Ki Cutters: 4

The Perceptions I

The Nerima Ward of Ranma Saotome's home universe is a rectangular area northeast of Tokyo proper, close to but not bordering the ocean. Tokyo citizens from Barry Barlowe's world would find most of the Tokyo landmarks in this locale in the familiar places, and aside from some unfamiliar street names, could probably navigate the area much as they would in our universe. Several canals run through the ward to the sea. Nerima has three High Schools, one public and two private schools; one run by the Catholic Church and one aimed at exceptional students offering boarding for transfer students. Nerima was labeled a technical and educational masterpiece by outside organizations. (The Kuno's cash being sufficient to smooth over misunderstandings) To locals and insiders, Nerima Ward was renown for the drain it put on its public works department and the scarcity of violent crime.

Most people liked living in Nerima. It did get exciting at times. But of the many incidents over the years, property damage could usually be assigned to one of three sources. Mishima Heavy Industries, Kuno Industries and Happosai. The first two generally paid the bill and kept on operating. Happosai was usually only an annoyance.

Criminals trying to operate in Nerima quickly found that crime was quickly dealt with, a result of the many martial artists who lived there. Prostitution and drugs were rare in Nerima. Pimps didn't like the interference of Happosai who not only was a pest, but also beat the crap out of any pimp who was cruel to women. Drug use was restricted to the elite — only they had enough money to buy the stuff without running afoul of criminal activities and the martial artists. Since the various battling martial artists never made complaints against one another, the police in this koban quickly found the advantages of ignoring the martial artists antics or contacting those they could if a newcomer got out of hand.

Nerima citizens claimed to enjoy the sport of watching the antics of the martial artists in their rooftop races and occasional combats. It was exciting and, mirroring the 'normal' students of Furinkan High, many of the people hoped they or their children could some day be as strong or skilled or brave as the martial artists that lived among them.

oOo

Sakurida Kamiko (Skuld, Norn of the Future) walked from the train station to the Tendo dojo through the busy Saturday morning streets. Her specialty was the realm of possibility — at least insofar as earthly endeavor was concerned. Her awareness told her, for example, that the idolization of the martial artists, in Nerima as well as in general, had a significant chance of inspiring a striving for individual freedom and responsibility. This might, in fifty years, (12.547percent) help to fuel a drive toward a world federation based on the principal of government being responsible to the people. Sakurida was rather in favor of that possibility, but had strict orders not to interfere in the development of this choice. She understood that any choice developed out of force or coercion would be self-defeating.

The person she walked beside, in whose lap she had practically been dumped, might figure strongly in that possible future. Nabiki Tendo was very well known in Nerima Ward, even though she had graduated the past summer and moved out of the ward to go to college. She was the sister of a great martial artist and the probable future sister-in-law of the top martial artist. However, people respected her because she was remarkable in her own field… making money. Her betting operations and investment projects in the ward were still very profitable and attractive.

The Yakuza watched her closely and not only because of her recent success against one of their own. There was a very significant chance that they would make a play for her services in an attempt to control her and suck in the services of her family. This would result in Nabiki Tendo becoming an opponent of her sister and her martial arts friends. It made Sakurida nervous, knowing so much, yet being able to do so little. The best bet was still that Nabiki would meet and marry one of three men while she was establishing herself as a success in the business world. One could bring her love, one could bring her greater success and one could bring her respect and world renown. If she chose the yakuza offer, which would be very tempting, she would have brief and damaging success, then probably an early death. Sakurida hoped Nabiki would be more sensible.

On the other hand, it was not impossible that she could be the future Empress of Japan. Interestingly, that result would reduce the chances of a successful and responsible World Federation, but such is life. She sighed and mentally settled back to enjoy the action around the Tendos and Saotomes. It wasn't like it could really affect her in the long term and besides… they were a lot of fun.

She and her companion walked up to the gates and clearly heard the sound of combat within. Though early, someone was obviously working out his or her frustrations from school the day before. Sakurida gave her companion a curious look when Nabiki prevented her from opening the gate.

"You have to have a certain timing about these things, Kamiko-san, " she told her college roommate, "at the very least, Ranma and Akane are in there." They listened to a startled feminine squeal and a string of Chinese curses. "…And Shampoo. We want to make sure we don't get in the way of anything." Suddenly the sounds stopped and a male voice was raised in stammering protest.

"Woops! That sounds like a break in the action," Nabiki smirked. She threw open the gates and marched in, followed by her guest. Sakurida had been here before, of course, but not during any of the typical fights, chases or arguments that often disturbed the peace here. She did not see a typical Ranma action this time either, as two giggling girls ran, with Ranma struggling over their heads, to dump him in the koi pond. The predicted change occurred and a redhead sputtered up, to send a wave of water at her tormentors grinning on the shore.

They squawked and one disappeared into her clothing. Sakurida's eyebrow went up; then she remembered Shampoo from the martial arts competition at the university. The other girl, hair dripping, scowled at the redhead while the damp Jusenkyo-cat slunk out of her useless clothes.

"Ran-ma!" There was a huge splash as Akane attacked once more. This resulted in Akane knee deep in the koi pond and Ranma sitting on the wall making faces at her.

"Jeez, Akane!" Ranma's shrill laughter cut mockingly at the girl. "How many times have ya heard Pops tell me to watch where I am in a fight? How often did we do this at the lake?"

"I did just fine in the dojo last week!" snapped Akane. "Didn't I?" she added suddenly smug.

Ranma frowned and shook some water out of her now red hair. "You cheated."

"Did not!"

"Did."

"Did not!"

"Di-YOW!" The redhead sprang skyward, a cat attached to her butt by the claws. Shampoo had snuck up on Ranma while she was arguing with Akane. In the middle of Ranma's frantic leap, the Amazon let go and landed lightly. Ranma was intercepted by Akane and thrown horizontally with some force, ending up upside down against the boundary wall. Shampoo-cat snickered as the redhead slid down the vertical surface and out of sight behind the bushes.

"Did not!" Akane replied smugly, "And you're the Nutcracker Prince! Nyah!"

"What's this, Akane?" Nabiki asked surprised.

Akane turned and grinned at their audience. The three of them had been aware of their presence from the moment they had skirted the boundary wall to approach the gate. "Hi, Nabiki, Sakurida!" She smiled at Nabiki's slender suitemate. "I challenged Ranma to a match, with yesterday's audition for Nutcracker Suite as the forfeit. Guess who lost." There was muttering from the bushes. Akane whirled. "I did not cheat!" she asserted. "You even admitted you've done the same thing in fights!"

"Done what?" Sakurida asked innocently. Suddenly, the bushes were still and Akane was exhibiting a strange reluctance to meet her eye.

"Umm… Let's just say he wasn't expecting me to do… that."

"Oh! Some super-secret, only-in-the-family-type martial arts move," said Sakurida confidently, tongue-in-cheek.

"You could say that," Akane conceded, blushing more.

"I was… distracted," Ranma admitted, poking her head out of the bushes.

"It is 'Anything-Goes', Ranma," Akane said with some heat.

"What would you have won if Akane had lost, Ranma?" asked Nabiki suddenly. Whatever method her sister had used, it had been embarrassing. She'd weasel it out of Akane later. Ranma looked blankly at her. "Oh, Ranma, Ranma, Ranma…" she t'sked pityingly, "Always know what you're fighting for," Nabiki chided her. Ranma muttered under her breath. "What was that?"

"He said, 'You shoulda seen what I was fighting against'!" reported Sakurida. Both Ranma and Akane struggled not to blush.

Kasumi exited the house with a kettle and quickly returned two martial artists to their normal forms. Shampoo attempted to try returning to human form from within her clothes with marginal success. Her silk trousers went on correctly, but she ended up with an arm and her head sticking out the collar of her costume. Akane aided her in adjusting her clothes while Ranma turned his back, snickering.

Sakurida clonked him lightly on the head with the long-handled mallet she carried over her back.

"Hey!" he objected.

"That's my job, Sakurida," Akane protested.

Sakurida grinned. "In my position as the only female present who has not ever been and never will be a fiancée of Ranma Saotome, I felt it my duty to administer punishment."

"Huh?" exclaimed the martial artist, who froze in the act of rubbing his sore noggin. "Why not?"

"Why not what?" Sakurida queried as she turned back from the girls.

"Be my fian… I mean, why not… Not that I want any more, ya understand!" he exclaimed suddenly, sweating, realizing what he had almost said.

"Gee, Ranma, I can't believe you could almost ask a girl to marry you by accident," teased Nabiki.

"I did not!"

"RRrrrraaaannnmMMA!" chorused two voices.

"It was on purpose, then?"

"No! Arrgh!" (WUMP!) Ranma eyeballed the underside of a mallet that looked like it could have flattened Mt. Fuji, except… "Foam rubber?"

Akane grinned at him. "Don't worry. When you really deserve it, I've still got my regular one." He sweated, while Shampoo and Akane had a good laugh at his expense.

Nabiki looked at her sister thoughtfully. "Hmmm… I wouldn't have thought you had it in you, Akane," she said finally.

"What?" Her little sister was puzzled and just a bit defensive at her tone.

"Teasing Ranma like that. The poor boy won't know what to expect. Oh, well… Isn't that every man's lot in life?" She smiled predatorily and suggestively.

"B-b-but that's not what I meant," Akane whined as Ranma sweated some more.

"Sure, Akane." Nabiki half-turned and smiled. "Keep him guessing! The Mallet, the Fake or maybe… a kiss?"

"Nabiki!"

Sakurida grinned. Nabiki was so much like her oldest sister. While she normally fought tooth and nail with Urudu, (Urd, Norn of the Past) somehow she didn't feel threatened by Nabiki's teasing, even when it was directed at her. She felt very in tune with this family, so much like her own…

Soun chose that moment to slide open the shoji and see what appeared to be another Akane/Ranma malleting… and the size of the mallet… "Ohhhhh! The schools will never be joined! Bwah, ho, hooo…!"

Behind him Genma, forgetting he was a not a panda, held up signs saying, )What did you say to her this time?( and )Be nice to your fiancée, boy!(. Nodoka came along and pulled her husband aside to whisper in his ear. He dropped the signs and blushed muttering, "I knew that!" Natsume and Kurumi did not attempt to hide their mirth.

Sakurida giggled. There were some drastic differences and the appearance of the weird fathers reminded her of her errand here.

"Eh-hem! Tendo-san? Saotome-san?" she asked. "My sister, Baradandya (Beldandy, Norn of the Present) asked if you all could come to lunch this afternoon?"

Soun stopped his bawling over the future of the dojo and began to bawl over the consideration and culinary expertise of Sakurida's sister. Genma was all smiles. Akane glanced at Shampoo and looked worried.

"Could Shampoo come, Sakurida?" she asked.

"There no need, Akane," Shampoo protested. It was obvious that she was embarrassed and pleased at her inclusion. "You go, have good time…"

"Certainly, Akane," Sakurida nodded. "My sister said specifically to include all of the girls in the invitation."

"But…"

"That's great! I'll phone the Nekohanten and Ucchan's." Akane dashed into the house to use the phone.

oOo

A short train trip later and they were there. The Temple was clearly visible in walking distance. They were an interesting group even among the crowds of the city. All three Tendo girls were striking in appearance. So were the three (sometimes four) Saotome females, while Skuld and Shampoo only added to the scenery. Ukyo was missing from the assembly as she couldn't get away from the shop on one of her busiest days. Ranma and Soun both were striking examples of manhood… whenever Ranma didn't get hit with cold water. Ranma almost didn't notice those events today.

It could be excused if various observers failed to notice that Genma was part of the group. Neither particularly handsome nor striking as a human, his panda form had people reaching for the animal control number to report a zoo escapee. His tendency to dally in order to drool at various cafés, food shops and yatai, made his membership in the party rather problematic at best. Nodoka was not about to force him to come along and embarrass her with his table manners.

Long curly blond hair cast shadows across the vertical red slashes marking the brow of one intent observer in a nearby apartment complex. Eyes flashed red in the morning sunlight. Senbei had taken an apartment near the Temple as a headquarters. He had been diligently searching for another opportunity since his ignominious retreat from the Furinkan gymnasium. While glancing out the small window, he had recognized Sakurida immediately. The presence of a certain interfering redhead only fanned the flames of his desire for revenge. No human would put one over on him that way!

"Urami! Urayami! It be time to hunt!" he said, snapping his fingers.

The two second-class demonesses didn't respond, demonstrating their familiarity with the sin of sloth by snoring away on one of the beds in the small apartment. Their lack of alertness drew a swift response and a fireball from their boss. After they extracted themselves from the smoking ruins of the bed, they glared sourly at Senbei.

"What do you want, Senbei?" purred Urayami poisonously. "Are you still miffed little K-boy made you wet yourself?"

Senbei's eyes narrowed and he made a slight gesture. Suddenly, the roof caved in, a full bathtub apparently too much weight for the floor to bear. It crashed onto the unfortunate demoness, crushing her to the floor. There were shrieks from the floor above as the intended user of the tub sat on the toilet and hugged herself, eyes huge on the tableau below.

With horrible sucking and crunching sounds, Urayami dragged her bleeding carcass out of the wreckage. "You bastard!" she groaned, "How am I gonna help you now?" Her sister demoness snickered and sneered at her.

Senbei reached down and dragged her up to eye level by her throat, incidentally choking off a scream of pain. "That jus' a reminder — I be boss o' you! Got that? Your pleasure and pain be my property."

He kissed her then, an arrogant, insulting gesture, and she screamed into his mouth; as her body re-inflated like a toy balloon, damage healing almost instantly. He let her drop painfully to her rear, and lazily licked the blood from his lips. Shuddering, Urayami examined her arms and body for the missing injuries.

"Oh, don' be suprised! It jus' a tiny, itty, bitty spell... You still hurt like hell if I don' like yo' lip." He snapped his fingers and suddenly, all the damage and injuries were back. He snapped them again, and she was whole again. "You still hafta pay fo' you' pain, but it on installment plan, yah? My installment plan." His victim shivered. He turned to the other demoness who immediately dropped to her knees and prostrated herself.

"Master! I am yours!"

"Yes," Senbei leered. "You is. Anytime soon you forget it, I make example fo' you sister o' how much worse it can be!" Urami shivered and remained face down. "Now, we hunt."

oOo

They left the flat, leaving a note for the manager about how disappointed they were in the shoddy construction. They would want their full advance and rent returned of course. They operated, therefore, like any demons, never leaving happiness behind them. From the relative privacy of an alleyway they performed a 6:1 subdivision spell, reducing their size before taking to the air. Soon, they were at one corner of the Temple boundaries. The shield was still up, but would have to be dropped soon to allow the goddesses' guests entry. They planned to use this opportunity. The best ward does little good if your enemy is inside.

As the party passed in, Ranma, in girl-type, noted her father, in panda form, being pursued by a man in typical yatai-ya dress. That is, the latter wore an apron and waived a spatula and a cleaver as he cursed at the deceptively speedy animal. "Hurry up, Pop! We're gonna be late!"

The panda quickly dropped to all fours and accelerated impressively. His shoulder caught Ranma in the gut as he barreled through the gateway at nearly fifty kilometers an hour. As they entered the courtyard proper, the shield came back up and they disappeared from the yatai operator's eyes.

He skidded to a stop and looked around in disbelief. Though the Temple gates were open just ahead of him, he couldn't recognize their presence. The new ward was technically perfect. Only those invited or with long-standing visitation rights could enter here when the shield was up. Finally, he moved off. After all, the panda hadn't gotten anything this time.

In a corner of the garden on the opposite side of the Temple, three demons shivered at the renewed warding. They hadn't expected the demon-repulsion aspect of the shielding spell and it was taking all their power just to maintain their cover. Senbei could barely make out the guests approaching the Temple and risked a very quiet, very tiny all-purpose misfortune attack on them. As the Kami of Poverty and Disaster, this created a decidedly increased opportunity for accidents…

Nodoka stumbled going up the steps and twisted her ankle. Kasumi, following close behind, fell on top of her. Nabiki, more cautious, avoided the pile up on the steps, but bumped into Kurumi. Kurumi was not fast enough in recovering and missed her grab at Nabiki by millimeters, which sent Nabiki sprawling on top of her sister and Nodoka. Akane and Shampoo, both heading for the disaster site to give aid and comfort to the injured, bumped heads. Soun, crying over how beautiful it was here, tripped over the lot as Sakurida prudently kept her distance and glared around suspiciously.

Ranma, very annoyed at the impact of her father's cursed form with her unprepared abdomen, had dug in and used their momentum to hurl the proto-panda into the ground. Unaware of the pile-up at the steps, they faced off and began to spar, Ranma because panda-Pops had started it, and Genma because while he had been guilty in the past, he had not tried to steal anything this time, and was the victim of a paranoid yatai-ya. Nothing stings so much as a false accusation brought against someone that normally deserved it, but was actually innocent for a change. Their scuffling wiped out some marks and rearranged some stones along the path.

In the tree where the demons hid, the unholy trio gawked as the latest of Skuld's Banpei robots began to quarter the grounds for intruders. The spell had not gone entirely unnoticed as the robot was armed with the latest in detection equipment, a charm-zooka, a mallet, a staff, a bevy of neo-bombs and Skuld's patented Ribbon-Baller EXP. Banpei also was equipped with the latest of internal power-sources.

Senbei shuddered and contemplated abandoning the operation. Banpei was armored well enough to survive a sixteen-inch shell and warded almost as well as the Temple. If it found them…

"Where the hells am I now!"

The anguished voice caught their attention and Banpei's. Striding around a corner of the Temple came a tall sturdy man, a knapsack on his back and a frown on his face. He paused and looked around. "I can't believe it! I look away from Akari just once and… and I'm lost again! It isn't fair!"

Banpei's activity and Ryoga's appearance, were also seen by another; Tek, a weaponeer and mechanic by training and a ninja by trade, didn't look much like a ninja at the moment, but more like a young woman caught skinny-dipping in a pond. She had been swimming in the birdbath when the action had started and was now hanging by one hand from the opposite side of the lawn ornament. That she could swim in the birdbath, was remarkable, but not necessarily for the usual reasons. At twelve centimeters in height, she was the smallest of the all-female ninja force once sent by Marller to disrupt the goddess' lives.

She desperately searched through her clothes with her free hand to find her signaler and report the intruder. There was little danger that she would be noticed by the young man. Finally, she dragged out a tiny box and tapped a dot-dash code warning to her fellow shinobi. She did not see the demons perched in the tree at her back.

The demons watched fascinated as a greenish glow began to form around the young man. Tendrils of ki drifted and swirled, gathering energies of lightning to condense around his person. As the charge grew, potentials in the air shifted, and finally, it happened.

"Shi shi Hokudan!" The anguished shout echoed in the confines of the garden as lightning lanced up, called by his charged body. Tek dropped like a stone but managed to roll as she hit, diving under nearby bushes. In the tree, Senbei and his demonesses failed to duck in time as stray bolts lanced through their hiding place, to dash against the barrier of the shield. Three small persons spasmed in nerve-searing agony before dropping out of the tree. Lying among the roots they now resembled discarded charcoal briquettes.

Guarding from external attacks, the shield was not designed to withstand such a blow from within. With an almost feeble gasp, it popped like a bubble. The leftover EMP was more than enough to freeze Banpei's electronic motors and servos.

Ryoga collapsed to his knees and panted. "Why?"

oOo

Ranma had felt the shift in energies, as well. She batted her father away and leaped for the rooftop, shifting into high gear. The ki-signature of Ryoga's Shi shi Hokudan was unmistakable. The poor guy must be lost again. Ranma decided she'd better find him before he got really depressed and leveled a city block.

oOo

Sakurida leaped forward as well, very alarmed over the blast and the reactions of the warding spells. She tried to contact Banpei, without success. She used another call circuit and contacted their defense force. "G-3 to Shadow Force — converge on the back garden! Something's through our defenses!"

"At once, Skuld!" came the confirmation.

"Hey! That's G-3!"

"Whatever," came a faint chuckle.

"Kodama!" Sakurida growled.

"G-3…" came a grudging reply. From somewhere in the background some wise-ass called out, 'Hey! You sank my battleship!' "He-he… Tek already reported our intruder, G-3. Hikari is leading the on-duty team and should be there in ten seconds. Normally, it'd take eight, but she's been getting slow lately."

"I am not!" crackled Hikari's voice across the airwaves. Kodama snickered again.

"I'll be there with backup in another forty-five. We'll observe and report back." Behind Kodama, shinobi warriors assembled and made for their stations as they were trained to do. "If the specials you and Tek put together are everything you say they are, everything is under control." Armed with a variety of weapons as well as the 'specials', they would have presented a daunting sight except for one thing; none of the warriors were over eighteen centimeters in height.

Kodama clicked off the communicator and made quick gestures to her back-up team. The white blaze in her mane of coarse dark hair flashed briefly, before being covered by a mask of dark gray. With another gesture, they vanished from their barracks.

oOo

Ranma dropped to the garden and knelt beside the depressed young man. "Yo! Ryoga! Don't blow a gasket, man!"

"Ranma?" Ryoga exclaimed. He blinked in disbelief at the redhead then looked around. "Is this the dojo? I don't remember it being so large!"

"Nah… This is the Temple where Mrs. Morisato and her sisters live. How'd you get here?" Offering a hand, she helped the other to his feet. Even as they talked, the advance ninja team, led by Hikari and guided by Tek, encircled them.

"We have two intruders, a man and a woman," Hikari reported to Kodama. "Tek said the man could create bomb-like blasts. That's what took out the shield, and it looks like Skuld's Banpei unit, as well." The latter observation was necessary, but unfortunate. Sakurida was listening in.

"He did what?" her anguished cry shrieked out of the communicator.

"Please Mistress Skuld!" whispered Hikari into the communicator. "We're trying to be stealthy out here!"

Both Ranma and Ryoga had heard the outburst. They looked warily around, scanning with ki-sense as well as sight.

"Nothing large…" began Ryoga hopefully.

"A poisonous snake's big enough to kill," Ranma said flatly. "There's a lotta little sources between us and the Temple and three more by the tree over there," she muttered.

"Fight?" Ryoga said low, almost pleased with the idea. It would help him forget about being lost. Poor Akari… alone in the wilds… He felt angst begin to build again.

"Easy, P-chan! They might be friends, okay?"

A new voice broke into the communications of the ninja. "Urd here, Hikari. Is 'bomb-boy' a tall young man with a bandanna and fangs?"

"Yes to the bandanna. We haven't seen fangs yet. Is he an oni?"

"He's a student of mine by the name of Ryoga Hibiki," chuckled the rich sexy voice. "My sister will be along to collect them shortly. Just keep an eye on the perimeter while we get the shield back up."

"Can I confirm we treat this Ryoga as a friend?" asked Kodama as her ninja joined up with Hikari's group.

"But he wasted Banpei!" Skuld's voice wailed in protest.

"I'm certain it's not serious, Skuld," came a third voice, breaking in. "You designed Banpei very well and he probably only needs his motors and communications replaced. The way you buffered his hard drive should have made his personality and memory safe from nearly anything."

There was a pregnant pause.

"Okay, Beldandy," Skuld said mournfully. "But if it is Ryoga, I'm gonna have a lo-ong talk with him!"

Ranma and Ryoga noticed how the surrounding ki-sources pulled back as Sakurida approached from the corner of the building.

"So! It was you that broke my Banpei RSX59!" growled Sakurida as she passed them to examine her creation with concern. "Do you know how long it took me to perfect him, Ryoga?"

"What was it?" the lost boy asked, walking gingerly over and around the girl and the object.

"Banpei is only the most sophisticated domestic and security autonomous A.I. platform ever designed!" Sakurida snapped. She sniffled and turned a face with quivering lips and tearing eyes on the martial artists. "And you broke him!"

Ryoga gulped. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He bowed frantically. "It's just that I get so lost! I never meant to cause harm. If there is any way I can fix…" His aura began to flare.

"Well, don't do it again!" Sakurida scolded, recognizing the signs. Her face softened as she remembered how the various martial artists had spent considerable time making sure Ryoga didn't get lost at the tournament. "Oh, stop it! Look at me," she added more firmly as Ryoga continued to bow like one of those detestable toys Urd made her build as punishment. Ryoga cringed at her tone and lifted his head, making eye contact. "Ryoga Hibiki, if I ever catch you breaking my machines again I'll… I'll…" She tore her huge mallet off of her harness and shook it at him. Ryoga blinked.

"Better watch it, Sakurida," Ranma grinned. "He's fallen for girls with mallets before and he's got a hard head!"

"Ranma!" They both turned and snarled then, as the redhead continued to smirk, looked at each other and blushed.

"True love…" Ranma gushed, making it worse. Suddenly, a mallet slammed down.

"Don't pick on Ryoga!" Akane growled, raising her weapon again. Ranma groaned from her position on the ground. "What happened, Ryoga? I thought you were going home with Akari this weekend." She reached down and grabbed her twitching fiancé by the pigtail, obviously planning on using the convenient handle to drag the redhead away.

"I… I got lost!" Ryoga's face screwed up in distress. "I can't believe how lame I am…"

"Stop that," Akane admonished him. "You are not lame! You've got some difficult problems that aren't really your fault." She pursed her lips. "Did Nabiki talk to you about using GPS technology?"

Ryoga nodded. "I haven't been able to find a store that carries them yet. I did leave a message with Mom and Dad about them, though."

"Good! With the baby coming, they need to be able to find each other." She bowed apologetically to Sakurida. "Your sister said that if Ryoga was here we should bring him in to join us. I'm sorry if he damaged anything."

"Will everyone stop bowing?" Sakurida grumped. "It's making me cross!" She turned to Ryoga. "I seem to remember that you're pretty strong. Can you drag Banpei into my shop?"

"Sure…" Ryoga grunted a little as he heaved Banpei up on one shoulder. "Where do you want him?"

"Just follow me," Sakurida said. She glanced back at the broad shoulders and worried face of Ryoga. Shyly, he gave her his best, crooked smile with fang showing and Sakurida snapped her head around as if burned. Blushing, she led the way to her workshop. 'He's… he's seriously cute!' she thought, well aware of a familiar thumping in her chest. 'Come on, girl! He's human and you're not!'

Ranma regained consciousness as her rear-end bounced off steps leading up into the Temple proper. "Ow! Ouch! Hey! Lego, tomboy!" Akane let her drop with a thump, then turned and squatted down. Ranma rubbed her sore head. "Wadja do that for?" she asked with a pout.

"Do you really want to provoke Ryoga into fighting you all over again, Ranma?" Akane asked. She frowned as Ranma grinned suddenly.

"What can I say? It's fun! Besides, we haven't, y'know, fought since I got back. I wanna see how good he is."

Akane covered her face with her hands. "Gaah! You wanted to…" Popping sounds were heard. "Ranma, just leave him alone!"

"C'mon, Akane! I've read through the journal now. I think I've got it all, but I need to spar." The look she gave him was liquid nitrogen. "…I mean," he added hurriedly, "spar with different styles. Sparring with you these days is like sparring with Pops, but faster. You don't have much of your old style left anymore. Mousse, or even Kuno, would be good, too. I…"

She snickered. "Baka! You want to fight? Just ask." Her face grew stern. "But it's impolite to pick fights in your hostess's backyard!"

"Sorry…" Ranma jerked a bit as Akane hugged her quickly. "Umm…" She thought a moment watching Akane's face. "I love you?"

"I love you, too," Akane replied, eyes glowing. Flirtatiously, she turned and entered the building. "Let's find some hot water…" Ranma quickly followed.

oOo

"Shall I put a watch on the furo, Kodama?" asked Hikari from their vantage point. "I doubt our Mistresses had planned to turn this into that kind of party…"

Kodama chuckled and laid a hand familiarly on the other's shoulder. "We better. I'd recognize that look anywhere." She glanced archly at the shorter, more slender ninja who blushed. "And with Urd…? Who knows what she has planned! It might be better, though, if Skuld happened to find them. After all, she uses warm water to teleport."

Tek winced and sweated. Though the former rodents turned elfin-sized ninja were technically in service to the goddesses, Kodama and Hikari had different levels of respect they showed to the three. Beldandy could do no wrong, and they felt Urd was weird, but fun. Somehow, though, they just couldn't take Skuld seriously. They found it amusing to embarrass her, and her quick temper and tendency to overreact was partly to blame. Only respect for Beldandy kept any of the ninja from crossing the line from teasing to true harassment.

Except for Tek, that is. She didn't tease Skuld. She and the youngest goddess were of like minds, and if it weren't for her duty to the Temple and Skuld's sisters, she would have preferred to follow Skuld to the university to work and bask constantly in Skuld's imagination and ingenuity. She often helped Skuld with fine detail work on her projects. To her, Skuld was a true and special object of worship.

When the ninja had been created by Marller's work, she had decided to use rats for her subjects. Rats are aggressive and smart and, in the neighborhood where she had set up, very common. But most rats are about as sensitive as a kick to the head. Kodama, an unusual being in her own right and looking to the future, had suggested that Marller create a weapon designer; someone who could invent and produce specialty items for their shadowy work. Marller had been unable to find such latent qualities among her rats and so had widened her horizons to find Tek.

Tek had been a mouse living in the concession stand of the abandoned arcade. Behind the arcade had been a small toyshop dealing in clockwork toys. All those lovely, lovely clockwork toys… She had learned to set them off much to the puzzlement of the old toy maker who lived there. She had spent an entire evening once, considerable and valuable time to a mouse whose lifespan could be measured in months, watching him construct clockworks for a Chinese Dragon that whirred and spun and looped in glittering spirals when complete. In his way, the old man had been her mentor and father.

Skuld would have loved the old man. She probably would have spent a considerable time competing with him, but she would have loved his drive and ingenuity. Tek roused from her reverie to listen more closely to what her superiors were saying.

Kodama got a signal on her communicator. "The perimeter is now secure, Jonin. We are beginning to run a grid to see if there were intrusions while the barrier was down."

"Good. Use all resources. With the guests, we want to make certain everything is secure." Kodama turned with a smirk to the others and nodded. "Let's go see what Skuld is doing. Jikee? Go set up that video camera to watch the furo. This ought to be fun."

"My orders?" Tek asked formally. She didn't want to be part of the 'bait Skuld' routine.

Kodama chewed on her lip. "Find the redhead and her friend and keep us updated on their movements. Timing can be critical in things like this," she grinned.

"Kodama…" Tek whined. So much for staying out of this mess! A sharp gesture sent her off.

oOo

"Mmmmmm…" Kasumi tasted the simmering broth. Out in the living room, Urudu discussed history and its importance with Shampoo, Natsume and Kurumi. The Amazon was explaining how history could be manipulated or re-written, and Urudu was nodding sagely. Natsume and Kurumi looked at one another. They were prime examples of rewritten history. Genma and Soun were sipping tea and quietly discussing their children's futures as usual. Beside Kasumi stood Nodoka and Baradandya who was waiting for the results of their critique.

"Couldn't keep out of the kitchen?" Akane asked brightly, sticking her head around the corner. Girl-type Ranma followed looking sheepish.

"Akane," Kasumi chided.

"She was positively twitching," Urudu remarked smugly, wandering in at their voices. "My sister decided to put her out of her misery."

"Oh, my!" Kasumi buried her face in her hands in an embarrassed manner.

"You leave Kasumi-chan alone, sis!" Baradandya said sternly. "She's a guest, after all!" She smiled. "Would you expect Ranma and Akane to sit quietly on the sidelines when invited to a really good martial arts exhibition?" They glanced at the now stricken looks on Akane and Ranma's faces. "They have their Art, Kasumi has hers. Consider this a friendly kata with a guest for honor and enlightenment."

Urudu gaped then giggled, sounding far younger than her near thirty-ish exterior.

"Okay," Akane and Ranma eyed the people in the kitchen then remembered why they were there. "Could we have some hot water, please?"

Tek watched this from on top of the light fixture in the kitchen. It was the first chance she had to see the guests up close and unobstructed. She was astonished at the sight of two Beldandys in the kitchen. What happened next almost made her faint! The dark-haired girl poured water from a kettle over the cute redhead and…

"Thanks, Mrs. Morisato. Say, when's Keiichi getting home?" The redhead grew and the hair darkened to black and…

So this is what they meant by hot water! "Wow, he's cute!" Tek muttered. She grinned suddenly. Unless the pair was planning to go out of their way to find the furo, Kodama and Hikari would have to give up their Skuld-baiting for today. She got out her communicator to report.

oOo

Preparations in the bathroom came to an abrupt and astonished end. Kodama turned to Hikari and sighed. "I guess we should concentrate on our real business, then." She tuned her communicator and began to contact the search teams. There was little to report until the team of Suzuki and Kitari broke in ahead of their reporting sequence.

"Clear evidence of intrusion, Kodama," Suzuki reported. "Footprints, our size, but not shinobi gear."

"Damn!" Kodama didn't hesitate. "Set two hands of teams to sweep the perimeter. Make sure they are fully armed with the new weapons." She turned to the ninja who had been setting up the camcorder. "Senrigan! Move to the east perimeter and hunt for intrusions into the Temple. Take two hands of ninja with you; the ones with Tek's new miniaturized detection equipment. Report kami-level vibrations immediately to the goddesses."

"And if we find them?" Senrigan grinned in a bloodthirsty manner.

"You will wait for instructions! Do not reveal yourselves and defend yourself only if attacked," Kodama snapped.

"Awww!"

"This is Sku- ah… Sakurida's room," offered Urudu, leading the guests through the house.

"How cute!" Kasumi exclaimed.

Sakurida winced and turned toward them. "Please! I'm not a little kid!" She crouched beside her Banpei unit, Ryoga dithering not far away.

"What is this?" Shampoo asked tapping lightly on Banpei's helmet. It gave off a dull clacking sound despite its metallic appearance.

"It's my Banpei RSX59," Sakurida responded, lugging some thick cables closer to her invention. "He's a sort of watchdog, butler, and all-terrain vehicle."

"But, thanks to me, right now it's an inert hunk of metal and plastic," commented Ryoga mournfully. Sakurida fixed him with a glare. "I'm sorry."

Sakurida uncharacteristically remained calm. "Ryoga, I told you I accept your apology. It must be horrible to get lost like you do." She stood up and placed her hands lightly on his chest. "I'll tell you what; I'll make you a GPS unit so you won't get lost again. Okay?"

Ryoga looked down into her large dark eyes and stammered his thanks. It was one of the nicest things anyone had offered to do for him. He also began to notice that Sakurida was a very cute young woman.

Urudu's eyes narrowed and she smirked. O-ho… Was her sister getting a new crush?

"And thank Daddy, Sigil's visiting friends," Sakurida added under her breath as she worked. "She would so rocket-punch his…"

Maybe not…

The Tendos and Saotomes, crowding in around the door, were gaping at the shop. It could best be described as 'Gepetto, 2050' or something similar.

"Hey, everybody!" Keiichi Morisato strained to wave over the backs of everyone's head. "I'm home."

"Bell's in the kitchen, Keiichi!" sang out Urudu.

"Thanks! Be right back." He hurried off. A few moments later, the lights got noticeably brighter for several long seconds.

"Oh, my," Nabiki commented as the lights flickered. "That must play hell with your electronics."

"It did the first time it happened," admitted Sakurida. "After that, I got surge protectors and stronger UPS units to handle of the load." She shrugged, but the look she gave her sister seemed to share a private joke. The lights returned to normal.

oOo

Kodama cursed and bounced her communicator off the wall. They had an emergency here! She had just lost contact with Senrigan and her team, and it wasn't due to the power surge. "All teams move out! We have intruders! Tek, warn the goddesses!"

oOo

"And this is my little room," Urudu giggled, sliding the shoji open to reveal her chemistry lab. They all filed in around the central island where beakers bubbled and tubes transported solutions from one flask to another. It looked extremely interesting.

Baradandya and Keiichi looked nervously at the collection of equipment. They had joined the tour as had Skuld and Ryoga. "Urudu, is it safe to have all this stuff running unattended with our guests here?" Keiichi asked.

"Relax, Kei!" Urudu winked and grinned. Using tongs she switched a nearly full beaker out from under a tube and poured the contents carefully into a series of clean test tubes.

"Just what are you making there?" asked Soun.

The teacher grinned and held a test tube out to him. "Try some!" she offered.

Soun paled. "I… don't mean to seem rude but… What will it do to me?"

"May I?" asked Genma, taking the warm tube from the tongs. He hurled the contents against the back of his throat. Everyone gasped not really knowing what to expect. "Smooth," Genma husked, "Very smooth." He glanced at the shocked faces of the others. "Don't tell me no one recognizes a still when they see one?"

"Can I try some?" asked Kurumi. Natsume groaned and looked up.

As everyone opened their mouth to say, firmly, 'NO!' a tiny figure dropped out of a vent in the ceiling, bouncing across the tops of heads, much the same way the martial artists bounced across rooftops. A small piping voice shouted a warning. "Beldandy! Skuld! Urd! We're under attack! Demons have…"

With a tinkling of broken glass, parts of Urudu's still disintegrated. More objects were thrown and smoke filled the room, making everyone cough. There was an odd sense of vertigo. Then there was a pounding sound as feet like those of giants strode across a plane of man-sized blocks of stone. Huge nets swept and gathered in the disoriented people like a child sweeping up butterflies. Roughly, they were transferred into a jar of oddly glowing glass. Then the lid came down and there was silence.

oOo

"What happened?" breathed Akane's voice softly, striving not to project.

"I'm not sure, Akane," replied Ranma. "Any idea where we are?"

"Who's that?" growled Ryoga's voice to one side.

"Akane and Ranma, here, pig-breath," Ranma growled back. (Bop!)

"Ranma!" Akane and Ryoga's voices blended in menace. "Don't start a fight, okay?" Akane added.

"Sorry. Who's that with you, Ryoga?"

Ryoga startled, and then realized he had tucked someone under his arm. "Umm… I'm not sure."

"You can put me down, now, Ryoga."

"Kasumi?" the three martial artists exclaimed.

"No, I'm Baradandya Morisato," said the voice quietly. Ryoga gasped and set her gently down. As he began to stutter an apology, she cut him off. "It's quite all right, Ryoga. You saved me, in fact." She called forth a hand light that was undetectable to their ki senses. They seemed to be in a narrow corridor with a high ceiling. The floor was rough and unpolished. "Now, perhaps, we can see about saving the others." Revealed by the light, she looked different, her features determined, very unlike the motherly, happy teacher they were used to. She also seemed oddly proportioned for some reason, doll-like. Ranma, Ryoga and Akane stared then glanced at each other.

"Eeek!" exclaimed Akane.

"Awk!" remarked Ranma, eyes bulging.

Ryoga fainted.

Their heads were proportionately about twice as big as they should have been for their bodies, and their limbs thicker. Hands raised and felt around their distorted features. "We've been…chibied!" they chorused in horror.