable to hold it for more than a few seconds and the construct faded away. He let his hand drop as his brow relaxed. At the same time, Balla released her own hold on her sword and made it disappear.

Balla was impressed. He almost got it! "Eric! That was amazing! Just after seeing me do it once, you almost managed to shape your own energy!"

Eric nodded as he explained. "I've got kind of a talent for absorbing techniques. I guess that's what makes me such a good martial artist. Remember that Cologne person I told you about? Though I don't like the way she and her great-granddaughter try to trick or force me into following that Amazon Law of theirs, she did tell me something once while I was training in one of her techniques."

Flashback...

"Now son-in-law, what did you see?"

Ranma looked at her for a moment after she had demonstrated the Hiryu Shoten Ha. "Well, I'm not totally sure, but I think it went something like this." He picked up a stick and then drew a large spiral pattern on the ground.

Cologne chuckled a bit and nodded. "That's my son-in-law! He picks up on a technique after being shown only once. He rarely has to be shown twice!"

End of flashback...

"I usually understand the 'how' of a move, but not really the 'why' of it" Eric finished.

Balla nodded. "So after seeing me shape my own power, you were able to adapt it to shape your own ki. That's pretty good, but it does have its drawbacks you know. I noticed that you couldn't hold it for very long."

Ranma nodded. "Yeah. When I learned how to use my anger to channel my ki, well... I didn't really have a reason to be mad all the time after I had left Nerima. When Ryoga showed up, I HAD a reason to be royally pissed off. But I was so tired and drained afterwards."

Balla nodded. "When my tribe developed its powers, we too had first used our emotions to help focus our energies, but we soon learned that it was too erratic and draining for us. We couldn't feel the same way all the time. That was when we developed these tattoos, which allow us to direct and focus our power without draining us. We also used these tattoos to draw power from nature itself to augment our own energies." She then some more tattoos appear on her arms.

"Neat! But I really don't know if I want my body punctured with a bunch of tattoos."

"Don't worry Eric. These tattoos aren't like the ones you are familiar with." She then made the marks on her hand and arms disappear. "They keep out of sight when they're not being used. You've already have one here." She pointed to the mark on his forehead.

"What? You mean this thing?" Ranma pointed to his own forehead. "It's just that scratch you gave me when we first met. It'll heal up eventually."

Balla shook her head. "No Eric. That is your Primary Mark. It won't fade away. I have one myself." Balla gestured to the back of her right shoulder as she turned her back to him. She moved the thick blonde tresses of hair to one side and the fabric of her halter top to reveal a small mark on her skin. The mark resembled a kind of star symbol. "This is the Primary Mark that I had been given when I was born. This is the main focal point that I use. All those other tattoos that I had developed during my training as the High Priestess are secondary marks which I can easily hide."

"I still don't understand what this all have to do with this mark you gave me."

"It's quite simple Eric. Did you feel a certain sensation yesterday? Did you somehow feel a need to come to my side when we were attacked by Ryoga?"

Ranma nodded as he remembered that day. "I do remember feeling something."

Balla nodded as she gestured Ranma to look toward a nearby wall mirror as she focused her own power. The tattoo that was situated on her own forehead appeared and to Ranma's surprise, the mark on his own began to glow and change shape. That same sensation that he felt the day before returned as the Tattoon girl explained. The crisscross mark now gave off a soft white light as it mirrored the one on Balla's brow.

"The purpose of our power is not to extend it over others, but to make bonds. You and I are connected and it is through that bond that you can draw new strength." Balla then dismissed the mark on her head, which caused Ranma's mark to return to it's simple design. "You've been so consumed with anger and resentment over those who have tried to force their will over you that you have let your rage take control of you. You've isolated yourself and that's not good. As I have said before, Eric, I'm here for you. You don't need to shun yourself because I'll always be there for you, no matter what."

"Uh... that's real nice to know." Ranma said tentatively, as he was still in a state of disbelief that a girl was actually there for him and would listen to him. It was a whole new experience for him and it kind of scared him. "Thanks."

"Welcome!" Balla replied cheerfully as she continued on with the instructions on how to use Tattoon Power.

Several hours later...

Ranma lay down on his futon and absently looked at the back of his hands. He focused on them and began concentrating as Balla had showed him. A faint outline of tattoos began to form on them. Within those images, he could begin to feel nature's essence begin to flow through them as well as his own ki. However, unlike the anger-driven energy that he normally wielded, this new power was more passive and flowed smoother. The images of the tattoos faded away as he couldn't hold it for more than a few heartbeats.

"Don't try so hard right now, Eric." Balla cautioned as she was in kitchen and preparing the evening meal. "Let your tattoos develop gradually. You'll be able to focus better once they've fully formed."

"I still can't believe that I have these things. You didn't use any needles or anything to print them on my skin. Just one wave of your own hand and bam! There they are." Ranma had felt no pain at all during the implantation of the two tattoos into his hands. Balla had imprinted the general pattern into his skin and let them take on their own personal design. The one on his left had resembled the Japanese Kanji for Wild Horse. The one on his right looked like a fancy yin/yang symbol. The Tattoon Priestess assured her husband that other tattoos will begin to form all over his body as he improves in using the power. Like the ones on her body, Ranma's new tattoos will keep hidden, until used . Only his Primary Mark would remain visible.

Balla smiled as she looked at Eric's expression of wonder. "Only a few, very special outsiders can properly wield the power of my tribe and I knew from the start that you'd be able to do it. It's just going to take some more time, that's all."

"Balla..."

"Yes Eric?"

Ranma paused for a very long time as he looked in her eyes. He then gave her a small smile. "Thank you... for being there for me... when nobody else would."

The Tattoon Priestess smiled back at Ranma. Little by little, she was starting to chip away at that shell of his.

A day later...

"Eric! How nice to see you again!"

Ranma looked up from the table he had been bussing and smiled as he saw his favorite customer sit down at the counter. After finishing with wiping the table, he went over to greet her.

"Hello again Ms. Kobayashi."

Nodoka smiled as she gave him an off-handed wave. "Please, just call me Nodoka."

"It wouldn't be proper to address you so... informally."

"Nonsense! We've known each other for months now, and you've always given me exceptional service. I like to think of you as part of my family, since we both have the same last name."

Eric shook his head while smiling. "Kobayashi is a common name you know."

"Yes, I know...." Nodoka wistfully gazed the teen. "Still, any mother would be proud to call a nice, strong, handsome young man like you, her son. I hear that you now have a girlfriend."

The martial artist's cheeks took on a slight red tinge. "Well... I guess... you could call Balla a girlfriend... I mean, she is a friend, er... and she is a girl."

"Ahhhhh..." Nodoka smiled knowingly. "So Balla is her name? You simply must tell me all about her!"

Eric scratched the back of his head nervously. "Well... I'm still getting to know her myself... I mean, I'm not too sure about this marriage stuff, but..."

"Marriage?" The older women stressed. At such a young age too! How manly indeed! "You're married to her already? How wonderful!"

"No! That's not what I meant!"

"You're not married to her?"

Ranma frantically waved his hands in denial. "No! Yes! I mean... er, uh... what was I saying again? Ahhhhh.... nuts!"

As Eric tried to figure out how to explain it to Nodoka, he wondered just what was it about her that made him so eager to tell her his feelings. Nodoka was just a regular customer, but there was some quality about her that made him feel warm inside. Every time she asked him a personal question, the martial artist discipline would fly right out of the window.

Man! I never got this way back in Nerima! I wonder if my own Mother would have been as nosy as she is about my social life? Well, at least I only have to worry about Nodoka asking me about who I'm seeing. I don't have a certain, uncute, jealous and violent tomboy fiancee breathing down my neck any more.

Don't be so sure...

Later that day, several figures got off the train from Tokyo. They consisted of three girls between the ages of 16 to 19, one bulky, bald man in a white gi with glasses, a very short, very old and very perverted dwarf in a purple gi, and a tall, thin man in a brown gi and a mustache. The Tendos, Happosai, and Genma Saotome had arrived.

Nabiki shook her head as she mentally calculated the cost of the train tickets from the family budget. Without Ranma around to generate income, the Tendo family had to limit their spending. Even with the large sums she had received from Shampoo, Ukyo, Kodachi, Kuno and Mousse, the trip had been expensive. She was thankful that she didn't have to pay for any further repairs on the Tendo Home with Ranma gone, but she was still anxious to get back Ranma and have things put back to normal.

"I still don't see why we have to be here!" Akane said as she angrily got off the train to join her family. "We don't need that jerk Ranma!"

"Akane!" Soun scolded as he took on a stoic air. "He is your fiancé and..."

"He's not my fiancé!" The short-tempered girl spat back as she angrily grabbed her luggage. "He can go and die for all I care! I never wanted that pervert in the first place!"

Soun simply smiled as he and Genma watched Akane stomp off to talk with her sisters.

"Ah, young love!" Soun said fondly, oblivious to the obvious tension.

"Yes, Soun! A perfect match!" Genma agreed. "You see how excited she is now that she will be reunited with Ranma? They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder."

"Well said Saotome! We must not delay any longer! As soon as we get Ranma back, we'll hold the ceremony immediately!"

"Yes, and the future of the Anything Goes will be assured at last!" Not to mention my early retirement and life of luxury! Genma silently added.

At this point, Happosai was thinking about his star pupil and how he was looking forward to nuzzling his face in Ranma-chan's bosom. He wasn't at all worried about Ranma putting up some resistance against returning with them to Nerima. He had just the thing to make certain that he would come along. He may have grown stronger since they last saw him, but even he would not be able to resist once the old pervert had placed the Moxibustion Point on him.

At the same time, in another part of city, Cologne and Shampoo had disembarked from an earlier train and were now searching for the same person. They were very anxious to find him and had decided to simply drag him back to China once they located him. Cologne also knew of the Moxibustion Point and was planning to use it to make her son-in-law more docile. Shampoo was just eager to glomp her Airen once more.

High above them, a duck with thick glasses was flying overhead, intent on getting to Ranma before the two Amazons did.

In a hospital room...

Ryoga slowly regained consciousness as he found himself lying in a bed. He found that he couldn't feel a thing in his body as he had been feed massive amounts of sedatives and painkillers which made him a bit groggy. It was just as well that he couldn't feel a thing. With the injuries that he had sustained from the beating he had taken from Ranma, he would have been feeling a whole new level of physical pain. Though Balla's healing spell had taken care of the worst of his injuries, she had decided that he didn't deserve to be spared the pain. So she had cast the spell in which the critical injuries would be mended enough, but the non-lethal damages were not. She had also added a little something extra to ensure that Ryoga would never again try to attack her beloved again. That particular spell would take effect as soon as Ryoga would leave the hospital under his own power.

The internal bleeding, shattered ribs and concussion he had received had been completely healed, but the broken arms, mangled wrists, dislocated shoulders, fractured jaw, shattered kneecap, broken collar bone, leg and so on, as well as the multiple bruises and contusions, had not been restored. Balla had also cast the spell in a special way so that Ryoga would feel the pain of every injury for some time. As of now, the painkillers were the only thing that were keeping him from screaming out in agony.

It was at that moment that those medications wore off and all that pain came in like a tidal wave as soon as he tried to move.

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGG!!!!!"

The hospital shuddered and briefly jumped into the air at Ryoga's scream of pain before settling down its foundations. Then it shuddered again at Ryoga's scream of vengeance.

"RANMA SAOTOME! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!!!!"

Speaking of whom, a few days later...

Eric sighed as he sat in the classroom, absently staring at his hand as he drummed his fingers on his desk. He wasn't at all interested in the lesson as it was just a very boring lecture about another non-remarkable period in Japan's history. Beside him, Balla was giving him a concerned look. She was well aware of how angry her beloved had been after that encounter with that awful Ryoga person. He had every right to be angry of course, and she had been teaching him how to use Tattoon Power to get his mind off it.

Ranma had been quite enthusiastic about the training, but she could still see the sadness and depression in his eyes. Apparently, he still had strong ties and feelings which concerned his previous life in Nerima. He displayed so much pain and anguish, that it tore at Balla's heart to see him hurt every time the subject cropped up. Brody and Deiner had been pressing him about the details about that fight with Ryoga, but a glare and the unspoken promise of pain always made them keep silent.

The Tattoon girl was feeling a bit helpless at the fact that her husband was tearing himself inside and was lashing out with anger and frustration. The bond that she shared with Ranma made her quite aware to his inner feelings. She knew that his gruff exterior only hid the more fragile and sensitive side within. She felt the emotions of his entire life and after what he had told her about his past, she was more than understanding of what he was going through. She mentally made a note to redouble her efforts to get him to open up more. Unlike those other girls, Balla was willing to listen.

In front of them, Lisa gave both Eric and Balla an irritated look. She just couldn't believe that any girl could fawn over that jerk! The way that blonde floozy showered him with affection was just sickening! Didn't Balla have any pride as a female?

Lisa found herself surprised at getting angry at Balla and her treatment of Eric. What made her more angry was the fact that Eric wasn't giving her his usual woman-hating attitude and was actually tolerating her presence. When a small part of her was telling her that she was feeling a bit jealous at the attention Eric was giving her, she immediately went into denial and banished that silly thought from her mind.

However, that tiny nagging doubt would not go away.

Mousse knew that he was getting close as he walked through the streets of Hiroshima in his human form. He could sense it. It was only a matter of time before he came face to face with the one obstacle to his beloved Shampoo. And he was ready for him! The new weapons in his robes were primed and loaded. He had enough firepower and explosives to take out an entire city block.

Though using guns and such weapons seemed out of character for a martial artist, Mousse had no compunctions against using them in battle against his hated foe. He would win Shampoo's love... by any means possible. He was confident that he would at last triumph against Ranma! With the new additions to his arsenal, his rival wouldn't stand a chance, even with that new technique of his!

Amazingly enough, even with his near-sightedness he was actually heading in the right direction toward his quarry. He was nearing the high school in which Ranma was currently attending.

Akane angrily threw her suitcase and pack down on the bed of the hotel room and then sat down beside them. She was still quite angry at being in Hiroshima on some fool's errand. What did they need that baka Ranma for? He had been nothing but trouble since he came to Nerima! She and her family would have been better off without him! Ever since he arrived at her home, her entire world had been turned upside-down.

She had been the envy of all her friends and school mates. She had been the best martial artist in Nerima and the most popular girl in school. All the boys wanted her, especially Kuno. Why else did they go through the trouble of challenging her for a date? Though she despised those perverts and their overtures, and especially the ones that came from the Blue Blunder, she did like being the center of attention. She had been at the top, with no one who could match her skills. She was the heir to a prestigious martial arts dojo. She was revered to be the best and none could even come close to her status. Then Ranma came along.

In less than a day, her status as the best martial artist as well as being the focal point of attention was destroyed. She was no longer Akane, the best martial artist in Nerima. She had been downgraded to Akane, the fiancee to Ranma Saotome. That's how people called her after the pigtailed boy came onto the scene. She had despised being forcibly engaged to some 'boy' and people became more interested in the newcomer than in her. She had thought that her father would give up this stupid nonsense about uniting the schools, but he and that baka's father were dead set to seeing it through. And when trouble followed Ranma from China and from his past, things just kept on going from bad to worse. It had been Ranma's fault in the beginning and it was always his fault that all those problems came to her home.

Though she had consistently denied having any feelings for the heir to the Saotome School, there were times in which she actually tolerated, and even liked his company. However, he would always make her so angry that those brief moments were always forgotten and he'd received a pounding. He always deserved it naturally for calling her names and berating her cooking.

Akane snorted in disgust. She wanted this to be over and done with so she could get on with her life... without Ranma. It was at that moment that she shivered a bit at the thought of her world without that baka and found that a part of her didn't want such a thing. She angrily pushed those feelings aside and continued to fume about how this entire mess was Ranma's fault.

The school day ended with no fanfare as the students began filing out of the main building and headed home. Eric and Balla were walking together, along with Brody and Deiner as they neared the main gate. Both Brody and Deiner continued to prod Eric on the events which occurred yesterday.

"C'mon Eric, give us the details." Deiner asked.

"Yeah, I mean what was up with that guy and why was he so pissed off when he saw you?" Brody said.

Ranma growled menacingly as he turned to address the two. "Listen you dopes. I told you before that I don't want to talk about it. I have my reasons."

"What reasons are those?" Brody asked.

The former heir to the Anything Goes held up a hand and replied in a very low, but dangerous voice. "I'll give you FIVE very good reasons why you shouldn't ask." He then began folding his fingers while counting. "One... two... three... four..." He then held up his clenched fist to them while surrounding it with an intense red aura. "FIVE!"

Both boys gulped and gave him sheepish smiles while backing off.

"Those are very good reasons." Deiner said while nervously laughing.

"Yeah, you can't any better reasons than those." Brody agreed.

Ranma nodded as he lowered his fist and turned to Balla. "Let's go home."

The Tattoon Priestess nodded as she waved goodbye to Brody and Deiner. However, before they could walk a dozen feet, her beloved suddenly stiffened up as he felt the presence of someone familiar. They were just passing by the statue of the school's founder. There was a slight whisper and she was immediately swept up into Ranma's as he shouted out a warning.

"Look out!"

Balla saw the flash of metal as she was instantly carried off from the spot from where they had just been. There was a loud series of clanging noises as several sharp spikes, chains and knives hit the pavement. She then saw a figure in a white robe and wearing a goofy-looking mask standing on a nearby wall and looking down on them.

"Heh, heh, heh. I finally found you... Ranma Saotome."

Eric growled again as he set Balla down and glared at his attacker. "First that pig-boy and now this idiot." Without taking his eyes off Mousse, Ranma said to his companion, "Balla, get everyone as far back from this place as you can."

"What's going on, Eric?"

Ranma shook his head. "No time to explain! Get everyone back!"

Balla paused for a moment, before nodding, realizing that this stranger was yet another one of her beloved old rivals. She quickly began waving to anyone who was watching to get back.

Mousse leapt down from the wall to land a few meters away from the one he despised the most. "Heh. At last I will finally remove the one obstacle to my darling Shampoo!" He then pointed a finger. "Ranma Saotome, prepare to meet your end!"

"What the hell are you talking about, you near-sighted moron? And I'm over here!"

Students who were watching this exchange, were wondering why the newcomer was addressing the statue of the founding father of their school.

Mousse sneered as he continued to address the figure of stone. "You think you can hide from me, Ranma Saotome? I can see through that lame disguise and..."

"I'm right over here, you moron!" Eric yelled before the crowds began to laugh. That was when Mousse took off his mask, pulled out his coke-bottle glasses and saw that he was talking to a statue. He then turned and saw his real foe, standing before him with arms crossed.

"Oh, there you are. Now Ranma Saotome, you shall feel the righteous wrath of the Master of Hidden Weapons as I claim my darling Shampoo and..."

"Oh spare me!" Eric said while cutting him off. "What's your problem, Mousse? I told you before, that I want nothing to do with Shampoo! Besides, I don't even live in Tokyo any more!"

"Don't think you can try to talk your way out of this one, Ranma Saotome!" Mousse roared as he held out his sleeved arms and prepared to attack. "Shampoo would have given her love to me if it were not for you! She and that old mummy are in Hiroshima now looking for you, but I'm going to make certain that they never find you! Once you are gone, then there won't be anyone to stand in my way to claim my Shampoo!"

"What?! They're here too?!" Ranma growled as he realized that he had to deal with those Amazons once again.

Meanwhile, the people in the crowds were wondering what was going on...

"What's this guy talking about?"

"He wants to kill Eric for some shampoo?"

"Why doesn't he just go to the nearest store?"

"His name is moose?"

"Why did he just talk to that statue?"

Mousse fumed as he prepared to unleash his full fury at his most hated rival. "Enough talk! It's time we settled things once and for all! I shall at last prove myself worthy of Shampoo's love!"

Ranma tensed up as he went into a ready stance. "If you're looking for a fight, then bring it on! Your Hidden Weapon techniques didn't mean a thing to me before, and they don't mean squat to me now!"

"We'll see about that! In the past, you've only sampled a small part of my arsenal! For the love of Shampoo, DIE RANMA SAOTOME!"

It was at that moment that crowds screamed as Mousse pulled out a submachine gun and opened fire.

To be continued...

Author's notes

Once again, many of my readers are probably thinking that I'm a real stinker for leaving them hanging like this, but this chapter was pretty long and I do need to sleep. As for Mousse now resorting to guns as out of character for him, all I can say is why not? I mean, he's used lethal measures against Ranma before with knives, spikes, spears, swords, and even high explosives. What's the difference? Guns are just fancy versions of projectile weapons such as bows, crossbows and slingshots. I kind of think of Mousse like the ninja who uses surprise and underhanded tactics. Honor is not really a strong point as compared with getting the job done. I rather believe that in the past, Mousse more or less relied on traditional weapons. However, to him, any object can be used as a weapon, so it really isn't as unbelievable for him to use firearms. Also, his obsession over Shampoo makes him rationalize things which are completely against the martial artist's code of honor. And he has attacked Ranma before with innocent bystanders in the way.

In any case, Ranma is not going to stand for it as he and Mousse mix it up and we will be seeing more interaction between him and Balla as the rest of the Nerima crew comes a calling.

The revision to this chapter is relatively minor with grammar and spelling checked and the added scene with Nodoka talking with her son, though neither one is aware that they are mother and son.