Chapter 26: Trip a Trap

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"Mouko Takabisha!" Boom! Ranma lets his breath out as the walking tree disintegrates into splinters, leaving the pathway clear. "Geez, how many more of these do we gotta deal with?"

A ragged Masaya is the one who answers his question. "We have two more traps to go, Ranma, before we reach Jusenkyo's source. That's where we'll find Saffron, Kiima, and Shampoo." Ranma takes a moment to examine the Quartet, noticing how worn they look compared to the others. What he doesn't know is that there have actually been dozens more traps that the Nerima Wrecking Crew haven't encountered, thanks to the Quartet's use of ki to deactivate them, thereby giving them a chance to catch up.

"Why do you guys look like someone dragged ya through the mud? You ain't been fightin' as much as we have an' not tellin' us, have you?"

"Don't worry about us, Ranma," Rei informs him tartly. "We're taking care of ourselves just fine. You're the one who's going to be fighting Saffron."

"Uh, good point."

In silence the group wends its way down the long rocky tunnel, the only lights being the torches given to them by the Guide as they entered the dank cave leading downwards to the first trap. That was five hours ago, and many, many traps destroyed. Ranma would dearly love to know how that damned Phoenix brat managed to get through all of these.

A rustling is all the warning they have of the next trap, an oversized tiger with wild sienna eyes. Before Ranma can move a blade goes right through it, reducing it to a piece of origami sliced down the middle. Everyone stares as Nodoka neatly sheathes that ancient katana with a sniff, nudging the bits of paper with a sandaled foot.

"Hmph. Such a shoddy example of paper-magic. Rei-san, is this the best they can come up with?"

The red-haired girl just shakes her head in negation. "The Guardian was unsealed a week ago because her punishment was served out. If we had to fight her before Saffron, the bird-king would never see us."

"Whassat?"

"Ever fought a chimera, Ranma?" This is Kalerian, one aqua-tinted eyebrow lifted sardonically. "You got claws, fangs, the scorpion tail, and several nasty magics to contend with. Ki has no effect."

"How do you know these things?" Mousse asks them in frustration. "We've never heard of these things, and yet you speak as though it's common knowledge!"

Kohaku shrugs. "We're Yuki Ogawa's students. We've actually talked to mythical animals like the chimera, the unicorn, and the dragon, because Ogawa-sensei has healed them and taught us how to do the same. It's the reason why our teacher is famous throughout the world."

"Oh."

"You're going to--gyaaa!" Ryoga is engulfed in a cloud of pinkish smoke that makes everyone else cough and gasp. Rei rushes into the smoke, heedless of her burning eyes.

"'Nii-san!"

She nearly face-faults when she makes it through the smoke to find a very pretty naga wrapped around the fanged boy, cooing over his handsome aura of strong, fire-touched fox. "Get...me...out...of ...here," Ryoga grits, attempting to squirm free of the dismayed naga.

Upon spotting the exasperated Rei, the naga-woman blushes and releases her handsome prize, sliding over the stone to bow to the slender girl, hissing something in a sibilant language. Rei replies in the same tongue and the naga slithers off, disappearing into the darkness just as the smoke clears. Rubbing sore ribs, Ryoga walks over to Rei and gives her the look all brothers give their sisters when they're keeping a secret.

"Reii-chaaan..."

"No, no, and no. Enough explanations for one day, nii-san. I mean it. Now, that was the last trap, and you managed to live through it. Count yourself lucky, and let's go." Everyone but her soul-sibs shoot odd glances at the Kenobishi heir, startled at how firm her tone is. She nearly pushes Ryoga towards the shadowed stone entrance to that massive cavern we've seen once before.

An elaborate twisting of her hand extinguishes the torches with everyone prepared for the pitch darkness without the dancing flames. With all the abilities they possess, the Nerima Wrecking Crew creeps forward in the darkness from nightmares towards the watery lights and voices just up ahead.

"I do not understand, Kiima-chan! Why is the door not opening??"

"I am not sure, my emperor. The map does not give instructions on how to open the door, only how to get to it." Peering around the protruding stones on either side of the gaping entrance, the 'Crew sights their quarry.

Arranged around the huge wall marked with the violet compass are two dozen armed Phoenix guards, with Saffron, Kiima, and Shampoo right next to the painted image, map being turned this way and that as they try to puzzle the riddle.

-Ready for this, Kasai?- Rei glances over at Kalerian, and one corner of her mouth tilts upward.

-As ready as I'll ever be. Remember--we have to make it look like an accident. May the Higher Ups keep us all. We'll need it.-

And they do, because Ranma's Chaotic nature takes effect. What was supposed to happen was Rei slipping in and roasting the map, thereby preventing a whole damn mess of problems. Instead, our favorite pig-tailed martial artist slips in with the Umisenken technique and comes back two seconds later with the map rolled in his hands. A rapid heartbeat after that Saffron notices that the parchment he had been holding is now a roll of toilet paper.

In unison, the Quartet smacks their foreheads. There goes three days of weaving in a breath! The child emperor snaps out commands and his soldiers spread out, weapons at the ready. Figuring the game a lost cause, both Ryoga and Ranma step out of hiding and into the torchlight, eyes alight at the thought of such simple battle after the problems of the labyrinth. That's before Shampoo leaps into their path with her bonbori at the ready.

"Mizu, if you'd do the honors?" Rei sighs, gesturing. Kalerian flashes her a quick smile as he darts out, hands gleaming with turquoise light. Before Shampoo can react those hands are tracing patterns on the air around her, directly onto the battle-ki surging around her. While he's doing that, the battle around him is begun as guard fights teen or another adult. Nabiki is staying well clear of this, Tofu hanging back to protect her. Kasumi is doing quite well, having brained at least two men into unconsciousness and is working on the third.

Rei is actually having to work hard to avoid the strikes of the man she's fighting--he's got a glaive, a staff capped by a three-foot blade and bound in iron. Her weapons are ki-based, and her reserves are too low to use them. The jewel made of her excess power has been left at home because she will not need it today. She's quickly back-stepping to avoid slashes to her head and torso when her foot encounters, of all things, a loose stone. "Shit!!" Wham. Her foot slides out from under her, twisting in the process and sending her tumbling back right into Ranma.

They fall together hard, the map flying from Ranma's waistband into the ready hand of Saffron, the Phoenix ruler snatching it out of the air with a glad cry. Kalerian mumbles a curse as he finishes with the inscriptions on Shampoo's aura and leaps back. A thin coating of gold taint shatters off of the violet-haired girl's aura, with wide eyes taking in the scene.

"Aiyah. What am I doing here?"

Kalerian pulls her from the path of a stray blow and towards Tofu. "Fight now, questions later. Keep an eye on Nabiki and Tofu. The doc's a bit rusty." And he bounds off to the rescue of the tangled Ranma and Rei attempting to fight off two of the remaining guards. Two quick sucker-punches to their sleep pressure points downs them both and the Water fighter helps his friends to their feet.

"Shimatta," Rei hisses to Kalerian, "my ankle's twisted."

"Not good," he whispers back, supporting her weight on his shoulder. "That wasn't supposed to happen!" Their heads twist around as a startled cry echoes through the huge cavern. Taro had thrown his guard a little too enthusiastically, causing the man to fly into Kiima who in turn stumbles back into Saffron. His grip on the map loosens with shock and indignation that someone would actually have the nerve to bump him, and it smacks into the stone of the wall. Right on the violet compass.

"No!" four voices shout in unison over a growing rumble. Kiima scoops her emperor up and takes several steps backwards as the huge wall sinks into the floor and lights spring into existence, lighting the room beyond in merciless brilliance. Well, room would be an understatement. The space beyond is at least three times bigger than the cavern all are currently in, with bare walls of rough stone gleaming with damp. In the center is a large, carved bowl in the floor, big enough for several grown men to practically swim in it, set beneath the mouth of a dragon. A closer look reveals it to be a giant faucet, a stone phoenix curled around it. There's no spigot or any other method to make the water flow, only a slot set into the forehead of the dragon.

"The Source!" Saffron shouts in exultation, squirming out of Kiima's arms and running for the dragon with the kinjakan clutched in his pudgy hands. Several of the martial artists move to stop him but Kiima steps in their way, throwing more of that smoke-producing powder into the air and shouting.

Ranma and Akane cover their mouths and noses, yelling for the others to do the same as the tear-gas smoke explodes into existence, the sound of many footsteps making the floor shake. Through the noxious clouds troops come running and the battle is once again joined.

Our Chaos card slips through the smoke-screen into the clear air beyond, to find the boy standing on top of the dragon, plunging the blade of his staff into the slot and twisting hard. From the dragon's mouth comes a torrent of steaming water, splashing into the bowl below and filling it until it hits a drain off that sends the extra water sluicing towards the far wall. A Mouko Takabisha rockets towards the water just as Saffron jumps, sending an explosion of steam into the air.

Out of the rolling mist steps a much taller form than the one that disappeared into it. Saffron, ruler of the Phoenix tribe, flexes his new arm with an exulting smile. "Ah, it's good to be back."

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"Damn it!" Rei snarls, watching as all of her work becomes hopelessly snarled before her eyes. She should have known better--this is too big an occurrence for Chaos to not interfere directly. "Kalerian, I can't see through all this! Where's Akane??"

"Climbing that dragon. Things might work our way after all."

"Don't hold your breath. Now come on! We have to play our parts!" Rei streaks off at a limping run, intercepting two guards before they can attack a shocked Ranma and drawing them away. Saffron gives himself one more brief glance-over before turning his attention to the black-haired boy before him.

"And now, stupid little mortal, you have the privilege of fighting a god!" With a roar that shakes the very ceiling, Saffron launches himself at Ranma. Cologne finally breaks through the mist and steam, her eyes widening at the sight of Ranma taking a diamond-hard fist to the jaw at full speed.

Her eyes dart to their enemy and feels a spark of hope flare. "Son-in-Law! Don't give up! Sa Fu Lon is not yet at full strength! We have a chance!"

"What are you talking about, old hag?" snarls the bird-king, momentarily distracted. Ranma takes the opportunity to brain him over the head with the gekkaja and hightails it for the fountain, intent on destroying it. Or at least knocking that damned fire-staff from its place and ceasing the water-flow.

Akane beats him to it. With the desperate hope that if she steals the kenjakan away some of Saffron's power would disappear as well she grabs the staff and yanks it from its place. The water gurgles to a stop. Ranma moves faster when she screams, a rush of steam and burning air blasting upwards. The Quartet curse over their link with fervor--this is all moving much faster than it's supposed to! When the ex-cursed boy reaches the top he finds the staff...and a small doll with Akane's face.

A sharp gesture and the staff flies to Saffron's hand, the ruler sneering at the stunned Ranma as he rises into the air. "Foolish girl! Only those attuned to fire can hold this staff! All others are drained of moisture and reduced to fragile little dolls! Oh, she's still quite alive," he adds scornfully when Ranma turns enraged eyes to him, "but how long she remains so is not long at all! You have until her eyes close to bathe her in the cold waters before she dies, mortal, but I have no intention of you reaching that goal!!" A forward thrust of his palm and a ki-blast the size of Ranma's entire body shoots towards the frightened boy as Saffron charges again.

An adroit dodge to the side sends the blast whizzing past his head into the floor beyond. Ranma scrambles to a depression in the wall in front of the fountain, placing the Akane doll safely within--her eyes are quarter-lidded already--and runs for the gekkaja, lying forgotten on the ground. A guard moves to snatch it up first, only to have a fist slam onto his unprotected skull and a slender hand grab the staff in mid-fall. "Ranma, catch!" Rei shouts, and flings the staff like a javelin.

A flip-twist and he grabs it, twisting around in mid-jump and bringing the staff up to block the strike from Saffron that would have taken his head. The two of them are blasted apart from the collision of incompatible temperatures, both of them slamming into opposite walls.

"I will. Not. Lose!" Saffron shouts, freeing himself from the embrace of stone and hurtling towards his opponent. Soul of Ice, Soul of Ice! Ranma chants to himself as he jumps free just as the kinjakan stabs into the rock where his heart had been. Don't think of the doll. Don't think of the water gurgling under his feet. Don't think of the consequences of failure. There can be no failure! He MUST win!!

There are no guards left alive and/or conscious, and the Quartet must now restrain the others from joining the fray. When protests rise, a cold glare from Rei silences them. "This is Ranma's fight. Only he can win, and only if we do not interfere." A yelp as more acrid smoke suddenly pours over them.

"Tsk, tsk," mocks Kiima. "Did you forget about little me?" Shen Ron the tiger steps forward aggressively, claws bared.

"Oh, no. I was waiting for a crack at you!"

Kiima tsks again and rises into the air. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait, kitty-cat. The elite want to have some fun with you, first. Oh, boys!" Over a dozen hard-bitten fighters race into the enormous cavern, and once again the Nerima Wrecking Crew and Company is engaged in hard fighting. These are no wimpy guards easily disposed of. These are men they must work to defeat as the seconds tick by.

Ranma has not been faring well. Even a Saffron at half of his full power is a near-impossible foe, for he has fully unlocked that half, instead of the energy remaining just beyond his reach as it was before. As a rough guess Ranma would be willing to bet that this bastard could destroy a good-sized city without a thought right now. He really doesn't want to know what would happen if Saffron gets another dunking in heated magical water. He's getting battered around like a rag-doll...His eyes involuntarily dart to where Akane has been placed and his teeth clench. Half-closed already! Damn!

Everyone below his current outcropping--the walls are freaking coated with juts and places for him to catapult from--is engaged in fighting, and he has the feeling the only thing saving him from joining Akane in doll-hood is the staff he holds, else he'd chuck it down and have someone else dunk Akane. No time! No time! He leaps away again as Saffron charges, then changes his mind and launches himself at the bird-king, scoring a deep slash on a robed arm while Saffron adjusts to the new tactic.

"You'll pay for that, pathetic mortal!" Ranma blinks as his desperate reach for more strength suddenly plunges him into a seemingly bottomless source of glacier-cold energy. What the hell? The gekkaja pulses in his hands and understanding dawns. He's tapped into the staff's energy, eh? This is going to even things up.

From below, Rei watches from the corner of her eye while battling off her own opponent, growling at the injustice--and possibly Meddling--that keeps giving her pole-arms to contend with. Soon now, soon.

Saffron grows more enraged as Ranma fights back, drawing on the icy ki he's discovered to produce giant-sized Hiryu-Shoten-Has that rip the far walls apart and slam the unhappy emperor into them time and time again. Mouko Takabishas change to nearly solid balls of ice that shatter against Saffron's heat aura and slice hair-thin holes into his skin through his robes.

And then Chaos steps in.

Saffron howls in rage and sends the largest ki-blast yet at Ranma--the blast is swatted aside like many before it--dread freezes Ranma's spine and his head jerks back to the blast. Watches Rei move to intercept it but fall when her injured ankle gives way beneath her--watches anguish rise in those emerald eyes--sees Akane's nook disintegrate.

His nerveless hand drops the gekkaja and it falls straight down to click in place in the dragon's slot an instant before residual energy from the blast snaps the scaled head off and tilts it upwards. Cold water, numbingly cold water, erupts from the mouth and fountains upwards, soaking everything.

Ranma watches from his perch forty feet above the ground as Rei scrambles desperately over the broken rocks to where Akane lies, body battered and bloody, naked among the debris. She seizes a fallen feather of Saffron's and holds it to Akane's mouth and nose, shielding the other girl's head from the downpour. All around them has fallen silent, everyone watching, waiting. The only movement of the feather is from Rei's shaking hand. Fingers move to the pale neck, the wrist, searching.

A soundless plea rises in Ranma's throat, a plea that is crushed when Rei tilts her face upwards to him, eyes shining with the tears that are already mixing with the spring-water, and shakes her head a little to the left, a little to the right. Nothing.

Saffron hovers several feet away from Ranma, waiting for his opponent to remember their battle so that he can kill the human boy as an exercise of his returned strength. So what if one mortal girl has already lost her life because of it? Why should he care? Saffron's patience is rewarded.

The mountain explodes.

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