Devils Child

by chikane-chan

The devil is sick of Ranma evading him, and he creates a clone of Ranma's girl side to frame him. But things don't go as he planned as the girl breaks away from his control. Ranma gains a sister from the after math, that sticks by his side and there for him and his mother. As well as the usual cast here and there and some other oc's and appearances from some lesser characters.

37. Chapter 37

Chapter 37: A sudden journey

As he trudged back to the Tendo's, he slumped his shoulders down as he entered the house and was greeted as usual by Kasumi. Soun looked up from his newspaper that he was reading at the ground floor table. " Welcome back Saotome, why the long face?" Genma sighed as he plopped down into a sitting pose on the ground at the table, as he helped himself to some rice crackers on it, as he shoveled them into his mouth. " I was trying to make up with Ranka.." Soun smiled at his friend, putting down his newspaper for a few minutes. " Saotome, so you've accepted she is your daughter." Kasumi put a hand to her mouth, looking all excited. " Oh Mr. Saotome, that's wonderful." Genma sighed a bit more heavily as he hung his head. " "She" however won't accept me as her father, unless I.. subject myself to her cruel request." He said as he teared up.

Soun had no pity for his friend regarding what he had tried to pull with Ranka before. " Well Saotome you should be grateful she's willing at all. Perhaps her request is cruel, but was not you're actions towards her cruel as well. You did after all trick her, among other things. Come now her request cannot be as cruel as what you did to her."

Genma gave his friend an annoyed look. " Wanna bet?" Kasumi fussed. "Oh my.. what is it that's so cruel that Ranka is asking of you, Mr. Saotome?" Genma teared up again. "Oh Kasumi dear it's horrible, she wants me to be thrown into a pit of starving cats, wrapped with fish sausage.." Nabiki had come downstairs as she took a sit at the table as well, munching on a rice cracker as she listened. " Isn't that what you did to Ranma? So, it's pay back she wants, huh." She said with a smirk. Akane had come downstairs as well, taking a seat, as she heard them talking, as she held P-chan in her arms. " Well Mr. Saotome, you know what you have to do." Nabiki laughed. " Karma at it's finest." P-chan nodded in agreement. Genma had tears streaming from his face. Soun cleared his throat. " Now girls, that's enough of that."

Genma looked down at the ground as he tightened his fists. " Ranma never got angry with me, he knew the risks to achieve greatness." All the Tendo sister's gave him dull looks. Nabiki finished her rice cracker. " Well news flash, Ranka is all girl, and when we girls get mad, you guys are gonna hear about it. Though some how since she is Ranma's other side, maybe he holds back, while she doesn't. It also seems to be her core reason for hating you so badly, so if I were you, I'd make a date with that pit." Akane couldn't help but agree, but didn't get as vocal as Nabiki did about it. Kasumi nodded in agreement, which made Genma face fault flat with his face into the ground.

Happosai was also sitting at the table, helping himself to the snacks. " You weep what you sow, Genma. You know what you have to do, otherwise you'll be forever hated by your daughter."

Genma grumbled at hearing that. " So you say master, but didn't you pull something similar, where you had separated Ranma's ying and yang." Happosai waved his hand off at him. " That's a lot different and I meant to do it, but Ranka is even better." He said as he started licking his lips about for a second before looking a bit more serious. " And her and Ranma are much more in sync than the evil girl side of Ranma."

Nabiki rolled her eyes at the two elders. "Well duh, unlike that soul sucker version of Ranma's girl side, who was more a demon and interested in being in charge at her other sides expense, Ranka is a much more real and not locked on one thing, she genuinely cares about Ranma and they work together, without one or the other sucking energy, etc" Genma slapped his hands down on the table looking frustrated. " Only she IS locked on one thing, taking revenge out of ME!" Nabiki set her drink down that she was sipping. " That's your own fault, if I was her, I'd want the same thing and it's definitely fair since you tried to get rid of her, not to mention caused her a lot more trauma."

Akane held onto an anxious P-chan as he was trying to squirm out of her grasp and get his hoofs into Genma. " You really did Mr. Saotome.. like how you had angered Ukyou and she came for revenge against you and Ranma.." Nabiki smirked as she snapped her fingers. " That's exactly what this is like, like I said we girls don't let things slide."

Elsewhere Kodachi laid in wait as her targets neared closer, while she pressed herself up against the brick wall corner, as she readied her mallet to attack. As they got close enough, she slammed her giant mallet down at them, only for them to jump out of the way of the impact at the last second.

Ranma-chan glowered at seeing their attacker was Kodachi. " Hey! What's the big idea?! Kodachi sneered at the two twin red headed girls that she couldn't stand. " You two harlots are MY problem!" Ranka had an irked look on her face. " Don't you only attack fellow gymnastics competition?" Kodachi hahed to herself. "Usually yes, but you two are an exception, thanks to my dear brother.." She snapped her ribbon stick in half, as she held it. " Every day since he found out about you evil twins, ice skating competition, he's been ranting and raving non stop, driving me crazy!" Ranka had a dull look on her face. " You mean " crazier." That in turn made Ranma snort.

Kodachi glared daggers at her. " Evil wench, how dare thee mock my greatness! Now stand still and let me take you both out, so my idiot brother will stop talking about you two wenches!" Ranma-chan hehed with an angry smile for a second before pointing at her with a serious look. " Kodachi, didn't you hear what I said to you before, I'm done with you!" Kodachi laughed at her response. " You? I don't recall." Ranma-chan bristled at her. " Your darling Ranma, I told you I was done with YOU!" Kodachi hmpfed as she took out another ribbon stick, as she started twirling the ribbon around. " How dare YOU, try to speak for MY Ranma darling, wench!" Ranma-chan jumped away from the ribbon strike. " Cmon! I don't have time for this!" Ranka nodded in agreement with her arms crossed. " We really don't, we're expected to get back home at a certain time." Kodachi hahed at the other red head. "Like I care." Ranka gave her a serious look back. " Oh yeah, well you will care if my mom finds out YOU'RE the reason, we didn't get back in a timely manner. Or if she finds out and tells your aunt Kalu, because whether we like it or not, your aunt is our mom's best friend." This made Kodachi sweat some as she thought about things, but only for a brief moment, before she launched feverish ribbon attacks at the twins.

Not too far off Nodoka was returning from her walk to the store, until she heard some passer by's who had seen the fighting, commenting about the crazy girl, going after the two red head girls. She furrowed her brow as she took off in a blur, as she was able to figure out they weren't too far off as reappeared like a flash of lightning in front of Kodachi. She swiftly and quickly brought out her katana as she sliced the air in front of her, which sliced off her bow tie part from her school uniform, making her stagger back at being blind sided.

Nodoka stood up from her attack as she sheathed her katana, glaring daggers at the girl. " Kodachi Kuno, I see you haven't heeded your aunts words.." Her tone was dark and serious. " Attack my children again and I will not spare you." Ranka had an "I told you so" look on her face. Ranma-chan while her mothers gaze was locked on Kodachi, stuck her tongue out at Kodachi for a quick second. Kodachi glowered but also retreated from fear from the woman who stood in front of her. Nodoka sighed as she picked up her shopping bag from the ground, that she had set down to deal with Kodachi. "I won't fault either of you, since it seems like Kodachi started with you two." Ranma-chan nodded. " That's right it's all her fault, trying to attack us like that, we were trying to get back." Ranka nodded as well. " And I told her we needed to get back." Nodoka shook her head. " That girl.. she's too much. I believe you two, now let's get back."

Once they got back and the shopping was put away, Nodoka made a phone call to Kalu, as she let her know how close to being maimed by her blade her niece was getting. Sitting on the couch, Ranma-chan was enjoying a snack, as well as Ranka was, as they listened some to their mother getting Kodachi in more trouble. Ranma-chan hehed with her arms behind her head, laying back. " You know for how you say you're not proper, you sure sounded it back there. I know I wouldn't be." Ranka got a bit flustered at having it pointed out. " Some of it sticks.." Ranma-chan couldn't argue with that. " Well that stupid match is tomorrow night, so we should get extra rest." Ranka nodded in agreement. "Unfortunately.." Ranma-chan balled her fist as she also pumped it. " We're not gonna loose, because we're going to kick his ass!" Ranka sighed some. " Yeah but he doesn't seem to want to give up, so what's to stop him from constantly challenging us.." Ranma-chan hehed. " That's fine, he can challenge me as many times as he wants to, I don't mind beating him down over and over again."

The rest of the evening went by with the usual and then it was time for bed, as the two siblings using their telepathic link technique, went over their plan of attack for tomorrow's match, before going to bed.

The school day went by with lots of fuss about the ice skating match, with most of the school ready to cheer them on. More fussing went on after school, with lots of students saying they would definitely be there. Kuno tried to grab Ranka from behind in an embrace. "Dearest goddess Ranka, I will make sure to cheer you and your lovely twin, my pigtailed goddess on.." He didn't get to finish, or to touch her as she back handed a punch, to under his jaw, knocking him over. Ranma grumbled at the perverted kendoist, only to realize Hiroshi had taken his place.

Hiroshi held Ranka's hands in his with big dazzling eyes. " I'll be sure to be cheering you on as well." Ranma curled his lip as he gave his friend a firm whack to his head, making him let go. Daisuke pulled Hiroshi away, seeing how angry Ranma was getting, as he smiled at Ranka. " Yeah, we'll definitely be there to cheer you guys on." Thrista shoved them aside as she took over. " I'll definitely be there to cheer you on." Sayuri piped in as well. " Me too!" Ukyou hehed. " You've got tons of support, basically. I would too but I have a business to run, but I wish you guys the best of luck in winning." Akane had a serious look on her face. " Of course I'll be there." Once they made it past some more classmates, they made their way back home.

After getting back they were enjoying a snack. Nodoka set her cup of tea down after having some. " Now, I hope you'll try not to be too vi.." She caught herself as she turned it around and re phrased it, not wanting to set off Ranka. " rough." Ranka sighed, looking a bit down. "So, I should just roll over, is that what you're saying?" Ranma shook his head as he finished off his food. " We ain't doing that, so yeah mom we're going to be rough." Ranka smiled a tad at her mother. " But I'll try not to be too rough with the klepto." Nodoka gave a discontent look. " Ranka that's not a very nice thing to say." Ranka furrowed her brows at her. " She stole my damn boots!" Ranma had a dull look on his face. "It's true though, she steals everything." Nodoka sweat dropped knowing they weren't wrong but still tried to set a better example. " Still, it's not nice to call people rude names like that." Ranma couldn't help but rolls his eyes as he excused himself to go get ready.

The time flew by and soon it was time for the big match as Ranka and Ranma-chan stood by at their side of the rink's entrance, watching Mikado and Azusa make their flashy entrance into the rink, followed by the announcer gushing on about them. Ranma-chan was wearing the same ice skating outfit she had in the past, with Ranka wearing the same light blue, skirted one she had before. Ranma-chan gave her twin a pat to her shoulder with a smile. " Don't let what mom said before, get to you, or get in the way of the match. Beat the crap out of that bratty klepto." Ranka smiled quickly a tad, before they were announced and skated out onto the rink, naturally getting boo's from the Asuza fans, as well as the Mikado ones on their side, but on their side, most of their school was there as promised, as they cheered for them.

Nodoka was sitting in the crowd with Akane as she gave a little wave. Kuno was there as well, waving his hands about frantically as he carried on. Nabiki had made sure not to miss this opportunity as she was already recording the start of the match, though she pawned that job off on Kuno's servant Sasuke. Ranma-chan wasn't in the mood to gloat as she was in a more serious mode, as her and Ranka skated over to their competitors. Mikado's eyes lit up at seeing the lovely red head twins. " I'll go easy on you two, if you agree to surrender." Ranma-chan glared daggers at him. " No way in hell, you're going down!" Azusa was glaring daggers at Ranka, while she hid before Mikado. " You stole my Anabelle!" Ranka glared back with a dead serious look, before they skated a ways from them, as the announcer counted down to the start of the match.

Mikado thought about his big move, and how with the current circumstance before him, but decided even though he wasn't using it for it's core motivation, the end result would be the same. Though he lamented on having to use it on the twin sisters, but he would have to be harsh on them, if he wanted to win. He gave the signal to Azusa with a quick nod, as she skated off, while he tried to make his sly move on Ranka.

Akane tightened her fists from the crowd at having to see it again, having gone through it herself and having to watch that pervert try it again on Ranka. Ranma-chan growled at seeing the perverted kisser, trying to go in for a sneak kiss once again, as she went to skate over, when out of nowhere Azusa stuck her leg out, making her trip and fall on the ice. Ranka in the mean time, intercepted his sneak attack as she swung her leg up at him, only for him to make his own move, as he swept his one leg under her other one, knocking her off her feet as well, as he and Azusa proceeded to grab onto their legs and lift them up into the air, for the "Goodbye World." technique.

Akane grimaced as she watched, knowing the technique all too well, but also confused. " That's for couples though.." Ryouga had managed to get away from Akane as P-chan and turn back, as he finally managed to find the school, as he was sitting not too far from Akane and Nodoka, as he watched with a stern look on his face. Azusa started spinning around as did Mikado, as he went through his usual speech. " If you don't want to get too badly hurt, you'll let go of each other's hands." He said mockingly.

Ranma-chan hehed as she knew how it went, having gone through it before and her and Ranka were on the same page as they used the momentum from the spinning for awhile, before they let go of each others hands. Mikado watched in awe as Ranka flipped up higher in the air to the ceiling using the metal rafters like a circus acrobat, as she hooked her legs over one of the metal bars, hanging upsides down, doing so in the blink of an eye. She hung upside down with her arms hanging, out stretched as she caught Ranma-chan by her hands, then swinging them both back and forth with enough momentum as Ranma-chan let go of her sisters hands, hurling down with her knee, as she smashed both her knee's down into Mikado's face, knocking him down onto the ice.

Azusa had a surprised look on her face. Ranka then swung herself upwards, so she hung down off the bar with her hands, swinging back and forth some, before she flipped in the air and landed back down on the ice, gracefully enough. She staggered a bit as she slipped some, before regained her composure. The side of Furikan students were cheering loudly at the red head twins performance. Ranka skated over to where Ranma-chan was, as she helped her up, from off of Mikado's face.

Azusa skated over to where her downed partner was, as she kneeled down by his side, before she slapped his face around. " Mickey, does it hurt?" That wasn't enough to wake him, which prompted the medic's to come out and retrieve him. The announcer announcing it was just Azusa and the twins now. Ranma-chan was a bit annoyed as seeing Mikado down and out already. " Aww man, stupid jerk I thought he'd be able to bounce back, I had a lot more planned for him." She then focused her attention on Azusa. " Why don't you surrender, or do you want to get hurt again?" Azusa pouted some. " Don't hurt poor lil Azusa.." Ranka retorted back with an irked look. " Then don't steal people's things!" Azusa had big eyes as she sniffled. " I'm scared.." Suddenly a random guy from her fan club, appeared on the ice wearing skates. " Azusa.. let me be your sub partner!" Azusa nodded and smiled as she accepted her sub.

Ranma-chan hehed at the guy. " Well I guess I will get to use a move or two." She started to spin herself about with her skates, gaining some speed as she twirled around more. With all the practice and planning that her and Ranka put in, words weren't needed as she could tell which move it was, as skated over and grabbed her twins outstretched hand, as she swung her around, while she was still spinning, swinging her off into a startled Azusa and her sub partner, like they were bowling pins and Ranma was the bowling ball as she spun into them, knocking them off into the air and across the rink. Ranma-chan slowed down as she stopped spinning. "Right back at ya!" She shook her head about some to make the dizzy feeling go away.

After the count down from the announcer hit and it was announced that Furikan High had won the match again. Ranma-chan was gloating and taking in the cheering. Azusa snapped out from her ko ed status, as she rubbed at her butt with a poutie face. "You're mean!" Ranka on the other hand had an angry look on her face, with her arms crossed as she addressed Azusa. " Well then you'd better check yourself, for your klepto mania. Also, yeah we're mean, because we don't want to be your perverted partners prizes, okay. By the way, if you don't want to see "the mean girls" anymore, tell Mikado not to challenge either of us anymore, and also.. don't steal our stuff!" Azusa pouted all wide eyed, as she watched the mean red head twins skate off the rink.

Ranka wrinkled up her nose at seeing Genma waiting. Ranma-chan shrugged her shoulders at him while she sat on the bench, taking off her ice skates. Ranka had her arms crossed with an annoyed look. " What do YOU want?" Genma rubbed at the back of his head with a nervous smile. " I've given your request some thought.. and I'll do it, if that's what it takes for you to forgive me Ranka." Ranka let him go on, while she was taking off her own skates and changing into regular shoes to go to the back room to change. " Alright then it's a date, tomorrow at the nearest vacant lot, after noon." She then took her leave as she went off to the back room area.

Ranma-chan quirked an eyebrow at him, before she went off to the back room area as well.

After getting changed back into their casual outfits and outside, they were swarmed by a lot of the students from their school. Thrista had big eyes as she resisted the urge to hug Ranma-chan, all excited to see her. " Hey Ranko, it's good to see you again." Ranma-chan scratched at her head for a second, before she recalled about when she had been attending Ranka's all girl school temporarily and met Thrista there, getting a bit nervous as she smiled some. " Haha yeah." Thrista looked around some. " Hey, where's your brother? Kinda rude to miss out on his sisters big match." Ranma-chan sweated more as she laughed. Ranka didn't react, as she had a blank look on her face. " He's busy, nothing rude about it, but YOU are being rude." Her expression started to change to an annoyed one, making Thrista drop it. She waved her hands about, as she bowed her head a few times. " I'm sorry, forgive me for being rude Ranka."

Kuno was trying to get closer, but too many other students were blocking his way and his view of his twin goddesses. Nabiki got his attention as she said his name, as she held up some photo's she had taken during the match with her camera. " Hey Kuno baby, wanna see?" Kuno dropped his motive as he was swayed by the photo's. She then presented the video she had taken, all of which drew attention, which she welcomed.

Ryouga had tried to follow the group of students from Furikan but ended up getting off track and unfornuately walked under a window, where someone dumped out some water, changing him into P-chan, as he still tried his best to find Ranka. He had wanted to congratulate her, mainly her, but would also have to do so for Ranma. Akane spotted P-chan wandering as she scooped him up into her arms. " Oh P-chan there you are, you really need to stop running off. Hey, I bet you want to congratulate them too huh." She hugged him in her arms as she got over to see Ranma and Ranka. " Hey you two, I knew you'd win, so did P-chan." Ranma-chan had a taunting looking smirk on her face as she poked P-chan on his snout. " That" sure was a long journey, huh." Ranka quirked an eyebrow at P-chan, which got him flustered, as he hid his face in Akane's chest. Akane wrinkled up her nose at Ranma. " Stop teasing him already, or I'm going to get mad." Nodoka who had been sitting next to the near by fountain, got up and went over and put and end to anything further. "Now now."

Sayuri mean while took her chance as she addressed Ranka. " Ranka, you we're so awesome, and so was your sister." She got a bit flustered as she continued on. " You skate so well, do you think.. maybe, you could teach me?" Ranka blinked some and she hahed. " Not at all, it was just a week of practice. I guess I could.." She really couldn't say no, seeing how big and bright her eyes had gotten. Akane butted in at hearing that. "Sayuri, you know how to skate, or why would you have come skating with everyone before?" Sayuri got a little annoyed at Akane's interference. "Well just the basics, not anything like Ranka was doing out there."

After awhile Nodoka broke up the fans, as she let them know they were leaving as it was getting late. While they were walking back, she decided they should eat out as it had gotten later and also in celebration of their victory, letting them choose where to eat. They both agreed on going to Ukyou's. Nodoka smiled as they walked to their destination. " Ranka, I'm proud of you for not being rough with that girl." Ranka had a dull look on her face. " You mean " violent".. If I don't have to be, then I'm not." Nodoka clasped her hands together. " Very good."

Ukyou looked up as she heard the door to her restaurant open up and she smiled brightly at seeing the Saotomes enter. They took seats at the front. Ranma-chan after greeting her, rattled off what she wanted. Ukyou smiled back as they all exchanged greetings. " So I'm guessing you two won." Ranma-chan had a big smug smirk on her face. Ranka smiled a bit. " Sure did." Ukyou smiled back at them. " I knew you two would." They chatted while Ukyou cooked up their orders. After everyone was done, Nodoka fussed back and forth with Ukyou about letting her pay for the meal, which she finally got her to accept and said their good bye's after.

Once back at the house, everyone had their bath time, before turning in for the night. While Ranma liked having his own room, he was more used to sleeping in the same room as someone else, as well as how he had gotten used to sharing a room with his sister. It one of the nights he decided to stay in his girl form and stay over with Ranka in their old room. Ranma-chan was looking through a manga, laying back on her bed. " So, Ryouga went to go see Akane, I had a feeling." Ranka was on her own bed, looking through a magazine this time, at hearing that she got a bit frustrated as griped the page a bit too tight, making the paper crinkle. "Doesn't he always.." Ranma-chan pfted. " Damn pig.." She then got all excited. " Boy did it feel good smashing that pervert's face in." Ranka smiled a tad. " Hopefully neither of those nuts will bother us again.." Ranma-chan hehed in response. " Like I said, I don't mind wiping the floor with his face again." She then changed the subject as she turned the page. " So.. you and pops tomorrow, you sure I shouldn't come along?"

Ranka turned to a different page as well. "If there's a problem, I'll let you know. I'd say sure, but do you really want to." Ranma-chan shuddered in response, not wanting to think about it, as they finished their chat and went to bed.

The smell of her mother's home cooking, woke her up as it usually did. After getting up and going off to the bathroom to change back with some hot water, he went off downstairs to take a seat at the table, seeing that Ranka had already gotten up before him. With both his mother and sister saying good morning to him, as Nodoka finished up making everything, as Ranka helped set it up on the table. Breakfast went by and soon Nodoka and Ranka were cleaning up in the kitchen. Nodoka took notice of how her daughter was dressed casually, not overly nice as she wasn't wearing a dress, she had a long sleeved pink top and light blue pleated skirt, with lighter pink leggings, with sneakers on. She couldn't help but be curious. " Do you have plans today, Ranka dear?" Ranka finished washing the rest of the dishes, as she fibbed a bit. "I do, I'm going out for a little bit for a date, if that's okay with you?" She said with a cute look on her face. Nodoka smiled back and patted her on the head. " Alright dear, as long as you're back before dinner." Ranka nodded in understanding. She hadn't completely lied to her mother, but also didn't want her knowing she was dealing with Genma,

knowing it would upset her and put the plan at risk.

After getting off the phone, Ranka let her mother know she was going, as she sent her off. Ranma was busy playing a game, but his thoughts were how Ranka better keep in contact with him. He was also hiding it from their mother, feeling the same as his sister, not wanting to upset her.

Ranka met up with Shampoo not too faraway as she greeted her. Shampoo glomped onto her in response. " Shampoo so happy that Ranka call and want my help." Ranka let her hold onto her for a few minutes before pulling her off from her. "Thanks for accepting to help." Shampoo smiled back. " Of course I help my airen." She had tons of cats following behind her, not only because of her curse, but because of the food items she had on her, in the shopping bag she carried. " Is to get revenge on Ranma's no good father, yes?" Ranka nodded. " I had a feeling you'd understand." At seeing the crazy amount of cats that were following behind Shampoo, she almost face faulted into the ground, but caught herself, she also found herself feeling frustrated some. Though she didn't experience the horrible training like her sibling had and was able to be around cats, she wasn't overly fond of them, especially so many. Where as Ranma had immense fear with them, it was a bit different for her.

They walked over to the nearest vacant lot, as Shampoo set the shovel she had brought along with her, as asked. " You no want help?" Ranka smiled at her. " You've done plenty already." She pulled her long sleeved shirt off, tying it around her waist, working in her tank top as she hummed to herself. It took awhile but was ready way before Genma arrived. Shampoo had made sure to also pack a snack, as she pulled out a thermos that held hot tea, pouring some into the cup cap, handing it off to Ranka with a smile. Ranka thanked her as she drank some, before handing it back and wiping her forehead with her hand, then yanking at her tank top some as she fanned herself, before un tying her long sleeved pink shirt from around her waist, and pulling it back on, now that she was done digging. She looked down at the deep pit in the ground. " Hmm, do you think it's deep enough?" Shampoo took a look as she smirked. " Is very good."

Genma finally arrived at the meeting spot and at the specified time, as he gulped at seeing the pitt. Ranka smiled a little at seeing him. " Hey old man, you're just in time." Shampoo herded all the cats down into the pit, with a bit of the fish sausage as bait. Genma grew nervous at seeing this, looking over at Ranka with a pleading look, trying to play on her sympathy. " I've seen the error of my ways, so this isn't necessary my dear. I realize now how tragic.." Ranka didn't let him finish as she had a cold look on her face, as she wrapped the fish sausage around him, then kicking him off the edge, straight down into the pit of cats, hearing him holler as they mauled him.

Ranka stood above as she watched with a blank look on her face. " This" is what you put Ranma through, it's awful isn't it? Your scream's say so." Shampoo hehed with her arms crossed as she watched as well. After a while Genma twitched on the ground all clawed up and full of bite marks from the vicious felines. " So, now you forgive me and accept me as your father? I met your ultimatum.."

Ranka hehed at him as she laughed some. " You think you're done? Come now old man, you know that's not everything that you did to your son, now is it?" Genma's eyes widened in horror. " Now wait a minute, that's not what we agreed on.." Ranka quirked an eyebrow at him from above. " Isn't it? You said you'd do whatever I wanted, anything right?" She then tossed the next food item down into the pit, on top of Genma, and listened as he got mauled again. Shampoo watched as well, with wide eyes. " This what he do to Ranma when he little?" Ranka nodded. " That's right, which is why he can't deal with cats. It wasn't just once either, it was done with multiple items, which is why I asked for dried sardines, salted sardines and fish cakes, aside from the fish sausage. So we did the fish sausage and dried sardines, okay time for the salted sardines." Shampoo smirked as she fished them out from the bag, handing them over to Ranka, who then tossed them down into the pit, on top of Genma, hearing him howl as he was attacked by the cats again.

Shampoo giggled as she lay her head on Ranka's shoulder. " Shampoo love how vicious you are." Ranka blushed some, looking off the other way embarrassed. " Well.. I am evil, after all.." Shampoo smiled at her. " And Shampoo love that." Ranka got more red in the face at hearing that. " I guess that's because you're evil too." Shampoo smirked back. " That right, Shampoo do what Shampoo need to." Ranka hehed in response. " I suppose "this" makes us even then, for you trying to kill me before." Shampoo smiled and nodded as she blushed. " Shampoo was stupid to do that, but was angry." Ranka smiled a bit, getting flustered again. " Well.. I guess, girls do stupid things when they get upset, some more than others. " Shampoo smirked again. " You talking about Akane, yes?" Ranka sweat dropped in reply. " You can do the dried sardines if you want."

Shampoo's eyes grew all big and bright, thrilled to be more involved on taking revenge for Ranma as she nodded and took out them out, tossing them down into the pit on top of Genma, her and Ranka smirked as they listened to him yelling as he was mauled again. Shampoo went back to laying her head on her other airen's shoulder. " Ranma no want to come?" Ranka looked off the other way some. " It'd just make him relive his own trauma, so it's better that he stay out of it. He can't dirty his hands like I can." She then took out the last item, tossing the fish cakes up into the air over the pit, letting them rain down on top of Genma, listening to him get mauled again.

Shampoo wrapped her arm around Ranka's. " You come live with me and great grandmother." Ranka sighed at her determination on the matter. " You know I can't do that, but maybe if you and granny keep behaving, I could visit.." Shampoo's eyes sparkled as she nodded. Ranka asked her for the rope she had asked her to also bring, as she went over to the pit with it, dropping the end down into it, while she held the other end. " Alright, NOW we're done." Genma mustered up the last of his strength as he clawed his way out from the pit, climbing up the rope, before falling face first onto the solid ground, his clothes looking like rags and his body full of wounds, inflicted by the vicious felines. Ranka took pity on him a she knelt down next to him on the ground as she communicated with her gem, surrounding him in a glow of red light as he was healed from all the bites and scratches.

For awhile he was thinking with all she had put him through that she really was evil, but thought differently as she had healed him. Feeling better he sprang up to his feet. " This means you accept and forgive your father then?" Ranka rolled her eyes at the old man. " It doesn't mean I trust you, pops." Genma's eyes got all big and wider with a pout and pleading in his eyes, which made her sigh, knowing he wanted more, which made her uncomfortable. In general she wasn't fond of fathers, having dealt with Satan. She curled her lip some. " Dad.." Genma's eyes got bigger, which made her frown, as she grew annoyed. " Don't, push it…" Shampoo had her arms crossed with a stern look, to back up what was said.

Meanwhile she held the rope and the cats climbed up and out from the pit. Genma at seeing them, started to tremble, feeling similar to how Ranma would. He felt better after they had all left, letting out a loud sigh of relief. Ranka quirked an eyebrow at him. " We're done here old man, you can go now." Genma rubbed at the back of his head sheepishly. " Well I thought, we could.." She cut him off before he could finish, giving him a glare. " Go somewhere… yeah no, like I said, I don't trust you." She took the shovel from Shampoo, as she started to fill the pit in with dirt. Genma sighed as he took his leave.

As he made his way back to the Tendo Dojo, he was greeted at the door way by Kasumi. She smiled at him. " Welcome back Mr. Saotome, how did things go with you and Ranka?" Genma hung his head as he walked to the ground table, sitting down. Kasumi had also taken a seat, as she poured him a cup of tea, which he thanked her for. Akane came downstairs at hearing the front door, and also took a seat at seeing Genma was back. " Welcome back Mr. Saotome, how did things go?" Genma took a sip of his tea, before setting it down. " I was just getting ready to tell Kasumi." He sighed as he paused for a few seconds. "I did what I had to do.." Nabiki had been sitting and listening the whole time. " So you took your punches like a man huh." Soun cleared his throat. " Nabiki.." Nabiki stuck her tongue out. " Sorry Daddy." Kasumi clasped her hands together with a smile. " My, so you were able to make up with Ranka, that's wonderful to hear Mr. Saotome." Akane smiled at him. " You did the right thing Mr Saotome, I'm so proud of you, and you took it like a real trooper."

Genma rubbed at the back of his head nervously as he laughed some. " Well.. my dear, Ranka healed me from my wounds after." Akane smiled back. " And you thought she was evil." Nabiki had to retort to that. " Well she technically is evil, she's definitely "evil minded" that's for sure, but she's not evil incarnate like the other one was. Maybe you might think her request was evil, but she did it for Ranma." She spotted a cat outside in the yard, from the view of the open back porch, as she called it over. Genma at spotting it, started to get nervous, which made Soun, look up from his newspaper at him, quirking an eyebrow at him. " Saotome, are you afraid of cats?" Genma shook his head defiantly. " Of course not Tendo, don't be absurd. Nabiki hehed as she munched on a rice cracker. "Or are you? It sounds like you're on the same page as Ranma is now, regarding his fear of cats."

Akane's eyes widened some, as she made a note that she should never piss off Ranka too badly, she could be very vicious at times, but she also couldn't fault her for what she had done. She felt it was only fair. Happosai had randomly showed up and was sitting at the table, sipping some tea, before he addressed his student. " Well now, it seems you have a lot more in common with Ranma now Genma." Genma denied the fact. " I don't know what you mean." Happosai smirked as he picked up where Nabiki had left off, with calling the cat over, until it came inside and close enough, that he grabbed it by it's scruff and held it out in front of Genma, which made him jump back as he yelled. Happosai chuckled as he let go of the cat. " What was that you were saying, Genma?"

Elsewhere on her way back to the house, Ranka decided to have Shampoo come over for awhile and use her as her excuse, it wasn't a complete lie, she was with her and had asked her out. Shampoo was all happy and humming to herself as she hung off from Ranka's arm, draped around her. She followed her off inside.

Nodoka greeted her daughter, as well as Shampoo. "Oh my Ranka, were you out on a date with Shampoo?" Ranka ahahed with a sweatdrop. " Yeah.." Shampoo giggled as she nodded, then glomping onto Ranma as soon as she spotted him. " Ranma!" Ranma tried to keep playing his game with her clinging onto him. " Cmon Shampoo, I'm trying to do something here.."

Ranka and Nodoka went off outside to the yard, where she had Ranka help her with taking down the laundry she had airing out on clothes line. She wasn't fond of how her daughter seemed to swing both ways and tried to steer her in the other direction. " I thought perhaps you and Ryouga had gone out on another date." Ranka blew some air from her cheeks, looking annoyed. "Nope.. I mean you know he turns into P-chan and where he was the other day, right." Nodoka looked a little flustered as she realized what she was referring to, but tried to press on. "It's just, girls usually don't date other girls dear." Ranka shut her eyes for a second, before opening them again. " And you seem to keep forgetting, what I am and how I'm wired. I've told you I can't help it.."

Nodoka decided it was best to drop it, otherwise she'd risk alienating herself with her daughter. Ranka sighed as she went about her task, hating these kinds of times with her mother, which enforced how hard it was for her mother to accept how things were. She couldn't help how she was, even though she was a girl, she still was Ranma's other side, connected whether she liked it or not, she felt the same way as he did about the girls. She didn't quite think as normally, as other girls did, though she had gotten better about some of those things, then things that were the norm to most, she didn't think about the same. most things that a lot of the girls in her classroom liked, she didn't, which she was able to relate with Ukyou and Akane a bit more on their wave lengths, compared to the other girls.

After going back inside and helping put away the laundry, she went off into the kitchen with her mother to start on dinner. Shampoo stopped bothering Ranma for awhile, as she went off to the kitchen to help, which made it go by faster. Soon everyone was eating dinner at the table. Once everyone was done and clean up was finished, Shampoo decided to take her leave, to which Nodoka had Ranka walk her back part way, as Ranma was too busy playing his game.

Shampoo wasn't complaining as they walked down the street together, with her arm wrapped around hers. She could tell the red head seemed down in the dumps. " Is you okay?" Ranka kept walking. " I just, I guess I'm just not as girly as girls should be.." Shampoo shrugged her shoulders. " Why that matter?" Ranka looked down at the ground. " It matters to my mom.." Shampoo furrowed her brows. " She no accept you, for you then?" Ranka looked a bit upset at hearing that. "I.. don't know, it was different when she thought I was Ranko's clone, not.. Ranma's.." Shampoo un latched herself from her as she crossed her arms. " That stupid, Ranka is fine the way she is." Ranka teared up some at hearing that. " Even though.. I don't jump and drool at boys, like some of the other girls do? Or always want to wear make up, or because.. I fight too much.." Shampoo smiled at her. "Is fine, you still more girl than Ranma is, that for sure." Ranka looked off the other way all flustered as she wiped the tears away. " Thanks.. Shampoo." Shampoo giggled and latched back onto her arm with big puppy eyes, locking onto her eyes. " That why you belong with me and great grandmother." Ranka sighed deeply. "She's my mother.." She then got a tad annoyed. "You better not be up to anything.." Shampoo let go of her arm, looking nervous. "I know better, don't want you angry with me, like that again.."

Ranka crossed her arms. " I hope you do, know better.." Shampoo smiled with big eyes at her. "Shampoo is best, yes, better than Akane." Ranka sighed again as they got to the part way point. " Well can't deny that, but.. you're stuck with Akane and Ukyou, all promises must be honored.." Shampoo hmpfed. " I still the best." Ranka shrugged her shoulders, as she said good night to her as she started walking back.

Once she got back, she was greeted by her mother, before the phone started ringing, which her mother went off to answer. A few minutes later she hung up with a serious look. " It's a job." Ranka nodded in reply as they both went off upstairs to get ready to go demon hunting. Ranma stopped his game after hearing so and after they came back downstairs ready, they all left the house together as they ventured to the near by park where the trouble was.

Ranma jumped up into a near by tree to stay out of the way, but also where he was able to get a good view. It also suddenly, seemed to get foggy out of blue. Ranka and Nodoka at sensing trouble, evaded their attackers, as their swords clashed with their opponents. Ivory stepped out from the center of the fog, wearing leather pants and a black t-shirt, with sneakers on as her purple gem necklace, started to glow. " Onna, "he" has a message for you." Both mother and daughter were still fending off their attackers. Satan's voice came from the purple gem "Listen good and well my dear, I'll give you one "last" chance, other wise I'm done, being "mr. nice guy". You have 5 minutes to drop your sword and ALL will be forgiven." Saying what he wanted said, the communication stopped.

Ivory hehed. " Well you heard him, so just drop your weapon and come back, other wise things will get very nasty and you'll only have yourself to blame." Nodoka fended off the last of her attackers. " Ranka, don't listen to her." Ranka fended off the last of her attackers as well, she was worried about what Satan had said, it was a warning. She had tried to warn her mother and Ranma before and was willing to go back to save them and the others from being targeted. The offer was tempting, but she had promised never to go back, to her family. She already had Ranma getting on her about it, within her mind. After the 5 minutes went by, Ivory charged head on with her sword at Ranka, in full fury. Ranka of course had her defense barrier up, but Nodoka still took swift action in anger, as she sped forward with her blade drawn, swinging it back as she cleaved Ivory's head off from her body.

Ivory's head that rolled onto the ground laughed, as smoke poured out from the wound, engulfing them. It was say a trump card, that Satan had prepared before hand, knowing that this likely would be the end result. Ranka coughed from the blast of smoke, as she grabbed her mother who got most of it, pulling her away from Ivory's body and into her defense barrier, before she went through the movements with her katana for purifying, as the smoke vanished. The purple gem lit up from Ivory's necklace as Satan conveyed his new message. " I see you declined my gracious offer, now that vile woman will pay, for your defiance! That poison smoke will kill her within 3 days, and the only cure is a flower within hell, only those with ties may enter. Oh if you're wondering if you'll meet the same fate, you won't. " He laughed, before he ended his communication.

Nodoka started to feel the effects as she lost her hold on her katana and staggered back wards, to which Ranka caught her. Ranma was finally able to see things as the fog had lifted and at seeing what was going on, jumped down from the tree, running over. " What the hell happened?!" Ranka bit her lip some. " It was a trap.. for mom." Nodoka though weakened by the poison was still conscious. "It's alright, I'll be fine.." Ranka had her gem trying to heal what it could. " It's not okay.. you're not okay.. because.." Nodoka smiled a bit. " It is.. now let's get back home.." She tried to stand on her own two feet, only to stagger back again, which made Ranma let her lean on him. Ranka picked up her mothers katana from the ground as she put the sheath on it, while she sheathed her own, before helping her brother, with letting their mother use both of them as human canes to get back to the house.

Upon getting back, they got their mother upstairs and into her own bed, where Ranka got her some water and damp wash cloth to put over her head, while Ranma waited downstairs as he tried to calm himself down. Nodoka kept insisting that she was fine, despite it being obvious she was not. Ranka gritted her teeth as she helped change her mother into something more comfortable. "It's my fault.. if I had just gone back, this wouldn't have happened.." Nodoka shook her head at her. " Now, what have I told you Ranka.. I knew the risks, just as I know the risks of hunting demons.." She started to feel more ill as the fever hit, making her silent for the moment.

Ranka looked down sadly at her. " It's best you rest for now mom." She got up from where she had been sitting on the side of the bed, turning the light off before she left the room. It wasn't any normal type of poison, since she had tried to heal it and it didn't seem like it had worked. She was lost in her thoughts as she went off downstairs, knowing Ranma wanted to talk. Ranma looked up from where he was sitting on the couch as Ranka sat down, looking miserable. "What happened? I couldn't see much of anything with all that damn fog.."

Ranka sighed heavily. "Poison of some kind and I can't seem to heal it. If what "he" said was true.. the only cure is a flower from hell.. and there's only three days before mom will die.. because I wouldn't do what he wanted.." Ranma gritted his teeth as he tightened his fist. " Okay, so I'll go find that damn flower then, you stay here with mom." He started to get up to go pack, but Ranka grabbed him by his hand, stopping him. " You can't, he's made it so only I can go.. so you have to stay and take care of mom."

Ranma looked frustrated as he sat back down. " You don't know if he's lying and this is just a trap and do you even have a plan?" He said with a concerned look on his face. Ranka shook her head. " I don't, but even if it is, if there's a chance of saving mom, I have to go, besides, he can't claim me, because of what granny did." She got up from the couch and went off upstairs to go pack some things.

Meanwhile Ryouga had gotten away from Akane and changed back, and after a few tries had found his destination, as he knocked at the Saotome's door. He knew it was a bit late but he wouldn't feel better until he was able to talk to Ranka about the other day. Ranma looked annoyed as he answered the door and at seeing Ryouga, had mixed feelings. Ranka came downstairs with her back pack, and sweat dropped at seeing Ranma try to shut the door, with Ryouga holding it open and them bickering back and forth. She gave Ranma an annoyed look, to which he opened the door with a more annoyed look. Ryouga blushed at seeing Ranka, getting nervous till he noticed she was wearing a back pack. " Uh.. are you going somewhere?"

Ranka nodded. " Yeah I'm on the way out the door, or is that not obvious?" Ryouga sweat dropped. " All by yourself?" Ranma ruffled up his hair in frustration as he knew where this was going and he didn't want to admit it, but he didn't want his sister going alone. He wanted to switch places with him and have him stay and him go with Ranka, but that wasn't possible, so he'd have to trust his rival. Ranka gave him a dull look as she tried to get around him to get out the front door. "Move, I'm in a hurry.." Ryouga didn't as he wanted answers. Ranma sighed. " Our mom's been poisoned by.. that damn satan and his tricks, and only Ranka can go to hell and find the cure, with 3 days till.." Ryouga's eyes widened at what he heard, at how far this devil would go, by trying to kill Mrs. Saotome. He also knew by the look that Ranma gave him, that he couldn't let Ranka go by herself, and also that he'd better behave himself or Ranma would beat the crap out of him.

Ryouga bellowed out. " I'll go with you!" Ranka's eyes widened for a second before getting annoyed. " Get out of my way!" Ranma rubbed at the back of his head not wanting to give in, but knew if he didn't want his sister going off alone, he had to. " I'd feel better if he did.. since I can't go.." Ranka looked frustrated as she hmpfed with her arms crossed. "Fine.." Ranma gave her a quick hug. " You'd better keep in contact, or else.." Ranka looked a bit flustered as she nodded. " As long as I can, I will and I'll try to get back as soon as possible." She grabbed Ryouga by his arm and hauled him off outside with her, looking annoyed, before letting go.

Ryouga noticed her back pack wasn't as big as his, taking note. " So uh, you were going to go off all by yourself?" Ranka had her arms crossed. " That's right.. Why? You don't think I can do it, do you?!" She had a cross look on her face. Ryouga waved his hands about. " What um no, I never said that.. but uh did you bring a sleeping bag?" Ranka hmpfed. Ryouga rubbed at the back of his head some. " Do uh you know where you're going?" Ranka groaned at hearing that again. " No.. but YOU never know where you're going.. I just know I have to find where hell meets earth, and get in and find flowers." Ryouga sweat dropped more. " Do you know what kind of flower?" Ranka slumped her shoulders looking upset. " I don't.. "he" didn't say.. I just figure I'll grab as many flowers as I can and go from there."

They kept walking as they talked. Ryouga couldn't help but keep asking questions. "Why did he go after your mom?" Ranka quirked an eyebrow at him, for asking such an obvious thing. " Slaying demons for one, and the other.. she's a bad influence on me.." She couldn't help but get upset. " I tried to tell them.. and if I had just gone back, this wouldn't be happening to her.." Ryouga shook his head and gave her a slight shake, without thinking. " That's not true and no one wants that Ranka, I'm sorry but I agree with Ranma and your mother." Ranka gave him an annoyed and concerned look. " Even though you were a victim already? And you'll probably continue to be targeted.." Ryouga nodded. " That's right! Because you're important Ranka! No one wants you to leave." She had a flustered look on her face. " I know.. and just like I assured Ranma, I'll do the same with you.. the devil, he can't claim me since the amazon's.. already have.." She said as she looked away blushing.

Ryouga rubbed at the back of his head a bit more nervous. " Won't he know you're coming though?" Ranka tightened her fist at hearing that. " Of course he will, it's why he's done what he's done.." Ryouga gave her a dull look. " And you were going to go right in through the front door, weren't you?" Ranka got all frustrated. " Maybe.. but I thought about it and decided even though it's harder.. to find some other way." Ryouga looked around, seeing they were out in the woods. He was familiar with them and knew there was a shed near by, which he let her know about. " Well we should set up camp for the night, it's already kinda late. There's a shed not too far."

Ranka wrinkled up her nose at what he was saying. " I don't have to time to sleep, you go ahead." She started to keep walking, only for Ryouga, feeling he had no choice, to pick her up off her feet, holding her by her waist with both his arms. " I know you're upset Ranka, but you need to rest, so you're in top condition." Ranka was bright red in the face as she kicked her legs about. " Alright already, lemme down!" Ryouga set her down on the ground, realizing what he had done, his face turning bright red as well. Ranka grumbled as she grabbed him by his hand, pulling him off with her into the shed, that he was talking about, so he didn't get lost.

She let go of his hand once they were inside. " Happy now?" She sat down on the floor, taking her back pack off her back as she rustled through it, tossing out a brand new sleeping bag that was sealed up tightly, which she opened up at the seal part, letting it out to puff up. Ryouga was lost in his thoughts as he was hoping she hadn't brought one, so they'd end up sharing his, which he was lost in such thoughts, until he felt something hit him on the head.

Ranka had given him a light whack to his head to snap him out of his daze. " Turn around and shut your eyes, I need to change, okay.." Ryouga got all flustered, as he did so really fast. " Ah, right!" Ranka started to change into her pajama's she had packed, a t-shirt and pants. " If you peek, I'll kill you.." Ryouga entered another one of his day dream like states. While he was busy and she had finished changing, she got herself into her sleeping bag. " Okay, I'm done so you can open your eyes." Ryouga snapped out of it as he went about to setting up his own sleeping bag. While it was a little disappointing they couldn't share one, he was still in bliss as they were so close, as he got into his own sleeping bag. Ranka let Ranma know what was going on, before she said good night to Ryouga.

Back at the house, Ranma couldn't deal with taking care of his mother, regarding certain things, even if he used his girl form, there were just some things he couldn't deal with. At first he thought about calling Akane but how that could turn into a mess, so he went with calling Ukyou for help, after their short phone call, it wasn't that long after that he heard a knock at the front door.

Ukyou had rushed over as fast as she could at hearing Ranma huney had needed her help. She caught her breath as he let her in. "Oh Ranma huney, of course I'll help you with your mother." Ranma rubbed at the back of his head nervously as he shut and locked the door up for the night. " Thanks Ukyou.." He had told her the specifics of what had happened.

She helped herself to some water before she sat down on the couch with him, seeing that he was out of it. " You're worried about Ranka aren't you?" Ranma grumbled some. " How can I not when damned Ryouga has to be with her.." Ukyou waved her hand about. " Oh I wouldn't worry about it too much and I'm sure she'll find the cure for your mother. She's tough and stubborn like you." She said with a smile. " Now don't you worry, I'll take good care of your mother." Ranma looked away a bit perplexed. " It's not like I can't, it's just.." Ukyou nodded, knowing what he was saying. " That's why I'm here." Ranma sighed and thanked her again. "I'm going to go check on her." He went off upstairs to the bathroom to use some cold water to change into a girl before doing so, not feeling as awkward with dealing with her, in her room.

She gave a knock to the door, waiting a few minutes before letting herself in and turning the light on, before going and checking her mother's temperature with the back of her hand to her head for a minute, feeling that the fever had worsened. "Hey mom, do ya need anything?" Nodoka was able to tell that the red head before her wasn't Ranka. "Ranma.. where's your sister?" Ranma-chan tensed up, as she wasn't going to tell her at least not till tomorrow but her mother was too sharp and she'd pay for it if she lied to her. "She's uh..um well.." Nodoka willed herself through the fever, as she pushed herself, so she was sitting up and started to move herself to get out of bed. " She went to go find the cure.." Ranma-chan waved her hands about. " Yes.. but Ryouga went with her.." At hearing that at least, she went back to laying down, but was still very upset. Ranma-chan sighed with relief, seeing her mother gave up on trying to go storm after her sister in her condition. " I uh asked Ukyou to help out.."

Ukyou had followed after Ranma upstairs and had been waiting outside in the hallway as she let herself in. " Hello Mrs. Saotome, I hope I'm not imposing.." Nodoka managed a smile. " Not at all dear.." Ukyou went over to the bed side, taking the wash cloth off from her head, seeing it was dry and not longer cool. " I'll freshen this up for you." She said as she took her leave for a few minutes before coming back in with a cool and damp wash cloth, which she set on her forehead again. She hustled Ranma out from the room, as she made sure his mother had everything she needed for the night, before helping her out of bed and off to the bathroom.

Ranma-chan sighed as she went off to her room while Ukyou was dealing with the more feminine things that she couldn't deal with, with her mother that involved un dressing or dressing or bathing, things that her sister could do with their mother with ease. She knew why her mother had gotten so upset at knowing that Ranka had left and where she had to go, to get the so called cure. It also grated on her nerves that she had to rely on Ryouga to look after his sister.

After Ukyou was done with Ranma's mother for the night, she poked her head in his room. " Ranma huney, your mom's all set for the night." Ranma-chan jumped at having Ukyou pop her head in her room. " Thanks Ukyou." Ukyou smiled at her. " You're not going to leave me all alone are you?" She said with big eyes, she also added slyly. " Besides we're both girls." Ranma-chan sighed in defeat. "Okay.." Ukyou giggled as she ran off ahead to Ranka's room, setting herself up in her bed. Ranma-chan looked flustered as she came into the room and went off to her own bed. Ukyou was also enjoying being in the same bed as Ranka and she took the oppourtunity to look at a magazine, while they also chatted. " So Ranma huney, what I don't get is from what you told me, you were there too, and you could've been poisioned like your mom had been too. What it sounds like is Ranka protected you from getting any of the smoke."

Ranma-chan's eyes widened as she realized that, thinking back to when it happened. She wasn't aware of what kind of training went on between her sister and mother, just that it had to do with katana's and that they were holy or something. She had noticed the motions and moves and then yeah, the smoke seemed to disappear. If it hadn't, she'd be in the same state as their mother.

Ukyou quirked an eyebrow at her fiancee. " You're just realizing that, aren't you?" She was finding some things in the magazine interesting as she browsed. " I guess Ranka was immune to it, boy that must really be upsetting." Ranma-chan tightened her fist. " No, what's more upsetting is.. she has to go "there.." Ukyou smiled. " I told you don't worry, Ryouga's with her right?" Ranma-chan grumbled as she laid down, saying good night to Ukyou and vice versa.

As soon as Ranka heard the birds chirping, she got herself up and changed, while Ryouga was still sleeping, also going outside of the shed. Ryouga woke up not much later, as he smelled something cooking. The shed had a little fireplace area for cooking, and she had helped herself to Ryouga's bag to find cooking accessories, to cook the eggs she had found in the woods. " About time, you got up." Ryouga laughed some nervously as he excused himself, going outside of the shed to wake up a bit more, before coming back in a few minutes later. Ranka had already eaten her egg and was busy brushing her hair out, with her brush she had packed. " That one's yours."

Ryouga sat down with a big smile. " Thanks." He fumbled around in his pack, pulling out two ramen cups and a tea kettle, then quickly realizing. " Ah that's right.. stupid me.." Ranka got up after she put her hair up in her usual pony tail, grabbing the tea kettle from him. "There's a river not too far, I'll fill it up and be right back." She then went outside of the shed, coming back in a few minutes later with a full kettle. Ryouga took it from her and set it up on the fire place.

Ranka looked impatient as she rocked back and forth, from where she was sitting on the floor. " After the ramen we gotta go." Ryouga sat back and waited for the kettle to get hot enough. " So, do you know where we're going now?" Ranka bit her lip some. " I do, the best place that makes sense anyways, would be Yomogi Valley, it's as close to hell as you can get, with it being volcanically heated." Ryouga's eyes widened at hearing that. "Oh yeah and it's not too far." Ranka looked annoyed as she slapped her hand down on the ground. " It's far enough! And more time wasted while.. she gets worse.." She put her knee's up to her chest as she put her head down on them, looking more upset. " I don't understand it, I tried to heal her as soon as possible and it didn't work.."

Ryouga rubbed at the back of his head, not really knowing what to do, but tried his best to comfort her. " I'm sure you tried your best and I'm sure it did help, but it must be even worse than the poison I had to endure.." Ranka wiped away at the tears that kept trying to come from her eyes. "It's just frustrating.." Ryouga took the kettle off from the fire before it started to whistle, as he prepared both the noodle cups of ramen for them. "It seems like the devil purposely made it so that you couldn't completely heal it." Ranka looked annoyed. " Just like he set it up inside of Ivory, knowing my mom would slice her head off.. and how only I can go.. since I was born from hell.." Ryouga wrinkled up his nose in disgust. "He" really is the worst.." After a few minutes, he handed Ranka the other cup of ramen. She looked off the other way. " I'm not that hungry.." Ryouga shook his head. " Even so, you'll need all your strength to help your mother, right?" Ranka bit her lip and took the ramen cup from him, looking frustrated. " Yeah.." They sat and ate their ramen cups in silence, before they started to pack up.

Once they had everything all packed up, they took their leave and started their hike towards the mountains. Ranka looked upset as they walked, tightening her hold on her back pack's straps. " I'm sorry about getting so angry, I'm just.. I'm really upset and I can't help it.." She looked away a bit flustered. "It's.. a girl thing.." Ryouga rubbed at the back of his head nervously. " It's okay, if it makes you feel better than you can just let it all out on me, beat me up as much as you want." Ranka blinked, bright red in the face. "Ah.. okay."

Meanwhile down in the depths of hell, Satan sat at his throne, with Alley on one side and Ivory on the other. "It won't be long now, that she'll come back to me." Alley swooned from the chair she was sitting in, as she rubbed his arm. " Such a genius idea to fill Ivory's clone with that poison smoke, knowing that demon hunter woman would expose herself to it head on." Satan curled his lip as he slammed his fist down on his throne arm. "It" would've worked completely had not that little wench, healed the woman from the effects of turning into a she-devil and slowed down the effective ness of the poison, or she'd already be dead! As well as purifying the rest of it, as I could've gotten that damned Ranma Saotome as well! No matter, the initial plan is still intact, she has no choice but to come to me." Alley smiled as she kept paying him attention. "And will you tell her the correct flower?" Satan sneered in reply, before telling one of the guards to be on guard at the front gate, thinking the girl would come in through the front entrance.

After a bit of hiking they made it to their destination. Ryouga set his back pack down on the ground. " So how are you going to get in?" Ranka set hers down as well, as she tried to psych herself up mentally for what she had to do. " I was going to dig, I guess?" Ryouga sweat dropped and laughed a tad. " It's a good thing I did come." Ranka looked frustrated. "Yeah yeah, so don't rub it in.. and just blast an opening." Ryouga looked at her with concern. " Are you sure you can do this?" Ranka looked upset as she tightened her fists. " I have to, even if I'm not sure I can.. I'm the only one who can.." She ruffled through her back pack, pulling out a medium length black wig, that she started to put on, to which Ryouga gave her an odd look. Ranka gave him a dull look. " I borrowed it from Nabiki and there going to be looking for me, so I figured I'd better go in with a disguise." Ryouga nodded in agreement, as he went and blasted the near by ground with his attack. "Breaking Point!" Ranka shielded herself with her defense barrier from the debris. " Okay, now we need some rope." Ryouga went over to his back pack, where he rustled out a very long rope. "Got it."

Ranka took the end and tied a good amount of it around her waist. " Okay, lower me down the hole and when I tug twice, that means pull me up." Ryouga nodded with a stern look on his face. "Be careful okay, Ranka." Ranka gave him a quick and small smile as she lowered herself down into the hole he had made, with her red gem lit up as it had the defense barrier around her. Ryouga kept lowering the rope with her down a bit more.

Once she was lowered a bit more she caught sight of flowers on the nearby ledge, that she pulled herself over to, where she picked a bunch of different kinds with speed, as she stuffed them down her shirt, for safe keeping.

Not too far off but far enough away Satan was stationed with his guards at the front entrance, where he was sure that's where she'd come in through, since she didn't know of any other ways in. He stood firm. " Any minute now.."

After picking a few more on a different ledge and seeing that she had gotten all of the flowers that were about, she gave the rope two tugs, prompting Ryouga to pull her back up to the surface in a rush. Once he got her up and out, he put a huge rock on top of the hole. Ranka tossed the wig off, feeling the heat from hell, as she lay on the ground panting. Ryouga fumbled around as he pulled out a canteen of water that he had filled along the way there, tossing some of the water on her, before giving it to her. Ranka felt a bit better, feeling the cold water hit her and took the canteen, taking in some of the water before handing it back. "Thanks, that felt good." She pulled all the flowers out from her shirt, as she put them into her back pack, before pulling off her tshirt, so she was just wearing a tank top.

Ryouga couldn't help but stare, but what he was locked on alarmed him, as he pointed at her chest. " Ranka, look at your chest!" He nervously managed to stammer out. She sweat dropped as she did, taking notice of where her skin was purple. " For a second there I thought you were being a pervert." She communicated to her red gem as it lit up and started to healing the poison. " Thanks for pointing that out, I guess one of those flowers are definitely poisonous." She fanned herself with her hand, still feeling pretty hot. "Let's go back to that river, I don't know about you, but I really need to cool off.."

Back at the Saotomes house hold, Ukyou had gotten up early to make up some breakfast, as she hummed happily to herself. While the reason wasn't why she was celebrating, but the fact that Ranma asked her for help. Before she knew it Ranma-chan was sitting at the table yawning as she sniffed the air. Ukyou finished up and set up a plate for her. " Good morning Ranma huney, I was just going to go check on your mother and give her some rice porridge." Ranma-chan nodded half awake as she dug into her food, leaving Ukyou to her task.

Ukyou went upstairs with the food, letting herself into Nodoka's room, where she set the tray down on the night stand. " Good morning Mrs. Saotome, I've made you some rice porridge." She waited a few minutes but got no response, but could see that the elder woman was breathing, she could also tell her condition had worsened. She stood up with a smile. " I'll be right back Mrs. Saotome." She took the wash cloth with her as she went off downstairs with a solemn look on her face. " Ranma huney, I hate to have to tell you this, but she's gotten a lot worse.."

Ranma-chan almost choked on her drink, before setting it down. " How worse?" Ukyou fidgeted with her hands nervously. " I don't think she can respond, but she's breathing and don't you worry I'll take good care of her." She ran back upstairs to go do so.

In the mean time out in the woods, having found a river, Ranka was refreshing herself as she cooled off, splashing some of the cold water on her face and getting a drink. After she was done she looked over at Ryouga. " You gotta be hot too." Ryouga looked all flustered as he was blatantly sweating. " I'm fine.." Ranka quirked an eyebrow at him and smirked some. " Is the little piggy afraid to get wet? It's not like Akane's watching, or anyone else for that matter." Ryouga got all red in the face, as she had taunted him similarly to how Ranma had as a girl, but she wasn't as rude as him. Ranka smiled a tad at him as she pulled off one of her red gem necklace bracelets from her hand. " Look at what I learned." She dipped the glowing red gem into the water, waiting a few minutes as the water starting to bubble up some. Ryouga's eyes widened as he watched. " You.. made it hot." Ranka grinned at him before pulling it up from the water and pulling it back on her wrist. " That's right, so cool off P-chan, you can change back." Ryouga sighed a breath of relief as he took some of the water into the palm of his hands and splashed the cool water onto his face, changing into P-chan.

Ranka smirked at him and splashed some water at him, to help him cool off more. P-chan splashed around with a smile on his face. Where his clothes had dropped, they weren't in danger of getting wet. A few minutes later Ranka dipped her red gem into the canteen water to heat it up, till steam was coming from it, before she pulled it out and let it cool down a few seconds, before she poured it on top of P-chan, changing him back. She had her back turned so she didn't see anything. Ryouga nervously grabbed his clothes and re dressed himself. " Ah it's okay to.." Ranka turned around, getting the point. " There now, I bet you feel better, I know I do, between Yomogi and the heat from hell.."

Ryouga was back to staring at her chest. " Are you sure you're alright?" Ranka caught where he was looking and blushed some. " Yeah, I healed it." She got up from the ground, grabbing her back pack as she sighed. " It's going to take too long to hike back.." Ryouga smiled with a nervous smile. " Not really, just another night." Ranka shook her head with an upset look. " That's too long, I need to get back now, so I'll just use the gem to teleport us back." Ryouga looked upset at hearing that. " No way, that took a lot of you the last time to do." Ranka hehed at him. " Not when I have 3 gems. " Ryouga looked confused for a second before he remembered that. "Oh yeah, that's right.." Ranka smiled as she grabbed him by his hand, making him blush. " That's right, so it'll be a piece of cake." She communicated with her gem as it linked up with the others back at the house, as they teleported to their destination.

As she rushed off inside, she was greeted with a tight hug from her sibling, as she had communicated what was going on. Ranma-chan looked upset as she pulled away. " She's gotten worse.." Ranka bit her lip as she put her back pack down and rummaged through it, taking out all the various flowers as she set them down on the table with a serious look. " Don't touch them, I don't know what any of them do or if I even got the right one.." Ryouga aahed as he noticed her hand had some purple on it. " Ranka, it got you again!" Ranka sweat dropped as she had her gem light up and heal her hand. " Well one is poisonous, obviously.." Ranma-chan grimaced at seeing the result. "So, you didn't.." Ranka shook her head. " I didn't, I just went in a different way, hopefully un detected and just grabbed any and all flowers that I saw. So, I'll just test them out and figure out which one might work." Ryouga and Ranma were both thinking the same thing, just that Ranma-chan was faster as she grabbed Ranka by her hand, before she could touch one of the flowers. " No, way! Like you said those stupid hell flowers are dangerous."

Ranka pulled her hand away from her sibling, looking a tad annoyed. " I'll be fine, I'll just heal myself." Ryouga spoke up as well. " Listen I agree with Ranma, and I won't let you do something so dangerous either." Ranka looked more annoyed. " Well someone's gotta and I'm the one most suited to do it." Ranma-chan protested back blatantly. " Like hell you're are! I say we go find that demon wench and force HER to test them!" Ranka sweat dropped and put her hands up in defeat. " Okay.. I won't.." Ranma-chan shot back. " You're damned right you won't!" Ranka hmmed as she thought for a minute, before it hit her. " Thrista can though!" She ran over to where the phone was, looking through the list of numbers until she found it and dialed it in and got an answer immediately, from an over excited Thrishta on the other line.

Ukyou came downstairs after hearing all the noise. " Hey, what's going on?" Ryouga waved at her. " Oh hi Ukyou." Ukyou gave a slight wave back. " Hey yourself. Wow, so you and Ranka are back already huh." Ranka got off the phone shortly after as she greeted Ukyou, then gave a tired look to Ranma. " Are you happy now, Thrista's going to come over and be the guinea pig." Ranma-chan had her arms crossed. " Yes I am." Ryouga looked annoyed as he shot back at his rival. " I can't believe you Ranma, glad to sacrifice a fellow class mate." Ranka gave him a dull look. " She's part demon." Ryouga got all embarrassed at hearing that and shrunk back. Ranma-chan gave him a whack on the head. " That's right, stupid."

Ranka was about to go upstairs to check on her mother, when there was knocking on the door. Thrista had rushed over as fast as she could, after getting off the phone with her and greeted her with a big smile at being let inside. " I'll be glad to be of use to you, even as your guinea pig." Ranka sweat dropped. " Gee thanks.. well I wouldn't have but no one wanted me to do it." Thrista grabbed her by her hands with big sparkling eyes. " Don't you dare! I will gladly drink poison for my bestie!" Ranka looked un comfortable. " Okay.. if you insist.." Thrista greeted everyone and took a seat on the couch with Ranka as she eyed the flowers on the table.

Ranka eyed her eyeing them. " Do you know about any of them?" Thrista hmmed for a minute. " Nope! But that's okay!" Ukyou went back upstairs to take care of Nodoka, while Ranma-chan and Ryouga had dull looks on their face watching Thrista. She oohed at the bright purple and black one, starting to reach for it, until Ranka slapped her hand away from it. "Don't, that one is very poisonous.. unless you wanna go for it, then go ahead." Thrista got all big eyed again. " Aww, you protected me!" She then got a serious look on her face as she grabbed one of them and dropped a drop of the nectar on her tongue. Ranka sweat dropped as she started to get purple polka dots all over her skin, having her red gem heal her. Thrista giggled. " I guess that one is a no. Say do you know which one was closest to the surface? If theres' a flower in hell that will help heal a human, it'd make sense that it'd be closest to the surface."

Ranka hmmed as recalled the first one she had grabbed that she saw, picking up the blue one that had black stripes. "I think this one was.." They all watched as she tested the nectar, seeing that nothing seemed to happen after a few minutes. Ranka kept her eye on that flower intently. "So, that's probably the one then, right?" Thrista smiled. " Most likely. Wow you grabbed a lot of flowers.." Ranka looked embarrassed. " I just grabbed as many as I could. You don't have to test them all." Thrista's eyes got all big. " I want to!" She then finally took notice of Ranma, with her eyes getting bigger. " Aah oh my gosh Ranko, it's so great to see you again!" Ranma-chan sweat dropped and laughed some. " Ahaha yeah.." She then eye balled Ryouga, recalling him from being with Ranka at their old school that time. "Ooh and you must be Ranka's boyfriend." Ryouga turned ten shades of red with a goofy smile. " Well I.." Ranma-chan fired back with an angry look. " HE IS NOT!" Thrista smiled back and pointed at her. " Oh, so he's your boyfriend then?" Ranma-chan gritted her teeth. " NO WAY!" Ranka sweat dropped at the whole thing, giving Thrista an annoyed look. " He's a friend." Thrista oohed as she went back to testing out the flowers, with Ranka healing her from a random status ailment each time.

Ranka grabbed the blue flower with black stripes. "Let's hope this works." She ran off upstairs with it to her mothers room, just missing her as she was headed downstairs. She could see how much worse her mothers condition had gotten, seeing that she had made the right decision to get back as soon as she could. She took her mom's hand into hers. " Mom I'm back and hopefully this will help." Nodoka squeezed back gently with her hand to let her know she was listening, even though she couldn't respond back the way she had wished to. Ranka helped her mother open her mouth, as she dropped some of the flowers nectar into her mouth, then setting the flower down on the night stand and using her red gem to help with healing. After a few minutes Nodoka opened her eyes as she coughed some from the nectar. Ranka teared up some with a smile on her face as she hugged her mother. " Oh mom, I was so scared!" Nodoka being able to move again, hugged her back as she teared up. " Oh Ranka, thank kami you're alright.." Ranka shook her head. " I'm just glad you're okay and it worked, but you should still take it easy, at least until tomorrow. I'll be right back." She rushed out of the room and back downstairs with a smile. " It worked, she's okay."

Ranma-chan's eyes looked teary for a second, before she raised her fist up in the air with a smile. " All right!" She ran upstairs to go see her mom all excited. Ryouga smiled as well. " I knew you could do it." Ukyou smiled as well. " Right on, Ranka!" Thrista smiled. Ranka gave her an annoyed look seeing that she was paralyzed, healing her with her gem. " I think you've had enough.." She grabbed up the flowers from the table and stuffed them back into her back pack, making sure to heal herself, just in case. Ukyou smiled back at her. " So, is your mom trying to get up and cook dinner?" Ranka rolled her eyes. " Of course but she needs to take it easy, at least for tomorrow, so I'll handle it." Ukyou ahemed. Ranka sweat dropped with a nervous smile. " And you can help me too." Thrista waved her hand about. " Ooh ooh me too!" Ranka sighed. " Fine.."

Upstairs Ranma was having a moment with his mother. Nodoka broke off the embrace as she sat back in her bed. " I'm sorry I worried you and Ranka so much." Ranma-chan shook her head. " No, I'm sorry I.. couldn't take care of you.. and had to let Ranka go by herself.." She muttered under her breath about Ryouga. Nodoka smiled at her. " Don't be, you did the best you could and Ukyou has been taking very good care of me, though I'm surprised you didn't ask Akane." Ranma-chan looked frazzled for a minute as she laughed nervously some. " Oh um well I figured she was busy and I didn't want everyone knowing.." Nodoka nodded in agreement. "I see. So I guess you won't let me get up and go about my business either." Ranma-chan sweat dropped at her mother with an annoyed look. " Yeah, no, you gotta rest, you were seriously poisoned.." Nodoka sighed heavily. " Alright, I know when I'm defeated, with two against one." She looked with pleading eyes. " Could you be a dear and get me some nice hot tea though." Ranma-chan nodded. " Sure, thing!" She ran off downstairs, coming back up after awhile after changing back into a guy, with the hot cup of tea, like his mother had asked. Nodoka smiled and patted her son on his head, with embarrassed him more.

Not too much later Ranma was sitting on the couch with Ryouga, playing a fighting video game with him, while all the girls were chatting away and cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Ranma wasn't letting up on beating up Ryouga's character. " So, you better not have done anything perverted to Ranka, while you two were alone…" Ryouga tried to fight back on the game. "Heh, that's between me and Ranka." Ranma ko ed his character and tossed the controller down with an annoyed and angry look. " Oh, yeah!" Ryouga hahed with a confident look. " That's right." Ranma glared at him for a second before he hehed back at him. " She's probably told you, how neither one of us can hide anything from each other, right? So you go ahead and be that way Ryouga, because if I find out you did, I'm gonna kick your ass.." Ryouga got all flustered as he waved his hands about. " I swear I didn't and if I did, she said she'd kill me." Ranma hahed, feeling satisfied with hearing that, then looked frustrated. " Thanks for going with her, since I couldn't.."

Ryouga hehed back. "No thanks needed, I would've gone anyways." Ranma gave him an annoyed look. " You're creepy man, she doesn't like you, like that.." Ryouga got all annoyed. " Think what you want Saotome." Ranma wasn't listening to him anymore as he spotted the food being brought out and had gone over to sit at the table, letting Ryouga carry on to himself for awhile. Ukyou made sure to serve up a plate of okonomiyaki for him. " Enjoy Ranma huney." Ryouga finally noticed he was talking to himself and got annoyed. " Ranma, how dare you leave me talking to myself, like that!" Ranma was too busy eating, as he ignored his rival. Thrista giggled for a minute before she looked around. " Where'd Ranko go?" Ranma sweat dropped as he slowed down eating for a second. Ryouga smirked at his rival. " That is a good question, isn't it?" Ranka gave him an annoyed look, before she smiled at Thrista. " She's spending time with our mother, and I'm going to go bring them some food." She walked off with the tray of food she was carrying, as she went off upstairs with it.

Meanwhile down in hell, Satan sat waiting at the front entrance with his guards still. One of the guards, stated the obvious. " I don't think anyone's coming.." Satan got up from his chair as he strode over to the guard who dared to speak out, as he shoved him off into the moat of molten lava, then facing the rest of his minions. " Anyone else, have SOMETHING to say?!" All the other guards shook their heads and stayed quiet, not wanting to end up like the other one.

Alley tried to calm him some. " There's still some time left, she might show up tomorrow or the next day, she's a stupid human after all." Satan stroked his goatee thoughtful for a minute before he caught her slip up. Ivory quirked an eyebrow, at what she was hearing. Onna, a stupid human? She couldn't agree with that, that and since when was she human? Wasn't she supposed to be a she-devil? Satan tried to cover it up fast. " What Alley means is she's posing as a stupid human." He gave Alley an angry glare for her outburst, before walking away.

Author's notes: I hope everyone enjoyed the new chapter. I made some fanart on Deviantart, onna20. If anyone has some suggestions, feel free to leave some feedback and I'll take it into consideration. Be it about the story or if there's a scene that you'd like fanart of, otherwise I'll just keep doing my thing. It's crazy how depression works, and I apologize for fans if there are any left from the beginning. I suddenly got inspired years later to pick this back up, with how much I love Ranma 1/2, showing my love for it, since it keeps getting swept under the rug. No new anime for it, but all the other classics get love.

I do not own Ranma 1/2 or any of it's characters, Rumiko Takahashi and Viz Video do.