Guest Ki: Chapter 41

Repercussions

Ribbon coiling, Barry waited for her opponent's attack. A hoop was most effective as either a shield or a close-range combat weapon. It could be used as a projectile, but was easy to catch or deflect. She could initiate hostilities, but wanted to let her opponent sweat a little. She began a little routine to goad the other into action, a one-handed cartwheeling kata that forced Ryoku to retreat or engage. She retreated halfway around the ring, then burst forward to the attack, hoop spinning between her hands like the blade of an eggbeater. Barry leaped, too, into a forward roll, trailing the ribbon behind her. She came to her feet with arms spread wide, ribbon stretched between her fingers like a rope. Ryoku brought her hands down to align her weapon just as Barry thrust straight up with a leg. Rising like a rocket, the loop of ribbon snapped around Ryoku's wrists and the hoop bounced across the ring. It had been close; M.A.R.G. did not encourage body-to-body contact. Then Ryoku snapped her legs around, catching the ribbon with her toes, trapping it long enough to free her hands.

"Very nice," Barry commented. "Rope," she said, discarding the ribbon, which had become knotted.

"Ribbon!" called out Ryoku.

"Sorry about Mika and Hitori, but you should have called for an appointment," Barry said dryly. "If you're not planning to emulate me on a regular basis…"

"We could never be like you," snarled the girl lashing out with her ribbon.

Barry dodged or deflected the attacks with the rope. "Really? I thought you were doing quite well this morning. Of course, after a few times, you'll find yourself losing faith in your allies. After a few injuries, the clumsier members of your squad will begin to suspect you let them take the brunt of the pain for your gain."

"Shut up, Kodachi!"

"In fact, trust and friendship will be replaced by a unique satisfaction that you are alone and accountable to no one but yourself. And the police, of course."

Ryoku felt her heart sink into her feet. "P-police?"

"You needn't worry, my young protégé," Barry caroled adding her best 'Oh, hohoho!' "There's no evidence really and I'm much more interested in our little talk here." Barry had discussed matters with those master manipulators, Cologne and Nabiki, before deciding on strategy for the girls. She wanted to make sure they never tried this again. "Of course, your parents will be thrilled when they hear of your extracurricular activities. You are so lucky that way, Ryoku," Barry smiled sweetly, trapped the ribbon with her rope and threw them out of the ring. "Clubs!"

"Clubs!" echoed Ryoku. "Why am I lucky?" They circled and began a series of escrima-like attacks.

"My father couldn't care less if I win, lose or blow up the city," Barry commented, not feeling at all guilty at slandering Principal Kuno. "I understand that is not common. Surely your parents will be thrilled, as you gain a reputation for ruthlessness and your wins become more regular," she gushed. Suddenly, one of Kodachi's clubs spun into the air and Ryoku pressed her advantage with a snarl. Defending, Barry took two steps back, fencing with one club before she held her ground. As Ryoku tried to break through her defense, the other club spiraled lazily back down to ricochet off her head, much as a certain bonbori had done to Shampoo when she first met Ranma as a boy. As Ryoku flinched, stunned, Barry finished the job and struck her to the mat. "Perhaps we can speak later," added Barry, turning away.

"What a show, ladies and gentlemen," yelled the announcer. "Ryoku showed plenty of guts, but Kodachi Kuno controlled the match, start to finish! The surprises of the morning continue in the afternoon. And the group of martial artists popularly known as 'Team Nerima' seem set to continue their dominance!"

Shampoo followed Barry out to allow them to set up for the next match. "How did it go, Ranma?" she asked meaning not the action but the psychology.

"Adequately, I suppose," Barry answered. She stumbled a little and frowned. "She must have scored my leg," she said, looking at a bruise she hadn't noticed before.

Shinzoo Tamanaki faced his opponents in the sumo event with confidence. He didn't know if he could beat all of his competitors, but the training he received from Ranma and Ryoga had boosted his self-confidence considerably. Ryoga was surprisingly strong and Shinzoo was glad the lost-boy had never considered sumo as a career. The only way you could shift the man was literally to pick him up and throw him out of the ring. And if Ryoga decided he wanted you to move—! So far he hadn't had to use any of the special moves the two had showed him for opponents who proved stronger or faster. He would need them soon, though. The man he was about to face, Horateru Gizumi, was an All-Japan finalist, nearly fifty kilos heavier than Shinzoo, and fast.

They went through the beginning rituals and prayers, before they faced off. The initial shock of impact was incredible and Shinzoo definitely came off second best, being driven back fractionally. Then came the twisting, shifting attempts to gain advantage, their feet sliding and stomping in an impromptu waltz about the ring. Here again, Gizumi had the advantage, controlling that waltz and forcing Shinzoo back against the boundary. Then Shinzoo used his first new trick. He sidestepped swiftly and gave suddenly, as his back-most foot touched the edge of the ring. As Gizumi began to lose his balance, Shinzoo lunged forward and up and, with a sidewise slap of both hands, disengaged from the man's gripping fingers. For a long frozen moment Gizumi flailed, trying to stay in the ring. Then it was over.

"It looked like Gizumi had control right up until the last moment. Shinzoo Tamanaki has, till now, been known as a strong and steady fighter, but not necessarily a high-ranking contender. Something has changed. It is reputed that Shinzoo is part of the group unofficially known as 'Team Nerima'. Our sources indicate that these young martial artists trained under three family schools: Saotome, Tendo and Hibiki. If our sources are correct, the results are clear — a new force in martial arts is making itself felt in Tokyo today!"

Nodoka Saotome watched her TV and snorted delicately. All three schools had been around for more than 200 years, though she had to admit that Mutsabetsu Kakuto hadn't been attached to the Saotome or Tendo schools for more than a couple decades. She was delighted at the matches, avidly watching Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, Ukyo, Ryoga, and even the Kuno boy, win their events. Genma watched stoically, criticizing his son, even while admitting that jujitsu was not Ranma's strongest area of the Art. The afternoon events, kyudo, sumo and Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics, did not interest her much. She turned off the TV and made herself lunch. Genma ate before he left to visit Soun in the hopes of more lunch and some celebratory sake to toast the morning's victories. Then she sat down and turned the television back on. The network sometimes showed reruns of interesting matches and she didn't want to miss a chance of seeing her son in action, even if it was prerecorded. Nor was she disappointed. She watched several, including one of Akane, and giggled as that girl fought with serious and intimidating precision.

Ranma fought as he always did, with speed and deceptive skill and an excited smile on his face. In the matches they aired, he slipped three attempts to throw or bind, as evasive as the wind. His final match was different and Nodoka suspected he dislocated several fingers when his opponent managed to get a grip. Earlier, Genma had nodded approvingly at his drive; most men would have yielded to the grip and lost right there. Nodoka, especially seeing the rerun of the close-up of her son's face as the other man's grip wrenched at his fingers, cringed.

A dozen years ago, she had let her husband take her son from her. She had protested over the severity of his training; she had wept over the bruises. Genma had said she was holding Ranma back. She had heard something of the adventures since then, especially through Genma's braggadocio postcards. Ranma developed into an almost inhumanly skilled fighter. In the past month, something else, something she couldn't quite define happened as well. He was attentive, respectful, forgetful and rude by turns, but always careful of his mother's feelings. And yet… She looked into his eyes and saw a stranger.

'Kodachi' was not late for her second match. Again, she opposed one of the girls from the attack. Raiko Fujitara was a gorgeous brunette with huge defenseless eyes. Easily as pretty as any of Ranma's fiancées, she stood nervously in her corner across the ring. The referee called them to the center and started the match.

"Ribbon!"

"Rope!"

Raiko circled. It was obvious the ribbon was not her best weapon and Barry soon wrenched it from her grasp. She called for the ball and dribbled it basketball style as she watched Barry maneuver closer with the rope.

"Enjoying yourself?" inquired 'Kodachi'. Raiko shuddered and swallowed.

"How can you be here?" she whispered. "Are you some ghost?"

"You could say that," Barry informed her. She watched that register with the other girl. "I mean, all those bruises, the broken arm... Do you like my cast? Poor Tatewaki was devastated to discover he attacked girls. He's very protective of the fairer sex, even if he is a bit of a pervert. Still, that's a boy for you."

Creeped out, Raiko launched the ball a little early and Barry had plenty of time to catch it on the rope and sling it back at her. She hit the floor; the wind knocked out of her. The ball bounced out of the ring. She rolled unsteadily to her feet and called for a rope and, matched tool-wise, began to circle.

"You ambushed us before," she whispered. "We had to protect ourselves!" She swept the rope at her opponent's legs, only to have her leap it like a jump rope.

"Very good! You discovered how to become just like me," Barry taunted, just as quietly. "I play a different game than anyone else, girl. Welcome to the game; you'll play it the rest of your life!"

"No!" Raiko lunged. Barry let her come, backing up into the corner, and then... "No-o-o-o-o-o!" Raiko was tied to the post, face into the corner, defenseless. She jerked at her hands. She felt Kodachi approach her.

"Clubs!"

She shivered and closed her eyes. She deserved it; she deserved it! Kodachi had five seconds before the referee called Raiko unable to continue and she could beat her to a pulp in that time. She had seen Kodachi do her 'Attack of 100 Clubs' and she cringed. A light touch on her shoulder made her flinch again and open her eyes wide. "I won't hurt you." She looked into Kodachi's face. "I hurt you enough before. But do you really want this? Think, Raiko! Don't twist your soul to match mine." Barry stepped away to the middle of the ring, leaving Raiko sobbing in relief in the corner.

At the Saotome residence, Nodoka looked at the TV and tried to make sense of what her eyes told her. The girl was not Kodachi. She moved like her, but was smaller, rounder in form. In fact, she looked like Ranma in girl-form with... Nodoka snapped to her feet. What the hellwas her son doing? It had to be him!

She automatically took down the Saotome katana from its stand and wrapped it in its silk cover. Slinging it over her back, she headed for the door. She hesitated, trying to decide what it was she was going to do. Her initial response was to go over to the Tendo's and deal with Genma. Wonderful! He made their son a supreme martial artist. He also taught him to be dishonest, deceitful and, and… She froze completely and considered.

Ranma was not Genma. He must explain this. He better have a good reason.

Unaware of the coming trouble, Barry examined her form with care. She was in real pain now, with bruises springing up all over her body, her collarbone aching, one knee stiff. She looked at Shampoo. "Get Cologne over here, Amazon. I think somethin's wrong."
Akane held the long bow and the reed arrows traditional for the art of kyudo, or Japanese archery. This was not a skill at which she considered herself expert, but of all the women, only Shampoo knew archery at all and her style was for the short, horn bow used in the forests near her home. Akane didn't expect much, but hoped for the best. Especially since the judge today was the Master of the Imperial Guard. Akane really had nothing to lose. Nabiki's revenge would not be significantly diminished if she lost, and if she placed, or even won, so much the better. So she went through her warm-ups with a light heart and an easy spirit.

The target distance was twenty-eight meters. But in kyudo, the object is not as much to strike the target but to demonstrate form.

"Greetings, Akane."

The girl immediately tensed. She half-turned toward her nemesis. "Kuno, don't come up behind me like that."

"What do you think of ...Ranma's decision?"

Akane considered him. "I don't like it. I wish he wouldn't do it."

Tatewaki nodded. "I feel it cannot but end in tragedy. Yet there is no persuading him... her... them." He swore softly to himself.

"I know. Believe me, I know! And I am going to have a very long talk with him about it."

Kuno sighed. "We must give honor to the Master of the Guard. Let us put aside our thoughts of Saotome and do our best. Good luck, Akane Tendo."

As their turns came, they took position and released flights of arrows in sets of five. The Master, a tall, lean man with short dark hair watched critically. Kuno let go his flights with easy precision. Akane was stiffer to her place, but settled down quickly and tried to flow into her form. After the first set, she used her ki-vision to watch Kuno as he shot his second set. It helped her see where she was making her mistake.

She glanced at the Master and realized he was fully aware of her observation, and like her was using ki as part of his evaluation. After a moment, she decided he didn't have ki-vision, but his aura was strong and clear. She took a little longer to prepare for her next set and the arrows flew like extensions of her arm, striking the target with authority. She realized that the best competitors were all doing the same. The arrows became extensions of their will through ki-awareness. Her last flight was sure and when she finished, she found the Master standing directly behind her.

"Akane Tendo?"

She gulped. "Yes, Master?"

"If you had shot that well at the beginning of the competition, you would have won. I've never seen anyone improve so, especially in a single event."

"Thank you, Master." She bowed deeply and quickly.

"Who is your teacher?"

"My father, Soun Tendo of the Tendo dojo in Nerima trained me in kyudo. My fiancé, Ranma Saotome, is currently my sensei."

"Ah! Ranma was the young man in jujitsu this morning. And you are the girl who won karate earlier today. A pity." He smiled as she looked at him shocked. "You obviously have much invested in your own discipline, so I doubt I could convince you to change it. Very good shooting, Akane Tendo. You were a pleasure to watch, both earlier and now."

To his pleasure, Tatewaki Kuno won the men's division of kyudo.

Nodoka Saotome stood on the train for the university. She was too tense to sit, though seats were available. In half an hour, she would be there.
Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics and sumo were still in progress.

Barry, a black eye marring Kodachi's classical beauty, cast her ki-vision along her body. If she was reading it right, her ki said she was suffering from numerous bruises, a broken arm and a broken collarbone. Her body was telling her that none of this was true, but the pain was real. Cologne listened to the description of the symptoms and the results with concern. "Ranma, you've got to slow down," she said crossly. "You have your whole life ahead of you, but not if you keep experimenting with every ki-technique you imagine will give you an advantage!" She felt the girl's aura with her hands and shuddered. "Is Kodachi's ki really this strange? I never really noticed. No wonder she's a loon."

Barry smiled slightly. "So, Cologne, what ails me?"

"Sympathy pains. Real, honest-to-kami, magic-related sympathy pains caused by the similarity between your aura, as it is now, and Kodachi's." She stamped her staff against the ground in disgust. "The only benefit I can see is that Miss Kuno will probably be healed of her injuries much faster than normal. Meanwhile, you are putting yourself through hell."

"Myself?"

"Yes! Your insistence in following this... 're-education program' for Kodachi's attackers is allowing this link to be established. Your own native ki should have begun a revertion. Instead, this happens!"

"Oh." Barry swallowed. She had a feeling that Barry Barlowe was in real trouble here. His ki was not native to this body and thus, was not reverting. "If I switch back to male, will it stop this?"

"Only one way to find out," Cologne said, bringing a kettle into view.

"Ow, dammit!" Barry felt himself expand and yelped again as the leotard pinched his male form. He was very aware of the ludicrousness of the makeup, but more importantly he was aware that his ki still mirrored the injuries.

"Ranma," Cologne said, shaking her head in dismay, "I'd say you have a real problem."

Akane and Tatewaki saw Nagasameru and stopped to watch the sumo finals. Shinzoo Tamanaki was fighting Watashi Hidetomi. They were both fast, powerful men and already both had gone out of the ring for a called no-decision. They grunted and thrust, twisted and stunted, two big men with superb reaction times and enough power to flip a car. Hidetomi suddenly gave way and hooked an ankle. Shinzoo hopped to clear the trip, then hopped again as he thrust his opponent sidewise. He landed badly, twisting his ankle. Hidetomi drove forward trying to catch his opponent at a disadvantage, but the uneven resistance he met forced him off balance. Shinzoo desperately hopped again, thrusting his opponent down and away. Hidetomi hit the floor rolling, while Shinzoo hopped twice more before crashing to the ground himself.

But, he had won! He rose again unsteadily and greeted his opponent and the judge formally before receiving his accolade. Nagasameru jumped up and down in excitement and Akane jumped with her. Kuno smiled and watched the scenery, but kept his hands to himself, which was an unusually intelligent reaction. Nodoka spotted Akane as she entered the gym from outside. Had Tatewaki glomped Akane in her sight, and in the mood she was in, it might have been his last act in this life!

"Akane! Where is Ranma?" Akane turned at the unexpected voice and blanched.

"Aunt Nodoka! What's wrong? I thought you were..."

"I happened to catch the Martial Arts Rhythmic Gymnastics on TV. I..." She drew a deep, angry breath before continuing, "I need my son to explain precisely what he thinks he is doing."

Akane looked at the silk-wrapped bundle on her back.

Nagasameru and Tatewaki glanced at Nodoka curiously. They could feel the tension and shared in it somewhat, because Ranma's mother obviously disapproved of the situation. Only Akane knew just what that bundle was and what it might portend, and she was silent, filled with a combination of rage, fear and a sense of futility. She motioned Nodoka to follow her.

"Akane, I'll see you later at the awards ceremony," Nagasameru shouted as she moved off, feeling like a third wheel. "I'm going to go congratulate Shinzoo!" The girl with the huge sword hurried off.

Akane motioned Nodoka to follow and turned toward the locker rooms, trying to martial her arguments or find some way to deflect Nodoka's anger. Part of the problem was she wasn't sure why Nodoka was angry. Well, obviously, she recognized Ranma on TV somehow. And understandably she disapproved of Ranma replacing Kodachi. This, unfortunately to Akane, had tripped Nodoka's 'manliness' trigger (Why else the sword?); but exactly why it had, she would have to discover. Quickly! Somehow, she had to stop Nodoka from demanding Ranma's life.

Tatewaki walked beside the Saotome parent and considered his options. Obviously, she had recognized her daughter and was angry. Perhaps she felt that Ranma (girl) was cheating for Kodachi's benefit? He wasn't certain he understood the logic of the situation, but he was certain Ranma was in trouble. He, Tatewaki Kuno, could shield his love... How ridiculous! The pigtailed girl never accepted his help to begin with. She didn't like him; probably couldn't care less if he dropped off the face of the earth. He didn't question his sudden clarity of thought nor associate it with Barry's portrayal of his sister whom, deep down, he feared. Uncharacteristically, he walked silently, debating what he should do, if anything, to shield Ranma from her parent's wrath.

"It seems that your body is not resisting the alien ki-pattern. You've really done it this time, Ranma." Cologne looked peeved. Shampoo's eyes were huge. "This may become permanent."

"What can I expect, in the short term," Barry asked quietly, "if it does?"

"Well." Cologne examined the sympathy-induced injuries and shook her head. "You can expect to be laid-up while your body heals yourself and Kodachi of her injuries. You can expect to change into a Kodachi-clone every time you get wet."

Barry shuddered. "And the long term?"

"It's possible, although very unlikely, that you will affect the Spring of Drowned Girl itself. A sort of feed-back loop. It's your cursed form that is affected, after all. It may change the spring into a Kodachi-iichuan."

"Aiya!" said Shampoo suddenly. "If wish to lose curse, Shampoo may end up like hyena-girl!"

"Probably not, great-granddaughter. The Nyanniichuan was designed to process the femininity, not the personality. Still, there is another aspect that Ranma may actually find a benefit from his viewpoint."

"What's that?" Barry asked. The thought of a magical spring that transformed people into Kodachi-clones… Brrrr!

"This will eventually alter your ki and personality. Perhaps not significantly from your point of view, but from the view of Amazon Law, you would not be considered the same person. You could be free of Shampoo's claim on you."

"What?" Barry and Shampoo yelped in an unplanned chorus. Shampoo was horrified anew, her incipient Kodachi-ness forgotten.

"Identity is not a function of the body in Amazon Law, a necessity when you consider the strangeness around White Mountain. While we would have to examine you after you stabilize..."

"You're up, Miss Kuno!" Someone poked a head in the door.

"It's early," Barry protested. Barry had faced off against a regular contestant in the last round, a girl with raw talent but largely untrained. She worked with her as much as possible to be merciful and then bound her in a ribbon, a classical Kodachi move, to put her down. She complimented her and advised her to contact the Hibiki's to refine her skills.

"You drew first match this round," the official said. "Don't be late."

"Crap! Cologne, I don't wanna be a Kodachi-clone." Her upset momentarily over rode the Kodachi speech patterns. "Figure out some way ta get me back." She limped out, Shampoo following. Cologne mused at the situation. She wondered how far she could push this?

Barry met Akane on the way out. "Unbelievable problems, Akane; speak with Cologne!" Barry groaned, limping past. "I drew first round this time, unfortunately! Oh, hello, Mother. I'll be back soon." She hurried past.

Nodoka, pale as a ghost, trembled. She slowly turned and looked after the girl. Wasn't that Kodachi? That was Kodachi! But she called her 'Mother'! What had Ranma done?

Barry climbed the side of the ring feeling very weary. She blinked across at her opponent, relieved that it was the final girl from the morning's ambush, Lian Emeraud. Another competitor had eliminated the remaining girl, the second Hitori, in an earlier round. There was nothing she could do about her. At least, it would not impact the semifinals, if she beat this last opponent and withdrew thereafter.

Lian Emeraud trembled as she faced Kodachi across the ring. She took in the eye, now swollen almost shut, the purpling on the arms, the swollen look to the legs. She had watched the matches carefully. None of those injuries came from the competition.

"Good afternoon, Lian," said 'Kodachi'. "Are you feeling well?"

"How?" asked Lian in a tiny voice.

"Martial arts technique," Barry said. "You might say I'm feeling this morning's discussion far more now than I did then."

The referee called them to their places and gave them the order to begin. Neither girl moved or called to their seconds. Some questioning voices called from the audience.

In the announcer's booth, discussion was rampant.

"Kodachi Kuno is in the ring, but showing evidence of some injuries. We're trying to pin down a rumor that the Furinkan star was assaulted this morning before the match. It is easy to see that whenever she was injured, she is certainly feeling it now." The sports announcer shook his head. "There may be some question about whether she can even compete properly in this match. Will this be the end of her astonishing performance today?" Placing his hand over the microphone he turned to some of his technical advisors. "How the hell could that girl hide her injuries this long?"

"Martial arts," said one, sipping tea. "Mind over matter."

"Didn't think she had the self-control," commented another. "She's a spoiled brat, but she's showing guts here." He snickered and reached for a cookie from a complimentary tray. "What's funny, is that she has a reputation for ambushing her opponents to take them out of the match before they can compete. Most of her wins have been by forfeit. I'd say someone tried to return the favor."

"Hell of a thing. She's quite skilled," commented the first, reaching for a cookie of his own. "What's going on down there?"

"We did that?" Lian asked, horrified. "How can you stand it?"

"That doesn't matter. What matters is... your choice."

"My choice?"

Barry sighed. She had doubts about her ability when she came down to the ring and now she was sure. She would not be able to deal with Lian physically, if the other girl were even a half-decent performer. "I will fight you, and probably, you'll win. The choice is one I made a long time ago. Do you want to be like me?"

"I'm not like you!"

"I played a different game, Lian. I savored my wins alone. Who else would I share them with? I promised a young man I would, for a change, do it differently today. I would compete fairly and meet my opponents face-to-face in the ring." Barry smiled wryly, wondering what Kodachi would think of this performance. "I have indeed been hoist on my own petard, as it were."

"Are you ladies going to compete?" asked the referee. "We have other matches today."

Lian looked at Barry horrified. "I won't fight her."

"What?" The referee looked at her. "Your opponent is in the ring. Fight or forfeit!"

Lian looked at the bruised, unsteady form of her opponent and shook her head. "I just can't hurt her anymore," she said.

"Miss Kuno, she has a point," the referee said. "There is every reason to claim that you are unfit to continue combat."

"Clubs," Barry snapped, drawing herself up. Shampoo arced the weapons to her and she fielded them, wincing. "Lian... make your choice."

"I... forfeit."

The referee shrugged and indicated the match was over, pointing to 'Kodachi' as the victor.

"Lian," Barry said, feeling the strain of the past hour-and-a-half keenly. "Don't let this stop you from competing. Perhaps some day, we will fight with honor." She smiled slightly and fell like a tree, hitting the mat with a bang.

"This is an amazing turn of events, ladies and gentlemen. If I understand correctly, Lian Emeraud refused to fight her badly injured opponent. The referee called into question Kodachi Kuno's ability to perform and Kodachi called for her weapon. Miss Emeraud again refused to fight her and forfeited the match. Kodachi passed out." The announcer was beside himself. "I've never seen anything like this! What chutzpah on one hand and mercy on the other! Both are true martial artists. This will mean that the winner of the Sokotara/Iietarimakura match will have a clear round and advance to the semifinals."

Barry regained consciousness briefly as Shampoo and Akane carried her out of the ring and again when they laid her on a bench in a dark, quiet room. In a daze, she heard muttering, felt her leotard removed and other clothes put on. Cologne's gravely voice rapped out commands. Then hot water sparked the change.

He hissed and tried rise to a sitting position, but found he couldn't. He was paralyzed by a tsubo technique that shut down voluntary muscles below the neck. He lay on the bench with the sharp point of the Saotome katana resting against his throat. He still carried the stigmata of Kodachi's injuries as well, though the pain was less. He stilled himself, not even swallowing, as Nodoka came into focus. Cologne was to one side. Shampoo, eyes narrowed in hostility, was just behind her. Akane, face pale, was off to one side in the unnatural stillness of a similar tsubo paralysis.

"She was going to kill..." whispered Akane.

Shampoo slapped her.

"Who are you?" Nodoka whispered. The katana, its lovely layered length like ripples in oil, was very steady. The edge seemed to breathe the air.

"Barry Barlowe of the United States." The razor edged weapon quivered and steadied again.

"Where is my son, gaijin wizard?"

"I'm no wizard," Barry replied. "As for Ranma, we think he's in my body, though we aren't certain yet."

"Silence! Just answer my questions. How long have you been... impersonating my son?"

"Since the business with Happosai at Himamashi's."

"Happosai caused this?" Nodoka's nostrils flared and Barry read death for the little pervert at Nodoka's earliest opportunity.

"Indirectly. I'd been here a month already. When Ranma and I fought him together, I think we accidentally tapped into the Nekoken." Barry centered himself and hoped Akane realized what he already knew. "Ranma couldn't avoid the cat, when neko activated while he was conscious; so he did what he always has done around cats since that training, tried to escape."

Nodoka continued her trip-hammer preparedness to attack should he say one thing wrong, and that would be her son's death. "How can we get my son back?"

"I don't know..."

"You're lying!" she accused.

"Ask Akane. Ask Ukyo, Nabiki and Ryoga; they were there when we tried the first time to get him back," Barry said. "Matter of fact, Shampoo was there for the second attempt. We just didn't tell her precisely what we were doing."

Cologne's eyes narrowed. "If that's what you were doing, it was a singularly stupid way to go about it," she commented.

"Cologne, we don't know what we're doing," Barry growled. He ignored the point of the sword that drew blood at his throat. "Most of the ki-research we've been doing, outside of your business, has been to learn how to bring Ranma back and send me home."

"Spoken like a true amateur," sneered the Matriarch. "Why not simply come to me?"

"At what price?" Barry asked grimly. "Ranma and I had a month that we lived in each other's hip pockets. I know exactly how far he trusts you, and have his memories of every attempt, through coercion, drugs and magic, to force him to accept Shampoo." He glared at her. "Ranma chose to try without your help. When the accident happened, I chose to continue his path. While I'm stuck here, I'm honored to follow his lead."

The blade quivered again and he sensed it nick his throat. Its edge was like a razor and it practically roared with ki, much like Nagasameru's nodachi. Its aura was linked with Nodoka's and, through Ranma's blood, with him. "What is honorable about stealing my son's body?"

"Just remember that it is your son's body! You get twitchy with that sword, Ranma's history."

"Sometimes a mother must follow honor rather than love."

Barry's lips pressed together in irritation. It was exactly this attitude that put a wall between Nodoka and her son. "Honor without understanding is empty and beneath contempt," he growled. He felt the quiver through the steel at his throat. It might only be another shift in balance, but he now had the measure of the tsubo point. He neutralized its effect. Far better to negotiate from strength! Like ice forming at high speed, the shield technique crackled up the length of living steel to encase Nodoka in a shroud of ki. With the tsubo technique neutralized, he slid from beneath the steel and blocked Cologne's initial attack, sending the old woman spinning away, but taking another tsubo strike that paralyzed his leg for a moment.

Barry shifted into the hidden technique of the Umisen, the quiet thief, to gain time, and prepared to release Nodoka before the unregulated shield technique could harm her. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Akane and Shampoo facing off to one side. He hesitated and Nodoka suddenly shivered and came alive, apparently discovering that she had control of the prison holding her.

Akane had, in fact, realized that the paralysis done by tsubo could be undone directly through ki-manipulation. She and Shampoo had time for a single series of blows before Barry flashed a small ki blast between them. Over her protests, he pulled Akane back and stepped inside a strike from Nodoka, who somehow could detect where he was. He backed away with the katana to join Akane in blocking the one door out of the room.

"I won't let you destroy my son," snarled Nodoka. She seemed either unaware or unconcerned that he had disarmed her. Her eyes bore into him.

Barry smiled sadly as she gathered herself to leap suicidally at him. He suddenly reversed the sword and held it out to her. The offer, from his position of strength, was enough to check her for now. She looked at the sweating, bruised young man who wore the face of her son. "Destroying your son is the last thing I want, Nodoka Saotome."

"What is your game, Mr. Barlowe," Cologne growled.

"Call me Barry... or Barry-baka, which is what Ukyo seems to prefer. I'm as much a victim of circumstance as Ranma is and no happier that I'm here." He met Cologne's eyes with a confidence that was mostly show. "I have two main objectives to my game plan. One — Get Ranma back home in one piece and with no obligations beyond those he left with. Two — Get myself back home to my wife and son." He straightened; feeling the moment for violence had passed. "I have other, lesser objectives that I took on because of Ranma's honor and my own, including your business, Shampoo."

Shampoo's eyes narrowed. "What you do now, demon?"

"We go out and accept our awards at the closing ceremonies like we're supposed to," he said. "I'm not going anywhere and, provided we can reach a truce, I believe we can discuss our differences at Nabiki's apartment later."

Nabiki's apartment was a little crowded, with Barry, Akane, Ukyo, Ryoga, Shampoo, Cologne, Mousse, the twins, Nabiki and Nodoka crowded around her small table. Sakurida served tea and made herself scarce.

Cologne sipped her tea on the far side of the table from him, Shampoo beside her. "You say that a few weeks after the wedding disaster, you found yourself in Ranma's body. He continued in residence for a time; during which he trained you how to use his body..."

"Not exactly," Barry interrupted. "When I first arrived, I had a tendency to block Ranma's control of his own body when we were threatened. It wasn't something I could control. It was dangerous as well, because when it happened, Ranma's trained instincts acted to eliminate the threat. In the space of twenty minutes, both Akane and Nabiki nearly got badly hurt."

Nabiki sipped her own tea and commented, "I've meant to ask why was I a threat?"

"Shall we talk about all the money you've earned off him, the methods you've used, or the debts he still owes you?" Barry snorted and Nabiki had the good grace to blush. "Then we dealt with the fathers being jackasses as usual. That annoyed both of us and we found, when we agreed on our actions, control was possible. Ranma decided to go on a training trip to deal with me, then train Akane to the point where she had a chance against some of the more overt physical threats."

"He finally chose Akane?" Nodoka asked quietly. Shampoo bristled. It was one thing to expect it. Another to hear it confirmed by her airen's own mother…!

"I didn't say that," Barry said coldly. "He has not publicly chosen anyone! He anticipated Shampoo's attempt on Akane in the train station when she went to join him. Or, are you saying you were not trying to kill Akane?" He stared at Shampoo.

Shampoo gazed levelly back at him and shrugged. "I glad I fail," she said finally. "It right to remove obstacle by our customs, but it was wrong time. Maybe later, time comes, but not yet."

"After Ranma left," Barry continued, "I tried to do what I felt he would do, protect his friends. That's why I went looking for Ukyo. All I can say about the pretended ailurophobia, Shampoo, is 'I'm sorry.' Actually, I like cats. I would much rather have rubbed you behind the ears than run from you." She sniffed at his comment. "I let Ryoga know what was going on, and planned to bring Nabiki, Kasumi and Ukyo in on it eventually."

"Why them and not me?" asked Shampoo angrily. "I love..."

"Shampoo," he interrupted, "I know you do. But you have a duty to your laws and your people,to which you would have to sacrifice your love. I had no desire to be yanked over to China if Granny, here, had some technique to enslave a wandering spirit, and all she wanted was Ranma as a mobile sperm bank! Ranma heard her say often enough that, where he was concerned, you're interested in breeding stock."

"We are," graveled the Matriarch. "However, we believe the spirit of the parent affects the offspring. Ranma is valuable. You are an unknown... and probably expendable."

"Gee, thanks! Well, if it comes to a choice between getting Ranma back and sending me home, I won't argue with you." Barry shifted uncomfortably and stared into his cup. "But, I have a wife and a son I'd like to see again. I'd appreciate it if we could at least try to send me back." Barry glanced from Cologne to Nodoka.

"You want our help," said Cologne, "but what do you have to offer?"

"Wrong emphasis," Barry said leaning across the table. "You all want Ranma. You have no chance of ever getting him if I'm here and he isn't. I have ki-vision and the imagination to expand on it like nobody's business! Regardless of the mistakes I've made in experimentation, I'm better prepared to research and utilize ki-techniques than anyone alive… with one exception. Ranma is equally qualified. Take my word for it."

"Good point. Still, perhaps it would be better all around, if this broke Shampoo's commitment," Cologne said casually. "She could get on with her life..."

Barry smiled at the scandalized look Shampoo gave her relative. He answered equally casually, "Of course, if we get Ranma back without your help, it would look bad for Shampoo. And, Cologne, have you forgotten that agreement we made to help Shampoo with a certain problem?"

"Now that we have the scroll, I'm sure we can manage without your help."

"If you can trust the scroll. You'll have to depend on Mousse for that and, while he's very talented, I don't think he's up to it yet. Can you safely fix the problem with only Mousse to assist you? I don't think so."

Cologne was silent for a long moment. "Mousse, did you discuss the procedure with Ranma?"

Mousse glanced at Barry and nodded. "Last night, on your orders as you recall, I gave him a summary. I didn't see anything about multiple operators, though."

"You would have if you'd had more time to work directly with ki, Mousse."

"Impasse." Cologne looked old and angry.

"Not really," Barry said. "You see, I want to help Shampoo, regardless of what else happens. So would Ranma, if he were here. I wasn't joking about considering Ranma's honor my own."

"You have an odd way of showing it," Nodoka said. "Pretending to be Kodachi, fighting those poor girls who didn't have a chance..."

Barry rubbed his arm. "Those poor girls beat the crap out of Kodachi this morning. True, one of the girls I fought was not involved, but she needs to train more anyway. I must admit if luck had been against me, I would have pursued them into the final, which would have created a problem. My objective was not revenge. It was to make sure they knew what they did was wrong, which I could only do by stopping them."

Nodoka looked doubtful. "If I understand correctly, Kodachi brought this on herself."

"It wasn't that simple, Mrs. Saotome. I talked Kodachi into competing without cheating. I was responsible for her choice. When the girls took her out, they used her own tactics on her, and I didn't want six or seven new Kodachi's springing up where before there was only one."

"You've abused my son's hospitality, though," insisted the irate mother. "You should have found a different way to solve your problem."

Barry looked at the tabletop. "You're right. I probably should have. If it had been Ranma..." Barry rolled his teacup between his hands. "Cologne, this is my offer. You help restore Ranma; I help cure Shampoo and the twins."

Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung glanced at one another. 'Cure?'

"And yourself?"

"I'll take what comes." He accepted some more tea and vaguely realized that Sakurida was still there.

"All right. And you want to maintain the status quo. Fair enough."

"First order of business though, is this Kodachi thing. While I don't mind helpin' her heal faster, I'd like Ranma to be able to recognize the place when he gets back." He nodded to Cologne. "Any ideas?"

"You need to do your mask technique again, but this time with Ranma's girl-type as the template for your transformation."

"Okay. How do I do that?"

Cologne stared at him. "How did you do it in the first place?" she snapped. "Use Happi's little trick in reverse!"

Barry looked thoughtful, and turned to Akane.

"Barry?" Akane looked uneasy.

"Cold water, please!"

She hurried to the kitchen and returned. There was a splash and Barry transformed. Everyone recoiled slightly as the Kodachi presence made itself felt. Barry stood unsteadily and focused. Kodachi's injuries did not make this any easier. Sweat poured down her face, but nothing happened.

"Oh, shit."

For the next fifteen minutes, Barry tried to focus. She tried meditation. She even tried to take a reading off Akane, who had memorized Ranma's signature... to no avail.

A knock came at the door. Sakurida opened it, to find Tatewaki standing in the hall. He nodded to her, glanced past her to Barry and, realizing what he was seeing, shuddered.

"Pigtailed... Ranma... Sasuke called." The kendoist looked away uncomfortably. "He reported my sister is on her feet and very cross with him for preventing her from competing. So far, she has not caused any damage, but I fear this may not remain the case if I do not provide some suitable explanation. Could you?" He held up his cell phone. "The hospital staff was most cordial. I would prefer not cause them grief."

"Amazing, Kuno!" Barry just couldn't keep the language from languidly rolling off her tongue. "I think you may be changing into a genuine human being." She took the phone, stared at it then held it to her ear. It was dead. "Ummm... I haven't had the opportunity to use one of these previously. If you would, please?" Kuno wordlessly punched in a number and handed the phone back as it began to ring.

"Hello, Sasuke," Barry began. "Oh, yes, I do sound like her, don't I? No, you don't wish to hear me laugh. I don't appreciate the sound of it!" Barry frowned and listened, then cut the voice off. "Sasuke, simply explain to her that it is I, Ranma—! I hate that!" Barry muttered at the extravagant speech and forced herself to speak in Ranma's rougher patterns. "Look Sasuke, just get 'er on the phone so I can tell her what happened. Yeah, thanks!" There was a moment while Sasuke passed the phone.

"Hi, 'Dachi. Yeah, it's Ranma." She cringed a little as Nodoka frowned. "I'm glad ta hear yer feelin' better. You saw the coverage?" She listened for a moment, and continued, "Sorry 'bout that. I held on till all the girls that beat on ya were out of the runnin'. No, not really. The ki-technique I used doesn't come off well on TV; but unless you got a lota fans who know me... You don't believe that I, Ranma Saotome, could pull off a rendition of the dark blossom of the Kunos? Ohohohohoho, ho!" Barry grinned slightly. "Yes, you do sound like that! Even yer brother's twitchin'." There was another sally from the missing girl. "Fer some reason, my disguise technique crossed over into magic and yer healin' faster cause I'm feelin' the pain. Yeah, don't worry 'bout that. My big problem is I might be stuck as yer twin sister and I don't think ya want the competition. Didn't think so! You take it easy. We'll see ya Monday. Bye!" She handed the phone back to Tatewaki.

"Granny, ya got any suggestions that might help?"

"Bar—!" She glanced at Kuno and changed her form of address, "Ranma, you have only a limited amount of time to change back. With the Kuno girl's link distorting things, it may already be too late!" She stamped in frustration. "If only I had my Hentaime The."

"Your hentai WHAT?" Barry expostulated.

"It's a maze pattern used for self-awareness. Joketsuzoku mages use them to center our wa before difficult workings."

Sakurida stood up and left the room. Everyone jerked, suddenly realizing she had been there all along. They glanced nervously at one another, none of them willing to admit a lapse in their awareness.

Barry puzzled over Sakurida and her sister. He was wondering why no one objected to her presence earlier. Apparently, no one noticed she was there, not even Cologne! Little suspicious thoughts tumbled around in his head, before shooting themselves messily for treason. Sakurida wouldn't do something like that, would she? Barry examined Sakurida intently with ki-vision as she re-entered the room. The girl was carrying something.

"Where did you get that?" Cologne asked in surprise.

With everyone in the room focused on her, she held out a bronze disk about ten centimeters across with an intricate spiraling pattern on it. Sakurida smiled nervously as she presented it for inspection. "When Ranma said 'hentai what', I remembered this plaque my older sister gave me. It's a copy of a piece she conserved on an archeology site. I remembered she called it a hentai-something or other..."

Cologne snatched the disk and examined it. "Yes... Yes, this will work! The original came from Yamato providence? Very well kept." She turned to Akane. "Do you have a lock of hair? Anything of Ranma's girl-type?"

Akane, out of the conversational loop for some time now, started and shook her head. "Why would I have something like that?"

"Curses! Did Ranma's hair get trimmed before you dyed it? No, that won't work, he had already changed his aura by then."

"Why do you need it, Cologne?"

"As a template, Ranma! You need a good solid source of ki matching your goal." Cologne shrugged. "Some of your pre-transformed hair would be perfect."

"Would this do?"

Again help came from an unexpected source. Tatewaki Kuno held out a locket with two locks of hair in it. One was black and the other red. He stood, wordlessly offering it to them.

"Are you certain that I am the source of this hair, Kuno?" Barry asked, reaching out delicately, then hesitating, concerned she might pollute the ki-source.

"Guaranteed," said Nabiki to the ceiling.

Akane frowned. "We all know whose black hair that is, don't we, Nabiki?" she growled, already knowing the answer, but her sister pretended not to hear.

"All right, this is what you will do." Cologne sat Barry down lotus position and set the disc in her lap. "Hair, here." She placed the lock of hair in the center of the maze. "Now hands like this." She placed Barry's hands palms up, the center two fingers folded in against the palm, at the outside of the disk so that her hands crossed over one another, hiding the disc and the hair beneath her parallel hands.

"Why like this?" Barry asked. It felt awkward and uncomfortable.

"So you reveal what was concealed, boy!" snapped the exasperated Cologne. She placed each finger so that each of the four paths from the outside of the disc was matched with a pinkie or an index finger. "Now center yourself. Focus on the hair. I'll turn the pattern beneath your hands; just let your fingers in the grooves guide you to the pattern's center. Slowly draw your fingers in, closer and closer... Move slowly, you don't want to rush it."

Barry focused on the lock of hair at the center of the pattern. She traced the inward pattern, drawing in her awareness with the tracing fingers. Something seemed to burn behind her head. She experienced tunneling vision, and Cologne's voice became hollow and distant. As her fingertips reached the pattern's end, she found they framed the hair between her outstretched digits. As she focused, her breathing slowed, and she felt herself falling in toward the red-gold strands. Focus... C-H-A-N-G-E...

"Pigtailed girl!" (GLOMP!)

"Gaah!" Success!

(WACK!) Kuno dropped away, stunned by the simultaneous application of Cologne's staff and the sheathed Saotome katana.

Barry observed the twitching form almost sadly. "Hell of a thank you for his help," she observed. The bruising from Kodachi's injuries was fading away rapidly and she felt restored to normal.

"Would you rather thank him in a manner pleasing to him?" asked Nodoka archly.

"Not a chance, Nodoka," Barry replied unhesitatingly. She handed the hentai-whatever-it-was to Sakurida, then took the lock of hair and returned it to the Blue Thunder's locket.

Akane frowned. "Why give it back?" she asked.

"His fantasy saved my butt, Akane," Barry said, "and maybe Ranma's as well. Let's not begrudge him that when he has no chance for anything else."