Disclaimer: I own neither Slayers nor Ranma 1/2 and you know it!
Happy New Year! Yes, I know its been two months and yes, this chapter is fairly shorter than my last couple of chapters. Between school, projects, and trying to get ready for a huge trip next year, I just haven't had much time to work on this, resulting in a slight case of writer's block.
I am pleased to say that during my lapse in updates I have still been getting views for this story, though I do wonder why nobody reviews. I'm not saying I want more reviews (Lina: "Yes she is."), I'm just somewhat curious to know why people aren't. If there's something you what to know about, if you think I could improve on something, or just whatever, go ahead and leave a review.
Now then, how about I stop ranting and let you get to what you came for? Please enjoy this latest installment of "Anything Goes Dragon Slave"!
"..." normal speech
'...' thoughts/signs
Attacks/Spell Names
Chinese dialect
Two weeks prior in Nerima ward, Japan...
The eldest Tendo daughter walked down the pathways of the open market with a gentle smile on her face, shifting the bag of ingredients in her hands. As she made her way back home, the corners of her lips turned down slightly at the sight of a particular building. Kasumi paused at the door, gazing at the enigmatic "Closed" sign.
'I wonder where Tofu-sensei has been,' Kasumi pondered. 'He hasn't been in town for months.' A sudden drop of wetness pried her thoughts away from the absent doctor. As if threatened by the graying sky, she hurried along the sidewalk. 'I should get some water ready for Ranma-kun just in case,' she thought as she rounded the last corner. To her surprise, a certain brunette with a large spatula strapped to her back was leaning against the front gate.
"Ah, Ukyo-chan, what brings you over here?" Kasumi asked pleasantly, pushing open the gate.
"Who was it this time?" the okonomiyaki chef asked, somewhat exasperated. Kasumi adopted a confused expression.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Both Ranchan and Akane weren't at school today," Ukyo explained. "I know they were here yesterday, meaning they probably gotten in some trouble."
"I'm afraid I don't know where they are right now; they must be out playing with their friends. Why don't you come inside before it starts raining?" she offered.
'Last I checked, friends don't try to beat the snot out of you on a daily basis,' Ukyo thought weakly. She shook her head, turning to leave. "No, I'll be fine." Kasumi gave one last smile before entering the Tendo home. Ukyo slowly made her way back to her restaurant, despite the menacing clouds. She chuckled, remembering Shampoo's entrance earlier that day. 'That girl needs to stop busting up that wall.'
"Granddaughter, why must you keep destroying the school's walls?" Cologne demanded. "Their principal may be as insane as his son, but he still has us pay for the damages you cause."
"I sorry great-grandmother," Shampoo apologized, "But Airen run away from Shampoo. Sorceress say he go to school so I try to follow, but Airen not there."
"Lina Inverse told you that? When was this?" the elder questioned. "And for heaven's sake child, speak your native tongue; you sound ridiculous." Shampoo started, cheeks colored slightly.
"After you sent me to find the sorceress Lina Inverse, I saw Airen and the mission slipped my mind." the lavender-haired girl answered guiltily. "I ran after him once Lina told me he was going to school. I had hoped maybe he would finally accept a date with me." Cologne gave her a stern look, though chuckled internally.
'It would seem even after the events of Mount Phoenix Shampoo is still quite determined to win Ranma over. That will only make this that much harder.' Cologne stifled a sigh and turned her concentration to the matter at hand. "Never mind that now Shampoo. A letter has come from the Council of Elders." Shampoo immediately sobered up.
"What does it say, great-grandmother?"
"Mousse, get in here," Cologne called out. The part-time duck came out of the kitchen, walking over to them.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Over here, stupid Duckboy," Shampoo said impatiently. Confused, Mousse adjusted his Coke-bottle glasses to learn he was speaking to a potted plant.
"Ahem," Cologne cleared her throat. "As I was saying, the other Elders have sent a message. They say that we have spent too long here in Japan and must return home." Her words jolted the two teenagers.
"But great-grandmother, what about Airen? I must-"
"You must do nothing," the elder interrupted. "After a year of chasing him, you have yet to show a shred of success. It has been decided, taking into account the events at Mount Phoenix, that continuing your pursuit of Ranma Saotome would only end in disaster. Therefore, we are to return to Joketsuzoku posthaste so you may receive judgment for your failure." Shampoo, unable to hide her surprise, gaped at Cologne. Mousse however was conflicted between feeling sorry for his childhood friend and running out into the streets, cheering over the fact that she no longer had to marry Ranma.
"B-but," Shampoo stammered.
"We will leave tomorrow morning," Cologne concluded. Her aged eyes softened, the hard edge no longer evident in her voice. "I'm sorry granddaughter, but this must end. If something were to happen that turned Ranma against us, there would be no knowing of what could happen."
For the dozenth time that day, Nabiki cursed her younger sister and her fiance. For whatever reason, the two skipped school, leaving Nabiki to deal with Kuno. The kendoist had demanded to know where "his fierce tigress" and "the foul sorcerer" were and, fearing the worst when Nabiki didn't answer him, ran out of the classroom in search.
'They just had to pick today to skip,' Nabiki complained internally. Thankfully, she got back home without running into Kuno. Now, in the comfort in her room, she turned on her computer to examine her tapes. Nabiki smirked as she slid the first disk in. 'They still haven't figured out how I get all those pictures.'
The video loaded and the image had Nabiki wincing. 'Note to self: don't invite the Kuno's next time there's a wedding.' She fast-forwarded to after the failed wedding, tempted to skip straight to the next disk. However, something on the video made her pause. The four guests, who Nabiki learned had left that morning, were standing in the dojo getting ready to sleep, when Ranma entered the room. His voice, muffled on the video, rang out in the silence.
"I want you guys to take me with you," he declared. Nabiki stared at the screen as the pigtailed martial artist continued speaking, and then Akane came into the picture. She watched as they plotted their escape. Then, skipping to that morning, she saw Ranma and Akane, bags in hand, leave alongside the guests. The video ended, leaving Nabiki with her thoughts. On one hand, she could inform their parents and get them back before they got too far.
'On the other hand,' Nabiki thought with a growing smirk, 'Those two would owe me big-time once they get back.' Thinking back to what the two had said on the recording, Nabiki made her decision. She closed the video window, ejected the disk, and slid it into a desk drawer. At her older sister's call for dinner, Nabiki stretched out of her seat.
'They better be grateful for this,' she thought as she exited her bedroom.
As the day waned and still no sign of Ranma or Akane turned up, the family(minus one) steadily became more and more worried. Night eventually fell and they had yet to return, prompting Soun to immediately fear the worst and burst into tears. Once the two families managed to calm him down, they sent him to bed hoping the young martial artists would return come morning. Unfortunately, when Kasumi entered Akane's bedroom the next morning, the bedsheets were as neat as they had been the previous day. The only difference was a folded piece of paper resting where the youngest Tendo should have been. Kasumi curiously unfolded the paper.
"To whomever opens this first," the note began, "I would guess by this is found everyone's realized Ranma and I have left. Before everyone starts jumping to conclusions(no Tou-san, we aren't getting married!), this is only a training trip and we will be back. We probably won't be back soon, but we will come back and when we do we'll explain everything.
For now, please don't worry about us. Signed Akane Tendo. P.S. If you happen to find P-chan, please take good care of him."
Kasumi gasped as she reached the end of the letter, covering her mouth with one hand. Despite Akane's written request, a string of worry knotted around the eldest Tendo sister's heart, deeply concerned for her youngest sister and the boy Kasumi had come to see as a younger brother. Shakily, she exited the room to share her discovery.
Nerima changed drastically over the next couple of weeks. The Amazons up and left town within the first few days without explanation. Having caught word of Ranma and Akane's disappearance, rumors spread through the high school like wildfire, each person coming up with more extreme and insane reasons to their exit. Of course, this lead to the Kuno siblings also leaving, though not before proclaiming to half the town they would return with their respective loves. Ucchan's remained open, despite the fact the owner was noticeably distressed. Overall, Nerima became much calmer-no explosions, no shouted death threats, and no yells of "HENTAI!"(this was swiftly remedied as soon as Happosai returned). Many people gave a sigh of relief at the new found peace, but none came from the Tendo or Saotome family.
Present day in the Alliance of Coastal States...
"What?" came the shocked response. The group of six stared at the strange newcomer: Ranma and Akane out of curiosity, Lina in confusion, and Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadis were trying to figure out why this man "Kynis" would owe Lina his life. Before any of them could ask him anything, the man spoke again.
"I apologize for such an abrupt and short meeting, but there is somewhere I must be. Be careful," he warned. With that said, he turned on his heel and walked off.
As if snapping out of a trance, Lina called out "Hey, hold on a second!" and ran after him. Trailed by the rest of the group, the six tracked him down to an alley. Turning the corner and ready to demand an explanation, Lina stopped suddenly, the five behind her nearly crashing into her. Besides the occasional piece of trash, the path was a dead end and utterly empty.
"Where the hell did he go?" Lina cried, breaking the silence. "I swear, this is just like something Xellos would do." She glared down the alley, thinking over the stranger's brief appearance. 'I've never seen the guy in my life, yet somehow I saved his life. If I had to guess looking at just his ears I'd say he's an elf, but why would one come into human society just to tell us his name, which is definitely elven. If I could figure out what it means-'
"Lina-san, I think you may want to look at this." Amelia's voice jerked Lina out of her inner monologue. Looking at the Saillune princess, who was pointing at a paper on the side of the building. The group leaned in closer.
'Wanted,' the poster said in bold letters, 'Lina Inverse'.
"Again?" Lina groaned. This prompted to the two martial artists to stare at the sorceress in disbelief. 'Again? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea,' Akane speculated. Lina continued "What's it for this time?"
"Lina Inverse," Zelgadis read, a smirk creeping its way into his voice, "Known aliases are 'Dramata', 'The Bandit Killer', 'Queen of Destruction', and 'Enemy of All who Live'. Wanted: For being Lina Inverse."
Ranma and Akane gave Lina incredulous stares as she tore the paper off the wall in a fit of rage, stomping it into the ground.
"Well, I can't really disagree with it," Gourry piped up, Amelia and Zelgadis nodding their agreements. Each received a knuckle to the head for their sentiments.
"Come on," Lina growled. "We need to get out of the city before anyone finds out we're here." The group gave a collective nod and soon it was a race to get out of the town without gaining the notice of any officials. Surprisingly, the group was able to make their way out and into the surrounding forest, thanks to a distinct lack of guards at the city's edge.
"Before we go any farther, what did you mean when you said 'again'?" Ranma asked, stressing his last word.
"Long story. A few years ago someone wanted revenge against something me, Gourry, and Zel did, so they put up a bounty on our heads to track us down," Lina explained.
"Do you think this is the same person?" Akane inquired.
"Not unless someone healed her in time," Lina countered, causing Akane to shudder slightly at the implication. "Well, this complicates things. What do you guy propose we do?"
"Let me and Zelgadis-san go back into the city," Amelia volunteered. "We will find out whatever we can about this warrant."
"What about the rest of us?" Ranma demanded.
"The four of you will stay outside of the city. Lina for obvious reasons, you and Akane have no knowledge of the area and would stick out like sore thumbs, and Gourry usually stays with Lina no matter what the case is," Zelgadis elaborated. 'Gourry's hopeless at memorizing information and someone needs to keep Lina out of trouble,' he thought wryly.
Five minutes later, the duo reentered the city, much to the annoyance of some. Lina and Gourry settled into the grass, gazing up at the calm sky as a breeze swept over them. Ranma had leapt high into one of the trees in hopes of better surveying the area, whereas Akane rested on the branch of a nearby tree. As time ticked by, a scowl formed itself on Lina's features.
"Mou, I'm going to die of boredom before they get back!" Lina complained. "It wouldn't be so bad if there were some bandits around here, but this is agonizing!"
"Well Lina-san, why don't explain all those names of yours?" Akane voiced curiously. Lina rolled over and gave a piercing glare in response, sending a shiver down the navy-haired martial artist's spine. Gourry, tilting his head back, glanced at the girls, then resumed his relaxation. Sliding down from the high foliage, Ranma landed on a lower branch of the same tree, somewhat curious about the subject at hand.
"No. I am the beautiful genius sorceress Lina Inverse-sama only and don't you forget it," Lina stated, managing a flip of her hair even while lying down. 'As long as I have a say in it, they will never know how I got those names.'
"Oh, I beg to differ," a familiar voice cheerfully remarked, causing Lina to spring to her feet. Startled, Akane nearly jumped out of the tree at the sight of a certain purple-haired demon on the same branch as her. Then, in a singsong voice, Xellos recited "Little girl with little breast scares the dragon from his nest. Isn't that right Lina-san?" Ranma and Akane stared at him, wondering what it was supposed to mean, while Lina was stuck between choosing strangulation, torture, or combustion.
"Xellos, you're going to wish you hadn't said that," Lina said dangerously calm, slowly stalking forward with her right hand out. Gourry immediately saw the signs and was quick to move out of the way, Ranma and Akane close behind. She muttered continuously under her breath, gathering energy in the palm of her hand. She soon required the use of her left hand and in a matter of seconds was effortlessly holding a large inferno just waiting to be released.
"Yare, yare, it seems I made her angry," Xellos commented nonchalantly.
'How can he be so calm?' Akane thought incredulously. Turning to Gourry, she asked "Is there anyway to stop her before she burns the whole forest down?"
Gourry scratched his head, trying to think. It wasn't long before Ranma and Akane could tell he wasn't going to come up with any solutions.
"Well," Ranma started, standing up and cracking his knuckles, "I know one way to stop her." Akane stood up too, fists held at the ready.
"I'm coming with you," she said firmly, only to have Ranma shake his head.
"No, you're not ready. I saw what she can do at Jusendo-you didn't. Just stay here for now," Ranma resolved. He turned his back on her, not seeing the hurt look that passed over her face.
Zelgadis and Amelia roamed down the various streets of the seaside city, asking whomever they passed about the warrant. Each person they came across gave the same answer: "It's Lina Inverse. That's all you need to know."
"How helpful," Zelgadis murmured sarcastically after the dozenth passerby. Amelia giggled quietly when suddenly the duo sensed an enormous spike of energy coming from where they had left the others. The two looked at each other and nodded, taking off as fast as they could.
"Sheesh. We can't leave them alone for five minutes without something happening, can we?" Zelgadis growled. Just as Amelia opened her mouth to respond, another person ran up behind her, causing the pair to stare in surprise.
"Perhaps I could help?" the individual asked.
"What are you doing here?" Amelia questioned.
"I'll tell you later; I think stopping Lina-san would take priority right now." Amelia and Zelgadis nodded and returned to the path in front of them, readying themselves for the battle sure to come.
And there you have it. Again, I know its shorter. Hopefully next one will be longer with less of a wait. I can only hope for the best. Happy New Year and ja ne!