A/N: Another update, yay, but still short, but oh well, as long as I know that I'll finish it :D

IMPORTANT : Their location is unknown, and won't be revealed until some mysteries have been broken...

Chapter 3

The Residents

The door behind closed with a bang but no one was able to noticed hence of fact that their attention was preoccupied with the sight that greeted them upon entering without permission. No, it wasn't the owner whose hands were busy carrying a large shotgun or a chainsaw and ready to tear them to pieces due to their "accidental crime", but it was just the two humanoid dolls that seemed to hover above them even with their own heights just the same.

Black luscious eyes staring at them as if penetrating into their inner souls; Ranma can't help but shudder in what he wouldn't reveal to anyone- a slight tinge of fear. Hands that laid lifelessly and yet lively in their sides as if welcoming them to their place, but still the doubt creeping into their bodies that no, they are definitely not welcome at all.

But Shampoo, being Shampoo, took it upon herself to tell the people behind her back that she fears nothing. She's an Amazon after all or in Ukyo's wild imagination; barbaric girl with no sense of modernity.

Striding with overflowing confidence (in which Mousse swooned in delight; therefore gathering the odd looks of his so called friends), Shampoo marched amidst the two dolls and turned her head over the two of them whilst giving them with looks that said "Bitches, I better you". And after some minutes of silent competition, she graced herself with the honor of saying she won the unknown contest and sprouted a huge degrading smile and walked forth.

"What?" Ukyo asked.

But everyone decided that yeah, Shampoo is just a bit odd…

Although they were surprised to see the two dolls greeting them upon entering the mansion- they were even more astound to realize the fact that the place was like a museum of them. Everywhere, from walls to walls, miniature to human size and even to hanging in the air and soaking in the fountain inside, dolls sprouted like mosses.

"Who fuck owns place? She must really weird" Shampoo commented as she again faced her another rival on her front.

"Or just plain loves these…ah, creepy toys" Ukyo replied as she shook with disgust. It was just the fact that ever since her birth, well; she wasn't used to playing with these silly things. She grew up with ass kicking and gender mistaking.

"But we must admit, who ever created this is a genius of craftsman" Mousse said. His forefinger holding the bridge of his glasses on his nose whilst observing the wet doll on the fountain. If it wasn't a doll, he would've have said that she would've been very beautiful.

"I didn't know you like to play with this, Mouuse-chan?" Ranma taunted cheekily and then and there, Mousse's attraction to the dolls were transmitted into pure anger as he glared at his rival in love.

"Wah! How dare you, Saotome? You'll pay for that!" And he was ready to attack the ready teenager when a voice halted him, not just him in fact, every one of them.

"It would be preferable if you bring that fight outside rather here. I don't want any of my collection to be tarnished or even scratched by your silly paws"

Ranma was ready to reply on those silly paws with his hand, of course, when he saw who said that.

"What the-?"

Shampoo was the first to recover "Who you, child?" which was followed by Ukyo's reply "Are you always this surprised? Always?"

"Asking me that when it is you who are strangers here?" The kid replied, not even a hint of anxiety on his features telling that he was actually afraid of these unknown people. Somehow, that made Akane's eyes narrowed in simple curiosity.

"Ah, sorry 'bout that, darling, my friend here grew up in a cave and only understand the behavior of a chimpanzee but anyway, are your parents here?" Ukyo smiled sweetly on the cute little child that was now descending from the stairs.

"Would you like to meet them, stranger-san?" The kid asked in a somewhat eerie tone. But nonetheless, Ukyo brushed it off and nodded in a kind manner. The kid smiled and turned his head on the shadows that blanketed the area on the right.

"Papa, mama, someone's looking for you"

The others immediately turned their heads on the direction the kid looked at and were surprised to see two figures coming out of the darkness.

"Good evening, my guests. Is there something that you need?"

Everyone was unable to comprehend what was happening before Ryoga destroyed the silence.

"Um, how long have you been standing there oof-" Ukyo punched his gut "—I mean, yeah, we really need a place to stay just for the night, and one of my f-f-fri- ouch" Shampoo kicked his side "FRIEND! I mean friend, yeah, ah, is hurt. Please?" But not before glaring at the two girls on his side.

It was silent at first, and they thought they were going to be kicked out of the place (thus, Shampoo's positioning into a fighting style in which Ukyo rolled her eyes) but then the two parents smiled and nodded their heads in a warm manner. "Of course, you can stay as you please. My son will lead you to our guests' room. But who is it that is wounded badly? I believe it is a must that she be treated as soon as possible"

Suddenly, Akane was forced to go forward in courtesy of Ranma who was gripping her shoulder tightly but not painfully.

She glared at him but widened her eyes when he refused and was looking eager for something. Being stubborn and plain easy to be mad, she instantly theorized that he wanted her somewhere away from him. That made her bow her head, afraid that her friends would see the pearls of tears crawling on her eyes.

"Very well then, follow me and I'll offer the best that I can to help you" The mother said, and slowly, she turned around and vanished in the shadows.

The kid started to walk as well, and the others were forced to follow him but as Ranma and Akane stayed, so was Shampoo and Ukyo, then the two other boys.

"Airen, come sleep with me"

That must be it- Akane's thought rolled in pain.

"As if- he'd sleep with you wild girl, he'd rather have me with him, wouldn't you, Ran-chan?" Ukyo smiled tenderly on the silent pig-tailed boy.

Ranma was about to refused and ready to say that he has more important things to do than to play dodge with them when the person of his attention suddenly intervened.

"It's alright Ranma, I know how much you wanted to play with them" Akane's accusing but still rough voice made his stomach feel empty "I'd take Ryouga with me instead…"

"Akane-san" Ryouga replied with his earnest adorable voice.

"Fine" It was hard as stone "It will be more enjoyable with them anyway" Ranma turned his head and walked upstairs, leaving the girl crying inside her heart. But he was in his own turmoil as well, thus, wasn't able to witness the one droplet of water that fell on the floor near the short-haired girl.

"Stupid Ranma" Akane whispered under her lips.

"Let's go, Akane-san. We must treat you as soon as possible"

~"Alone. Yes, that's the key word, the most awful word in the English tongue. Murder doesn't hold a candle to it and hell is only a poor synonym."~

To be continued...and hopefully, will be longer next chapter.