Disclaimer: UGH do I have to say it every time?! CHAPTER 1, TELLS THE STORY. READ IT!
A/N: Don't have much to say about this one, actually.
Chapter 6: The Gate
Everyone gathered for breakfast, and Ranma, Cologne, Happosai, and Fianna all waited patiently to tell the others their strategy.
When everyone came and ate, they laid out a detailed map of Japan, and Fianna pointed at a red dot made on it. "This, boys and girls, is where we are. The red dot that I'm presently pointing to is a place exactly 15 miles to the southwest of 'the gate'."
Mousse looked skeptical "The gate? You couldn't think of a better name?"
Ranma held up a hand saying simply "Any more details and our people would be known to humans and we'd be attacked..that's what happened last time, and we decided that we should never let humans know of us."
Akane, Nabiki, and Kasumi all looked up in surprise. "Wait," Nabiki said, "you mean that you're not human?"
Fianna shook his head and replied, "No, neither of us, nor my unit for that matter, is human. Now can we PLEASE get back to the task at hand?"
The three girls nodded and let him continue. Fianna just smiled and pointed to the northwest at a black dot. "We are traveling to the gate because it leads to a holy ground that is a virtual impossibility to infiltrate. This is the safest place for Kasumi right now. We are to take her to the gate, and you humans are to help us fight off any resistance that will delay us."
Ryoga stood and took a step forward. "Why the hell should I help YOU?!" he yelled.
Ranma slammed his fist on the map and shouted, "Because if you don't I'll kill you!" when everyone stared he continued, but at a whisper. "I have no time to fight you people, we are either all together, or all against each other. If we are against each other, we're not going to stay in a formation. We'll split up and those who can't follow directions will leave. If anyone tries to change our operations or turn on us, I don't have time for their shit. I'll kill anyone who gets in our way."
Cologne smiled at this, "Spoken like a true general, Ranma..I'm glad you're leading this operation."
Kasumi simply fainted from the excitement.
"Quecklain?" Velius asked across the room.
"Yes, elder brother Velius?" the demon within Ifrit's body asked.
"Would you be so kind as to go to the gate with a small force and see what's taking that Fianna so damnably long?"
"Yes, milord," Quecklain replied, turning to leave the room.
Lionhardte appeared from the shadows behind Velius. "Are you sure that Fianna is trustworthy, Velius?" he asked quietly, and with no emotions present on his face nor in his voice.
Velius didn't turn, didn't even blink at this. "You know, I just don't know anymore. I never even expected him to follow through with getting you a new body. He's quite hard to figure out..but he gave me some disturbing information, eldest."
Lionhardte's eyes went wide as he heard the next tidbit of information. "Quecklain told me that this 'Ranma Saotome' is the reincarnation of the man who sent us away 1000 years ago...that he's this generation's 'Ramza Beoulve'."
Lionhardte spent the next second contemplating the next move. After another moment's thoughts, his eyes turned to slits, and his mouth turned into an upturned sliver. "Fine, then," he said finally, "I'll take care of this matter personally. Tell Quecklain to take my unit and I'll go to the gate with him."
The day wore on and minutes seemed to pass like hours until finally the cave they were looking for came into view. They entered slowly and cautiously as monsters had been employed to patrol these caves and they didn't want to fall into some kind of ambush.
Ranma lead the way upwards through the caverns and by evening the group had all assembled at the gate's entrance. It was a decently sized area, a circular room about 50 feet in diameter, and had along one side of the room a 20 foot long Arch that was supported by two pillars. The Pillars and Arch were the only characteristics of the room that seemed out of place, and also happened to be the only thing with strange markings on it.
Once everyone was in the room, Ranma and Fianna began to approach the Arch. And 12 figures leapt from the shadows to completely encircle the group. 2 of the figures recognizably had zodiac signs on their foreheads and the others were faceless, but still appeared to be powerful.
Ranma and Fianna stood back to back, and the rest of Ranma's camp encircled Kasumi protectively.
A/N: Yes, cliff hanger! I just want everyone to know that I'm gonna start the newest chapter continuing this story soon! It will be posted when I've had sufficient reviews!