Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is a trademark of Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video. I have no ownership to these characters, or names.

Ranma 1/2

Changes: Chapter XVII. Planning with Dove!

Shampoo arrived at Ucchan's shortly after Ranma had. She collapsed when she saw the ruins. "Shampoo's home, is gone." She muttered.

Ranma heard her and rushed to her side. "Shampoo, you okay?" He picked her up and cradled her. "I'm sorry Shampoo." She sobbed in his arms.

Drake came out of the wreckage with Ukyo and set her against a wall. "She'll live Ranma. She won't feel to great when she comes to, but she will live." Drake's voice was ice.

A small figure emerged from an alley-way and faced Ranma and Drake. She looked much like Cologne, except her hair was grey. She looked like she'd seen better days.

"Who're you?" Ranma asked. But, before she could answer, Drake had a hand around her neck and pinned her against a building. "Drake! What the hell're ya doin?" Ranma yelled.

"Elder Dove?" Shampoo asked.

"What, you mean like the ghoul?" Ranma asked.

Drake narrowed his eyes at Dove. "You lied to me." He said.

"I'm sorry Drake, he was too much, even for me."

"That's no excuse! Ranma's not ready for this yet, and niether am I! Just what are we supposed to do now?"

"Wait. There ain't no way the freak did this! He's good but even he don't got that kinda power!" Ranma protested.

Drake let Dove fall to the ground. "Ranma." He said. "Happosai did do this. He does have this kind of power."

Ranma set Shampoo down, who ran over to tend to Ukyo. Ranma grabbed the front of Drake's shirt. "Why the hell didn't you warn me!"

"We were supposed to have more time. For now, let's get back to the dojo, we need to plan this carefully."

They traveled most of the way in silence. Drake was carrying Ukyo, and Shampoo had Dove on her back.

"So, where'd he learn that kinda power anyway?" Ranma asked.

Drake sighed. "After his last 'attack' on the Joketsuzoku, which he was nearly killed in, he made a pact with a powerful demon. The demon wasn't overly strong mind you, but it had the ability to actually suck the ki out of people."

"And, as I'm sure you all know, he gets a boost off groping women anyways." Dove added.

"So, he wanted this demons power. Who knows, maybe this demon saw a kindred spirit in Happosai or something, and he granted him his demonic powers." Drake said.

"Whoa, so that's what he did to Ukyo." Ranma said.

"Yeah, the only reason she's alive right now is because he sensed us coming. He wants us mad Ranma, he thinks it'll break our focus." Drake said.

"Big-brother, why you no tell us?" Shampoo asked.

"If Ranma had known who his opponent was, he would't of taken training seriously enough." Drake said.

"So, you lie to Shampoo about why you come!" Shampoo accused.

"Some what, and I'm sorry Shampoo. I really did want to see you."

Dove cleared her throat. "Either way, we need to stop this monster before he kills off the female population."

"Shampoo kill pervert man!" She cried.

"Fool!" Dove chided. "It's too dangerous to even let you near him."

Shampoo was about to protest when Drake cut in. "I hate to say it, but she's right Shampoo, the last thing we need is for him to get any stronger than he already is."

Shampoo calmed a bit when Ranma put his arm around her waist. "So then it's up to you an me drake?" Ranma asked.

"And any other male fighter we can find. But, they need to be tough if their going to stand up to Happosai." Drake said.

"Okay, so, no Kuno. Um, think we could find Ryouga? Heck, I'd even settle for Mousse right now." Ranma said.

"What bout bull-man, Shampoo remember he strong, and he hate Happosai." Shampoo said.

"Yeah!" Ranma chimed. Then frowned. "Nah, we probably couldn't find him in time."

"I think it will be just us Ranma." Drake said.

XD

"I dunno, Ryouga. It seems scarrier here than I ever remember it." Akari said.

Ryouga put his arm around Akari. "Hey, it'll be alright, I won't let anything bad happen to you Akari." She relaxed and kissed his cheek. "Hey, we're almost there aren't we?" Ryouga asked.

"Yes we are." She looked up the raod a bit. "Ryouga? Isn't that Ranma's grandfather?"

Ryouga looked up to see Happosai staring at him. Ryouga stopped and got in front of Akari. "What do you want?" Ryouga shouted.

"Just all of that girlie's energy." Happosai said while laughing evily.

XD

Ranma was stopped when Drake thrust Ukyo at him. "Hey, what the heck are ya doin?" Ranma asked.

"Get her back to the dojo, Ranma. I'll catch up later." Drake ran off with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Aiya, even Shampoo no know he that fast!" Shampoo said.

"Yes, I'm quite proud of him. He is my best student." Dove stated.

"Elder Dove? You train big-brother? He banished male, is against laws!" Shampoo said.

"Dear Shampoo, you of all people should know that those laws are broken daily." Dove noted.

"Enough of this! We gotta get back ta the dojo." Ranma said.

XD

Ryouga felt his ribs crack when Happosai hit him. Then he felt them break completly when he went through the road.

"Ryouga!" Akari screamed. Happosai came up behind her as she ran to Ryouga and knocked her out. Ryouga managed to get to his feet when he felt Akari's life force draining.

"Let her go!" Ryouga yelled. Happosai jumped to a roof top a split second before Drake's sword slashed the air where he was.

"So it is you, you worthless puke!" Happosai said. "Why do you always have to wreck my fun?"

"Shut it you decrepit monster!" Drake's ki began flaring. "You can't escape me forever, Happosai!"

"I don't need to, just a bit more energy and I'll have all I need to destroy both you and Ranma!"

Drake charged but was stopped short by a Happo-fire burst. Before Drake could recover, Happosai was gone.

"Damnit." He walked over to Akari. "Don't worry Ryouga, she'll be okay. I've got some herbs that can help regenerate the energy she lost."

"I'll kill him!" Ryouga said.

"I was gonna ask for your help when me and Ranma fight him, but it looks like he got you good." Drake said.

Ryouga was breathing heavily clutching his torso. "This is nothing, I can still fight."

"Come on. Let's get back to the dojo, that's where those herbs are."

End Chapter 17

Wonderbee31: Yeah, I didn't want to have to introduce a new character at this point, so I added to the powers of an old one. I've got the next few chapters down, in my head that is, I'm still working on the translation from brain to keyboard. (And people thought translating Chinese was hard!) Akane and training, oh yeah, the anger. Hmm, yeah it could take awhile.

ss4-link: Response to random Quote: Damn, do you know me or something?

dana-san: Dove, a fellow elder on the Joketsuzoku amazon council. She taught Drake after Cologne banished him. Not that any of the other amazons knew about it though. Ukyo will recover, I'm not so cruel as to kill off one of my favorites. Lol, of course, that means poor Akane could drop dead at any time.

nonengel: Mwaha! That's the reaction I was looking for!

Innortal: Thank you, as always. Like I was saying, translation from brain to keyboard is alot of work, lol.