Chapter 6
The Terror
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Soun and Cologne sat on the porch, drinking some tea, casting glances at a bandaged panda, still unconscious and chained to the wall. "Saotome, I can't believe you brought this type of trouble into my house, onto my daughters." Soun was many things, but even his loyalty to his former training partner was no match when told of what the demonic summoners were like. Blood feud did not even describe what these people were capable of.
Cologne merely shook her head, spying Ukyo and Shampoo leaping off to discuss something. Mousse was sleeping in the dojo, with Ryoga watching television, hopefully not getting lost in the channels. "We must forget about that useless fat for now, Soun Tendo. For now, we must concentrate on placating Ranma's mother. She is the one we should concern ourselves with."
"Yes, you are right, Elder." Soun stared into his tea, as if expecting to see the answers to his questions in it. "I wish my dear Kimiko was here. She had such a great rapport with Nodoka. I am certain she could straighten this all out."
Cologne shook her head. "Soun, you must release the past, it will not help you now. Your inability to let her go has allowed you to allow that...thing into your home. You must let her go, and live for them, work for them."
He sighed. "I try, Elder, the Kami know I have tried. But I fear I am too weak a man to do such a thing. Even now, with my children's lives on the line, I cannot for the life of me find a way to convince her that Ranma should live. Even with my daughters' lives at stake, she will see it as honorable for him to still die if she finds his curse too much of a burden."
Cologne stared at the panda, part of her wondering how long before he discovered she had used the Ultimate Weakness Moxibustion on him, as well as a shiatsu point that would prevent him from using a ki attack to free himself. "She will be made to see that Ranma's life is too important. She will either relinquish this foolhardy contract by reason, or by force. What fails my mind to discern is how she ever believed Genma could raise Ranma the way she speaks of."
Even Soun had to laugh at that. "Yes. Genma has preached to him so much how others are a distraction to the Art, even I wonder that myself."
Cologne decided to try and lighten the mood. "Tell me about them."
Soun took in a deep breath, recalling things from the past. "Saotome and I met them while...training...with the Master. He tried to steal the women's underwear, only to have both Nodoka and Kimiko nearly killed the old pervert for his attempts. He couldn't even latch onto them."
Cologne laughed a little at that. "And of course, since they could defeat him, you instantly pledged your undying love to them."
Soul smiled a little. "Of course. I'm not really certain how Nodoka and Genma's relationship developed. But for me and Kimiko, we felt like soul mates, like each other was what had been missing from our lives. It was then I introduced her to my parents, she introduced me to hers, and soon we were married and living here, expecting Kasumi."
He looked again out to his old friend. "I...I often wonder if the mistakes we have made would still have occurred...had they both been with us." Shaking his head, he forced himself out of dreaming of what-ifs. "Nevertheless, I can only work to make her proud of me in the next world, if she ever forgive me for being weak."
He cast his eyes towards the heavens. "I swear, Kimiko, I will make you proud of me, I will save their lives, even if in the end I must offer my own in his place."
Cologne looked at him, a small amount of pride in her eyes. Yes, Soun, I am quite certain she will be proud of the man you are becoming now.
The two sat for a while as the wounded panda began to stir. "Well," Cologne said, "at least we will have some entertainment to help us think."
Three sets of eyes snapped open, relieving the trio of the pleasant dream that had quickly spun into a nightmare of claws and biting.
They awoke to find that while the cats were gone, they were not completely as they were. They had gone to bed somewhat separated, but found themselves huddled together, Ranma's arms wrapped around them and pulling them closer, their heads resting on his shoulders, his hands rubbing the smalls of their backs, to further coax them into relaxing.
"Is it always that bad?" Nabiki tried to pull herself closer Ranma, tried to scare away the fear that had attacked her soul.
"Yeah, the cats never stop biting, never stop clawing... They just never stop." His voice was grim, nearly devoid of emotion. But it was strong enough to convey its meaning.
The girls had just had a full experience of his nightmare of nightmares: the Nekoken.
It isn't always that bad. By now, he realized he could just think things out. He wouldn't be able to tell thoughts apart, or from what part of the others they came from, but it helped them sort things out quicker.
I never knew.
Uncle Saotome is a monster!
I have shared a curse never meant to be shared!
I'm sorry I ever teased you about it!
Why won't they stop coming?
What do they want?
Why are the cats never satisfied?
"I think we should just talk about this one, Saotome." Nabiki raised her head, shaking it slightly. "This...thing is too warped for us to dwell on it."
The two girls could feel a great amount of depression coming through the link, to look at Ranma and see him mumbling. They could both make out "I'm sorry" being repeated over and over again.
Kasumi smiled a little, before bending closer to his ear, and talking at a normal voice. "Ranma, I'm pregnant with Kuno's baby."
Ranma nearly knocked them both from the bed with the suddenness in which he sat up. "WHAT!" His scream was silenced somewhat by Nabiki and Kasumi's hands coming up and covering his mouth.
"Forgive me, Ranma, but I needed you to snap out of it. This isn't your fault."
Ranma stared at Kasumi. He waited until they lowered their hands from his mouth before speaking. "And how is it not my fault that the link gave you the Nekoken?"
Nabiki spoke first. "Well, the main reason is that you didn't teach it, that fat panda did."
Ranma flung himself back onto the bed. "You just don't get it. I tried. I tried to keep that thing from crawling out of my soul, from keeping that one sin from ever seeing the light of day.
"And now, you have it too, don't you. You can feel it lurking inside you, waiting for those furry little bastards to come."
Nabiki and Kasumi looked at each other, before returning to the crooks of Ranma's arms, laying their hands back on his chest, his returning to their backs.
Kasumi was the first to speak again, tired of the long silence that had crept into their conversation, as well as their thoughts. "Ranma, I...I want you to start training me. I want to learn Anything Goes from you."
Ranma opened his mouth to protest, his usual mantra at the ready, but felt Nabiki's hand clamp his lips shut.
"Ranma, listen to Kasumi. You know as well as we do now how many times people go through others to get to you. How long do you think it'll be before they try that on us? Hell, the Kunos haven't a clue not to attack you or they could kill all three of us. Hell, do you really think Kodachi would walk away if she saw us like this?"
Kasumi smiled as Nabiki removed her hand. "Ranma, you've always wanted to teach the Art to others, teach them to love it almost as much as you do. Eventually, you'll have to teach girls. And don't give me that 'girls are weak' stuff, mister, or I'll be very...angry."
He immediately paled. He didn't know how bad an angry Kasumi was, but he had once asked Mr. Tendo about that.
All he got was a pale face, muttering, "Sometimes, she's worse than her mother."
"Besides," Nabiki chimed in, "if you don't learn to teach women, then you'll ruin the future I have planned."
"Huh?" was the response from the other two bedmates.
"Well, first we buy the house next door and convert it into a dual office space. There we set up my accounting office and Kasumi's clinic. That way, we have a one stop shop. I charge them for what Ranma teaches them, while Kasumi fixes them after he pulls a Genma."
"Heh! I ain't that bad!"
The soft giggles of the girls next to him were all he needed to know that the last part just might have been a joke.
Sighing, he nuzzled back into the mattress, trying to get to sleep, the tension of the nightmare forgotten for now, but no further to being resolved. His last thoughts summed it up best for him.
Sleep. It seems like that is all I can do for them...for now.
"Shampoo, honey, can we talk for a bit?"
Shampoo looked up at Ukyo from the back porch. She had been resting there, thinking of how things were now with her Airen. "Shampoo talk. What Spatula Girl want?"
Ukyo suppressed a twitch from being called that. "Not here, sugar. Let's go where the others won't hear us."
Shampoo nodded. She already had spent the last few hours trying to figure out how she and her beloved could still be together after what had happened. While she didn't mind Kasumi; as the girl was always nice and helped her whenever possible, she was confused as to how Nabiki would play in things. Sneaky girl likely sell Amazon Village to Musk.
So the two walked until they came to an empty lot away from the Tendo Dojo, a place where many of the local kids used to come to fight...before the NWC arrived and showed them how things could really go down. "Shampoo follow Spatula Girl, so what you want?"
"First off, sugar. Could you please stop calling me that? And please, just call me Ukyo."
Shampoo just smiled. "So you no want Shampoo to call you Spatula Girl...?"
"No."
"Or Cross dresser...?"
"No."
"Or confused butch lesbian...?"
"No." At the moment, Ukyo's patience with the girl was reaching thin.
After ten more nicknames—eight of which Ukyo had never heard she had been called—she told Shampoo to stop.
"Listen, sugar. All I wanted to ask you was a little about this 'Soul Bonding' thing Ranchan used?
Shampoo's eyes narrowed. "You wish to know so you use to make Airen be with you, love you all time, yes?"
Ukyo blushed at having been caught, but quickly turned away. "I...I don't know what you're talking about."
Shampoo stepped closer. "You no think Shampoo think that?" Shampoo turned to the opposite side. "You no think Shampoo not want to do technique and join Airen now, be forever one with him?" A lone tear began to fall down her face, bringing Ukyo back to facing her. "Technique no work unless one person is near death. If not, is very bad. Maybe kill both. Shampoo no want that, and she know Airen no like her if she purposely injure self so Airen must do."
Ukyo looked at her, before staring at the ground. "I...I can't lose him, sugar. He...he's all I have?"
Shampoo snapped forward, nearly growling at Ukyo. "You have weird ninja boy, he love you more than you love Airen. But you also have same problem Shampoo do: obsessed stupid boy who no know that no means no." Shampoo lowered her snarl losing herself in reflection again. "We each love Airen, each have too too stupid boys chase us. And stupid demon make certain we never be with him. Shampoo can no go back to village now, cause if others find out why she no come back with Airen, she be thrown out. If Ukyo no get Airen, she no have family. Is too too stupid situation."
Ukyo sighed. "Well, we need to do something, sugar. You just know the old farts will be trying to get Ranchan married to one of those girls."
Shampoo exhaled again. All they were now doing was talking about what she had been thinking about since her great-grandmother had explained the Soul Bonding to her. "Shampoo know. She know that girls no can help it. In way, is glad it no Kitchen Destroyer. At least now, Airen will live past honeymoon."
Ukyo began to giggle. "I can just imagine if it had been her. As confused as Ranchan is about whose thoughts he's feeling, imagine him looking at himself in the mirror in the furo. I don't know if he could mallet himself or not."
Shampoo began to giggle as well. "Plus, what happens when Airen try to cook and he no like?"
That threw the both of them into fits of laughter.
But the eventually calmed down. "Sugar, you and I both know that whoever attacked Ranma-honey before will do so again. If we get injured fighting it...do you think he'd bond with us?"
Shampoo didn't look up. "Shampoo no know. Airen know technique, but he may no use if it maybe kill other girls. Shampoo no want to force him to use. Is very bad if he know Shampoo allow self to be hurt so he bond with her."
Ukyo nodded her head. She didn't want Ranchan to have that weighing him down. He shouldn't ever hate his cute fiancée for pulling something like that. But then an idea hit her. "Um, Shampoo, does your tribe recognize multiple marriages?"
Shampoo looked at Ukyo with confusion. "Um, yes. After Shampoo and Airen have honeymoon, then Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung may ask to be wives as well, since Airen beat them."
Ukyo's smile grew, choosing to ignore the comment about the tiny terrors. "And does your marriage need to be recognized by Japanese Law?"
Shampoo was still confused, but willing to play along. "No, only Amazon Law matter. Why Ukyo want to know?"
Ukyo by now had a full blown smile on her face. "Well, sugar, we need a reason for Ranma's mom to not kill him with his curse. So...if he has fulfilled one obligation by joining the schools, since Nabiki and Kasumi can't leave him, then that just leaves our agreements. And since Ranchan's mom seems to want her son to have many mistresses..." She left the end hanging.
But it was an end that Shampoo understood. "AIYAH! Then we get mother's permission, and Airen be with us. He no can go back to village, and if Great-Grandmother help keep Ling-Ling and Lung-Lung from coming to join as well, then we all get Airen!"
Ukyo sighed. "It won't be perfect, but it'll keep him alive. And who knows, maybe it'll work out for the best. Besides, you think the Dynamic Dunderheads could offer a better solution? I mean, with all of us wanting to be with him, ain't no way Auntie can see Ranma as unmanly, even with his curse."
The two nodded their heads in agreement. Not to say that they didn't have one or two thoughts of how to eliminate the other from it, but they needed to first keep Ranma alive, and then weed out the other.
Ranchan/Airen, we will save you!
"Neko...arise! I summon you!"
Before the figure, who stayed hidden in shadows created by the small fire in front of him, a cat-man figure appeared on the other side of the fire. To any who didn't know, it would have looked like Ranma...if he had fallen into both the Springs of Drowned Man and Drowned Cat.
It was the representation of the Nekoken that was inside Ranma, a representation of the demon. "You have summoned me, my Lord?"
The figure stayed in shadow. "The Okari have made a move against my anchor. How does his soul fair?"
The cat-man smiled, baring his fangs. "It goes better than expected, my Lord. Not only has the bonding strengthened your anchor to the point where only death could release you, but it has allowed for a...unexpected benefit." He snapped his fingers, and two cat-girls appeared on either side of him, resembling Nabiki and Kasumi. "It has allowed for the birth of these two, who have sworn their allegiance to you for the same price as I have."
The two cat-girls nodded in agreement, baring their fangs as well. "What is your will, my Lord?" asked Neko-Nabiki.
"Yes, instruct us as to how to serve you," stated Neko-Kasumi.
The shadowy figure laughed. "Continue as I have instructed Neko-Ranma. But, we need to keep things...lively. Have the two females expressed any desire to become stronger?"
Neko-Nabiki nodded. "Yes, my Lord. They have already discussed being trained by Ranma, so as to be better able to stand against the enemies that seek him."
"Good," the figure hissed. "They will help rejuvenate me quicker than I had planned for. I must move my time table forward."
"What of the Okaris, my Lord?" asked Neko-Kasumi. "They will seek out answers now, and will suspect the involvement of us, if not, others."
The figure contemplated this for a moment. "Nothing they can do now will stop my rise and rebirth. We shall continue to thwart their efforts to reach Ranma, at the very least, delay their Ascension until it best suits our needs. I believe they have three months before this window passes. I look forward to making them wait those months. Continue to cloud your charges' minds about the truth of the Nekoken; continue to play havoc with their lives." A sadistic smile could be seen on his nondescript face. "In fact, give the Amazon and the chef a reason to hurry any plans they have to...keep their love entwined to them."
The three neko-demons purred their acceptance of the orders, before disappearing into the ether and returning to the souls of their hosts.
The figure stepped closer to the fire, revealing himself. "Oh yes, the Okari clan will pay for all they have done. With the way things stand now, I can even take their precious Ascension from them, as well as little Kito." An evil smile crept across his face. "And I see no reason for those demons not to have their prize."
The fire was quickly snuffed out by the ill wind that blew as the figure left.
He had, after all, many silkie darlings to liberate that night.
If I messed anything up, then let me know including typos.
Any suggestions on how I should continue the story or improve it would also be accepted.
Also, if you have any suggestions for how this should go, let me know. My own imagination, while vast, always enjoys a new thought. Also, catch me if you don't think I am making the characters true to form, or a way to make them better.
