CHAPTER 05
-"TWO NEW PLAYERS MAKE THEIR APPEARANCE! RAN'S SEARCH FOR ANSWERS"-
It is nighttime in the city of Tokyo. A man is standing out on the rooftop of a tall office building overlooking the city. It is the young man we saw earlier in chapter 3, the one who R bumped into on the way to the hotel. We get a good look at him. He's still wearing his white school uniform, black T-shirt, and cross necklace. Most people who had seen him thought he was a foreigner. His sun-tanned, golden brown skin and facial features made it hard to tell if he was a black man, Japanese, or both. It didn't matter anyway. Besides, the man had other things on his mind at the moment.
He looks up to the night sky, and sees the stars shining brightly. He lets out a long sigh. For him, the stars remind him of his home. That celestial city. A place called heaven.
The young man thinks about how he came to his present state. Before coming to Japan, the man made a brief stopover in China. He was there to investigate some cursed springs…. in Jusenkyo.
BEGIN FLASHBACK
"Here, sir, is legendary training ground of Accursed Springs," the Jusenkyo Guide says. He notices his latest visitor's appearance. "You very very strange one, no, sir? This place very dangerous. Nobody use now. Is more than one hundred spring here, and every one have own tragic legend.
The man is wearing dark sunglasses, so it's hard to tell what exactly he's looking at. But his face shows no emotion, and he seems to be looking straight ahead at the springs. "I can hear them…"
"Hear what, sir?" the Guide asks.
"I hear the souls of those who drowned here." The man turns to the Guide. "Listen, I know that it's your job to care for this training ground and warn those who come here to use it, but I can honestly say that this place gives me the creeps! I've seen enough."
Later, they are at the Guide's house, drinking tea. The man notices an ornate picture hanging on the wall. The picture shows an angel fighting a large purple cat. Something about it gets the man's attention. Pointing to the picture, he asks the Guide about it. "Excuse me, but could you tell me about that picture over there?"
"Ah, yes. That picture given to me by my father, who got it from my grandfather, who got it from my great-grandfather," the Guide explains. "It tells of very, very, very, tragic tale. Many, many years ago, angel from heaven fight evil Cat Ghost King. Cat Ghost King was banished, but not before he knock angel into Spring of Drowned Man. Now angel have body of man, no can go back to heaven. Is very tragic story."
The young man thinks back to that terrible day. A group of angels were sent from heaven to China to battle an evil spirit calling itself the Cat Ghost King that was going around terrorizing the countryside, kidnapping people, and brainwashing them into soldiers for his army. While the angels fought the soldiers who were under the spirit's control, the leader of the angelic attack force took on the Cat Ghost King in one-on-one combat. The two foes fought high in the sky over Jusenkyo in an intense battle. Just as the leader was about to defeat the Cat Ghost King, the fiendish feline struck the angel with one of his energy blasts. POW! A direct hit! The angel fell from the sky, and into one of the cursed springs! His comrades came to his aid and finished off the Cat Ghost King, sealing away his evil power in a deserted place that would years later be called the Gods and Demons Graveyard. As for the angelic leader, he reemerged from the cursed spring but something was wrong. His wings, and his powers, were gone!
The man sits there for a moment, lost in thought. He then comes to his senses, and asks the Guide, "So what happened to the angel after that?
"Don't know. After Cat Ghost King banished, angel disappear. May have gone back to heaven after all, or still here on Earth. No one know. Why you ask?"
"Because… " The man concentrates, and glows with a soft white light. He changes into an angel right before the Jusenkyo Guide's eyes!
The Guide is totally surprised, shocked even. "AIYA! YOU IS ANGEL! He panics, "AIYAAA!! I TOO YOUNG TO DIE NOW!" Then, he realizes something. "Hey…how come you change without getting wet?
The angel facefaults, thinking Aw, man! Why is it when some people see an angel, they freak out and think they're gonna die? It's like those shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Geez! Sigh… Some things never change. Out loud, he tries to calm the frightened man. "That's not important. Look, fear not, OK? My name is Michael Angelus, and I need your help. Please, tell me… is there a spring that can cure me of the curse I carry? A "Spring of Drowned Angel"?"
"Oh, I very sorry, Mr. Angel," the Guide tells him. "No such spring here."
I knew it. I just didn't want to believe it. There goes my one chance to be normal again and return home! He sighs, "I see… Well, thank you anyway. Oh, and thanks for the tea."
And so, the angel walks out of the Guide's house, flaps his wings, and flies off into the clear blue sky. The Jusenkyo Guide is still in shock by what he just saw…
"Aiya, poor Mr. Angel…."
END FLASHBACK
The Guide's story was true, the young man thinks. Because of the Jusenkyo curse, I could not go back to my home. Since that day, I've been here on Earth, waiting, hoping, and longing to return. But that day never came…
And so he continued to wait. But over the years, the man found out that the curse was really a blessing in disguise. He noticed that his human body, his cursed form, never seemed to age. He reasoned that it was due to the effects of the cursed spring mixed in with his angelic powers. Even though he could no longer fly, he could perform feats of superhuman strength and agility while in his cursed form. Unlike others who had Jusenkyo curses, he didn't need hot or cold water to change; his powers allowed him to control his transformations at will. So, rather than get all depressed because he couldn't go home, he decided to try living as a human.
Thus Michael Angelus, the Messenger of Light became THE MCD.
He has been many things throughout his lifetime, - a teacher, a musician, a counselor, and…a fighter. In his spare time, THE MCD trained in martial arts and quickly became a master. He then set out to test his skills in tournaments around the world. With the prize money he won, he bought himself a nice house, some sports cars, and gave the rest of his winnings to people in need. After a while, he got used to his new lifestyle, until one day….
Due to the lack of competition (he beat down all challengers), THE MCD retired from fighting, sold his house and cars, took the last of his money, and went on a journey. He had stopped in China, hoping to find a cure for his Jusenkyo curse, then ended up in Japan.
Why, then, is THE MCD in Japan anyway?
THE MCD holds his cross necklace in his hand. Someday, I'll return home, he thinks. But I think there's a reason I came here. Somewhere out there, there are two people who need my help. (Thinks of Ran Hayami and R) And I sense a great evil approaching. If it's what I think it is, then the world is in danger! Cat Ghost King! I'm coming for you! I'm going to pay you back for what you did to me 500 years ago – with interest!
And with that, THE MCD transforms into Michael Angelus and flies off into the evening sky.
Meanwhile, in the secret fortress of the RED CAT GANG, Dr. Wily and Bass are in the secret chamber with the statue of the Cat Ghost King.
The statue gulps. "Uh oh…."
"What's wrong, Big Cat? Cat got your tongue? Ha ha!" Bass laughs.
"That's not funny, Bass! Meow!"
Dr. Wily comments, "You seem awfully worked up. Is something troubling you?
The statue sweatdrops. "OH! Um…nothing….!" NO! He can't be here! Not now! I thought I got rid of him 500 years ago! If it's who I think it is, then I'm REALLY screwed! Grrr…Angelus! If it is you… Be prepared. I WILL get my revenge on Ranma Saotome, but… It looks like I may have to make a little detour to take care of you first. Meow!
"Well, in that case, we'll return to the lab now," Dr. Wily says. He orders his second-in-command, "Bass, contact R and see how he's doing on his mission."
Bass snorts, "Sure thing, Doc. Let's see what new lame excuse "Dog-Boy" has for not killing Ranma this time!
"Stop calling him that, Bass! R will not fail me! Unlike YOU, on the other hand…
"There you go again, defending him! And how dare you compare him to ME! You know, if "Dog-Boy" ever figures out what you've done to him and his sister, he's gonna kick your butt! And I'm gonna be around to watch and laugh at you when he does!
The Cat Ghost King can only watch as Dr. Wily and Bass argue about R.
The Statue sweatdrops, thinking: Why did I have to team up with those two? Oh well, at least I still have my own secret plan, meow! When the time comes, R will come to me. Then, watch out Ranma Saotome! Hee hee hee! Meow!
-(Dream-Sequence)-
Ran is in a foggy place, running from something. A shadowy figure appears in front of her. "Ha ha ha haaaa, you can't run away from your destiny, from your mission!" the shadow laughs.
"No! Keep away from me! I'm warning you!" Ran says defiantly.
"You will do as you were commanded to do…to destroy Ranma Saotome!" the shadow commands.
A scared Ran says, "NOOOO, I will not do that! He's my best friend!"
The shadow just laughs at this. "HA ha ha haaa, Friend? You think that? You think that 'he' will be your friend after he finds out your 'true' nature?"
"What do you mean?"
"Once he finds out all about you, he'll reject you, and despise you."
Ran shakes her head. "Noooooo, you're lying! We're friends!"
"That's right, keep telling yourself that… but in the end, you will kill him."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!", Ran screams.
-(End of Dream)-
Ran wakes up screaming in her room, all the Tendos and Saotomes rush to her room – again.
Kasumi is by Ran's beside and holds her in a comforting embrace. Obviously concerned for her, she asks, "Ran, what's wrong? Did you have another bad dream?"
"Yeah Ran. Sounds like it was a horrible one." Ranma says.
Covered in sweat, Ran says: "Yes…you might say that…"
"Wanna talk about it Ran?" Akane asks.
Ran puts a hand to her forehead, as if her head hurt. "It was horrible. In my dreams I see this shadowy figure that's telling me that I have to kill you Ranma, saying that it is my destiny."
"And…what do you think Ran?" Ranma asks her.
"I don't know," Ran replies. Looking up to Ranma, she continues, "All I know is, that's been haunting me ever since I came to Nerima, ever since I met you Ranma."
"You don't say..," Akane says inquisitively.
Nervous about (or possibly because of) the dream, Ran tells Akane, "Yes, and I don't know what to do with it, but… it scares me."
Ranma puts a reassuring hand on Ran's shoulder. The warmth of his touch sends a rather pleasant feeling through Ran. The spark that has been ignited a while ago within Ran's heart now becomes a small burning flame. The growing connection between Ranma and Ran is a little stronger than before, and for the moment Ran no longer feels afraid. Ranma tells her, "There, there, Ran, you shouldn't have to worry about it, you're with us. We'll help you through it…right guys?"
"Right," everyone in the room agrees.
Ran's grateful for the care and concern these people are showing. With tears in her eyes, she happily says, " Oh thank you Ranma, thank you all for being my friends."
"Well now, now that's taken care of, shall we go to bed?" Kasumi says.
And everyone went to bed.
Meanwhile...
CHINA – THE RED CAT GANG'S FORTRESS:
Back at the temple, the Cat Ghost King's statue called everyone for a special meeting. Dr. Wily and especially Bass weren't too pleased to be called at 3:00 am, so they head for the shrine where the Cat Ghost King lay:
Dr. Wily still half-asleep, yawns, "What is the meaning of this at calling us at this time of the night, Cat Ghost King?"
A cranky Bass adds, "Yeah, it better be important or else I might have…"
"SILENCE… !!" the Cat Ghost King's statue shouts. Then calmly, he speaks. "Now meow…I called you here to say that we need to speed up our plans, we're very far behind schedule meow."
"I already told you, you don't need to worry. Everything will run according to our plans." Dr. Wily reminds the statue.
It better be…oh before I forget, I want to introduce you all to our new member…say hello to Erick Genryusai…"
From the shadows a man emerges, wearing a dark red cloak, silver iron boots, a purple scar around his neck, black shirt with a skull-shaped necklace, and black pants. Erick bows to the group and introduces himself. "Hello you all, I am Erick Genryusai. Pleased to meet you."
The statue purrs with approval. "Erick here is my High Priest… and he is our new "Chief Advisor"."
Dr. Wily blinks at this. "Chief Advisor!"
"That's right. He's a very wise and educated young man, full of experience and knowledge. And polite and patient unlike SOME people I know," the statue glares – if such a thing were possible – at Bass.
Bass is irritated by the Cat Ghost King's remark. "HEY! WHAT'S THAT'S SUPPOSED TO MEAN YOU MISERABLE…!!"
Erick interrupts, "Now now, Mr. Bass, no need to get violent."
"WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO?" Bass roars at the priest.
Erick's unfazed by Bass' behavior. He's dealt with people like this many times before. He goes on to say, "Well, I will be your advisor, and my advice to you will be to cool down. Relax. You'll gain nothing from anger."
"But, why do we need a 'Chief Advisor?" Dr Wily asks.
"Meow…we'll need all the help we can get for this mission, and Erick here, with his experience in 'War Strategies' will be able to pull it off fast meow."
"That's right. I've been analyzing your 'strategies' guys…and I'm afraid that they are lame." Erick comments.
Dr. Wily's shocked. "WHAT!"
"I'm afraid so. You're trying to accomplish everything in such a short time."
"Well, that's the plan isn't it? The faster the better!" Dr. Wily
"That's your problem. As the old saying goes…-Ambitions without Knowledge is like a boat in dry land. -"
Bass is confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Erick explains, "It means that if you don't have any solid plans and strategies, you'll never be able to accomplish anything. My advice will be to review all you have right now, then… Well, let's do this in the morning. I see that everyone is kinda sleepy and grumpy…" He looks at Bass and the others assembled, and then says, "So, let's go and rest."
"Perhaps you're right meow, tomorrow we'll discuss this meow," the Cat Ghost King agrees.
And everyone went back to sleep. Erick, however, chuckles to himself, "So, it has begun. How much fun this will be for me… Hm hm hm hmm…So, Michael, it appears that I'll be seeing you soon."
The next morning at the Tendo Dojo, Ran wakes up, still worried about the nightmare she had. She's a little scared and confused. "Why, why is this happening to me? What do those nightmares mean?" she wonders quietly.
Ranma comes in. "Hey Ran, good morning. How're you doing?"
Ran's train of thought is broken for the moment. "Wha…? Good morning Ranma, I'm better now. Thanks for asking."
"That's good. Hey, Kasumi's making breakfast. Wanna dig in?"
Ran smiles, "Yeah, let's go."
Then Ran and Ranma go to the kitchen. Upon arriving they see Kasumi cooking, Kasumi turns around and sees Ran and Ranma. "Ran, Ranma, how are you? Did you sleep well Ran?"
"Yeah Kasumi, thanks." Ran sniffs the the delicious aroma. "Mmmm, that sure smells good Kasumi"
Ranma:" Ditto"
Kasumi:" Thanks, sit down, I'll serve it in a moment."
Ranma-Ran:" YEAAA"
Once they eat, they head for school. During classes, Ran was always thinking about the bad dreams she's being having. I wonder what those dreams could mean. I mean, I really don't know anything about myself, nor my past… this is very strange, I must find out.
During lunch, Ran went to have lunch with Ranma and Akane. They sit by the tree. "So Ran, are you feeling better?" Ranma asks.
"Yeah, that was a really big scream you gave last night," Akane says..
Ran blushes. " Um…gomen. Yeah it was wasn't it? But, it just bothers me not knowing what it meant…but that's not the only thing that's bothering me."
"Oh! What's the other thing Ran?" Ranma wants to know.
"Well, like how is it that I don't know much about myself, I mean, before coming to Nerima. I don't remember much about my past, where I live, who are my parents?"
"You're right, even Nabiki and Dr. Tofu couldn't find out much. You don't have an I.D."
"And that's what's scaring me, who am I? Is Ran my real name? I wish I could remember anything… something."
Akane speaks up. "Hey you guys, how about if we take Ran to Dr. Tofu?"
"What for Akane?" Ranma asks. "Ran's not sick."
"No, it's just that Dr. Tofu knows a little about hypnosis…maybe that could help Ran."
"Y'know Akane, you're right. That's a good idea. Whaddya say Ran?"
Ran thinks about it a moment, then says, "Well…sure. Why not?"
After classes were over, they went straight to Dr. Tofu's clinic. When they arrive they see the doctor cleaning his office. Dr. Tofu greets them. "Hey guys, how are you?"
Ranma says, "We're fine, Doc. Listen, there's something we need to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Doctor Tofu, you think you could hypnotize Ran?" Akane asks.
Dr. Tofu blinks. "Ah, Akane, psychology isn't my specialty. I DO know a few techniques, though ... so I believe I could hypnotize Ran, but why?"
Ranma explains, "You see, Ran doesn't remember much about her past, and we thought that with hypnosis she could see and remember something."
"I see, very well, let's give it a try. You're up for it Ran?"
Ran's excited. To find out a little bit more about herself, she's willing to do this. "Yes. Yes I am, and thanks!"
"Then let's get started, shall we?" Dr. Tofu then leads her to a couch and motions for her to sit there. Ranma and Akane take seats in chairs on the opposite side of the doctor's office. Then Dr. Tofu pulls up a chair from his desk and wheels it beside the couch. Before he does anything, he explains to Ran (and to the others in the room) what's involved. How hypnosis is a kind of half-sleep state that can (in Ran's case) help to bring up the memories she has buried inside her. He assures her that while under the trance, she won't be asked to do anything strange or that would make her feel uncomfortable.
Then, after everything is set, Ran is resting on the couch. Dr. Tofu's right beside her while Ranma and Akane are in front of her.
Dr. Tofu's ready to begin. "Okay, everything is ready. Listen Ran, I'll need your total cooperation on this one, just relax and concentrate okay?"
Ran nods. "Okay. Let's do it."
Then Dr. Tofu reaches into his pocket, takes out a gold coin, and shows it to Ran. "Ran, I want you to look at this golden coin I have in my hand. Keep your eyes on it. Take a few deep breaths. Just keep breathing deeply. Listen to the sound of my voice. You will find that your eyelids have a tendency to get heavy, almost as if they had a heavy weight attached to them…"
As Dr. Tofu speaks, Ran does exactly as he says. She looks deeply at the coin he's holding. Her attention is so focused that she does not notice the steady rhythm of her breathing. She can barely feel her eyes starting to close. She almost feels like she's floating on a cloud. Floating… floating…
"And the longer you stare at this, the more your eyelids get heavy, and you blink,…"
Dr. Tofu says this just after Ran blinks her eyes. He prepares to intensify the induction by watching Ran and timing his suggestions very closely with her reactions.
He continues, "…and they have a feeling like something is pulling them down, as if they wanted to slowly close, and get drowsier and sleepier and heavier. And you have a feeling as if they were slowly closing, slowly closing, getting drowsier and more tired, and when they finally do close, how good you'll feel. Drowsy, heavy, pulling down, down, down, slowly closing, getting harder and harder to see, and you feel good. Very, very hard to keep them open, feel that very soon they will close tightly, almost tightly closing, almost tightly closing, tightly closing. Your eyes are tightly closed; you feel good; you feel comfortable; you're relaxed all over; just let yourself drift and enjoy this comfortable relaxed state. You will find that you head will get heavier; tends to nod forward some, and you just let yourself drift in an easy, calm, relaxed state."
At this point Dr. Tofu checks on Ran. He gently lifts her hand and then lets go of it. It falls in her lap. "Ran, can you hear me?", he asks.
"Yes…", Ran says distantly.
"That's good. Now, when I count to three and snap my fingers you'll fall asleep…one…two…three…"
SNAP.
After Dr. Tofu snaps his fingers, Ran closes her eyes and falls asleep.
Akane is impressed. She whispers excitedly, "WOW! That was cool, wasn't it Ranma…? Ranma? Ranma!"
When Akane looks at Ranma, she notices that Ranma(!) has fallen asleep.
Akane blinks. "Ranma?" Then she gently elbows him awake. Well, gently, for Akane anyway…
Dr. Tofu begins to ask questions to the sleepy Ran. "Now Ran, I want you to tell me what you see, tell me about what you can see about your past…dig deeply into your mind…can you see something?"
Ran's voice takes on a soft, quiet dreaminess while she's in a deep trance. "Y..Yeah… I see… I see water. I see a… tube, a crystal tube in front of me; there are lots and lots of bubbles all around me, like a Jacuzzi. I see a shadow figure in front of me; I can't see his face, but…"
"But what Ran, can you explain it to me?"
"I… I can't, I don't know. Then, I see a big shadow figure in the background, then I see a fire star, or something, then I see someone calling for me, someone who's in danger, he's in danger…!" Suddenly, she's shouting, "HE'S IN DANGER! I MUST HELP HIM! NEED HELP…!"
Dr. Tofu sees that Ran's beginning to panic. She's twitching and convulsing like she having a seizure. Without hesitation, he decides to wake her up, due to the danger that she (thought) was happening.
"Listen Ran, when I snap my fingers you'll wake up…!"
SNAP.
Then Ran wakes up, all sweating and panting. "What happened to me, I feel so tired and, well… a little dizzy…ohhhh…," she groans putting a hand to her head. "Did it work Doc?"
"Not much, I'm afraid. But don't worry Ran, we'll continue with this treatment at a later time, okay?"
"Uh…sure." Ran says tiredly.
After Akane takes Ran back home, Ranma stays behind with the doctor. "So what happened Doc, did it work?", he asks.
"Well, not at first Ranma, but I'll keep doing it until we find out all about Ran."
"Say Doc, why did you wake Ran? Why didn't you let her finish what she was saying?"
Now serious, Dr. Tofu says, "Because Ranma, if I had allowed Ran to continue, she would have been in serious trouble. The shock to her mind would have been too much for her to handle. Still, I've never seen anybody react so strongly while under trance; the process is supposed to be calming."
Ranma bows, apologizing. "Um…. Gomen, I didn't know. I'm sure you did just fine, Doc. It's just that whatever Ran's dealing with here, it's kinda got me concerned too... She mentioned that she'd thought she had amnesia. She doesn't remember anything that happened before she came here."
"Well, if that's true…and if her amnesia is genuine, she'll need someone to trust and confide in..." Dr. Tofu glances over in Ranma's direction.
"What should we do?"
"In a way, you and Akane are already doing something about it. You're friends, so continue to be her friend. Just treat her as a human being. Don't try to help her remember the past, but do tell her whatever she asks about it. You won't have to spend time trying to make her remember everything. That doesn't mean you should treat her any differently than before."
"Hey, thanks, Doc. We're sorry for asking you to do this for Ran."
Dr. Tofu tells him, "That's okay Ranma. Now go home ok?"
Leaving the clinic, Ranma goes home to check on Ran.
In the Red Cat Gang's fortress, we see Dr. Wily, Bass, Bubbleman, some cat foot soldiers, the High Priest and Chief Advisor Erick Genryusai in front of the Cat Ghost King's statue.
"So, what are the plans for today meow" the statue asks.
Dr. Wily reveals his latest plan. "To lure Ranma Saotome into a trap where Bass here will eliminate him and…"
Erick interrupts, "You must be kidding me Doctor. Do you think that Bass can even handle Ranma?"
An angry Bass objects. "HEY! IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED, I'M A HIGH-TECH SUPER ANDROID! I CAN TAKE HIM WITH NO PROBLEM! WHAT CAN THAT MISERABLE HUMAN DO TO ME?"
"The question is…What can 'you' do to 'him'?" Erick chuckles.
"WHAT!?"
"Listen Bass, strong you may be. Smart and skilled you're not."
With pure rage, Bass explodes on the priest. "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN!?"
"What I mean is… This Ranma is not just any ordinary human. He's a great fighter and an excellent Marital Artist who possesses special abilities that are considerably inhuman. He has defeated many strong and powerful enemies, among them the immortal prince of Phoenix Mountain Saffron. He was almost a GOD, and Ranma won."
"You don't say…sounds like he's a great fighter for a human." Dr. Wily observes.
Erick confirms Wily's comment. "That's right Doc." Then, he turns in Bass' direction, "…and besides Bass…if you can't even defeat your enemy Megaman, and he's a cyborg like you, what makes you think you can defeat this 'human' Ranma?"
Further enraged, Bass growls, "GRRRR…OF COURSE I CAN TAKE HIM ON! WITH MY BUSTER I'LL VAPORIZE HIM, NO SWEAT!"
Seriously, Erick says, "Bass, until you accept your own weakness and lose that vanity you have, you will always lose."
Bass repeats his earlier question. "What that's supposed to mean?"
Erick says with a knowing grin, "Try to find out…my plans for today will be to set up surveillance cameras on many areas of Nerima. That way we will have eyes and ears everywhere."
"But, what good will that do?" Bubbleman asks.
"Simple, in order to attack our enemies, we must first know our enemies, know their weakness, their desires, everything."
The statue nods – oh, c'mon he's a STATUE for crying out loud! – in agreement with his High Priest's plan. "Meow, that's a great idea Erick meow. Okay, Erick's idea will be put in motion meow, now go."
Erick remembers the other reason he called for this meeting. "Oh before we go, I'd like to introduce someone…okay, you may come out now."
And everyone turns to the corner of the shadows…and from those shadows emerges a girl. She wears a long black dress with long white gloves that cover her hands all the way up to her elbows. Her hair is long and black; she has pale white skin, and wears black lipstick. Despite her rather ghoulish appearance, she is very beautiful.
With a dramatic wave of his hand, Erick introduces the girl. "Gentlemen, I'd like you all to meet Delia."
Delia quietly says, "Hi."
Dr. Wily thinks. Hmm, pretty lady. Weird, but pretty… Out loud, he says, "Emm, Not the talking type is she?"
"Quiet," Erick silences Wily. "Delia here is gonna be MY Assistant. All your reports you must deliver to her, and she in turn will report to us, is that understood?"
"But why?"
"Sometimes 'DOC', it is better not to ask too many questions. So it's settled – let's get to work."
It was a beautiful afternoon. Ran, Ranma and Akane were in the park having a good time. They were heading for the ice cream shop, when they hear a very familiar sound.
"Hey guys, what's that sound?" Ran asks.
Ranma is about to say, "It sounds like…" Now worried, he says, "No, it couldn't be…!"
"What? What is it?"
Akane points in the direction of the commotion. "Guys, look over there!"
They turn around and see Happosai being chased by a mob of very angry women. Happosai was yelling happily…-" WHAT A HAUL, WHAT A HAUL!!"
Ran blinks. "Who in the world is that little old man?"
"THAT Ran, is Happosai," Ranma disgustedly says.
"He's a first-class old pervert, who you should stay far, far away from," Akane warns.
"I see, but why are all those women chasing him?" Ran asks.
"Because he likes to steal women's panties," Ranma replies.
Ran's eyes go wide at this. "Say what…women's panties?"
Akane adds, "That's right, not only that, but also women's bras."
Ran gasps, "Bra…Bras! Why would he do that?"
"Like we said before, he's a pervert. Oh, and whenever he sees a pretty girl, he salutes her by glomping onto her chest," Ranma further explains.
Ran's horrifed. "HE WHAT!?"
"That's right. Our advice to you is to never cross paths with him." Akane tells her
A little bit shaken, Ran says, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind"
Unfortunately, Happosai sees Ran, and decides to say 'hello' in his own special way. So he rushes over to Ran, Ranma and Akane:
"Hiya cuties! Say, just who is this beautiful young girl Ranma? She looks very much like your cursed form!"
Ranma tries to be civil toward the Old Pervert, resisting the urge to boot him into the stratosphere. "Her name is Ran."
Happosai's surprised. "Ran! Just like Ranma! Is she your long lost cousin or something, or sister?"
Ranma blinks. "Um, no… why do you say that?"
"Because Ranma my boy, her aura and Ki are very similar to yours."
"Really?" Ranma and Ran both say simultaneously.
"That's very weird," Akane notices. Then she says, "And dig this Happosai, she knows the Anything-Goes fighting style."
"She does?"
"Yeah…," Ran nods.
"But how? I only taught it to those clods Soun and Genma – no one else. How is it that you know it?" Happosai wonders.
"I really don't know. I just…know it."
Happosai smokes his pipe. "Hmm, that's really weird, I must look into the matter, I will investigate. In the meantime…" At this point he looks at Ran with a sly, lecherous grin. "I must verify if those are real."
"What things?" Ran nervously asks.
Ranma and Akane both gasp, "Oh no…"
Then, in a blink of an eye, Happosai glomps into Ran's chest. He happily declares as he nuzzles between her breasts, "Woo-hoo, they ARE real! And my, what softness and warmth you have in them, my dear Ran!"
Ran screams, "GYAAAAAAA, DON'T TOUCH YOU DIRTY OLD MAN…KYAAAAAA!!"
Then Ran unleashes a big powerful wave of flame – think Kyo Kusanagi's 108 Shiki Orochinagi! – toward Happosai. Can anybody say, "One pervert – well done?"
Later Happosai, all charbroiled and burnt to a crisp (and dizzy on top of that!), croaks, "Cough cough…just like Ranma, with a fiery spirit…" Then he falls to the ground.
Panting fast, Ran breathes out, "Man, you weren't kidding about him guys."
"Told you so," Ranma says.
In another part of Nerima, there was R trying to master a new martial art move…Miss. Hinako's ki draining Happo Gojuuensatsu (Eight Treasures 50 Yen Kill):
"Almost there. Once I learn that move from that vampire teacher, I'll be able to beat that Ranma person!" R says confidently. "Ha ha ha haaaa… ! After that…"
Suddenly, R is interrupted by…Dan! Dan's kinda mad about what happened three episodes ago. "There you are you, you Inuyasha clone!"
R's not surprised. "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Famous! What do you want? I'm busy."
"I CAME HERE TO DEFEAT YOU FOR THE HUMILIATION YOU PUT ME THROUGH THE OTHER DAY!"
"Oh please, you really think you can even hope to defeat me? You make me laugh."
At this, Dan does a rather disturbingly accurate impression of Ryoga. Enraged, he yells, "R, PREPARE TO DIE! CAUSE OF YOU I'VE SEEN HELL…HYAAAAAA!!"
Dan rushes toward R with a flying kick. R just releases one of his special moves on him.
"ACTIVE RED PEARL!"
Dan is struck hard by a red and purple tinted Ki blast. The next thing we see is Dan flying away all bruised:
"Man, what a loser that guy is." R complains. "I hope I can fight someone who can fight for real, like that wandering Martial Artist, the one who defeated Sagat. Now he's a REAL fighter…after I defeat Ranma, I'll search for him and challenge him again. Hmmm, I wonder if that school girl found him yet?"
TO BE CONTINUED…