Ki Cutters: 29

The Prophecy III

Hiro and Dai stared horrified at the two prominent horns sticking out of Gosunkugi's forehead. Spooky-boy ran out of the building with a horrible chuckle.

"What do we do, Hiro," Daisuke whispered.

"Hell! We do what we can! Help me unroll this thing!"

Ranma saw Gosunkugi come running out of the school and groaned. 'Spooky' wasn't quite so wimpy as he once was, but this would be embarrassing if the demons succeeded. She thrashed a bit for effect and to try to improve her contact with Natsume and Akane. She had to time this right, and hoped she knew what she was doing. Only a minute had elapsed since the initial attack. Her ki senses told her that Beldandy, Urd and Kei were still tangled up in the retreating students. She just hoped they didn't pull anything gross like that tentacle-thing Senbei had tried right before she 'blender'ed him last fall. Above all, she hoped the oni hadn't picked up their ki tricks from Ryoga or Akane.

"Ho-ho! Saotome, it's over! You won't dare harm those you love… and they hold you captive." Gos-demon gloated as he crouched between her legs and gripped the top of her trousers. "You're mine!"

This was it! Ranma focused on the strangely disrupted auras of her friends and pushed.

Then to all outside observers, Gosunkugi, Akane and Natsume fell over asleep.

Gasping, Ranma struggled out from under their pinning bodies, keeping an eye on the recovering Kogara in case he got ideas on his own. She tensed and wiggled upright at the sound of pounding feet.

"Oh, Ranma, I'm so sorry we couldn't come to help you," Beldandy cried. "We should have expected…" Kei was beside her, tight-lipped and angry at what he perceived as personal failure.

"It's okay, Mrs. M," Ranma replied, brushing her clothes off. "Let's just get the little monsters out of them before they mess anything up." She winced as she noted that Shampoo, just sitting up, was developing a shiner again. Ukyo was cradling Ryoga, despite her feminine aspect, and crying over hitting her.

"Getting them out is easy," Kei said quietly. "But they'll just possess someone else if we don't seal them up somehow."

"Coming! I'm coming!" caroled Urd. She strutted forward with some large coffee cans and lids from the cafeteria. "I think this will do for starters. The plastic tops simply pop on. We can place a seal across them and hold the little devils till we've got something more secure."

"That's wonderful, Urd!" Beldandy smiled. She turned to Ranma. "Are you ready?"

Ranma held up the demon seals Kasumi had made in permanent marker. They should have known they'd be interrupted.

"Stop there!"

"Get out of the way!"

"We're experts!"

Three men ran up the walk and surrounded them. One looked like a Rambo wannabe, one looked like he wanted to be a British gentleman and one looked like he couldn't decide whether to be a monk or a pimp. Ranma could sense they were heavily armed, almost ridiculously and obviously so in the case of 'Rambo' and ready for action. The 'Brit' seemed to be the trio's leader.

"Look at the horns," said 'Rambo'.

"The most obvious case of demonic presence I have ever seen," commented the 'Brit'.

"I will lock them so that the presence cannot escape this clay and find other habitation," the fancy monk said piously. He raised his hands and turned his eyes to the sky.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" snapped Ranma. When the monk started chanting, anyway, she popped him gently in the sternum, causing him to double over and cough as his lungs refused to work properly. "I said 'whoa'! What do ya think yer doing?"

"Stand back," snapped the 'Brit', waving an umbrella toward Ranma. "These are demons! We are sworn to rid the world of their curse."

"Okay, so far we agree," growled Ranma at the obnoxious snot. "Now if ya don't mind, one o' these people happens ta be my fiancée. Ya wanna tell me just what ya have in mind?"

"That's too bad," coughed the well-heeled monk, eyeing her with a curious expression. "I am sorry for your loss." He started to lift his hands again, gold chains tinkling.

"If yer hands get above yer shoulders, I'll rip yer heart out and hand it to ya," Ranma said in a deadly tone. "Wadja mean, 'I am sorry for yer loss'?"

'Rambo' started to draw a weapon. Ranma took a single gliding step and twitched. As upset as she was, Nekoken came easy. Parts of the massive handgun clattered to the ground in even slices. Ranma did not take his hand… yet. The 'Brit' stepped back, alarmed. The monk immediately tried to slap a piece of paper on Ranma's forehead. Ranma held his hand in a firm grip and took the paper from it. It was a demon ward, much like she already held, except it had a glued back.

"What do you think you're doing," snapped the leader. "You have no idea what your interference could mean. You're dealing with demons here."

Ranma glanced up from the pre-glued demon ward. "Nice," she said. "You guys may be useful yet, but if you try one thing to hurt any of these people, it won't be pretty." She raked them with her eyes and they sweated nervously. "Now, just who are you?"

The leader glanced at the other two and stepped forward a little uncertainly. " I am Shintakai Takaburu, the Grey Ghost. My associates, Kirk Jacobsan…" The stylish monk bobbed his head. "…Mirhashi Takkai…" The Rambo wannabe nodded. "…and I are part of an international group of demon-hunters. If they are not kept in check, they will spread disease and destruction everywhere."

"This is the wrong kind of demon," Beldandy offered gently. "Well, not totally, but you need to extract them first."

"What?" The three looked stupidly at her.

"These are oni, Chinese demon-ogres who gain power from possessing people and making them do evil deeds. Once they have gained enough power, they often do ravage and pillage, but generally they are pranksters and do not stay with any host very long. It is sometimes possible to convert oni to the paths of righteousness, whereupon they are unswerving in their desire to promote good works." The demon hunters gaped at her. Beldandy frowned at them pensively and then turned back to Ranma. "Let's do this while they consider my words."

"Just a minute." Ranma walked over and picked the monk's pockets, finding more of the stickum-backed wards. "Ah! Now I'm ready." She handed a ward to Urd and Beldandy and kept one for herself.

Beldandy, Urd and Ranma held the coffee cans over the heads of the possessed teenagers. Beldandy threw her head back and prayed. Her words were not in Japanese or any other language Ranma was familiar with; but somehow, under her chanting, the redhead felt she heard:

"By righteous Word I summon thee,

Leave these children; be driven out,

Be contained by bonds of iron,

End thy days of evil works!"

There was a sucking, popping sound and the cans trembled as horned ovoids impacted against the cold metal containers. They flipped them over in unison, capped them and slapped the demon wards over the plastic lids.

"There you are," remarked Urd. "Though I would have preferred to Urd-bolt them a few times to teach them a lesson."

Akane blinked suddenly as Ranma released them from the ki-induced unconsciousness. Her eyes went round. She came to her feet as if levitating. "Ranma!" She oriented and glomped. "Oh, Ranma, it was horrible! Are you all right?" Her eyes were filled with pain. "I couldn't stop it, I just…"

"Hey, I took care of it! Don't get yer shorts inna knot!" Ranma eyed the three demon hunters suspiciously. "We seem ta have some new fingers in the pie, though."

Akane followed Ranma's gaze.

Gosunkugi groaned. Then his eyes shot wide and his hands flew to the waist of his trousers. "Eeep!" he exclaimed intelligently. He turned his head toward Ranma and Akane. "Ah!" he gulped again, Adams apple bobbing frantically. He felt with his hands over his face and head. "What?"

"Yer okay, Gos," Ranma began.

Natsume shook her head and wished she hadn't. The familiar serene façade was just that. "Ranma, what's going on? What was that thing?"

"That was an oni, Natsume, a nasty little devil-oni. They feed off people's emotions," Ranma told her. "Don't worry, they're gone."

"That remains to be seen," snapped Takaburu. "Jacobsan, examine them!"

The monk quickly dodged in, peering at Natsume who recoiled, looking sick and wan, then at Gosunkugi, who peered back curiously. When he went to check out Akane, he stopped short and gave Ranma a nervous look.

"Go ahead, but be polite," Ranma warned him. He peered at Akane who frowned at him.

"It appears, to my eye anyway, that these children are not possessed," he said finally.

"What," Takaburu practically screamed. "What do you mean they're not possessed? They have to be possessed!" He stomped over to Ranma and Akane then made a circuit of the people who were beginning to gather. "I can smell the magic! Everyone here reeks of it!"

They glanced at one another and decided to ignore the man. Ryoga and Ukyo came over, their arms about each other's waist in mutual comfort. "You okay, Ryoga?" Ranma asked.

"Peachy! I had almost forgotten what it felt like last time." She shuddered. "Sorry, Ranma. Ya wouldn't believe how fast they take you over, push you into a corner and all you can do is go along for the ride."

"It was like that when Barry-baka took control," Ranma acknowledged. "Except that poor sap didn't know what to do with it."

"He seemed to do fine once you were out of the way," Ryoga smirked, showing some fang. Her eyes went wide when Takaburu grabbed her by the jaw to look at her dentition.

"See?" Takaburu shouted. "I told you—!" (POW!) He bounced a few times on the ground following Ryoga's outraged punch.

"Just who do you think you are?" snarled Ryoga and Ukyo in unison.

"I'm a demon-hunter," Takaburu snarled back. He was fumbling in his suit pocket. "And you, my dentally-augmented friend, have to be a demon." The monk, Jacobsan, and the warrior, Takkai, began to spread out. The big man suddenly bumped into something solid, but undeniably alive. He turned and gawked.

The cadaverously lean man was over two meters tall. Pleasant looking, mild of demeanor but his eyes were pools of black showing no white. Dressed in a turtleneck sweater with twill trousers he seemed almost innocuous. The only other strange thing about him, were the twined flaring marks of crimson that rose from his brows. Each appeared to be a twin helix that broke and flared at the ends.

"Get clear of the area," Takaburu snapped at the tall man. "You're in terrible danger here."

"Lu Yueh," Beldandy said. Her words were like ice.

"Who?" Ranma asked doubtfully. She stepped back, nervous at the understated power of the figure.

"Lu Yueh, Lord of Plagues." Beldandy dropped her façade, as did Keiichi. The symbols of their otherworldliness shone on their faces.

"Hello, Beldandy… and you must be Keiichi. I've heard so much about you." His voice was deep, the words pronounced in a slow ponderous, precision, burdened with the weight of inevitability. He frowned at the gaping warrior before him. "Be off with you," he said. The belching rumble from Takkai's gut was audible for meters around. His face contorted in distress, he staggered toward the school, trailing flatulence and gastric exclamations. "And you two as well. You offend me." Takaburu and Jacobsan suddenly crouched and clutched at rumbling stomachs. They joined the retreat of 'Rambo'.

"Wadja do to them?" Ranma growled.

"Nothing fatal, just a version of Montezuma's Revenge. You are Ranma Saotome? Hmmm… In my incarnation as Set of Egypt I had red hair as well. I hope you are not going to make this difficult." He considered the martial artist mildly. "I'm sure you find this distasteful. Is there some place you would prefer to be relieved of your unwanted burden? If not, I'm certain I can provide something adequate."

"Are you kiddin'?" Ranma shrilled. "I'm a guy!"

"You are presently a Jusenkyo-transformed woman. I assure you that while the act may be distasteful, it is not necessarily uncomfortable even for a female's first time. But once it's over, it's over. There is no sense drawing this out."

"And you are a demon, Lu Yueh," Keiichi said.

"What of it?" the demon answered. His manner was very relaxed and comfortable. "We have our jobs, mine is simply one of the more distasteful. We are all servants to Necessity and death comes even to the gods themselves." He polished his nails against the front of his shirt. "Things have been boring of late. Most of the diseases I'm working with are so long term: Aids, cancer, genetic disorders… I just don't get the respect I deserve. Perhaps a little power will liven things up. A good boost should let me break Ebola out of Africa, for example. The world is overpopulated as it is. It's time for adjustment."

"You are constrained by His plan as are we all," Beldandy reminded him.

"But what is His plan, Beldandy?" Lu Yueh said. "Many times we don't know until we hear him say 'No!'" He put a hand to his ear. "I don't hear anything."

"He told me that I was to use any means possible to prevent a demon from acquiring the prize, Lu Yueh," Keiichi told him, stepping in between Ranma and the immortal.

"Really?" Lu Yueh exclaimed mildly. "Oh, that's too bad; too, too bad. Why haven't you taken the prize then, or selected a suitable candidate?" He shook his head 't'sk'ing. "Now it's too late. Don't imagine you can oppose me, young one. You are first class, limited, so I am far too powerful for you." He caught Ranma's eye. "Understand. You will give me the prize or I will condemn everyone you know to horrible death. You are a fine martial artist, but you cannot fight disease." He glanced at Keiichi and Beldandy slyly. "Nor are gods immune from my power. After all, what is a virus between friends, eh?"

"I guess we'll have to find out," Keiichi said flatly. He took a single step forward and stopped shocked. Lu Yueh was suddenly encased in a sphere of ki. The demon blinked, apparently as surprised as Keiichi was. "Ranma! What are you doing?" Keiichi snapped.

"Just makin' sure a friend doesn't make a bad mistake. What's he talkin' about you guys getting viruses?"

Keiichi grimaced. "Technically everything that exists is very similar to an extension of a vast computer program, Ranma. He was threatening to 'hack the system' and infect me."

"He can do that?" Ranma queried with a hint of astonishment. "And you were just gonna go in there, take yer lumps and hope whatever he had wasn't enough to kill ya? Jeez, Keiichi, ya gotta lot to learn about combat and fighting."

"Ranma!" Keiichi growled, then tried to calm down. "What did you do?"

"I wafered my shields. Three layers, the inner one is Aikiharaken, the outer is a basic shield, but the middle layer is that inertial thingy we just worked out. We gotta play fer time on this one, Kei."

Keiichi boggled. "How are you doing that? That's way beyond what even you're capable of, Ranma."

"I'm borrowin', Kei," she said. Keiichi could now see the thin layer of sweat that was pooling down her face. "I just hope they don't charge interest."

"He's channeling loose ki much as a minor kami does, Kei," Beldandy analyzed. "But he can't keep this up for long."

"This is one o' those situations ya play fer time, Kei…" Ranma grated. "At least if ya don't win…"

There was a 'sching-ing-ing' sound from behind them.

Nagasameru was looking over Lu Yueh with her nodachi in her hand. "Hi, everyone," she said off-handedly, eyeing the tall figure who eyed her in turn. "Long time no see."

Ranma suddenly got a tight grin. "Ya did say Naga's sword could kill anythin', didn't ya?"

Beldandy nodded, then gulped. "Ranma, Lu Yueh is one of the oldest demons in existence. You mean to…?"

Ranma shrugged stiffly. "He's threatening all of us over this stupid power prophecy. Why not? He said death comes even to gods. Is he exempt?" She turned back to Nagasameru, in obvious physical distress. "When I drop the shields, feel free to take a good whack at him."

Nagasameru nodded and set herself. Ranma walked closer to the shield ball that imprisoned the demon.

"Perhaps we could negotiate," Lu Yueh said. He seemed unconcerned about the keen steel targeted at his neck. "In return for the prize, I will guarantee to take no action against your family for three generations."

"What if it's part of their fate that ya do?" Ranma asked.

"That I have no control over," Lu Yueh said easily.

"Here's my offer." Ranma fixed him with a glare. "You'll forget you ever heard of a 'prize' or bear any special grudge against anyone here or their descendants. In return, Nagasameru won't use that sword of hers ta send ya wherever demons go when they cash in."

Lu Yueh eyed Nagasameru. "I can kill you before you strike."

"Sickness is slow, if sure," Nagasameru quietly replied. "I just had a physical, so I doubt there's anything you can trigger that can kill me fast enough to save you. I'll trade death, slow or quick, for your demise, demon." There was a long silence as they eyed one another. "I think you're bluffing, but I'm not."

"It seems I am out-maneuvered." Lu Yueh nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. I am loath to end over three thousand years of life. I agree. Drop your cage and let me leave."

"Should we make him swear an oath?" Ranma grated painfully. She dropped to her knees, limbs trembling.

"Swear upon your power," Beldandy demanded of the demon.

"On my power, I agree to Ranma's conditions." The shield ball dissolved and Lu Yueh vanished. Everyone present breathed a sigh of relief. "Very well done, Ranma," Beldandy began. She exclaimed as Akane gasped and leaped forward.

Ranma was sprawled on the ground unconscious.

Then Hiroshi and Daisuke stumbled out the front doors with the hose. The hydraulic pressure was more powerful than their ability to control the thrashing hose and the stream began flooding the quad impartially. "Somebody point us at the demons!" they yelled.

oOo

"He'll be all right," said Urd confidently, a little later. "When you do things that people don't normally do, don't be surprised when things are a bit bumpy."

Ranma rested in the nurse's office. Male again, he seemed comfortable on the cot he had so often sent attackers to. Akane sat to one side, holding his hand. Beldandy and Hinako watched from the door. His breathing was deep and even.

There was a knock on the doorframe. Thor loomed over them from the hall.

"How's he doing? I just heard about Lu Yueh."

"Well enough, thank you," Akane said. She sighed worriedly. "I don't know how much more of this he can take."

Thor nodded. "Sorry I missed out on that fight. Did you leave Yueh in one piece?"

"There was no fight. Ranma came up with a amalgamation of the techniques he's learned to contain Yueh until this young lady arrived." Beldandy pointed past him to Nagasameru out in the hall. Thor eyed her sword appreciatively.

"Ah! Now I understand." Thor chuckled. "That fellow tends to lose his stuff all over the place. No wonder Yueh was worried." Suddenly, Thor snapped his fingers. "I wanted to warn you people. There are at least four groups getting ready to raid Nerima for Ranma. I'm not sure when they're due."

"Who?" Shampoo asked.

"Trolls again and the rock oni. Some of the Naga of India are said to be on their way. There are reports of the Sidhe stirring in Avalon. You wouldn't believe what a bug this has put up everyone's ass!" Thor blinked, took in Beldandy's frown and reddened. "Pardon my language there," he muttered. "The Almighty has put out the call to all kami that they are not to strive for the prize. He… kinda left it open that it could be offered though."

They glared at him.

"That wouldn't be why you were hanging around now," Urd commented, "would it?"

Thor looked offended. His face reddened, he scowled and lightning played across the horns of his helmet. "You wouldn't tell Sif, would you?" he said in a suddenly meek voice. "I mean, I'm not asking. I'm just here if it becomes necessary or convenient…"

People figuratively ducked. Urd had such an uncanny resemblance to Nabiki at this point, that no one faulted Thor his mild deception.

"Urd!" Beldandy snapped. "If you can help us keep Ranma safe, Thor, we'll let it pass. But if you do end up with this prize, I promise you, Sif will hear of it if I have to tell her myself."

"Ouch!" Thor grimaced. "There goes any joy I'd have in winning. All right, I'll behave." He turned and walked down the hall. "I'll be back when I hear more. Give my best to the young warrior there. I like him."

Akane looked up at Keiichi and Beldandy. "It's just going to get worse, isn't it?"

oOo

"How could this get any worse?" shouted Senbei at the cowering Urami and Urayami. The demon, (first-class, unlimited) stomped around the main room of their lavish quarters. As demons tried to do, they had found a rich host willing to put up with them. "This was supposed to be a high security, low profile operation. This morning I find the messenger boy, a mere imp, is gossiping about the entire operation!" A small blot on the floor revealed the fate of that unfortunate bearer of bad news. "You two are coming with me!" he snarled. "I hadn't wanted to act so soon after the prophecy was implanted, but if I don't move, someone else will get it."

Urami and Urayami exchanged glances. They had been following the progress of Ranma, in part because they enjoyed his discomfort and in part because he was cute. They debated whether to reveal just how effective he had been in repelling unwanted advances. Lu Yueh was technically Senbei's superior, yet even he had retreated.

Senbei pointed to the demon sisters. A quick chant and they were crows. "Urami, you go to Nekohanten. Urayami, you go to Ucchan's. I will watch the Tendo's personally. We must catch him when family members, preferably not martial artists, are around." Opening the front door, he chased them out into the afternoon light. Reducing suddenly in size, he levitated and shot off toward the Tendo's.

"Urayami, what are we going to do?" Urami squawked as they flapped slowly toward their destinations. "If he finds out…"

"He already knows," clacked Urayami. "Why do you think he put us in these forms? Let us hope we don't have to keep them."

"What do you think he will do when he finds out about those that have already tried?" They caught an updraft and spiraled for more altitude. "The Saotome boy is much stronger than we supposed."

"He still needs help to defeat strong immortals. Keiichi helped him with Ares, and he had Keiichi's help and that girl's to make Lu Yueh back down." Urayami shuddered. "How did a mere human end up with a weapon of the Ultimate Assassin?"

"Let us hope we do not experience it firsthand." Urami cawed. "Here I go!" They broke apart, each to their station to await the next move.

oOo

"I wish Nagasameru had come along," Keiichi grumbled as the group filed through the front door at the Tendo's. "That sword of hers is useful." Akane lugged a comatose Ranma piggyback up the stairs. Ukyo and Ryoga were heading for the Nekohanten to update them, while Urudu contacted her sister and other allies.

"She said she had to talk to what's his name…Takaburu. This way," Akane said. Behind her trailed Shampoo and Keiichi. She placed her fiancé on the bed in her room and accepted hot water from Shampoo. Ranma filled out and grew. "I'll wake him up soon. I want him to rest while we still have time."

"This can't go on, Akane," Shampoo observed. "Ranma not really beat stronger enemies. He trick or bluff them. Ranma lose even if he was kami, yes?" She glanced at Keiichi.

"Only the Almighty could stand up against the forces that are coming against Ranma," Keiichi said sadly. "I don't know what to say. I want to help him, but I don't know how. At least not without changing him so much he wouldn't be Ranma anymore."

"How's that?" Akane asked with a scowl. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I understand he had a huge personality swing twice now, that temporarily left him with a feminine outlook and personality," Keiichi replied. "I'm talking about the koi rod and that time he hit his head and thought he was a girl."

"How do you know about that?" Akane demanded. Keiichi pointed to his forehead and briefly his Kami-link flared bright. "Oh."

"I could give him that outlook again, and he wouldn't care; at least, not as much. But when I brought him back, it would be traumatic as hell. And that's if I could bring him back. Leaving him with a feminine personality might be the only way to cushion the blow if…"

"If…?"

"Ahhh… There is one additional problem that will occur should a kami or oni succeed in, um… having sex with Ranma's girl-type. Uh… He will get pregnant. Guaranteed. Ranma will be stuck in his girl form until the pregnancy is over. He will find it impossible to terminate the pregnancy in any way. Any attempt to do so may even lock him in girl-form permanently."

"No!" Akane's voice held a lot of pain. "I won't let that happen to him!"

"When you find this out, Keiichi?" Shampoo asked. "Why you no tell Ranma this before?"

"I found out only a few minutes ago," he said sheepishly. "I asked for all pertinent data last night, but Yggdrasil is huge… It sometimes takes a while to receive information. For the last millennia, as I've been told, supernatural beings have been blocked from 'breeding' with humans. Unfortunately, Ranma's curse slides him into a gray zone, and the fact the action is with the cursed form makes it worse. If he gets caught, I can promise you he'll be expecting, trust me."

"I won't let this happen," Akane snarled again, even more harshly than before. She turned her eyes back to the sleeping boy. "Why does everything happen to him?"

"Now you sound like spatula-girl," Shampoo huffed. "Is bad, but could be worse, and might be if we not plan."

"The only escape for Ranma, that I can see, would be to have sex with a mortal male," Keiichi said thoughtfully. He sighed in relief. At least that eliminated him!

"He never want stick-boy," Shampoo said. "Even if stick-boy is better in head."

"Are you saying he and… and Ryoga?" Akane asked in horror.

"It's a possibility," Keiichi began, looking distressed himself.

"That what you think," Shampoo snickered. "You not see how former pig-boy hang around Ukyo?

"They are, aren't they?" Akane admitted wistfully. Her eyes hardened again. "But if not Ryoga, then who? And if anyone says Happosai, I'll give them a slow lingering death."

"Why not Akane?" suggested Shampoo. Akane boggled at her. "Shampoo cannot do this because of Amazon laws, but laws not recognize Akane as Amazon – yet. Also sneaks around Amazon law, which only recognize Ranma-boy having sex with you, or me, as girl."

"What are you talking…?" Akane suddenly got it. "You mean Nanniichuan, don't you?" She gulped. Keiichi tried to decide if he understood what was being suggested. "I… All right. I can accept a curse for Ranma," Akane said stiffly.

"No, no, Akane," Shampoo smiled. "Is perfect! Use Instant Nanniichuan! Get equipment, do deed, all over!"

"That would work, I guess," Keiichi gulped, visualizing something really disturbing to him.

"I go get; talk to Great-grandmother! Then we plan!" Shampoo shot off like a rocket leaving Akane with a very peculiar expression on her face.

She blinked. "Did I just agree to turn into a guy and have sex with Ranma when he's a girl?" she asked in a small wobbly voice.

"Ummm… Yes?" Keiichi offered. One hand went reflexively to his nose.

"What was I THINKING of?" She screeched in horror and ran out of the room, her hands over a scarlet face.

Keiichi started to follow her, then considered the slumbering martial artist. Ranma would be totally defenseless if he left. The little cat that leapt up beside him could hardly be counted as a guardian. And it would take a demon mere seconds to kidnap the young man. Dithering, he growled, "Why couldn't I have a cell phone? I could have at least contacted Bel to let her know what happened!" There was a 'pop!' and something fell out of the air. He barely caught it before it hit the floor.

It was a cell phone. Attached was a card. It read: "Ask and ye shall receive." Keiichi sketched a quick skyward 'thank you' before dialing furiously.

oOo

Akane actually ran with purpose. Anytime the youngest Tendo had problems, she looked to her oldest sister to help her make sense of them and discover her options. She found her in the main room with a guest. She came to a mental halt. Blurting out their plan to Auntie Nodoka might not be the best idea in the world, despite their new comprehension of how her mind worked.

"Hello, Akane," the older woman said. Pregnancy suited Nodoka somehow. She glowed with contentment. Akane's mind tried to fit Ranma, in girl-type, into that mold and failed spectacularly. She gulped and fidgeted.

"What is it, Akane?" Kasumi asked. Akane observed that they were making demon-wards and gulped at that reminder of their plight. What had Nodoka been told?

"Ummm… I really need to talk to you, Kasumi."

"Come sit down, Akane-chan," Nodoka said. "I can tell it's about Ranma. Has he said something foolish again?"

"N...no, Auntie," Akane blushed worse than before.

Nodoka took in the blush. She smiled faintly. But whatever she was about to say was lost as two brimstone-laced explosions filled the room with choking smoke. The Saotome matriarch felt herself dragged to her feet.

Across the room, Akane's ki-vision flickered on. She discerned the two intruders and began to charge forward. She flinched as she sensed and heard another deafening explosion just ahead of her, and suddenly experienced what it was like to be wrapped in gelatin-covered saran-wrap.

"Hello der, sweetie," Senbei's voice was liquid with venom. "So nice to see you again. Now where's dat fiancé o' yours?" Akane immediately went to Nekoken. Ki-claws would shred whatever bound her… "No, no, no! You do what I say or yo' sista and de fiancé's mudder, dey get their little neck snap by my playmates."

Akane finally saw what was happening across the room. Urami and Urayami stood behind the other women, one hand locked on their throats, the other on a wrist. Akane also discovered that the thick rubbery gelatinous mass that held her was… Senbei's head rose from a blackish-green stalk of fibrous material that was attached to the mass that enveloped her. Akane screamed. It was a blend of horror, rage and disgust. She started to struggle.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Senbei cautioned. "Remember yo' sister…"

Akane gulped air and glared at him. He was a demon. She had to remember that.

Keiichi jumped at the explosions downstairs. Akane's scream soon after, galvanized him. He slapped Ranma, trying to wake him. He didn't wake. He shook him, no response. He got desperate and whipped out his cell phone. He dialed.

"Bel! What do I do? I can't wake Ranma up and I think we're under attack again."

"Is there a mirror nearby?" came Beldandy's voice.

Kei looked around. There was a small hand mirror on Akane's desk. "Ready!" He turned his head away from the brilliance of her coming.

Beldandy stepped to Ranma, but her head swiveled to look downstairs. "It's Senbei," she whispered. "He's controlling Akane by threatening Kasumi and Mrs. Saotome." She glanced at Ranma then. "It's a tsubo technique, I think." Her uplink glowed. "Oh, my! So that's how it's done." She pressed several spots on the back of Ranma's neck.

His eyes flickered open immediately. They darted to their worried faces. "Where's Akane?"

They told him. "Ranma," Keiichi added, "I don't know why, but I have a premonition I might be out of action soon. Beldandy is going to give you the final key to using your Aikiharaken technique properly. It might make the difference." Beldandy reached out to touch Ranma's forehead and her symbols glowed.

Ranma blinked. "That's it?"

"Yep. Simple, but it's not the way a martial artist normally thinks about his techniques." Kei watched Ranma's expression.

Ranma's eyes shut for an instant, as he refocused and looked around with ki. He opened them with a new look of purpose. "Here's what we'll do…"

oOo

"Come, come…" Senbei said coaxingly. "Where is yo' little friend? Come on now, a nice little scream…" He sent his voice falsetto, "'Help me, Ranma!' would be nice."

"Bless you," Akane said sweetly. What she wanted to say was quite rude and might give him ideas.

"Oh, you no fun!" He looked over at his stooges. "Let's make this more interestin'. His Momma ober der… Carryin' a little one, yes?"

"Leave her alone, scum."

The voice came from the hall. Ranma glided into the room, aura flaring dully, banked fires ready to roar to life.

"Ahhh, Saotome. Yo' lookin' good, man, but yo' could be lookin' betta. Get some water and let's see de redhead."

"In yer dreams…"

"Let me remind you, Saotome, I hold your little woman in my hand. You try to take her from me, I can do any number of unpleasant t'ing to her. While you're tryin' to save her, Urami and Urayami be doin' unpleasant, permanent t'ing to her sister and yo mudda'." Nodoka flinched as a long, slimy looking tentacle suddenly whipped out and spurted flame over the wards on the table. They turned their eyes to the chief demon as the wards vanished in a dull red flame that scorched the wood. "Just to prevent stupid acts," he added smirking.

"Ranma!" Akane squeaked as he took a step toward them. She felt a shift and redistribution of the mass that was Senbei in sensitive regions. "Let go of me, you pervert," Akane hissed at the demon.

Senbei rolled a tongue out of his mouth that would have daunted Picolet Chardin and let it slurp across her cheek and neck. "While yo boyfren' be decidin' how much he love you, maybe you an' me can have some fun, cherie?"

"Damn you," Ranma snarled.

"Go change, boy, or I'll take your girl as a consolation prize."

Ranma turned and stormed into the kitchen. There was the sound of running water.

Kasumi and Nodoka exchanged glances. "Dear," Nodoka said, "we can't allow this."

"You don't have a choice, bitch," Urami spat.

"I agree," Kasumi said, ignoring the other demon and the hand on her throat.

"Need I remind you two of the little one in Mama's tummy, hmmm?" Senbei said sweetly. He grinned as Ranma stormed back in, female and furious. "Now, Saotome. You come ober here. I gonna cuddle with both o' you, a sweet little treesome, yes?" He chuckled darkly. "Come on, little girl. When I get what I want, you can have yo girlfren' back."

Ranma moved closer. "You swear by your power?" she asked.

Her eyes narrowed as Senbei stiffened and stuttered. "W-w-what? Yo can take my word fo' it! Get ober here or I'll show you how I can tear her in two!" Ranma now knew how trustworthy the demon's intentions were. If timed right, they had a slim chance. She wished she could use the improved Aikiharaken on him, but he was in contact with Akane — Boy, was he ever! — and she would take the brunt of the attack.

With her free hand, Kasumi reached unnoticed into her apron. She believed that if she and Nodoka were not captive, Ranma could probably take the demon. She suspected that what she was about to do would kill her but save Nodoka. She withdrew a permanent marker and popped the cap with her thumb. The tiny clatter drew the attention of the demoness holding Nodoka, turning her face toward the young woman. With the swift, fluid motions of long practice, Kasumi drew on the pale forehead the symbol of warding.

Ranma's face became a study in surprise, anger and horror. Her plan was out the window. From one hand, the gleaming length of one of Kasumi's knives thudded into the table top, it's mirror-like surface bright with more than reflected light. There was no time to wait for the Morisatos' appearance. She dropped into the time-stopping action of inertial compression. Wading through air like syrup, Ranma sailed to Akane's side and brought Nekoken into play.

This was a little tricky. To do this right, she had to include Akane in the action. She touched her fiancée, felt her ki and then began to literally cut Senbei away from the girl. She had little concern for the demon, having run him 'through the blender' before, with no permanent result. The section his head sprouted from was the first to go. Then she felt a growing burning sensation as her technique brought Akane up to speed.

Akane began to move. Her eyes began to slowly track and catch up with Ranma. She saw what she was doing and her arms convulsed, neko-claws ripping through the mass on her upper body. She saw Ranma's distress as the effort to keep both of them mobile effectively doubled. What was worse was that she could feel the twitch and response in Senbei's 'body'. The demon was becoming aware of their actions and speeding up in response. The air was like molasses; she could neither breath nor speak. Frantically she clawed at membrane and tentacles that encased her legs.

They tightened even as they began to fray apart. Senbei's head didn't need to be attached to his body to control it. They weren't going to make it. Ranma glanced at Kasumi, her hand suspended in midair, withdrawing from the smoking, shuddering form of Nodoka's captor, her own face serene and determined. She noticed for the first time the approach of Beldandy, her arm around Keiichi to transport him through the mirror surface of the knife blade. In their hands were symbols of good fortune, anathema to demon-kind. If they were alert, they might save Kasumi, but she suspected that time had run out for Akane, unless… Inspired by Kasumi's deed, Ranma cut the symbol of warding into Senbei's forehead with the Nekoken

Senbei had been speeding up, searching for his opponent, understanding an instant after she disappeared that this was not Umisen. He had never heard of a human using this technique, but Ranma was unusual. He felt the twitch at his neck and leered humorlessly. Nice try, Ranma; but no good at all this time. Senbei had prepared for the Nekoken. His body was pre-energized to maintain his control and return to its assigned shape almost instantly, even if Ranma did run him through the blender again. He sped up more, marveling at Ranma's control. He just barely saw Ranma as she reached out a finger to touch his forehead. Pain rocked his entire being. Intense pain! Worse than anything he had ever experienced! He tried to escape, grimly holding onto his captive, but she was anchored! Cursing, he released her and was gone.

Akane fell weeping into Beldandy's arms. The goddess caught hold of her to prevent Senbei from taking her with him. Ranma fell convulsing to the floor as she ran out of power to run the inertial boost. Keiichi stood poised, one hand on Urayami's throat and the other, with a demon ward, was poised to slap it on her forehead.

"Let. Go," he commanded. Urayami gulped, nodded and released Kasumi unharmed. They stepped away from the girl until she was out of reach. Keiichi kept his hold on Urayami, however, the dual threat of ward and power holding her captive. "Somebody check Ranma." Kei was quite capable of command. He had to be, running a fifty-member development team for his company.

Akane calmed immediately, her concern for Ranma outweighing any thoughts of self. "He's exhausted," she decided as the tremors stopped. "His heart rate is dropping and his ki is returning to a rest state." Akane shook her head. At rest, maybe, but it was hardly normal. She glanced up to tell the kami her observations when she noticed something. "Where's Auntie?" she snapped. Where Urami and Nodoka had stood was nothing. Wherever Urami had gone, she had taken Nodoka with her.

oOo

"Get it off! Get it off!"

Nodoka stepped back from the screaming demon as she was released. She staggered up against the wall to regard the shrieking woman. The shrieks brought other attention as well. There was a pounding of feet and a slender young woman with glasses darted into the room to stop, appalled by what she saw. "What's wrong with her?" she demanded, foregoing other questions for the moment, like 'Who the hell are you?'

"I'm afraid she has a demon ward written on her forehead with permanent marker."

"But why would… Oh!" The woman's eyes narrowed. "Are you…?"

"A demon? No, I am Nodoka Saotome. I guess you could say she kidnapped me."

The woman nodded as if she were expecting this. "That's it then," she said, eyes tearing. "I'll help you if you help me," she said hopelessly, ignoring the writhing form on the floor. "I need to get my children before we leave." Tears began trickling down her face.

"Ah?" Nodoka's eyebrows rose. Was she missing something?

The woman nodded. "This is one of my husband's guests. I thought… I really thought we could still make it… work." Her tears grew worse.

Nodoka recognized a sister in experience, even if this woman hadn't been abandoned for years on end. She pulled the younger woman into her arms for a brief hug. "I agree; if this is the company he's been keeping. Now get your children and any good luck or holy symbols you have in the house."

"There aren't many. He s-s-said it was bec-c-cause he was tired of how m-m-many he saw at his casino."

"Then get me a brush and ink, or better yet a permanent marker and some paper. And some rubbing alcohol," Nodoka requested. "We will need to leave quickly. Oh! And what is your name, dear?"

"S-s-sora Aoshi-m-ma," she said quietly before ducking away. She came back quickly with a toddler and a baby in arms. The toddler carried a little pottery badger while Sora held out several sheets of fine white paper. It took Nodoka only seconds to whip up a half dozen wards and then she picked up the alcohol and a rag.

She moved swiftly to where Urami writhed in pain. She noted that every time the demoness moved to rub at her head, the symbol would smoke and fume. "Lie still, now. I've got something that will take it off. No! Get your hands away. That's it; see? It's getting better. Almost done... There." Nodoka sat on her calves and watched as the dark-haired girl whimpered and dabbed at her forehead. Slowly, with almost glazed eyes, she sat up. Suddenly focused, the eyes turned toward her rescuer.

"Ah-ah!" Nodoka said. "Don't get any ideas, young lady. Now," she added, holding up the ward, "do you mind telling me why you creatures are after my son?" Urami gave her a disgusted look and summarized the plot in a parsed statement. Nodoka looked shocked then aggravated. "So my son's female form is the medium for power in some cosmic game your superior began, is he?" Urami nodded. "That is unacceptable."

Sora stepped from behind Nodoka, carefully keeping her children behind her. "You people are no longer welcome in my home."

Urami shrugged. "Too bad. Once you let demons in, you have to take extreme measures to get us out again, Sora Aoshima." She stood straighter. "I'll be leaving now, though. I have to find my boss." She looked back to Nodoka, her face unreadable. "If I weren't a demon, I could properly thank you," Urami said enigmatically, before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Coughing, Nodoka and Sora backed away. "Now, dear, before we go, may I use your phone?"

oOo

"Where's Ranma's mom?" Akane demanded of Urayami. With Ranma out cold, she stepped in to look out for his interests.

"I don't know!" wailed the cringing demon. "She probably went someplace safe. Unless she went to the netherworld, his mother will be all right. I doubt she could hold onto her long with that w-ward on her face."

"Where…" Akane began to demand. She was interrupted as the wall bulged and blasted inwards. A huge muscular figure stepped through the hole.

"Hey! Look! We found him… her… whatever, but we found Ranma!" It shrugged through the hole, followed immediately by a smaller swifter form, then by a white-haired man in scaly armor.

"Very well," Herb, Prince of the Musk Dynasty said. "It seems the prize must fall to me."

Akane glanced sidewise. Keiichi had been knocked down by the flying debris and Urayami was nowhere to be seen. Akane snarled, frustrated. "You idiots are in deep trouble," she growled. Beldandy was already at Keiichi's side to see if he was injured.

Suddenly, a pack of short, dog-faced characters broke through the garden shoji, picked Ranma up and were out the door before anyone could react.

"Get back here!" Akane and Herb screamed in unison. Akane made the door first, which was just as well. Herb, Lime and Mint tried to go through together and ended up wearing the doorframe as they left. Outside, wheeling shadows told of airborne pursuers taking up the pursuit of Ranma.

Kasumi wrung her hands. Nodoka and her baby gone… Her house was a wreck again... 'Oh, well. Disaster brings opportunities for improvement,' she thought. 'If this keeps up, we'll have a nicer house than the emperor's.'

Soun chose this moment to stick his head into the room. He had been in the dojo and totally unaware of what was going on in the house. "Oh, father," chided Kasumi as he burst into tears over the scene of destruction. Then, the phone rang.

Akane caught up with the short-legged little beasts as they were trying to lower Ranma into a hole in the ground. Her strikes were devastating. She held nothing back. How dare they try to do this to her Ranma? While she fought the under-dwellers, Lime picked up Ranma and ran for it. Akane jumped him immediately, but was then delayed by the powerful warrior as he lateraled Ranma to Mint, who sped away.

She almost caught up with Mint when he was blindsided by a pair of Phoenix Mountain warriors ducking between houses like a hawk on its prey. A third warrior tried to lift off with the unconscious redhead only to be thumped by a bonbori.

"Nihau!" came the bright voice. Shampoo had returned. "Everything under control, Akane. I call friends to come help. Even Nuku-Nuku come, now Ryunosuke safe at home." She was tripped and knocked over by a weird mechanical device that spidered along on multiple jointed legs. It scooped up Ranma and hurried away. "What that?" she snarled.

"Who cares?" Mint yelled, jumping to his feet. "Kill it!" Everyone took off in pursuit.

"Where are all these perverts coming from?" screamed Akane as she set off in pursuit once more. "And where are the rest of the guys?"

"You, me, get Ranma to… meeting place," Shampoo caroled back. "Then you see what Shampoo plan!" They charged forward.

At the Nekohanten, Cologne noticed the steady increase of noise and disturbance of ki. "Great-granddaughters?" she croaked. "Mousse? It's time to get out there. I think the girls may need help bringing back Ranma."

Nuku-Nuku, who had been waiting nearby, jumped to her feet. "We'll ride my bicycle!" she offered. "It's fast!"

"Okay," chorused the unsuspecting twins.

"The rest of you stay here!" snapped the Matriarch. "We have much to do before they arrive."

Nerima quickly became a war zone. Even inured as they were to the petty violence and martial arts mayhem, the citizens of the town agreed that this was a bit much. Children watched from upper windows as a horde of strange creatures played keep-away with a pretty red-haired girl. A few knew Ranma on sight and wondered what was going on this time. The rest got out the chips, pocky and what have you, along with their favorite beverage, and sat down to watch, never suspecting the ramifications of the drama before them.

The twins and Mousse on Nuku's bicycle-from-hell sped past at breathtaking speed. Mousse, teeth clenched in a grimace of excitement (or fear), threw bolas at the speedy spider-mecha, disabling it. The twins launched themselves off the trailer and finished it. Nuku-Nuku screeched to a halt. "Dump Ranma in! I'll take him back to base."

"Not if we can help it!" shouted Lime and Mint. They leaped toward the twins and then leaped back, as a fireball almost five meters across blasted against the pavement, leaving a boiling crater. Out of the sun above them came more birdmen from Phoenix Mountain. In the lead swooped an individual in a splendid purple-scaled vest, the Taochinpang gripped in his talons.

Musk, Amazon and Nerimian stood about the boiling crater staring up at the sight. "The prize is mine! In the name of Phoenix Mountain!" Taochinpang's wielder came swooping out of the sky.

Akane recognized 'Bigmouth' from the confrontation last November. "Name of Phoenix Mountain, my butt! Where's Kiima and Saffron?" she snarled as he landed.

"You dare disregard me?" He swiveled to aim the weapon at them. The Musk scattered. Seeing Akane standing her ground, Nuku-Nuku stepped behind her, trusting to her experience.

Akane barely threw shields up in time as elemental flame roared across the street. Bigmouth boggled much as Taro had, as she barreled through that flame. She dodged his reflective swipe and ducked behind him. He wore the vest backwards to allow his wings space to move. With his avian physiology of expanded breastbone and wing muscles, it probably fit him better that way, anyway. Two swipes cut the fasteners to leave the vest flapping open from behind.

"Oops! Did I do that?" She stayed close, but just far enough away to avoid his swipes, looking for her next opening. She sensed Nuku-Nuku come close.

"Can I help?" she asked a strange tone to her voice. "He looks so much like a bird."

"Where's Ranma?" Akane asked alarmed.

"Shampoo borrowed my bike. She'll get Ranma to safety." (FOOOM!) Akane's shields deflected another blast as Bigmouth leaped away for space. He used the opportunity to take to the air. Akane tried a series of ki-blasts to take out a wing, but he caught and absorbed them with Taochinpang.

"You cannot hope to defeat me!" He laughed insanely. The space within the disc of the Kinjaken half of the staff suddenly shown like a star. The intense spark blossumed and fed a growing ball of superheated plasma that when cast might flash-fry everything for blocks around. Akane felt her skin prickle as the perseration suddenly evaporated and doubt crept in. She might be able to survive this but the ordinary people caught up in this stupid competition? Her anger caught fire at the wanton destruction he threatened.

"Who do you think you are?" she demanded, stalling for time, looking for an answer.

"Me?" The question seemed to catch him off guard. He glanced at the staff in his hands and then looked at the dancing shadows of an enormous winged figure that strode amoung Tokyo's highrises and skyscrapers. His lips pealed back in a ghastly smile. "Why... I'm god!" Just suddenly he frowned. "FEEL MY WRATH!"