Author note:[Hot-fix chapter] Have made some changes to chapter 1, chapter 3 is in preparation and will launch as soon as possible still working the kinks and bugs out.

I understand the frustration and I have been out of circulation due to health-related issues among other things.

Thanks for your patience and I hope to see each and every one of you again very very soon.

-Zeltronica


C.H.A. Ch:2

A few hours later...

Following a lonely road that was overgrown and looked to be in the process of being reclaimed by nature three figures wearing blackish brown cloaks walked at the dead of night, two of them carrying on their backs piggyback style were two young girl's who for the most part were asleep their clothing scorched and nearly burned away.

Each figure had glowing red eyes that showed through eye holes of the pure black masks they wore over their face, and appeared to be looking to their surroundings for possible dangers such as pursuers that may possibly be following them as they were still in the process of fleeing from doves who had just overrun their quiet town in sting operation to root them out.

The group continued following the lonely trail not seeming to slow at all as they made their way attempting to put plenty of space between them and their possible pursuers. One of the three carrying one of the small children on her back being a female spoke up. "Sir where are we heading?"

"There is a village I know of the Matriarch owes me a small debt and I am going to cash in tonight if not for us at least the children will be safe for sure." the lead member called.

The other member also carrying a child spoke up this time male. "Oh don't tell me were going to the Amazons, please tell me we are not going to be dealing with those humans?" he questioned with dread as he didn't much care for how they did things.

"Yes, Chou that is exactly what the plan is the Matriarch told me should I be in need she would pay the debt her people owe me and its time to cash in while we are still alive to do so." the lead member called over his shoulder continuing his forward momentum.

The female shifted her load she carried, speaking up to pose a question. "I understand why we are rescuing your niece Mr. Chan.. but why this girl? Nobody knows who she is and I never saw her before tonight?"

"Insurance the favor I have to ask is big Lin.. and my niece won't be enough for the bargain but toss in the extra girl in and she will, after all, that girl judging by whats left of her clothes is a martial-artist and the Amazons are always in need of strong new blood for the tribe especially martial-artists." the man revealed to be named Mr. Chan explained, as he leaped over a mud puddle, his comrades doing the same.

XXXX

Half an hour later...

XXXX

Sitting in a medium sized room that was sparsely furnished as if an empty store room was the three cloaked individual's, the two young girl's who currently slept by the far west wall on bed rolls that had been laid out, joined by a diminutive elder with silver-hair whom was sitting atop a over sized purple cushion seat, laying just to her left was a gnarled staff that lay on the wood floor.

The silver-haired woman looked to the middle individual, producing a pipe lighting flame to it a perplexed expression to her features. "Mr. Chan while I understand while what you did for my village some time ago was an act of unprecedented kindness considering the alternative of what you could have done... What you are asking of me is a tall order," she said taking a puff of her pipe before exhaling the smoke observing the lead ghoul remove his mask to reveal an aged face, he lowered his hood revealing a graying head of hair.

"I understand but we really need a place to lay low for a little while if not for me and my friends but the children they can't defend themselves yet." Mr. Chan explained in a hope the old woman would find it in her heart to see it his way.

With a haggard sigh, the silver-haired woman shook her head negatively. "Many of my sisters do not and will not approve of ghouls living in our village. We both know you have to eat and you can only eat human beings and I cannot allow my sisters to become food for you and your kind. That and before you even consider saying so we would not approve of you eating our dead either."

Mr. Chan frowned shaking his head negatively. "No one asked for you to provide us with your dead for food Elder Cologne and we certainly have no intention of biting the hand that helps us. We are more than capable of hunting and providing for our own."

Taking a long drag off her pipe the diminutive elder revealed to be Cologne gazed over the group, exhaling the smoke wafting about the room. "Mr. Chan your female friend how old is she?" she inquired.

"Stop talking about me like I am not here my name is Lin and I am nineteen years old you bat," Lin growled out before Mr. Chan could answer the question as she didn't like being spoken about as if she wasn't there.

The diminutive elder looked to the masked woman who had spoken with a piercing gaze, then quickly before anyone could blink nor even see her free hand move her gnarled staff cracked over the top of Lin's head.

"You want to be spoken to as if you are here whelp then take that mask off in my presence." she spat, then turned her attention to the elder ghoul. "It goes against my better judgment but a deal is a deal and I hate owing anyone favors so I will pay the debt and allow the children and this insolent Ghoul-woman to stay. As for you and the male, I will give you one night to stay here then I want you both gone.

Lin feeling the staff lifted from her head lowered her hood, removing her mask revealing long raven-hair tied back in a ponytail, her eyes emerald green though she had a sour expression to her features.

Cologne observing the girl's features noting her beauty which almost could fool anyone into believing she was anything but a ghoul. With a tired sigh, she sat her staff down on the floor.

"How many people have you hunted and killed for survival?" she inquired raising an inquisitive brow, to which the raven-haired woman gained a worried expression.

Deciding on the truth Lin then spoke. "Too many to remember."

"How many have you killed for sport?" the elder grilled, taking a drag off her pipe, before exhaling the smoke.

Lin gaining a heated expression gritting her teeth shouting. "I never killed for sport only in defense!" which seemed to elicit a small chuckle from the diminutive elder.

"Whats so funny?" she inquired of the elder woman who gained a blank mask to her feature not seeming bothered by her outburst.

Cologne gave the raven-haired woman a piercing gaze. "I just am surprised is all, however, this relives me to hear you say that you do not hunt for sport. You realize that by allowing you and the children to stay in the village you will be expected to pull your own weight and you will have to provide for you and the children's needs."

Lin nodded her head in understanding. "I understand perfectly."

"I understand your needs as much as a human can but I mean it I will not allow my fellow sisters to be preyed upon you will get your food source elsewhere if I find out you are hunting any of my fellow sisters' death for you and the children will be swift are we clear girl?"

Lin bowed her head. "Crystal clear."

Mr. Chan gained a small smile looking to the aging elder. "Thank you, Great Elder Cologne for holding up your end of our pact which is now concluded."

Cologne nodded her head, dumping the ash from her pipe into a small wood bowel before placing it inside her inner robe pocket. "Mr. Chan remember you and your male comrade get one day and one day only I suggest you spend the most of it with your niece before you leave," she called before grabbing up her staff then jumping up then using it like a pogo stick heading for the huts exit.

XXXX

XXXX

The night wore on as Mr. Chan sat by his niece's side observing her peaceful rest a far away look to his features as he had a lot playing across his mind. "Oh, Ai my dear this might well be the last night I ever get to see you again. My how you look just like your mother," he observed, his features becoming saddened as his thoughts fell on his sister who was the girl's mother.

Chou laid on his bedroll simply staring up at the ceiling, his face no longer masked revealing an aging man who like his leader was getting up in years and his hair also graying.

"Boss do you think we will be able to slip the Doves after we leave here?" he inquired.

Lin from her spot sitting up leaning against the door frame of the Hut's exit spoke up in Mr. Chan's stead. "Of course you two will be able too. The boss has never let us down and he won't let you down now," she assured.

Chou chuckled hearing his friend's words. "Of course the boss will think of something. Guess I am just nervous what with losing a lot of our people back there and all... We might just be the last of the Mid-Night Masks."

Mr. Chan let a tired sigh escape his lips overhearing his comrades words which may have held a corneal of truth as the Doves were so swift and brutal he and his people were caught completely by surprise.

Looking to his young niece with a saddened expression. 'Oh Ai if only I hadn't brought my people to your quiet town none of this would have happened my sister your mother and father would still be alive. How foolish I was to think we could hide.' he thought as he knew it was his and his people's fault the Doves even showed up, to begin with.

Several of his people had made some poor choices which caused the group to gain the immediate attention of the C.C.G. Who turned around and put a bounty reward up for any and all information leading to the whereabouts of members of his gang.

He then punched the floor with his right fist, gritting his teeth. 'I will return for you Ai one day you can be assured of that.' he inwardly promised, though whether he could keep said promise remained to be seen.

XXXX

XXXX

The following day it was early morning around five something in the morning if one had a clock, Ai started to stir finally sitting up reaching up rubbing the sleep from her eyes she observed it was rather dark in the room she currently resided which was not the last thing she remembered which was her apartment building that was engulfed in flames and said flames were rushing right at her when she found herself pulled back and away from the flames.

'Where am I? Am I dead?' she wondered looking around observing a blue hue of light barely showing through a nearby window standing just in front of it was the figure of what she was assuming a child her age possibly.

The figure being Ranma who looked out the crack of the window observing unfamiliar surroundings, though she was aware of the four individual's that shared the small hut with her though she didn't know them but figured they had brought her there after the incident in town.

"Excuse me but where are we?" Ai inquired, causing the figure to look her way with glowing eyes which made her feel relieved as it was a fellow ghoul and she knew this ghoul was most likely friendly or they would have attempted to kill and cannibalize her since they were wide awake and she had just woken up.

Ranma observing the individual who had spoken to her and noting by the voice it was a girl. "I don't know.. I don't even know how I got here," she responded.

'Pops where are you?' she wondered to herself, turning her attention back to the window she observed women dressed in what she assumed from a history book her father once showed her with pictures was typical Chinese style battle leather with large broadswords on their back walk by which made her think it was possible she was in some primitive village.

As Ranma calmed herself taking in her surroundings her eyes returned to normal, she then turned away from the window walking over crossing the distance between herself and the girl sitting down. "My name is Saotome Ranma and you are?" he inquired.

Ai scooted back slightly against something that was behind her though due to the near darkness of the room she couldn't tell what it was. "My name is Katsuragi Ai," she responded.

"Ai Eh nice name Katsuragi-chan," Ranma stated with an unintentional feminine lilt, which only caused her internally kick herself as it sometimes seemed hard to keep from doing such things when in her cursed form.

Ai smiled feeling even more relieved at the warmth of hearing the girl talk to her. "You have a very beautiful voice Saotome."

"Eh, thanks, I guess.. beautiful isn't the way I would describe it though." Ranma dully stated, looking to her right and down to the floor.

Ai looked to the girl frowning. "You mustn't speak ill of yourself I am telling you-you have a wonderful voice," she assured.

Ranma gained a small smile. "Well thank you Katsuragi-chan but the fact remains is I am a boy and boys are not supposed to talk like girls." which elicited laughter from the girl which only caused her to gain a scowl whirling her head back glaring daggers at the girl her eyes turning red once more.

"Whats so funny?" she inquired.

Ai put her hands up in warding gaining a worried expression. "I am sorry I just well you must be joking I mean.. How can you say you are a boy when I can see plainly you are a girl just like me?" she questioned.

Ranma calmed herself her eyes returning to normal, letting a tired sigh escape her lips going on to say. "This body you see in front of you it's not my body its a curse I picked up at Jusenkyo."

Having heard voices in the room Lin had awoken looking to the girl who had just spoken proceeding to add to the conversation. "Impossible you must be joking or you are lying there is no such thing as curses you must have taken quite the blow from the explosion to even think you could possibly be a boy."

"I ain't lying I really did get cursed I am actually a boy!" Ranma exclaimed near shouting, which somehow didn't stir the nearby men who were somehow still sound asleep.

Lin sat up glaring at the so-called boy her eyes flaring red briefly which only caused the red-head to back-peddle as she pointed directly at her. "Yo-Your a ghoul!" Ranma exclaimed.

"Of course I am a ghoul and so are you. Don't tell me next you are going to try and tell us you are human as well?" Lin inquired, gritting her teeth.

Ai watched the exchange finding humor in it, observing Lin stand up closing the distance with the red-head picking her up by the collar of the night shirt the girl currently wore.

"Actually you are right I am a ghoul and a girl currently, but really I am a human boy with a curse I can prove it if you get me some hot water," Ranma stated attempting to pry out of the larger girl's grip.

Lin frowned at the smaller girl. "Right you can prove to me you are a boy and human with hot water? What do you take me for a fool?" she heatedly questioned.

"I don't take you for anything and I understand how crazy it sounds... heck I didn't believe in magic and curses either until I came in contact with Jusenkyo.. but I swear get me some hot water and I will prove it," Ranma assured, at which she found herself sat down as the older girl let her collar go.

Having woken up and over-heard the conversation Mr. Chan chuckled at the conversation. "Jusenkyo Eh that is a rumor I heard growing up as a child so there may be truth in it after all assuming you are not just pulling her leg," he called.

Mr. Chou also having woke sat up stretching his sore muscles. "Well if in fact, you are telling the truth the good news for you is we can't eat you at least not here," he stated through a yawn.

Ranma gained a worried expression remembering she was surrounded by four ghouls. "Guess that is a good thing... Why can't you eat me here?" she questioned.

Mr. Chan chuckled at the redhead's question. "Simple we cannot eat you because the Amazons wouldn't approve of such an act occurring in their village. Secondly I wouldn't allow it since you saved my niece back in the town." he pointed out.

Ai looked at the girl she had befriended. "She saved me Uncle?" she inquired making sure she heard right.

Mr. Chan gave a nod as he struck a match lighting a nearby lamp lighting up the room. "That is correct while I cannot say for certain what she says is true I did witness her save your life from afar," he answered turning his attention to the red-head. "If what you say is true and you are indeed cursed you are very lucky to be alive as a normal human would have been burned alive in that firestorm but I am thankful you took the brunt of the flames as I know my niece may not have survived had you not intervened," he noted.

"A human saving the life of a ghoul child who would have thought." Mr. Chou said, looking to the red-head observing her features and noting the pale blue night shirt she was wearing that came down just below her knee's.

Ai also wore a similar style shirt, her features mixed as she looked to the red-head who had indeed according to her uncle saved her life.

"A life is a life it is a martial-artists duty to protect those who cannot defend themselves. I did what I thought was right regardless if she was a human or a ghoul a person is a person." Ranma stated, not at all feeling ill towards anyone in the room.

Ai gained a smile at the girl's words. "Thank you so much for saving my life Saotome," she stated with a bow of her head.

"Your welcome," Ranma called, looking around the room observing a small potbelly stove with a kettle. "I could use that to heat some water if we can find some," she observed.

Lin looked at the stove and the kettle, turning her attention back to the red-head. "I am curious if in fact, you are telling the truth so where do we get some water?" she questioned.

"I'll go see if our gracious hosts will provide us with some water." Mr. Chan called standing up walking over taking the kettle by the handle then proceeded towards the huts exit.

A few minutes later saw the group sitting around the potbelly stove, the kettle sitting on its cooking surface steam wafting from its spigot signaling the water was heating up.

Mr. Chan looked to the red-head expectantly. "So how hot do you need it?" he inquired.

Ranma looked to the elder ghoul going on to say. "It doesn't need to be boiling but it needs to be a little hotter than it is now." she then turned her attention back to the kettle. "I wonder what Pops is up to?" she unwittingly said aloud.

"Your father? I am sorry to say but if he was in that town somewhere he probably is either dead or long gone if he knows what is good for him if what you say is true and you are indeed a human boy people who harbor ghouls don't fair well if the C.C.G. gets hold of them." Mr. Chan explained, looking to the red-head feeling slightly sorry for the girl.

Ranma shook her head posing a question. "I don't understand I am human why would Pops get in trouble he never harbored a ghoul a day in his life?"

"I hate to break it to you Saotome-chan but if you truly are human it doesn't matter with your current body he would be collaborating with a ghoul and that means harboring. Currently, you are a ghoul like us." Lin pointed out, as she figured the child was living in some kind of denial that needed to be dispelled.

Mr. Chou nodded his head going on to add his two cents. "She's right as you currently are now you are very much a ghoul and are as big a target as any of us in the eyes of any ghoul investigator."

Ranma looked to the floor lowering her head in realization that what the ghouls were saying was correct, crossing her arms over her chest. 'Stupid curse... stupid old man for dragging me to that place.' she thought with sadness.

She then looked up to the kettle observing more steam, she then stood up taking hold of the kettle proceeding to poor some of its contents over her head though it was a lot hotter than she would have preferred it did the job the curse working its magic rather rapidly as she became a he much to the amazement of the entire group.

"I'll be damned its true your hair.. you really do have a curse!" Lin exclaimed as she was flabbergasted and still couldn't believe what she had actually just witnessed.

Ai's eyes were like saucers witnessing the change, her sense of smell told her the girl now boy was indeed human however that didn't seem to bother her much. 'This boy saved my life. A human boy came to my rescue...' she trailed in thought.

Looking at the raven-haired woman who had spoken Ranma gave a nod, replying with. "See I wasn't fibbing I really am a boy."

"That you sure are... That and those are some nice legs you got I got dibs." Lin jokingly called, causing the boy to shrink back from the group.

Mr. Chan chuckled, speaking up. "Easy boy she was just kidding remember I said I wouldn't allow you to be eaten and I meant it." turning his attention to the older girl. "Lin Apologies,"

Lin immediately bowed her head. "Sorry Saotome-kun I didn't mean to scare you... its just I couldn't help it you look so scrumptious."

Ranma calmed his nerves shaking his head negatively at the raven-haired woman. "Well, thanks, I guess apology accepted."

"I think she likes you Saotome-kun." Mr. Chou stated, quickly getting a hand slapped across the back of his head.

Lin shook her head vehemently. "Jeez don't you dare say I am not easy to get along with!" she exclaimed.

Waiving his hands in warding quickly backing up from his raven-haired comrade. "I didn't mean it like that I just said you like him stop reading too much into everything jeez" he defended.

This elicited laughter from both Mr. Chan and his niece, and at the same time seemed to put Ranma more at ease in his current surroundings as it seemed these ghouls were a friendly bunch not at all the blood thirsty monsters the news media had made them out to be.

Ranma sat the kettle back down on the stove top, proceeding to walk back to the window looking out into the village proper observing everything was peaceful and quiet a pale blue hue blanketed everything which soon would give way to the light of day once the sun had started shine its light upon the land.

'They seem like normal people they laugh and they joke...' he trailed in thought considering his current predicament and the facts that for all tints and purposes it would seem his father either was dead or in fact thinks he is dead and or had abandoned him. He then went on to think. 'He can't be dead not my Pop's. No, he will come for me like he always does.' he assured himself, though the raven-haired ghoul's words rang loudly in his head which gave him a certain measure of doubt.

Though at the same time this wasn't the first time he and his father had gotten separated since his father sometimes sold him off as a potential suitor to girl's for food and what not and even though he might have found himself staying with the unsuspecting girl's family for a week still his father showed up and took him back.

Course Ranma didn't approve of his father's methods he didn't exactly protest much either as he himself benefited from such instances especially when he was very hungry which happened quite a bit as his father and he were vagabond martial-artists. Course occasionally his father and him would take on odd jobs to earn a little spending money, but when they weren't doing that his father would con some poor sap into giving them stuff.

"So what happens to me now?" he inquired, as he really hadn't a clue what to do as this wasn't the typical situation he was used too.

Mr. Chan looked to the raven-haired boy. "Well in the morning I and Mr. Chou will be leaving this village, however, I have arranged it so that you and my niece and Lin here will be staying so unless your father does in fact return for you I would suggest adjusting and getting used to how they do things here in this village."

"Uncle your leaving... but why?" Ai inquired, a saddened expression to her features as she had just lost her parents and didn't want to lose her uncle as well.

Mr. Chan looked to his niece responding. "I am sorry Ai its just how it has to be the Matriarch of the village and I made a pact and in order for her to hold up her end of the bargain I and Mr. Chou have to be going... but don't you worry I will be dropping by to check on your progress every now and again so long as I am alive I promise you, honey."

"You are lying you won't be returning. Your going to die just like my parents aren't you?" Ai accused, her expression filled with sadness.

Mr. Chan reached over pulling the girl to him then hugged her tight. "I would never lie to you honey I will so long as I still breathe will return for you," he assured.

Lin looked to the aging man with mixed emotion. 'Oh, father I do hope you will be able to keep that promise.' she thought to herself deciding it was best not to speak her thought since the elder man had no idea the secret her mother had kept from him.

While she looked up to the Mr. Chan who was her father he had no idea he was, in fact, her father as he was only with her mother for a brief stint before he finally settled with another woman. However, her mother had continued to run with the pack well into her pregnancy.

It was painful to hear the full story from her mother and be sworn to secrecy unable to talk to her father how she truly wanted too, however, the man even still from afar had treated her rather well and that was enough for her and allowed her to press on in comfort and secrecy.

She had wished her mother hadn't made her swear to such a dreadful secret as she desperately wanted to tell him she was his daughter and how she truly felt about him, instead of having to love her father from a distance under the guise of a comrade a friend of a dear friend.

She considered the fact her father would be leaving in the morning and the fact this might very well be the last time she would ever get to see him, her mother was struck down in battle so he was all she had left in the world.

Ranma having held a decent conversation with her current housemates. "I notice you all speak my language rather well most the people in China I have come across I can't understand," he stated.

"Well, I learned it from Ai's father who like you is Japanese and my Sister who is Chinese in turn I taught these two and Ai's parents taught her both Chinese and Japanese language.

Ai with a saddened expression adding in "I was also was learning how to write in both languages from my father and mother before they were..." she trailed a single tear falling from her right eye rolling down her cheek as she wiped the tear away falling into silence and turning away from the group walking over to a lone corner sitting down bringing her knees to her chest while crossing her arms over her chest as the reality of her parents were never going to again be teaching her and would never again be apart of her life.

"I only know how to speak Japanese and very little Chinese," Ranma explained, he then observed the girl he had both saved and befriended had left the center of the room and was now sitting in a corner crying. "Ai you okay?" he inquired

Lin then spoke up. " Saotome let her be she will need some, time." she stated, then returned to the subject at hand

"Perhaps between me and Ai if you are willing we can teach you more of our mother tongue sometime if you are willing and may be a good idea since this village consists of mostly Chinese speaking humans." she offered.

Giving a nod of his head to the raven-haired woman. "You are probably right Lin-San I will have to take you up on that."

Mr. Chan walked over to the corner his niece was in sitting down beside her placing his right arm around her, at which she fell against him turning to cry into his chest as she wrapped her arms around him as her uncle did his best to comfort her.