Mixed Nuts
LINA: So, um, Ranma, where exactly do you come from?
RANMA: It's Goku! [Lina rolls her eyes] That's the thing. I don't know. I woke in the forest with these people here and next thing I know I don't remember who I am.
LINA: That sucks. Not remembering your memory. [points at the rest behind her] What about them? Are they your friends?
Ranma looks behind him and sees Akane and Shampoo chatting cheerfully while Mousse is whistling an unknown tune even to him. Ryoga and Ukyo are holding hands on and off while having a conversation.
RANMA: Probably. Otherwise, why would I be waking up next to them?
LINA: Good point.
RANMA: Where are we exactly?
LINA: Wait a minute, you're saying that you're not from this place?
RANMA: [panics] I don't know!
LINA: Relax. Don't scream like a girl
This would be ironic since Ranma is also a half-girl.
LINA: You're in Zephilia, my home. Okay, but a bit boring if you ask me. I was just leaving after my visit with my family (stupid Luna! After I became the most feared sorceress, she still mocks me! Couldn't she just get over with that incident?).
RANMA: Where are you going?
LINA: A little curious, aren't we?
RANMA: N-no! It's just that we're lost and we need someone to help us.
That got Lina into thinking. She's wiling to help them but they will do something for her first.
LINA: Hey, listen. [Lina stops walking. The rest followed her suit] How about I help you guys with your problem?
AKANE: [her face brightens up] Really?
LINA: Yup! BUT, you guys will have to help me first. I'm going to meet my friends in Sailune and we decided to go on an adventure.
SHAMPOO: Adventure?
LINA: Yeah. I heard this rumor that there is a very significant treasure. . .wait, why should I tell you this?!
RANMA: Because you said it yourself without us prying?
LINA: [embarrassed] Oh, okaaaaay. Anyway, as I was saying, there is said to be a treasure there. I want you guys to come with us so we can get the treasure easily.
RYOGA: Whoa, wait. You're saying we should come with you?
LINA: You heard that right. And, in return, I'll help you guys. [shows a coy smile]
Ranma either trusts her or not. He decides to form a group plan.
RANMA: Guys, can we talk in one corner? [to Lina] Sorry Lina, but this is business.
Lina nods. But she makes sure that they don't pull off something pathetic or otherwise, she WILL kick their asses. Ranma and the others form a close circle on one corner.
RANMA: What do you guys think?
RYOGA: I don't understand why we have to do this. She seems nice.
RANMA: But there's something about her that I don't trust.
UKYO: You too? She seems to accept us easily. But, I think it has something to do with that treasure she was babbling about.
MOUSSE: What's so important about that treasure? I bet it's just gold and jewelry. Obviously, treasures have not become significant because of that.
RANMA: I think she's using us as the cannon fodder in case we get caught in a trap.
SHAMPOO: But we don't have choice. We don't know where we are or who we are. How exactly did we get here?
RANMA: So, what do you guys think?
AKANE: I think it's best that we accompany her. Who knows, she might keep her part of the bargain.
RANMA: Then it's settled.
The gang disperses and looked at Lina.
RANMA: Um Lina, after much heated debate, we decide to go with you.
Lina gives a big cheerful smile and dances like someone who is addicted like sugar.
LINA: [cheerfully] ALL RIGHT!!! Now, all we have to do is-
GOURRY: LINA!!!
Lina and the rest turn around to see a tall, blonde man running towards them. He stops running as he reaches them.
GOURRY: [breaths heavily] Why. . .did. . .you. . .leave. . .me-
LINA: [angry] DUMMY! I tried to wake you up but you wouldn't budge so I have to leave you!
GOURRY: I'm sorry! It's just that, um, your dad and I had a talk last night!
LINA: [raises her right eye brow] Really? Mixing guy talk with wine and other alcoholic beverages seem interesting. Now what did you guys were talking about?
GOURRY: Well, um, uh. . .I can't remember! [Lina's jaw dropped to the ground] Really! I can't remember!
LINA: [sighs] I honestly expect that from you.
Lina deep down knows Gourry and her father were talking about her. The big question is, what did they tell each other about her? While this is going on, the gang is watching them with amusement.
SHAMPOO: Ahh! They look cute with each other!
MOUSSE: Like they say, the couple that bickers every time, stays together. [pauses] Where did I learn about that?
AKANE: I disagree on that comment. It leads to chaos and heartbreak.
RYOGA: Word!
AKANE: Plus, it might look like someone did a bad thing.
UKYO: Since when did you learn that?
AKANE: [uncertain] I don't know. I guess that my memory's slowly regaining.
SHAMPOO: Seriously, they look cute when blonde boy and her fight. They make good couple, thus giving lots of babies!
Lina, hearing Shampoo's words, freaked out.
LINA: [shocked] HEY! I HEARD THAT!
Gourry looks at the gang closely.
GOURRY: Um, Lina, [points at them] who are they?
LINA: Our new companions!
GOURRY: But. . .aren't Zel and Amelia coming with us?
LINA: Like they say, the more the merrier!!! [whispers to Gourry] Plus, they could be very handy as our cannon fodder in case of emergency.
GOURRY: [gasps] LINA!
LINA: [whispers] Shhhh! If they hear us, they'll definitely back out. They're also amnesiacs.
GOURRY: What?
LINA: They lost their memories. They don't know who they are, where they come from. I'm keeping an eye out for them in case they pull off a crazy stunt like, you know, trying to kill me.
GOURRY: But, if you accept to help them, why do you think that they're evil?
LINA: Grrr! Who knows?
Ranma decides to interrupt at this very moment.
RANMA: Um, I hate to cut your chat, but who is he?
LINA: Guys, this is-
GOURRY: [beams proudly] I'm Gourry Gabriev, the protector of Lina Inverse, the Dragon Spooker and The Enemy of All Living Things!
Lina, furious of Gourry's openness to strangers, smacks him in the face.
LINA: [embarrassed] Sorry about that. He can be dense and dumb, but he's a good swordsman. Actually, I'm the beautiful, genius sorceress Lina Inverse!
RANMA: But you're a kid!
LINA: [furious] I AM NOT A KID! I'm 17 years old. Sure I'm not well-endowed like you girls [points at Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo] but I have qualities that would impress everyone.
RYOGA: Then why are you called the Dragon Spooker and The Enemy of All Living Things?
GOURRY: Oh that! Well, it goes like this-
Lina knocks him down before he further embarrasses her.
LINA: [laughs nervously] Listen, why don't we go now to Sailune so that we could help each other? Now come on people, let's go now before we waste anymore time!
Lina drags an unconscious Gourry, who is currently seeing birds flying around him. Ranma and the rest follow them.
UKYO: She sure is weird.
AKANE: You said it.
MOUSSE: I think she's got something to hide. But seriously, she's 17? She looks like a 12 year old!
Lina hears this within an earshot.
LINA: [furious] I HEARD THAT!
************
As they reached the Sailune Kingdom, they are greeted by a very busy town. People are busy preparing for something that would bring joy and wonder.
MOUSSE: What's going on?
LINA: Looks like a party, but what's the occasion?
GOURRY: Probably Amelia's birthday again.
LINA: Dumbass! Amelia's birthday was two months ago!
GOURRY: Oh. I forgot.
AKANE: I think there is a celebration going on.
LINA: There's one way to find out.
Lina leads the others to the Sailune Castle. As they reached the front gates, they are greeted by a young dark-haired girl and a man with light blue-ish skin, rocks on his face and long-pointed ears.
AMELIA: LINA! GOURRY!
LINA: AMELIA! ZELGADISS!
Amelia rushes towards the red haired sorceress and gives her a big bear hug.
LINA: [struggles to get out] Aaammeelliaaa! LET GO!
AMAELIA: [smiles at Lina] Sorry! [she lets go of her]
ZELGADISS: Lina, Gou-
Gourry proceeds to hug Zelgadiss in a friendly manner.
GOURRY: Hey buddy! How are ya?
ZELGADISS: Right 'til you start to crack my bones!
GOURRY: Whoops! Sorry! [he lets go of Zelgadiss] Guess I have to watch out for my strength!
ZELGADISS: (If you have one. . .)
AMELIA: [looks at Ranma and the gang] Lina, who are they?
LINA: [turns around to look at them] Oh, they're just people we've met. [whispers to Amelia] I'll explain everything later. [returns to her normal voice] Amelia, Zelgadiss, I want you to meet Akane, Shampoo, Ryoga, Ukyo, Mousse and Ranma-
RANMA: [interrupts] IT'S GOKU!
Akane suddenly hits him in the head.
AKANE: [pissed off] YOU JERK! WHY CAN'T YOU BE NICER?! YOU'RE EMBARRASSING US! [suddenly she pauses with complete shock] Oh my! Did. . .did I do that?
Lina, Gourry, Amelia and Zelgadiss are stunned and dumbfounded by the sudden recent turn of events.
ZELGADISS: What the hell. . .
AKANE: [embarrassed] Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. Um. . .
AMELIA: [looks at Ranma, whose are swirling indicating that he's unconscious] He'll be. . .fine. [looks at the rest] Are you guys okay? Because you act like you can't remember everything.
UKYO: That's because we are.
ZELGADISS: You guys lost your memories?
UKYO: In way, yeah. [looks at Zelgadiss] Oh my God, what are you?
ZELGADISS: [offended] HEY! I'm a human being you know!
LINA: Next thing you know, he goes into brood mode. He can easily depress the entire population.
ZELGADISS: [growls] Lina. . .
AMELIA: Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune and the guy beside me is Zelgadiss Graywords.
GOURRY: If you guys didn't know, Amelia's a princess in this castle.
AKANE: Really?
AMELIA: [embarrassed] Gourry! [to everyone] Sorry! Yes, I'm the second princess of the Sailune kingdom but I don't flaunt it in public.
LINA: Only in emergency cases.
AMELIA: Only in emergency cases! [Lina rolls her eyes]
LINA: Amelia, what's going on here? What's with the preparations?
AMELIA: Good news! My older sister is coming home after a long journey!
GOURRY: Really?
AMELIA: Yeah. She wrote to us saying that she would be coming home either this week or the next. Hearing this, my father decided to throw a party for her return. It's been a while since I last saw her.
RYOGA: Where did she go?
AMELIA: Lots of places. She usually sends money for the kingdom and we keep in touch from time to time.
RYOGA: What's the name of your sister?
AMELIA: Gracia Ul Naga Sailune.
LINA: (Naga?)
AMELIA: She hasn't been home since. . .since. . .
ZELGADISS: Amelia, you can stop you know.
SHAMPOO: Is something matter?
LINA: Sorry but not now. It's a very touchy subject.
AMELIA: No, no. It's okay! I've moved on, no matter how hard it is.
AKANE: Oh we see.
ZELGADISS: What about you people? Where do you come from?
UKYO: Didn't we say that we lost our memories?
ZELGADISS: Oh sorry.
LINA: Me thinks that they're not from this world.
AMELIA: How do you know?
LINA: [with pride] I just know.
A servant rushes from the castle to Amelia.
SERVANT: Your highness! The meal is set.
AMELIA: Thank you. Now-
Amelia looks around to find Lina, who is now missing.
AMELIA: Lina? Lina?
RYOGA: I think she went inside the castle. What's with her?
ZELGADISS: When it comes to money, food and power, Lina will sure to follow that route. I must warn you though: IF you ever take those three away from her, DON'T! Otherwise, you're asking for a death wish.
RANMA: [who is now gaining consciousness] Lina? A big threat? C'mon.
GOURRY: Don't underestimate her. She's nice but she has the ability to destroy everything. After all, she wasn't called "The Enemy Of All Living Things" for nothing.
AKANE: So, she's evil?
ZELGADISS: [snorts] If she were, this place would surely be destroyed a long time ago. I'll tell you something, Lina is pretty powerful when it comes to sorcery. She has defeated a lot of powerful opponents before.
MOUSSE: Guess this means that Lina is not meant to be underestimated.
AMELIA: Exactly! Although, sometimes. . .
ZELGADISS: She can be greedy and more of a. . .what's the word? Oh yes, foolish.
MOUSSE: Guess that explains the treasure she was talking about earlier. [Mousse removes his glasses]
RYOGA: What's the big deal with that treasure? It could just be money and jewelry.
GOURRY: That's the same thing that we thought, but seems Lina is hell bent on getting this treasure first.
UKYO: What's the treasure then?
AMELIA: This is where the problem escalates. We don't know.
UKYO: You don't know?
AMELIA: No one knows. Not even Lina herself. Guess her curiosity factors have increased because of that. But my father told me that it holds a great power.
ZELGADISS: Which, of course, we've been in to that scenario several times.
AMELIA: Do you guys like to eat first? Lina might finish the entire meal as we speak, so we better hurry.
RANMA: [ecstastic] Why not? I've been hungry for a while.
MOUSSE: Same here.
Everyone looks at Mousse, who is talking to a statue of Philionel El Di Sailune and not wearing his glasses. Ranma approaches him and taps his shoulder.
RANMA: Um, Mousse. . .
Mousse turns around and sees a blurred vision of Ranma.
MOUSSE: Who are you?
RANMA: I think it's best that you wear those glasses like right now.
Mousse complies with Ranma's request and wears it. To his surprise, he can see clearly.
MOUSSE: [horrified] Oh no. . .I'M BLIND! [puts his hands in his face]
RANMA: Yikes. That's' gonna be a problem for ya.
MOUSSE: How could this be happening?
SHAMPOO: What's going on?
RANMA: Mousse can't see without glasses.
MOUSSE: [shrieks in pain] The horror! The horror!
AKANE: Well, it's better than not seeing at all.
SHAMPOO: You think that's going to comfort him?
AKANE: I don't know. I'm not a doctor.
************
Once everything is settled, Ranma, Lina and the rest began to eat their lunch. To Lina's surprise, once she reached the dining hall, she was trapped in a cage which was set by Amelia so that she wouldn't finish everything. Lina still casted some scowl looks at the second Sailune princess. Philionel El Di Saillune is in the edge on the table, with Amelia on his side. Lina, as expected, ate like a pig. Ranma does the same thing also. He didn't know that he eats like a pig.
PHILIONEL: [to the NWCs] Well, good strangers from the somewhere I don't know, do you mind tell me your names and where you come from?
RYOGA: [embarrassed] Well, we lost our memories and we're trying to find how we can restore it.
AMELIA: Hmm, how about we can restore your memories with magic?
AKANE: You can do that?
AMELIA: Uh-huh. All we need is a memory restoration spell. . .if I could remember it.
ZELGADISS: But doing so might cause some problems. Magic can be very useful at times. But, they can be very risky.
UKYO: We take this as you won't help us?
AMELIA: What he meant was we will, but we don't know if your condition is magical or not. Besides, it's best that we find out first if it's safe.
MOUSSE: Can't she do it? [points at Lina]
ZELGADISS: I don't know. She only deals with black magic.
Lina, indifferent of the conversation, happily ate her meal like a wild pig, as did Gourry. Ranma, to his surprise, also ate like Lina, much to Akane's disgust.
AKANE: I can't believe he ate like a pig.
SHAMPOO: I bet he was like that before memory loss.
AKANE: Guess that means a part of him does come back. But, then again, what are the odds?
SHAMPOO: Bet you eat like him too.
AKANE: [rols eyes] Hope not.
GOURRY: So, um, what do we do after we eat?
LINA: [eating] We [munch] rest, gather [munch] supplies and [munch] go!
UKYO: [to Lina] Um, it's bad to speak while you eat.
ZELGADISS: Don't bother. She lacks in manners.
Lina ignores his statement as she gobbles down the big piece of chicken. To say she eats like a pig would be an understatement. To say she eats like a monster devouring its meals would be right on the market. Same thing goes to Gourry and Ranma, to his surprise. As Lina is about to reach the last piece of the chicken, Ranma quickly grabbed it and ate it. This would be a no-no for Ranma for whoever gets Lina's food will suffer the consequences. The red sorceress glared at the amnesiac pig-tailed martial artist. She is about to get a piece of apple when Ranma quickly grabbed it and ate it. That's it.
LINA: [angry] HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA GETTING MY FOOD?!
RANMA: [surprised] What?
LINA: [shouts out loud] MY FOOD! WHY ARE YOU GETTING MY FOOD?!
AMELIA: [tries to calm down Lina] Lina, calm down! There's no need to-
RANMA: [hits back] YOU THINK THESE ARE ALL YOURS? TOUGH LUCK! YOU MAY BE THE MOST FEARED SORCERESS BUT YOU'RE A SELFISH BITCH!
LINA: YOU TAKE THAT BACK OR-
RANMA: YOU'LL WHAT? FRY ME? [grins] Heh, I like to see you try, little girl.
LINA: [furious] THAT'S IT!!!
Lina unleashes a ball of thunder at him. Ranma quickly dodges the attack. This is one of his surprised discoveries. Everyone else got up slowly and started to step back as the two engage in a heated brawl. Lina continues to throw fireballs at him and the latter dodges at the attacks. Lina decides to play dirty. A table is behind him so all she has to do is hit him behind. As she does so, Ranma quickly senses the table coming behind him. In a matter of time, he jumps backwards and lands safetly, much to everyone's surprise.
RANMA: [surprised] Did I do that? Did I? [everyone nods] This is so cool!
GOURRY: Lina, I think you should stop now.
LINA: [still angry] THIS IS NOT OVER YET!
Just as Lina chants a spell, Ranma accidentally trips over to the floor. He tries to grab the table for safety but manages to grab the tablecloth and dragging it down with a pitcher of water, which it lands on his head. When he gets up, he feels something strange on him.
AKANE: [shocked] R-ranma! What's wrong with you?
RANMA: [confused] What?
RYOGA: L-look at yourself!
Ranma looks at the mirror to see what is wrong with him. As he sees himself, he lets loose a horrifying scream of shock and terror. He is now a she.
LINA: [smirks] Heh, look at you. You're way freakier than Zelgadiss.
RANMA: [horrified] OHMIGOD! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!!! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?
LINA: Guess that chant did work, but not the way I hoped.
RANMA: [at Lina] YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!!!
LINA: Look, to be honest, I don't know! Guess it's karma time for you.
RANMA: YOU LIE!
LINA: You know, you make a pretty little girl.
SHAMPOO: [whispers to Ukyo] Hate to say it, but I agree with her. [Ukyo nods]
Ranma looks at herself again. Her height is decreased; she now has breasts, red hair and a girlish voice. She screams once more.
RANMA: YOU TURNED ME INTO A FREAKING GIRL!
LINA: HEY! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!
RANMA: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
LINA: Leave my parents out of this, freak show!
Ranma realizes that Lina has been self-conscious of her chest since hers was smaller than Amelia's. She looks at her chest.
RANMA: [smirks] Hey Dragon Spooker! Guess what? I've got a bigger spice rack than you! [shows her chests at her] I've got stuff you would kill for!
Lina's obviously jealous and pissed off. It's bad enough that this stranger stole her food and dodged her attacks but know this is the icing in the cake: being taunted that "she" has bigger breasts than her. She decides to teach Ranma that she should not be messed with. She unleashes a very powerful energy ball that would destroy a room, but this is Lina we're talking about. She's a very hot-tempered girl and no mercy from her enemies is going to sway that away. As the energy ball increases its power, Ranma regrets his actions and takes a step back away from her. Philionel and Gourry hides under the table while Amelia and Zelgadiss produce a force field that surrounds them and the NWC. Shampoo and Akane hide behind Mousse's back while Ryoga and Ukyo hold tightly together for protection.
RANMA: He, he. . .Lina, I was just. . .[nervously chuckles] Oh come on! Can't you take a joke?
No is Lina's response as she releases the energy ball. Outside of the castle, one can see a part of it is exploded. People quickly rushed to the scene what is going on. Inside, we see Ranma, Lina and everyone else suffered burns and mental shocks. Ranma and Lina fainted to the ground.
MOUSSE: This is how Lina settles her problems? By destroying everything?
AMELIA: You got it.
Lina would make an excellent member of the NWC. In fact, she would destroy Nerima itself in a single blow.
************
Akari walked around the town. It's been weeks since Ryoga dumped her. She still doesn't understand why he would leave her for a journey, only to disappear. It wasn't unusual for him to disappear due to his bad sense of direction. There are still questions why he left her like does he still love Akane. She then recalled that Ryoga never liked being a pig he nearly gets cooked. Is that it? He left her because he hates his curse and most of all, pigs? Akari would do anything to have him back, even giving up pigs. Katsunishiki isn't with her for the moment because she wants to be alone. So, she's not doing anything right now. She now faces a dilemma: does she want Ryoga back despite hurting her feelings or dump him and move on? Unknown to her, a group of men with no good intentions are looking at her maliciously. They stood up and followed her slowly and carefully. They're a group of bums with no future and are hooked on drugs. They want her body. Akari notices them and begins to walk faster, but they are gaining on her, so she begins to run faster. The chase ends in a dead-end alley with her trapped and scared. The men grin with the opportunity to have fun with her.
AKARI: [scared] What d-do you want from me?
DAIGO: [grins] Nothing much, sweetie, just you and your cute face.
AKARI: [scared] G-get away from me!!! PLEASE!
DAIGO: Oooh, I like that in a girl. Screaming with pleasure.
AKARI: HELP! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!
DAIGO: No one's going to hear ya, babe. So, let's start shall we? Men!
Akari tries to get away from them but two of Daigo's men grabs her arms and lies her down. Daigo approaches her as he becomes the first one to "taste" her. Akari wished that Ryoga was here to save her but now, all hope has vanished as she cries bitterly.
DAIGO: So, any last words before we begin, cookie?
Suddenly, a wire wrings around Daigo's neck and tightens it. The gangster leader tries to remove the wire around the neck, but with no avail. He is lifted upwards and remains there. The members armed themselves with knives and looked around for their mysterious attacker. At this time, Akari begins to hide at the corner. They looked at their front to see a very handsome young man with a small ponytail. With a white shirt, jeans and sneakers, he looks like an ordinary civilian.
GANRYU: Who the hell are you?
KONATSU: Shame on you. Trying to rape an innocent and unarmed girl. You guys have no manners.
YOSHI: What are you going to do? Hurt us? [laughs] I like to see you try!
KONATSU: As you wish.
The gang members rush towards him but Konatsu performs the Happo Bijin Shuriken at them. It hurt them a lot from the eyes to the legs. Konatsu runs and jump kicks at the first man, then performs an axe kick at the face of another. Ganryu grabs his knife and lunges at him but Konatsu quickly jumps over him and performs a back suplex on him. Yoshi throws the knife at him but he catches it with his hand and throws it back at the unfortunate gang member's eye. He screams in pain as the rest leaves. Daigo grabs his knife from the pocket and cuts off the wire which causes him to drop. Konatsu rushes towards him and executes a jumping spinning kick at his face. The leader is knocked unconscious to the ground. Konatsu smiles at his victory. Akari stands up and sees his hand is bleeding from the knife Konatsu caught.
KONATSU: Are you okay, miss? Did they-
AKARI: Oh no, you're injured! Your hand!
Konastsu looks at his wounded hand.
KONATSU: It's nothing, really.
AKARI: Don't be silly! You might get infected! We have to wash your hand and bandage it.
KONATSU: B-but-
AKARI: No buts. [smiles] This my way of saying thank you for saving my life.
Akari drags Konatsu to the nearest fountain and washes the wound away. Then she gets a bandage from her purse. She puts it on his hand with some TLC. Konatsu blushes but tries not to let Akari notice it. He felt. . .being loved. Ukyo did take care of him but in a friendly manner. She never treated him this way, but there are moments like giving him a new home and a job as a waitress. But he felt that she would never love him as she would to Ranma. Although it has been hard at first leaving her but when he learned that she was missing, he came back to find her and start looking for clues of her whereabouts.
AKARI: [shyly] Thank you.
KONATSU: Oh, um, it was nothing. I don't want to see innocent people get hurt. Are you okay?
AKARI: I'm fine now, although I'm still in shock of the incident.
KONATSU: Don't worry, I think they won't be after you.
AKARI: Say, what's your name?
KONATSU: My name is Konatsu Kenzan.
AKARI: Akari Unryu. [raises her hand to shake hands] Please to meet you.
KONATSU: [shakes her hand] Same here.
AKARI: That was some fighting method you got.
KONATSU: It's ninjitsu. (I rather not tell her about my kunoichi days)
AKARI: Oh, so you're a ninja?
KONATSU: Yes.
AKARI: I thought ninjas would be mysterious.
KONATSU: They are but not all of them.
AKARI: And honestly, [chuckles] the only ninjas that I know were the Ninja Turtles!
KONATSU: HEY!
AKARI: [giggles] Sorry!
Silence envelops between the two.
AKARI: Konatsu, would you like to have lunch with me? It would be an honor.
KONATSU: [smiles] Yes, thank you very much.
*********
YUI: Listen, I've got to go. Bye.
Yui Ichiro is a seventeen year old teenager. With a very dark red hair, blue eyes and a stunning athletic body that would make boys go gaga on her. Her height is similar to Ukyo's. She closes her cell phone and puts it in her pocket. She leaves the tip for the waiter, grabs her backpack, wears her shades and leaves. As she passes by, boys, men and dirty old men looked at her at awe while girls looked at her with envy. What's not to see her? White tank top, boot-cut jeans and sneakers, she might as well pose for a magazine. But, Yui didn't come to Nerima for that. She has two missions. Right now, she's doing one of them. She opens her bag, grabs an envelope and gets stockpile of paper. She breathes slowly as she looks at the contents. Yui then starts her first mission.
YUI: [hands out a flyer to the nearest passerby and smiles] Here you go!
The stranger looks at the flyer and is disgusted after looking at it. Yui continues to hand out the flyers to the people of Nerima. The reactions are shocked, appalled and sometimes funny and absurd. She hands out more fliers to everyone and then gets a scotch tape to stick the fliers at the walls. It may seem like an ordinary flier but if you look at it carefully, it's. . .pretty grotesque. When she reached the Nekohaten, she sticks the fliers at the wall but is seen immediately by Cologne, Nodoka and Kasumi.
COLOGNE: Excuse me, young lady, but what are you doing sticking fliers on my restaurant?
YUI: [in full sorrow] I'm sorry, miss, but. . .[shows them the flier] my boyfriend had an affair with another guy behind my back! Look at them! All in their disgusting glory! [begins to cry a little bit] He proposes to me but look at him! Look at him! Being a man-bitch to his lover! A shame to his family!
The three women looked at the picture carefully. To their disgust, they see two boys. . .getting it on. The one who is encircled by a black pen is probably her now-ex-boyfriend. Being women, they feel the sorrow and anguish the girl felt. Then again, why the hell would she do that?
COLOGNE/NODOKA/KASUMI: [in an approving tone] Carry on.
YUI: [cheerfully] Thank you!
Yui walks away like a cheerful little girl and continues to stick and give the fliers away while the three women watched her carefully. It's not normal for a girl to tell everyone that her boyfriend cheated on her but this is sweet revenge. Yui turns around the corner and goes to the roof by jumping through wall to wall. There, she throws the fliers away, spreading them across town. She smiles as she accomplishes her mission and now she has to do her next one.
**********
Ranma sat on the corner of the wall, crying bitterly. First, she's a guy and now this. She realized that Lina wasn't responsible for her transformation. But still, she's upset.
AKANE: [concerned] Ranma?
RANMA: [shouts] IT'S GOKU!
AKANE: Whatever! [calms down] Are you okay?
RANMA: Am I okay? [faces her] Am I okay? [stands up] Look at me, Akane! Look at me! I'm a circus freak! What the hell happened to me?! What did I do before I lost my memory?! [cries again]
AKANE: Ra. . .I mean Goku, we don't know what happened but I promise you, everything will be okay.
RANMA: Where are the others?
AKANE: They're outside. Amelia is talking with her father as we speak. Gourry and Zelgadiss are packing some supplies along with Lina.
RANMA: Can we go and meet them? There's something I wanted to talk to them.
AKANE: [nods] Sure.
Akane leads Ranma outside of the castle and sees the rest standing there. There are very quiet, which disturbs Ranma and Akane. When they see Ranma approaching them, they're not sure what to react on his curse.
UKYO: Um, Ranma?
RANMA: IT'S GOKU!!!
Everyone rolls their eyes.
UKYO: Anyway. . .um. . .
RANMA: [shouts] WHY CAN'T YOU SAY IT? I KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR MINDS! SAY IT!
MOUSSE: Hey! Hey! Calm down! It's not that! [pauses] Well, it's that. What happened?
RANMA: [confused] I don't know! I thought it was Lina who had done this but. . .I think. . .I think I had this for a while, even before we lost our memories.
SHAMPOO: [concerned] You okay?
RANMA: Well, for one thing, I'm smaller than her [points at Akane], my hair's red and. . .[looks at his body and then grins] I can see myself naked very well. Look at these babies!
AKANE: First you're complaining that you turned into a girl and now you're enjoying this? What the hell's with you?
RANMA: I don't know.
RYOGA: Can we change into another topic before my nose begins to bleed?
RANMA: Shoot. What is it?
RYOGA: I don't think we're from this place.
SHAMPOO: Isn't that obvious? Look at our clothes. Shampoo wear different clothes from the rest.
MOUSSE: Guess that answers on why people are looking at us. But I agree with Ryoga. If we're not from this place, then where did we come from?
RYOGA: We have to restore our memories fast! I don't I'll last.
RANMA: But why am I cursed? What about you guys?
SHAMPOO: First things first, how did you become a girl?
RANMA: I remember that a pitcher of water landed in my head. It was cold. Then, the rest is history.
UKYO: To be honest, you could pass as a fourteen year old.
RANMA: Your point being?
UKYO: I mean look at you. I doubt you're sixteen or eighteen. But methinks that you could be mistaken as a minor.
RANMA: [sighs] True.
MOUSSE: Do you guys have any idea how to restore our memories?
AKANE: What about Amelia, Lina and Zelgadiss?
RANMA: We can ask them later but we can forget that red-haired bitch!
UKYO: You're red-haired also.
RANMA: I meant Lina! Geez, fussing over food. Then again, Zel did warn us.
RYOGA: But he said that restoring our memories could be dangerous.
SHAMPOO: Come on! What could be dangerous with that? Surely you believed what stone-boy said.
UKYO: What if he's right?
SHAMPOO: We think of positive things right now!
RANMA: Shampoo's got a point, despite her impediment speech. What do have to lose?
MOUSSE: Right now, our sanity because I don't think I can take this anymore! I'm half-blind, for Pete's sake!
RYOGA: [to Ranma] Hey, maybe we should call you Gokina. Gokina, a perfect fit for you.
RANMA: [offended] YOU TAKE THAT BACK!
AKANE: Gokina, Gokina, Gokina. It kinda sounded better.
MOUSSE: [in a girlish mode] Hi! I'm Gokina! I turn into a girl and suddenly I like pretty dresses and jewelry and-
RANMA: [furious] SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
***********
PHILIONEL: Amelia, my dear. Someday this will be all yours.
AMELIA: What? The curtains?
PHILIONEL: I meant the kingdom.
AMELIA: Oh. But what about Gracia? Isn't she the next in line?
PHILIONEL: [sighs] You know your sister. I'm saying this just in case she decides not to come back.
AMELIA: Then why are you preparing this party? I thought she would return.
PHILIONEL: She said she would before but. . .where is she?
AMELIA: I'm sure she'll be fine.
PHILIONEL: You're probably right. She's been gone for so long. Do you think she's married?
AMELIA: She didn't say anything about that.
PHILIONEL: She might keep it as a surprise when she comes here. Besides, I think that might be good for the kingdom.
AMELIA: Except if the boy turns out to be from another kingdom. But never fear, father! For I, Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune. . .will wait for her return. Until then, I'm going with Lina and the rest for more treasure hunting.
PHILIONEL: Just one question. Where exactly are you going?
AMELIA: Why do you ask?
PHILIONEL: Amelia, the treasure you are seeking, from what I've heard, is not just any valuable treasure you seek like the Claire Bible. This treasure is said to contain power and I'm sure all will seek that.
AMELIA: If so, then we will all know what kind of treasure is that. But no one has heard of it.
ZELGADISS: That's probably because someone or something is guarding it.
Amelia and Philionel turn around and see Zelgadiss and Lina standing there.
AMELIA: You guys were eavesdropping?
LINA: We? We would never do that. . .on rare occasions.
ZELGADISS: In that case, we better prepare ourselves. The others are waiting outside. We must depart before nightfall.
LINA: As long as that red-haired psycho freak doesn't slow as down.
AMELIA: Aren't you a bit harsh?
LINA: Harsh? Me? He. . .she. . .I don't know, stole my food!
ZELGADISS: Like that was yours to begin with?
LINA: And then she taunted at me that she has bigger "spice racks" than me! Thank goodness I didn't have the intention to kill that she-male! Anyway we better go. The sooner we're done [smiles] the sooner I get to join the festivities!
Lina walks away and goes outside. Amelia and Zelgadiss sweat dropped.
ZELGADISS: Do you think she'll finish everything in the celebration?
AMELIA: If the cage fails, guess we have to torture her.
*************
As they depart to their destination, the travelers immerse themselves into separate conversations.
GOURRY: Are we there yet?
LINA: No.
GOURRY: Are we there yet?
LINA: No.
GOURRY: Are we there yet?
LINA: [furious] NO! NO! NO YOU STUPID DUMBASS! ONE MORE TIME AND I WILL FLAY YOU ALIVE!
Gourry winces as Lina calms herself down.
SHAMPOO: You don't have to be furious. He was just asking.
LINA: Like they say, "once is enough". [to Amelia] Amelia! Do we still have food left?
AMELIA: We haven't been at the half-way point to the Dark Mountain and already the food is almost empty.
LINA: [smiles] I couldn't help it.
RANMA: How far is the Dark Mountain?
LINA: We have to pass four rivers and seven lakes and then one town. Afterwards it's Dark Mountain. Or as they call it "the place of no escape".
MOUSSE: What exactly is in that place? Could be important.
LINA: We'll find out as soon as we get there.
ZELGADISS: It'll take one day to cross there so we stop at the town.
AKANE: Um, Zel? There's something I want to ask you.
ZELGADISS: If it's about my appearance-
AKANE: I'm not making fun of you! I swear! It's just that. . .what happened to you?
ZELGADISS: I used to be human, believe it or not. But then, my great- grandfather tricked me by granting me the power I wanted. Now look at me. I'm a chimera: one part rock golem, one part brau demon and one part human.
SHAMPOO: That sad! What about great-grandfather? He must pay for what he did to you!
LINA: Already took care of that. It's a long story but in the end. [claps her hands loudly] BOOM! He dies. End of story.
MOUSSE: [to Zelgadiss] But why are still in your chimera form?
ZELGADISS: [in a sad tone] Most of the cures didn't work. [sigh] Despite this, I haven't give up on finding one.
On the other side of the group. . .
UKYO: It must be tough for us to be in a strange world. What do you think happened to us?
RYOGA: I. . .um don't know.
Ryoga glanced Ukyo at his side. He finds her cute and pretty. He wants to hold her hand but couldn't for it might bring some wrong assumptions. Ukyo notices him and looks at him. When she does that, Ryoga looked away with embarrassment.
UKYO: Ryoga, are you okay?
RYOGA: [nervous] M-me? I'm fine! [nervously laughs] Why?
UKYO: You were looking at me. [Ryoga internally tenses up] Is there something on my face?
RYOGA: Um, nothing! Nothing, he he.
Ryoga sighs as Ukyo knows that there is something wrong with him. Unconsciously, Ryoga began to hold her hand. She looks at him and smiles. She holds him back. Both of them wanted to get to know each other. Of course, in their real selves or memories, they would rather hang themselves or taste Akane's cooking than doing this. All of the sudden, Lina stops walking.
GOURRY: Hey, Lina. Is something the matter?
LINA: [looks around carefully] Someone's watching us.
RANMA: Who? Or what?
The place is dead silent, save for the chirpings of the birds.
???: It's been a while, Lina Inverse.
LINA: [shocked] That can't be!
MOUSSE: What's going on?
AMELIA: Is it who I think it is?
GOURRY: [confused] Who? Who?
ZELGADISS: [shouts] COME OUT WHEREEVER YOU ARE AND SHOW YOURSELF!
Out of the blue, a violet-haired man appeared to the group with a smile, much to Lina and Zelgadiss' irritation.
LINA: Hello Xelloss.
XELLOSS: Pleasant greetings. Why such the long faces?
ZELGADISS: What do you want Xelloss?
AKANE: [whispers to Amelia] Who is he?
XELLOSS: Fair lady, I believe we haven't met.
AKANE: That's because we HAVEN'T met.
XELLOSS: Very well. I am Xelloss the. . .
ZELGADISS: The man who should never be trusted at all.
XELLOSS: That's such a harsh description.
LINA: [irritated] Look, what do you want? We haven't got all day with your silly tricks.
XELLOSS: Lina, who are these new people you're with? [he's referring to the NWC]
LINA: New company.
XELLOSS: [raises his right eyebrow] Really?
Lina hated that look. If he spills the beans, then they would leave her. Then again, anything goes on Xelloss' case.
XELLOSS: I believe you are going to the Dark Mountain, am I correct?
LINA: You answered correctly. Let me guess, you know the Dark Mountain so spill if you're interested.
XELLOSS: Very well. Along the way, an old friend will come and confuse you. In the mountain, be prepared for the worst of all worst. This will be a challenge of a lifetime. [to the NWC] Guess it has begun to wear off. [to Ranma] Guess being the almighty isn't what's crack up to be.
RANMA: [confused] What are you talking about?
XELLOSS: [wags his forefinger] Tsk tsk. That is a secret.
ZELGADISS: [on high alert] Ranma, don't trust him ever!
XELLOSS: Please. After all this time you're still the same.
ZELGADISS: So is your big fat, lying mouth. Guess that would make us even.
XELLOSS: I don't want to waste your precious time so I better go. See ya! [he disappears]
RANMA: Hello. Can someone tell me who that is?
AMELIA: Xelloss. He's the guy I would love to tease.
UKYO: I bet you would love to do that every now and then.
RYOGA: But what's with the hostility between him and Zel?
AMELIA: Xelloss drives him crazy due to the former's suspicious plans.
LINA: But he's a strange one.
MOUSSE: What's up with the riddles?
ZELGADISS: He's giving information. Meaning he definitely knows something about Dark Mountain. But be careful, he can double-cross you in a heartbeat. Most of his clues can lead you to disaster.
UKYO: What a strange human.
ZELGADISS: He's not human. He's a Mazoku.
RYOGA: Mazoku?
ZELGADISS: The Mazoku are spiritual beings that reside on the astral plane. They do not have a true physical form, but ones with enough power can project an image onto the physical plane to represent their beings. They are the force against the gods; the race that has one true purpose- to destroy the worlds created by the Lord of Nightmares.
RANMA: [shocked] WHAT?!
MOUSSE: You mean to say he's not human?
AMELIA: They are created but they must have a very high amount of power.
RANMA: Okay, but what about this Lord of Nightmares thing?
AMELIA: The Lord of Nightmares is the creator of the four worlds and everything in it. It is possible that all the worlds are actually a part of her. Although no one can know exactly what she is thinking, many believe that her ultimate goal is to have all the worlds be a part of her again, because she is lonely. In truth, the Lord of Nightmares did not knowingly create the worlds; they were suddenly there.
LINA: Don't worry, she's not our problem though. It's Xelloss.
SHAMPOO: You said strange riddle man not human.
AMELIA: A mazoku's source of energy is shouki, the miasma produced by mortal beings when they experience negative emotions such as anger, sadness, and fear. Being able to appear as a human is a great adapation for a mazoku, as it allows it to live among humans and feed off their emotions with little or no suspicion. It is also worth noting that the more power a mazoku has, the more humanlike it can appear.
AKANE: So that would make him the bad guy?
LINA: Well, almost. He helped us sometimes but everything's got a price. Look, it's gonna be sunset soon so we move right now.
Everyone agrees continue to move. Lina just stood there, but Ranma and Gourry notice her.
GOURRY: Hey Lina, you okay?
LINA: [snaps out] Huh? I'm fine.
GOURRY: No you're not.
RANMA: Is it what that Xelloss creep said? Something about an old friend?
LINA: It's nothing let's go.
As Lina walks away. . .
RANMA: I've got a feeling she's not telling something.
GOURRY: Just don't force her. She'll probably tell us one day.
***********
KONATSU: So, I lived with my evil stepfamily until Ukyo, Ranma and Akane showed up.
AKARI: Wait. You know Ranma? As in Ranma Saotome?
KONATSU: Yes. You know him?
AKARI: It's a small world we live in. I met him at his school one time with Ryoga.
Everytime she mentions Ryoga or his name, Akari felt the pain he had caused her. She couldn't forgive him.
AKARI: Ryoga is well, my fiancée.
KONATSU: Really?
AKARI: Or my ex-fiancée. He wanted out. I wasn't myself at that time because it was so sudden. I kicked his groin just to let him now how I feel.
KONTASU: Ow!
AKARI: I know. That wasn't right. I was so angry for what he did. I think, deep down, he still loves Akane and I'm just the rebound girl.
KONATSU: You might be wrong, you know.
AKARI: How would you know? Akane and Ryoga disappeared.
KONATSU: Well, so do Ranma, Mousse, Shampoo and. . .[in a sad tone] Ukyo.
AKARI: What's wrong?
KONATSU: Ukyo was my employer. She was the one who took care of me after I finally got out of my stepfamily. I fell in love with her but she's obsessed with Ranma. She, Ryoga and the rest destroyed Ranma and Akane's wedding. After Ukyo and Ranma had a fight, she just locked herself up in her room until she visited her father. I couldn't take anymore. After that incident, I've been wondering whether my love for her is nothing since she's pining over someone else.
AKARI: [concerned] Oh, Konatsu. . .
KONATSU: I love her but she loved me as a friend. I'm also her friend so I did the best thing just to make her happy. In the end, all my efforts fail so I left. I've been wandering around from place to place.
AKARI: And let me guess. You came back here when you heard that Ukyo disappeared.
KONATSU: You just read my mind.
AKARI: [pauses] This may be weird but would you like to stay in my house? I've got an extra bedroom for you.
KONATSU: [embarrassed] Oh no! Thank you for the offer but it might be embarrassing for you!
AKARI: Where's the embarrassing part? This is my way of saying thank you for saving me from those crooks.
KONATSU: Sure! Why not? Anything for a pretty girl like you!
AKARI: [giggles] Flattery will get you nowhere!
Konatsu and Akari exited the restaurant and headed for Akari's house. But along the way, Konatsu, with his ninja senses, hears someone is following them.
AKARI: Is something wrong?
KONATSU: We walk faster now. Someone is following us.
KOTETSU: Seems you have improved a lot Konatsu!
Both of them looked up in the building to see Kotetsu, Koume and Koeda standing above them with a smirk.
KOTETSU: Such a handsome face. Just like your father.
KONATSU: What do you want?
KOTETSU: What do you think? Revenge!
KOUME: Revenge for destroying our beauty!
KOEDA: Revenge for ruining our lives!
KONATSU: That's crazy!
AKARI: Wait a sec, those are your stepfamily? Dear, they sure are butt ugly.
KOUME: WE HEARD THAT LITTLE GIRL!
KOEDA: From a transvestite to a beautiful, handsome man. But despite that, you can't escape from us!
AKARI: [to Konatsu] Transvestite?
KONATSU: Look, I can explain everything later. Right now-
KOTETSU: ATTACK!!!
The uglies jumped from the building and began to use the Hyappatsu Hyakuchü Shuriken technique at Konatsu and Akari. The former kunoichi grabs Akari's arm and hide behind a tree for cover. The shurikens hit the tree and in an instant Konatsu carries Akari and makes a mad dash with the uglies chasing them behind. Konatsu leaps to a roof and continues doing so while Akari holding him tightly. During this time, the uglies continue to throw the shurikens at them but they missed. Konatsu jumps from the roof and hides in the alley. He lets go of Akari and have a look around for the uglies.
AKARI: Konatsu, what's going on? Why are they after you?
KONATSU: [lowers his head with shame] Forgive me, Akari. I haven't told you everything about me. The truth is, I was raised as a girl hence the transvestite word from them. I decided to change my lifestyle seeing that my being as a "girl" didn't work well in winning Ukyo. Please, don't hate me.
AKARI: Why should I hate you? You've been probably didn't risen well by them. You poor guy!
KONATSU: You mean-
AKARI: I don't hate you. It's nice that-
A rope suddenly wraps around Akari and grabs her from above. Koeda ties the rope very tight as Akari struggles to let go. The uglies then surround Konatsu in a circular formation. Kotetsu unleashes a small kunai dagger while Koeda carries a spear and Koume with a chain ball, twirling around it.
KONATSU: [angry] YOU LET AKARI GO!
KOTETSU: Now, now. Is that how you treat your stepmother?
KONATSU: You are NOT my stepmother. I have no stepmother or stepsisters!
KOEME: Watch your mouth or the girl gets it.
AKARI: [shouts] KONATSU! RUN!
KONATSU: What do you want from me!?
KOTETSU: Simple, you come back to us and be our servant again since your boss disappeared. So, what say you?
KONATSU: What if I refuse?
KOEDA: Your friend goes bye-bye.
Koeda holds the rope that is with Akari. Konatsu realizes that if he refuses, Koeda will let go of her and will die. He decides that he will attack them on his own. No matter the outcome, Akari will have to escape from the mess. Konatsu is in his fighting stance, signaling a fight to the uglies.
KONATSU: How about this? We fight. If I win, you leave me and Akari alone! If I lose, I will agree on your condition. Just let Akari go!
KOTETSU: Very well. Shall we begin?
Kotetsu charges at him and lunges the dagger in his face but Konatsu ducks and sidesteps to the left side. Konatsu kicks his former stepmother's hand thus letting go of the dagger. Koeda jumps at him with the spear. Konatsu leaps and is about to kick her when Koeme throws the chain ball and hit on his back. Konatsu yelps out in pain as he falls to the ground. He uses his hands to hold the ground for a safe landing and back flips. Koeme twirls her chain ball and throws the ball at him. He dodges and throws some of his shuriken at them but are intercepted by Koeda's spear, which she uses it as a shield. Konatsu charges at them with two kunai daggers as his weapons. He aims at Koeda first as he tries to slash her but she blocks his attack. As he aims for her head, Koeda blocks it again but this time he quickly punches her in the chest very hard. The ugly sister staggers back with pain. Kotetsu distracts him by throwing some bombs at him. When it explodes, Kontasu moves away. Unknown to him, Koume grabs his neck with her chain ball. He kicks her in the face and throws her to the ground. All of the sudden, Koeda uses her Kappa no Sara Flash technique at him, which temporarily blinds Konatsu for the moment. Just as Konatsu tries to regain his normal composure, the uglies take this advantage. They produce a chain and tie him up quickly. Akari watches this in horror as she realizes that Konatsu may not escape from his stepfamily this time. When he regains his eyesight, he finds himself tied up in chains. He makes a struggle to get out.
KOTETSU: Forget it, Konatsu. You can't escape from us!
KOEME: This means that you will clean our house again! [laughs]
KOEDA: Also, you will cook again!
Konatsu growls silently.
KONATSU: Fine! Now, let Akari go!
KOTETSU: Um. . .we don't think so!
KONATSU: [shocked] But you promise!
KOTETSU: Did we really fulfill that? Oh well. [Koeda lets go of the rope]
KONATSU: NO!!!
Akari falls into the ground while screaming for help. Out of the blue, her prayers have been answered in the form of a mysterious stranger rescuing her before she hits the ground. The stranger places Akari on the ground carefully, gets her knife from her belt and cuts the rope.
YUI: You've got a lot of guts to do that. Guess this means we know who won't win Miss Trust.
KOTETSU: [angry] Who are you? Do not disturb our business!
YUI: [snorts] I'm sorry. Trying to kill the girl is your business? Breaking promises is your business?
KOEME: You'll pay for interrupting our fight!
YUI: Like oh my God! What happened to you freaks? Cosmetic surgery gone bad?
KOEDA: Don't you mock our beauty!
YUI: I know beauty is skin deep but this is ridiculous.
KOEME: Prepare to die!
Koeme charges at her with her chain ball. Yui just stands there but as the fat sister come nears her, Yui punches the ground and to Koeme's surprise, she was launched to the air. While Koeme's in mid-air, Yui suddenly appears and performs an aerial suplex thus forcing them to fall but she uses her Koeme's head as a safety landing material. Koeme's face was smashed by the impact of the fall. Yui gets up and gives a smirk at the remaining uglies. She kicks Koeme but with no response from the latter, which means she's unconscious.
KOTETSU: [shocked] H-how. . .
YUI: You study ninjitsu and I've known your reputation but [disgusted] eeeww! What the hell happened to you ladies?
KOEDA: [tightens her grip on her spear] And you call yourself beautiful!
YUI: Wanna fight, beautiful? [cracks her knuckes] We can arrange that.
Koeda and Yui surround themselves like two dueling warriors in the ancient times. Then, with a drop of the water from the pipe, Koeda lunges her spear at her but Yui grabs it. Yui executes a left roundhouse to her face and a push kick to her stomach which causes Koeda to drop to the ground. Koeda quickly gets up despite the pain and breaks the spear into two fighting sticks. Koeda begins her assault as she tries to hit Yui. The red-head dodges the attacks easily and decides to end this as she grabs both of Koeda's arms and performs a scorpion kick which connects to the ugly ninja's head. Koeda steps back and throws the blade at her. Yui jumps over her in a twirling manner. She lands at her back and kicks her back. Koeda is thrown to the sides and is unconscious. Yui looks at Kotetsu, who tries to put a brave face but is scared deep down.
YUI: Come on. I've haven't got all day.
KOTETSU: You may defeat them easily, but as their mother and their master, you can't defeat me! Prepare this!
Kotetsu throws a barrage of shurikens at her. All she can do is dodging and disarms the projectiles coming at her. To Konatsu, Akari and even Kotetsu, it seems that she manages to counter the attack very well. Kotetsu throws the bombs at her and as it explodes, Yui performs a cartwheel to avoid the blasts. The latter throws her own pack of shuriken at the elder ugly. The former disarms the blades but Yui throws her knife at her hand. Kotetsu screams in pain and removes the knife from her hand. She throws it back at the owner and the latter catches it. Yui runs at her and punches her in the stomach in a way that it meets her back bone. Kotetsu falls down.
YUI: Man, what a stress reliever. [approaches Akari] You okay?
AKARI: [shaken] Y-yeah, but we have to help my friend!
YUI: Oh!
Yui helps Akari in getting up and goes to Konatsu's aid. After freeing him, he gets up with the help from the girls.
KONATSU: That was. . .
YUI: I didn't mean to hurt your butt ugly stepfamily but they wanted to harm you.
KONATSU: No. It's okay. They had it coming. When they get up, they'll be after me for sure again.
YUI: I wouldn't think so.
AKARI: What do you mean?
YUI: Let's just say they won't be after you again.
KONATSU: Thank for helping us. May I get to know your name?
YUI: Yui Ichiro. From the other side of Tokyo.
AKARI: I'm Akari Unryuu, nice to meet you.
KONATSU: And I'm Konatsu Kenzan.
YUI: [looks at Kontasu] Hmm. Salty goodness.
KONATSU: [blushes] A-are you flirting at me?
YUI: Who wouldn't? After all, a handsome guy like with is with a beautiful girl like her.
KONATSU: Oh no! We're not dating!
AKARI: Yeah! We just met!
YUI: Uh-huh. Anyway, I gotta go.
AKARI: Wait! There must be someway we could repay you.
YUI: No thanks. I don't want to waste your time.
AKARI: No hassle! Please?
Yui thinks about Akari's offer. She doesn't want to take advantage of this but she needs a place to stay.
YUI: How about a place to stay? Just for the night.
AKARI: [ecstatic] Great! Now I've got two new houseguests!
YUI: [to Konatsu] Let me guess. You're the other one.
KONATSU: Yeah.
AKARI: We have to go now. My grandfather must be worried right now.
So, three went straight to Akari's house to stay overnight.
**********
The group reaches the village before nightfall and enters an inn. Not necessarily empty but filled nonetheless.
LINA: Okay, let's get some rooms and-
Her words are interrupted when a woman enters the inn with a full out cackle.
???: OH-HO-HO-HO-HO!!!!! Mind asking if I could have a room for the night?
LINA: (WAIT! That can't be!!!)
Lina turns around and sees the person who she hasn't seen for years.
???: Yes? What can I. . .Lina?
LINA: Naga?
AMELIA: What's going on? [sees Naga] Gracia?
NAGA: [surprised] Amelia?
LINA: Feces, is that you?
NAGA: SHUT UP!
AMELIA: Sister, is that you?
NAGA: Amelia, is that you?
LINA: You guys know each other?
RANMA: [interrupts] Hi! Have any of you met at all?
AMELIA: She's Gracia Ul Naga Saillune, my sister. The one who disappeared.
LINA: [shocked] I can't believe this! You guys are sisters?
NAGA: What are you doing here Amelia?
AMELIA: I was about to ask the same thing.
LINA: Well, Naga? What are you doing here?
**********
UP NEXT: Naga reveals her plans to everyone while at the same time, flirts with Mousse, much to Shampoo's dismay and then accompanies them. Fahnir shows Xelloss who's the boss. Yui and Taro meet and fight, but not before she trashes Happosai, Kodachi and Kuno.
**********
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I'm in a creative rut. Some of the storylines that were planned for later chapters are moved into the earlier ones and vice versa. So please bear with me.
The Yui scene takes place at the same time with Taro's from the previous chapter. By the way, I did not put my new character here for nothing. She plays an important role later on and is not related to any of the KH characters but close to it.
I watched Slayers last year but I did not watch them all. So, if I make a mistake, please tell me. This is an alternative universe of Slayers so anything goes.
AnT: there's more into that, in the case of Noah/Sora.
If Lina's in the Ranma world, say good-bye to the NWC, Nerima and its residents.
I hope you guys have fun watching LOTR: Return of The King. (Mine will be released next month!)
*RANMA: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
PHILIONEL: Amelia, my dear. Someday this will be all yours.
AMELIA: What? The curtains?* These lines are from the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail.
LINA: So, um, Ranma, where exactly do you come from?
RANMA: It's Goku! [Lina rolls her eyes] That's the thing. I don't know. I woke in the forest with these people here and next thing I know I don't remember who I am.
LINA: That sucks. Not remembering your memory. [points at the rest behind her] What about them? Are they your friends?
Ranma looks behind him and sees Akane and Shampoo chatting cheerfully while Mousse is whistling an unknown tune even to him. Ryoga and Ukyo are holding hands on and off while having a conversation.
RANMA: Probably. Otherwise, why would I be waking up next to them?
LINA: Good point.
RANMA: Where are we exactly?
LINA: Wait a minute, you're saying that you're not from this place?
RANMA: [panics] I don't know!
LINA: Relax. Don't scream like a girl
This would be ironic since Ranma is also a half-girl.
LINA: You're in Zephilia, my home. Okay, but a bit boring if you ask me. I was just leaving after my visit with my family (stupid Luna! After I became the most feared sorceress, she still mocks me! Couldn't she just get over with that incident?).
RANMA: Where are you going?
LINA: A little curious, aren't we?
RANMA: N-no! It's just that we're lost and we need someone to help us.
That got Lina into thinking. She's wiling to help them but they will do something for her first.
LINA: Hey, listen. [Lina stops walking. The rest followed her suit] How about I help you guys with your problem?
AKANE: [her face brightens up] Really?
LINA: Yup! BUT, you guys will have to help me first. I'm going to meet my friends in Sailune and we decided to go on an adventure.
SHAMPOO: Adventure?
LINA: Yeah. I heard this rumor that there is a very significant treasure. . .wait, why should I tell you this?!
RANMA: Because you said it yourself without us prying?
LINA: [embarrassed] Oh, okaaaaay. Anyway, as I was saying, there is said to be a treasure there. I want you guys to come with us so we can get the treasure easily.
RYOGA: Whoa, wait. You're saying we should come with you?
LINA: You heard that right. And, in return, I'll help you guys. [shows a coy smile]
Ranma either trusts her or not. He decides to form a group plan.
RANMA: Guys, can we talk in one corner? [to Lina] Sorry Lina, but this is business.
Lina nods. But she makes sure that they don't pull off something pathetic or otherwise, she WILL kick their asses. Ranma and the others form a close circle on one corner.
RANMA: What do you guys think?
RYOGA: I don't understand why we have to do this. She seems nice.
RANMA: But there's something about her that I don't trust.
UKYO: You too? She seems to accept us easily. But, I think it has something to do with that treasure she was babbling about.
MOUSSE: What's so important about that treasure? I bet it's just gold and jewelry. Obviously, treasures have not become significant because of that.
RANMA: I think she's using us as the cannon fodder in case we get caught in a trap.
SHAMPOO: But we don't have choice. We don't know where we are or who we are. How exactly did we get here?
RANMA: So, what do you guys think?
AKANE: I think it's best that we accompany her. Who knows, she might keep her part of the bargain.
RANMA: Then it's settled.
The gang disperses and looked at Lina.
RANMA: Um Lina, after much heated debate, we decide to go with you.
Lina gives a big cheerful smile and dances like someone who is addicted like sugar.
LINA: [cheerfully] ALL RIGHT!!! Now, all we have to do is-
GOURRY: LINA!!!
Lina and the rest turn around to see a tall, blonde man running towards them. He stops running as he reaches them.
GOURRY: [breaths heavily] Why. . .did. . .you. . .leave. . .me-
LINA: [angry] DUMMY! I tried to wake you up but you wouldn't budge so I have to leave you!
GOURRY: I'm sorry! It's just that, um, your dad and I had a talk last night!
LINA: [raises her right eye brow] Really? Mixing guy talk with wine and other alcoholic beverages seem interesting. Now what did you guys were talking about?
GOURRY: Well, um, uh. . .I can't remember! [Lina's jaw dropped to the ground] Really! I can't remember!
LINA: [sighs] I honestly expect that from you.
Lina deep down knows Gourry and her father were talking about her. The big question is, what did they tell each other about her? While this is going on, the gang is watching them with amusement.
SHAMPOO: Ahh! They look cute with each other!
MOUSSE: Like they say, the couple that bickers every time, stays together. [pauses] Where did I learn about that?
AKANE: I disagree on that comment. It leads to chaos and heartbreak.
RYOGA: Word!
AKANE: Plus, it might look like someone did a bad thing.
UKYO: Since when did you learn that?
AKANE: [uncertain] I don't know. I guess that my memory's slowly regaining.
SHAMPOO: Seriously, they look cute when blonde boy and her fight. They make good couple, thus giving lots of babies!
Lina, hearing Shampoo's words, freaked out.
LINA: [shocked] HEY! I HEARD THAT!
Gourry looks at the gang closely.
GOURRY: Um, Lina, [points at them] who are they?
LINA: Our new companions!
GOURRY: But. . .aren't Zel and Amelia coming with us?
LINA: Like they say, the more the merrier!!! [whispers to Gourry] Plus, they could be very handy as our cannon fodder in case of emergency.
GOURRY: [gasps] LINA!
LINA: [whispers] Shhhh! If they hear us, they'll definitely back out. They're also amnesiacs.
GOURRY: What?
LINA: They lost their memories. They don't know who they are, where they come from. I'm keeping an eye out for them in case they pull off a crazy stunt like, you know, trying to kill me.
GOURRY: But, if you accept to help them, why do you think that they're evil?
LINA: Grrr! Who knows?
Ranma decides to interrupt at this very moment.
RANMA: Um, I hate to cut your chat, but who is he?
LINA: Guys, this is-
GOURRY: [beams proudly] I'm Gourry Gabriev, the protector of Lina Inverse, the Dragon Spooker and The Enemy of All Living Things!
Lina, furious of Gourry's openness to strangers, smacks him in the face.
LINA: [embarrassed] Sorry about that. He can be dense and dumb, but he's a good swordsman. Actually, I'm the beautiful, genius sorceress Lina Inverse!
RANMA: But you're a kid!
LINA: [furious] I AM NOT A KID! I'm 17 years old. Sure I'm not well-endowed like you girls [points at Akane, Ukyo and Shampoo] but I have qualities that would impress everyone.
RYOGA: Then why are you called the Dragon Spooker and The Enemy of All Living Things?
GOURRY: Oh that! Well, it goes like this-
Lina knocks him down before he further embarrasses her.
LINA: [laughs nervously] Listen, why don't we go now to Sailune so that we could help each other? Now come on people, let's go now before we waste anymore time!
Lina drags an unconscious Gourry, who is currently seeing birds flying around him. Ranma and the rest follow them.
UKYO: She sure is weird.
AKANE: You said it.
MOUSSE: I think she's got something to hide. But seriously, she's 17? She looks like a 12 year old!
Lina hears this within an earshot.
LINA: [furious] I HEARD THAT!
************
As they reached the Sailune Kingdom, they are greeted by a very busy town. People are busy preparing for something that would bring joy and wonder.
MOUSSE: What's going on?
LINA: Looks like a party, but what's the occasion?
GOURRY: Probably Amelia's birthday again.
LINA: Dumbass! Amelia's birthday was two months ago!
GOURRY: Oh. I forgot.
AKANE: I think there is a celebration going on.
LINA: There's one way to find out.
Lina leads the others to the Sailune Castle. As they reached the front gates, they are greeted by a young dark-haired girl and a man with light blue-ish skin, rocks on his face and long-pointed ears.
AMELIA: LINA! GOURRY!
LINA: AMELIA! ZELGADISS!
Amelia rushes towards the red haired sorceress and gives her a big bear hug.
LINA: [struggles to get out] Aaammeelliaaa! LET GO!
AMAELIA: [smiles at Lina] Sorry! [she lets go of her]
ZELGADISS: Lina, Gou-
Gourry proceeds to hug Zelgadiss in a friendly manner.
GOURRY: Hey buddy! How are ya?
ZELGADISS: Right 'til you start to crack my bones!
GOURRY: Whoops! Sorry! [he lets go of Zelgadiss] Guess I have to watch out for my strength!
ZELGADISS: (If you have one. . .)
AMELIA: [looks at Ranma and the gang] Lina, who are they?
LINA: [turns around to look at them] Oh, they're just people we've met. [whispers to Amelia] I'll explain everything later. [returns to her normal voice] Amelia, Zelgadiss, I want you to meet Akane, Shampoo, Ryoga, Ukyo, Mousse and Ranma-
RANMA: [interrupts] IT'S GOKU!
Akane suddenly hits him in the head.
AKANE: [pissed off] YOU JERK! WHY CAN'T YOU BE NICER?! YOU'RE EMBARRASSING US! [suddenly she pauses with complete shock] Oh my! Did. . .did I do that?
Lina, Gourry, Amelia and Zelgadiss are stunned and dumbfounded by the sudden recent turn of events.
ZELGADISS: What the hell. . .
AKANE: [embarrassed] Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. Um. . .
AMELIA: [looks at Ranma, whose are swirling indicating that he's unconscious] He'll be. . .fine. [looks at the rest] Are you guys okay? Because you act like you can't remember everything.
UKYO: That's because we are.
ZELGADISS: You guys lost your memories?
UKYO: In way, yeah. [looks at Zelgadiss] Oh my God, what are you?
ZELGADISS: [offended] HEY! I'm a human being you know!
LINA: Next thing you know, he goes into brood mode. He can easily depress the entire population.
ZELGADISS: [growls] Lina. . .
AMELIA: Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune and the guy beside me is Zelgadiss Graywords.
GOURRY: If you guys didn't know, Amelia's a princess in this castle.
AKANE: Really?
AMELIA: [embarrassed] Gourry! [to everyone] Sorry! Yes, I'm the second princess of the Sailune kingdom but I don't flaunt it in public.
LINA: Only in emergency cases.
AMELIA: Only in emergency cases! [Lina rolls her eyes]
LINA: Amelia, what's going on here? What's with the preparations?
AMELIA: Good news! My older sister is coming home after a long journey!
GOURRY: Really?
AMELIA: Yeah. She wrote to us saying that she would be coming home either this week or the next. Hearing this, my father decided to throw a party for her return. It's been a while since I last saw her.
RYOGA: Where did she go?
AMELIA: Lots of places. She usually sends money for the kingdom and we keep in touch from time to time.
RYOGA: What's the name of your sister?
AMELIA: Gracia Ul Naga Sailune.
LINA: (Naga?)
AMELIA: She hasn't been home since. . .since. . .
ZELGADISS: Amelia, you can stop you know.
SHAMPOO: Is something matter?
LINA: Sorry but not now. It's a very touchy subject.
AMELIA: No, no. It's okay! I've moved on, no matter how hard it is.
AKANE: Oh we see.
ZELGADISS: What about you people? Where do you come from?
UKYO: Didn't we say that we lost our memories?
ZELGADISS: Oh sorry.
LINA: Me thinks that they're not from this world.
AMELIA: How do you know?
LINA: [with pride] I just know.
A servant rushes from the castle to Amelia.
SERVANT: Your highness! The meal is set.
AMELIA: Thank you. Now-
Amelia looks around to find Lina, who is now missing.
AMELIA: Lina? Lina?
RYOGA: I think she went inside the castle. What's with her?
ZELGADISS: When it comes to money, food and power, Lina will sure to follow that route. I must warn you though: IF you ever take those three away from her, DON'T! Otherwise, you're asking for a death wish.
RANMA: [who is now gaining consciousness] Lina? A big threat? C'mon.
GOURRY: Don't underestimate her. She's nice but she has the ability to destroy everything. After all, she wasn't called "The Enemy Of All Living Things" for nothing.
AKANE: So, she's evil?
ZELGADISS: [snorts] If she were, this place would surely be destroyed a long time ago. I'll tell you something, Lina is pretty powerful when it comes to sorcery. She has defeated a lot of powerful opponents before.
MOUSSE: Guess this means that Lina is not meant to be underestimated.
AMELIA: Exactly! Although, sometimes. . .
ZELGADISS: She can be greedy and more of a. . .what's the word? Oh yes, foolish.
MOUSSE: Guess that explains the treasure she was talking about earlier. [Mousse removes his glasses]
RYOGA: What's the big deal with that treasure? It could just be money and jewelry.
GOURRY: That's the same thing that we thought, but seems Lina is hell bent on getting this treasure first.
UKYO: What's the treasure then?
AMELIA: This is where the problem escalates. We don't know.
UKYO: You don't know?
AMELIA: No one knows. Not even Lina herself. Guess her curiosity factors have increased because of that. But my father told me that it holds a great power.
ZELGADISS: Which, of course, we've been in to that scenario several times.
AMELIA: Do you guys like to eat first? Lina might finish the entire meal as we speak, so we better hurry.
RANMA: [ecstastic] Why not? I've been hungry for a while.
MOUSSE: Same here.
Everyone looks at Mousse, who is talking to a statue of Philionel El Di Sailune and not wearing his glasses. Ranma approaches him and taps his shoulder.
RANMA: Um, Mousse. . .
Mousse turns around and sees a blurred vision of Ranma.
MOUSSE: Who are you?
RANMA: I think it's best that you wear those glasses like right now.
Mousse complies with Ranma's request and wears it. To his surprise, he can see clearly.
MOUSSE: [horrified] Oh no. . .I'M BLIND! [puts his hands in his face]
RANMA: Yikes. That's' gonna be a problem for ya.
MOUSSE: How could this be happening?
SHAMPOO: What's going on?
RANMA: Mousse can't see without glasses.
MOUSSE: [shrieks in pain] The horror! The horror!
AKANE: Well, it's better than not seeing at all.
SHAMPOO: You think that's going to comfort him?
AKANE: I don't know. I'm not a doctor.
************
Once everything is settled, Ranma, Lina and the rest began to eat their lunch. To Lina's surprise, once she reached the dining hall, she was trapped in a cage which was set by Amelia so that she wouldn't finish everything. Lina still casted some scowl looks at the second Sailune princess. Philionel El Di Saillune is in the edge on the table, with Amelia on his side. Lina, as expected, ate like a pig. Ranma does the same thing also. He didn't know that he eats like a pig.
PHILIONEL: [to the NWCs] Well, good strangers from the somewhere I don't know, do you mind tell me your names and where you come from?
RYOGA: [embarrassed] Well, we lost our memories and we're trying to find how we can restore it.
AMELIA: Hmm, how about we can restore your memories with magic?
AKANE: You can do that?
AMELIA: Uh-huh. All we need is a memory restoration spell. . .if I could remember it.
ZELGADISS: But doing so might cause some problems. Magic can be very useful at times. But, they can be very risky.
UKYO: We take this as you won't help us?
AMELIA: What he meant was we will, but we don't know if your condition is magical or not. Besides, it's best that we find out first if it's safe.
MOUSSE: Can't she do it? [points at Lina]
ZELGADISS: I don't know. She only deals with black magic.
Lina, indifferent of the conversation, happily ate her meal like a wild pig, as did Gourry. Ranma, to his surprise, also ate like Lina, much to Akane's disgust.
AKANE: I can't believe he ate like a pig.
SHAMPOO: I bet he was like that before memory loss.
AKANE: Guess that means a part of him does come back. But, then again, what are the odds?
SHAMPOO: Bet you eat like him too.
AKANE: [rols eyes] Hope not.
GOURRY: So, um, what do we do after we eat?
LINA: [eating] We [munch] rest, gather [munch] supplies and [munch] go!
UKYO: [to Lina] Um, it's bad to speak while you eat.
ZELGADISS: Don't bother. She lacks in manners.
Lina ignores his statement as she gobbles down the big piece of chicken. To say she eats like a pig would be an understatement. To say she eats like a monster devouring its meals would be right on the market. Same thing goes to Gourry and Ranma, to his surprise. As Lina is about to reach the last piece of the chicken, Ranma quickly grabbed it and ate it. This would be a no-no for Ranma for whoever gets Lina's food will suffer the consequences. The red sorceress glared at the amnesiac pig-tailed martial artist. She is about to get a piece of apple when Ranma quickly grabbed it and ate it. That's it.
LINA: [angry] HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA GETTING MY FOOD?!
RANMA: [surprised] What?
LINA: [shouts out loud] MY FOOD! WHY ARE YOU GETTING MY FOOD?!
AMELIA: [tries to calm down Lina] Lina, calm down! There's no need to-
RANMA: [hits back] YOU THINK THESE ARE ALL YOURS? TOUGH LUCK! YOU MAY BE THE MOST FEARED SORCERESS BUT YOU'RE A SELFISH BITCH!
LINA: YOU TAKE THAT BACK OR-
RANMA: YOU'LL WHAT? FRY ME? [grins] Heh, I like to see you try, little girl.
LINA: [furious] THAT'S IT!!!
Lina unleashes a ball of thunder at him. Ranma quickly dodges the attack. This is one of his surprised discoveries. Everyone else got up slowly and started to step back as the two engage in a heated brawl. Lina continues to throw fireballs at him and the latter dodges at the attacks. Lina decides to play dirty. A table is behind him so all she has to do is hit him behind. As she does so, Ranma quickly senses the table coming behind him. In a matter of time, he jumps backwards and lands safetly, much to everyone's surprise.
RANMA: [surprised] Did I do that? Did I? [everyone nods] This is so cool!
GOURRY: Lina, I think you should stop now.
LINA: [still angry] THIS IS NOT OVER YET!
Just as Lina chants a spell, Ranma accidentally trips over to the floor. He tries to grab the table for safety but manages to grab the tablecloth and dragging it down with a pitcher of water, which it lands on his head. When he gets up, he feels something strange on him.
AKANE: [shocked] R-ranma! What's wrong with you?
RANMA: [confused] What?
RYOGA: L-look at yourself!
Ranma looks at the mirror to see what is wrong with him. As he sees himself, he lets loose a horrifying scream of shock and terror. He is now a she.
LINA: [smirks] Heh, look at you. You're way freakier than Zelgadiss.
RANMA: [horrified] OHMIGOD! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!!! WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME?
LINA: Guess that chant did work, but not the way I hoped.
RANMA: [at Lina] YOU! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!!!
LINA: Look, to be honest, I don't know! Guess it's karma time for you.
RANMA: YOU LIE!
LINA: You know, you make a pretty little girl.
SHAMPOO: [whispers to Ukyo] Hate to say it, but I agree with her. [Ukyo nods]
Ranma looks at herself again. Her height is decreased; she now has breasts, red hair and a girlish voice. She screams once more.
RANMA: YOU TURNED ME INTO A FREAKING GIRL!
LINA: HEY! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!
RANMA: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
LINA: Leave my parents out of this, freak show!
Ranma realizes that Lina has been self-conscious of her chest since hers was smaller than Amelia's. She looks at her chest.
RANMA: [smirks] Hey Dragon Spooker! Guess what? I've got a bigger spice rack than you! [shows her chests at her] I've got stuff you would kill for!
Lina's obviously jealous and pissed off. It's bad enough that this stranger stole her food and dodged her attacks but know this is the icing in the cake: being taunted that "she" has bigger breasts than her. She decides to teach Ranma that she should not be messed with. She unleashes a very powerful energy ball that would destroy a room, but this is Lina we're talking about. She's a very hot-tempered girl and no mercy from her enemies is going to sway that away. As the energy ball increases its power, Ranma regrets his actions and takes a step back away from her. Philionel and Gourry hides under the table while Amelia and Zelgadiss produce a force field that surrounds them and the NWC. Shampoo and Akane hide behind Mousse's back while Ryoga and Ukyo hold tightly together for protection.
RANMA: He, he. . .Lina, I was just. . .[nervously chuckles] Oh come on! Can't you take a joke?
No is Lina's response as she releases the energy ball. Outside of the castle, one can see a part of it is exploded. People quickly rushed to the scene what is going on. Inside, we see Ranma, Lina and everyone else suffered burns and mental shocks. Ranma and Lina fainted to the ground.
MOUSSE: This is how Lina settles her problems? By destroying everything?
AMELIA: You got it.
Lina would make an excellent member of the NWC. In fact, she would destroy Nerima itself in a single blow.
************
Akari walked around the town. It's been weeks since Ryoga dumped her. She still doesn't understand why he would leave her for a journey, only to disappear. It wasn't unusual for him to disappear due to his bad sense of direction. There are still questions why he left her like does he still love Akane. She then recalled that Ryoga never liked being a pig he nearly gets cooked. Is that it? He left her because he hates his curse and most of all, pigs? Akari would do anything to have him back, even giving up pigs. Katsunishiki isn't with her for the moment because she wants to be alone. So, she's not doing anything right now. She now faces a dilemma: does she want Ryoga back despite hurting her feelings or dump him and move on? Unknown to her, a group of men with no good intentions are looking at her maliciously. They stood up and followed her slowly and carefully. They're a group of bums with no future and are hooked on drugs. They want her body. Akari notices them and begins to walk faster, but they are gaining on her, so she begins to run faster. The chase ends in a dead-end alley with her trapped and scared. The men grin with the opportunity to have fun with her.
AKARI: [scared] What d-do you want from me?
DAIGO: [grins] Nothing much, sweetie, just you and your cute face.
AKARI: [scared] G-get away from me!!! PLEASE!
DAIGO: Oooh, I like that in a girl. Screaming with pleasure.
AKARI: HELP! HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!
DAIGO: No one's going to hear ya, babe. So, let's start shall we? Men!
Akari tries to get away from them but two of Daigo's men grabs her arms and lies her down. Daigo approaches her as he becomes the first one to "taste" her. Akari wished that Ryoga was here to save her but now, all hope has vanished as she cries bitterly.
DAIGO: So, any last words before we begin, cookie?
Suddenly, a wire wrings around Daigo's neck and tightens it. The gangster leader tries to remove the wire around the neck, but with no avail. He is lifted upwards and remains there. The members armed themselves with knives and looked around for their mysterious attacker. At this time, Akari begins to hide at the corner. They looked at their front to see a very handsome young man with a small ponytail. With a white shirt, jeans and sneakers, he looks like an ordinary civilian.
GANRYU: Who the hell are you?
KONATSU: Shame on you. Trying to rape an innocent and unarmed girl. You guys have no manners.
YOSHI: What are you going to do? Hurt us? [laughs] I like to see you try!
KONATSU: As you wish.
The gang members rush towards him but Konatsu performs the Happo Bijin Shuriken at them. It hurt them a lot from the eyes to the legs. Konatsu runs and jump kicks at the first man, then performs an axe kick at the face of another. Ganryu grabs his knife and lunges at him but Konatsu quickly jumps over him and performs a back suplex on him. Yoshi throws the knife at him but he catches it with his hand and throws it back at the unfortunate gang member's eye. He screams in pain as the rest leaves. Daigo grabs his knife from the pocket and cuts off the wire which causes him to drop. Konatsu rushes towards him and executes a jumping spinning kick at his face. The leader is knocked unconscious to the ground. Konatsu smiles at his victory. Akari stands up and sees his hand is bleeding from the knife Konatsu caught.
KONATSU: Are you okay, miss? Did they-
AKARI: Oh no, you're injured! Your hand!
Konastsu looks at his wounded hand.
KONATSU: It's nothing, really.
AKARI: Don't be silly! You might get infected! We have to wash your hand and bandage it.
KONATSU: B-but-
AKARI: No buts. [smiles] This my way of saying thank you for saving my life.
Akari drags Konatsu to the nearest fountain and washes the wound away. Then she gets a bandage from her purse. She puts it on his hand with some TLC. Konatsu blushes but tries not to let Akari notice it. He felt. . .being loved. Ukyo did take care of him but in a friendly manner. She never treated him this way, but there are moments like giving him a new home and a job as a waitress. But he felt that she would never love him as she would to Ranma. Although it has been hard at first leaving her but when he learned that she was missing, he came back to find her and start looking for clues of her whereabouts.
AKARI: [shyly] Thank you.
KONATSU: Oh, um, it was nothing. I don't want to see innocent people get hurt. Are you okay?
AKARI: I'm fine now, although I'm still in shock of the incident.
KONATSU: Don't worry, I think they won't be after you.
AKARI: Say, what's your name?
KONATSU: My name is Konatsu Kenzan.
AKARI: Akari Unryu. [raises her hand to shake hands] Please to meet you.
KONATSU: [shakes her hand] Same here.
AKARI: That was some fighting method you got.
KONATSU: It's ninjitsu. (I rather not tell her about my kunoichi days)
AKARI: Oh, so you're a ninja?
KONATSU: Yes.
AKARI: I thought ninjas would be mysterious.
KONATSU: They are but not all of them.
AKARI: And honestly, [chuckles] the only ninjas that I know were the Ninja Turtles!
KONATSU: HEY!
AKARI: [giggles] Sorry!
Silence envelops between the two.
AKARI: Konatsu, would you like to have lunch with me? It would be an honor.
KONATSU: [smiles] Yes, thank you very much.
*********
YUI: Listen, I've got to go. Bye.
Yui Ichiro is a seventeen year old teenager. With a very dark red hair, blue eyes and a stunning athletic body that would make boys go gaga on her. Her height is similar to Ukyo's. She closes her cell phone and puts it in her pocket. She leaves the tip for the waiter, grabs her backpack, wears her shades and leaves. As she passes by, boys, men and dirty old men looked at her at awe while girls looked at her with envy. What's not to see her? White tank top, boot-cut jeans and sneakers, she might as well pose for a magazine. But, Yui didn't come to Nerima for that. She has two missions. Right now, she's doing one of them. She opens her bag, grabs an envelope and gets stockpile of paper. She breathes slowly as she looks at the contents. Yui then starts her first mission.
YUI: [hands out a flyer to the nearest passerby and smiles] Here you go!
The stranger looks at the flyer and is disgusted after looking at it. Yui continues to hand out the flyers to the people of Nerima. The reactions are shocked, appalled and sometimes funny and absurd. She hands out more fliers to everyone and then gets a scotch tape to stick the fliers at the walls. It may seem like an ordinary flier but if you look at it carefully, it's. . .pretty grotesque. When she reached the Nekohaten, she sticks the fliers at the wall but is seen immediately by Cologne, Nodoka and Kasumi.
COLOGNE: Excuse me, young lady, but what are you doing sticking fliers on my restaurant?
YUI: [in full sorrow] I'm sorry, miss, but. . .[shows them the flier] my boyfriend had an affair with another guy behind my back! Look at them! All in their disgusting glory! [begins to cry a little bit] He proposes to me but look at him! Look at him! Being a man-bitch to his lover! A shame to his family!
The three women looked at the picture carefully. To their disgust, they see two boys. . .getting it on. The one who is encircled by a black pen is probably her now-ex-boyfriend. Being women, they feel the sorrow and anguish the girl felt. Then again, why the hell would she do that?
COLOGNE/NODOKA/KASUMI: [in an approving tone] Carry on.
YUI: [cheerfully] Thank you!
Yui walks away like a cheerful little girl and continues to stick and give the fliers away while the three women watched her carefully. It's not normal for a girl to tell everyone that her boyfriend cheated on her but this is sweet revenge. Yui turns around the corner and goes to the roof by jumping through wall to wall. There, she throws the fliers away, spreading them across town. She smiles as she accomplishes her mission and now she has to do her next one.
**********
Ranma sat on the corner of the wall, crying bitterly. First, she's a guy and now this. She realized that Lina wasn't responsible for her transformation. But still, she's upset.
AKANE: [concerned] Ranma?
RANMA: [shouts] IT'S GOKU!
AKANE: Whatever! [calms down] Are you okay?
RANMA: Am I okay? [faces her] Am I okay? [stands up] Look at me, Akane! Look at me! I'm a circus freak! What the hell happened to me?! What did I do before I lost my memory?! [cries again]
AKANE: Ra. . .I mean Goku, we don't know what happened but I promise you, everything will be okay.
RANMA: Where are the others?
AKANE: They're outside. Amelia is talking with her father as we speak. Gourry and Zelgadiss are packing some supplies along with Lina.
RANMA: Can we go and meet them? There's something I wanted to talk to them.
AKANE: [nods] Sure.
Akane leads Ranma outside of the castle and sees the rest standing there. There are very quiet, which disturbs Ranma and Akane. When they see Ranma approaching them, they're not sure what to react on his curse.
UKYO: Um, Ranma?
RANMA: IT'S GOKU!!!
Everyone rolls their eyes.
UKYO: Anyway. . .um. . .
RANMA: [shouts] WHY CAN'T YOU SAY IT? I KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR MINDS! SAY IT!
MOUSSE: Hey! Hey! Calm down! It's not that! [pauses] Well, it's that. What happened?
RANMA: [confused] I don't know! I thought it was Lina who had done this but. . .I think. . .I think I had this for a while, even before we lost our memories.
SHAMPOO: [concerned] You okay?
RANMA: Well, for one thing, I'm smaller than her [points at Akane], my hair's red and. . .[looks at his body and then grins] I can see myself naked very well. Look at these babies!
AKANE: First you're complaining that you turned into a girl and now you're enjoying this? What the hell's with you?
RANMA: I don't know.
RYOGA: Can we change into another topic before my nose begins to bleed?
RANMA: Shoot. What is it?
RYOGA: I don't think we're from this place.
SHAMPOO: Isn't that obvious? Look at our clothes. Shampoo wear different clothes from the rest.
MOUSSE: Guess that answers on why people are looking at us. But I agree with Ryoga. If we're not from this place, then where did we come from?
RYOGA: We have to restore our memories fast! I don't I'll last.
RANMA: But why am I cursed? What about you guys?
SHAMPOO: First things first, how did you become a girl?
RANMA: I remember that a pitcher of water landed in my head. It was cold. Then, the rest is history.
UKYO: To be honest, you could pass as a fourteen year old.
RANMA: Your point being?
UKYO: I mean look at you. I doubt you're sixteen or eighteen. But methinks that you could be mistaken as a minor.
RANMA: [sighs] True.
MOUSSE: Do you guys have any idea how to restore our memories?
AKANE: What about Amelia, Lina and Zelgadiss?
RANMA: We can ask them later but we can forget that red-haired bitch!
UKYO: You're red-haired also.
RANMA: I meant Lina! Geez, fussing over food. Then again, Zel did warn us.
RYOGA: But he said that restoring our memories could be dangerous.
SHAMPOO: Come on! What could be dangerous with that? Surely you believed what stone-boy said.
UKYO: What if he's right?
SHAMPOO: We think of positive things right now!
RANMA: Shampoo's got a point, despite her impediment speech. What do have to lose?
MOUSSE: Right now, our sanity because I don't think I can take this anymore! I'm half-blind, for Pete's sake!
RYOGA: [to Ranma] Hey, maybe we should call you Gokina. Gokina, a perfect fit for you.
RANMA: [offended] YOU TAKE THAT BACK!
AKANE: Gokina, Gokina, Gokina. It kinda sounded better.
MOUSSE: [in a girlish mode] Hi! I'm Gokina! I turn into a girl and suddenly I like pretty dresses and jewelry and-
RANMA: [furious] SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
***********
PHILIONEL: Amelia, my dear. Someday this will be all yours.
AMELIA: What? The curtains?
PHILIONEL: I meant the kingdom.
AMELIA: Oh. But what about Gracia? Isn't she the next in line?
PHILIONEL: [sighs] You know your sister. I'm saying this just in case she decides not to come back.
AMELIA: Then why are you preparing this party? I thought she would return.
PHILIONEL: She said she would before but. . .where is she?
AMELIA: I'm sure she'll be fine.
PHILIONEL: You're probably right. She's been gone for so long. Do you think she's married?
AMELIA: She didn't say anything about that.
PHILIONEL: She might keep it as a surprise when she comes here. Besides, I think that might be good for the kingdom.
AMELIA: Except if the boy turns out to be from another kingdom. But never fear, father! For I, Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune. . .will wait for her return. Until then, I'm going with Lina and the rest for more treasure hunting.
PHILIONEL: Just one question. Where exactly are you going?
AMELIA: Why do you ask?
PHILIONEL: Amelia, the treasure you are seeking, from what I've heard, is not just any valuable treasure you seek like the Claire Bible. This treasure is said to contain power and I'm sure all will seek that.
AMELIA: If so, then we will all know what kind of treasure is that. But no one has heard of it.
ZELGADISS: That's probably because someone or something is guarding it.
Amelia and Philionel turn around and see Zelgadiss and Lina standing there.
AMELIA: You guys were eavesdropping?
LINA: We? We would never do that. . .on rare occasions.
ZELGADISS: In that case, we better prepare ourselves. The others are waiting outside. We must depart before nightfall.
LINA: As long as that red-haired psycho freak doesn't slow as down.
AMELIA: Aren't you a bit harsh?
LINA: Harsh? Me? He. . .she. . .I don't know, stole my food!
ZELGADISS: Like that was yours to begin with?
LINA: And then she taunted at me that she has bigger "spice racks" than me! Thank goodness I didn't have the intention to kill that she-male! Anyway we better go. The sooner we're done [smiles] the sooner I get to join the festivities!
Lina walks away and goes outside. Amelia and Zelgadiss sweat dropped.
ZELGADISS: Do you think she'll finish everything in the celebration?
AMELIA: If the cage fails, guess we have to torture her.
*************
As they depart to their destination, the travelers immerse themselves into separate conversations.
GOURRY: Are we there yet?
LINA: No.
GOURRY: Are we there yet?
LINA: No.
GOURRY: Are we there yet?
LINA: [furious] NO! NO! NO YOU STUPID DUMBASS! ONE MORE TIME AND I WILL FLAY YOU ALIVE!
Gourry winces as Lina calms herself down.
SHAMPOO: You don't have to be furious. He was just asking.
LINA: Like they say, "once is enough". [to Amelia] Amelia! Do we still have food left?
AMELIA: We haven't been at the half-way point to the Dark Mountain and already the food is almost empty.
LINA: [smiles] I couldn't help it.
RANMA: How far is the Dark Mountain?
LINA: We have to pass four rivers and seven lakes and then one town. Afterwards it's Dark Mountain. Or as they call it "the place of no escape".
MOUSSE: What exactly is in that place? Could be important.
LINA: We'll find out as soon as we get there.
ZELGADISS: It'll take one day to cross there so we stop at the town.
AKANE: Um, Zel? There's something I want to ask you.
ZELGADISS: If it's about my appearance-
AKANE: I'm not making fun of you! I swear! It's just that. . .what happened to you?
ZELGADISS: I used to be human, believe it or not. But then, my great- grandfather tricked me by granting me the power I wanted. Now look at me. I'm a chimera: one part rock golem, one part brau demon and one part human.
SHAMPOO: That sad! What about great-grandfather? He must pay for what he did to you!
LINA: Already took care of that. It's a long story but in the end. [claps her hands loudly] BOOM! He dies. End of story.
MOUSSE: [to Zelgadiss] But why are still in your chimera form?
ZELGADISS: [in a sad tone] Most of the cures didn't work. [sigh] Despite this, I haven't give up on finding one.
On the other side of the group. . .
UKYO: It must be tough for us to be in a strange world. What do you think happened to us?
RYOGA: I. . .um don't know.
Ryoga glanced Ukyo at his side. He finds her cute and pretty. He wants to hold her hand but couldn't for it might bring some wrong assumptions. Ukyo notices him and looks at him. When she does that, Ryoga looked away with embarrassment.
UKYO: Ryoga, are you okay?
RYOGA: [nervous] M-me? I'm fine! [nervously laughs] Why?
UKYO: You were looking at me. [Ryoga internally tenses up] Is there something on my face?
RYOGA: Um, nothing! Nothing, he he.
Ryoga sighs as Ukyo knows that there is something wrong with him. Unconsciously, Ryoga began to hold her hand. She looks at him and smiles. She holds him back. Both of them wanted to get to know each other. Of course, in their real selves or memories, they would rather hang themselves or taste Akane's cooking than doing this. All of the sudden, Lina stops walking.
GOURRY: Hey, Lina. Is something the matter?
LINA: [looks around carefully] Someone's watching us.
RANMA: Who? Or what?
The place is dead silent, save for the chirpings of the birds.
???: It's been a while, Lina Inverse.
LINA: [shocked] That can't be!
MOUSSE: What's going on?
AMELIA: Is it who I think it is?
GOURRY: [confused] Who? Who?
ZELGADISS: [shouts] COME OUT WHEREEVER YOU ARE AND SHOW YOURSELF!
Out of the blue, a violet-haired man appeared to the group with a smile, much to Lina and Zelgadiss' irritation.
LINA: Hello Xelloss.
XELLOSS: Pleasant greetings. Why such the long faces?
ZELGADISS: What do you want Xelloss?
AKANE: [whispers to Amelia] Who is he?
XELLOSS: Fair lady, I believe we haven't met.
AKANE: That's because we HAVEN'T met.
XELLOSS: Very well. I am Xelloss the. . .
ZELGADISS: The man who should never be trusted at all.
XELLOSS: That's such a harsh description.
LINA: [irritated] Look, what do you want? We haven't got all day with your silly tricks.
XELLOSS: Lina, who are these new people you're with? [he's referring to the NWC]
LINA: New company.
XELLOSS: [raises his right eyebrow] Really?
Lina hated that look. If he spills the beans, then they would leave her. Then again, anything goes on Xelloss' case.
XELLOSS: I believe you are going to the Dark Mountain, am I correct?
LINA: You answered correctly. Let me guess, you know the Dark Mountain so spill if you're interested.
XELLOSS: Very well. Along the way, an old friend will come and confuse you. In the mountain, be prepared for the worst of all worst. This will be a challenge of a lifetime. [to the NWC] Guess it has begun to wear off. [to Ranma] Guess being the almighty isn't what's crack up to be.
RANMA: [confused] What are you talking about?
XELLOSS: [wags his forefinger] Tsk tsk. That is a secret.
ZELGADISS: [on high alert] Ranma, don't trust him ever!
XELLOSS: Please. After all this time you're still the same.
ZELGADISS: So is your big fat, lying mouth. Guess that would make us even.
XELLOSS: I don't want to waste your precious time so I better go. See ya! [he disappears]
RANMA: Hello. Can someone tell me who that is?
AMELIA: Xelloss. He's the guy I would love to tease.
UKYO: I bet you would love to do that every now and then.
RYOGA: But what's with the hostility between him and Zel?
AMELIA: Xelloss drives him crazy due to the former's suspicious plans.
LINA: But he's a strange one.
MOUSSE: What's up with the riddles?
ZELGADISS: He's giving information. Meaning he definitely knows something about Dark Mountain. But be careful, he can double-cross you in a heartbeat. Most of his clues can lead you to disaster.
UKYO: What a strange human.
ZELGADISS: He's not human. He's a Mazoku.
RYOGA: Mazoku?
ZELGADISS: The Mazoku are spiritual beings that reside on the astral plane. They do not have a true physical form, but ones with enough power can project an image onto the physical plane to represent their beings. They are the force against the gods; the race that has one true purpose- to destroy the worlds created by the Lord of Nightmares.
RANMA: [shocked] WHAT?!
MOUSSE: You mean to say he's not human?
AMELIA: They are created but they must have a very high amount of power.
RANMA: Okay, but what about this Lord of Nightmares thing?
AMELIA: The Lord of Nightmares is the creator of the four worlds and everything in it. It is possible that all the worlds are actually a part of her. Although no one can know exactly what she is thinking, many believe that her ultimate goal is to have all the worlds be a part of her again, because she is lonely. In truth, the Lord of Nightmares did not knowingly create the worlds; they were suddenly there.
LINA: Don't worry, she's not our problem though. It's Xelloss.
SHAMPOO: You said strange riddle man not human.
AMELIA: A mazoku's source of energy is shouki, the miasma produced by mortal beings when they experience negative emotions such as anger, sadness, and fear. Being able to appear as a human is a great adapation for a mazoku, as it allows it to live among humans and feed off their emotions with little or no suspicion. It is also worth noting that the more power a mazoku has, the more humanlike it can appear.
AKANE: So that would make him the bad guy?
LINA: Well, almost. He helped us sometimes but everything's got a price. Look, it's gonna be sunset soon so we move right now.
Everyone agrees continue to move. Lina just stood there, but Ranma and Gourry notice her.
GOURRY: Hey Lina, you okay?
LINA: [snaps out] Huh? I'm fine.
GOURRY: No you're not.
RANMA: Is it what that Xelloss creep said? Something about an old friend?
LINA: It's nothing let's go.
As Lina walks away. . .
RANMA: I've got a feeling she's not telling something.
GOURRY: Just don't force her. She'll probably tell us one day.
***********
KONATSU: So, I lived with my evil stepfamily until Ukyo, Ranma and Akane showed up.
AKARI: Wait. You know Ranma? As in Ranma Saotome?
KONATSU: Yes. You know him?
AKARI: It's a small world we live in. I met him at his school one time with Ryoga.
Everytime she mentions Ryoga or his name, Akari felt the pain he had caused her. She couldn't forgive him.
AKARI: Ryoga is well, my fiancée.
KONATSU: Really?
AKARI: Or my ex-fiancée. He wanted out. I wasn't myself at that time because it was so sudden. I kicked his groin just to let him now how I feel.
KONTASU: Ow!
AKARI: I know. That wasn't right. I was so angry for what he did. I think, deep down, he still loves Akane and I'm just the rebound girl.
KONATSU: You might be wrong, you know.
AKARI: How would you know? Akane and Ryoga disappeared.
KONATSU: Well, so do Ranma, Mousse, Shampoo and. . .[in a sad tone] Ukyo.
AKARI: What's wrong?
KONATSU: Ukyo was my employer. She was the one who took care of me after I finally got out of my stepfamily. I fell in love with her but she's obsessed with Ranma. She, Ryoga and the rest destroyed Ranma and Akane's wedding. After Ukyo and Ranma had a fight, she just locked herself up in her room until she visited her father. I couldn't take anymore. After that incident, I've been wondering whether my love for her is nothing since she's pining over someone else.
AKARI: [concerned] Oh, Konatsu. . .
KONATSU: I love her but she loved me as a friend. I'm also her friend so I did the best thing just to make her happy. In the end, all my efforts fail so I left. I've been wandering around from place to place.
AKARI: And let me guess. You came back here when you heard that Ukyo disappeared.
KONATSU: You just read my mind.
AKARI: [pauses] This may be weird but would you like to stay in my house? I've got an extra bedroom for you.
KONATSU: [embarrassed] Oh no! Thank you for the offer but it might be embarrassing for you!
AKARI: Where's the embarrassing part? This is my way of saying thank you for saving me from those crooks.
KONATSU: Sure! Why not? Anything for a pretty girl like you!
AKARI: [giggles] Flattery will get you nowhere!
Konatsu and Akari exited the restaurant and headed for Akari's house. But along the way, Konatsu, with his ninja senses, hears someone is following them.
AKARI: Is something wrong?
KONATSU: We walk faster now. Someone is following us.
KOTETSU: Seems you have improved a lot Konatsu!
Both of them looked up in the building to see Kotetsu, Koume and Koeda standing above them with a smirk.
KOTETSU: Such a handsome face. Just like your father.
KONATSU: What do you want?
KOTETSU: What do you think? Revenge!
KOUME: Revenge for destroying our beauty!
KOEDA: Revenge for ruining our lives!
KONATSU: That's crazy!
AKARI: Wait a sec, those are your stepfamily? Dear, they sure are butt ugly.
KOUME: WE HEARD THAT LITTLE GIRL!
KOEDA: From a transvestite to a beautiful, handsome man. But despite that, you can't escape from us!
AKARI: [to Konatsu] Transvestite?
KONATSU: Look, I can explain everything later. Right now-
KOTETSU: ATTACK!!!
The uglies jumped from the building and began to use the Hyappatsu Hyakuchü Shuriken technique at Konatsu and Akari. The former kunoichi grabs Akari's arm and hide behind a tree for cover. The shurikens hit the tree and in an instant Konatsu carries Akari and makes a mad dash with the uglies chasing them behind. Konatsu leaps to a roof and continues doing so while Akari holding him tightly. During this time, the uglies continue to throw the shurikens at them but they missed. Konatsu jumps from the roof and hides in the alley. He lets go of Akari and have a look around for the uglies.
AKARI: Konatsu, what's going on? Why are they after you?
KONATSU: [lowers his head with shame] Forgive me, Akari. I haven't told you everything about me. The truth is, I was raised as a girl hence the transvestite word from them. I decided to change my lifestyle seeing that my being as a "girl" didn't work well in winning Ukyo. Please, don't hate me.
AKARI: Why should I hate you? You've been probably didn't risen well by them. You poor guy!
KONATSU: You mean-
AKARI: I don't hate you. It's nice that-
A rope suddenly wraps around Akari and grabs her from above. Koeda ties the rope very tight as Akari struggles to let go. The uglies then surround Konatsu in a circular formation. Kotetsu unleashes a small kunai dagger while Koeda carries a spear and Koume with a chain ball, twirling around it.
KONATSU: [angry] YOU LET AKARI GO!
KOTETSU: Now, now. Is that how you treat your stepmother?
KONATSU: You are NOT my stepmother. I have no stepmother or stepsisters!
KOEME: Watch your mouth or the girl gets it.
AKARI: [shouts] KONATSU! RUN!
KONATSU: What do you want from me!?
KOTETSU: Simple, you come back to us and be our servant again since your boss disappeared. So, what say you?
KONATSU: What if I refuse?
KOEDA: Your friend goes bye-bye.
Koeda holds the rope that is with Akari. Konatsu realizes that if he refuses, Koeda will let go of her and will die. He decides that he will attack them on his own. No matter the outcome, Akari will have to escape from the mess. Konatsu is in his fighting stance, signaling a fight to the uglies.
KONATSU: How about this? We fight. If I win, you leave me and Akari alone! If I lose, I will agree on your condition. Just let Akari go!
KOTETSU: Very well. Shall we begin?
Kotetsu charges at him and lunges the dagger in his face but Konatsu ducks and sidesteps to the left side. Konatsu kicks his former stepmother's hand thus letting go of the dagger. Koeda jumps at him with the spear. Konatsu leaps and is about to kick her when Koeme throws the chain ball and hit on his back. Konatsu yelps out in pain as he falls to the ground. He uses his hands to hold the ground for a safe landing and back flips. Koeme twirls her chain ball and throws the ball at him. He dodges and throws some of his shuriken at them but are intercepted by Koeda's spear, which she uses it as a shield. Konatsu charges at them with two kunai daggers as his weapons. He aims at Koeda first as he tries to slash her but she blocks his attack. As he aims for her head, Koeda blocks it again but this time he quickly punches her in the chest very hard. The ugly sister staggers back with pain. Kotetsu distracts him by throwing some bombs at him. When it explodes, Kontasu moves away. Unknown to him, Koume grabs his neck with her chain ball. He kicks her in the face and throws her to the ground. All of the sudden, Koeda uses her Kappa no Sara Flash technique at him, which temporarily blinds Konatsu for the moment. Just as Konatsu tries to regain his normal composure, the uglies take this advantage. They produce a chain and tie him up quickly. Akari watches this in horror as she realizes that Konatsu may not escape from his stepfamily this time. When he regains his eyesight, he finds himself tied up in chains. He makes a struggle to get out.
KOTETSU: Forget it, Konatsu. You can't escape from us!
KOEME: This means that you will clean our house again! [laughs]
KOEDA: Also, you will cook again!
Konatsu growls silently.
KONATSU: Fine! Now, let Akari go!
KOTETSU: Um. . .we don't think so!
KONATSU: [shocked] But you promise!
KOTETSU: Did we really fulfill that? Oh well. [Koeda lets go of the rope]
KONATSU: NO!!!
Akari falls into the ground while screaming for help. Out of the blue, her prayers have been answered in the form of a mysterious stranger rescuing her before she hits the ground. The stranger places Akari on the ground carefully, gets her knife from her belt and cuts the rope.
YUI: You've got a lot of guts to do that. Guess this means we know who won't win Miss Trust.
KOTETSU: [angry] Who are you? Do not disturb our business!
YUI: [snorts] I'm sorry. Trying to kill the girl is your business? Breaking promises is your business?
KOEME: You'll pay for interrupting our fight!
YUI: Like oh my God! What happened to you freaks? Cosmetic surgery gone bad?
KOEDA: Don't you mock our beauty!
YUI: I know beauty is skin deep but this is ridiculous.
KOEME: Prepare to die!
Koeme charges at her with her chain ball. Yui just stands there but as the fat sister come nears her, Yui punches the ground and to Koeme's surprise, she was launched to the air. While Koeme's in mid-air, Yui suddenly appears and performs an aerial suplex thus forcing them to fall but she uses her Koeme's head as a safety landing material. Koeme's face was smashed by the impact of the fall. Yui gets up and gives a smirk at the remaining uglies. She kicks Koeme but with no response from the latter, which means she's unconscious.
KOTETSU: [shocked] H-how. . .
YUI: You study ninjitsu and I've known your reputation but [disgusted] eeeww! What the hell happened to you ladies?
KOEDA: [tightens her grip on her spear] And you call yourself beautiful!
YUI: Wanna fight, beautiful? [cracks her knuckes] We can arrange that.
Koeda and Yui surround themselves like two dueling warriors in the ancient times. Then, with a drop of the water from the pipe, Koeda lunges her spear at her but Yui grabs it. Yui executes a left roundhouse to her face and a push kick to her stomach which causes Koeda to drop to the ground. Koeda quickly gets up despite the pain and breaks the spear into two fighting sticks. Koeda begins her assault as she tries to hit Yui. The red-head dodges the attacks easily and decides to end this as she grabs both of Koeda's arms and performs a scorpion kick which connects to the ugly ninja's head. Koeda steps back and throws the blade at her. Yui jumps over her in a twirling manner. She lands at her back and kicks her back. Koeda is thrown to the sides and is unconscious. Yui looks at Kotetsu, who tries to put a brave face but is scared deep down.
YUI: Come on. I've haven't got all day.
KOTETSU: You may defeat them easily, but as their mother and their master, you can't defeat me! Prepare this!
Kotetsu throws a barrage of shurikens at her. All she can do is dodging and disarms the projectiles coming at her. To Konatsu, Akari and even Kotetsu, it seems that she manages to counter the attack very well. Kotetsu throws the bombs at her and as it explodes, Yui performs a cartwheel to avoid the blasts. The latter throws her own pack of shuriken at the elder ugly. The former disarms the blades but Yui throws her knife at her hand. Kotetsu screams in pain and removes the knife from her hand. She throws it back at the owner and the latter catches it. Yui runs at her and punches her in the stomach in a way that it meets her back bone. Kotetsu falls down.
YUI: Man, what a stress reliever. [approaches Akari] You okay?
AKARI: [shaken] Y-yeah, but we have to help my friend!
YUI: Oh!
Yui helps Akari in getting up and goes to Konatsu's aid. After freeing him, he gets up with the help from the girls.
KONATSU: That was. . .
YUI: I didn't mean to hurt your butt ugly stepfamily but they wanted to harm you.
KONATSU: No. It's okay. They had it coming. When they get up, they'll be after me for sure again.
YUI: I wouldn't think so.
AKARI: What do you mean?
YUI: Let's just say they won't be after you again.
KONATSU: Thank for helping us. May I get to know your name?
YUI: Yui Ichiro. From the other side of Tokyo.
AKARI: I'm Akari Unryuu, nice to meet you.
KONATSU: And I'm Konatsu Kenzan.
YUI: [looks at Kontasu] Hmm. Salty goodness.
KONATSU: [blushes] A-are you flirting at me?
YUI: Who wouldn't? After all, a handsome guy like with is with a beautiful girl like her.
KONATSU: Oh no! We're not dating!
AKARI: Yeah! We just met!
YUI: Uh-huh. Anyway, I gotta go.
AKARI: Wait! There must be someway we could repay you.
YUI: No thanks. I don't want to waste your time.
AKARI: No hassle! Please?
Yui thinks about Akari's offer. She doesn't want to take advantage of this but she needs a place to stay.
YUI: How about a place to stay? Just for the night.
AKARI: [ecstatic] Great! Now I've got two new houseguests!
YUI: [to Konatsu] Let me guess. You're the other one.
KONATSU: Yeah.
AKARI: We have to go now. My grandfather must be worried right now.
So, three went straight to Akari's house to stay overnight.
**********
The group reaches the village before nightfall and enters an inn. Not necessarily empty but filled nonetheless.
LINA: Okay, let's get some rooms and-
Her words are interrupted when a woman enters the inn with a full out cackle.
???: OH-HO-HO-HO-HO!!!!! Mind asking if I could have a room for the night?
LINA: (WAIT! That can't be!!!)
Lina turns around and sees the person who she hasn't seen for years.
???: Yes? What can I. . .Lina?
LINA: Naga?
AMELIA: What's going on? [sees Naga] Gracia?
NAGA: [surprised] Amelia?
LINA: Feces, is that you?
NAGA: SHUT UP!
AMELIA: Sister, is that you?
NAGA: Amelia, is that you?
LINA: You guys know each other?
RANMA: [interrupts] Hi! Have any of you met at all?
AMELIA: She's Gracia Ul Naga Saillune, my sister. The one who disappeared.
LINA: [shocked] I can't believe this! You guys are sisters?
NAGA: What are you doing here Amelia?
AMELIA: I was about to ask the same thing.
LINA: Well, Naga? What are you doing here?
**********
UP NEXT: Naga reveals her plans to everyone while at the same time, flirts with Mousse, much to Shampoo's dismay and then accompanies them. Fahnir shows Xelloss who's the boss. Yui and Taro meet and fight, but not before she trashes Happosai, Kodachi and Kuno.
**********
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I'm in a creative rut. Some of the storylines that were planned for later chapters are moved into the earlier ones and vice versa. So please bear with me.
The Yui scene takes place at the same time with Taro's from the previous chapter. By the way, I did not put my new character here for nothing. She plays an important role later on and is not related to any of the KH characters but close to it.
I watched Slayers last year but I did not watch them all. So, if I make a mistake, please tell me. This is an alternative universe of Slayers so anything goes.
AnT: there's more into that, in the case of Noah/Sora.
If Lina's in the Ranma world, say good-bye to the NWC, Nerima and its residents.
I hope you guys have fun watching LOTR: Return of The King. (Mine will be released next month!)
*RANMA: I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!
PHILIONEL: Amelia, my dear. Someday this will be all yours.
AMELIA: What? The curtains?* These lines are from the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail.
