Alas, school starts next week, but I hope this won't put too much of a strain on my updates. Forewarning though, it's my last semester so I might be rather busy. So without further ado . . .

Later, after the mess from that evening's adventure had at least been temporarily if not permanently fixed, the Tendos and everyone who had inadvertently ended up at their house were joined by Cologne. The group convened around the Tendo's handai, despite the fact that with so many people there wasn't much elbow room. It was Dr. Tofu who had suggested calling Cologne (much to Ranma's objections), as he thought maybe she could give Ranma some more insight on the problem he now faced. Ryouga hadn't really wanted to stay after the demon had left (he could hardly take being in Ranma's presence for that long, Cologne would really be pushing it) but he just hadn't been able to bring himself to tell Akane he needed to leave. Rather, he wanted to leave. All the attention Ranma was getting was making him sick and it didn't matter to Ryouga rather Ranma liked it or not.

Cologne had arrived at the Tendos half an hour ago, expressing her regrets that Shampoo hadn't been able to come, being busy with deliveries since it was "happy ramen night" at the Neko Hanten. After prodding over her "son-in-law" for several minutes, pronouncing him a little drained of chi but fine aside from his still-painful dislocated shoulder, Cologne had demanded a description of the attacker and something just short of chaos ensued as everyone tried to put in their own two cents worth. Cologne had somehow picked out the critical elements and was now nodding sagely as the event telling died down. "Hmm, Tian Gui Xian. I think I remember hearing the name before."

There was silence as everyone waited with baited breath for Cologne to expound. "She must be in great pain." Everyone face-faulted. Ranma jumped up first.

"It's Chinese you mummy, not English!"

Cologne tapped him on the head with her stick. "Calm down son-in-law, I know that. Can't you take a joke?"

"Well get to the point already." Ranma growled, crossing his arms.

Cologne settled more comfortably into the cushion she was sitting on and laid her staff across her lap. "Well, in China there is a legend about a great kami called the Sky Devil, Tian Gui. Long ago, before she was banished to the kami plane, she used to drink the blood of mortals so she could roam around on earth. One day, a young man whose village was being attacked by Tian Gui happened to trick a phoenix to come out of hiding by playing a flute. He befriended the phoenix and used the bird to vanquish Tian Gui to the kami plane. Afterwards, the young man asked the phoenix to remain near the village and defend the people from Tian Gui's demonic wrath. Something must have gone terribly wrong though. I'm afraid that someone has released Tian Gui from the kami plane and that the phoenix has been put to sleep, or worse. Until the phoenix reawakens Tian Gui will continue to stalk the earth as she did before." There was silence as Cologne finished her story. "Alas, I'm afraid that one of you will have to be sacrificed in order to awaken the phoenix."

"NANI?!" Everyone shouted, and Kasumi clutched her chest and gasped.

Cologne chuckled. "Just kidding, just kidding. You will however have to journey to China in order to track the phoenix. The flute that will awaken it lies in the dragon's cave in the Ryugenzawa mountains. Most probably the dragon has been influenced by Tain Gui. Luckily, the flute cannot be destroyed because of the phoenix's power. Unless of course the phoenix has been irrevocably destroyed, but we can worry about that later if we have to. Know this though. Once Tian Gui finds that someone is after her, she stops at nothing until they are dead."

At this, Ranma interrupted bitterly, "Oh, there's some consolation. Why does everything around here always have to happen to me?"

There was a yelp of indignation at this remark. "You?! Look here Ranma! It came after me first!" Ryouga shouted, stabbing a finger at himself.

"Yeah, so why the hell'd you have to lead it here you moron?!" Ranma shouted back.

"I didn't know where I was going! I was trying to find-" Ryouga stopped abruptly and a blush spread across his cheeks.

Ranma noticed immediately. Feeling the need to vent his frustration on someone, and knowing Ryouga was the perfect person with whom to do so, he taunted, "Oh, was the widdle piggy getting lonesome for his pen? Not enough slop on the road for you huh?" Ranma was enjoying himself immensely, until a sharp voice broke in.

"Ranma! Leave Ryouga alone! If we're going to China then we'll need his help!"

Ranma started at Akane's words. "What? Who said we're going to China?!"

Ryouga appeared just as upset as Ranma. Instead of yelling at Akane though–he could never do something that insensitive, Ryouga thought fiercely–he settled for his rival. "I TOLD you, you stuck-up jerk! And I'm NOT GOING TO CHINA!!"

Akane whirled on Ryouga as Ranma stared blankly at her, slack-jawed. "Ryouga! You heard Cologne! If we don't do something then no one can!"

"That's not what I heard her say," Ryouga muttered.

Ranma found his chance to get back at Akane. "We? And who said YOU'D be coming even if we did go?" He questioned, glaring at Akane.

Akane glared back just as hard. "If you go, I'm going, so don't even think about leaving me here."

"Your dad wouldn't like that." Ranma protested, sensing that he was losing ground fast.

"Well, as long as you look after her Ranma . . ." Soun was unable to finish his sentence.

"What?! I don't need anyone to look out for me dad!" Akane growled, ignoring Ryouga as he tried to say something.

"Yeah? Well I wouldn't wanna look after a tomboy like you anyway," Ranma said smugly. Hah. Take that.

"Who said I wanted you to?" Akane asked icily.

"Ranma! You would refuse to protect your fiancé?!" Soun roared, snake tongue sticking out as his demon head popped up.

"N-n-now wait a minute," Ranma gulped, "I just–"

"Baka!" Akane interrupted. "All I want to do is help! I'm just as good as anyone else you'd ask, and don't even try to tell me you weren't going to go right over and snatch up Ukyou or Shampoo, you pervert!"

Ranma gave an inarticulate shout and threw his hands up. "Oh, right, let's just forget the insignificant fact that I'M NOT GOING TO CHINA!" He and Akane stood with their hands clenched at their sides, both baring their teeth and scowling at each other. Ryouga took the stressed silence as a chance to say something.

"If-if Ranma won't watch you Akane, I will." He offered.

Akane turned on her heel to face Ryouga, grinning. "Really Ryouga? That's so nice of you! I'd love that!"

Ranma stared at Akane. "H-hey! You just said–"

Akane sent him an evil look that gave Ryouga shivers even though it wasn't directed at him.

Ryouga lowered his head at Akane's enthusiastic response and blushed, feeling a nose bleed coming on. "Uh, yeah, it's nothing." He muttered.

Ranma snorted. He wouldn't have been surprised if Ryouga had started scuffing his foot on the floor. "Well look who's sucking up now. Hey Akane, can you leave for a second so me and Ryouga can talk?" Ranma stepped towards her, not leaving any room for a no. Akane threw him a last stabbing glare and left before he could shove her out the door. When she'd walked out Ranma grabbed Ryouga's shirt, oblivious to the stares he was receiving from everyone. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He whispered fiercely. "You know as good as I do that if we do go to China it's gonna be dangerous! I don't want Akane to get hurt!"

Ryouga smirked, Ranma's near choke hold not fazing him. "Oh, so protective Ranma," He said mildly. "And I thought you didn't even like un-cute tomboys."

"Oh, come off it, that ain't what I'm sayin'! You saw what Tian Gui did! I'm the only one that has a chance of defeating her!"

Ryouga wanted to beat him into the ground for the involuntary burst of ego, but he was still too busy ragging him about Akane. "Sure Ranma, you may be able to deny it from the rest of the world, but I've watched Akane and you."

Ranma's face was turning red and his voice dropped in volume as he looked around the room as if just noticing he and Ryouga weren't the only ones there. "Huh? Watched us do what?"

Ryouga closed his eyes and smiled. "Oh, that time in the dojo when-"

Ranma seemed to give a thankful sigh as he rolled his eyes, and his face resumed its normal color. "We were sparring you dolt!"

Ryouga's eyes flew open. "Re-really?! Then I still have a chance! All is not lost!! Akane, hold on!" Ryouga wrenched himself from Ranma's grasp and ran straight into the closet.

Ranma shook his head and sighed, then went to settle his argument with Cologne.

Er . . . so I thought I should explain this. Cologne's comment about how Tian Gui Xian must be in great pain is a really bad joke. "Ti-anguish-in' " is how Cologne pronounces it first: "the anguishing" basically. Yeah . . . . horrid joke, but I couldn't resist. But hurray if you figured it out[pats reader's back

Mini-Japanese Dictionary (I haven't translated words introduced in previous chapters)

Handai - Those stubby-legged tables that the Japanese eat at.

Kami - God

Neko Hanten - Cat cafe

Finally, some action and a hint of travels to come. For those of you who have R&R, thanks so much! For those who haven't, I'd love to hear your comments and/or suggestions.