Ki Cutters: 36

The Pestilence I

That suddenly, the tenor of the conversation had dramatically altered. The Amazons might appear simply respectful of their goddess, but their unsuspecting Japanese cousins had respect for authority practically bred into their bones. The Emperor received veneration as the Son of Heaven (regardless of decrees to the contrary made fifty years ago) and that authority filtered down through all authority figures in their turn. It was one thing to be comfortable and familiar with the foreign goddesses, the Norns, and give them the respect owed teachers of their caliber. Amaterasu Omikami was another matter.

Only Ranma appeared to maintain his former poise. Akane, Kasumi, Ryoga and Ukyo sat, half crouched, unsure how to deal with this situation. By all rights, they should be on their knees with their foreheads pressed to the floor. Yet just as obviously, from her pained wince, their ultimate mother did not wish this. Baradandya, Urudu and Sakurida sat back and wondered how their friends would deal with this unexpected revelation.

"I'm glad I'm not a kami," Ranma said quietly in the shocked silence.

"Why is that, Ranma?" Sakurida asked. This was not the first time Ranma's upbringing and experience had made him seem less Japanese than his peers.

"You talked about how much you hated war and killin', Sakurida. I'd guess that meant you couldn't stop any of it, even if you wanted to. And Amatras admitted to being in Japan for the last fifteen hundred years." He directed his next words the red-haired goddess. "You knew the people and lived with 'em as family. You lived through the Shogunate. You were there for the Onin Wars. The Restoration couldn't have been much fun. There was a lot of killin' during all those years." He jabbed a finger at Sakurida. "Ya said the war in Europe was hard on you, Sakurida. If I was a better student, I might know better what that means. But I know what the War must have meant ta Her, here in Japan. There can't be many times anywhere, any when, where two cities were gone in an eye-blink." Sakurida's hands snapped up to cover her mouth. All eyes snapped to Amaterasu.

The goddess' eyes were glued to the tabletop. "I was working as a nurse on Kyushu," she said softly. "I felt the silence… and then the additional shock of pain from thousands. I contacted Kamisama…" A single tear fell through the silence to the tabletop. "My unit was given orders to relieve Chigoku medical units the next day. Our field hospital was set up only a few miles from ground zero. No one there knew what had happened, but I knew that surrender demands had been sent to the government. I thought, 'That's it! The war's over! There is no way anyone would consider letting this happen again'." Her fingers were white where they gripped the table. "I was almost relieved," she said quietly. "I had put in thirty-eight hours of treating burns and trying to reduce the long term damage from radiation poisoning. Everyone was too shell-shocked to notice that my patients did far better than they should have. On the third day after… after…"

Everyone at the table felt their own heart lurch at her grief. Nagasaki. Everyone thought it, but no one had the audacity to voice the name.

Baradandya and Kasumi were closest to the goddess and reached out in comfort to her. Amatras made a small sound in her throat, but refused to give in to what was obviously a devastating sense of grief and impotency. "It's ironic that if I hadn't been transferred, I would have found out first-hand what a nuclear explosion felt like." She gasped, then tried to calm by releasing the breath in a long exhalation. "I sometimes wish I had."

"Don't go to pieces, honey," Urudu advised. She glanced around. "So far everybody thinks you're just discussing some personal problems."

"Oh… right. Thank you, Urudu." Amatras struggled and slowly got her emotions under control. Everyone kept their own counsel for a while.

Ryoga though, increasingly wore a darkly furious look. He half rose to his feet, his mouth coming open to ask a question.

Amaterasu caught his eye and Ryoga suddenly felt his vocal cords lock up. He sat back down swallowing hard. "Don't ask, Ryoga-kun. Please, don't ask. Do not curse Heaven, nor ask after the justice of it all."

Ryoga swallowed and bowed his head to the tabletop.

"Mind if I ask?" broke in Ranma. Ryoga's head snapped up, his visage mirroring everyone's shock and censure at his question.

Amaterasu glare was half shock, half horror at the cursed boy's brass. Then she smacked the other redhead's shoulder. "Ranma! You are such a… a…!"

Ranma shrugged ruefully. "I figured I'm in enough trouble with all sorts of folks that one more couldn't hurt." She gave her double a charming smile. "People make choices and people get hurt – usually other people. It ain't the kami's job to ride herd on all of us." She turned to Ryoga. "Ask yerself, 'what's the point of it all, if we never let go of the apron strings', P-chan."

"Nor ask what if," muttered Urudu under her breath.

"Don't call me P-chan!" Ryoga grimaced. This was too much. How dare Ranma act so familiar to Amaterasu Omikami! And of course, being Ranma, he was getting away with it.

Ryoga suddenly had a headache. He and Ukyo exchanged glances. They were embarrassed and unsettled by the sudden revelation of their culture's mother-goddess, and her obviously still intense grief for her children's suffering over the ages disturbed them even more. Never mind that Ryoga would probably have a stroke if Ranma were any more Ranma-ish tonight. By common consent, Ryoga and Ukyo nodded and rose to their feet. "It's been great seeing you guys," Ryoga said, giving them all a salute, "Umm…" They bowed deeply to Amaterasu. "An honor, meeting you, Goddess… ahhh…" Sometimes words failed.

"Just call me Amatras these days, children," she said, dabbing at her eyes with a hanky. "I'm sorry that I've upset you."

The pair looked guilty. Ryoga was digging toe into the tiles. "I wish we could stay, but it's just that we've got to get back to Ucchan's."

Ukyo glanced at Ryoga with a wry smile before turning back to their friends. "We've got some maintenance to do. That idiot Tsubasa showed up again and Ryoga nearly destroyed the place going after him."

"I would have been fine, if you hadn't stopped me," Ryoga grumbled. Ukyo punched him ineffectually.

"I don't want you in prison for murder, jackass!" Ukyo gave him a stern look. "Tsubasa is a pest, but he's not a threat! Save that for the next time the demons are in town."

"Jeez… All right. I think he got the message this time, anyway." Ryoga frowned at his old nemesis. "Besides, if I remember what he said, he was hiding from Azusa. If you guys run into him, tell him I'll gift-wrap him for her if he ever shows up again."

Ranma shuddered. "You're evil, Ryoga, but yer my kind of evil."

After the pair left, and everyone settled down again, Amatras was treated to a synopsis of their relationship as well as the fact that they were probably already back at Ucchan's. It was a welcome respite from recently rehashed memories. Amatras shook her head dazedly. "You people are really strange. You do realize that?"

"It is hard to remember when things were… boring," commented Kasumi. "Ranma's guests are usually polite, though, so I have no complaints.

"Those demons weren't," Akane reminded her. "When I think of how they threatened you…"

"The demons threatened Kasumi-chan?" sparked Amatras, her emblem beginning to flare to life. "Why, if it weren't for the doublet system, I'd…" As everyone smiled at her, she realized she was over reacting. "Oh, dear," she glanced sidewise at the eldest Tendo girl. "Everyone leaps to your defense, Kasumi-chan. You're very special."

"Thank you, Amatras-san."

As the talk turned less stressful, Ranma excused herself. Akane looked askance but shrugged resignedly as she indicated her intent to go to the observation area again. The shorthaired girl was surprised when Ranma returned, a wary, almost angry, look on her face. Akane looked around, picking up her fiancé's tension. Now that she was on guard, her senses were disturbed by the undertone of lethal intent. She was alarmed by her inability to locate the source.

"I feel it, too, Ranma. What do you think it is?"

"I dunno. See if Shampoo noticed anything." Ranma pulled out a DBZ manga she had brought along for dull moments. She knew she had to avoid eye contact with anyone. Her distinct lack of a poker face would give her away. Akane laughed at some children who were being particularly precious and moved over as if to discuss them with her heart-sister. After a sharp look, Shampoo laughed, nodded and let her gaze slip across the large room.

Ranma sighed. She wished she had the facial control to match those two. It was her one failing as a martial artist. She stiffened when she saw, with her ki vision, someone who didn't belong. And it was someone she knew. She put her manga away and walked over to the woman pushing a broom.

"Hi!" she said brightly, letting her hand come down firmly on the woman's shoulder.

The woman turned, a blank look on her face. She almost turned away, then sighed and nodded. Ranma followed her into the woman's bathroom. Still gripping her broom tightly, the woman turned and faced off against the martial artist. "Ranma, what are you doing here? And how did you recognize me?" Nagasameru Mirotomanya scowled at the redhead.

Ranma grinned and tapped her head. "Ya know I've got some special equipment, Naga. How's Shinzoo?"

"Fine, last I saw him, which was about two hours ago." She shifted her grip on her 'broom'.

"Is that how yer handlin' the disguise?" Ranma asked. She pointed at the broom Nagasameru held. The disguised sword seemed almost to flinch guiltily.

"The sword is. I'm just going through the motions." The demon-hunter stroked the weapon. She turned a hard look back at her friend. "And you haven't told me why you're here."

"Droppin' off a friend," Ranma said off-handedly, "She headin' overseas on a midnight flight." She frowned as Nagasameru fidgeted. "Is there a problem with that?"

"I honestly don't know," Ranma's almost-fiancée said. "The sword…" She shrugged. "There's a demon here somewhere."

"Oh, wonderful. I thought ya were havin' second thoughts about that line of work, though," Ranma reminded her.

"I am… I was. I told Takaburu-san to take a hike, not that that means anything to him." She bit her lip. "Ranma? Was that Baradandya I saw with you?"

"Yeah…" Ranma took in her pained, worried look. "What's buggin' ya?"

"The demon. There's a demon here."

"Ya said that." Ranma watched the sweat run down her face. "This is different, isn't it, than when Marller was here, or even when you were helpin' Ucchan keep the demons off Ryoga."

"I don't know. No. Yes, I do know. Yes, it's different." Her admission seemed to somehow relieve her of some of her stress. "The sword called me here. Shinzoo came along to keep me out of trouble."

"Where is he? I didn't see any mobile mountains walking around."

"He said he had some friends in cargo handling. We have cell phones if we see anything or need help." Naga pulled hers out, hesitated, then put it back. "Better not overuse it."

"Yer really spooky today, aren't ya?"

"Paranoia does that to you. Could I talk to Baradandya, please?" Nagasameru looked haunted.

"Why don't ya change inta something a little more touristy before I take ya over," Ranma advised. "Oh! And tell yer sword ta look more like a purse or somethin'."

"A… a purse?" Nagasameru choked out. Her sword seemed to shimmer uncertainly. Then it began to shrink. "It can do that?"

Ranma was a little shocked herself, but she recovered rapidly. "Well, sure!" she said shakily. "I guess if Shampoo can turn into a cat, yer sword can turn into a purse… Right?"

"Uh, yeah." The demon-hunter patted the handbag and shivered as the transformation swept across her, covering her in a neat business suit. She looked as professional as Nabiki Tendo, even if she didn't have that girl's poise.

"And relax," the redhead added. "Oh, by the way, don't worry about talkin' around our guest. She's in the same business as our teachers." She pushed through the door and motioned with her free hand. "Come on!" Nagasameru nervously walked behind Ranma and into the coffee shop.

"Hey! It's Nagasameru!" Akane and Shampoo lit up with welcome at the appearance of the demon-hunter. They had taken a liking to the teppinyaki-martial artist, who had been a strong ally against the demons.

"Big-sword-girl! Nice see you again," grinned Shampoo. "Where sword?"

"Nagasameru, how nice," Baradandya said. "Where's Shinzoo?"

"Here..." Nagasameru jittered. "Somewhere," she added, unintentionally answering both questions. She wrung her hands. "Could I speak to you a moment, Mrs. Morisato?" They had a sort of limited privacy due to their location in the coffee shop and the placement of their friends, but that wouldn't be enough for what the girl wanted. She considered the bathroom from which Ranma had led her, but women were already entering the door.

"Don't fret, dear," Baradandya said softly. "We've been maintaining a privacy ward all evening. You can say what you wish."

Naga licked her lips and glanced at her peers. "Sorry, but I really meant privately." When they began to protest, she added, "Please?" At her tone, protests died and the teenagers grudgingly gave her space. Nagasameru sat on the edge of her seat. Her half-formed protest, when Baradandya motioned her sisters and Amatras closer, was silenced by the goddess's kind smile.

"We four are the equivalent of Shinto priestesses, Nagasameru. What you say to one you may trust to all."

Slowly, the girl nodded. "Remember what you said last year, about learning more about the demons?" she asked with a mournful look. The goddess nodded. "I've been working on that. I know a lot more than I did, but not nearly enough. Valentine's Day showed me that." Baradandya made a gesture to encourage her to continue. "I'm here because the sword essentially dragged me here. There's a demon and the sword wants it." She began to twitch and shudder. "And I don't know what to do." The last came out as a wail.

"What about your father?" Baradandya inquired gently. Ukyo had said that Naga had been like a rock, fighting their demonic adversaries. That she was upset was significant. "Your father used to use the sword, didn't he?"

"Dad can't even talk about magic, ma'am. Truthfully, that's the primary reason I got out of the engagement to Ranma last year. When Ranma changed, Dad nearly went catatonic." Naga giggled weakly. "He can't teach me like granddad taught him."

"How did this happen, sweet one?" Amatras inserted herself into the conversation. Nagasameru boggled a bit at the Ranma clone before glancing over at her friend. Ranma waved reassuringly from across the room. Nagasameru nodded and turned back to the kami.

"Fourteen years ago, Dad and Mom went after a demon. They got it, but it cursed Dad to fear magic. That finished him as a demon-hunter. When I was ten, I found Mom's journals. They were like the old heroic stories but my mom and dad were the heroes. I read everything I could and asked Dad for more. He freaked. Then I found this sword…"

"The sword is named Shishinu, 'Death of Pain'," Baradandya prompted. Amatras nodded in understanding and indicated she should continue.

Nagasameru stroked her hand across the purse disguise of the huge sword. "Dad had it hidden in the rafters of the house." She folded her hands. "It could talk to me, after a fashion, and showed me images of my parents fighting people. I took it to Dad. He didn't just freak this time, he passed out cold."

"Oh, boy…" Urudu could relate. When Kei's sister, Megumi had finally been let in on their status, she had gone catatonic for hours. "You didn't let that stop you, though."

"I wouldn't take no for an answer," Nagasameru agreed, meeting Urudu's eyes. "He managed to tell me how to bond with the sword, but he couldn't describe the demons to me, aside that they were demons. I came across Takaburu's organization. They billed themselves as…" She snorted half in humor, half in horror. "…as 'Ghostbusters' after a fashion. They had certain expertise that I lacked and couldn't get from Dad. I realize now that I would have been better off with the Three Stooges." She grimaced.

"No. You were simply too much of an amateur to realize they were worse," Sakurida observed. "Been there, done that," she added when Naga looked annoyed. Sakurida grinned wickedly at Urudu. "So, demons?" Urudu looked nervous and on guard. "Don't worry too much — we've got someone who can think just like them."

"Hey!"

"They're… He's here… somewhere." Nagasameru shivered as if she had a fever. "It wasn't like this before. I don't understand why the sword is acting this way."

The goddesses glanced at one another. Amatras sighed then nodded to the Norns and leaned forward. The other kami obviously ceded precedence to the redhead. "Dear, I know of three other… artifacts like your sword. Each is both cursed and blessed. I believe you should seek allies. Even though your hand must be the one to strike the cursed one down, you need allies bound to your destiny to help you fight."

Nagasameru straightened. Amatras' authority rang through her quiet voice. The demon hunter was filled with a sense of purpose. The sweating and fear drained out of her like water from a muslin strainer, slowly but surely. "A-allies? But… I have Shinzoo."

Amatras was silent for a moment. "Yes… I see him." Naga gulped at the surety she heard. "Will you be guided by me?" It was a subtle command that still said, 'do or be damned to you.'

"Y-yes, ma'am."

"Then let's call the others over."

oOo

Kilometers away, a wrinkled old woman sat by a table in a gleaming kitchen. She had sent the boy off to bed. No need to create a scene at this point. She played solitaire and bided her time.

Her visitor walked up to the side door, unlocked it and entered. She stood quietly, regarding the old woman playing cards, choosing her moment. Her martial skills were great and her skill in magic unparalleled in her people. She prepared to make herself known.

""Come in, Ti'en Pon,"" Cologne said. She took three cards, flipped them over and scowled. ""Oh, well. We can't expect to win every hand. Not unless we cheat. Hmm…?"" She gathered up her cards and put them away. ""Come, come, Ti'en. Don't pout, girl. Make yourself comfortable."" Cologne hooked another chair over to the table with her staff.

Ti'en Pon stomped out of the shadows, her staff hitting the floor hard enough to scar the tile. ""It's good to see you, Ku Lon,"" the blue-haired woman said.

""That's always debatable,"" Cologne answered. ""Still raising hell with the Embassy staff?""

""Stupid males,"" Ti'en glowered.

""They're bureaucrats, dear,"" Cologne countered. ""What can you expect?""

Ti'en Pon smirked spitefully. ""I expect performance."" She eyed the Matriarch. ""And how is your Xian Pu doing in her husband chase? It must be quite humbling to be rejected by a common male.""

""The chase has undergone some interesting twists lately,"" Cologne admitted. ""The boy has become quite expert.""

""We're getting impatient to see this marvelous male,"" the younger woman said. ""I never understood why you just didn't drug him and drag him back. Even the most intractable male would yield, considering the alternatives.""

""Now what would be the point in that?""

""You're needed at home, Ku Lon.""

Cologne chuckled. ""Really? Didn't you wave me off, nearly two years ago, wishing me a long and enjoyable vacation? My goodness, how your tune has changed!""

""Times have changed.""

""It's too bad, then, that I out-rank you."" Cologne and Ti'en Pon had a brief staring match.

""What do you see in that boy?"" the blue-haired woman grumbled.

""I see the future, Elder Ti'en. After a long dark night, a ray of hope."" They sat quietly for a while.

Ti'en Pon grunted and slid off her chair. ""I'll be at the Embassy. I understand that Xian Pu fights the outsider's choice. I wish to be informed of the challenges. I plan to be an observer to ensure that our honor and traditions are upheld."" She swirled her cloak about her, reciting a spell to disguise her departure.

Cologne watched her go, concealing her smile. There had been a time when Ti'en's skill would have been enough. Not now, however. Her ki vision tracked the other's distinctive aural signature as she departed and relocked the door. She had been aware the night before of the woman spying on their group as they returned from the girls' latest duel. She wondered how Ti'en would have reacted to the information that the Amazon's goddess had been a guest that evening? Cologne snorted. Some things were best left undisclosed. The two women were political adversaries and Ti'en had Beijing's ear.

She was also the individual most likely to have cursed Shampoo and her sisters with the demon that Ranma, or rather Barry, had exorcised. It never rained but it poured on cursed individuals like Ranma. And Ti'en Pon was a curse for anyone unfortunate enough to have to deal with her.

oOo

There was an air of intensity at the kissaten table. Five kami sat across from six martial artists as a surprisingly normal human looked on. Amatras folded her hands in her lap, contemplating the union. "What Nagasameru is hunting is not, strictly speaking, a demon," she began. "Though it is not immortal, it is usually exceedingly durable. Physically it is very strong, but its most enduring characteristic is that it empowers itself through the fear, pain and suffering of others. Usually it works alone, but occasionally, one will recruit others to aid it in its villainy." She paused thoughtfully. "The only common factor between them all are the corpses and shattered dreams they leave behind."

Ranma and Akane in particular sucked in a breath. Shattered dreams were something they feared deeply, as theirs were, as yet, unfulfilled. Shampoo's lips tightened. Her sisters looked wary. Ling-Ling raised her hand and asked doubtfully, "You talk about the servants of Ravenna?"

Baradandya frowned at the word. Amatras spoke quietly, "That's what we called them when we traveled along the Himalayas. Ravenna was the demon that contended with Rama. Remember, Urudu?"

Nagasameru glanced curiously back and forth, wondering when, why and who had traveled with the redhead through the Himalayas.

"Let's call them 'Raveners'," Amatras decided, "to distinguish them from the demons, gods and spirits that act in or are associated with this world." She looked thoughtful then began to describe their foe. "Raveners are living creatures who decide that all of Life is their prey. They gain power and satisfaction through the suffering and death of other living creatures. They often start out torturing life forms weaker than themselves. Cruel and needlessly violent, they are often very cunning and conceal their nature behind a false front of gentleness. They appear trustworthy, but use that trust only to draw in their victims. They delight in controlling their victims to prolong their suffering. Some human Raveners have been characterized as exceedingly violent serial criminals – rapists and murderers. Nor are Raveners only found in humanity. Animals may become Raveners as well. There are many cases on record." Amatras settled her hands on the tabletop. "These are creatures that are your legitimate prey, Nagasameru."

Nagasameru cocked her head to one side. She frowned, concentrating on the kami's words. Her hand stroked her purse thoughtfully. She seemed to have lost her indecision – her sweating nervousness – but now wanted something else. "That feels right. I don't know why, but it does." Her dark eyes were hard. "How did you know what I was looking for?"

"You may consider me a priestess of Amaterasu. It was she who first ordered the creation of the Hunters. You and a handful of other lineal descendants are of an order ordained from birth to protect your people."

"How can I be certain that I'm going after a Ravener and not some poor sap that I just don't like the looks of?" The girl seemed irritated.

"In your case, the sword will teach you." Amatras nodded to the purse. "In turn, you will teach the others who will support you."

"Uh… huh!" Nagasameru looked at her friends. "I'm supposed to involve my friends in vigilantism where, justifiable or not, I have to kill some guy?"

"Your destiny and purpose is to protect, Nagasameru Mirotomanya," Amatras said in a hard voice. "Your destiny is not theirs; but they may help you till you find those whose destiny marches with yours." Her voice softened again. "They are martial artists; and they, too, have a duty to protect."

"Yeah," Ranma muttered. "So let's get out there and nose around. This ain't even a good hunter's blind. If there's a demon or Ravener, or what have you, around maybe he's up to somethin'." She took some tea and carefully poured it over her head. Shaking his damp locks and using his deeper male tones, Ranma added, "And let's set up teams. If we can figure out who's feelin' so pissy, maybe we can track 'em back to this Ravener."

"So who will go with whom?" Akane asked.

Amatras opened her mouth only to be interrupted by Ranma. "Amatras and our teachers are out of it – fer now, anyway. This is our problem. Akane, you and Nagasameru are team one. Shampoo and I will be another. Ling-Ling, Lung-Lung? Watch out for Kasumi and escort Amatras to her plane."

"Just how do you rate as the leader here, Saotome?" Amatras growled.

Ranma looked her in the eye. "Are you, any of ya, even allowed to get involved in this?" he demanded. "It seems ta me that you people ain't permitted to take charge, even if we ask ya to."

Amatras paled. "We can still help, within limits…"

"Fine. If ya notice who the idiot is, tell us," Ranma said. "If we can't take him, feel free ta help. Though, if we can't stop him, you'd be better off getting' everyone outa here."

The redheaded kami stared at him. "Paranoid?"

Ranma grunted. "Prepared. YA know what they say… It's only paranoid if no one is out to get ya."

They held each other's eyes for long moments before Amatras almost grudgingly nodded. She turned back to the other noncombatants. "Let's go to my gate. If we notice anything, how can we tell you?"

Akane broke in. "Ranko Tendo. That's an alias Ranma used to use."

"Good idea, tomboy," Ranma admitted. "Page Ranko Tendo to report wherever you think the trouble is."

"Oh, my!" Kasumi exclaimed brightly. "It's always so exciting around you, Ranma."

Ranma looked sour. "I could do with more boredom, Kasumi, I really could."

"Poor Ranma," she said, patting his shoulder.

As she turned away, Amatras suddenly stopped her. "Let's use that as a backup plan. I have a better idea."

oOo

The tank truck slowly moved away from the 747, having deposited its load in the main fuel tank of the plane. Several workers walked around the plane and checked over exposed surfaces and equipment. A man in a pilot's uniform walked out, pointed to several places along the belly of the plane then began to walk back to the tail. He stopped, looking at the ground and scuffed at a puddle there. Turning back to the maintenance people, he indicated the puddle, his body language indicating curiosity and accusation. Two maintenance people looked at the puddle and approached at an odd angle, circling the pilot and his find.

"What is this?" the pilot asked. "It isn't fuel or oil." The fluid was a murky brown. "It stinks, too."

"Perhaps someone spilled some waste water?" suggested one, a hand coming up to his wrinkling nose.

"Wash water wouldn't smell like that," said the pilot, "and waste water would be blue from the disinfectant." He looked up at the plane. Above him, the plane's belly gleamed in the flashlight's beam. There were several possible origins of the spill including the luggage compartments. "Maybe we need to get someone out here to check that." He pointed to the radio at the one man's belt.

The man pulled the radio out and called in. Then he called again. "It's not working. We'll have to use the phone inside." The pilot nodded and the three men strode toward a tarmac-level access door.

Ten minutes later a man in a pilot's uniform walked out of the door to begin a pre-flight check of the big airliner. He carefully gave the puddle a wide birth as he turned to check the tail surfaces.

In a closet off the corridor of the egress, two men, tied strongly with rope, lay still, their mouths gagged. One was the pilot who had been concerned about the puddle. His uniform was missing. The other was a massive mountain of a man in a maintenance uniform. His face was purple with bruising. Both were unconscious.

oOo

Keiichi and Baradandya spoke quietly with Kasumi, trying to mitigate Urudu's plan to find her a boyfriend. The platinum-haired kami had finally heard about the long-absent Tofu Ono. Amatras might also have been interested in the problem, but she was deeply involved in shadowing the martial artists on patrol. Her solution of an early warning system was accomplished by the simple expedient of a mini-goddess split-off. One rode in Akane's purse and one in Ranma's breast pocket.

"Have you ever given thought to at least wearing a sports-bra, Saotome?" Amatras-two asked. "I feel like I'm riding a beach ball on a rocky road. You must really like to turn the guys' heads."

"Shut up, will ya?" Ranma hissed. "I ain't wearin' no bra! Besides, if you was ridin' Shampoo this way, it'd be the same deal; cause she don't neither!"

"Oh, you noticed, huh?" came her maddening reply.

"Gaah!"

Shampoo giggled. "Good thing Akane not here," she commented with a knowing lilt to her voice.

Ranma grumbled. "I wish you guys wouldn't distract me." Her eyes went back and forth looking for visual cues her ki vision missed. It had been decided that girl-type would be less threatening to their quarry. "Hey, Amatras, if you were gonna do this, why did we even bother with the code word business?"

"Because the main me can't really tell what's going on till I rejoin, twit," the mini-goddess replied.

"Then what good are you?" Ranma smirked. "Ouch!" She barely restrained herself from rubbing her breast where the little being had pinched her. "Wadja do that for?"

Meanwhile, a level lower, Akane and Nagasameru walked along, acting as if they were reading the posted flight schedules. "Anything yet?" Akane asked.

"Nothing," Nagasameru replied grimly. She flinched as Amatras stuck her head out of Akane's purse. "I-I-I can't believe this…"

"Have you tried calling Shinzoo?" Amatras asked, the voice of her miniaturized body like a flute to Naga's ears.

"I don't want to risk giving away his position," the demon-hunter protested. "He has enough trouble hiding as it is."

Akane made a face. "Naga, under what conditions will you call him?"

"It's more so he can call me," the demon hunter admitted. "I'm the one with the sword, after all."

"That's not very useful." Akane stopped, leaned up against a wall and rubbed her temples. "He's that way." She watched with interest as her friend got out a map and oriented herself.

"Hmmm… That's not one of the public areas. Well, he said he had some friends that work here." Naga dithered then said, "Can you tell how he is?"

"Not at this range," Akane admitted. "Just that he's alive."

"Let's get closer." Nagasameru wouldn't admit it, but not hearing from him for over an hour was wearing on her.

"Take it easy, Naga," Akane said smoothly.

Mini-Amatras maintained the link with her main body and the other split-off. Her sole purpose was to warn Ranma and the others in the event of an emergency. She pondered the degree to which these modern warriors trained themselves. It bordered on the ridiculous. What it suggested frightened even her. There were always challenges to match abilities. What challenge was imminent to match the skills she found here?

oOo

Standing with the kami, Kasumi watched a mother herd her sleepy children toward the subsequent gate. The flow of people through the terminal fascinated her. There were people from all over the world passing through the gates and they seemed so friendly. Of course, who didn't smile when they met the eldest Tendo's eyes?

Contrary to the belief of some, Kasumi was not the forgotten daughter. Soun practically tore his hair out over the quiet refusal of the girl to consider any of the many suitors for her hand. But somehow they just didn't seem right to Kasumi. Some were too old. Some were too intense, or wanted her only for her domestic skills.

She knew that her sisters worried about her, and that only made Kasumi love them more. She had to admit that Ranma and Akane had an influence on her decision to be choosy. Though they fought tooth and nail to the very end, she had seen early on the attraction they shared and had watched their love blossom in the adversity that swirled around them. It reminded her of the first spring flowers' struggle to push up through the last snows of winter, starkly beautiful and full of the promise of new life.

Kasumi looked down, her hand going to her chest. Once, she thought that Tofu might be the one, but he had never been able to control himself long enough to ask her. She sighed. Hopefully, she would find her samurai before she passed into the obscurity of spinsterhood; but if she didn't, that was acceptable. She was a Tendo, and she wasn't about to settle for second best.

Kasumi took a deep breath and looked up again, her eyes trailing over to a mother with a crying baby. She was good with children. She thought she might go over and see if she could help, when a short swaggering form caught her eye. She froze, her smile going blank and empty. She quickly sought her sense of calm and let her eyes focus on the baby as her peripheral vision followed the form. It couldn't be… She walked over to the courtesy phone and hesitated. Calling Ranko Tendo might not be a good idea under the circumstances. She thought swiftly.

oOo

Ranma and Shampoo hurried down the escalators, trying to avoid attracting attention yet making serious time. Mini-Amatras had reported that her sister-spin-off was emoting concern and wanted them to join up. Ranma was now close enough to pick Akane's familiar ki signature out of the crowd.

"Jeez, tomboy! What's the rush?" he said as they hurried up.

"Shinzoo's tied up unconscious the next level down," Akane said grimly. "I thought it would be better to go in as a group."

Ranma glanced down. "Huh! There doesn't seem to be anyone watching him. Or didn't ya see that whoever's next to him is tied up too?"

"I'm not blind," Akane growled. Her eyebrows twitched as Ranma's mini-Amatras poked her head out of the breast pocket.

"If you don't mind, I think I'd prefer to ride in Akane's purse. We hardly need to be separate now." She flew to the bag hanging from Akane's shoulder and merged with her 'sister'. "When you people begin your assault, we'll take the high road and cover you."

"You should just stay outa trouble," Ranma warned her. "Folks will think Tinkerbell escaped from the new Disney resort."

They nearly missed the first call over the intercom system. "Barry Barlowe, please contact your hostess at gate 57; Barry Barlowe, please contact…"

"Barry?" Akane exclaimed, startled.

"It couldn't be," Ranma assured her. "It's gotta be Kasumi. But why would she…"

"Who's Barry Barlowe?" Amatras asked. They ignored her.

"Kasumi must have seen someone who might recognize either Ranko or Tendo."

"Someone she saw as a threat," Akane expostulated.

"Excuse me," Nagasameru said tightly. "Can we go rescue my fiancé?"

"Akane," Ranma said, placing her hands on her fiancée's shoulders. "You and Shampoo go help Naga rescue Shinzoo. I'll see what Kasumi wants and be back as quick as I can."

Akane looked shocked. "You think…"

"Tomboy, you can handle anything." The shorter redhead gave her a quick kiss and surged away, sliding into the stealth of Umisen.

Akane turned to Nagasameru. "Let's retrieve your boyfriend."

Ranma raced up the center rail of the escalator, her unescorted reflection startling a departing businessman. She sought Kasumi with ki and found her fifty meters away. Hoping she wouldn't startle her too badly, she remained in Umisen and came up beside her. "Kasumi, it's Ranma," she whispered.

"Oh, Ranma," Kasumi said breathlessly. "He went to the next gate. It was Copycat Ken."

"Copy… Akanami…" Ranma breathed. "I bet he's the demon! At least he's up here." Belatedly, she realized that the gate her opponent was at was directly above where Akane would be going into battle. "Warn the kami. With all the people around, I'm gonna hafta use that speed technique I learned from Kei. Ken's gonna go down fast and hard, and someone is gonna hafta sit on him if I knock myself out doin' it."

"Go ahead, Ranma; I'll tell them. Good luck!"

Ranma slid away and glided around the corner. She scanned for Copycat Ken and also scanned below, watching for Akane and her team. The problem was that Ken's disguises were complete all the way down to the ki level. There were about a hundred people sitting or standing in the waiting area by the gate. Any of them might be Ken. With her ki vision she saw Akane, Shampoo and Nagasameru move along the corridor to the room where Shinzoo was held. She considered her options and swiftly made her way to one end of the room. She tuned her aura to its most sensitive. Then she dropped Umisen and struck a provocative pose. "Ohhh… Ke-en…!" she caroled to the waiting crowd. A hundred pairs of eyes turned toward her. One set narrowed in recognition and an aura swirled in doubt. "Gotcha!" snarled Ranma. She blurred, the compressed air created by her speed caused a crack of sound. Behind her, clouds of water vapor swirled along her backtrack. Her target was the girl who checked the tickets.

As Ranma forced the air aside in her charge across the room, she observed that the level floor was not as level as she had anticipated. Halfway there, she was running on air and losing her forward momentum to air resistance. To her horror, she realized that some unexpected vector was going to throw her high and to one side of her target. She completely dropped the technique in favor of avoiding a splat against the far wall like a bug on a windshield. Shields came up, as did the concrete wall.

On the floor below the gate, Akane, Shampoo and Nagasameru stopped at the door to an equipment room. "He's in there?" Naga asked. Akane nodded.

Shampoo caught the demon hunter's hand. "Wait! It may be booby-trapped."

"You're right, Shampoo," exclaimed Akane. "There are wires…" She gasped. "The bastards have them wired! And the door! If they wake up and move, they'll set off the trap!"

"Shampoo not see what trap is," the Amazon said hesitantly. "Wires go to battery, there…"

"It's got to be a bomb of some kind, but I don't see it," Akane returned.

"You can detect bombs?" Amatras whispered from above their heads.

"Substances with high potential energy show up to ki vision."

"Oh, that explains it," Amatras nodded to herself. "Do you see the blocks that look like clay?"

"Yes," Akane said, locating the small bricks that she now saw were attached to the battery wires. Tiny rods were connected to the wires and inserted deep into the blocks. Akane suddenly realized what she was looking at. Apparently, plastique explosive registered inert to ki vision. "Oh, shi—!"

"Akane! Shinzoo waking up!"

"Shields, Shampoo! Shield us all!" Akane desperately reached out to shield Shinzoo and the man beside him.

(KKRACKTT!)

Ranma hit the wall upside down and faster than she had ever hit anything before. Her technique absorbed most of it. She gazed dazedly out of the hole in the concrete as Copycat Ken whipped around in astonishment. People were screaming and running from the gate and the air was filled with dust and debris. She tried to find some reserves. If she didn't, she had little chance against his stolen skills.

"Reporting an explosion below gate 59. The captain is asking clearance to move the plane away."

'Like fun he is. This has to be part of the plan,' Ranma said to herself. 'Wait a minute. Explosion? Akane!' She sought below. Akane, Shampoo and Nagasameru's auras shone brightly to her inner eye, but other ki signatures were advancing on them. She snapped back to her own circumstances. She couldn't help them if she didn't help herself.

"Goodnight, Saotome," Ken's voice sneered from around a flash of knuckles.

Akane strained to shore up a concrete-encased support beam threatening to crush them. Shampoo struggled to position herself in the restricted space. A slender finger reached out and caressed the beam. The beam shattered. Akane gasped as she shifted her attention to support other debris. Nagasameru struggled to drag the heavy bulk of her fiancé into the relative safety of their bubble. The other victim in the room lay unconscious to one side, his bonds restraining him hand and foot.

They could hear people in the corridor beyond, calling out to see if anyone was alive in the chaos after the explosion. Nagasameru called out, "There's five of us alive in here! Get help!"

"I not sure that wise, sword-girl," Shampoo grunted, coming to her knees. She turned from the demolished beam and helped drag Shinzoo closer. "Akane, how you do?"

"Tired, Shampoo. But I can still fight."

"Good. Incoming." Bottles trailing flame arced out of the dust and darkness of the corridor.

Nagasameru shrieked as flame roared around them. "Bastards!" She flinched away from the wash of fire that seemed to englobe them.

"Don't worry, Naga, I can handle this," Akane said grimly. "Ranma's been teaching us how to manipulate energy. They just gave us fuel for our shields."

"But we stuck here for a while," Shampoo amended. "Unless we want risk ki blast to clear path?"

"Not around jet-fuel, thank you." She glanced over at Naga, her dusty face strained. "How is Shinzoo?"

"I'm alive," husked the big Sumo wrestler. "Damn, but that little guy surprised me."

"What he look like?" Shampoo asked.

"I… I'm not sure. He's some sort of shape-shifter. He turned into me, then turned into…"

"Copycat Ken!" Shampoo snarled.

"Akanami!" grated Akane. "No wonder Kasumi paged Ranma that way. She must have recognized Ken from when he challenged Ranma at the dojo." She paled and looked up. "Oh, god, he might be fighting up there!"

Nagasameru suddenly went from frightened and concerned, to steely. "The demon is here," she snarled. Her purse was suddenly a huge sword. Shinzoo 'erked' as the blade expanded past his nose. "Let me out, Akane!" She wove back and forth against the shields like a tiger at feeding time.

"Where Amatras?" Shampoo asked suddenly, ducking the unintentional swing of the blade.

Mini-Amatras glided through the flames; they meant less than nothing to her. She needed to get to Ranma and bring him into this. She could sense the weirdly twisted monomaniacal presence among the people beyond the flames and could sense the anger and concern of her original in the building above. She debated whether to immediately return or attempt to spy on their attackers. Being the original Amazon, she chose the more dangerous option. She had faith Akane and Shampoo could deal with simple accelerants and flame. She had seen them fight, after all.

But demons (or Raveners as she had described them to distinguish them from natural spirits) could have some nasty surprises. It took a particular type of selfishness to make one. A personality obsessed by a belief that that individual was the sole reason for creation; a mind-set that disputed any other individual's right to life, liberty or happiness. There were plenty of selfish people in the world restrained by the knowledge that they would be apprehended. The Raveners were the ones who didn't even care. Their eventual deaths did not concern them; and that freedom from self-preservation made them doubly dangerous. In many cases, they felt an odd sort of gratification in the strategies they used to harass law enforcement once they were identified.

She knew the feel of a Ravener, and this one was very close. She could feel him, even with the distractions of the flames, the noise of the plane's engines, the shouts and running of the people on the jetway. She could tell he had developed into the next stage. He–!

Dust filtered down where the kami's replicate had hovered. Out on the tarmac, a tall lean form stood for a moment, one hand raised as if pointing. A mouth twisted into a sneer and the figure turned to move with silken speed up the outer stairs of the jetway.