AN1: I don't want to hear a word about the legality of minors betting, ok?

AN2: This chapter took some time because I took a break from it for a little while because I was really tempted to do something really stupid in this chapter. I probably still did something stupid in it, but at least it was not that.

AN3: I'm still sick. Oh so sick. So updates will be about once a month until I'm better. But then again, I am updating multiple stories at once because of that though. So take your pick.

AN4: Thanks to GunnerRyu for going over this chapter.

A BLACK HEART STILL BEATS

CHAPTER SIX

FREEDOM PART FOUR

WATCHERS IN THE DARK

Hild's law offices: Hild's office: a few hours later

Hild, along with Marller and Urd, were trying to get Ranma to see reason. "Just what is your problem with this plan Ranma?" Hild finally asked with a sigh. She just did not see his problem with it, it was a perfect solution to the Kuonji mess.

"He cheated to get the cart." Ranma said, like that explained everything. And to him, it did.

Hikaru had found the current location of the Gambling King, and asked him about the bet for the okonomiyaki cart. And he had surprisingly remembered that bet, probably due to the welshing of it, and signed a statement saying he won the cart from Uyko, and she had welshed on her bet, never paying him. Hild had suggested that they use these new facts to their advantage somehow. Either by offering to help the Gambling King get compensation, or even better yet by doing that and then offering Uyko legal representation as well, if she admitted that since her father no longer owned the cart, she had no legal claim to Ranma. They'd do that anyway even if the only one they represented was the Gambling King, they'd just make a suit against Uyko after the Gambling King got his compensation from Uyko about it.

Ranma was slightly against this idea, mainly because he felt that by cheating, the Gambling King really did not own the cart. Hild sought to make him see reason.

"Ranma, did you or did you not say you felt that Uyko only wants you so she can be a woman again, and she is in competition with the other girls for you, and does not and will not listen to anything you say to her?" Hild asked.

"Yes." Ranma said slumping his shoulders.

"Then she truly needs a wake up call Ranma. She got herself into this mess with the Gambling King, and it is perfect thing to use to get you out of her engagement. She must decide what to do, and how to get herself out of this mess. This is an almost perfect answer to get you out of her engagement, for no matter what happens, I see you being free from her engagement, either by her choice or by the courts rulings. It's a totally win-win situation, if only you'll allow it." Hild said seriously.

Ranma gulped. He knew that it was a good plan, but it would really hurt Uyko. Even more then Shampoo was being and going to be hurt if he was right about things. 'But, she never listened to me about only wanting to be friends, and then she had bombed my wedding. Even if I never was going to marry that tomboy, she should have trusted me to do the right thing for me. That's it! I've gotta do the right thing for me, and not worry about her at the moment. I might be able to help her out later, but right now I've gotta focus on my self.' He thought. Ranma then finally said aloud in a resigned voice "Do it."

"I know that was a hard decision Ranma, but I think you made the right one." Hild said softly. Then she said in a more normal tone of voice "But I don't think you should be there when she's told, at first at least that is. I'm giving Hikaru the Gambling King's case. I think I'll send…" And then Hild started to go through her lawyers' case files, to see which one could take on Uyko's case if need be, "Hmm, well Goro has enough time it looks like…" And then Hild called in Reiko. After she came in the room Hild just handed her a note saying "Take this to Goro. Tell him if he has any questions, which I'm sure he'll have, see me at eleven tomorrow."

"Yes Miss Slain." Reiko said, taking the note as Hild sighed.

After Reiko left, Hild softly muttered "She is way too uptight." To which Urd and Marller giggled.

Then Hild said, while looking at the clock "Well, let's got to the airport. We have some guests to pick up."

Then Urd said "Shouldn't Ranma change? I mean Ranma…"

Ranma cut her off saying "Yeah, I should. If I'm meeting my Amazon Sensei, and I think I should go looking like an Amazon." Ranma said while he grinned, and then getting up, he headed for Hild's private washroom.

Hel: the realm of the dead: Hel's hidden castle

"Do we have enough Lost Souls for the job?" Loki asked to his children

"Yessss." Jormungand hissed out.

"I worry about their power levels." Hel said with true worry evident in her voice. "If Hild's with Ranma when they…" Hel began, when Fenrir interrupted her

"The shear number of lost souls we're sending will assure the boy's death even if Hild is there to protect him."

"But…" Hel began in response when she was interrupted by her father

"No buts! Now that Ranma is now longer following the destiny we set for him, he must die before he awakens into his true power! Can you imagine what would happen if he did? Not only would our enemies get a huge boost in strength, our greatest asset, which is they do not know that we still exist, would be taken away! His awakening would practically scream out that we did this!" Loki screamed at his daughter in rage. Mellowing out, he calmly stated "Send out all the Lost Souls. Ranma Saotome will die this night, and we shall slink back into the shadows to strike again when the time is ripe."

And then his children scrambled to do his will.

Tokyo International Airport: seven forty two at night

"Why are planes always late?" Marller growled out as they sat waiting for Showers flight to arrive.

Before anyone could respond to her rhetorical question, over the loudspeakers came the call "Flight 247 from Beijing, China now arriving"

"Finally!" Marller exclaimed as she stood up. Ranma, Hild and Urd stood up quickly as well, and they then went to meet the Amazon party as they disembarked.

Hel: the realm of the dead: Hel's hidden castle: at the same time

"I found them. They are at an airport. Shall I send in the Lost Souls now?" Fenrir asked his father.

"No." Loki said in reply. "There are too many of the enemy there. And while the number of mortals there would impede them from responding, the number of enemies present would be, problematic." Loki then said.

"But, it seems that they will be together for most of the night!" Hel screeched out. "And the Lost Souls have to be used in the next three hours, before anyone notices they're missing from their prison!" Hel shouted.

"True." Loki admitted. "If anyone noticed that the Lost Souls were out of their confinement, it would be a bother. And it does look like they will be together for most of the night. What to do?" Loki mused.

"Might we hit them when they are traveling?" Fenrir suggested. "They would be hampered by the cars, I believe they are called, that they will be traveling in."

"Yes, that could work." Loki admitted, continuing with "And if we set the Lost Souls on them at the proper time, there would be many mortals around for them to have to deal with as they panic. Good idea Fenrir."

Thank you father." Fenrir said.

Tokyo International Airport: a few moments later

"Welcome Shower Sensei." A female Ranma said while bowing to her new mentor.

"Hello Ranma. Hmm, one of the first things I think you will need to learn will be how to speak Mandarin." Shower said seriously.

"Yes, Sensei." Ranma said in response.

"And call me Shower, until you learn how to say my name properly." Shower chided her new heir.

"Ok, Shower." Ranma said in an amused voice.

They then walked over to the luggage dispenser, and Shower asked, as her three companions, one other Matriarch with her young heir and a male servant, got the luggage for the group, "Have you decided on their punishment Ranma?"

Ranma then answered "No, I have not. For I decided that I do not know enough about your laws, even wit reading the law book, to come up with a truly appropriate punishment for them, I do not want to be too harsh on them, yet I do not want to be very lenient either. I was hoping you could help me come up with an appropriate punishment for them, one that is not too harsh to them, but is fair for what they have done." Ranma said evenly.

"Hmm, I could help you find an appropriate punishment for them. We could use this as a way of teaching you some of our laws. And also use it to teach you just how we administer justice in our tribe." Shower said in a light tone of voice.

"Ah, that's a good idea. Everything should be used for training, no matter what it is." Ranma said with a laugh.

"Very true young one, very true." Shower said with her own laugh as the other three came over with the luggage.

"Well Matriarch Shower, may I ask you what you wish to do now? We can either go out to dinner, or, if you are tired from your journey, we can take you to your hotel." Hild then said as the luggage had arrived.

"Well, I'm not tired, and food sounds good to me, what about you, Brush?" Shower asked of the other Matriarch.

"I will admit to being hungry." Brush said. Then Brush turned to the last female of the group and asked "And what about you? Are you hungry Moisturizer?"

"Yes I am." Moisturizer said with a nod.

Then they all looked to the lone male of the group, who bowed and said "This one is hungry as well. Thank you for asking me."

"Well, with Razor's agreement, it's unanimous!" Shower cackled out. "So, where were you planning on taking us for our meal Miss Slain?" Shower said with a twinkle in her eye.

"Please, just call me Hild in private." Hild said while Shower chuckled and nodded. "As to just where I will be taking you, that depends. What type of food would you like to eat?" Hild then asked them.

They looked at each other, and then Moisturizer said softly with embarrassment, "Well, we have always wanted to try a good, authentic, American style burger. I we know though, that the Japanese then to, um, not do it as the Americans do it, so if you know of a place that serves an authentic style American burger, we would appreciate it."

"Hmm, I know of the most authentic American style burger restaurant in all of Tokyo, if that is truly where you all want to go." Hild said with a small smile.

"Yes," Shower then said. "These two," She said pointing at the Moisturizer and Razor "Have always wanted to try a good burger, and I'll admit, I am curious on them as well."

"Very well then, shall we get going then?" Hild said with a nod.

"Yes, lets." Shower said as they hefted their luggage and headed out to Hild's limo.

Hel: the realm of the dead: Hel's hidden castle: at the same time

"The restaurant seems the best place to hit them then." Fennier said with a growl.

"Yesss, that's true." Jormungand said with a hiss in response.

"Do it." Loki commanded. "All the mortals that will be their will impede their response." He said with an evil grin.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Hel said as she prepared the Lost Souls for transport to the Midgard.

And they all watched the viewing portal for the right time to finally strike out and end the threat to their Anonymity.

EAN: Again, it was short. But then again, I felt that this was a good place to end this chapter. So tune in next time for some action! (And hopefully a longer chapter.) See you then.