Chapter 5

Ranma had actually managed to get back to the Tendo's without some lunatic attacking him. Thank goodness for small favors he thought to himself. As he walked in the door, he noticed everyone sitting around waiting for dinner to be ready. As usual, nobody but Akane really seemed to care where he'd been, and as usual, she was the one who started the interrogation.

"Where have you been Ranma? Over to Ukyo's probably", she crossed her arms and glared at him.

Oh crap he thought here it comes again. She'll accuse me of some ridiculous thing, I'll deny it, and then she'll knock me out of the house for 'lying' to her.

"I've just been walking Akane. I haven't gone over to anybody's"

"Right Ranma" she was getting steamed up. "I suppose you were just deep in thought right?" The stupid tomboy chuckled at her own insult.

"Oh Ranma, could you give me a hand with this trash" called Kasumi from the kitchen.

Yessss! "Sure Kasumi! Excuse me Akane, gotta go help your sister" he blurted as he scooted into the safe zone of the kitchen.

"Raaaanmaa" she yelled. But fortunately for Ranma, she decided she'd deal with him later. After all, where was he going to go?

Ranma walked over to the trash and bundled the bag up, relieved to have been saved from Akane and her best friend, the ever-present Mallet-sama.

"So Ranma, any progress with your question yet?" Kasumi asked.

"Well, yes and no. I think I understand my problem a little better now. The problem is, I still don't know how to answer it yet" he said as he started out the back door with the trash.

"Wait, I'll come with you. I have a couple of things that wouldn't fit in the bag"

As they walked out back to the bins, Kasumi pursued the issue "So what have you learned so far?"

"Well, to make a long story short, everybody I know seems to be just as obsessed as I am about being the best about something, so they aren't much help. I did find an old couple at the park that helped and believe it or not, Cologne had some interesting things to say."

Kasumi smiled "Well, I'm sure you don't get to be a respected Elder at her village by just being old,"

"Yeah, I suppose you are right. Anyways, according to them, many people find happiness and satisfaction by caring for others, and not by being the best at a single thing. According to them, the fact that you are caring for other people helps give you better direction and a fuller life."

They dumped the trash and started to head back in. As they walked back Kasumi continued the discussion. "So Ranma, do you think they are right?"

"Dunno...well, I suppose I do, deep inside. The problem is, how do you find someone that you care so much for?"

"That is a tough question indeed." Kasumi answered. "Sometimes no matter how hard you work at something like that, what you need is some luck and the right opportunity."

Kasumi stopped, looked back and said "Go ahead Ranma, I think I dropped a recipe I had in my pocket. I'll be in in just a minute"

"Ok Kasumi, see you inside" he said as he walked back to the kitchen door.

Nabiki got up to answer the door. Who would be stopping by at this time she thought to herself. Probably Shampoo with some drug riddled meal for Mr. Martial Artist she mused.

To her surprise, it was Hikaru Gosunkugi. She had come across him occasionally at school, he was one of the customers for her pictures of Akane. "Hello, may I help you?" she asked.

"Yes, may I speak to Ranma for a moment? I promise I'll be quick."

"Sure, come on in." Nabiki led the creepy young man back to the main room where she had seen Ranma just a few moments before"

--

Cologne was sitting in her room as her favorite cup split down the middle. As soon as it broke, she had the strongest feeling of dread that she had ever experienced in all of her years. Something big is about to happen, and knowing this place, it is about to happen to Ranma. She grabbed her staff and raced down the stairs.

"Great grandmother, what is happening?" Shampoo asked as her grandmother came racing down the steps.

"No time to explain..." she gasped "follow me!" She bolted out the door as Shampoo joined her in a mad dash to the Tendo's. She wasn't sure what was about to happen, but it filled her with such dread, that she knew she had to try to stop whatever was about to occur.

--

"Hello Akane" Gosunkugi managed to squeak out. "Is Ranma here?"

"Oh hello, yes he just took out the trash, he should be right back. Is something wrong?"

"No, no, I felt bad about the trouble I've caused you and I wanted to make it up to you some how. I just found something that should help him with his curse. I wanted to tell him as soon as I could"

"What's that about the curse?" Ranma queried from the door of the kitchen.

"Oh! Hello Ranma. I wanted to apologize to you for the trouble I've caused you. You know I deal with magic, and I've been trying to find a way to help you. I found this scroll at a shop the other day" he unrolled the parchment. He steeled himself the the events to come, he knew he'd only have one chance at this. "I ah...did a little research and I think you should hear what is on this scroll".

Ranma furrowed his brow. "Why?"

Hikaru cursed his luck, he was hoping he wouldn't have to do any explaining, but he did have this covered. "Well" he began. "I found a scroll that when read, helps the victim of a curse know where the source of its cure is. If I'm correct, it should let you know where to find the nearest cure."

Ranma, being who he was, was skeptical but decided it might be worth the risk. "Okay, go ahead."

Hikaru unrolled the scroll and started to read from it.

Ranma couldn't understand a word he was saying. It sounded like Chinese, but he couldn't be sure. He figured he'd be patient and maybe he would explain more he was done. Although as Gosunkugi continued to read, his danger sense started going off...

--

Cologne hopped over the wall around the Tendo compound. She had lost Shampoo a few moments earlier. As Cologne dashed to the door near the Koi pond, she heard someone chanting some ancient Chinese. Her blood ran cold as she recognized what the speaker was saying. Oh please, not that...please don't let it be that some fool has somehow found one of those scrolls... But in her heart, she knew she wasn't mistaken. The chant described the world of 'yesterday' and how the receiver would know no escape. Cologne burst threw the door as the final words were spoken. She knew it was too late, but she at least hoped whatever idiot had found the scroll didn't know how to use it.

Gosunkugi finished the last words on the scroll as the door next to him burst open. Yes, it's going to work! He screamed to himself. An ancient women wielding a staff crashed into the room as he hurled the now glowing scroll toward his bitter enemy, Ranma Saotome

Ranma wasn't sure what to do as Gosunkugi threw the glowing scroll toward him. Just as he decided to jump away, he heard a voice behind him utter a surprised "Oh my!". He realized Kasumi had returned to the kitchen and had come up behind him as the scroll arced toward both he and Kasumi. He decided to try to knock the scroll away when it burst into a large glowing blue sphere and enveloped him in a soft blue light.

Cologne saw the scroll sail toward Ranma and her stomach dropped as she knew there was nothing she could do to stop the process. Her years of quick reflexes kicked in however, and in a split second she made a last-ditch effort to help the poor boy. After all, it won't hurt anything if this doesn't work, and if ANYBODY could figure out how to come back, it would be RANMA. She reached into her dress and pulled out a small gold key on a chain. She winced as she yanked the chain loose and threw it to Ranma quickly yelling "GO TO THE VILLAGE!".

As everyone else watched, they saw a fading Ranma catch the key, a look of confusion on his face as he and Kasumi faded from view. Within seconds, all that was left was a smoking scroll on the ground in front of the kitchen door. Ranma Saotome and Kasumi Tendo had vanished.

--

"What the hell just happened?" yelled Akane to the smiling maniac that called himself Gosunkugi.

"Oh sorry about that, I didn't mean to get the other girl." Gosunkugi muttered. He stopped cold as he looked at the old woman who was know standing across from him.

He had never really known fear before. Oh, it was true, he wasn't the happiest kid at school. But with all the teasing and taunting, he still felt comfortable that one day he would prevail, that he would show everyone that he wasn't one to be toyed with. One look at the old woman though and he knew that he would be lucky if he walked out of here alive.

Cologne lashed out at the boy, striking his temple. He immediately collapsed into a boneless heap.

"Cologne! What have you done? You've killed him" Nabiki yelled.

"Would somebody just tell me what is going on. Where's Ranma? Where's Kasumi" demanded Akane.

"Soun, take the boy and lock him away before I lose control and kill him right there where he is" she hissed. "No child, I did not kill him, but when you understand what he just did, you may want to kill him yourself."

"Why? What just happened" asked Nabiki.

Nobody tried to move the collapsed boy, as each was interested in what Cologne might say.

"In our village, we have collected many different magic artifacts over the years. Some are good, some are bad, and some are so terrible, that we keep them locked up just so they don't fall into hands like this fools" she glanced down at Gosunkugi. "One of the more terrible scrolls is the Scroll of Yesterday."

"Oh that's not too terrible" Genma breathed a sigh of relief, "We'll just go to wherever Ranma was yesterday and get him."

"Excellent idea Saotome. He and Kasumi will be right-as-rain!" Soun agreed.

"No you fools! It isn't that simple! It was said to be used only on the Amazon's most hated enemies. For whatever reason, these foes were not to be killed outright, but instead banished to a world that contained no life, no hope, where they would be imprisoned forever. The yesterday they were sent to is a place is left behind when anything alive with Ki moves to the next day." Cologne explained.

"I don't understand" questioned Akane "What does that mean, doesn't everything have Ki?"

"No child, it is true that Ki is generated by life, but it is animal life that actually generates it. It is true that plants and soil can hold much of the Ki that is generated by the animals. But just like plants are the ones that make the air we breathe, we make the Ki that helps the plants continue to thrive. Ki is the life force of change, without it, plants wouldn't necessarily die, but neither would they produce new life. The world where those two poor children were sent to looks exactly like what you see around you, but without any animal life at all."

"But that means..." Soun started

"...that there are no people either" Nabiki finished.

"Exactly. Nobody knows how long the yesterday lasts, and it is thought that the presence of any significant Ki source might power up and maintain it for a long time, but eventually, it will begin to unravel. That is when 'they' will emerge." she finished darkly.

"Great grandmother, who is 'they'?"

"The Scavengers of Yesterday. Our legends describe them as the eaters of life. Nobody knows what they look like, because nobody has ever returned from 'Yesterday'. The best knowledge we have is from one or two visions from some of our most experienced Elders over the generations."

"Well, surely there must be some way of getting them back?" asked Genma.

"I wish I could say there was. But thanks to that fool on the floor, both Ranma and Kasumi have been banished to a realm where we can do nothing to help them."

Akane looked at the old woman, now slumped in resignation. "Cologne, when Ranma was fading out, you threw him something. What was it?"

"Nothing more than the wildest of chances. I know of nothing that we can do to help the boy, but it is possible there might be something in our archives that might provide some clue, some inspiration, for Ranma to use to return home. After all, he does seem to have a knack for the impossible. That item was a key to the Amazon archives. If he heard me, and if he can figure out how to read them, and I grant you those are both big 'ifs', maybe son-in-law might figure out some way of returning."

"But great grandmother, is forbidden for anyone but most senior Elders to view those books!" Shampoo gushed.

"Shampoo, the odds are Ranma will never be back, and I was effectively just throwing the key away. No harm can come of my actions."

Everyone fell silent, as they looked at the form still slumped on the floor. Nabiki was the first to speak. "So effectively, this worthless scum just managed to get rid of my sister and Ranma without leaving any bodies for evidence."

"Unfortunately, you have summed it up rather nicely" agreed Cologne.

"Waaaah! The schools will never be joined, and I've lost my precious Kasumi!" wailed Soun.

"Oh to be cursed with such a worthless son, defeated by such a cowardly foe." Genma replied to Soun. And know I've lost my retirement plan. Think Genma think! How can we still join the schools?

Nodoka looked devastated. Her son was gone! As good as dead, and nobody, nobody could help. "Is there truly nothing we can do Elder?"

"I'm sorry child. There are few things that are as final as the spell that was used on your son. I know of nothing that will bring him back."

"He'd better not try anything perverted with my sister" Akane announced.

Nodoka looked at her like she'd grown a second head. "My son and your sister have been sentenced to a slow and lonely death, and your only concern is that Ranma not try anything perverted? He's your fiancee Have you no feelings for him?"

"Why should I, I'm sure he'll figure out a way to come back. He always does. Humph...he just loves the spotlight."

"Didn't you hear Cologne you foolish girl! Nobody knows how to come back!"

"I don't care...good riddance" she stated as she stood up and left for upstairs.

Cologne just shook her head. What a waste! Why Ranma was ever paired up with such a fickle female was beyond her. Well, actually considering Genma had a hand in it, I suppose it shouldn't surprise her. "If you'll excuse us, I believe we should be returning home. My sympathies Soun and Nodoka, on the loss of your children. Now I must do something extremely unpleasant, but if anybody deserves it, it is this boy here.

Cologne walked over to where the scroll was lying on the ground. She reached down and lifted it up, unrolling as she walked over to Gosunkugi, who was just beginning to come to after the pressure point attack. Cologne began to read the scroll.

Nodoka was shocked, could Cologne be doing what she thought? "Cologne, what are you doing?"

"Why, administering justice. According to Amazon law, the penalty for using this item without authorization is simple, the user is subjected to the very scroll they used. " Cologne looked at their shocked faces. "What would you have us do instead. Nobody else would believe what was done, and if I did anything physical to the boy, I'm sure one of the friendly Japanese authorities would have no problem deporting me. This way, we have three missing teenagers instead of two, and at least in our hearts we'll know justice has been done."

The scroll once again began to glow, and Gosunkugi looked up with fear as the scroll was thrown in his direction.

"Nooooooo" he screamed as the blue glow enveloped his prone form. Soon, he also faded from view.

Nabiki was still shocked, but that angry part of her was glad Cologne had the gumption to administer a suitable punishment quickly and with a finality that nobody could argue with. "What if he tries to hurt Ranma or Kasumi?"

"Ah, you misunderstand how the scroll operates. For every moment, there is a new yesterday. The world this boy was sent to will appear almost identical to the ones Ranma and Kasumi were sent to, but they won't be the same. That boy will be all alone, and without the huge Ki reserves of son-in-law, it will be only a short time until the Eaters of Yesterday appear and remove him and his surroundings"

Akane just stated at the spot where Gosunkugi was lying moments ago. All she could add was a simple "Oh".

Cologne began to hop toward the door. "Well, you must excuse us. I believe it is time we returned to our own home, come Shampoo, Mousse"

And with that, the Amazons left the house, leaving the occupants to deal with the loss of Ranma and Kasumi.