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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Ranma 1/2. The Ranma 1/2 cast belongs to Rumiko Takashi. Nor do I own Suikoden 3 or any other characters that I put into this story. Neither do I own any of the character in any of the crossovers I do. I'm just using them in this fan fiction and I have no money so don't bother suing me.
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Chapter 14 - Ballroom Battle
The sun was just rising in the horizon of the city of Shibuya. Inside of an old temple on top of a hill a strange topic is being discussed. Well, actually it isn't so strange considering who the inhabitants of the temple are.
Yun was practically bouncing in her seat. Her grin is ear to ear as she looked back and forth at the redhead sitting next to Ranma and her big brother. "Yatta! I have a brother AND a sister now! Yay!!!!!" Ranma and 'Ranko' both smiled identical smiles as Yun jumped off her chair and did a little jig before jumping on the couch and mashing herself between her two siblings.
It had taken almost an hour to calm Tina and Chris when everyone had discovered Ranma and Ranko in their incriminating position. It especially got bad when Ranko woke up, saw Ranma looking down at her in concern, smiled up at him and raised one of her hands to caress his cheek. Ranma smiled back, albeit a little hesitantly, until he looked into her eyes. Then the smile turned into one of fondness. Neither of the two knew why, but they felt a sort between the two of them as soon as they saw each other. Even without uttering a single word they can feel it. They later rationalized that it's because they were of one body until they got separated.
Of course Fight and Chris were NOT happy to see such a mushy scene while Ranma, in clothes that can be classified better as rags, is leaning over the completely nude girl. It took the combined might of Edge, Landis, Fred, Rico, the two ninjas and even little Yun to keep the two from ripping Ranma and Ranko apart.
During that time Ranma got a sense of Déjà vu as he watched his fiancée and the knight try to get to him and his former cursed form. For some reason he can superimpose the ghostly images of Akane and the other fiancées over the two. Tina and Chris certainly had the same expressions on their faces whenever the old fiancée brigade caught him even looking at another girl. He had to tell himself that his jade haired fiancée and the silver maiden are different from his former fiancées and are only acting this way because it did look like he and Ranko are about to do...it. Anyone would have gotten mad if they saw their love interest about to make love with another person.
It finally ended when Rico used her hammer to knock the two enraged women out. Everyone injured was patched up and Chris, Fight, Viki and Piccolo were laid on futons in the main room and everyone caught some sleep waiting for the others to awaken so explanations could be done only once. Ranma, Ranko and Yun slept on the same coach together to watch over the unconscious while everyone else went back to their own rooms. The day's events had drained everyone and they all went to sleep early even if it just barely turned night. When the four had woken up a little before dawn Yun was sent to bring the others back from their rooms. Coffee was passed around (although Ranma and Ranko did not take any (A) and Yun is too young) and everyone settled down for the explanations. Ayame and Watari had left early to steal the information the police had on them from the precinct and will be updated later.
Before going to sleep Ranma and Ranko had talked over what they are going to say to the others while Yun slept with her head on Ranma's lap. The two sat comfortably next to each other with Ranko leaning her head on his shoulder and Ranma had his arm around her waist. They just felt comfortable with each other and not afraid of a little contact. The two had exchanged stories and it was decided that she would be called Ranko from then on and will be Ranma's twin sister like their cover story says, even though for some reason it didn't...feel right. Hence it comes to this point in time where the two siblings have announced to the group desperate for answers that 'Ranko' will be Ranma's sibling since they would have had a hard time explaining who she is to the public. Chris and Tina heaved giant sighs of relief at that.
While the siblings are cuddling together on the couch, which garnered mixed feelings from Fight and Chris, Edge became the spokesperson for the entire bewildered group and everyone turned to Piccolo. "Ok, let's get this straight. You were trying to remove Ranma's curse when Viki here," everyone swivels their gaze over to the sorceress with the oblivious smile often seen on Kasumi when she's playing her airhead act, "blinked right above you and fell on top of you. It knocked you out and made lose your concentration and stop chanting. It went out of control and then Ranko," everyone turned to the girl still cuddling with Yun and Ranma, "just appeared out of nowhere. I got everything right?"
Piccolo nodded as he rubbed his back. "Yes. Well I did say to Ranma that I'm not as good as my master when it comes to curse removing spells AND that nothing should interrupt the spell." Piccolo said still sore from Viki falling on top of him. 'I'm getting way too old for this.'
Viki rubbed the back of her head in a way very similar to a certain pigtailed martial artist when he's nervous. "Sorry. I don't know what happened. I was blinking around trying to get back to Lake Castle when I suddenly blinked here for some reason."
Fred suddenly grinned widely as an idea came to him. "Wait! Viki, since you're here can't you just blink us all back to our world?" Everyone caught on and turned excitedly to her.
Viki tapped her index finger on her chin and looked skyward for a few seconds. "Well, I not sure how I got here myself. It was like something knocked me off course when I was blinking and here I am now." She looked back towards the group as everyone lost their excitement. "What do you mean by 'blink us all back to our world' anyway? You mean blink us back to Lake Castle right? Where are we anyway?" They proceeded to tell her about this world and Ranma's past.
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In the Suikoden world-
Leknatt turned her attention to the blue-furred winged cat that's sitting next to her and gave him an accusing stare. "You teleported her there didn't you?" It wasn't a question.
The cat smiled like his friend the Cheshire Cat from Wonderland. "Who? Me? I don't know what you're talking about."
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It took an hour to explain where they are and for Ranma to tell Viki his story. At that time Chris had gotten up and cooked breakfast for everyone. Currently everyone is sitting around the dining table eating some of Chris' delicious food.
He had just finished telling her about the troubles he has had here and what lead to his appearance in their world and what's been going on the past few weeks. Everyone thought she's taking it amazingly well until her normally cheerful face turned hard. Unnoticed by them a couple of heavy rocks and other heavy items from outside suddenly disappeared confusing the ones who were using some of them.
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In Nerima –
A bunch of heavy rocks and other items suddenly appeared above the heads of Nabiki, Nodoka, the Nerima Wrecking Crew, the Kunos, basically anyone that has hurt Ranma in one way or another. They had no time to react as the things dropped on them unceremoniously. Only Ryoga, due to his Bakusai Tenketsu training, was not knocked out. However, the steel construction pole DID give him one HELL of a migraine, which he of course blamed on Ranma. It should be noted that a HUGE safe fell on top of Genma. He would have been dancing in joy if the safe had contained anything in it. Unfortunately there's nothing in it and the fall didn't kill him, but he's got one hell of a headache when he wakes up, both from the pain and the empty safe.
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Everyone went into shock. They had never seen her look so cold, evil and unforgiving. Everyone rubbed their eyes and when they opened them up again she's back to her usual cheerful self. Everyone just though of it as a trick of the light and ignored the chill up that went up his or her spines from just the memory of the horrible image.
Only Mind and Fight were not affected as they had seen that type of expression on Dark's face all the time. He's much scarier when he's mad. Viki's expression looked 'happy' compared to Dark's face when he's mad.
Rico looked at the redhead sitting next to Yun. In explaining everything to Viki everyone had forgotten about her. "What can you tell us about yourself...Ranko? How did you get here and who are you?" Everyone's attention went back to there as they had forgotten about getting an explanation from Ranma's new sibling. They had gotten so used to Ranma's cursed form around the temple that when they looked at her they had all though that she is Ranma even if he's sitting one seat away from her with Yun in between them.
They all turned to the young redhead now dressed in one of Ranma's outfits. She had hardly spoken during the whole thing.
She put down her chopsticks and looked over at Ranma. He nodded at her in support. "Well, I'm the spirit of the girl who died in the spring. I guess when the curse removal spell was messed up thanks to Viki I was reborn into this body. Thanks by the way Viki, I owe you one." Viki just waved her arms dismissively as she giggled a little in embarrassment.
Mind got that glint in her eye that has been plaguing Ranma's nightmares ever since he had met the little scientist. "Cool! The magic must have recreated your body by giving it the form of Ranma if he was born as a girl! The building blocks must have been Ranma's body along with the five high-level elemental runes that Piccolo was using. The Zodiac Sword served as the power source that brought Ranko to life. I can't wait to run some tests on the two of you! AHAHAHAHA!!!" She laughed maniacally as Ranma and Ranko shuddered in fear.
Tina is the most used to her little sister's behavior and decided to change the subject. "So, what do you remember?" she asked of the new Wild.
She turned to her grateful for the distraction. "Well, I can't remember what happened before I died in the pool, just my last few seconds alive as I drowned there. All I remember is sinking into the water and my life being drained away. I tried to swim out, but there was pole or something holding me down. I...I felt so helpless as it held me down to the bottom of the pool."
Ranma nodded solemnly and went around Yun and put a hand on his sister's trembling shoulder. Yun also added her support by hugging the older girl by the waist. Ranko had broken down and cried last night as images of being held down in the water flashed through her mind. It had taken her a while to get under control again. He can't imagine how it feels to remember your own death. Thankfully Yun and the others slept through the whole thing as he held her and rocked her back and forth as Kasumi had taught him to when people feel distressed. The two of them spoke well into the night eventually falling asleep only a few hours before dawn. Everyone kept quiet as Ranko regained her composure.
"After that it feels like I've been asleep for a very long time and then I woke up next to Ranma." She paused to give him a smile that he returned. The two get along very well ever since she had woken up. They act more like they've known each other their whole lives than just meeting a few hours ago. "I can't remember my own life, not even my own name, but I remember everything that has happened to Ranma after he fell into the pool. I also still have my knowledge of things like what tables and chairs are and stuff. I think being stuck in that spring only gets rid of your personal memories. I'm very thankful and lucky that even though I only have Ranma's memories I'm still all woman. It's not that I feel as if I WAS Ranma but rather his memories are like things I've memorized for a test. That way I have access to them while still keeping me a girl." She's even proving she's a girl by the way she was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed and by the way she moves. When she walked to the kitchen they had also noticed the feminine sway of her hips.
Chris swallowed a lump that appeared in her throat when the redhead said that she has Ranma's memories. She had a secret fear that she's been acting like Ranma's old fiancees and now someone else has his memories. "So you remember EVERYTHING that happened to Ranma after he fell into the pool?" she asked a little nervously. Ranko turned to her and nodded. "So that means you know what me and Tina have been...?" Tina caught on and she turned frightened eyes to Ranko as she nodded again.
Ranko suddenly acquired a VERY scary expression on her normally content and serene face. To Ranma it looked like an advanced form of Soun's demon head form, just that her head didn't expand its size. To make up for it somehow this face is WAY more terrifying than Soun's will ever be. He wonders how she knows how to do that since only his memories are available to her and he doesn't know how to even do Soun's demon head. Now she's using what is clearly its advanced stage. Then again maybe it's a girl thing as he's seen the expression on Akane's and the other fiancee's faces many times when they get REALLY mad at him, but not as horrifying as this. It's almost a match for Viki's a few minutes ago. Fight and Chris cringed in their seats. "Yes, I remember EVERYTHING. Oh, and by the way." She doesn't get up from her seat, but to the two girls she is directing her scary face at it seemed as if she's looming over them. "You two are starting to act like Ranma's old fiancées. Some things are forgivable, some are even 'fun'." Ranma and the two girls blushed at what she meant by 'fun'. "However," her scare factor just turned up a few more notches, thereby surpassing Viki's scary face. "I do not like how...jealous and...possessive...the two of you were acting when Hinako-sensei came here. You did not even wait for anyone to explain before assuming that she was with Ranma THAT way. I am very...displeased." Oooh, glowing red eyes this time. And she's even superheating the room somehow, all directed at the two girls trying to sink under the table. "You would not like me displeased."
"Yes, well, umm, err..." both Fight and Chris were at a lost for words. Ranma stayed out of this. His sister is scary when she wants to be.
Landis chuckled. He just KNEW this group would entertain him for a very long time. "Don't be so hard on them. They're in love with Ranma after all." Ranma blushed from head to toe at that statement. He may be getting used to things like this, but the winger didn't have to say it in front of everybody! "Besides, how could they not get mad at you. You're much cuter and better built than them anyhow."
Both Chris and Tina both glared at Landis who just shook it off. Ranko went back to normal and acquired Ranma's arrogant smirk that hadn't been seen since he left Nerima. "You better believe it!" The two women turned their glare on her, but another brief but effective showing of her 'Wild Horse School of Fighting Evil Face' cowed them.
Ranma shook off the blush when he remembered something. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I saw Ranko's hair change colors before the rest of you guys came in. Any ideas on what it could be Piccolo?"
Piccolo got a thoughtful look on his face. "Hmm. Like Mind said maybe the five elemental rune powers was absorbed into her body. That's the only thing I can think of that would explain her hair changing colors."
"Let me try something," Ranko said as she put her hands close to each other as if holding a basketball and closed her eyes, focusing inside of her mind. A large ball of fire formed between her hands. "Wow! I can create fireballs!"
"With your red hair I would say that the Rage Rune's power is yours to use," Piccolo said wisely.
Yun grinned at her sister. "Wow! Can you do anything else?"
"Let's see," Ranko said focusing her mind again. This time her hair changed color to blue and between her hands is an orb of water.
Piccolo made a confirming noise. "The Flowing Rune."
Then Ranko's hair changed again to green and a ball of 'visible' wind is in her hands. Then her hair turned rich brown and a ball of soil and vines floated in her hands. Then finally her hair turned black with white strips in it like lighting that decorated her hair. A ball of lighting formed in her hands before she changed back to being a redhead.
"Those were the Cyclone, Mother Earth, and the Thunder Runes. I guess she can only use one at a time and her hair changes color with each one being used," Piccolo explained to them.
Fred nodded. "Impressive. She can use all five of the rune's magic without needing to be affixed to the needed runes."
"Wow! My new sister is so cool!" Yun exclaimed.
Ranma then lifted up the hand with the Chimera Rune on it and sighed, bringing everyone's attention to him. "Well, it looks like I won't be able to go out like I used to. It doesn't work anymore." He already tried to turn into a girl last night but the rune wouldn't respond.
Tina suddenly got an idea and smirked. "That means that YOU will be spending more time with us then." Tina eyed Chris as if she's trying to say something to her.
"Oh I get it," Chris giggled. "You can plan for our dates now!"
Ranma's eyes widened while everyone started laughing. "Oh yeah. I did say I'd take you two out on a date didn't I?" He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment and nervousness. All the dates he's been on previously had been a disaster. Hopefully these next two won't be the same.
Fight's smirk got even bigger as she continued. "Well, there is that showcase ball that you got invited to next week. You can take one of us there."
Chris leaned forward in her seat and smirked as well. She assumed what Piccolo recalled is the 'Gendo Position' from that Evangelion Manga he had read and she stared intently at the progressively getting more nervous Ranma. "So, who are you going to take, huh Ranma?" Everyone's laughter went ballistic as Ranma went into incoherent babbling. Some have even ended up rolling around on the ground laughing their lungs out.
Ranma swallowed the lump in his throat as the two women in his life stared at him intently as the others laughed at his expense. 'Great. This is all I need now. I fell like I'm in Nerima again and I got to choose which one of my fiancées I have to take on a date.' He scratched the back of his head as Tina and Chris continued to ask him whom does he want to take to the ball. 'I wonder if Watari and Ayame got their job done yet? Thank kami-sama she's not here or else she'll never let me live this down.'
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At the downtown Shibuya Police Station-
The two ninjas were making their way to the evidence file room containing information on their current master and his friends with him. The Umi-Sen- Ken technique they had learned from Ranma is really coming in handy. It's making this job easier than it would have been without it. Since Ranma is no longer a Saotome he has nothing preventing him from teaching his skills to others and he had promised the two. Amazingly the two ninjas caught on quickly and were able to learn it almost as fast as Ranma did.
When they got to the evidence file room they picked the lock and went in when it was safe to enter the room. The room is still quite a mess from when Jack-O escaped, but at least the files and drawers are semi-cleaned up. Looking through the evidence drawers they found reports on Ranma and his siblings and information on the other house members as well. It looks like there's only one photo of Ranma in the folder. It was one where he was playing with Yun. There were various other pictures and information of the others minus Landis, Mind Hat, Viki and themselves. Taking everything they could find they were about to leave when the door opened. Two young female officers entered the room. One is a very curvy blonde while the other is a very healthy brunette.
"Are you sure about this Jun?" the blonde asked her friend.
"Sure. I just know that there are better pictures of that hunk of a man Ranma Wild in here somewhere," the dark haired girl replied.
'If they find the file on Ranma gone they'll alarm the other cops. We can't mess up this mission so soon,' Ayame thought to herself. 'Good thing I got a plan just in case something like this happens.' She took out a photo of Ranma she had taken without him knowing. Those 'cameras' are very useful. She's pretty sure that this would get the girl's attention away from the room after seeing it. She threw it towards them so that it would be in their line of sight.
"Huh, what's this?" the blonde asked to no one in particular as she picks up the photo that's lying on the floor.
"Hey Jenny, what did you find?" Jun asked seeing that her friend's eyes have gotten five times larger their normal size.
Jenny's breathing very hard and her face is turning progressively red as time passed. "T-t-this...this...this is a photo of Ranma Wild NAKED!" Jenny shouted.
"WHAT!" Jun said rushing over to see the photo. Sure enough it's Ranma naked and it looks like he's coming out from taking a bath as his hair's still wet and a towel is on his shoulders. The scene is set in a changing room that's usually attached to the room with a furo. Thankfully his wet hair is covering the Chaos Rune on his forehead. His body is marked with scars, rippling with muscles that any man would kill to have, and any woman would kill to have on their man. Naked before them is one of the most beautiful men that they had ever seen. Even the patchwork of scars didn't detract from his gorgeousness, only serving to speak of the suffering he had endured in his short lifetime and giving him character. The scars on his body seem to enhance the muscular definition of his body, which made him seem more experienced and mature. Then looking down they saw...
"Jenny, do you know what this means?" Jun asked still staring hard at a certain part of the teenager's... no, make that man, a really BIG man at that, anatomy.
"If we made copies of this and then sell them we'll be rich?" The blonde is fanning herself as she too stared at the thing between his legs.
"You got it! Let's get out of here before someone sees us!" The two women rushed out leaving the two ninjas behind.
"I knew that photo would come in handy," Ayame said jumping down from the ceiling. Both had used Ranma's cling-to-the-ceiling-and-hope-they-don't- look-up technique.
"You know that Ranma won't be happy when he finds out about this," Watari said to her.
"I know, but think of the fun this will cause!" She smiled thinking of what will happen once the two women started to make copies of 'the photo'.
Watari suddenly got a smirk behind his veil. He couldn't resist teasing her. "So what would YOU have done with that photo if you didn't have to give it um huh?" Ayame turned crimson and refused to answer. She may not like the pervert, but she can appreciate the male body too like any other woman.
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In the Suikoden world-
"Umm...should I even ask?"
Chaos just shrugged. "Why do you think his mom named him 'Wild Horse'? It's not in honor of Genma that's for sure. Father and son are opposites in 'that' aspect."
Leknatt just sweatdropped.
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Elsewhere in the station-
Captain Kotobuki approached the City Hunter as he and his partner were planning on how to maybe infiltrate Ranma's home. "Ryo, there's going to be a ball showcase in the Castle Hotel next week and the guest of honor is Ranma Wild. I think this would be a good opportunity."
Ryo smirked. "This would be a great way to get in close to him." 'And Ranko and his bodyguards,' he added mentally.
Kotobuki nodded. "Yes. Since Jack-O broke out my police force has been asked to oversee the protection for the ball. They don't want to take any chances with all the important people being there and the expensive items going on display."
Kaori went starry-eyed. "Great! I can finally meet Ranma in person!" The two men sighed and shook their heads as she started drooling again and has taken out her copy of Ranma's picture.
Ryo just shook his head. And she calls HIM a pervert! "So, who have you picked to oversee the ball besides us?"
"I've given out a notification for volunteers. Everyone should be hearing the announcement anytime now," Kotobuki said. Then they heard the sound of many people running to the office where they in. The door burst open as a horde of female officers stampeded into the office.
"I WANT TO GUARD THE BALL!" all the women shouted as they pushed their way into the office. Jenny and Jun had sold copies of the photo that they 'found' lying around and after seeing what the wild horse has to offer they all wanted a chance to see it 'in the flesh' so to speak. Hormones were surging and nothing is going to stop them, not even the age difference or that they barely even know him and vice-versa.
"This is going to be a long day," Kotobuki sighed to himself wondering how he's ever going to get to assigning who gets to go to the ball or not. Seeing how fired up the women are maybe it'll be safer if someone else picked who goes to the ball.
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High in the air over the ocean-
"You're telling us that ALL this really happened to your great-grandson?" Rally asked Dr. Jones. She and her friends are flying in the back of a cargo plane heading to Japan. It turned out that the owner of the plane is the relative of an old friend of Dr. Jones and the cargo hold is roomier compared to the planes that they were used to flying on. They had just read through a shortened report on Dr. Jones' grandson's life and they couldn't believe that anyone would put a child through all that in the name of training or the amount of abuse he has suffered from 'friends' and family alike.
"Wow! You're grandson turns into a redhead girl with cold water! I didn't know magic existed!" Normally she doesn't believe in magic, but this is Doctor Jones and his family they're talking about. Nothing is impossible when it comes to them.
Becky snorted. "Come on! A magical cursed spring that turns anyone into whatever last drowned there whenever they're splashed with cold water. That's so ridiculous!"
Dr. Jones looked at her patiently. Even he almost didn't believe the information himself if he hadn't seen everything that he saw in his own adventures. "Well, if you have gone through half as many adventures as I have in my younger days then magical springs aren't that strange." Dr. Jones looks like his father at this age. He had even grown a beard just like his father had.
Rally put down her folder and turned to the old man. "So then after he left that hell hole he just disappeared for almost a year before reappearing again with loads of money and with some friends right?"
Jones nodded. "Yes, it seems so. None of my contacts in Japan had found even a trace of him until now."
Becky looked over the name of the town where Ranma is supposedly in. "You know, I read a report over the net about a pumpkin-headed monster that broke out of a police station near where you're grandson is staying." This raised a couple of eyebrows, but they just shrugged it off. This is Japan, lots of weird things happen there for some reason. Ranma's former district is a great example of the strange.
Minnie growled as she remembered a rumor she had heard. "And I heard that dirty City Hunter is investigating that AND your grandson! Ranma just arrived in the wrong place at the wrong time and they already have him pegged!" She remembered how Ryo had hit on her and Rally when they teamed up with him. She lost so many grenades blowing him up that day, but they were all for a good cause!
Rally has on her serious face again. "So how are we going to play this?"
"I already got it planned out," Jones said pulling invitations to a ball from his coat. "It turns out that my grandson is going to be the guest of honor at a party being held at the Castle Hotel for a showcasing of some of his gold coins. I managed to get us all invitations to it so we watch and see what kind of man my grandson is."
"Good plan," Rally said wondering what kind of person Ranma is and if he's still single.
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Inside of an underground room a meeting is taking place-
"So a showcasing of those 'rare gold coins' is going to take place in the Castle Hotel next week," Neclord said reading the report that was passed to him. He's sitting at the head of a table with the heads of the underworld working in the Shibuya area. There are seven members meeting with him. They had fallen under him after he killed Hanze, the most powerful of the crime lords in the Shibuya area, and when Jack-O broke out of the main police station after the City Hunter shot him. Now they are working for him now. It's better than ending up dead.
"Yes. Those gold coins have sold for huge amounts in the black market and private collectors," Mr. Zine said. He's a fat, bald man who's the head of the blackmailing ring.
"Yes. I can say to that I too have gotten hold on some of those coins and you wouldn't believe how much those sold for from the overseas collectors," Mr. Tommue said. He's an old man that still clung to his title of crime lord.
Neclord smirked at the obvious greed on the faces of those around him. If they only knew that on his world the amount of 'rare gold coins' Ranma had sold could barely cover buying even a blunt and old sword they would have a heart attack.
"Also Ranma Wild is going to be the guest of honor. If we manage in kidnapping him then we can set the price for him as high as we want," Mr. Ronize said. He's a young man that works in the government and uses his rank to hide his shady dealings in the underworld.
"Really now! You're thinking too small Ronize," Ms. Sue said. She's a middle-age woman who looks younger than she really is. She's the head of the slave ring market and one of four women in the room.
"Yes. I couldn't believe how handsome he was when I first saw him," Ms. Qune said. She's a young woman that works in the news papers making sure that the other member's names wouldn't show up in the headlines.
"I see where you're going with this," Ms. Wakkan smiled. She's a major player in the gambling rings of Shibuya. She's also a close friend of Sue and Qune and they work together quite well.
"I can't believe you three are thinking about that gaijin like that!" Ms. Uikkan said. She's from an old crime family that takes great pride in their bloodline.
Mr. Zine raised a questioning eyebrow at the three conspiring women. "What are you three going at?"
Ms. Sue smiled a far from innocent smile. "Well, you see a man like this Ranma Wild is very hard to come by these days. I mean I've been selling sex slaves for years now for men and women and this Ranma is something else. A lot of my female buyers have been asking me if I could set them or their daughters up with this Ranma Wild and see how 'wild' he really is."
Ms. Qune also smiled the same smile. "Me and Wakkan should know about that. Our daughters have been asking if we could have you get Ranma Wild for them. And what our daughters want they get."
"Yes, I can see why indeed," Mr. Tommue spoke up. "If only I had a son like that I could finally step down from my title. Of course I would have to beat a few 'good' notions out of him if he has any first, but with looks like his and if those muscles are of any use he would control the whole city in less than a month."
Zine smiled a very cruel smile. "His bodyguards and that sister of his would also make very good additions to the whore houses as well."
The three women ignored Zine as they are not that interested in the girls. Good-looking girls are easy to come by or snatch, even those as good looking as those that are with Ranma. They have kidnapped hundreds of those types of gorgeous girls all over Japan. Those 'runaway' or 'missing' girls are not all runaways after all. They or some other sex slave ring has snatched almost two-thirds of the girls that had been reported missing. Good-looking men are another issue. Those of Ranma's caliber do not come by very often. Those that are usually are either part of a crime family already, already in one ring or another, or are not worth the hassle of snatching up. Ranma only has a small group of friends who live with him in an unprotected temple.
The women go back to what they were originally talking about. "You see we three have been thinking to ourselves that since we want to have strong grandchildren to take over our family then what better way than to find a good breeder for our daughters. After he has outgrown his usefulness he can be sold in the sex slave markets." Ms. Wakkan said.
"And I wouldn't mind trying him out myself a couple of times," Ms. Qune smiled.
"I can't believe this!" Ms. Uikkan shouted out. "You'll be ruining you're bloodlines with that dirty blooded Ai-no-ko!"
Rozine rolled his eyes at her. "So he's half American, so what! Get with the times! Americans are very powerful this day and age both politically and obviously genetically if this Ranma Wild is any example."
Neclord spoke up without his eyes leaving the report. "I agree. Besides, I'm a gaijin myself and you're following my orders, aren't you Uikkan?" His gaze finally leaves the report and focuses on the now terrified woman. "People like you I don't need."
"But sir! My people can easily catch that man without any help from the others," Uikkan shouted desperately. She had seen Neclord dispose of two of the other crime lords that had turned with just yesterday for questioning him and she's not that eager to follow in their footsteps.
"You are a fool if you think that you can have him under lock and key with your people." His intense gaze never left hers.
"But sir! I...I mean...I can..." Ms. Uikkan stuttered. If her usefulness is up she'll be dead in the next second.
"Save it. But still, the hotel will be under heavy guard. Send your people in to catch Ranma and steal the coins and any other valuables. I want him alive. Do you understand?"
Uikkan heaved a sigh of relief that she will live another day. "Yes, my people will have him unharmed."
"Just to make sure of that I'm sending four of my own people in to make sure it happens," Neclord said before leaving the room.
He came back a second later. "Oh yes, Sue I would like you to send over another girl to my room. A pretty redhead if you can." Ms. Sue nodded and Neclord left the room. He has an almost daily supply of girls from Ms. Sue, both for food and entertainment. While it's been crippling her supply of workers she would rather lose some money than her head. She doesn't know what he does with those girls but she would rather not find out. None ever return after a night with him.
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Two days later-
Ranma is out shopping with Yun at one of the indoor malls of Shibuya. With them is Piccolo since he wanted to pick up some more mangas to add to his ever growing collection. Chris and Tina had taken Ranko out for some clothes shopping. For the pass two days now Ranma had been sharing his clothes with her and the two women say that she needs her own clothing. Of course, they weren't about to admit that they were jealous that he lets her wear his favorite shirt all the time.
While they are out the three women are ordering two beds to be delivered to the temple that afternoon. She had been sleeping with Ranma in his room since all the bedrooms are occupied. Ranma didn't want her or Viki sleeping on the couch, and of course neither did he want to sleep on the couch. With both Ranko and Viki moving in they can't afford having separate rooms built for them. When they were shopping for a place to stay in they were only considering rooms for each of them and one guest room. When Mind arrived she took up the guest room Ms. Hinako stayed in when she had slept over. Now two more people are moving in. Ranko is staying in Ranma's room (Chris and Tina protested that she could stay in theirs, but Ranma pointed that since his is the biggest bedroom and theirs is filled up with tons of clothing its best if she stayed in his. The two for the first time cursed their own clothing. ) and Viki moved in with Yun. They are making plans to either convert two of the storage rooms to bedrooms, build another building on the temple grounds, or have Ranko stay in Ranma's room and Viki move in with Yun (hers is the second biggest with Fight and Tina's a tie for third the difference being two inches) permanently. Right now the consensus is just having the two stay where they are sleeping now. Besides, any of Ranma's things is also Ranko's according to the two siblings since until recently they were one person. She only needs to get clothes tailored for her size and other feminine undergarments and items and she's all set. Also even if they have vast amounts of money thanks to selling the coins from their world they don't want to use up too much of it to build another building and the spare storage rooms are very small and not really fit for people to stay in.
Ranma had been feeling something...odd every time he's near Ranko. It felt like he's attracted to her and had been getting strange feelings too. It's very similar to what he feels for Tina and Chris. But he couldn't think like that. She's his sister after all! He has been keeping silent on his feelings for her, but the more the two of them are closer and the more they interact the more his feelings for her emulates those he has for his fiancée and the silver maiden. Wouldn't that be incest? Yuck! Then again they just SAID that she is his sister. There's no real proof and he almost wished Mind would do those tests to prove it, which Tina had forbid her from doing. It's really disturbing him. Until then his feelings are growing more and more like how he feels for Chris and Tina as time passes and he just hopes it's a side effect from being separated. It's especially troublesome when the two of them sleep in the same bed. At first he said that he would sleep on the floor on one of the futons (everyone has a bed and only keeps the futons just in case), but Ranko insisted that the two of them sleep on the bed since there's enough room. He gave up and slept in the bed as well. While there's a lot of room the two of them end up cuddling anyway for no discernable reason except that it felt right. Again must be because of the whole one body thing. Usually Ranma would protest such intimate things since he's not entirely comfortable with those yet, but then again he's been having the best sleep he's ever had in...ever!
'Probably would be the same if it was either Tina or Chris in her place. Heh, no wonder Shampoo liked to sneak into my bed. It really DOES feel nice to hold someone while you are sleeping.' Since the first night his protests to anything too intimate disappeared, much to the elation of Tina and Chris.
As for the others they're staying home and making sure that Landis wouldn't leave the temple since people now knew he's real. They are also making sure that Viki wouldn't make a mess around the place. She's still a bit of a klutz and has been getting excited with all the gadgets of Ranma's world. The TV has been especially unlucky as it now has both Fred and Viki to entertain. It got so bad Ranma ordered a TV to be set up in Yun's room just so the two wouldn't fight. He had already taken Viki shopping for essentials yesterday. Again he had to introduce another girl to female undergarments since Chris and Yun were grocery shopping, Rico and Fight were doing the laundry and of course Ayame never passes up the chance to torture her master by claiming she's busy, especially since she was the one who sent all the women out on errands. It was a little hard to show her how to put the things on with no longer having a cursed form so he had to go in with her in the dressing room to show her. He protested of course, but she pointed out that he was a girl once so it's okay and plus they are good friends and she trusts him. Thankfully no one had heard the whole being a girl comment. When the women in the stores discovered he was going into the dressing rooms with her Viki saved his hide by saying he's her husband. He never knew that he could rival ripe tomatoes by blushing.
He was surprised that under those robes her body rivals that of Nabiki and Shampoo.
As a precaution Piccolo was somehow able to take out her blinking rune so that she wouldn't leave them unexpectedly during the first day they were here. Everyone is amazed at the vast knowledge the old man had in him. No one knew he could be a Rune Master if he wanted. It turns out that Jeane was the one who taught him.
Speaking of the others Watari and Ayame's mission was a complete success. When the two ninjas returned the two were updated on the situation. They then handed over the files and photos they were able to gather from the police station. It was then incinerated curtsey of a fireball from Ranko. However, Ayame had never told him of the photo she had spread around like wildfire among the females of the police force. Ranma did get the feeling she was smirking behind her veil whenever the two see each other. He also got the feeling that Watari knew something funny and is not sharing with him. He just ignored that for now as he couldn't get anything out of the two ninjas. He had shopping to do with his sister anyway! (B)
Ranma also wasn't wearing the clothes that he usually wore. He figured people would figure out who he is if he kept wearing the same thing. He still has the bandanna around his head to keep the Chaos Rune a secret. Otherwise he's now wearing more casual clothes of a plain white T-shirt, jeans and leather jacket. The 'disguise' is actually working pretty well as people were expecting him to wear his usual Chinese shirt and pants.
As he went from store to store with his sister and Piccolo he couldn't help but notice they're being followed. It wasn't like the time that guy and woman that tried to follow him around when he could still transform into Ranko. Whoever is following them is a person that he hadn't seen in a long time.
Spying close by hiding from view is Kodachi Kuno. She had gone ahead of everyone else who had bought Nabiki's information on Ranma. She left her home right after getting the information to make sure that she got there first since the others had a tendency to do violent acts against anyone they think could be Ranma. She's wearing a light green dress and stylish boots. Her hair is also out of her usual sideways ponytail and is now unbound on her back with a little bit of green highlights as well. Even if she looks almost the same as before she was cured it's her eyes that had changed. No longer did they have the clouded, insane look in them when she was still afflicted with the madness. Now they are clear for the first time since her mother's death. And now she was watching this man named Ranma Wild, hoping he was the one that was once known as Ranma Saotome. The one that made her feel whole, that filled the void left by her mother and the family she once had before they broke apart.
She had been watching him for quite some time now from one of the upper floors of the mall. She had spotted them when she was roof hopping and followed them here. She saw a lot of Ranma in this Mr. Wild. He looks like Ranma, but he has changed a lot. This one is better built, his face more defined and his eyes weren't the same eyes she seen before. Before he left Nerima his eyes were always bright and cheerful with the hint of deep sadness hidden in its depths. Now she could see the unadulterated joy on his face just from being around the little girl and the old man he's with. She's seeing a side of him that she had never saw before. He's smiling a lot, having fun with that little girl while the old man watched. She had never seen Ranma smile like this before when he was still in Nerima. Could this be how Ranma would have acted if she had treated him better? Could this be how he would act with his child? She had to find out if he's Ranma Saotome under a new name and identity.
Then she saw the girl and the old man enter one of the bookstores and the man... "Where did he go?" Kodachi asked to herself as she looked around for any signs of Ranma Wild. As she looked around she felt someone standing behind her.
"Hello Kodachi. It's been awhile."
Her eyes produced unshed tears and her throat went dry as she heard a voice that she thought she would never hear again. Slowly she turned around hoping this isn't a dream. "Then it is you," Kodachi said in a whisper.
Ranma's face is set in a neutral way. However, anybody could see the barely held in check rage he's trying to control. "So why are you here and who else is coming?" Ranma asked coldly.
Kodachi bowed her head in shame. She should have known that he would not welcome her back with open arms. "I guess after what I put you through I had this coming to me." Kodachi said barely loud enough for Ranma to hear. She tilted her head up to look into the eyes of the man that means so much to her. "I have change since you left Ranma-sam...Ranma. I went to Dr. Tofu before he left Nerima with Kasumi Tendo. He gave me something that cured me of my madness." She put her head down again, but then raised them again to look back at the unflinching gaze he has on her, her gaze pleading. "If...if you have time I would like to tell you what happened that day." She said this next word in the barest of whispers and with a pleading sound that she is unknown for. "Please."
Ranma looked into her eyes and was shocked of what he saw in them. They were clear. The madness that he usually saw in them is gone now. What replaced them is the gaze of a determined, yet nervous and pleading for forgiveness and acceptance young woman. He could tell his answer would either lift her spirits or shatter her. He was about to say no since this could be a trick, she's a fairly good actress, but then remembered that she said she had seen Doctor Tofu. If there's anyone who could have cured her it's the Doc. He let a little bit of warmness seep into his gaze. "Sure go ahead. Why don't you start at the beginning Kodachi."
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On the other side of town-
Ryo and Kaori are following the two bodyguards around as they are shopping. With them is Ranko who seems to not have seen them yet. They had just finished ordering two beds for Ranko and Viki and are now walking over to a coffee shop by cutting through a park.
"Are you sure about this Ryo? Ranko is really good at detecting us remember." Kaori asked as they walked behind the three women.
"Yeah. It looks like they haven't seen us yet so let's just keep on..." Ryo began but stopped when they heard something speeding towards them.
Turning towards the sound they saw it's that girl Mind Hat again. This time she's riding on what looks like a homemade electric powered bike. The bike is nothing more than a cart on top of a large thick wheel that looks like it could stand up on its own without falling down. The cart had a control panel rather than steering handles bikes usually have. The whole thing looked more suited for a full grown adult than someone her size.
She stopped right in front of them and smiled to them cheerfully, but with a hint of malice. "Hi again! I can see that you two are still following people around. So why are you following my big sister?"
Both adults gulped. "Well, you see...umm...err..." both of them began remembering what happened the last time they met her and hanging from a web for an hour or so give or take before the web finally broke apart. They did not want a repeat.
"You two are still spying on people again! I need to teach you guys another lesson!" Mind said as a barrel came out of the front of her bike. Before Ryo and Kaori could run for it they were hit and incased inside a rubber gooey stuff up to their necks. "This is my rubber stopper goop that can hold anyone still for about half an hour or so before it breaks apart. It also has the added bonus of making you extremely smelly. That should teach you not to spy on people! Bye!" She drove off to join her big sister.
"Is it me or are we losing our edge?" Ryo asked as he tried to move his limbs. The only good side to this was that they were off the beaten path and out of sight of other passerby's. Bad news is that they really stink!
"Let's just stick to bugging their phone lines and maybe bugging their house. This following around people isn't going anywhere," Kaori said wondering why they keep on running into that girl.
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Across town-
Ranma leaned back in his chair as he digested Kodachi's story. The two had moved to the food court and had ordered milkshakes from a nearby vendor and sat at a table that's a bit far away from the rest of the crowd to get a little privacy. "I'm impressed. I never knew that Doctor Tofu knew how to cure mental illnesses. The doc never ceases to amaze me." He looked into the un- maddened eyes of Kodachi. He never noticed it before since they were usually clouded with insanity but Kodachi really did have beautiful eyes. He smiled warmly at her to get rid of the nervousness the young woman is wrestling with. Those lessons on manners and making those around you feel comfortable from Kasumi really help. Already her nervousness is gone and she is able to give him a small smile in return.
Kodachi steeled herself for what she is about to ask. This is something she has been waiting for a whole year to ask and it would not do for her to miss this chance. "Ranma, I...I want to know if you have any feelings for me at all. I just want to know. Even after I was cured of my madness I still love you. When I first met you I felt something click inside of me. You were the first person to ever try to be my friend and saw me for something else than a mad rich soiled girl." She raised her hand as if to touch his, but then hesitated and put it back around her drink. "Please Ranma. Tell me if we have something between us. I...I just want to know." She stared at Ranma wanting desperately to know whether she had a chance or not. This is the moment she's been wanting and dreading ever since she was cured almost a year ago.
Looking at Kodachi, Ranma wondered if she really had change from the woman that she was from before. Thinking back to it she never had any real reason at all to want him as her husband. Could it be that she really did love him for who he is? Not for family honor or pride or as breeding stock, but for who he is inside? All of the other girls just wanted him for family honor or just to be around to take the blame when something bad happens.
Now Kodachi seems to have changed. Before he left Nerima he thought what she felt for him was more of an obsession than actual love. Now, however, as he looks into her eyes to judge what she is feeling he's shocked to see the same thing in them as he sees in Tina and Chris (and various other women in the other world but to a lower degree). Out of the fiancée brigade it seems Kodachi is the only one that cared enough to want him just for himself. She has told him about the other girls and how they are bent on finding him and putting him under their thumbs. He thought she was lying, but somehow he knew that she's telling the truth. It's tempting to just answer right now, but the other girls that he knows in the other world, what about them? What about the ones here?
"Kodachi, you should know that there are other women that have fallen for me, and I'm not talking about the fiancée brigade. After I find what I'm looking for I, well, I'm probably going to leave again. I'll probably never come back here again." As soon as he finishes she starts to tremble and softly cry to herself. Normally this would have sent Ranma into a fit, but now he just got up from his chair and went to Kodachi's side and held her (C). She stood up so that she can clutch him fully as she wept. It took her a few minutes but she eventually recovered her composure. Without disengaging from him she looked him in the eyes with steely determination.
"Ranma, I don't care about any of that. I have nothing to look forward to back home. And I don't care if there are other women that love you. I just want to be with you and I will try to win you over the RIGHT way this time. If...if you give me another chance to show you the real me I will do so and follow you wherever you will go."
Ranma sighed as he looked into the pleading eyes of the young woman in his arms. He hated it when women tried to manipulate him with a look. However, he only hated it if it wasn't genuine like how Nabiki used to control him. Her gaze is far from fake. "Kodachi, I don't lead an easy life." He stopped for a moment to make sure of his decision. "But if you do really want this then come with me back to my place. There I can tell you my side of the story and what I have been doing during the time I've been missing. We'll find a place for you stay there. Are you sure you're willing to go with me? You will probably have to give up everything. Your wealth, the people you know, your...family, everything. Once you come with me there's probably no turning back." Tears once again filled Kodachi eyes as she knew now that Ranma will give her another chance to win him over the right way. She nodded her head and buried her happy face on his chest. He just held her as she cried. 'Thanks Kasumi. I don't think I could have gotten through this conversation without the things you have taught me.'
Watching them are Yun and Piccolo. Piccolo had teleported the two of them to where Ranma is when he didn't come back to meet them after they were done at the bookstore. They arrived just in time to hear Kodachi's story and to see the whole drama.
Piccolo nodded, proud of the boy at how he handled that situation. "So that is one of the girls that are after Ranma from his old life. I must say that was one impressive story. Still, the results speak for themselves."
Yun nodded as she smiled as she watched her big brother and the now sane gymnast hug. "Too bad none of the other girls that are after my brother are anything like her. Still though, this is way better than what I saw."
Piccolo turned away from the scene to give the young girl a questioning glance. "So you knew this was going to happen?" Yun nodded.
"I may not be able to see anything that involves my big brother, but lately I can see vague images of other people and yesterday I saw a tiny glimpse of this. It wasn't a lot for me to go on, but from what I saw this would be a good thing. I've seen others and I think big brother is about to meet up with the Nerima Wrecking Crew soon. So, should we step in and say hi?"
Piccolo shook his head as the he watched the girl slowly regain her composure. She must have been waiting for this for a long time if her actions are any indication. "No, let's just let them be like that for awhile longer."
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Meanwhile-
Chris and the others have gotten some drinks from one of the coffee shops and are walking down the street while window-shopping. As they sipped their drinks they suddenly heard a whirring sound very different from the usual sound made by cars. They turned towards where it's coming from and Mind came up to them on her homemade electric-powered bike.
"Hi girls! Hi sis!"
Fight chuckled a little at her sister's newest invention. She's always coming up with some of the weirdest things she's ever seen, even with the technology here on Ranma's world. "Hi sis. What are you doing here?"
Mind smiled an innocent smile, one that didn't fool the three women one bit. "Oh, I just 'handled' some people who were following you."
Chris slapped a hand to her forehead. "Must be more reporters. I swear, don't they have anything else better to do?"
Ranko giggled a little at Chris' comment. "Nope, I don't think they're reporters. Anyway I was wondering why they stopped following us. Those two are the same ones that followed me around when I was still one with Ranma."
Mind grinned at her. "Well they're not going anywhere for a good while."
Tina smiled at her sister. "Good. We're done shopping now so let's go back home. It's time for you to go back too Molly."
"Okay! Hop on!" Mind showed them where they could put their stuff on the bike. The three women had to cling to the sides of the bike as Mind drove it through the streets with a skill that would make professionals weep with envy. It's a good thing that none of them is wearing a skirt or a dress as the wind blew into their faces.
When they arrived at the temple they saw that they got there the same time as Ranma, Yun and Piccolo. With them is a young woman wearing a green dress and stylish boots. She had dark hair cascading down her back with green highlights and a nice figure and a noble looking face.
Yun is the first to spot the all female group "Hi girls! Hi sis! How did your shopping go?"
Chris and Tina ignored her as they stalked towards Ranma. This is the second time he has brought home a girl. Yes they messed up the first time, but then again that was his teacher and friend. This one is the same age as him and she's way to close to him. Both acquired glares as they stood just a few feet from the two. "Ranma, who is that!?" Both of them, however, flinched and stopped glaring when they realized they were acting like Ranma's former fiancées again. They quickly apologized and asked their question again in a more civil tone.
Ranma smiled widely at them and the two women felt their knees buckle. "Let's step inside so I can tell you what's going on." 'Wow, that was pretty close. For a minute there I thought they were going to act like Akane.' He motioned for everyone to follow him inside.
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Later at the downtown police station-
Ryo and Kaori had finally broken free and are giving their report to Kotobuki. Before going to the station they went back to their apartments and took two hour-long baths to get rid of the smell. Their skin is now raw from the constant scrubbing they did. The clothes they were wearing had to be thrown away as the smell was unbearable.
Kotobuki looked a little disbelievingly at them. "You mean every time you two try to spy on one of the temple household members this girl calling herself Mind Hat uses weird gadgets to trap you two every time you try?"
Ryo and Kaori had a bit of red on their cheeks as they turn away from the Captain. "Yeah, hard to believe right?"
Kotobuki shook his head. "No, not really. You see her real name is Molly Fight and she's the little sister of Tina Fight. She's in my older daughter Ran's class."
Kaori turned back to him and tilted her head to the side a bit in bewilderment. "Wait, she couldn't be more than ten. How could she be in your daughter's class? Isn't Ran in high school?"
"She's very smart for her age and is so smart that the school had to put her into a higher grade level. Also Ran said that when she asked how smart she was Molly used a robot arm from a metal disk on her back to trap her to the back wall in a spider-like web. The lab boys never saw anything like it before from the samples that were still in her hair. It's only good for an hour like the one you were trapped by before it breaks apart. We barely got any results before it all dissolved. The only thing that comes even close to it is that web stuff in that 'Spider-Man' comic from America," Kotobuki explained.
Ryo sighed. "A super smart girl with the ability to create gadgets and compounds like that web and that goop stuff that we were trapped in. Looks like we're not spying on Ranma's group anytime soon."
Kaori put a hand on her left hip and put her weight on her left leg. "It looks like she would be able to create something like that monster Jack-O though don't you think."
Kotobuki nodded. "Yes, but we have no solid poof yet so we can't do anything. We can't even bring her in for questioning. Our publicity would plummet when if we were to accuse a ten year old girl of creating monsters. And from what you two are telling me anyone we send will end up like you two."
Ryo shrugged. They can't do anything else right now so he asked about the ball. "Have you picked who's going to be guarding the hotel yet?"
Kotobuki sighed as he started rubbing his temples. "Well, we're having a lottery to see who's going from the people who wants guard duty that night."
"Let me guess, all women right?" Ryo ask already knowing the answerer
"Yup," Kotobuki said remembering what happened to the guys that said they would guard the hotel. The female cops used them to see how to use headlocks and where to hit to bring down someone fast. One was stupid enough to ask what is so great about Ranma Wild. He won't be going out on any dates for a while, not until all the bruises heal. "At least there will be some guards from the hotel too. Counting them and you, me, the three male officers who somehow won the lottery, and the hotel guards we're outnumbered by the women forty-one to fifteen."
Kaori suddenly grinned from ear to ear. "Good! All I need to do is to wait till the ball to check out Ranma Wild! Yeah!" She started to do a little victory dance since she is Ryo's partner she's guaranteed to go there. She had bought one of the new photos from a brunette officer and she can't get the image out of her mind. Age difference be damned!
The two men sighed. They've been doing that a lot lately. "Come on Ryo. You and Kaori should be at the meeting to see how we're going to handle the ball. We're already late."
"Sure." Kaori snapped out of her wild horse induced euphoria and the two followed the captain out of the office.
In the meeting hall the room is filled with female cops who had won the lottery to guard the ball in the Castle Hotel. Also there's the head guard from the hotel and Mr. Zen is also there along with about three male cops who had somehow won the lottery. Scowls and death threats are being sent by the women in the room towards their direction. It's even worse from the women who hadn't won the lottery. The men had been rethinking their decision to sign up for the lottery hoping for a chance to meet Ranma's bodyguards or his sister.
"Sorry I'm late," Kotobuki said as he entered the room with Ryo and Kaori.
"Yes, we've been waiting for you for quite some time," Mr. Zen said.
"Like I said, sorry. Ryo and Kaori were giving me a report on the situation. Okay, let's get down to business."
Zen stepped up to the front of the room. "Okay ladies...and also you three," Zen said looking at the only males beside the panel that were there. "This ball at the Castle Hotel is going have a lot of big shots attending. And of course all of you ladies know Ranma Wild is going to be there as the guest of honor."
"Yeah! He's a HUNK!" more than one female said.
"Girls! Please!" Kotobuki screamed as they started celebrating for their immanent meeting with the young male. Some of them are looking at photos and drooling, a lot. He assumed that it's copies of the picture from the file and ignored it. "We will be working with Mr. Gunor's staff to make sure what happened at the uptown police station does not happen again. All of you have a file showing who is going to be there and at what time and a lay out of the hotel ballroom is there as well. I want all the doors to be guarded at all times and make sure that only people with the pass cards get into the closed areas."
"So we'll be taking shifts then?" one of the guys asks.
"Yes, you will be all be taking shifts around the ballroom. We've made the schedule so that there would be at least five guards in each area just in case. All of you will visit each area at least once. Also each group will be accompanied by at least one of the hotel guards just in case as they have better knowledge of the hotel than you do." The answering grins troubled him. He didn't realize that he had just given them a way to leave their posts in order to talk with the guest of honor.
Kotobuki continued in his explanations. "As for Ranma he'll be taking along five people with him to the ball. He'll be taking his sister the older one, his two bodyguards and two of the people living in his temple, Fred and Rico. He already notified the hotel that his bodyguards and Fred and Rico will be armed so keep an eye on him since we're still investigating if he's the new crime lord."
Giant red-hot battle auras suddenly sprung frightening the males to suddenly pee in their pants. "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"
"HE'S WAY TOO MUCH OF A HUNK TO BE A DIRTY CRIME LORD!"
One of the guys gathered his courage (or was incredibly stupid) and commented, "Well he could be." He was grabbed by a couple of female cops and got stomped into the ground. Of course they made sure he'll be walking around bow-legged for the next couple of days.
Mr. Zen got his wits back and glared at the protesting female officers. "Girls! Stop this right now! We're just looking into the matter so just keep an eye on them okay!" They swiveled their attention to him and growled, which made him almost soil his pants, but eventually their battle auras gutted out.
"There's something else you should know," Mr. Gunro spoke up. "We have another special guest at the ball that evening. Indiana Jones along with three guests are attending as well."
Ryo raised an eyebrow. "Indiana Jones? I thought he was dead."
Mr. Gunro shook his head. "No, he's still alive. He requested that he be invited to the ball and since he is a well-known person we gave him four invitations. He should have arrived in the city by now and will be at the ball."
"You heard that people! We can't yet anything happen at the ball now," Kotobuki said wondering why would someone like Dr. Jones would be coming here for a ball. He figured he's just as curious about the gold coins as everyone else is.
One of the male guards picked up a phone to call the cleaning department to send a janitor to clean up the pee and the blood from the guy still imbedded into the ground. Air freshener is definitely needed as well. Mr. Zine rushed out the minute the meeting finished and everyone saw that he was holding his legs tightly together.
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At the temple-
Ranma had explained who Kodachi is to the others and that she would be staying with them. After he and the others had told her their story and that they are going to another dimension Ranma asked her if she still wanted to go. Kodachi's resolve didn't even waver and she readily said yes and will have her things sent here by tomorrow at the latest. At first she was met with some resistance from the others since everyone had heard of her history with Ranma and the damage she had caused him. However, Ranma and Kodachi were able to convince everyone to accept her with a little help from Yun and Piccolo thankfully. Since room is getting tight she's having a bed delivered and will be sleeping in the same room Ranko materialized in for now. Tomorrow she's having a luxury trailer brought in for her to stay in until they are able to get to the other world (Ranko and Viki are happy in their current locations for obvious reasons and refused to move into a trailer that Kodachi offered to have brought in for them). She would have paid to have contractors build a new wing to be put on the main building so that everyone could have their own rooms, but Watari pointed out that that would be an opportune time for reporters and other people who are curious about them to pose as workers and look around the temple. They might accidentally discover Landis and cause a panic. Another thing to note is her reaction to the winger. She barely gave him a second glance. Living in Nerima made you used to the unusual she said, and Ranma and Ranko wholeheartedly agreed.
Right now Ranma is in the back yard looking up into the sky. Its nigh time now and he wanted to get some fresh air and think about all that's happened as he stared at the few stars he could make out in the smog filled sky. The others from his past would be coming soon to see...claim him. He's been wondering when he would meet up with them again. When he met up with Hinako he knew sooner or later they would find him. It's just too much of a coincidence that Hinako is in the same town he arrived in. It's like they're attracted to him as long as he is in this world. Besides, that article about him on the newspaper only spelt trouble. Now that he thought about it every time he tried to get away for a little while they had always been able to find him. If it hadn't been for the mirror sending him to the other world he knew that Ukyo and the Amazons would have found him eventually.
'Too bad they couldn't be like Kodachi,' he thought to himself. In a way she's like himself. Everyone around her just saw her as a demented noblewoman, just like how they saw him as a tool to be used. After a life- altering event both of them changed for the better.
Speaking of the others they are all currently inside doing whatever it is they do. He couldn't help but think of each person and the most recent new members of the household.
Ranko is handling being alive again pretty well. Even without her previous memories she is still pretty happy being given a second chance at life. She spends a lot of time just hanging around and playing around with him or with Yun. It's really a joy to see her smile. She has told him multiple times that she really enjoys being with him and everybody else and being here and making new memories.
Viki LOVES it here. The TV has gotten old for her and sits in another room. She went on a twelve-hour watch-a-ton and now cannot stand it. Instead she collects plushies and other cute things like a certain cute-obsessed skater (thankfully Viki collects only the normal stuff). Also quite a few of them are items Ranma is missing. Why she wants his bandana he'll never know. He almost regrets bringing her back to the other world seeing her so happy here, but she also talks about wanting to go back there (as long as she can bring a few things) so things should work out ok.
Kodachi's bed had arrived only half an hour ago. It's already set up in the prayer room that's more or less recovered from the messed up spell. He had lent her some clothing he barely wears for her to sleep in tonight. She had already ordered the trailer and it'll arrive tomorrow morning. She had also called a private company to go to her house and bring her things here tomorrow morning as well. She said that she won't allow them to enter the grounds and will accept her things at the gate with a little help from Ranma and the other men of the temple. Thankfully she's not bringing 'Mr. Green Turtle'. Neither did she say anything if it's still at the Kuno Mansion.
The extra beds had also arrived during the discussion on what to do with Kodachi. Watari and Ayame had set it up Ranko's bed in Ranma's room already. When Ayame had left the room to set up Viki's bed Watari had pushed the two beds together since it is a ninja's job to predict any order or whim his master would have. He had seen the sleeping habits of the two siblings. He always makes routine checks on his master and his siblings as he and Ayame guards the temple at night from unwanted visitors such as persistent reporters and robbers trying to get some gold coins, which there had been a lot of the latter. No one knows this but he has a lot of respect for Ranma and has dedicated himself to serving and protecting him. So too has Ayame, but she would never admit it. The two take shifts patrolling at night and can sleep so lightly they wake up at the smallest sounds so that they do not loose any sleep while still doing guard duty.
Everyone else is also enjoying themselves while they are staying here in Ranma's world. Edge, Fred, Rico, Fight, and Chris had taken to sparring with each other and him to keep their skills from getting rusty. Edge had also discovered he likes to read novels and fantasy stories. Right now he's reading a series called 'Harry Potter' from England that's been translated to Japanese, which surprisingly the Zodiac Sword also likes. Who knew a book could read. Ranko is having fun throwing around all kinds of spells using the five runes she has when she spars with him or the others. Yun is still playing around with Sayo and Misato and the other various temple household members. She's also started taking lessons from Chris on how to cook. Thankfully she does not have Akane syndrome when in the kitchen and is a fairly good cook. Chris has also taken on Tina and even sometimes himself as her students in the culinary world.
Viki, while not a bad cook, is still a little clumsy and Chris is wary of having her in 'her kitchen'.
Mind is REALLY having fun in this world. For a scientist and inventor like her from a primitive world this is paradise. She's coming up with more and more things as time passes. Her room is filled with all sorts of machines both of her own creation and bought from stores. She's been asking him to buy a car so that she would be able to see how it works, but refusing her since it would create a paper trail.
Watari and Ayame had taken to his lessons like fish to water. He had started teaching them after he met them in the other world and right now they are at his level when he fought Herb. The two ninjas had been teaching him a few ninjitsu techniques that he hadn't learned from Konatsu in exchange. As Ranma teaches the two skills and katas from his Wild Horse School of Fighting they in turn teach the others, except for Ranko who already knows everything and Chris, Tina and Yun who are also Ranma's pupils. Edge, Fred and Chris have also taken up his as well as Ranko's lessons in sword fighting. Right now both sibling's skills with the broken katana are about level with Kuno if they just used sword skills. When they bring in techniques and such Ranma had modified from his school to be used with the sword Kuno wouldn't stand a chance. When one sibling is using the former Saotome honor blade the other is using a bokken that's been cut in half. They figured that they would have Peggy make them a new katana that's an exact copy of the broken one when they get back to the other world. They would have gotten a katana here, but it would have taken weeks and they do not know when they would get back to the other world and the sword smith will certainly build a complete one. Both siblings want to use a broken katana as it is a remainder of their shared old life and what they had given up.
And as for Piccolo's...well...Piccolo. His room looks more like a storage room for magical items that he had acquired one way or another and a manga collector's room than a bedroom. In fact you would be hard pressed to see the bed under all the mangas and other things above and below it. How he sleeps under that clutter is a mystery.
The only person that wasn't happy is Landis. Since he had shown himself he hadn't been allowed to leave the temple. He's getting cabin-fever and just walking around muttering curses or talking with his pet piranhas. The only thing keeping him happy is the constant supply of Dual Monster Cards and mangas the others buy for him when they go out.
Ranma was starting to wonder how the hell he's going to bring everything everyone wants to bring to the other world. He knows Hidden Weapons Technique and they too have a weak version of it, but they have their limits.
As he looks up at the stars Ranma couldn't help but think of all these things as well as the responsibilities he now has. He has two siblings to take care of, a group of people that look up to him as their unofficial leader since this is his world, he still has to find Neclord and somehow kill him and the other monsters, taking care of the temple and other household things, the bills and covering their tracks. He may have help in the household chores and such and has everyone's support, but he feels as if everyone is looking to him for answers. He's holding up pretty well in his opinion, but that's because Hinako, Tofu and Kasumi had been teaching him these things on the sly for a long time now. He feels, well, not scared, but nervous about everything. He doesn't want to let anyone down, especially his sisters and his fiancée and Chris.
He was so deep into his thoughts that someone was able to sneak up on him. Thankfully the person did not have any murderous intentions against him. "So you're back here," Piccolo said walking up to him. The old man sat down on a rock next to where Ranma had laid down on the ground and gazed up at the sky as well. "What's on your mind young one?"
The former Saotome looked at him from the corner of his eyes for a moment before going back to watching the few stars that can be seen in the city. "Hi Piccolo. I was just wondering how I should handle those people from my past once they get here." No need to worry the others about what he's really thinking about.
Piccolo nodded still looking up. "It's none of my business to tell you how to handle them. However, I will tell you this. They have treated you badly in the past in a way no one deserves to be treated. While you are no saint yourself it's only because you had no idea how to act." He turns to look at Ranma who's expression had fallen a little. "Do not worry about it. I do not blame you as you only had Genma for a role model. From what I have seen the past few months that I have known you have taken great strides in correcting your faults. I must say Hinako and the other two had done a remarkable job in fixing the mistakes Genma has made." No one refers to Genma or Nodoka as his parents. Everyone agrees they don't deserve the title.
Ranma now has a smile on his face as he thought about Hinako, Tofu and Kasumi. "Yeah. I owe them a lot. I don't think I would have lasted long if they hadn't helped me. Heck, I think I would have gone into a murderous rage if I didn't have those three to guide me and be my friend." He chuckled a little as a stray thought hit him. "Did you know I didn't used to speak like this? Before I met those three my speech was horrible. No one would dare invite me to anything formal that's for sure. It wasn't until Kasumi gave me a frown when I was speaking to her in my 'street language' as I like to call it that I realized how bad I my grammar was. Kasumi and eventually Ms. Hinako straightened me out. Of course I didn't let the others know my speech had changed though. I let them think I still had bad grammar skills so that they wouldn't link it back to Kasumi and Hinako. I know Ukyo wouldn't have done anything, but Shampoo and Kodachi would have attacked them and Akane would have thought I was hitting on her sister. The two old men would have thought that we had feelings for each other and then dragged Kasumi and me to the altar. You know, for once I the old men were right. I did have feelings for them."
Piccolo raised an eyebrow at him and Ranma noticed. "Not like that. I thought of them as the mothers and friends I never had." He sighed a little wistfully. "I never had a real mother growing up. All I had is the old fart for company, and I've told you what kind of man he is. Sometimes I wish Kasumi or Ms. Hinako IS my mom. I...I don't think I ever recovered from hearing my mom say I'm nothing more than a way for her to get grandchildren." Piccolo nodded. Genma makes all fathers look bad with all the things he had done to his son. Then again, Ranma's mother would have made most mothers faint with what she had done as well. Everyone considers them only as the biological parents.
Ranma's expression had turned depressed at the thought of his mom's betrayal. "Ranma." Piccolo waited until he had his complete attention. "What you do when the others come is your decision and yours alone. Just know that the others and myself will stand by you. We are your friends and family now and we will stick by you, we promise." The smile on Ranma's face would have eclipsed the sun.
Piccolo suddenly smirked. "You know what, I won't say anything if you gave them the same medicine as they gave you. After all," he poked his own forehead to indicate Ranma's, "it's not like they can do anything to you with that rune of yours. I bet one Hand of Chaos or a Chaos Wave would shut them up pretty good." Both of them went into gales of laughter at this. He can just imagine bacon breath's reaction when he overpowers his Shi Shi Hokodan with a Chaos Wave or cuts his precious umbrella to pieces with the Twilight Blade.
Ranma was able to get his mirth down to just a few chuckles. "Too bad they couldn't be like Kodachi. She's willing to give up everything just to be with me. Now THAT'S loyalty and love! The other girls in my past just wanted me as a way to satisfy honor or something."
Piccolo was able to get himself under control and asked a question that's been bugging him for a while. "I was wondering, why do you let Chris and Tina treat you like the girls in your old life did? From what I've heard they act very much like that Shampoo girl except they don't do violence to you."
Ranma gave a small smile as he seemed to see something Piccolo didn't. His eyes are glazed over as he looked up at the stars again. "That's because they aren't like Shampoo at all. Sure, with what happens when they bring me shopping and the way they dress and cook for me some would think that they're acting like Shampoo. Besides," he chuckled a little. "I'm not going to stop them. It's really nice and really flattering to be given so much attention by people you care for deeply. But there's one big difference between Shampoo and Chris and Fight, their intentions. When Shampoo used to do it to me I could see in her eyes the greed and domination she had in her. To her I was nothing but her 'airen' that she could show off to her friends and give her many children. She would drag me to her village where I would be 'a stupid male' for the rest of my life. My male children would meet the same fate. In Chris and Fight I can see something different. When I look into their eyes I feel like I lose myself in them you know. There's something in their gaze that tells me they do love me. I can tell since Tofu had that same look when he was staring at Kasumi." He added the next part in a whisper Piccolo had to strain to hear. "And...and I think I've fallen in l-l-l-love with the two of them." As he said this Ranma's face burned while Piccolo chuckled. He then continued in a normal tone. "I can see the same thing when Tina, Chris and the others look at me. At first it seemed like Chris was lusting after me. When we first came here I saw it even if there was a little affection in there as well. I've seen lust often enough in my old life, both as a guy and a girl, that I know the difference between loving someone and lusting after someone. Then when I got to know her and she got to know me it changed. Now, she has the same look Tina has in her eyes when she looks at me. It says 'I want to be with you always' or something like that. They don't want me for honor or pride or as a baby- maker, but just for me. They care for me and what I am and not who I am. My old fiancees didn't except Kodachi, now anyway." 'Damn, when did I get so philosophical? And why the hell do I sound like one of those characters in those soap operas Kasumi and Ms. Hinako watches?' His decision not to worry the others is forgotten as he poured his heart out to Piccolo. The old man is like the grandfather he never had.
"I see," Piccolo said quietly. In his long life he had seen this many times before. Ahh, young love. "You do know that the girls back in our own world have fallen for you the same way don't you?"
Ranma sighed sadly. "Yeah. I know that, but..." he began. "They all love me in a way that I sure that I feel for them. Before we got sent here I kind of thought of them as friends and maybe...umm... 'potentials' you could say. I didn't like any one of them any more than the others. But now it's different. I didn't get to know them as much as I got to know Tina and Chris. If any of them got transported here in the beginning maybe, but now...I don't know," He continued on so only Piccolo would hear him. "You know, I'm kind of worried now about something else too."
"Oh, and what would that be?" Piccolo wondered what else there could be.
"...Viki."
"Viki?"
"Yeah. Back in our world even if she never told me I know she felt something for me too and it's still there." 'The shopping trip is one indication of this.' "Little Viki had told me about a hundred times that maybe I should get together with her older counterpart. She said it with so much conviction, like she knew what would happen, that I almost obeyed her without question. Anyway, even if she does act like she's not all there Viki is still a very nice and sweet person. I've even been talking to her a lot since she arrived here and what I found out about her I like. Same thing with Kodachi" 'and (shudder) Ranko.' "From what I've seen she's turning out to be a really great person, one that you can live the rest of your life with. That is the luxury of being in this world. I never got to REALLY know any of the girls while we were in your...our...whatever world. My attention was always on one thing or another, especially on repairing the castle and training myself and the others and stuff. Here things are a lot more private and not as hectic. I can really get to know them more. But...what about the others back in the other world? I feel like I'm back to square one you know. Sometimes I just wish I can be with all of them so there wouldn't be any heartbreak, but that can't happen can it?" He sighed heavily. Neither men noticed the Chaos Rune glow slightly under Ranma's bandana as if trying to comfort him. "How can I break their hearts when I finally pick one of them?"
"My son, that's something that only you can know," Piccolo said knowing that this would be something that will break him and make him stronger at the same time. 'For one so young to be burdened so much. This is the stuff of dreams for most men, but for him it is a nightmare since his heart does not want to hurt any of them. He not only has troubles of the heart but he has to get us back to our world, kill Neclord where ever he is, hopefully settle the war when we get back to our world, and many other things I don't know of yet. Perhaps there's something I can do. I may not be able to do anything about Neclord or the war, but perhaps I can help with the troubles he's having with women. Being with all of them...picking one...maybe just select ones...hmmm....' Piccolo stood up and went back inside thinking about ways he can make things easier for the young man.
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Up above the two in one of the upstairs bedrooms Ranko, Kodachi, Viki, Chris and Tina had listened in.
Tina smiled fondly at her fiancée. "So that's how Ranma feels about us. Sigh, he's really something isn't he."
Chris smiled fondly as well. A trace of sadness entered it, however, when Piccolo's question entered her mind. "Oh my. We HAVE been acting like the old girls in his life haven't we. I...I'm so sorry Ranma. I promise as a knight of Zexen that I will not act like that any more. You deserve much better." She chuckled a little. "I guess we better do as Kodachi is doing, winning him over the RIGHT way."
Tina smirked. "But he DID say he's not going to stop us with the clothes and food and everything else didn't he. We're just going to have to tone down the jealousy and fierce competition a little."
Everyone got devious expressions on their faces.
Viki also smiled down at the pigtailed warrior. "Wow, I never knew Ranma felt like that about everything. He's really grown up hasn't he?" Unfortunately for her she did not hear what Ranma had said about her.
Kodachi sighed a little regretfully. "I just wish I was different back then."
Ranko nodded as she leaned against the side of the window as she looked down at her 'brother' still lying there on the ground. "You girls need to understand Ranma a little better before making him pick one of you. Get to know him more and let him get to know you more. Then have him pick. In fact, don't force him. I remember none of the old crew let him do that. If you try to force him he'll just stop liking you, period. Just let him go at his own pace. We have time, we're still young after all. Just...I don't know, romance him or something."
All of them nodded, none of them noticing she had included herself in the list, neither did the redhead. Kodachi then looked at the others. "So all of you are from another world?" At first she almost didn't believe everything until they showed her the runes Ranma and the others have on and a little bit of demonstration. At everyone's nod she turned back towards her beloved. "I know starting a new in life in that other world would be really nice. I have nothing that I would miss here." 'And again I have Ranma to thank for a new chance at life. I just hope he will allow me to share in his.'
Ranko looked over at the once insane woman. "So you're going to throw everything away, all your money and everything else, just to be with my brother."
She nodded. "Yes. Someone like Ranma doesn't show up everyday. I will try to win him over because he's one of a kind."
Chris suddenly turned towards Fight. "Tina, why don't you be Ranma's date for the ball."
Tina raised an eyebrow at her, but she could not prevent the smile from coming to her face. "You mean you don't mind?"
She shook her head no. "I'm not going to be like the other girls that are after Ranma. I'm just going to wait for my turn later." As an after thought she thought to herself, 'Besides, when it comes to my date with him we'll be all alone."
Behind them by the door no one noticed Yun watching them. She had a thoughtful expression on her face as she quietly left the room.
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A few days later-
The nightlife of Shibuya is in full swing as the big party in the Castle Hotel was about to start. The ballroom is a double-floored room the size of a huge auditorium. The tables are on the second level and the dance floor on the first. There's also a stage in the middle of the dance floor. Not only is there a bunch of musicians to provide music there's also a DJ when they get tired or serve as backup. There are stone vases of all sizes sitting along the second floor giving the room a nice look to it. Among the tables are display cases showing rare items along with the gold coins from the guest of honor. Statues of modern art are also on displayed, both standing on top of pillars. The two statues are catching a lot of stares from the guests there.
One of the statues is of a man who's fairly tall with bandages covering most of his body. In fact, his entire body seemed to be wrapped in bandages and where the flesh showed between the bandages is charred flesh. The flesh looks like it didn't lose any of its elasticity however. Where the bandages ended at his wrists he wore gloves that metal workers used when dealing with hot metal. He also wore thick tan pants and heavy boots that metal workers wear when working around the metal vats where the metals are melted at. And where the bandages wrapped around his neck ended he wore a helmet that covered his whole head. The metal helmet is colored midnight black and even had a metal jaw. The helmet looked like it's the statue's real head than just a helmet. It if didn't stand so still people would have guessed it to be alive. It's set up to look like someone that was kneeling on the ground on fire.
On the pillar it was standing on the panel read A demon born from fire. Its body burned to unrecognizable flesh. Now a fire burns deep inside of its body. Afterburn is its name.
As for the other statue it's of a man wearing full-body armor. Making him look like a member of the Core the top police force branch in Japan. An orange glass helmet covered its head. The glass showed the figure's mouth that's set in a grin. On its back are two huge cylinders that fed a belt of bullets to a pair of gatling-guns. The guns are incased on the man's forearms and the barrels are set around his hands. It's set up like he is going to shoot up the place.
The panel on the pillar read The power of the gun is overpowering to some. This soul is a slave to its will to kill for the joy of killing. The demon known as Gunner.
There's also an act on the stage. A young woman dressed as a clown is entertaining the crowd. She's dressed in a red and purple outfit that looked like it's painted on her. The colors crisscrossed on her and she has on a white collar. She also wore a floppy hat that had two long tops on it with bells weighting them down. She also had a long staff with a clown head on top of it. She has a lovely face that made her look younger than she really is. Her body is slim and graceful looking like a gymnast. She's making things appear and disappear out of mid air to the guests that are watching her act with a skill Mousse would envy. Even if it seems a little juvenile to hire a clown for something like a ball her skills more than make up for it.
Then the moment everyone has been waiting for came. The crowd stopped everything they were doing as the guest of honor came in. Ranma walked in dressed in a black silk tuxedo that fit tightly on him (he would have gotten one that fit better but Yun, who was one of the people helping him shop for the tux along with Ms. Hinako and Ranko, insisted). The tight and thin material of the tux showed off his muscular body. His usual bandanna had been replaced with a black silk headband that Yun had gotten for him so he could still hide the Chaos Rune. It matched with his tuxedo and just made him look more handsome. His shoes had a mirror shine. His pigtail is also gone and is now a ponytail. Yun had asked him to change it for tonight and had even combed it for him. She also fixed his hair so it looks styled instead of its usual wild look. He has on an intoxicating cologne that made any woman who smelled it get all hot and bothered (this one curtsey of Rico who was shopping and noticed it and thought its perfect for Ranma). The women of the party are drooling at the sight of him. The female officers are undressing him with their eyes. Thanks to the photo Jun and Jenny had sold them they knew what lay under the wrapping. It's comical seeing them suddenly leak huge amounts of blood from their noses.
Then their attention (the men in the room anyway) shifted to the woman cuddled up to his side. Tina 'walked' into the room. She's wearing the dress she had bought under Chris' suggestion with a pair of two-inch high heels that matched with her dress. The dress fit her like a glove and Ranma is having a hard time ignoring the wonderful signals his body is sending him from where she's touching him. The dress is a gorgeous violet colored evening dress low cut in the front and slit high up the leg. It's already been altered so that it fit for her chest, but it still looked like her breasts were trying to explode out of the top of it anyway. She's even wearing a top hat that matched her color theme. Her hair is now cascading down her back like a jade waterfall and has a slight wave to it. Her light perfume sent tingles of pleasure through anyone who smells it, particularly the one next to her. She has on a light amount of makeup that heightened her natural good looks. It's time for the guys to drool seeing the stunning woman. Ranma didn't even have time to scowl at the men oogling his date as he's trying to keep the eechi thoughts out of his head, which is very hard to do as she keeps moving against him. Tina is just enjoying herself as she molded her body to his.
Following close behind is Chris dressed as a guardswoman out of a movie with her sword hanging on her belt. She's wearing the outfit that she came with to this world (the green sweater and brown skirt combo). While she's not dressed up as nicely as Tina a fair amount of the men in the room shifted their gaze in her direction. Her hair also has a slight wave to it and is set in a ponytail on her shoulder. She has on a different but still alluring perfume and a little blush and eyeliner that made her look beautiful. Her ample bust also seems to burst out of her front and a few men's gazes wouldn't leave it. She scowled at the perverted men and meaningfully grabbed the hilt of her sword. All of them got the hint and looked away.
However, in turning away the perverted men's line of sight went towards the one next to her, Ranko. She's wearing a blue silk Chinese dress with high slits on both sides of the skirt. It showed off her long, smooth and sexy legs on top of two-inch heels. The dress hugged her figure and her chest is also bursting out of the front. Her hair is out of its usual pigtail and cascaded down her back. Her red hair shined in the light. She has on a flowery perfume and she doesn't need any makeup as making her look more beautiful would have made her a lethal weapon, which she already is anyway. However, they soon had to go to the bathroom REAL bad when she gave them a demonstration of her 'evil face'.
Fred and Rico brought up the rear of the group. Fred is wearing a modest suit as he never did like dressing up unless it's absolutely necessary. On his back is his sword and shield. Rico is also wearing one since she didn't like wearing a dress and has her hammer strapped to her back. They barely got a passing glance as everyone else is too focused on the four in front of them.
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Up on the second level Jones and his party are watching them as they came in. Jones is quite gladdened and relieved that Ranma's looks came from his side of the family. He looked at Ranma's date and felt pride at his great- grandson for finding such a stunning woman. He knows from the information he had compiled that she is one of his 'bodyguards'. However, from the looks on their faces and how they seem to keep each other close their relationship is FAR from professional. He looks behind the two and sees Ranma's other 'bodyguard' Chris. He can tell there's something else there with the jealous looks she's casting at Ranma's date and the longing looks she's casting his great-grandson. He turns his gaze over to the others in the group and notes them as the ones from the report. However, his gaze momentarily fixes on Ranko. He just 'knows' that she is his grandson's cursed form. Somehow Ranma must have split himself and Ranko was 'born'.
The girls sitting at his table are loving the sight of the for now pony tailed one.
"Wow, what a hunk!" Minnie said ogling at Ranma.
"He's dreamy..." Becky cooed.
"Your grandson is something else Dr. Jones," Rally said. It should be noted she's fanning herself.
Across the room Ryo and Kaori are making their way to talk to Ranma and his group when they spotted three people that they haven't seen in years. They abandon their previous action seeing the crowd of people anxious to talk to Ranma and instead make their way to the Gunsmith Cats and Dr. Jones.
The Gunsmith Cats and Dr. Jones noticed people coming towards them. Becky, Rally and Minnie smiled upon seeing Kaori. Kaori waved to them as she approached their table. "Hey girls, long time no see."
Ryo next to her also greets them. "Hi Rally, Becky, Minnie. It's been awhile."
The three turned to him then gave him a glare.
"Oh great, it's you!" Becky spat out.
"Don't even try it," Rally almost screamed. Her knuckles turned white from the pressure of the fist she is making.
"Or I'll shove a bomb inside of you where the sun don't shine!" Minnie threatened. She fingered a grenade she had hidden in her pocket.
Ryo backed off seeing the hostile glares he's receiving. "Hehe, so you guys still remember that eh?"
Kaori rolled her eyes. "How could they not? Because of what you did they couldn't get any more work in Japan. I doubt ANYONE would forget the mess you made for them."
Jones interrupted before things could get messy. "So you are the City Hunter." He gave him a once over and is not impressed. Class A pervert all right. Probably has nothing but women in his head. Hell, he's only giving them minimum attention and trying to oogle the other women in the room discretely. "You really need to clean up your act kid."
Kaori noticed the old man next to the girls and apologized for seemingly ignoring him. She introduced herself and got an introduction as well. "Umm, are you THE Indiana Jones sir."
Jones smiled at her. "Yes I am. It's good to meet a well mannered woman this day and age." Kaori blushed a little.
Upon hearing who's the old man is Ryo turns his attention to him. This has now become an information gathering conversation and when it comes to business he is very serious. "So what would someone like you doing here with the Gunsmith Cats Dr. Jones?" he asked bluntly. No use beating around the bush.
Jones understands the detective's need for information and decides to be vague about it. He does not need to give out his plans this early, especially to one who is investigating his great-grandson. "Well, I have hired these three girls to help me to find someone. Rally's grandfather has helped me a couple of times over the years and so I decided to use their services." It didn't look like Jones is about to give up more information so Ryo reverts to casual conversation, mainly hitting on Minnie, Becky and Rally.
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Near the dance floor Ranma is talking to some buyers about where he got his coins from and possibly buying some from him at a later date. Business matters are one of Ranma's weaknesses, but he's not bungling it up as badly as he should be thankfully. The others in his group are wondering around the ballroom. Fred and Rico are at the food table enjoying themselves and the girls are keeping a close eye on Ranma from various places in the ballroom. Many of the women, including a few female cops who were not suppose to leave their post but did anyway, are all asking about himself, including a few private questions which are making him uncomfortable. Ranko is also dealing with the same thing except she is surrounded by men. Many of them are asking her for a dance while asking questions she would rather not answer.
"So you care to dance?" one of the guys asked. This question has been repeated so often that she wants to rip off the head of the next one who asks that question. She controls her anger barely as she responds.
"No thanks. I don't really care for dancing," she said coldly. A few leave when they sense her patience growing thin, but the others who were thinking with the head that is NOT on their shoulders press on. One particularly stupid one tries to cop a quick feel and got kicked between the legs. A few of the female officers sees this, but know how she feels so instead of blaming her they chases away the other men. Ranko thanked them and goes to get a drink. Geez, the only one she wants to even consider dance with is her brother. All these...boys are pathetic. They remind her of the horde of hentai that Akane used to fight.
The other sibling wasn't faring as well. He's gotten rid of the women who surrounded him after finishing with the business people for one persistent blonde. She's young and pretty, and obviously one of those types of women who marry rich guys then takes all the money. Currently she's in front of him trying to look seductive. "So where did you get these coins Mr. Wild?" She made sure that he saw her ample bust which while quite large is also nothing compared to the other women in his group.
"Well, I just found them in an old chest kind of like in movies you know." Ranma said hoping to get away from this one. All the women had asked him out for a date, even the female cops that are guarding the place. He's turned down everyone, but this one wouldn't leave. He can see the greed and lust in her eyes however and he knew what she wanted is not good for him.
Tina and Chris had been watching from the sidelines and were none to happy. They can see Ranma is feeling very uncomfortable and so moved to help him. Tina shoved the blonde out of the way. "Dear, could you come with me for a second?"
"Sure Tina," Ranma said glad to be away from the persistent blonde. She tried to follow them, but Chris stopped her and dragged her away to teach her a lesson about messing with her Ranma.
Ranma sighed in relief as he watched Chris drag the protesting female away. Him and Fight went over to a corner away from the crowds.
"Thanks Tina," Ranma said to her.
"Welcome dear. Chris and I saw you needed a save so we stepped in. So, care to dance handsome?"
Ranma suddenly looked very nervous and started to fidget. "Well, I don't really know how to dance."
"Well I guess we can always make out then," Tina said getting closer to him and putting her arms around his neck. He started to laugh to himself as Tina drew him closer and molded her body to his. While he would like to make out with her he doesn't want to do it in front of all these people. Instead he brings the slightly disappointed Tina over to the dance floor. Sometimes you must take the less embarrassing situation.
After handing the bimbo over to a few female cops and explaining what happened Chris is heading back towards where the two last were when Mr. Kotobuki came up to her. "So you are one of Ranma's bodyguards right?"
"Yeah. Me and Tina are his bodyguards," Chris said thinking that this guy is just trying to get dirt on Ranma. She had had a lot of dealings with reporters and they almost always ask that question before asking more private questions about themselves or Ranma.
"So why is she his date?"
"She won the coin flip," Chris replied with a slight edge. Not because of jealousy at Tina, but at this impertinent guy trying to get information from her. Not wanting to say anything else walked away from him towards the ladies room where he cannot follow.
"So got anything from her?" Ryo asked the captain when he returned to their table. Kaori is stuffing herself at the buffet table.
Kotobuki shook his head. "Nothing much. How about you?"
"Well, Dr. Jones is here with the Gunsmith Cats looking for someone. That's all I can get out of him."
"So are they still mad at you?" Kotobuki asked.
Ryo is about to say something when a bucket of water with lots of ice in it fell on him from the second level. The two men looked up at see the Gunsmith Cats grinning down at them. "Yup, they sure are."
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Out on the dance floor Ranma is doing very well considering he had said that he doesn't dance well. Tina had expected him to fumble through this and that she would have to lead, but he's dancing with the skills of a master ballroom dancer and is leading her!
"RANMA! I thought you said that you weren't any good!?" Tina looked a little miffed at him. She didn't appreciate that her fiancee lied to her. It was a little white lie and held a nice surprise, but still a lie.
Ranma looked a little sheepish at her. "It's the Wild Horse School of Ballroom Dancing. Nabiki made a bet that I wouldn't be able to dance, much less ballroom dance, if my life depended on it. I showed her up. Learned how to ballroom dance from Kasumi then I integrated it into my school. She took an eight out of my debt to her when she lost." He scratched the back of his head while still dancing with her.
Tina looked up in surprise at him. He never ceases to amaze and surprise her. If she ever meets the infamous Kasumi she'll have to thank her for teaching her fiance to be a such a great man. She giggled a little and came a little closer to him. "Whatever. You're really very good."
Ranma gave her a small smile and chuckled a little. "Thanks."
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Unnoticed by the two and everyone else Fred and Rico are doing something...weird. When Ranma and Fight went out to the dance floor Fred dragged Rico to a secluded corner and seemed to give her some instructions. Then the two split up and Fred headed towards a man who works for the hotel while Rico headed for where Chris and Ranko are. As Fred talked to the man Rico convinced Chris, who had just came out of the restroom, and Ranko to join her in the ladies room.
Fred gave some instructions to the man and handed him a disc. At first the man seemed hesitant as he's not too sure about this, then Fred seemed to tell him something that involved Ranma's name and give him a gold coin and the man instantly agreed to everything. After a few more instructions Fred headed for the dance floor himself. However, he's not planning to dance. He stopped just shy of reaching it and took a spot where he would not be easily spotted while still giving him a good view of the dance floor. Then he raised his right hand and a gentle but firm wind seemed to come from it. It blew towards certain people and forced them to move towards in certain directions. The wind is not that strong so the people really didn't notice. They just thought it's the air conditioner or something. Still it's strong enough to influence them to move somewhere else. At first it didn't seem to affect anyone in any significant way. However, if someone were to look closely the people are now crowding Ranma and Tina to go towards a certain direction as the two danced oblivious of everything else.
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The couple didn't notice that they were being herded. It wasn't until they finished their conversation and stopped dancing that they noticed that they were no longer even in the building. Somehow they had ended up going through some doors near the dance floor and into a beautiful garden that's connected to the hotel. They can still hear the music from the ballroom though some open windows.
Unnoticed by them Fred had closed the doors and put a 'stay out' sign on the handle. Beforehand he had cleared the people out of the garden using whatever it is on his right hand. He looked around to check if anyone noticed what he was doing. When it didn't seem like it he heaved a sigh in relief and gave a nod to the man he talked to earlier.
Ranma and Tina decided to stay out here in the garden rather than return back inside for now. The two strolled around admiring all the flowers and plants of the rather large and spacious garden. There's even a pond set with water lily's. They could still hear the music even from deep into the garden. When they had seen everything they returned close to where the doors are and sat down on a bench at the edge of a large clearing. The two sat quietly just watching the stars while Ranma had an arm around her shoulders and she is leaning on his.
After a few minutes of this Fight hears a man's voice over the sound system saying that they are putting on a special song tonight by request. He announces that it's a gaijin song and is in English and apologized to those who does not know it. He announces that he will put in on after the current song is finished. She turns to Ranma with a questioning gaze.
"Ranma, what's English?"
He shook his head to get rid of the trance he fell in from just watching the stars with someone he cares deeply for and asked her to repeat her question.
"Oh, English is another language that we use in this world. Ms. Hinako taught it to me while I was still in Nerima. She's really good at teaching it. I practically mastered that language thanks to her. Why?"
"Well, they're about to play a song right now that's in English so I don't think I will understand it. Do you think you can translate it for me?"
Sure enough as soon as she finishes the song starts to play. Ranma's eyes lit up as he recognized it from one of the CDs Ms. Hinako had used to help him learn the English language. She's really into American music and she made him listen to it and many others many, many times and translate it to Japanese while the song is playing and then vice versa. It's one of her many teaching techniques that she used only in his case since he really needed the help he's ashamed to admit. It made him understand the English language pretty fast though. He practically memorized the whole song.
He suddenly acquired a grin as an idea came to him. He had heard Sayuri wishing someone would do something like what he's about to do with Tina. Saiyuri was even kind enough to moan and whine exactly what to do, hoping her future boyfriend would it to her. Tofu had taught him to listen to anything and everything people say. You never know when trivial information could come in handy. He quickly stood up and held out a hand to her.
"May I have this dance?"
Tina wondered what he's up to but held out a hand for him to help her up anyway. He helped her to her feet and started to dance with her while singing the song to her. Her expression turned from bewildered to astonished as he lead her through the dance. The song is only an instrumental much to the surprise of the DJ, but Ranma knew the words to it anyway and continued to sing to her.
(D)
(Taking her by the waist he pulled her to him and held her close while leading her on a dance around the clearing and singing to her softly.)
Close your eyes, make a wish,
And blow out the candle light.
For tonight is just your night,
We're gonna celebrate, all through the night.
(He made her twirl and spin, and then danced with her this time going around trees and other plants throughout the garden.)
Pour the wine, light the fire, Girl your wish is my command,
I submit to your demands
I will do anything, girl you need only ask.
(At the end they reach the pond. He puts her in a reverse embrace and rocks her gently left and right while his voice gained more strength. The next part always made him blush so he didn't want her to see his red face even if it is kind of dark out. To make up for it he kissed her neck during the pauses. Her body shivered at the feel of his lips on her skin.)
I'll make love to you, like you want me to,
And I'll hold you tight, baby all through the night
I'll make love to you, when you want me to,
And I will not let go 'til you tell me to.
(Her turned her again so she faces him again and continued the dance. As Ranma led her through a slow, sensual waltz while continuing to sing Tina's eyes bugged out. He's serenading her! He's singing to her and dancing with her right under the stars in a beautiful garden! His voice is pretty damn good too! This is the stuff of dreams for all women and near the end she swooned. He caught her and dipped her. They're lips were almost touching.)
Girl relax, let's go slow,
I ain't got nowhere to go.
I'm just gonna concentrate on youo
Girl are you ready, it's gonna be a long night.
Throw your clothes, on the floor,
I'm gonna take my clothes off too,
I've made plans to be with you,
Girl whatever you ask me you know I could do.
(He lifted her back up and started to dance in little circles with her around the pond. His nervousness takes a hike as he really gets into this. Neither noticed that they are dancing ON the water as the Chaos Rune's sky blue part glowed slightly under his headband.)
I'll make love to you, like you want me to,
And I'll hold you tight, baby all through the night,
I'll make love to you, when you want me to,
And I will not let go 'til you tell me to.
(He suddenly stopped they're on land now and just stood there in front of her. Then with great gentleness he reached up his right hand and caressed her left cheek while his left hand pulled her as close to him as possible.)
Baby tonight, is your night
And I will do you right.
Just make a wish, on your night
Anything that you ask I will give you
The love of your life, your life, your life!
(He puts his arms around her and puts his forehead on hers while rocking her again, staring into her eyes the whole time, their lips a hair's length away.)
I'll make love to you, like you want me to,
And I'll hold you tight, baby all through the night
I'll make love to you, when you want me to,
And I will not let go 'til you tell me to.
(This time he gets daring. He gives her a small peck on the lips every time he pauses, surprising the hell out of her.)
I'll make love to you, like you want me to,
And I'll hold you tight, baby all through the night
I'll make love to you, when you want me to,
And I will not let go 'til you tell me to! Tell me Baby!
(As the song neared the end Ranma decided to go out with a bang. At the last peck he made it into a passionate, lingering kiss that took both their breaths away. It lasted pass the end of the song and he didn't let up until they both REALLY needed to breathe. After separating his lips from hers he just held her while the two of them got their breath back.)
(D)
Tina melts like butter into his embrace. If there's any doubts that her feelings for him aren't genuine it's gone now. She would love to spend the rest of her life with this man. In her opinion the one-year trial is over and the verdict is yes. She sighs in contentment as she snuggles more into his embrace. Whoever taught him how to do all this she owes them BIG! She thanked every god, deity, spirit and any higher power she could think of for this moment and this man.
Ranma gave a silent thanks to Sayuri as he held the totally limp Tina in his arms. He stroked her hair and back as he feels her snuggle more into his arms. Heh, who knew Sayuri was a really good romantic. Everything went great! He changed it a little with those kisses in the end, but he never could leave a technique unmodified at least in some little way. Besides, it seemed to work into it really good anyway. It feels really, really nice to just hold Tina in his arms like this. And now he understands why Shampoo and Ukyo always wants to kiss him. Damn that was hot! As an aside he thought with the part of his brain not concentrated on the woman he's holding that hopefully his date with Chris is just as good.
The two of them just continue to stand and held one another not really noticing anything else but each other.
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"Um, Master Fred? Why did you have the one handling the music put on that song? Was that the CD that you gave him? And why did you have me distract Chris and Ranko? Why did you want to lead Ranma and Fight towards the balcony? I don't get it." Rico pleads with her master for answers. She had to drag Ranko and Chris into the ladies room and talk about some inane things. Chris was anxious to get back to guard Ranma, but she pointed out that he can take care of himself and just in case something were to happened Fight is there to hold off any threat until the three of them arrive to help. Luckily Ranko was there and backed up her claim. She was able to keep them distracted by asking Ranko about Ranma's likes and dislikes and especially what his most favorite meal in the world is. At that Chris stood in rapt attention. What better source than the one who carries his memories?
Chris fortunately did not see the event between Ranma and Tina. Ranko talked throughout the whole thing and they did not come out until the song ended and Ranma and Tina are deep in the garden and cannot be seen from the inside.
One really weird thing was the large group of women listening in to their conversation. As soon as the three turned to them they exited the bathroom en masse.
Fred in response shrugged his shoulders. "Actually, it's not my idea, Yun asked me to do all this. She said something about seeing it in her vision or something. I don't know why she wants me to have them put on a foreign song or any of her other instructions, but she asked me to anyway so I did it. She had very specific instructions for me too. She even gave me this Cyclone Rune to use to direct people towards where I wanted them and that CD I gave to the DJ." He held up his right hand to show the rune to Rico.
Rico raised an eyebrow at that, but then seemed to realize something and started giggling. Fred couldn't help but notice so he asked her why.
"Oh, it's because I think little sister is trying to hook up her big brother." Fred looked a little bewildered at this until he got the idea and also started laughing.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot, Yun CAN'T see into the future anything that involves Ranma can she?"
Rico grinned from ear to ear. "Nope, she just used you to set up a really romantic date for her big brother. I have to admit she's really good." The two of them chuckled/giggled some more. "You better watch it Master Fred, she might use you again when it's Chris' turn for her date."
Fred just shook his head in amusement. "At least she seems to be doing a very good job at this matchmaking thing. I doubt that even the best strategists in our world could have done what our little Yun had set up. She must have used her magic to see into the future somehow and yet in a way that did not involve seeing Ranma himself. (E) I wouldn't mind if she needed help with Chris' date as long as she tells me what she has planned. Anyway, forget about this! To the buffet!"
The two laughed and went back to eating. They would get the CD back later, food first!
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Meanwhile at the temple –
"YOU DIDN'T!!!!!!"
Yun smirked at the Mind's astonished expression as Ms. Hinako giggled.
"Y-y-you actually got every single thing planned!? From the music to getting them to the garden all the way to distracting Chris!?" Mind's left eye is twitching as she stared at the giggling teacher and the little girl with a smug expression. She's supposed to be the genius of this group and these two were able to pull off something THAT good!
Ms. Hinako got herself under control and leaned back on Yun's bed. "Yun called me a few days ago and asked me to help make her big brother's date a real success. At first we didn't know what to do, then when I introduced her to how I was able to teach Ranma the American language and she came up with the idea for a really romantic dance between her big brother and your big sister complete with serenade. We wanted everything perfect so we used Yun's future sight to plan everything. Even if she can't see anything that involves Ranma she can still see everybody else's future."
Yun nodded from the chair she is sitting in. On her lap is Ranma's (and now also Ranko's) broken katana that he had asked her to take care of for tonight. "Yup. Even if my vision really messes up the more my big brother is involved that doesn't mean I can't see totally anything at all. If I concentrate real hard I can see a few vague glimpses ever since we got here. From what I could gather from my visions Ms. Hinako and I planned everything. Since neither the two of us are going to the ball we had Fred do everything even if he didn't know why. I also gave him that gaijin CD so that my brother would serenade her. I even borrowed a Cyclone Rune from Piccolo for Fred to use. Right about now the dance should be over and the two of them are doing some serious lip lock or whatever."
From her vigil on the floor where she had fallen Mind tried to comprehend everything. These two's ability for strategies would put Leon Silverburg to shame! They were almost as good as her and Tina's older sister who could plan things out years ahead of time. A little piece of information bugged her though. She turned towards Ms. Hinako and asked her a question. "Wait. How did you know Ranma could dance? What if he didn't know how to? Your whole plan would have been a failure if he's a horrible dancer."
Hinako acquired Ranma's confident and infuriating smirk. "I asked him to dance with me. He hasn't questioned anything I've asked of him in a long time so I had nothing to fear. He's a WONDERFUL dancer! He just needed to remember a couple of things but after that he became an expert. And before you ask the answer is yes, Ranma DOES have a really good singing voice."
Yun also acquired the smirk. "Also why do you think I helped him shop around for that tux and helped him get ready? And how do you think Rico found his cologne? Guess who asked her to go shopping at that store."
Mind face-faulted. They got EVERY angle taken care of!
Yun and Hinako giggled again as Mind lifted her face from the floor. Together they said, "And we're going to do something even BETTER for Chris' date!"
At that Mind's brain overloaded and she fainted.
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Back at the ball-
Ranko and Chris even after exiting the restroom continued talking about what is lately their favorite subject, Ranma. Ranko is a giant fountain of information and Chris is bent on using that to her advantage. While talking about her brother she too memorizes everything for later use. The information she gleans from Ranma's memories could be useful someday. How they would be useful for her she does not know yet and she's not sure just WHY she's memorizing everything. It's not like she's into her brother right? Wouldn't that be incest? Yuck!
However, she can't get the feeling that they only SAID that they would be brother and sister. It's not really proven yet is it? It's hard enough wrestling with these feeling she's been having for her 'brother', it's even harder to hide it. Hell, it's really bad when the two of them sleep in the middle of the two beds. Thankfully everyone respects each other's privacy and no one enters anybody's room without the occupant's permission. She's going to explode if she doesn't resolve this soon. Kami-sama! She's falling in love with her own brother!
Ranma and Tina walked in just as everyone noticed that something is happening on the stage. The clown girl is trying to gather everyone's attention to her. "Okay folks, time for my final act for tonight! Trust me, this is going to be a real killer! I, Jestbomb, shall now make something appear that will knock your socks off!"
She started to chant something that no one could understand. When she finished a flash of light appeared on the stage making everyone shade their eyes. When the light faded away there on stage are about 30 men in dark suits holding out machine guns pointed at the crowd below them. In the middle of the stage next to Jestbomb is a man dressed in all black. He had on a long black trench coat covering his body and a wide-rimed black hat. Where his right arm should have been is a hook that people could only really see in pirate movies. His head is nothing more than a white skull with glowing red eyes.
He mock bowed to the frightened guests. "Hello ladies and gentlemen. My name is Stab, your host for the evening. Now hand over your money and jewels and we will let you live."
Mr. Gunro's temper flared. How DARE someone try to attack his hotel! "EVERYBODY GET THEM! FIRE AT WILL! KILL THEM!" Stab looked at him and his eyes glowed red. An energy blast came out of his eyes hitting Mr. Gunro on the chest and throwing him to the back wall.
The guards of the hotel opened fire on the men on the stage with the all- female group of officers giving them cover fire when needed. Two of the robbers fell to the gunfire as the others jumped down for cover and started returning fire. The guests of the party all ran to the exit doors screaming while trying to dodge bullets.
The guests were almost to the main exit door when the statue next to them came to life. The 'statue' Afterburn jumped in front of the running crowd and spat out a stream of fire at the terrified people. The people on fire ran screaming all over the place catching other people on fire as they ran in a blind panic. The fire system turned on spraying the room with water and saving their lives. The guests who were stupid enough to try to run past Afterburn were mercilessly thrown around the room.
The cops near him were about to open fire when the other statue started to move. Gunner's gun barrels lit up as it sent out a stream of bullets into the guards nearby. Luckily the women were alert enough to notice the movement and ducked behind anything they could find. However, most of them hid behind weak objects that could not protect them from the rain of bullets. However, thankfully they were only given disabling but not mortal wounds. However, the wounds prevented them from moving out of the way of the next barrage. Gunner had stopped to admire his handiwork, relishing in all the blood and the cries of pain and fear from the women and the three male officers. He's about to send out a second wave of bullets that would have surely killed all of them when he's stopped by Ryo's magnum. Ryo had just taken care of four of the robbers when he noticed the dire situation and moved to help. While not even injuring him the heavy firepower from the Magnum cause Gunner to jerk back from the impacts. Any of those able to opened fire on him hoping to at least injure him. But due to his heavy body armor he didn't even feel the bullets from the weaker guns the cops had with them and started to run after Ryo blasting away at him. Ryo ducked behind a stone pillar as Gunner walked over to him firing away. Luckily Gunner was ignoring the wounded even though they kept firing at him.
'Doesn't this guy ever run out of bullets?' Ryo thought to himself as he reloaded his gun. He couldn't even shoot back at the walking tank because of all of the firepower the gatling guns are unleashing on him. His enemy was about to jump to the side and catch Ryo without any protection when one of the stone vases on the second floor fell on Gunner knocking him down. Ryo looked up at his savior and saw Ranko nodding down at him.
"Thanks for the help," Ryo called out to her.
"Thank me later! Handle those gunmen first!" Ranko shouted as Ryo returned to the firefight. Ranko and a few officers and hotel staff moved to protect the wounded cops in case anyone though to take advantage of their disability.
On the second floor Rally is giving the cops a hand with the gunmen who are grabbing any valuable items they could find while raining down bullets at anything that moved. Dr. Jones is giving her cover fire with his old colt revolver that he has used for years. Minnie threw a small bomb to a group of gunmen sending them blasting into the air. Becky is hiding under a table waiting for the firefight to be finished. After getting rid of the ones in the room three more gunmen ran up to the second floor and started to open fire on them as the females and old man dove for cover. The fighters were about to return fire when Chris appeared behind their attackers and with three quick slashes the three gunmen fell to the floor.
"You guys okay?" Chris asked them scanning for any more threats.
Jones nodded next to the overturned table he had used as a shield. "Yeah. What about the others in your party?"
"They're handling the gunmen, but the four freaks are nothing but trouble." Then she heard a noise of something small landing next to her. Looking down it's a small red ball. Her eyes widened as she figured out what it probably is but is too late as it blew and sent her flying across the room. As she got up off the floor she landed on she saw its thrower, Jestbomb, laughing at her. Thankfully the blast wasn't very strong or she would have been dead by now. She does have a few burns that made moving around painful. However, that pain is nothing if she let herself be killed by this psycho.
Jestbomb tossed another small red ball up and down her hand as she laughed like a demented clown, which she is. "Hi! I want to play with you now!" Jestbomb threw the bomb at Chris who knocked it away with her sword. It flew threw the air and blew up close to its original owner. Jestbomb didn't even flinch from the blast. She did however pull on the lower half of her staff revealing a sword. She rushed the knight still laughing like a demented clown.
The two began to fight each other, swinging their blades with murderous intent as they danced about in the middle of a firefight. It's a miracle none of the bullets hit either fighter as they tried to cut each other's head off. With one kick Jestbomb sent Chris flying through the glass panel onto the outside pool area on the second floor. Looking up where she had fallen from Chris saw more bombs flying at her. She handspring backwards then jumped into the air as the bombs blew up. The blast, while not injuring her, sent her into the pool. Jestbomb started to laugh again as she jump through the broken glass to fight Chris again.
Afterburn had grabbed one of the female cops by her neck and squeezed, almost crushing her neck. The heat coming off of him is burning her neck like a hot stove. Tina who's nearby taking care of four of the gunmen saw this. She grabbed a fire extinguisher off the wall and let out a hissing plume of snowy spray blasting Afterburn back and making him let go of the girl. When the extinguisher ran dry she threw it at him hitting him on his head, and then before he could regain his balance she kicked him through a doorway. After making sure the injured girl will live Tina felt heat pouring out of the gaping doorway. She saw a stream of fire rushing at her and the injured girl next to her. She pushed the girl out of the way and jumped back as the stream of fire blasted through the door and a red-hot Afterburn came running out. Tina could feel the intense heat coming off of him and knew that she couldn't let him touch her or she'll be burned. Even with the fire system spraying water down the water hitting him was turning into stream. Even the rug that he's standing on began to dry and fizzle with the heat.
'Arrgg! I can't let him near me and when I kicked him it felt like I put my foot in a furnace!" She mentally kicked herself for not wearing anything other than the dress she's wearing. It's nice for a date, but she can't fight in it. Already the high heels she had used to kick the monstrosity with were now unusable.
Afterburn seeing her hesitating is about to let out another blast of fire when a mallet struck him from the back. The force of the hit sent him crashing into one of the display cases. Kaori had come to give Ranma's date a hand.
Tina nodded her thanks to Ryo's partner. "Thanks for the help. Got another mallet on you?"
"Sure! Catch!" Kaori said throwing her a large metal hammer.
"Thanks! Don't let that guy touch you or you'll be fried," Tina warned her as Afterburn got back up to face them.
Ranma had just taken care of ten of the gunmen with quick strikes to pressure points before looking around. The gunmen had already smashed up the display cases and took the valuables in them. The cops couldn't get close to the ones with the valuables thanks to the heavy covering fire given to them by the others. Even though they are outnumbered the robbers have much better guns than the hotel guards and the cops. Fred and Rico are helping the remaining guests to get out of the firefight. Fred is using his shield to block the incoming bullets and Rico is showing the panicking people the way out. Ranma is about to help them when the man seemingly in charge stepped in front of him.
"Ranma, my boss would like a word with you."
"Sorry, but I don't go back to other people's homes on the first date." Sometimes old ways works best as he reverted to taunting his opponents. Stab didn't even flinch.
The skull-head seemed to sigh as he pulled out three throwing knives. "Everyone always wants to do it the hard way." He threw them at the speed of a bullet, much, much faster than normal people can throw them. Normally Ranma wouldn't be able to see something going at the speed of a bullet and this would be his last night, but he has had a few changes lately that are a deciding factor in this. One is that Ranma's awareness has increased a lot since he had left Nerima. Fighting monsters in the other world forces you to train your awareness to the max as they had a tendency to appear out of nowhere and try to kill you on the first swipe. He may be tough, but he didn't want to find out how he would feel if one of those monsters had hit him so he increased his reflexes to avoid their murderous attacks. Those things are a LOT faster than they look and are even faster than the NWC except for Happosai and Cologne at their best. Therefore his danger sense pegged as soon as the knives headed his way. Another change is the affixing of the Gale Rune onto his hand and then later on the Chaos Rune on his forehead. Normally the Gale Rune only increases your speed by 1.5X, but the Chaos Rune changes that. No other rune that he knows feeds power to the user's other runes except for his True Rune. While the Gale Rune does increase the speed of the body it wouldn't have been enough to dodge the knives.
If he only had one of these improvements it wouldn't have been enough to save him. After all very few people are lucky enough to dodge something going at the speed of a bullet. However, he does have both improvements and he will live another day. As soon as the knives left Stab's hand his danger sense pegged and his body automatically summoned a small amount of power from the Chaos Rune and fed it into the Gale Rune. It allowed him to speed up his Katchuu Tenchin Amaguriken to catch the knives and throw them right back. Using his hook Stab blocked all three incoming blades. Stab nodded as if confirming something. "So you are as powerful as my master said you are."
Ranma put on his arrogant smirk. "What can I say, I'm just that good." Both fighters ran at each other to initiate close quarters combat.
Ranma caught the arm swing of Stab's hook arm and sent an uppercut into his jaw. Stab recovered and twisted around once before using his eye beams at him. Ranma sidestepped to avoid the deadly beams. Ranma knew that he couldn't use any of his better attacks or his magic or even the blaster Mind had given him or it'll draw too much attention to himself or hit an innocent. His sword is also back at home with Yun. He had to contend with using straight martial arts to beat this guy. Stab pointed his hook at Ranma, and then it flew out like a harpoon gun at him with a cable line attached at the end. Ranma dodged the hook and landed a punch at Stab's gut sending him flying back. His hook cable rewinded itself as Stab flew through the air. Stab got back up from his meeting with the floor only to be shot at by a pair of female officers who had seen Ranma fighting the leader and moved to help out. The bullets hit him three times in his chest making him stagger back. Then the window by him exploded as Jestbomb flew threw it. Her clothes are in tatters as she had been unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of an attack by Chris' Phoenix Rune. The two cops were engaged by a few robbers and were kept busy.
Jestbomb shakily stood up and addressed the leader. "Stab, we should go now. We got the stuff already and our side is taking too much damage. More cops are coming this way too."
Stab surveyed the damage to his team while still keeping an eye on Ranma and nodded. "Fine. Everyone, it's time to go!" Stab shouted as he and Jestbomb ran over to where the remaining gunmen were with the valuables.
Chris ran threw the broken glass panel slightly winded. "Are you okay Ranma?"
Ranma did a quick check on her to check for serious injuries and found none. She had used some Medicine B to heal her burns and other injuries after sending Jestbomb through the window. Then the two ran after their fleeing opponents. "Yeah, how are you holding up?"
Chris ran beside him as she tried to recover from using the Phoenix Rune. "She was a hand full, but I could take her."
"Gunner, Afterburn get over here!" Jestbomb shouted. Afterburn broke away from his fight with Tina and Kaori and ran over to his teammates. Gunner got up from under the broken stone vase and also ran away. On the way he saw the one who pushed that vase to fall on him and opened fire.
Ranko had just smashed a chair over a gunman when she saw Ranma nearby and called out to him. "Ranma, over here!" Then she was knocked to the ground as Ryo tackled her to the ground as a stream of bullets went by where she was a second ago. Ryo fired two shots at Gunner's arm gun making him stop firing at them. Ranko thank him, but he replied they're even now. They got back up to see Gunner jump onto the stage with what is left of the hit team.
Stab gave everyone a bow. "This was fun, but time for us to leave." Ranma and Chris were about to engage them when Stab's left arm shot into the air letting loose a knife faster than a bullet. Ranma followed where the knife is going and his heart stopped when it hit its target.
All Ranko felt is a sharp pain as the knife went deep into the left side of her stomach. Then darkness overtook her.
"RANKO!" Ranma screamed seeing his sister fall to the ground, with a knife imbedded in her stomach. He ran over to her ignoring everything as Chris, Fight and the rest of the defending group formed a defensive line between the siblings and the invading robbers. It wasn't necessary as Stab and his team disappeared in a flash of light. Ranma quickly kneeled down next to Ranko. He took off his jacket then used his Katchuu Tenshin Amaguriken to take out the knife and put the jacket over the wound to try to stop the flow of blood. He then held her in his arms while holding down the jacket as he shouted out to the others to get help ASAP, twin rivers of tears making their way down his cheeks.
Unknown to him he is being watched by two pairs of eyes. Tsubasa and Sasuke had sneaked into the party as they were told to do. They had seen everything and its conclusion. They couldn't believe what they had just seen. The man they are looking at is definitely Ranma, but he has changed a lot since they last saw him. He has matured greatly. He has new friends and had somehow split himself up with his cursed form. They were not able to see what happened in the garden as they were distracted for a second and the next he and his date had disappeared. They didn't bother checking the garden as there was a sign that said to keep out so they skipped it. Then they had seen his battle with Stab. His skill, even with just straight martial arts has increased greatly.
Watching Ranma cry as he held the unmoving form of Ranko they both knew that they had to get out of there before they were spotted by the cops and paramedics that are making their way up the building. They had to tell the others what had happened here.
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At a downtown hospital-
Dr. Tofu was about to sign out for the day. He's been working at the hospital to help pay the bills and Kasumi is taking care of their own clinic since she can still get around for a few more months. He's about to exit the hospital when the front doors opened and he saw someone that he thought he would never see again.
His eyes almost came out of his sockets as he stared at the young man coming towards him. "Ranma!?! You're here!" Movement and the sight of emergency paramedics wheeling in a gurney next to the former Saotome forced his eyes to look at who is on the bed. His jaw dropped as he saw Ranma's cursed form with what looks like a serious wound on her side. There were others being wheeled in but it didn't matter to him.
Upon the shout Ranma looked up and saw a man he hadn't expected to be here. "Doc!?! You're working here!?!"
The sight of the seriously wounded Ranko made Tofu turn serious. "Ranma, what happened?" He went to one side of the gurney and helped wheel it towards one of the operating rooms.
Ranma shook his head to get rid of the shock and went back to helping with the gurney as well, ignoring the protest of the paramedics. "Never mind. Can you oversee Ranko, I'll explain on the way." He knew that the medicine he's carrying around from the other world would help Ranko but couldn't use it with all the people around. When they loaded Ranko on the ambulance and he hopped in he had stopped crying. Acting like Soun wouldn't help any and he racked his brain for any way to help Ranko. He had left his katana back with Yun so no Healing Blade and even if he had it too many witnesses. No use revealing everything as after healing Ranko reporters, scientists and all sorts of other people would hunt them down. That's when he remembered the medicines from the other world. He still has a few he keeps with him using Hidden Weapons Technique. However, he can't use that in front of witnesses or else again everyone would hunt him down for the 'miracle medicine'. He needs privacy so he can apply it on her. Tina and the others are keeping back the reporters who had followed the line of ambulances to the hospital.
"I'll do what I can." Tofu told a nurse that he would be overseeing the treatment on Ranko and to keep everyone out. He told the paramedics to help with the others as he and Ranma wheeled Ranko into the empty operating room. Ranma closed the doors behind them and had Tina and the others to guard the doors and not let anyone in.
Tofu spoke to Ranma as he got the equipment ready. "How did you and your cursed form split apart?"
"I'll tell you later doc," Ranma said pulling out a small bottle of Mega Medicine A and pouring the liquid on Ranko's wound. The wound closed up almost instantly much to Tofu's astonishment leaving only some blood behind. Ranma held up Ranko's head and poured the rest into her mouth. Her face and body almost instantly regained its color. Even though she did not wake up both men could tell she's alive from the rise and fall of her chest. Ranma heaved a huge sigh of relief then hugged her to himself and started softly crying again, muttering, "Please don't scare me like that. Please don't leave me. I don't know what I would do if I lost any of you, " over and over again. His body shuddering as he tried to cope with almost loosing her.
Tofu's eyes hadn't left the bottle Ranma had dropped on a tray carelessly. "Ranma, what is that?" Tofu asked wondering what kind of medicine would heal a wound that serious in seconds. The lives that could be saved with that medicine would be in the millions!
It wasn't until Tofu had asked him the same question three times and put a hand on his shoulder that Ranma lifted his face to look at the doctor. The doctor felt his heart go out to the young man. His face is haggard from crying. Ranma sniffed a few times before saying in a shaky voice, "Can you dress her so it looks like you stitched her up doc. I don't want other people to know about this stuff."
Tofu nodded. If knowledge of that miracle medicine were to get out it would be pure pandemonium. "Sure, I can do that. Care to fill me in while I'm doing it?"
Ranma very hesitantly let go of Ranko as the doctor started putting bandages and other things on her. He got himself under control and stopped crying. However, he wouldn't let go of Ranko's right hand. "Sure doc, I'll tell you all I know."
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Meanwhile-
In one of the hospital laboratories a doctor had just found something interesting about Ranma Wild and his sister. He was in the ambulance with Ranma and Ranko while they were being driven to the hospital. He told Ranma that his sister would need some blood since she was loosing too much. Ranma said he would give her his since they are twins. The doctor took a sample to check if there are any diseases in Ranma's blood and rushed it here as soon as the doors opened. After checking it quickly he gave a nurse the go ahead to do the blood transfusion. Afterwards since he's not needed at the moment (there are a lot of doctors and each patient were already being taken care off) he got a little curious. He is one of the many people curious about the new occupants of the old temple. The hospital had recently been upgraded and now had equipment to check the DNA of people with very quick and precise results. He wanted to see what made the two siblings tick and so put their blood (he had some of Ranko's on a handkerchief he used to help stop the flow of blood) through the machine. As he looked through the results something didn't seem right. While their genes are excellent explaining their good looks and physique something didn't make sense. He put it through the machine again and on a whim had it check for similarities between the two.
The results are far from what he expected. They aren't siblings at all! While they might look almost the same their DNA cannot lie and the machine is brand new and checks out for errors. Thankfully they still have the same blood type so there would be no complications with the transfusion. However, he can't even say that the two of them are distant cousins or anything. It's been known to happen that people look alike but aren't related. It's just a matter of chance that they look similar but have no blood relationship to speak of. He put it through two more times just in case and came out with the same results. What's going on here? He would have to speak to those two when he has the chance.
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Next time- Ranma finally meets his great-grandfather and learns of his family history. Also it looks like the wreaking crew has arrived at Shibuya and have their sights on Ranma. Also looks like Landis wants his rune back from Sayo. And it looks like they're going to have a duel a duel monster game to see who's going to get it! Next time in 'Meet you're grandfather Ranma!'
Prereader's notes:
(A) Coffee is not good for you as it contains chemicals that can stun your growth so of course Ranma and Ranko are not going to take any.
(B) I know it's not something you would normally hear from those with younger siblings, but then again Ranma never had a little sister before so give him some slack. He loves his sister, deal with it!
(C) Kasumi Tendo's Social Graces Training 101. Lesson number 1: What to do when girls are crying. Ranma's hardest lesson he's ever had to learn. Took Kasumi many fake crying sessions and lessons on what to do to keep Ranma from panicking when a girl starts crying. Didn't even learn it until close to when he left Nerima.
(D) Some of you might recognize that the format of this is the same as the songs in the fic Mirror's Multiplied. I hope that Mr. Skysaber doesn't mind me using his format, but it's the best way of introducing a song into the fic that I can think of. I would have emailed him to ask, but his email isn't on his profile.
(E) Remember when Yun admitted she saw Kodachi coming? She might not be able to see her brother's future, but she can see everyone else's even though the more Ranma's involved the harder it is to see.
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