Novelas:A Life Once Lived

Prologue: Memories & Misgivings
Light.

A blinding light, like the first that any living being experiences, but different somehow.

For the brief five seconds that he experienced it, it seemed like an eternity, but it was over as soon as it started, and he was left alone.

There have been few who have had the misfortune to experience the sensation he was feeling now. However, fate had decided the outcome of the future for the unfortunate ones.

Just goes to show, even fate can make mistakes sometimes...

Had he been able to remember much, he would have immediately known where he was, and where he was going, but such was not the case.

He began by groggily shaking his head, trying desperately to clear his thoughts, and get some kind of indication of whom he was, and what he was doing there.

Somewhere, deep inside his subconscious, a spark formed. The spark gave way to a larger one, and another one, even larger. Eventually, the spark had grown into a flame, allowing access to hidden memories.

Few memories had escaped before the flame died. Mostly it was a jumble, an inane patchwork of several events. Remembrance of some sort of training. Yes. That’s it. He was starting to remember.

He was a martial artist. That much was certain. He could feel himself throwing punches and kicks at foes twice, sometimes three times as skilled as he was. Another memory flooded into his mind. It was brief, but he could catch a glimpse of a face in his mind.

The face was female, that much was certain. Lavender hair both flowing down beyond her shoulders, and cut above her neck. The two images were the same, if not for different hairstyles.

Piercing brown eyes and a fair, sleek complexion. To him, the face was beautiful, even though he had trouble admitting such a thing, even in his mind.

He tried desperately to remember more, clenching his fists and banging them against his head in frustration. Then something else came.

Akane. A name. HER name. For some unexplainable reason, the name meant nothing, and everything. What was certain, however, was that somehow, deep inside his person, he knew he loved her.

He managed to open his eyes. Though it was dark, it was hard to keep them open for too long, as if the night were blinding him. After his eyes adjusted, he started to try and get a bearing of where he was, hoping for more memories.

He was on a rooftop. Where, he had no clue. Below him on the ground, several forms seemed to call out at him. He knew what they were immediately.

The soccer field was foremost in sight. The goal posts on either side standing in a fashion that he could envision with his eyes closed. An outdoor basketball court a little further in the distance, but still discernable from his viewpoint. A certain hesitation befell him as he spied the swimming pool.

Without warning, another memory came into his mind. Another person. A martial artist, wearing a red Chinese-style shirt with wooden ties, wearing an unmistakable pigtail. Although the martial artist was female, he felt no feelings toward her. She was beautiful to say the least, but he felt no better of her than he was of himself.

Then it hit him. That WAS he. The thought came out of nowhere, catching him off guard. He shook his head. That couldn’t be right, he was a man. Wasn’t he?

Yes. He could distinctly remember being a man, from the jumble of memories he had received earlier. Yes. He was a man.

And a woman. He was both, he realized, after he received another jumble of memories. Memories including a long valley, with hundreds of small spring-like pools. Bamboo poles stuck out of them like a pincushion. He gasped as he recalled his curse.

He ran further along the rooftop, until he reached a structure near the front entrance. A closer examination revealed it to be a clock of rather large proportions. As he perched himself on top of it, he noticed something.

It felt like a part of him at first, even if a little alien, but the unmistakable form of a blood red cloak fluttering in the wind around him was surprising, to say the least. Looking himself over, he discovered several things of difference. His hands were molded into deformed claw-like appendages, and several chains decorated his body like a sadistic Christmas tree.

He was on the verge of panic after this development, went another patchwork of memories invaded his mind. Unlike the other memories, which he had tried to pull out, this one just seemed to come in, uninvited. He involuntarily gasped as the memory ran itself through in his mind.

---

“Do you love her?”, the darkness asked.

“Yes. Of course.”

“You would like to see her again, I assume,” it asked again

Hesitation. “Yes.”

The darkness laughed. A dark, bone-chilling laugh that would strike fear into the hearts of all mankind.

“Then go, my Hellspawn!”, it cried as it revealed its true form.

The scream would have shattered eardrums for miles around. The demon seemed to derive pleasure from it, stretching its lips to form a wide, toothy smile as it continued to laugh.

---

Deep in the Nerima night, a lone figure atop a high school screamed in utter anguish at his memories.

Chapter One: Demons & Doorsteps
Ryoga woke with a start. He looked left and right, but suddenly calmed. His martial arts reflexes had detected something amiss, but he couldn't quite place it. He knew something was wrong. He looked to his left to discover that his wife had the same feeling.

"What was that?"

Akane looked over at her husband and shivered, "I don't know. I just had this weird feeling."

"Me too. Should I check it out?"

Akane nodded her agreement, and relucantly got up from her bed, making sure that her son was fast asleep in the crib situated next to the bed. Together, the two of them searched the one bedroom apartment thouroughly, and even went so far as to check the outside hallway. Nothing was amiss. Nothing wrong.

Ryoga sighed and looked out the window. All seems to be okay out here as well. He turned his head to signal to Akane that nothing was wrong. She got the idea and returned to the bedroom. Ryoga followed.

"So what do you suppose it was?", Akane whispered.

"I don't know. Whatever it was, its gone now. It's late and I don't want to wake him up."

Akane nodded silently and began to lay back down in the bed. It was nearly two hours before either of them got to sleep again.

The figure jumped down to the grounds of the school, and situated himself near a tree on the edge of the soccer field. He knew this place. Yes indeed. Had he gone to school there? Did he teach there? He could not remember. All he knew was that the place was definately familiar.

The man silently looked himself over. Even though he could not remember, he knew something was different. The way he walked, the amount of weight he was pulling around with him. Chains were attached to his suit at several point, a large red cloak hung from his neck, and a mask covered the place where his face once was.

He sat uncomfortably at the base of the tree. He definately had sat at this place before. He could distinctly remember the outline of the homes and businesses over the wall of the school. He got up and continued to walk.

He soon reached the school's olympic sized swimming pool and gazed at his reflection. The image that reflected back was alien to him. He could not remember what he had used to look like, but above all, this was not it. He looked... Evil.

After tearing himself away from the pool he had felt a sudden calm come over him. He immediately paused, and then returned to the pool, this time not looking at his reflection. The tensed feeling had returned, and he did not know why.

He grunted in frustration. The swimming pool fascinated him, but he hesitated. It wasn't long before his curiousity took over. He reluctantly plunged his arm beneath the surface of the reflective water and waited... Nothing happened. It was if he had expected something, and he felt strangely empty as he retracted his arm from the cool waters.

It wasn't long after that before he decided it would be best to leave this place as soon as he could. He jumped effortlessly over the fence and ran into the streets beyond.

For a reason unknown to him, he had let his subconscious take over, and found himself darting down streets as quickly as his feet would take him, as if there were some destination he was headed for.

He stood outside of a piece of land surrounded by ten-foot stone walls. He knew what was over the wall, he could envision it in his mind. 'Home' he thought to himself, and then bounded over the wall.

He took a look at his surroundings, it was his home alright. He could even envision the inside. His room. He noticed a pond around the back of the house and felt his stomach clench at the thought of it. He began to walk towards the front foor when he felt a presence.

"I figured it wouldn't be long before you showed up here, Saotome", the presence said.

He turned towards the source of the sound. The source of the voice itself was a disgusting man. Dressed in a pair of pants with the fly undone, and the button as well, a white, stained shirt that hugged his skin easily, and a trenchcoat. He had makeup on his face, which made him look remarkably like a sadistic clown. It wasn't long before he realized, that was exactly what he was.

"Who are you?", he asked.

"Why, Saotome, I figured you'd be asking the opposite. Who _YOU_ are as a matter of fact.", the man replied.

"I don't have time for this", he replied, "I've got to go." He turned to tear away.

"Go where? Home?" The clown laughed. "Thats not your home anymore."

He stopped. "What do you mean?", he sneered at the man.

"It sure does look familiar, don't it Saotome?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?!"

The clown frowned. "Thats your name isn't it?", he smiled wickedly, "Ranma Saotome of the Anything-Goes School of Martial Arts?"

He froze. That name. That... Title. It meant something. He realized it. Ranma Saotome was his name.

"How... How do you know my name?"

The clown laughed, "Ahh, so you are starting to remember eh?"

"Just answer my question!"

"Now, now. Is that any way for the new hellspawn to treat his teacher?"

"Hellspawn? That's what that... thing called me...", Ranma looked closely at the man in front of him, "Who are you? Really."

"Really, Spawn?", he began. "Right now you can call me the Clown. But that may all change in the future."

"My name is Ranma!"

"_WAS_ Ranma. Past Tense. Now you're Spawn, servant of Malebolgia. You've been gone longer than you think, Saotome."

"What are you talking about?"

Clown laughed, "Boy wouldn't I love to tell you, Spawny... But no. You've got to find out for yourself. Go ahead. Open the door, be welcomed by your friends and family."

Ranma grimaced under his mask, but then decided to ignore the man and continue on. As he began to open the door, he heard a chuckle from the man's direction, but when he turned around, he was gone.

He pushed open the door.

talking outside only moments ago, but couldn't make out the conversation. *If someone wants to rob our Dojo*, he thought, *They'd better be well equiped to deal with me!*
 * Bingo*, Soun thought as the door began to open. He could hear

He started by landing a snap kick directly into the figures chin, and continued by releasing punch after punch to the figures abdomen.

The figure grunted at first, obviously surprised by the sudden kick, but for some reason refused to fight back. All the better for Soun, if he could knock the figure into unconsciousness, then it would be free sailing to call the police. Since Genma and Nodoka had left, Soun was left to fend for himself, which he found quite entertaining.

Ranma was dazed. One part of him was telling him to fight back, and maybe even kill the man attacking him, while another part of him said not to. It wasn't long before the latter half took over.

"Wait!", he screamed, blocking the figures kicks and punches.

"Get out of my home!", he yelled back.

Ranma sighed. The only thing he could do was block and hope he gave up and would listen to him. But he wouldn't give up, and Ranma soon lost his patience, knocking him back into the floor.

"Who are you?", the figure got up and asked.

Soun was angry that this figure had managed to block every punch and kick, save for the first one, and even knock him back against the wall.

"I.. don't know..", the figure replied. Again his voice struck a familiar chord in Soun's subconscious, but he could still not remember the source.

"I.. know you.", Soun said, unsure of the source of his feeling.

"Yes," the figure replied. "I'm sure of it."

Soun shook his head. How could he know this.. thing? Chains shook around the figure, seeming almost ghostly, and his cloak fluttered in the wind. *What wind?*, Soun thought for a moment, and looked around for the source. No draft. Nothing.

"I need to know your name.", the figure asked.

"Yours first.", Soun replied, still suspicious.

The figure paused for a moment, and then answered. "I.. _THINK_ It's Ranma. Ranma Saotome."

Soun almost collapsed. "R..Ranma?", he was sent backwheeling. "You're alive?!"

The figure seemed so unsure of itself, but now that he thought of it, the voice did resemble Ranma's voice. Ranma's boy-half anyways. Yes. Thats where the familiarity came from. It _WAS_ Ranma!

---

"Oh Ranma!", the figure jumped towards him, "You _ARE_ alive! Akane will be so happy!"

The figure seemed to be no threat to him, however another part of him saw differently, and was using his chains and cloak to defend. The man was knocked off his feet, and he looked up in fear towards Ranma's eyes.

"Ranma!", the figure cried, "It's me! Soun! You're father-in- law!"

Ranma frowned, "I... Didn't do anything.".. Did he? He couldn't remember. Ranma scowled. He finally become frustrated and pulled his cowl off.

Soun fainted.

Images of the years past danced throughout Souns head. Of the wondrous day Ranma and Akane had married, thus fulfilling the duty that he and his dear friend Genma had agreed on. Then of the week they spent away from home, at a resort that Nabiki had unwillingly paid for. And then finally, and unfortunately, their return. Soun opened his eyes and stared into the darkness.

Soun sat up and scanned the room around him. He grimaced at the sight of the figure he had just fought, and had just realized was Ranma Saotome.

"Ranma", he began, "How long was I out?"

Ranma didn't reply. Instead he shivered in place, standing faceing out towards the Koi pond.

"What.. Am I?", he asked out loud.

The grotesque face that had stared abck at him was nothing like the face that he had seen on Ranma's body the last he had seen him. Nearly five years ago.
 * What is he talking--* Soun began to think, and then remembered.

"Ranma", Soun began, approaching the cloaked figure, "What happened to you?"

Ranma turned around. He had put his cowl back on, much to Souns relief and looked furiously at Soun.

"If I could remember, do you think I'd be here?!", he said.

"Ranma, my boy. Do you remember anything at all since the last time I saw you?"

Ranma cast his view towards the floor. "I can barely even remember you."

Soun took a step back. How could this be? Ranma Saotome, the son of his dearest friend didn't remember him?

"Do you remember anything at all son?"

Ranma thought hard. "Only a few things. A person. A place. And a curse."

"Ahh, you're still affected by your Jusenkyo curse then."

Ranma looked straight into Souns eyes. "You know of Jusenkyo? What is it?"

Soun looked confusedly at Ranma, and then replied. "Of course. It's where you got your curse."

"I got this.. Curse at that place?"

"Yes, you fell into Nyannichuan."

"Nyannichuan?", Ranma asked.

"Spring of Drowned Girl. Thats why you turn into a girl everytime you are splashed with cold water."

Ranma took this new information in. It had a ring of familiarity to it, but no more than simple Deja-vu. But it did explain some things, such as the fact he had expected something to happen when he touched the cold water at the pool. But unfortunately, it wasn't the curse he was talking about. This curse had nothing to do with Ranma's current situation.

"I'm not talking about that curse.", Ranma said, looking away.

"You mean. Your... Body?", Soun asked.

Ranma simply shook his head.

"Ranma, theres something you're not telling me."

Ranma looked at Soun. Suddenly, something came back, as if flooding his memory like an open dam. He remembered Soun.

"Mr. Tendo.", Ranma said, clutching his head.

"Ranma? Whats wrong?", Soun said, coming to the aide of Ranma.

"I remember you now. Your Soun Tendo. You own this dojo with.. With...", Ranma stuttered, then screamed as more memories began to flood his mind. Memories of Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane soon flooded his mind. He could now place Akane's name and face to a personality.

"A..Akane", Ranma cried.

Soun felt a tear escape from his eye. It had been years since he had cried. Since the apparent death of Ranma, he had not cried a single teardrop.

"Ranma.", he began.

"I remember.", Ranma said. "I remember how I came to be here. I remember who lived here. I remember the Jusenkyo curse. But theres still a lot of other things I don't remember. Like how I ended up like this."

"Ranma", Soun continued, "I think you need some rest."

Ranma stood up defiantly. "I'm not tired, Mr. Tendo. Where is everyone?"

Soun shook his head slowly. "Ranma, its been so long. Kasumi has been with Dr. Tofu the past few years, Nabiki left right after you.. Disappeared, and Akane.." Soun looked at the floor.

"What about Akane?", Ranma asked.

"Enough of this.", Soun said. "Ranma, its late. I'll tell you all about it in the morning, but for now lets sleep."

Ranma began to protest, but according to his memory, it was futile, and he reluctantly agreed.

to piece it together!*
 * Very good, Spawny.* Clown thought to himself. *You're starting

The figure that had previously stood in Clowns space, outside of the dojo walls suddenly changed shape. In a grotesque trade-off, what was once Clown now stood a creature of disgusting proportions. At least nine feet tall, with tusks growing out of its gums, and rows of jagged, sharp teeth.


 * Very good indeed.*

"What?", the voice yelled on the other end of the phone. "It's 4 o'clock in the morning!"

Hiroshi sighed. He calmly tried to explain to his friend and partner exactly _WHY_ he was being dragged out of his comfortable bed.

"Daisuke", he began, "Theres been a murder".

"I don't care if there was a mur-- der?", The cellular phone fell silent for a few moments, then the voice returned. "I'll be there in ten minutes."

Hiroshi put the reciever down and walked back towards the crowd of policemen and various journalists. Even the odd passerby had been there. Hiroshi walked up to the security officer and instructed him to move the crowd back.

"So, what do we have exactly, Glen?", he asked the on-site coroner.

The american man looked up and shook his head. "Its nothing like I've seen back in the states.", he began. "Its definately an execution, possibly organized crime, but the weapon used is not of the norm."

"What kind of weapon?", Hiroshi asked, now curious.

Glen lifted the head of the dead man up off of the ground and exposed the stump of the neck directly to Hiroshi. Hiroshi swallowed for a second, trying to keep his guts where they belonged. Glen just non-chalantly pointed out several things.

"The head was sliced clean off. More likely with a katana, or even a scythe.", he pointed, the turned the head upwards to point at several points on the caved in skull, "But this part right here is the problem. That wasn't the only weapon used. The skull has definately been struck by a blunt object. From the looks of it, I'd say a mace."

"Mace?", Hiroshi asked, envisioning a spray can.

"Not mace", Glen continued. "_A_ mace. A weapon that probably hasn't been used in wide circulation for a few hundred years. At least."

"So, with multiple weapons, that means there was more than one person invloved."

"Not necessarily. There are weapons sold today that resemble a scythe tied to a mace. Mostly at antique shops. I remember seeing one a few weeks ago."

"So, its possible that the weapon was purchased at this store."

"Yes, but I'm not finished.", Glen placed the head down on the ground as neatly as he had picked it up. "The body didn't go without its share of injuries. Here.", he opened the man's shirt to reveal a bloody mess. "If this is what I think it is, then our man is indeed talented."

Hiroshi examined the chest for as long as he could stand it. Then looked away. "What do you think it is?"

"A bonbourri. Its a weapon usually used by--"

"I know what a bonbourri is.", Hiroshi interupted, recalling a certain purple-haired amazon from his friends past.

"Well, it looks like it struck him directly in the center of the ribcage, and literally crushed his heart."

"But that would--"

"Yes," Glen interupted, "The force involved in such a strike would be astronomical."

"Excuse me, sir?", a voice interupted from behind.

"Yes?", Hiroshi asked the policeman behind him.

"This woman claims to have witnessed it." he said, motioning towards a shaking woman near the police boundry.

Hiroshi jumped at the mention of it, then bounded off towards the woman.

"Excuse me Miss?"

"Kinshin.", the woman replied, and nodded her head.

"I'm Hiroshi, junior detective for the Nerima Police Department.", he began, "I understand that you witnessed this event."

"Yes.", she said, looking towards the floor.

"What can you tell me about it? How many men were there?"

"Just one.", she said, sullenly.

Hiroshi thought for a second. For a single man to carry all those weapons. Only one man in his memory could do such a thing, but there were two holes in his theory. 1. That man was dead and 2. That man would never do such a thing, unless out of revenge. And this was more than likely a Yakuza execution.

"Can you describe him?", Hiroshi asked.

"He was...", she began, looking around suspiciously, "He was dressed in black."

Okay, that got us nowhere. "Can you tell me anything else?"

"I think he was Chinese. he had an accent."

"He spoke to you?"

"Only briefly. He mentioned it was a nice night, then walked away calmly."

"He didn't threaten you in any way?"

"No. He was actually rather.. polite."

This man was a professional all right. To let a witness get away as easily as that, he had to be either very very smart, or very very stupid. Hiroshi hoped to god it was the latter.

"Hey, what happened?", the voice came from behind.

Hiroshi turned around and motioned Daisuke to come towards him.

"Miss, this is my partner, I'm going to have you tell him everything you saw while I go and check something out."

"Whats up?", Daisuke asked, walking within hearing distance of Hiroshi.

"I need you to get the information from this woman, I'm going over to check something.", he said, walking towards Glen.

Daisuke shrugged and pulled out his notepad.

Chapter Two: A Reason to the Rhyme
The dawn spread itself over Nerima Ward around 5:47 AM. It was a Monday morning, about time for everyone to commute. And as usual, the train was filled to capacity. Amidst a flurry of activity, a single man could be made out in the puzzle of flesh. He stepped away from the boarding area, and squinted from exposure to the western sun. The man was easy to make out as a foreigner, but he also has an alien quality to him. Needless to say, no passenger would stand anywhere near him, if they had the choice. He looked around briefly, before choosing his direction, and then set off, not knowing exactly where his feet would take him.

Perhaps he would find what he was looking for today. Perhaps tomorrow. All he knew was that what he was looking for was in Nerima, and that he had to find it. Then man left the train station, and began his quest down Kinoichi Street.

The light shone in through the upstairs window, and blasted through Nabiki Tendo's eyes. She squinted reflexably, and then slowly opened them. She sat up and pulled the blanket off of her. To her relief, she was in her own bed. Alive. She secretly thanked god and went down stairs into the restaurant.

Kinami, her main okonomiyaki cook had been already awake, she was already dressed in her usual cooking garb, and had already started to heat up the griddle. Nabiki greeted her and fetched herself something to eat before they opened the restaurant.

Opening the refridgerator in the back room, Nabiki pulled out some milk and a box of cereal from the cupboard. She was in a remarkably good mood, and didn't want to jinx it by allowing herself a large meal. As she sat down to eat, she noticed the gash in the side of the table.

The gash was nothing new. In fact, it had been there for close to five years. Nabiki knew she really should buy new furniture, but what for? Expecially if this furniture had nothing else wrong with it. Nabiki let her mind drift as she ran her fingers around the edge of the gash. She knew how it had gotten there, she had been there when it happened. Ukyou had put it there, with her spatula. She also knew why it was put there. She had accompanied Ranma and Akane to Ucchan's one day, to take care of the impending disaster that Ranma and Akane's decision would cause.

Of course, she had accepted a fee for her accompaniment. Nabiki had accompanied them to ensure Akane's safety. It was well known that Ukyou was not a match for Ranma, but they had to ensure that Ranma wouldn't have to be alert for every day of the rest of his life. Nabiki had dug up some dirt, and threatened to use it if push came to shove. It had worked, and since she couldn't strike Akane, she had driven her spatula into the table and walked out. About a week later, Nabiki recieved a letter.

There was no return address, though Nabiki, Akane and Ranma desperately sought her wherabouts. But what was more interesting was the contents of the letter. It was not adressed to Ranma, or even Akane. It was addressed to herself.

Ukyou had left the deed to Ucchan's to Nabiki, knowing full well that she was capable of taking care of the place, and even making it succeed. Which was exactly what it had done. Succeeded.

Ranma died a few months later. A sad event, but Nabiki wasn't about to let it ruin her life. Yes she cared deeply for Ranma, as a sister would a brother, but life goes on. She had to continue. She had made the Okonomiyaki restaurant into a nationwide hangout. There had even been a time when Jackie Chan himself had shown up and eaten at the restaurant during a business trip into the country. Of course, they added other things to the menu, even some western foods. However, the main source of revenue was the Okonomiyaki.

Nabiki chuckled to herself. Ukyou was a great cook, even Nabiki knew that. However, she also knew that she lacked the business sense that had caused the restaurant to thrive as much as it did.

Kinami stepped over and unlocked the door, allowing the regulars entrance. The regulars weren't there.

Nabiki's eyes shot wide, and her stomach did the splits. There, in the doorway a familiar form stood, along with another man whom she didn't recognize. She felt her stomach wrench at the memory of the man. His name was Makaro.

Makaro had made his presence known the previous year, after Ucchan's sudden burst of popularity. He had originally been one of a duo, a partnership with a man named Gendo.

At first glance, they had seemed to be nice people. Nabiki was an excellent judge of character, but for some reason she couldn't pick up anything out of the ordinary with them. She showed them a table and rushed off to help Kinami and the other staff with dinner. When she turned around, she found that much of the restaurant had been emptied, and whoever was left, was leaving at that very moment. Gendo and Makaro stood there smirking at her.

They were very polite at first, introducing themselves as Yakuza. But Nabiki knew with that name came trouble. After a while, they propositioned Nabiki with a deal. She would cater to their meetings and such, and offer her a 'fair' price. However, when they say 'fair' they mean 'free'. Nabiki had refused, knowing full well what they were capable of, but Nabiki also knew what she was capable of.

In the end, they had won. One night they came into the restaurant, and brutally attacked her, leaving her nearly dead. She had spent a week in the hospital, after many visits from Gendo and Makaro, and returned to the restaurant. After that she had no choice but to do as they said.

Then last week she had pulled something. She may not have had the connections of the two Yakuza men, but she pulled up a little bit of attainable information from another Yakuza member, who was a close friend of hers. She found out about Gendo's family.

Gendo's family was wealthy, and even well respected in the community. His father was even the mayor of a town to the west. If the press even got wind that a Mayors son was a Yakuza member, they would have a field day. She waited until Gendo was visiting alone before informing him.

At first mention of this, he threatened to kill her, and her family. But when she informed him that the information was at that moment in the posession of a dozen people, who would gladly contact the press if anything were to happen, Gendo backed down. Since then, neither he or Makaro came by. She had won. It was over. Or so she thought.

"Well, Miss Tendo.", Makaro began.

"What are you doing here?", she demanded, "I went over this last week with Gendo. If you--"

"Mr. Satoni has suffered an.. accident.", he informed her.

"He.. What?", she asked.

Kinami backed away from the door and started towards the back room.

"Where do you think your going?", the other man asked, "You're staying right here miss. This concerns you too."

Makaro nodded and smirked at Nabiki. "Gendo told me of his little chat with you last week. He wanted me to find a way to get around it, so I did."

"You.. Killed him didn't you?"

"Now, Miss Tendo. Do I look like the sort of person who would do that?", he said, looking out of the restaurant towards the limosuine that had been parked out front.

"Come on in.", Makaro said. And a man walked into the door. He was dressed in black, and a mask had covered his face.

"Why am I here?", the man asked.

Nabiki stood back and took the image in. The voice seemed somewhat familair, but she couldn't place it.

"Meet our new friend. He just got here from China. He speaks pretty good Japanese eh?"

"What do you want Makaro? Get to the point."

"My point, Miss Tendo. Is that our previous deal is now Null and Void. If you wish to continue your... meaningless existance, I suggest you do what we say, unless you want us to release our friend here."

"I will not kill a woman.", the man said.

Makaro frowned and looked back at the man, "You'll do what we pay you to!"

The man began to walk towards Makaro, but upon seeing Makaro's jumpy reaction, just chuckled and fell back into place.

"Anyways, our new deal is this. We will allow you enough money to pay your help. We will allow you enough money to pay your bills. But the rest, Miss Tendo. Is ours. Try anything else like you did with Gendo, and I will personally see to it that you are eliminated."

The man with the mask looked to the floor. It had seemed like he had wanted to say something, but for the time being, remained silent.

"And now Miss Tendo, we shall return at closing time. Leaving you enough time to get to your bank and empty it. Consider it a... Price. The price for Gendo's life."

Nabiki gave a cold stare at Makaro as he left, and then, collapsed to the floor.

"Well, that went remarkably well.", Makaro said, after informing the driver of their next location.

"Yes.", the man in the mask said.

"What is wrong with you?", he asked, "You shouldn't be questioning my _PAYING_ authority in front of others!"

The man looked up at him and replied, "I apologize. I am being paid for this, but I knew that woman."

Makaro's eyes shot open. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You didn't tell me who it was until I had seen her."

"So", Makaro began, "Who was she?"

"I don't talk about my past."

"No, consider it a paid conversation. You've piqued my interest."

"I don't sell conversations. Only services."

"Well", he said, "Your no fun. This had better not be an obstacle, however. If I pay you to kill her, you do it."

"I will not kill a woman."

"If I pay you to, you will, or I'll have the entire Nerima chain of the Yakuza up your ass."

"Threats have no meaning to me."

"They will.."

The man shook his head.

Changing the subject, Makaro spoke up. "So, why don't you take off your mask?"

The man leaned back and replied, "If I were to show you my face, I'd have to kill you."

Makaro started to chuckle, still unsure if it was a joke or not, but upon seeing the stillness of the other man, he knew it wasn't.

Nabiki rushed about the restaurant frantically. Since the incident only minutes earlier, she had thrown up twice, and broke down crying three times before she finally gained control. They would be back tonight. God, that wasn't enough time to think about it. Nabiki was definately brighter than most people. Her crude business sense had left more than one person broke in her day. But she couldn't get her way out of this. More time. She needed more time!

She rushed to the cash register. Already, a few of her regulars started to show up as the Yakuza left, most of them visually worried about Nabiki's behavior. She had pulled out the money from the register and begun to count. Good, same amount as was there last night. Maybe if she could hide a certain amount of money--

No. That wouldn't work. They'd find out, and have her killed. Nabiki cherished her money, but even she knew her life was worth no price. It would take some time to think of something. She considered force. Her father? No. She didn't want him involved. Her sister? No. She wasn't skilled enough. Even Gendo was more skilled than her, and that.. Masked man apparently had done him in easily. Ryoga? Possibly. His strength was unmatched, and his Shi Shi Hokoudan would probably blast that man to kingdom come. But no, that wouldn't work either. Above all else, she did not want her family involved in this. If Ranma were still alive, at least he could gather up the strength to fight them. He beat a _DRAGON_ in combat, the Yakuza would be no match for him.

Nabiki sighed and put the money back in the register, she walked to the window and sighed. The only thing she could do for now, was follow their orders.

Soun opened his eyes. Aparently he had slept in a little longer than usual. He attributed his sleepiness to the disturbing dream he had the night before, and stepped out from his room on the top floor of the Tendo home. The home was empty. Genma and Nodoka had left last month to live with her family. Soun smiled at the memory of his dear friend and wife living with him the past five year, even after Ranma's death.

Thinking about Ranma had immediately reminded him of the dream he had the night before. Ranma had shown up, %100 alive, even if a bit disfigured, and wearing the strangest suit. A chill run up his spine as he remembered. Soun began to step down the stairs of the home when he noticed the picture missing.

The picture he had taken only last year was missing from the wall by the stairs. He looked towards the ground, and noticed that it wasn't there either. It was gone.

He thought for a second, trying to remember if it had been misplaced when he had given the place a cleaning the day before, but promptly remembered that he hadn't even dusted it, let alone take it down to wash the frame. He immediately began to search for it.

He remembered the day the picture was taken. The entire family had gathered together, even Genma's family had posed for it. He remembered the hard time he had positioning everyone together correctly so there would be no problem fitting all of them in. He mentally counted the number of people in his head.

The whole Tendo family was there, as well as the Saotome family. Kasumi, Nabiki, Akane. He smiled at the thought of his three daughters. Kasumi was in her fourth year at Medical School. She had since married Dr. Tofu, which was the main reason he had popped up in Souns memory of the event. Genma and Nodoka were there with Ranko, the child they had after Ranma's death. Nodoka had originally wanted another child long ago, before Ranma had died, but Genma had nothing to do with it. He only wanted one child, and Ranma was it. But after he died, Genma and Nodoka could only find happiness in each other, they're relationship has blossomed after that, and they were like teenaged lovers again, then Ranko showed up.

Ranma's alias before Nodoka knew of his curse had been Ranko, and they had named they're new child that for two reasons. 1. Out of respect for Ranma, and 2. Because of her red hair. It wasn't long after that, the Tendo/Saotome family pact had been reborn. Akane had had a child at the tender age of 19. Even though it was against Soun's wishes, they went ahead and had the child. 'They' being Ryoga and Akane.

Originally, Soun had thought the idea of Ranma's friend marrying his widow was scandalous, and an outrage. But seeing Akane upset nearly 24 hours out of the day was even worse, and he had relucantly agreed to the wedding, under the condition that Akane would keep 'Saotome' in her name, out of respect for Ranma. And thus, Ranma Saotome-Hibiki was born.

Soun since then had grown to love Ryoga as a son. He still felt guilty from time to time for allowing the marriage, but Ryoga had assured him that he felt the same. If Ranma and Akane were a perfect match, then Ryoga was the next best thing. If only Ranma could have had a son before he died.

Again, his mind drifted to the dream he had the prior night, but when he walked into the tea room, his brain went into overtime.

Ranma barely acknowledged Soun's presence, he had his mind on other things. For some reason he had not been tired at all the night prior, and had spent his time trying to remember more about his past, and looking at various pictures around the house. He had remembered most of his life up to the Saffron incident when he noticed it.

The picture had been rested on the wall near the stairs. He had passed it several times in his efforts to remember more by looking around the place, but had never actually noticed until he accidentally knocked it off of the wall. He picked it up, and was about to replace it when he saw them.

Akane was the first he recognized. Then bit by bit, each of the people in the picture began to surface in his memory. Kasumi. Doctor Tofu. Ranma wasn't at all surprised at this. He had expected them to marry, and he silently chuckled at the memory of Dr. Tofu's lightheadedness whenever he was in Kasumi's presence. Next he noticed Nabiki. Although her image in the picture was well presented, he could note a hint of worry in her eyes. Next he came to his father and mother. This was a shock to him, to see them so close to each other, and smiling. Most of his memories of his mother were of hiding and lying. Pretending to be 'Ranko' the cousin of the Tendo family.

Most notably about his parents, was that they were not alone. It seemed that there was another member of the family. One that Ranma could not remember no matter how hard he tried. A little girl. Her hair was red like Ranma's girl form, and did share alot of Ranma's girl-form qualities. Right down to the eye colour. He mentally noted that he would have to visit his sister one day soon, as well as his parents. At least to tell them that he is still alive.

What he noticed next blew his mind. Ryoga, his.. 'aquaintance' from memory, but friend from heart was shown holding the hand of the woman he loved most. The woman he had endured this curse for. He was holding Akane's hand. Not as friends, but as lovers. The image of a small boy sitting on the ground between them seemed to verify his worries. After that point, he had been enraged with pure anger and hatred, but let it die down to simple contemplation afterwards.

"Ranma?", Soun said, stepping towards him.

Ranma temporarily cut himself loose from the trance long enough to greet Soun, but not much else.

"Hello Mr. Tendo."

"Ranma...", he said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "it wasn't a dream."

Ranma scoffed, "I wish it was."

"Ranma, whats the matter?"

Ranma turned and pointed towards the picture laying on the tea room table. The frame had been broken and picture crumpled and if by a fist.

Soun immediately knew what was wrong. "Ranma, I wanted to tell you last night, but..."

"It's not your fault, Mr. Tendo.", he said, depressingly, "I know you just didn't want to hurt me."

"Ranma, you were gone so long, they thought you were dead, as did the rest of us."

"I loved her."

"I know Ranma, we all knew. And it was painfully obvious after you had gotten married--"

"What?", Ranma asked, looking even closer into Soun's surprised face.

"You mean, you don't even remember that?"

"No, of course I don't remember. How long were we married before I disappeared?"

Soun looked sullenly towards the ground. "Five Months."

Ranma took this new information in. He knew he loved her, but he didn't know that they were married. The last thing he could remember was the botched up wedding, which, if memory served him correct, was _SERIOUSLY_ botched up.

"How long after the Saffron incident did we get married?"

Soun looked into Ranma's eyes. Though they were mainly covered by his cowl, he could imagine the pain which was portrayed in their image. "Nearly a year."

Ranma tried desperately to remember what was going on. He would have to question Soun for whatever he was fuzzy on, or didn't remember.

Soun suddenly noted the time. Quarter to Ten. He let an image pass through his mind, and quickly decided it would be best to avert a meeting between Ryoga and Ranma at this point. At least until Soun could have a talk with Ryoga about the events that have transpired. "Ranma, we're going to have to finish this conversation another time. As much as I'd like you to stay around, I think its best you go out and find some things out for yourself, the morning class will be here soon."

"Morning class?", Ranma asked.

"Yes.", Soun winked at him, "This dojo has become a hotspot for aspiring Martial artists!"

Ranma began to protest his leaving, but after Soun began to push him out of the door, he knew it was futile.

Annoyed, he started to speak, "When should I come back?"

Soun looked at the clock and then replied, "About four."

"Gendo Satoni", Daisuke said, dropping a file down in front of Hiroshi.

"What?", he asked.

"Gendo Satoni. The corpse?"

"Oh. Thats his name?"

"Yep, and get this. He's the _SON_ of Mikasagi Satoni."

Hiroshi frowned, "Who is...?"

"You don't follow politics much, do you?", Daisuke replied. "Mikasagi Satoni, as in _MAYOR_ Mikasagi Satoni of Kosaka."

"You mean hes the sone of a mayor?"

"Duh. Apparently junior here was a member of the Nerima Chapter of the Yakuza."

"Have we got any more information on the perp?"

"Not yet. Apparently there's a few rumours floating around underground that there's a new assassin in town, all the way from China."

"Could it have been him?"

"More than likely, I got the file of another of his 'clients' back in Hong Kong. Lets just say the MO is... Similiar."

"So, whats the deal on motive?"

"Well, apparently this guy was big on extortion. A few business owners stepped forward after his death and told the whole story."

"Could it have been one of them?"

"Doubtful. From what I hear, this Chinese guy is expensive, and from the amount of money Gendo was extorting from them.. Well, use your head."

"I see. Do we have anything else on the suspect?"

"Just a file larger than a breadbox. He's got over 40 confirmed killings, and another 15 unconfirmed. This guys MO is strange, but methodical. He kills them three times through. First, he hits them in the heart with a--"

"A bonbourri, then crushes their skulls with a mace, and takes their heads off with a scythe."

Daisuke nodded. "Pretty much."

"Daisuke, maybe its just me, but doesn't this sound familiar. A single man, having two or three weapons at his disposal."

Daisuke shook his head. "It can't be him. He died with Ranma."

"Yes, but isn't it possible that Mousse survived? I mean, When Shampoo came back, spouting that they were both dead, she had no evidence!"

"Look, even he was _WAS_ still alive, he couldn't have done it. Mousse may have been nearsighted and quick to judge, but there's no way in hell he was a killer."

"Well, maybe there was someone else with Mousse's skills. It possible!"

Daisuke paused for a moment. "Your right", he said, "We should check out the immigration department for any Jokusetsuzoku immigrants."

Hiroshi nodded, and began to flip through the file that Daisuke had thrown on his desk. He looked up at his friend and contemplated.

"Do we have a list of the business owners that were being extorted?", he asked.

Daisuke acknowledged him and pulled a sheet of paper from the files on the desk. "Right here", he said, handing it to him.

Hiroshi scanned the sheet quickly, seeing if anything would pop out at him. Fortunately, something did.

"Well, I'll be.", he muttered.

"Whats up?"

Hiroshi didn't even answer, he just turned the paper around and pointed at a name. Daisuke let a grin show on his face as he recited the name.

"Nabiki Tendo."

"Where is the damn bus?*, Ryoga thought. He normally took the bus to get to work, it was part of Akane's master plan.

Since Ryoga had constantly been getting lost, she began to walk with him to certain places, and soon worked out a system. For cross- town destinations, a map would be drawn, and he would use mass transportation to reach it.

For shorter trips, like from the front door to the bus stop, he soon learned, that instead of focusing on the main destination, he would focus on 'baby-steps' as Akane had called them. For instance, His first destination from the front door, would be to follow the walkway to the sidewalk, from the sidewalk, he would walk three streets left of his position, and wait at the bus stop. The bus soon showed up, and he got off at the third stop. From the third stop, he would get off, walk across the street, turn left, walk two streets over, and face his right. That would usually place him at the outside wall of the Tendo Dojo. From that point, he was usually okay, but from time to time he would turn left instead of right and end up missing for days at a time. Before long, Akane stopped getting worried and just waited patiently for him to return home.

Although not completely 'fixed', his sense of direction was getting remarbly better. He had even learned to retrace his steps.

He let his brain wander for a minute when the bus showed up. Again able to process conscious thought, he stepped onto the loading platform, and let the doors close behind him.

Ranma knew he couldn't be seen, and he made sure he wasn't. Since he had left, aparently, Nerima had been nearly devoid of Martial Artists, and he found himself easily escaping the views of everyone he passed by, over, and in some cases, under.

He soon found himself blocks away from the Dojo, and began to think of where his new destination would be. He thought for a moment, and then reluctantly decided the closest place would be the Nekohanten, and set his sights for the restaurant.

Although he hadn't expected anyone he knew to be there, there was still the chance that it was run by someone associated with Shampoo, Mousse or even Cologne.

He passed from rooftop to rooftop on his journey to the Nekohanten. He wasn't hungry, but he needed to see things for himself.

While jumping across a wide street, he had waited for the nearest vehicle to pass by between him and the other end of the street, incidentally, the vehicle had been a bus. He timed his jump correctly and jumped across, landing on the bus and then on the other side of the road, leaving behind nothing but a thump and a small dent.

Ryoga had nearly had a heart attack. Here he was, just sitting on the bus, counting the stops, when the roof _RIGHT_ above him had nearly caved in. Examining the ceiling he noted two foot-shaped dents and began to wonder. It had been a long while since any _GOOD_ Martial artist had come to Nerima, and the ones that were there, he knew personally. Shampoo and Ukyou had left a long time ago, Tarou hadn't been seen in.. God only knows how long, Happosai went to America, but it was doubtful that he weighed enough to make that kind of dent. Ryoga suddenly felt a familiar chill run up his spine, it was only moments later when he released that it was the same as the one he had the night before.

Akane felt the chill run up her spine. She had felt a familiar presence, but dismissed it, so as not to worry her son.

Ranma Saotome-Hibiki was three years old. He would be four in five months, and he was already becoming the elite martial artist that his namesake would have been proud of. Although Akane felt remorseful that she never had the chance to have big Ranma's child, she loved her son with all of her heart.

For a reason unknown to Akane, she had been thinking alot of Ranma over the past two hours since she woke up. She couldn't identify exactly why, but the thoughts were pouring in her head like an endless waterfall. Her memory drifted back to the time she found out Ranma had died. The day Shampoo returned to Nerima and gave the dreadful news that Mousse and Ranma had died protecting her.

Originally Akane was in denial, she waited day after day on the front porch of the dojo, but he still never showed up. It was only after that that she had accepted the fact that he would never come back.

Akane did the only thing she could do. She ignored it. Pretended she had never met Ranma, but that had come with its consequences. After two weeks of her 'ignorance', she was admitted into the hospital, near death because she hadn't eaten anything. She may have been able to forget about Ranma, but she also forgot to eat. Her only support during those times was Shampoo, Nabiki and most notably, Ryoga.

She had found out of Ryoga's 'secret' just before Ranma had died. She was extremely angry at him for weeks afterwards, but after Ranma died, it just didn't matter anymore. Before long, she found herself becoming attached to him.

The courting process was long, and not without its share of problems. She cared for Ranma deeply, and being with Ryoga felt like betrayal to Akane, even if Ranma _WAS_ dead!

But soon, fate had taken its course. She had fallen in love with Ryoga. True, the feelings weren't as strong as they were for Ranma, but there were feelings nonetheless, and before long, Ryoga proposed.

Getting her father to accept the proposal however, was harder. The old man gave in after a while, and they were married. It wasn't long after before she found out she was pregnant.

And thus, Ranma Saotome-Hibiki was born, and much to Akane's relief, there was no trace of the Jusenkyo Curse. It just wouldn't do well to have your first born wander around as a piglet.

She smiled at her son. Even though he was a mere three years of age, he took martial arts seriously, even more seriously than his parents. He seemed to follow after his namesake. Most children his age watched the greatest kids shows, and went to preschool to play with toys, but little Ranma, was a martial artist at heart. In fact, at that very moment, he was practicing his Kata on the balcony.

"Whatcha doing honey?", she asked her son.

"I doing kata!", he excitedly replied.

"Wow", she feigned. "Well, when your done, why don't you come in and have something to eat?"

Little Ranma nodded and jumped into the house. Even for a three year old, his balance and Coordination was impecable. Akane often wondered about it, but soon dismissed it as a gift.

The Nekohanten was still the Nekohanten, much to Ranma's relief. It was still a restaurant, and still open. But the owners, however, were not the originals. From a quick check-in, he had found out that these people had purchased the restaurant from Shampoo and Cologne five years earlier, but refused to tell him any more than that, and shooed him away with the threat of calling the police. Even though Ranma could easily take the police down, he just wasn't in the mood for such a thing. He looked around for a moment, and then decided on a new destination. Ucchan's was three blocks away.

"Ranma Saotome?", the voice asked.

At first, Ranma thought it was his visitor from the previous night, but on closer examination at the source, he changed his mind. The source was an old man. A white beard extended down to his stomach area, and his eyes sparkled with intelligence.

"Who are you?", he asked.

The man walked up to him and replied, "I am Count Nicholas De Cogliostro."

Absolutely positive that he didn't know the man, Ranma began to interrogate him. "That doesn't tell me much." he said.

"Of course.", the man stepped up to Ranma and held out his hand, "We have something in common."

"Oh yeah? Whats that?"

"Your curse."

Ranma's brain worked into overtime, considering the mans statement, he soon broke free of his trance and stared at him.

"So, that doesn't explain how you know my name."

"I have my sources.", the man explained. "I'm surprised it was you actually, from my examination, during your life you were a kind person, if not a little.. Shall we say.. Ill-tempered?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I had thought I had narrowed who the new Hellspawn would be to a government assassin. I was in New York for the past few months waiting for him to emerge there, but a few days ago, I felt your presence beginning to manifest. I had to follow it."

"You're not answering my questions!", Ranma was now near-raging.

"I suppose you'd need a better explanation. Above all, you should remember the deal.. Correct?"

"The deal...", Ranma looked towards the ground, "Yes."

"Well, lets just say, long ago, I had made the same deal."

Ranma looked into the man's eyes. He wasn't lying. "Why did this happen to me?"

"You are a hellspawn. A warrior recruited by the likes of Malebolgia."

"What?"

"You apparently did something during your life that warranted being sent to hell. Upon your arrival, Malebolgia offered you something, in exhange for your services."

"Hell? You're crazy, old man.", Ranma said, turning to leave, "I'm not dead."

"You are dead, Saotome. Even if you don't realize it now, you will.", Cogliostro said, but it was too late, Ranma had already disappeared.

Ranma jumped from rooftop to rooftop, Ucchans was just a little further, and Ranma didn't want to stick around with the old man. Of course he wasn't dead, how would he be here?

But the premise did explain a few things, like how he no longer had his Jusenkyo curse, and how there's a good six years missing from his memory, five of which he had been apparently dead. And also-- No. He stopped himself. He was thinking crazy things, of course hes not dead.

Ranma kept jumping along the rooftops until he reached his new destination. Making sure the place was empty, he went through the doorway.

Nabiki sighed. Two things were bothering her. The first was that, since the few customers that had shown up earlier, barely any had came into the establishment since, and the place was devoid of life. The second was what she was going to do about Makaro. She took a look back outside into the main restaurant, and noticed Kinami sitting in one of the chairs eating some of her own Okonomiyaki. She mentally noted to charge her for the food.

She went back to thinking about what she was going to do before she was interupted by a screech.

Kinami had known the consequences of eating the supplies, even if there were no customers, but she knew she would accept the punishment and pay for the supplies out of her wages. She was hungry, and it was the only thing she could do to take her mind off of the incident earlier.

Kinami cooked herself some okonomiyaki and sat down at a table. She began to scarf it down, wondering how she would help her good friend Nabiki. She had the beginnings of an idea when she saw him.

He had appeared out of nowhere, coming through the door without so much as the sound of a footstep, and he was dressed strangely. Chains all about his body, even a large red cloak and a cowl. She looked to him like a sadistic superhero, when she let her larynx take over.

The woman screamed at him. A response he had expected. However, he had also expected it to be someone he would recognize. It was not, some woman dressed in an okonomiyaki chefs outfit. Ranma shrugged inwardly, he wasn't in the mood for asking questions and began to turn around an leave. He was nearly out the door when he heard it.

"What the hell is-- Oh my god.", the females voice said from the back. Ranma immediately recognized it.

"What the hell do you want? We've got until tonight!", Nabiki yelled at him.

Ranma felt his guts wrench inside of him. Here was someone else from his past someone he recognized. Here was the sister of his love, Nabiki Tendo.

"Nabiki..", he said.

"We've got until tonight!", the voice replied, "And who gives you the right to call me by my first name!"

"Nabiki", Ranma pleaded, "Its me!"

Nabiki began to let her stern expression evolve into something else, but then returned to its former position.

"Who are you?", she asked.

Ranma began to think of what to tell her. 'Hey, its me Ranma, I'm not dead, just had amnesia for the past five years' didn't seem plausible. "I'm a friend.", he replied instead.

"Oh yeah?", Nabiki stepped up to him, "I don't have friends who dress like that."

"You don't even recognize my voice, do you?"

Nabiki thought for a second and replied, "Yeah, it sounds familiar, but that doesn't mean a thing."

"Nabiki. If I tell you who I am, you've got to promise that you'll hear me out."

Nabiki stared up into his eyes. "Fine." she said, still visibly suspicious.

"I'm... I'm Ranma."

Something clicked. Nabiki let the name seep in. The voice, she knew it seemed familiar, but Ranma? She let herself think long and hard over the present situation. A number of possibilities ran through her head. At first she thought was that it was some sort of sick joke, but the posture. The way he talked. It _HAD_ to be Ranma.

"Ranma?", she said, backing away, "H..How?"

Kinami also knew the name. Many nights had passed by when Nabiki would talk of nothing but Ranma and his skills, and his curse. She also made sure to mention how much money she had made off of him.

"I thought Ranma was dead.", she said to Nabiki.

Ranma looked at Kinami. He was sure he didn't recognize her, but asked anyways, "Do I know you?"

Kinami turned towards Ranma and smiled, "No, but Nabiki sure does talk about you alot.", she held out her hand, expecting it to be shook.

Ranma reluctantly held out his gloved hand. They shook and Kinami immediately began to inspect his costume.

"Hey, cool threads!", she said, "I was never really into the goth thing, but I've gotta admit.. Very trendy!"

"Ranma?", Nabiki asked, mouth still gaping wide open.

"Yes, its me", he held out his arms as a friendly gesture.

Nabiki ran into them immediately. She hugged him as hard as she could. Her brother-in-law was back. _HE_ could help her with her problems!

"N..Nabiki?", Ranma asked.

"I can't believe you're alive!", she cried.

"I'm.. uhh.. I'm not going to be much longer if you keep hugging me like that."

Nabiki smiled. Now _THIS_ was the Ranma she remembered. Sense of humour intact, even if his wardrobe was a bit... different.

She backed away from him for a moment and took his image in. "Get tired of the same old clothes?"

"Well", Ranma said, looking himself over, "This isn't exactly by choice."

Nabiki smiled. She didn't know what he meant, but she didn't care either. Ranma was back. The _ONE_ person that could save her from the Yakuza. The _ONE_ person outside of her own family that she cared for like a brother. Nabiki wouldn't let her smile go and even let a tear run down her cheek. Suddenly, her business sense had taken over.

"Ranma", she said, "I've got a problem."

Ranma knew this. He knew this ever since he saw her only a few minutes ago. She was afraid of him, even threatening him. Of all the possibilities in Ranma's mind, he could only narrow it down to one.

"Somethings going to happen tonight.", he said.

Nabiki nodded. "Yakuza.", she said.

Everything began to fall into place. There were still a few things he was unclear on, such as how Nabiki got to own Ucchans, and why they were extorting such a small business, and when they had made they're presence known in Nerima, but he got the main idea. Extortion.

Ranma felt obligated to help, and that was exactly what he planned on doing. "You can count on me.", was all he could say.

Chapter Three: Anatidaephobia
The knock came quickly, but not totally unexpected. Nabiki turned to Ranma and nodded. Getting the idea, he dissappeared into the back room, and out of a window. Sensing it now safe, Nabiki answered the door.

Standing at the door were two faces who she did not expect to see for a very long time. Her face lit up with a smile. "Hiroshi. Daisuke. To what do I owe this pleasure?", she asked.

Hiroshi smiled and stepped into the restaurant. "Hello Nabiki. Long time, no see."

Daisuke followed his friends lead. "We're actually here on business, not pleasure."

Nabiki felt suspicious, but never let her smile diminish. "You're joking right? With you two, its always pleasure. What kind of business?"

"Well, theres been a murder last night. And we thought that you may know something about it.", Hiroshi said, straight out.

"Let me guess", Nabiki put her finger up, "Gendo Satoni?"

Hiroshi nodded, unsurprised.

Nabiki shrugged. "I was informed about it this morning."

"By who?"

"Makaro Sobaku."

"Makaro Sobaku? As in..."

"Yeah, his partner in crime.", Nabiki said, "But I had nothing to do with the murder."

"Of course not Nabiki. What do you take us for?"

"You really want me to answer that?", she said with a wink.

"So this Makaro Sobaku would probably be our first suspect. Nabiki, if it came to court, would you testify?"

Nabiki thought for a second. "Whats in it for me?", she said, knowing full well that with Ranma around, Makaro would most definately go to jail, or even worse.

"You never change, do you?", Daisuke smiled.

She thought for a moment. "Nope."

Ranma jumped along the rooftops of the main commercial district. He remembered many of the places below as old haunts, and other places he had just passed by without giving so much as a second glance. There were a few new establishments below, mostly coffee shops or arcades. He imagined the local businessmen would come to this area for their lunch break.

After jumping along the rooftops for a short while, he finally came to a rest. Making sure not to be seen, he found himself a good viewing point atop one of the many Coffee shops in the Commercial district. It was then that he felt a familiar, yet annoying presence.

Tatewaki Kuno stopped dead in his tracks. Since his Kenpo training had begun a few years earlier, his senses had become more fine-tuned. He could now jump with amazing accuracy, and had started to rely more on his fists than his trademark Bokken, but even still, Kendo was a big part of his life. 'The Law of the Fist', however, was taking over.

His senses had told him someone was watching him. Usually he would ignore such senses, as he recieved them often, but he also felt a dark presence as well. He looked towards the source.

Ranma's eyes went wide with surprise. He spotted Kuno only moments earlier, and began to watch him with curiousity to see what he'd been up to in Ranma's absence. But what he did not expect was for Kuno to freeze dead in his tracks, and shift his position to look directly at Ranma. No looking around, just from point A, to point B.

What surprised him even more, that even in his business suit, he had managed to jump up onto the roof of the building he was spying from, and go into a _KENPO_ defensive stance.

"And who might you be, to gaze upon one such as I?", he asked.

Ranma, mind still reeling at Kuno's newfound abilities, hazily answered. "R..Ranma Saotome."

Kuno's eyes went wide. He seemed shocked to hear the name, which was expected. What he did not expect however, was Kuno's reply.

"One such as you has no right to use the name of one so honorable as Ranma Saotome!"

Ranma's mind went blank. *Honorable?*, he thought, *This _CANT_ be Kuno!*

"Alas, it is with great honor that he died a warriors death, he and the brave soul Mousse, protecting the fair Shampoo from the likes of the evil Sorcerer, Kenoru."


 * Kenoru? Who the hell is that?*, he thought.

"Listen, Kuno. It is Ranma."

"Silence knave! For the honor of all that loved him, I shall avenge in his permenant absence!"

And with that, Kuno attacked. He started with a quick crescent kick, followed by a barrage of various fist techniques.

Ranma, still confused as ever, managed to block the attacks with ease. Moment later, without so much as a punch being issued from Ranma, Kuno fell unconscious.

Now Ranma was _REALLY_ confused. He hadn't punched Kuno at all, not even tried to counter his attacks, but here he was, lying unconscious, with a bump to the back of his head. Looking around, he noticed no other persons nearby, and proceded to try and wake Kuno up. He had questions to ask. He was busily shaking the unconscious body of Kuno. Of a different Kuno than he had known long ago when a voice interupted.

"Hey!", it yelled, "Who the hell is up there? You'd better move on before I call the police!"

Ranma growled at the thought, he decided with Kuno's newfound skills, he could easily move to the ground after he woke up. No doubt he would be angry that Ranma had left, but that was to be expected. He needed to find out more. Ranma began moving along the rooftops once more.

"Here", Makaro offered a plate of food to the masked man.

"I am not hungry", he replied.

Makaro shrugged and stuffed the noodles into his mouth by means of chopstick, he busily continued to finish the plate off.

"When will we return to Uc--... To the restaurant?", he asked.

"In time, friend", was the reply, "We've got to give her time to go to the bank."

"Why do you not just accompany her to the bank and withdraw the money? It would save you the money of my accompaniment."

"Oh, but I enjoy your company. And we just don't work like that."

The man nodded. "I don't deal with your kind often, I usually work for individuals. Not organizations."

"Well, I'm surprised. The Yakuza could make you a rich man with your talents. I'm surprised you're not rich already."

"I have no need for money."

"But you charge a bundle. Just what do you do with the money anyways?"

"That is not your concern. Your concern is lies only on whether or not I have completed the task."

Makaro shrugged as he downed more noodles. "Fine, if you want to be like that."

The masked man mentally stroked the scar riddling the side of his face as he focused his vision to lie on the man in front of him. Since they had first met, he had immediately disliked him. He disliked all of his kind, even the individual clients. He even disliked himself, but he was not a man anymore, not a man of honor. Not even half a man. He had lost that five years earlier.

The clock hit twelve-thirty and Ryoga clapped his hands. The class in the dojo before him immediately stopped sparring and bowed in Ryoga's direction. He nodded, and let them all leave. He turned around to look at Soun, who had apparently stepped outside a few moments earlier to sit and stare at the Koi pond. He joined him outside.

"Brings back memories, doesn't it?", he asked.

Soun nodded, aparently dazed by the view. Ryoga knew something had been bothering Soun all morning, but had never worked up the courage to ask. He decided it was best to get him speaking, before asking.

"You remember when Ranma and I would fight, and it would always end up with one, or both of us ending up in the koi pond? If it was me, then Akane would come out and knock Ranma in for picking on 'P-Chan'." Ryoga chuckled at the memory. Still recieving no response from Soun. He was about to try again when Soun began to speak.

"Ryoga, my boy.", he began, not making eye contact. "You know I respect the decision you and Akane made to get married and have children, right?"

Not quite getting the idea, Ryoga nodded. "Yep."

Soun sighed and began to tremble. "I believe the decision may have been a bit premature."

Ryoga, truly confused could reply with the only thing he could think of. "What?"

"Ryoga, last night I had a visitor."

"A visitor?"

He nodded. "Someone we haven't seen in a very long time."

Ryoga tried to search the back of his mind. He finally came up with a name. "No. Not.. Happosai?"

Soun almost laughed as he shook his head. "Ryoga. It was.. Ranma."

"Couldn't of been. He was asleep all night, and if he had gotten out of his crib, then--"

"Not that Ranma."

Ryoga looked confused for a split second before the realization hit him. "R.. Ranma? You mean.. _THE_ Ranma? Ranma who died five years ago Ranma?"

Soun nodded.

Ryoga brain clicked into full overtime.

"Here it is", Daisuke motioned towards Hiroshi. "Makaro Sobaku. Petty theft, Extortion, assault, accused of rape, but the witness never showed up at the trial."

"So, this could be the guy then?", Hiroshi asked, hopefully.

"If it is, the guy doesn't cover his tracks well. I wonder if he's got an alibi."

"More than likely. These types usually do."

"Not surprising though. Should we bring him in?"

"Well, all we've got so far is a suspicion. If this was Gendo's partner, then there may be the friendship factor. I think we should question him before we bring him in."

Daisuke nodded his agreement and began to look up for more information on Makaro.

Kuno blinked his eyes momentarily at the sun staring down at him. He had aparently been unconscious for only a few minutes, at the sun was not much farther east than it had been when he had fought with the unknown man.

He sat and and rubbed the back of his head. He silently cursed the man for using such cowardly methods then as to take him hand to hand. After he stood up he looked around, to try and get his bearings. He had been knocked to the ground and dirtied his business suit. It looks like he would have to take the rest of the day off. His employees would more than likely understand, and his sister could cover his responsibilities until the next day.

He stood and thought for a few moments about his oppenent. He had said his name was Ranma Saotome. Kuno sincerly doubted that it was his real name, as Ranma had died five years earlier, but the actual reality of the matter, was that the fighting styles were very similiar. Maybe a few differences, but quite similiar. He even seemed to be better than the real Ranma, which was rather a contradiction in itself. To his knowledge, nobody had honorably bested Ranma in combat, not even himself. And even with his newfound skills, he probably still wouldn't be able to do it. Granted he would give him a run for his money, but in the end, Ranma would eventually win. He always did.

But why use Ranma's name? What would it gain him? He remembered the day he had learned of his death. To that point, Kuno had despised Ranma to a point that had clouded his mind with false truths. Like that Ranma Saotome was a sorcerer who had stolen the heart of Akane Tendo and the Pig-Tailed girl from him. After they had gotten married, and he had seen to happiness of Akane, he accepted they're marriage and focused on winning the heart of the pig-tailed girl. It was only after Ranma had died when he learned the truth. The truth that Ranma and the Pig-Tailed girl were one in the same.

The evidence had been so clear, since the second time he and Ranma had fought. They had jumped from a third story window and landed in the school's swimming pool. And suddenly, Ranma had disappeared, replacing himself with the innocent Pig-tailed girl.

Since that time, too many similiar instances had occured. When they traveled to China to rescue Akane from the clutches of Kirin, Master of the Seven Lucky Gods School of Martial arts. Ranma had accompanied them, but suddenly disappeared, leaving the pig-tailed girl in his wake. To the time they had been stranded on a deserted isle, and the Pig-Tailed girl disappeared to leave Ranma in her Absence. It had been clear in Tatewaki's suspicions for some time, but had never manifested itself in his conscious memory. After his death, it had.

Since that time he had done nothing but think of Ranma's fate. He had not been a sorcerer at all during the time he had known him. Not a practitioner of Black magic as he had originally thought. In fact, after thinking long anough about it, he saw Ranma as a very honorable man, who died an honorable death. It was himself that had been dishonorable, constantly pursuing that which he could not have. Akane Tendo and the Pig-Tailed girl.

Since that time, Kuno had allowed himself to be taught the art that Ranma had followed so honorably. Learning from Ranma's father, as well as the friend of Ranma. Ryoga Hibiki.

Ryoga and Genma had been hesitent to teach Tatewaki at first, but soon agreed after seeing the money he was willing to pay. He religiously followed his training, even agreeing to go on several training trips with Genma, Ryoga or sometimes both. However, after being lost in China for several weeks, he decided it would be best for him to lead the training trips when with Ryoga.

His friendship grew with Ryoga, and he felt proud of the fact that he was considered the Godfather of little Ranma, the son of Ryoga and Akane.

Kuno looked at his watch and he jumped down from the roof, surprising several bystanders, and walked off towards his home.

Five Hours Later...

Ranma leaped from rooftop to rooftop, backtracking his steps towards Ucchans, casually passing over the area where he and Kuno had the earlier confrontation.

The rest of the day after that had been mainly uneventful. He had gone to Furinkan to discover that Ms. Hinako was still teaching there, and she was still as she had always been. He had the pleasure of sapping two young martial artist of they're battle abilities before continuing his survey. Aparently, principal Kuno was no longer there, having heard talking from several senior students that they were thankful he left for hawaii three years earlier, he smiled. Also, aparently the legacy of himself, Kuno, Ukyo and Akane were still rampant among the students. He smiled at that thought as he continued his way.

The rest of the day held no more interest, and he decided it would be best to help Nabiki at Ucchans. He still wondered where Ukyo was, and told himself to ask Nabiki after the situation today was taken care of.

Ranma swung into Ucchans moments later.

"Are we ready?", he asked.

Soun paced back and forth. It was 5:30, and Ryoga had left a few hours earlier, looking rather phased at the revelation that had been brought forth. Soun told him to keep it from Akane for now, until they could figure out what to do. Of course, it was much to late now for Ranma and Akane to be together again, especially with little Ranma in the picture.


 * Where is that boy*, he asked himself as he continued to pace.

"Are we ready?", the figure that had just swung into the restaurant said. Reflexivekly, Kimiko shrieked.

"What?", he asked.

Whacking Ranma over the head with a small cooking spatula, she replied, "You scared the hell outta me!"

"Ranma. They should be here in half an hour.", Nabiki said from the back room. "Can we get you something to eat?"

"No thanks, I'm not hungry."

Nabiki walked out of the room carrying a small case. She paused for a moment and looked at Ranma. "Why are you still wearing that?"

Ranma looked himself over. "Well, I don't think I'd be very welcome if I took it off."

"I think I have a box in back with some of your old clothes, you want me to get them?"

Ranma recalled Soun's shocked look when he had removed his cowl and shook his head. "Trust me, I'll be fine in this."

Nabiki frowned for a second, when realization hit her. "Ahh, you want to intimidate them eh?"

"Something like that."

"No problem then."

"Nabiki, could you do me a favour?"

"Depends. What?"

"Call your dad, let him know I'm here so he doesn't worry."

Nabiki nodded and stepped over to the phone after putting the case down.

"Whats in the case?", Ranma asked.

"Just a prop.", she said as she dialed.

Soun raced to the phone as soon as it rang. "Hello?", he asked frantically.

"Daddy?", the familiar voice came from the other end.

Soun suddenly dropped his excitement, and almost sounding dissapointed, greeted his daughter. "Hello Nabiki. Its been a while since you've called."

"Jeez, don't sound so excited to hear from me, Daddy."

"I'm sorry, I was just expecting a call from a friend."

"Well, your friend is here right now, doing me a favour."

"He's there?"

"Yep, he showed up earlier, surprising the hell outta me. Which reminds me, why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't mind being woken up in the middle of the night with news like that."

"Well, I wasn't sure what to do."

"And whats with sending him out this morning so fast? You'd think talking with your dead son-in-law would be more important than the morning class."

In the background, Soun heard a brief, but firm comment. "Hey, I'm not dead!"

Ignoring Ranma's comment, he continued, "I had to, I was worried about what would happen when Ryoga-- Oh nevermind, I'll be there in a few minutes!"

Nabiki looked down surprisingly at the reciever at the fact that her father had just hung up the phone while she was still talking.

"Something wrong?", Ranma asked, now reclined on a chair.

"You break it, you buy it Ranma.", Nabiki offered, noting that Ranma's weight with the chains and other such decorations riddling his suit was probably increased a good two to three hundred points.

Ranma nodded, "Wouldn't have it any other way."

And with that, a knock came to the door. Nabiki didn't even have to say anything while Ranma quickly and quietly moved his way to the back room. Nabiki answered the door.

"Ahh, Ms. Tendo", Makaro began, smiling at his victim.

"Your money's here, Makaro.", she replied, frowning.

"I hope you don't mind, but I brought our friend from earlier to ensure that our deal doesn't go sour."

"The only sour thing in this room is your face, Makaro.", Kimiko pointed out from behind the grill.

Makaro sneered. "Shut up wench before I give you the same fate as Gendo!"

Kimiko redundantly stuck out her tongue.

Makaro was seemingly easy to get angry, as he pulled out his gun a moment later.

"Would you like to taste lead?", he said, stepping further into the restaurant, and allowing the masked man in. He took one look around and whispered into his ear. Makaro frowned.

"Take care of it.", he said. "And then take care of them."

"I will not kill women", he replied.

"Damn you, just do your job! If you won't kill the girls, I will!"

The man sneered under his mask and began towards the back room.

Nabiki swallowed hard.

"Now, Ms. Tendo. Our mutual friend here has informed me of someone else in the restaurant. You have ten seconds to explain before I pull the trigger."

The masked man confusedly walked out of the back room.

"What?", Makaro asked.

"Hes gone. He must of slipped out the window."

"Well, what are you waiting for, follow hi--- URK!", Makaro screamed as he was struck from behind, and sent reeling into a table. Behind him, Ranma rose from a crouching position.

"Nobody hurts my friends."

Makaro looked up at Ranma and smirked. "You're going to pay for that, you fool."

Makaro pointed the gun at Ranma and pulled the trigger. The bullet connected with the wall where Ranma had just been standing. He picked up Makaro by the foot and took him to eye level.

"You're going to leave Nerima, you understand? You are not going to come back."

Makaro pulled the trigger again, this time connecting with Ranma's gut. He reflexivly dropped Makaro and bent over.

"I warned you, you bastard! Don't mess with me!", Makaro screamed. He stopped and stared as Ranma stood back up as if nothing had happened, and let neon green blood flow freely from his wound.

"What are you?", he screamed, then looked at the masked man. "What are you waiting for? Get him!"

Whether out of defiance or annoyance, the masked man punched Makaro out of the way, and slowly removed his mask.

"One who will see my true face will not live long.", he said as he removed the mask. He was looking directly at Ranma.

Ranma was ready for a fight until the very moment the man had removed his mask. Nabiki had aparently seen as well, because she shrieked in surprise. A large burn scar ran down the side of his face, but it was him. It was Mousse.

"Mousse?", Ranma asked.

Mousse simply smiled. "Whether Nabiki has told you of me, or you know my name because you know me, it is no matter. It does not change your fate."

"Mousse, wait.", Ranma began, but Mousse had already begun his attack. He first launched a Mace towards Ranma's head. He easily sidestepped the throw, but found that a bonbori was heading towards his chest. He couldn't block it with his hands, because they were too busy fending his fist attacks, but something unexpected happened. One of the chains hangin about his body had apparently become mobile in his rapid movement, and managed to block the bonbori from connecting to his chest. After it had been deflected, Mousse launched a Scythe from out of nowhere, but it had become entangled in another of Ranma's chains and was pulled from Mousse's grasp.

Mousse stopped attacking for a moment to rethink his strategy. "You're very skilled," he said, "But it makes no difference, you will die by my hand."

"Mousse, don't, its--" Again, Mousse was deeper into the attack, launching several weapons at once, Ranma felt his anger rise to a level it rarely ever got to. With the several projectile weapons heading towards him, he decided to take an old attack out of retirement. "KACHU TENSHIN AMIGURIKEN!!!", he yelled as he plucked each weapon out of the air and landed several hundred punches on his opponents person. Mousse was sent reeling back for a moment, but never lost his balance. he smirked evily.

"So, you've got some Joketsuzoku techniques in you, do you? That is an interesting surprise. It looks like I'll have to use my full power on you."

"Mousse. Stop, Its Ranma."

This caught Mousse in mid attack. He looked confused for a second, but then sneered.

"Ranma is dead. I saw it with my own eyes."

"Mousse, I'm serious. I'm alive."

"Impossible! He was burnt to a crisp. If he were alive, he would be burned beyond recognition."

Ranma pulled his mask off. "Like this?"

Behind him, he heard two distinct thumps hit the floor, while Mousse stared at him with wide eyes.

"R.... Impossible."

"Mousse, I'm alive. I don't know how, but I'm alive."

"But.. Five years..."

"Mousse, Its been five years, and I don't remember any of it, but rest assured, it is me. Ranma."

Mousse dropped his stance and stood there, mind reeling.

"Prove it.", he eventually said.

"Name your test."

"What was my biggest handicap?", he asked.

"You mean the fact that you turn into a duck, or your eyesight?"

"How did we come to be friends?"

"After I married Akane, you realized I had no interest in Shampoo and became a good friend."

Mousse started to let tears swell up in his eyes as he asked the last question. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why have I lived the past five years of my life like this, when you were still alive?"

"Mousse, theres questions I can't answer. I don't even remember how or why I 'died'."

"I know how. But I don't know why. I blamed myself for your death, Ranma. I thought you were really dead, so I let Shampoo think I was. After that, I realized I was not a man. Not even half a man.", he scoffed, "Hell I wasn't even an honorable duck!"

"What happened to you after that?"

"I regained consciousness. I was protected from Kenoru's blast by your body. You gave your life to save mine."

"I'm still alive though."

"Are you? What kind of a life can you live now? Not a normal one."

"True."

"After I buried your body, I thought about things. I couldn't go back to the village, I couldn't even come back here as myself. I had disgraced my very existance. So I soon went to Shanghai. I started to sell my Services to the highest bidder, and did work. At first, it was simple things, like a bodyguard, a courier of stolen goods. And then I was paid to kill a man who had raped another mans wife. I accepted, and soon it became second nature." He shook his head, "I sent the money back to the village, and never even signed my name. If only I had known you were still alive, Ranma. I wouldn't have stooped to such depths."

Ranma stepped over towards Mousse and offered his hand. "Its alright Mousse, its not your fault."

"My honor has been taken from me by my own doing. My life should be forfeit."

"NO!", a voice came from the doorway. "You'd dishonor yourself further by taking a cowards death." Soun walked in. Aparently he had overheard much of the conversation. He placed his hand on Mousse's other shoulder.

"Mousse, you can redeem yourself."

"I have taken over 40 lives."

"That is unfortunate, it is a tragedy. But those lives, no matter how important, were they innocents?"

"No. I ensured myself of that, but by making judgements upon them.."

"You did not make judgements on those lives, boy. You were merely the weapon."

"It is still not forgivable."

"Maybe not, but it can be redeemed, in time."

"Redeemed? Nothing can redeem the taking of a life. Even a single human life!"

"Mr. Tendo, I think we'd do best to help him."

"Agreed. Mousse, you should come with us."

Mousse looked Soun in the eyes, and brought his attention towards Ranam before deciding. "I will no longer follow this lifestyle. I will try my best to revive the old Mousse. I thank you, my friends."

A gunshot fired at that moment, landing in Ranma's side. Forgetting about the first shot, Ranma covered the wound with his hand and scowled at the man who had shot the gun. Makaro, who had been silently listening to the conversation.

Before Ranma could act, Mousse had subdued him and had him against the wall.

"You are lucky I will not stoop to your level again, Makaro."

"Weakling! Coward!", came from Makaro's mouth, as well as several other insults and obscenities.

"Ranma, are you alright?", Soun asked.

Ranma looked himselfover. To his surprise the first gunshot wound had already healed over, and his leg was fast approaching that goal. Looking at the neon green fluid that flowed from his wound, he came to a realization.

He was no longer human.

Chapter Four: How the Deed was Done
herself. Shampoo walked off of the gangplank of the ship she had just spent the last week on, and onto the docks of the San Francisco bay area. She inhaled. God how she hated places like this. She hated Nerima, she hated Hong Kong, and she hated all other 'civilized' places shes ever been. But she couldn't return to her village, not until her honor was avenged.
 * Hmph, so now I've finally found you, Kenoru.*, she thought to

As she walked warily off the docks and down a few streets, she reminded herself why she was doing this. She thought about it. Ranma was dead. Mousse was dead. That was all the reason she needed, and for the past four and a half years, she had been searching for him, which had brought her to this place.

Where he came from originally, she did not know, all she knew was that he was a national figure in Organized crime. This did not frighten her one bit. Kenoru was smart, she'd give him that much. He may have been skilled in the martial arts, as good, maybe even better than Shampoo herself, but rest assured, he would die for his sin. He had killed Ranma and Mousse.

Shampoo thought about it. With Ranma dead, she could return to her village, honor intact, which was a good thing. But she scolded herself. That was not a good thing to think. She had long ago accepted that Ranma did not love her, he loved Akane, and Shampoo would have to settle for friendship. Maybe it was out of love. Maybe her time in Japan had clouded her Joketsuzoku ideals, but she had accepted it. Her great- grandmother was angry, to say the least. She scolded Shampoo, told her never to return to the village, but as she left she looked at her, heartbroken, and left a note, reminding her of the 'loophole'.

Shampoo refused to lower herself to that, even for Amazon honor, she would not kill Ranma. What confused her the most, however was that if Shampoo were to kill Ranma, would she then have to kill herself? The law was that if someone, anyone had killed her intended before a marriage could be fulfilled in the village, it was her mortal duty to hunt that person down to the ends of the earth. And that was what she was doing.

Shampoo still wasn't sure who she was doing it for, Ranma, Mousse, or herself. Killing Kenoru would surely avenge the deaths of Ranma and Mousse, but it would also ensure her ability to return to the village. The whole thing made her head hurt. Shampoo was smart, but it was to confusing to think about.

As she made her way through the darkness of the city streets, she began to find her way to Chinatown. Surely, Kenoru would be there.

Suddenly, she heard it. Her reflexes snapped her into a defensive position as she watched. Out of a dark corner of the street, riddled with warehouses, several men stepped out. They're heads were all shaved, and she noted the telltale insignia of a Nazi swastika tatooed to they're arms, necks, the back of they're heads. One even sported one on his forehead. As they pulled out of the corner, each holding a weapon of some sort, whether it be chains, knifes or lead pipes, one thing was clear.

They were not going to be friendly.

"Looky here boys, we got ourselves another impure jap bitch", the leader said.

Shampoo could understand exactly what they were saying. She knew english just about as well as she knew japanese.

"Am not Japanese. Am Joketsuzoku.", she replied, looking totally unworried.

The leader shrugged. "Jap, Jokufetmolecule, whatever. Point is, your just another impurity trying to sabotage our country. You are not welcome here."

"Shampoo not want trouble", she said, knowing full well she could take them down, but not wanting to have to.

The leader burst out laughing, followed by his comrades, he replied. "You should have thought of that the moment you stepped off whatever slave ship you came in on. And what the hell kinda name is Shampoo? You gonna wash my hair, you chink bitch?"

"Shampoo is of Amazon Tribe. Not Chink. Not Jap. Am simply woman.", she replied.

"Yeah, well guess what we're gonna do to you, 'woman'. Your type is not welcome here, and we're gonna make an example outta you. First we're gonna beat you within an inch of your life. Then we're gonna do whatever the hell we want to you, then we'll probably finish you off.", he shrugged, "If you're nice, we may even let you live, and sell you on the slave market."

Shampoo frowned. She knew full well there was still slavery in America. From sweat shops to farms, slavery wasn't as abolished as people thought. She didn't like the idea of being sold to such a place, and decided it was best to get it over with. She took a defensive stance and smiled.

"Ooh, she knows martial arts guys. Might want to have Mike take care of this bitch.", the leader said, as a tall slender man took up a similiar stance.

'Mike' spoke. "You're gonna get yours, bitch. I'm a third degree blackbelt in American Kempo."

"Why Shampoo care what color belt is?", she replied.

'Mike' laughed and started to lunge at her. Shampoo, still unsure of his underlying talent, kept a mainly defensive stance, and lashed out a few test attacks. After seeing his speed, she smirked and completely dropped her stance.

"Shampoo not fight you.", she said, "You too weak."

This enraged Mike. He lunged at her with all of his best attacks, which was exactly what Shampoo wanted. A quick crescent kick the the waste, and a reverse upward punch to the chin, and 'Mike' was sprawled out on the concrete, completely unconscious.

Shampoo deducted two different outcomes of her actions. 1. The others would see her skill and run off, or 2. They would become angry and gang up on her. Shampoo hoped it was the latter.

After a moment, the gang began to realize what had happened. Shampoo smirked at them, still remaining in a calm stance as the began to surround her, each of them brandishing the weapon of they're choice.

The first came, easily put out. She simply grabbed his lead pipe and pushed it in the opposite direction, banging him on the head and knocking him out. Even one without martial arts experience could figure that out.

Then two more came, one with a knife and the other with a chain. One of either side of her. The knife-man was smirking, getting ready to run her through with the miniature blade he held in his hands. The other was swinging his chain above his head, getting ready to strike. She timed her move just so, that she had jumped up just when the chain was being released from the mans grip, grabbed the other man by the shoulders and shoved him to where she was just standing. The knife dropped from his hands as the chain struck, and he hit the ground. The chain-man had lost his chain, and was heading towards her bare-handed. The last two members of the gang were doing something similiar. Then one of them pulled out a gun.

Shampoo had dealt with guns before. They were tricky machines, but it was also possible to dodge the bullets. The normal, everyday martial artist could not dodge a speeding bullet in any respect, but with Shampoo's speed, she could easily dodge it.

The man with the gun smirked. She recognized him quickly as the group leader, and then mentally remembered the position of every person. The chain-man had stopped after seeing the gun, and joined in on the taunting. The third man was just sitting there, smirking.

"You ready to die now bitch?", the leader said. "We were gonna letcha live after making you hurt, but now we're just gonna kill ya."

"Wait.", the third man said.

"What?"

"I'm gonna make her hurt still."

"Go right ahead."

The third man walked up to Shampoo and hit her across the face. Shampoo just stood there, smiling. It hadn't hurt her. Not with her endurance, but the man would surely pay. She waited for the right time. Three strikes across the face later, and with Shampoo still smiling, the man got pissed.

The fifth strike came quickly, and totally unexpected. But Shampoo wasn't on the recieving end this time. She had pulled a bonbori from her belt and struck him across the face, sending him sprawling to the man with the gun. They connected, and the man with the gun went down fast. Shampoo heard a muffled gunshot as the man she threw became limp.

She had tried to avoid a death. Killing wasn't a pretty thing, even if honor demanded it be done. EVen it was to teach a lesson. But it was too late. The man, she could tell with her blind eye, was dead. Shampoo didn't want to hand around any longer, and then jumped into the air, landing on the roof of a warehouse. She ran towards the lights in the distance.

"I.. I... I don't know.", Ranma replied, cradling his wound. It no longer hurt, amazingly, and as he removed his hand, all that remained was a scab. A scab of some strange liquid he had never seen. It glowed neon green, but when Ranma saw it, he knew. He knew it was his blood.

"What the hell are you?", Makaro screamed, still being held up to the wall by Mousse.

Mousse was deciding. Deciding whether or not to kill the man he held with his single hand. He considered it. Considered it long and hard before he decided to let him live. The old Mousse would have done it in a heartbeat, but not now. Mousse was going to clean himself up. There would be repercussions of his actions, of course. But he would deal with those when the time came. He just held Makaro against the wall.

"Whats happened to me?", Ranma asked himself, oblivious to what was going on around him.

"I tried to tell you.", a voice said, coming from the entrance.

Ranma looked up. "You."

"Yes, its me. I told you. You must accept it", the man that Ranma had met earlier in the day replied.

"Accept what? That I'm dead!? Its bloody impossible!"

"Ranma, during your life, how many things have happened to do that were deemed impossible?"

Ranma recalled his life. "A few."

"More than most people I'd imagine. According to my sources, you were a good soul in life. How you were sent to hell when you died, I have no idea. But the fact remains. You died."

"But I can't be dead!"

"Remember the deal Ranma? Malebolgia, that heartless fiend tricked you. He offered you something he knew you wouldn't refuse, and then warped it all."

"What?"

"Ranma, was it a love? A Place? Money? Why did you come back?"

Ranma looked towards the ground. "A..Akane."

"Ahh... A love... I made a similiar choice. Now let me ask you, how long has it been?"

"Five years."

"And since that time, you're love has remarried, presumably to a close friend, and had a child. Correct?"

Ranma looked up. "How did.. How did you know?"

The old man simply shook his head. "Its the way Malebolgia works."

Soun, sitting off to the side of this conversation finally decided to interupt. "Uhh, excuse me sir. But who exactly are you?"

The man turned to him. "I am sorry for not introducing myself. I am Count Nicholas De Cogliostro."

Soun nodded and stretched his hand out. "I'm So--"

"Soun Tendo, father of Kasumi, Nabiki and Akane."

"How did.. How did you know?"

"When I felt Ranma's presence's manifesting a few days ago, I had to look up some old files. At first I had thought the new Hellspawn would have been a fellow named Al Simmons, but it seems I was wrong."

"You kept files on us?"

The old man nodded. "I have to. Its my duty to guide new Hellspawn, so they don't take the wrong path."

"Wrong path?", Ranma interupted. "What do you mean?"

"I would imagine you have met someone recently. Someone you did not know, but they knew you. Possibly a human, maybe not. Most definately a disgusting one however."

"There was a Clown."

"Ahh. His favorite human form. That, my friend, was the Violator. One of the Seven Phlebiac brothers, and servant of Malebolgia."

"So he's a bad guy then?"

"Yes. Undoubtedly. He is powerful beyond belief. New Spawns cannot hope to defeat him in battle. Unless they have a trick up they're sleeves."

"Whats his deal?"

"He is charged with training you to be a warrior for hells army, however he has.. personal beliefs that would rather you died by his hand than be his superior. He believes humans are not meant to be high ranking officials in the army of hell."

"Excuse me, but can _SOMEONE_ please tell me whats going on?", Kinami interupted, now gaining consciousness.

"Ahh, Kinami. Where is Nabiki?", Soun asked.

Kinami pointed to the floor behind a table where she had fainted.

"Hey, Ranma.. Sorry for fainting back there, but I didn't expect your face to look like that. I'd seen pictures of you and if you'd told us, maybe I wouldn't have reacted like that."

Mousse chuckled, "Pretty blunt, isn't she?"

Kinami suddenly remembered Mousse, she turned to face him and put her hands in front of her. "What the hell are you still doing here? Get out!"

Soun placed his hand on Kinami's shoulder. "It's alright, Kinami. Its only Mousse, he's not going to hurt us."

Now confused as ever, Kinami sat down and massaged her temples. "Either someone tells me what the hell is going on, or I'm going to go nuts."

Soun began to explain, but when he got to the part "Ranma's dead.", she got _REALLY_ confused.

"I'm sorry for telling you like this, Ranma. But you had to be warned. Now. I must go. If the times comes when my presence is required, I'll find you.", the old man said as he departed.

"Wait!", Ranma said, but it was too late, Cog was leaving, and had utterly disappeared after leaving therestaurant.

"What should we do with him?", Mousse finally asked. Truth be known, his arm was getting tired.

"Drop him.", Ranma said, walking up to him.

Makaro fell to the floor, and curled himself up, cowering from Ranma's presence.

Ranma grabbed him by the collar. "You bastard.", he began, "If I ever, ever, EVER see your ugly face even grace my eyes, or if I ever hear your name, you _WILL_ die before the day is out... You can threaten me, you can even try to kill me, but once you threaten my friends, you've signed your own death certificate. Now go, get out of here before I change my mind."

Ranma dropped Makaro and he ran out of the restaurant, shouting back obscenities and threats.

"Hey Nabs, you awake?", Kinami inquired, shaking her unconscious friend. Suddenly, she began to stir.

"I think so. Was it just me or did Ranma look like he went through a blender?", she asked, sitting up.

"A fireball would be more accurate", Mousse answered. Nabiki suddenly tensed up.

"Mousse? What the hell is going on?", she asked.

Mousse looked down towards the floor. "I'm sorry Nabiki. I should have stopped a long time ago."

"Nabiki, your awake?", Ranma asked.

Nabiki tensed further. "Ranma, how.. What... Your face."

"I know. I don't know the whole story, but apparently I'm dead."

"Dead?"

"Dead."

Soun helped his daughter to her feet. "Are you okay Nabiki?"

"I'm fine, its just.. a little.. strange."

"You think its strange for you? Look at me? Last thing I remember was coming back from China, and the failed wedding. The next thing I know I'm running around on the roof of Furinkan, and ending up six years down the road."

"Then, you don't remember how you died?", Mousse asked, unbelieving.

Ranma shook his head. "I heard from Kuno that it was some guy named Kenoru, and then you said the same thing."

Nabiki dropped her mouth open. "You talked to Kuno?"

"Yeah, he aparently took up Kenpo. He tried to fight, but next thing I know he was knocked unconscious. Didn't even lay a finger on him either."

"Whoa. You _FOUGHT_ with Kuno? Thats weird. From the way hes been talkign about you since you.. uhh.. went away, hes been acting like your best friend."

"Yeah, I noticed. He found me honourable and such, but I think he didn't believe I was actually me. Besides that, I've got tonnes of questions I need answered. Before I get into the big stuff I hafta ask this. What happened to Ukyo? I've heard what happened to pretty much everybody except for her."

Nabiki suddenly pulled her wallet out of her back pocket and pulled out a letter, attached to a pink sheet of paper. She handed it to Ranma.

As Ranma read the letter, he finally began to understand.

The letter read:

Dear Nabiki Tendo,

''Hey there, its me. Ukyo. The 'cute' fiancee.. Ha. Thats a laugh.. I'm sorry for storming off so quickly like that last week, but as you could probably imagine, it was hard to handle. As you've probably already noticed, I've stapled the deed to Ucchans on the back, and its yours to do with as you please. Although I do have one request.. Don't sell it. Maybe its just sentimentality, but I love that restaurant, and I couldn't willingly place it in the handles of someone I didn't trust... With money that is. Which is the reason I've given it to you.''

''Anyways, I'm going away for a while. Maybe I'll come back someday. Maybe I won't. I've just got alot of thinking to do. Ten years of wanting revenge for my fathers Yatai, and another year of bliss. And now this. I couldn't handle it. Maybe after some time I'll learn, but until then, good old Ucchan won't be coming around much.''

''Give my love to Ranchan, and wish him and Akane the best of luck. I'm sure I'll understand someday, but in the meantime, I'm heading on the road. I might do some training, I may travel the world. But I'll always remember my friends.''

Tell Ranma and Akane I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused them.

Yours Truly, Ukyo Kuonji

Ranma stared. If he could allow tears to come pouring out, he would have. He even noted the stressed handwriting in the final two paragraphs, and the pattern of tear stains running throughout the sheet. He silently gave the letter back to Nabiki.

Nabiki tried to lighten the mood. "You acted pretty much the same the first time you read it."

"I.. If I had known it would have caused her that much pain.... I.. I don't know."

Mousse exhaled. "It was slightly different with Shampoo... Believe it or not, she didn't love you as much as you thought. At least not in the way you or I would understand."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I spent my adolescence outside of the village. So I was exposed to the outsider culture, and train of thought. Love in the village is based around honour and laws. Nothing more. Outside of the village, I learned and used the rest of the worlds vision of love. Not the warped way the village had done things."

"I had suspected it to be something like that.", Soun interupted.

Mousse nodded. "Yes, well. When Shampoo had lived here for that year, she too had learned the love of the outside world. But she was still under control of the laws of Joketsuzoku. She couldn't ignore them. Thats why she pursued you like she did."

"And after Akane and I got married?"

"Well, she was not happy with it, to say the least. But apparently her view of love had changed, and she loved you enough to accept your decision. Law or no law. She still tried to change your mind though, but not so relentlessly."

"And then I died."

"Well, not quite like that. Akane had gotten sick. _VERY_ sick. She would have died if Kenoru hadn't showed up."

"I thought he was the guy who killed me."

"He was. Here, let me explain. Akane had something known as the Jimura Flu. It was a result of what had happened during the Saffron incident. She suddenly became unable to hold liquids. She was dying a slow death of Dehydration. The doctors were unable to do anything. Even when they tried to give her liquids through an IV. Her body kept rejecting it."

"So, Kenoru had the cure?"

"Yes. He showed up one day, this was about a month before you died, and offered her the cure, for a price."

"What was the price?"

"A favour. A favour from you."

"A Favour?"

"Yes, well, you agreed. And in agreeing you had signed a verbal agreement."

"So he called in the favour."

"Yes, a week later. He told you... He told you to kill someone."

"Who?"

"An American. An english teacher at a college north of Tokyo who had apparently made the wrong people angry."

"And.. What happened?"

"You refused. Even if it meant your death, you refused."

"And..?"

"He had sent several hitmen after you and Akane. One day, you had enough. You came to the Nekohanten asking for our help."

"What exactly happened?"

"Well, the night you came to get us, you seemed extremely edgy. You told us you had had enough, and were going to stop Kenoru once and for all. Shampoo and I agreed to help, since Ryoga was missing and unable to help. Akane was still recovering in the hospital. You left Soun and your father to protect her, and we set off."

"I was edgy?"

"Yes. We didn't find out why until we were in China."

"In China?!?"

"Yes, now let me finish. You had aparently had a nasty dream, screaming how 'you didn't mean to do it'. When we woke you up, you explained what had happened. Kenoru's hitmen had come for Akane while you were away. It was fortunate that you managed to show up right then, because another second later, and Akane would be dead. You were angry, and engaged in combat with him. He was knocked out of the window and died. You had killed him."

"What? Is this true?", Soun asked.

"I.. I don't remember.", Ranma replied.

"It certainly does explain a few things.", Mousse continued. "Like how you were sent to hell."

"But.. I killed someone?"

Mousse nodded. "Agressively. The only reason you weren't pursued by the police is because a nurse had witnessed the whole thing. Anyways, we had made our way to China, and found Kenoru in Hong Kong."

"What happened?"

"He fled.", Mousse clenched his fist. "He fled across the country, but he was a smart bastard. He knew things about us, as well as things we didn't know ourselves. He had managed to hide his true skill for so long, looking as nothing but a high ranking member of the Triad."

"Who was he? Really?"

"I still don't know. He had fled so far, and we tracked him every inch of the way. We finally caught up with him eventually."

"Where?!?"

"Who knows. To tell the truth, I'm still not exactly sure. All I knew was that is was the base of a mountain."

"What happened?"

"Well, we started to chase him up the side of the mountain. We had finally cornered him against a rock face. But at that point, he made his true skill known. The battle was long and hard. We had fought him for about three hours, and we were starting to tire rapidly. He had eventually fought us to a cliff edge. First to fall over was Shampoo. We had thought she fell all the way down and died, but she was hanging for her life on a ledge far below. That was when Kenoru launched his final attack."

"Final Attack?"

"Yes. I think he could have done it at any point, but he was just playing with us. It had the same effect as a flamethrower, but alot stronger, and it was heading directly for me. At that point, I gave up completely."

"What happened?"

"You jumped in the path of the attack. Whether it was bravery or exhaustion, I just dont know. But you gave your own life to save mine. You were burnt to a crisp, I was burned pretty bad too. My face isn't the worst of it. I've still got scars all over my body. But I survived."

"Oh my god."

"About half an hour later, Shampoo managed to make her way back up. I was barely conscious, and in alot of pain. I finally slipped out after Shampoo had knelt by us and started crying. When I woke up, she was gone. And I guess I was gone too, in a way. That was one of the main reasons I started in my line of work, I guess. I did alot of work for individuals, then last month, I agreed to work for the Yakuza, in an effort to start working for the Triad. Once in the Triad, I could start looking for Kenoru, and have revenge."

"What happened to Shampoo?"

Mousse sighed in thought. "I saw her last month. Five years older, but just as beautiful. But that can't be helped now. It was in Hong Kong, I had just finished a 'job' with a regular client of mine, who I had heard had connections with the Triad. Aparently Shampoo had heard the same thing. I saw her in an alleyway, beating him for information. As far as I know, shes in San Fransisco."

"San Fransisco?"

"Most probably where Kenoru is now."

"Would there be any way to contact her?"

"Doubtful, besides. She won't come back until Kenoru is dead. Which I believe is impossible."

"How so?"

"Kenoru... The amount of power he had, it... It wasn't human. I don't think he's your normal everyday martial artist. He hid it well, but made it look like he was hiding nothing. With his skill, he could not only take you, me and Shampoo, but probably every other Martial artist you've ever met, all at once."

"Even the old letch?"

"Huh. Funny you should mention that, Ranma.", Nabiki interupted.

"What?"

"When Shampoo came back and told us what happened, Happosai went nuts with rage. He set out to find him, and promised he to never come back until you were avenged."

"WHAT?! THAT OLD LETCHER?!"

"Its true Ranma.", Soun continued, "The master was so distraught at the loss of your life, and the most talented heir to the anything- goes school, he left immediately. He even left his panties."

"How come I have trouble believing you?"

"Its true. The master has shown his true self a few times in the past, but tries to keep it hidden under the mask of an old pervert."

"I'm getting a headache", Ranma said, shaking his head.

"You're not the only one", Kinami agreed.

"Anyways, he sent a postcard from San Fransisco last week, saying he was getting closer to Kenoru. He had even spotted him on the street."

"So its pretty safe to assume that Kenoru is out there."

"More than likely", Mousse nodded his head.

"So then what are we waiting for? Lets go out there and give them a hand!", Ranma yelled.

"I'm all for that, Ranma.", Nabiki put her finger up. "But theres a slight problem."

"Whats that?"

"Well, who here has money to get us to San Fransisco?"

Nobody answered.

"Don't you have any money?"

Nabiki shook her head, "You think after what Gendo and Makaro put me through, I'd have _ANYTHING_?"

"How much do you have?"

"I've got enough to get one person across, one way. Give me about two weeks, and I'll have enough."

"So we've gotta wait two weeks then?"

Nabiki nodded. "Unless you can find an alternative money source."

Mousse scowled. "I should have kept some money from my work."

Ranma shook his head, "No. I wouldn't feel right flying across on dirty money."

Mousse stared at the floor. "I guess your right."

"What about Genma and Nodoka?", Soun suggested, "They've got money!"

"No.", Ranma refused, "I don't want them knowing about me just yet."

"Well, the amount of money those two fools have leeched off of me left me broke, so I'm estimating a couple weeks until we can afford the trip across."

Kinami then spoke, "I'm coming too."

Ranma shook his head, "No. We can't have that. Martial Artists only."

Kinami huffed, then took up a Kenpo stance, "What the hell do you think I am?"

Soun nodded his head. "Thats right, For the past four and a half years, Kinami has been a student of Anything-Goes. Although she leans more towards Ryoga's style."

"Damn straight. The guy might still be better than me, but I can give him a run for his money."

Ranma shook his head. "Ryoga an Anything-Goes Sensei. I never would have imagined."

"Well, Anything-Goes can adapt any style into it, after all. Ryoga has improved over the years. He's even managed to master the Kachuu Tenshin Amiguriken, its still not as fast as yours was, but he can do it now."

"Your kidding.. Is nothing sacred?"

"Eh?"

"Well, besides the Old Ghoul, I thought I was the only one who knew how."

"Well, Akane had explained to Ryoga how you trained for it, and he did the same thing."

"Oh."

"Indeed. You should see the burn scars on his hand. I never would have thought he could master it."

"Cologne didn't either, aparently. She was going to try and teach him that, before she gave up and taught him the Breaking Point Technique.", Ranma replied, remembering that particular training trip.

"But he was determined."

"Well, I guess if anything, Ryoga was determined."

"Indeed."

"What happened to Cologne anyways?", Ranma asked, looking towards Mousse.

"Beats me. I haven't heard from her since she left five and a half years ago. I could care less though."

"Mousse, my boy. Where are you staying?"

Mousse thought for a second. "Nowhere now. I was staying at a hotel paid for by Makaro and his men, but now I don't think its safe to be there.", he huffed, "Not that I couldn't defend myself against any type of cowardly attack that moron would try on me, but I still would rather not have to worry about it. I'll just make my way around."

"Nonsense, you can stay at the Dojo."

Nabiki nodded, "Sure, you can have my old room."

Mousse smiled, "I would be honoured. Thank you."

"Which reminds me, Mr Tendo?", Ranma asked.

"Yes, son?"

"Why were you so quick to get me out of the house this morning. You would think after me being gone for so long, you would postpone the morning class."

"Well, yes. I apologize for that, Ranma. I'm sorry for not explaining, but it involved Ryoga. As you now know, he teaches at the dojo now as well."

"Could he even find the dojo?"

"Well, yes. His directional skills have improved."

"Really?", it was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes. Anyways, I had to explain it to him before I--"

"YOU TOLD HIM?!?"

"Yes, why, what--"

"WHY?!?"

"He had to know. He was your best friend."

"But, he'll tell Akane."

"I told him not to, for now. But Akane should know."

"No. I can't hurt her like that."

"Son--"

"NO!"

Nabiki chose this moment to interupt. "Ranma, Akane went through hell after you died. But look at it this way. If it were the other way around. If Akane had died and come back five years later in your condition. Would _YOU_ want to know?"

Ranma stood silently for a few moments. "Yes. I suppose I would."

Ryoga sighed heavily. He looked up one street, and decided against walking in that direction. It had been about a week since he had gotten lost, but that was only for a few minutes. He managed to backtrack to a point he knew, but that was not the case this time. After hearing from Soun of Ranma's return to Nerima, he had been so distracted, that he couldn't find his way anywhere. From what he could tell, he was likely still in Nerima, but where in Nerima, was unknown. He decided to use his last resort. Sit himself on a street corner and wait.

Akane looked up at the time. She sighed and shook her head, then helped little Ranma on with his coat. She grabbed the keys to the car and left, with Ranma in tow.


 * Oh, Ryoga*, she thought, *You were doing so well.*

"Mommy, daddy lost again?", Ranma asked.

Akane nodded and smiled, "Yes, we've got to go for a drive and find him."

This was normal for little Ranma. His father hadn't gotten lost in a while, but his mother and father had sorted out a last resort, that if Ryoga got lost for a long period of time, she'd drive around and look for him.

Debating what her first destination would be, she decided on her sisters restaurant.

"How long?", she asked.

"He's been here for about 15 hours so far.", the voice answered over the telephone.

"Nerima, Japan eh? Its been a few years since a Japanese Spawn has shown up."

"Yes, well, according to these readings, he's already used some force, we don't know who against yet, but its safe to assume someone is dead."

"Don't count your eggs before they've hatched."

"Angela, are you coming out or what?"

"My license has been revoked, Celeste."

"That never stopped you before."

"Good point. Give me a couple days. I'll just finish up some business out here and I'll catch the next flight over."

"Hurry Angela, this one is displaying alot of power."

"Have I ever failed before?"

"Well, there was that one back in 486."

"Jeez, miss one and you're branded for life."

"Alright, well just make sure you hurry. Tiffany may want a piece of this one."

Angela frowned, "Not this time. I'll be there in two days."

Chapter Five: Violated
Ranma seemed adamant about his decision. "But I don't want her knowing unless its absolutely necessary."

"Well, Ryoga already knows, and you know how good he is at keeping secrets."

"Hell yes, did Akane ever find out who he really was?"

"Yeah. Just before she got sick. She refused to see him for weeks. Then after you died, she didn't care anymore. She just needed a shoulder to lean on."

"So Ryoga showed up. How convienient."

Soun interupted. "It wasn't like that, son. Ryoga showed up just after you, Mousse and Shampoo left. He originally wanted to follow you, but the chances of him actually finding you were... well... you know..."

"But still..."

"I know son", Soun walked over and put his hand up on Ranma's shoulder. "But it wasn't like that at first either. After you died, Ryoga blamed himself, but Akane didn't want him to leave. She needed a friend to lean on, and Ryoga was the only one left. Shampoo had gone back to her village, and Ukyo had been missing for several months. In fact, if it weren't for him, Akane would probably still be in the same condition."

"DAMNIT!", Ranma shoved his fist into the table. "Its not fair. I'm not supposed to be here, I'm not supposed to be alive. If Malebolgia thinks I'm going to serve him, he's got another thing coming!"

Mousse placed his hand on Ranma's free shoulder. "You can count on my help in whatever you need."

Soun nodded. "Yes. Anything."

Kinami smiled. "Hey, don't forget me!"

Nabiki looked up from her account book and mumbled an agreement.

Ranma was about to say something, when the door suddenly swung open. It caught everyone off-guard, especially when they saw who was at the door.

Akane stared open-mouthed and wide-eyed. She had expected her sister and Kinami to be there, but she also noticed her father, a man in a very strange costume. And someone she hadn't seen in a very long time. Someone she had thought was dead. She saw Mousse.

"M.. Mousse?", her mind reeled. Mousse was somewhat distracted, and looking at the man in the center. The man in the red costume. Billions of possibilities ran through her head. Mousse was alive. He was alive, but scarred. If he was alive, could that mean Ranma was alive? If they were alive, could that mean Shampoo had lied? That the last five years of pain were for nothing? That she had made a mistake by marrying Ryoga?

"Uhh... Hi.. uhh.. Akane.. Long time no see..", Mousse greeted.

"Yes, dear.. uhh. Mousse here just showed up. We were going to call you, but we were too busy.. uhh.. going over old times."

"Mousse...", Akane began, "How..?"

"Uhhh... Its hard to explain, Akane. I just.. uhh... well, I managed to survive."

"Ranma..?"

The man sitting in the center of the room shook his head. Soon after, everyone else either followed, or verbally answered her question. Even Kinami.

"I'm sorry Akane, he died.", Mousse informed her.

Akane looked towards the ground. She felt old feelings beginning to swell up. Her tear ducts had started to produce the salty liquid. But she snapped up. *No sense in crying over something you realized a long time ago*, she told herself.

"Mousse, its good to see you again.", she said, then tried her best to keep a straight face. "Has anyone seen Ryoga?"

Everyone snapped up for a moment, and then all started to shake their heads. Even the man in the costume. She finally decided to ask what her mind had been asking for the best few moments since she walked into the restaurant.

"Do I know you?"

The man immiediately shook his head. But the look in the two slits in his cowl told her otherwise. She decided it best not to push the matter. Her suspicions arose for a moment, but a look at her father pushed them back down. Her father wouldn't lie to her, never has, and most probably never will.

"Is pig-boy lost again?", Nabiki asked.

"Yes, he was doing so well too... Oh well, at least he's getting better though."

"He left the dojo around 4:00 today. It's 7:30 now, could he have gotten far?", Soun asked.

"I doubt it. He knows when he's lost, and he knows to stay put if he's hopelessly lost. I'll just drive around some more, I might check Kasumi's though."

"You might want to check out the livestock trucks.", Mousse suggested.

"No, they know to avoid a little black piglet with a yellow bandanna."

"He still wears that?"

"Yep. Even when he sleeps."

"Well, you'd better get out and find him.. We'll keep an eye out for him though."

"Thanks Nabiki. I'll probably be back when I find him. I know he'll be interested in talking to you again, Mousse."

"I'll probably be at the dojo."

"Okay, well... We'll catch up later, okay?"

"Sure."

"I'll introduce you to little Ranma then."

"Little Ranma?", Mousse asked. The man in the costume also seemed to perk up for a moment.

"Yes, my son.", Akane smiled, "I'll explain later."

And with that, she left.

After the door had closed, and Soun walked over to lock it, in efforts to avoid any more intrusions, Ranma began to speak.

"They named they're son... Ranma?"

Soun nodded. "Yes. It was Ryoga's idea. I guess he felt it would honour you."

"Amazing.", Ranma shook his head.

"Well, _THAT_ was certainly unexpected, wasn't it?", Kinami stated the obvious. "Oh yeah, can I ask a dumb question?"

"As if all your questions weren't dumb?", Nabiki quipped.

Kinami stuck her tongue out at Nabiki and then continued. "Livestock trucks? Black pig?"

Ranma looked briefly at Kinami, then looked towards Nabiki. "You never told her about Jusenkyo?"

"Not really. I mentioned _YOU_ were cursed, but I never really brought up how you were cursed, or the fact that there were other people cursed as well."

"Well, before today I don't think I would have believed you. But this guy was shot right in front of me, and you guys are talking about Chi-attacks like its yesterdays news."

"Ranma here.. Well.. Ranma, are you still cursed?", Nabiki asked.

"No. I was in contact with cold water earlier, and nothing happened."

"Okay, well Ranma here was on a training trip with his father about seven years ago. He went to a place called Jusenkyo. He fell in a spring, and was forever cursed to turn into a girl whenever splashed with cold water."

Kinami looked at Nabiki, unconvinced.

"Its true, even Mousse has a curse.", Nabiki looked towards Mousse, "You _DO_ still have the curse, right?"

Mousse nodded. "I do, but I'm not going to demonstrate. I haven't been in cursed form in nearly four months, and I'm not about to start now."

Kinami still looked skeptical. "I can accept the _IDEA_ of curses, but this is ridiculus. I mean, seriously. Changing sexes just by getting splashed with water? I mean, come on! What do you take me for!"

"Actually, Ranma was the only one who changed sexes. Mousse turns into a duck, Ryoga turns into a pig, Genma turns into a panda, and--"

"Genma? Mr. Saotome?", Kinami asked.

Ranma looked up. "You knew my father?"

Kinami nodded. "Yeah, he and your mother were regulars, before they moved."

"ANYWAYS!", Nabiki interupted, "And Shampoo turned into a cat.", she finished as Ranma seemed to tense up for a moment. "Oh, and dont get me started on Tarou."

"You mean that guy that was here a few months ago?"

"Yes, him."

"What was Tarou doing here?"

"What else, looking for Happosai. He worked here for a week until he had made enough money to pay for the information."

"So you told him."

"I told him Happosai was in America, nothing more."

"Why did he work for the information?"

"I don't know. I think he's gotten a bit soft since the last time we saw him."

"So, old Pantyhose went to America."

Kinami looked up for a moment. "Uhh.. Pantyhose?"

Nabiki looked at her friend. "Happosai named him."

Recalling the stories she'd heard of Happosai, she found it easy to believe. "Why didn't he just change it?"

"Oh, some kind of dumb law he follows. Apparently, only Happosai can change it."

Kinami nodded wide-eyed. "You guys certainly are a weird bunch. Hey Mousse, why don't you prove to me you can turn into a duck?"

"I'd rather not, thanks."

"Come on, I wanna see."

"No."

"Just for a minute?"

"NO."

"Ah, your probably faking anyways."

Mousse stood silent.

Kinami waited until that moment to grab the thermos of water at her side and spray it at Mousse. Mousse had apparently been prepared, and was already dodging the stream of water. Soun got a faceful of cold water, however.

"Nice try."

"Oh come on!"

"_NO_."

"Stop already!", Ranma interupted. "Akane has probably already found Ryoga, so we'd better decide whats happening, and fast."

Nabiki agreed, and began to tidy up the restaurant from the previous mess, and Kinami reluctantly helped.

"Yes, you two should come stay at the dojo. Ranma, you haven't slept yet, it may be good for you to get some rest."

Ranma shook his head, "I'm not tired. I don't think I need sleep in this condition anyways."

Mousse nodded. "I doubt I would need sleep after whats happened tonight."

Soun nodded. "Agreed. Nabiki?"

His daughter looked up at him. "Yes Daddy?"

"You and Kinami stop by tomorrow, we'll have to plan whats going to happen about San Francisco."

Nabiki nodded, and resumed her work. Kinami eyed Mousse quickly before continuing. Mousse and Ranma said they're goodbyes and exited, Soun followed soon after, leaving the two women to do their work.

"Eventful day, wasn't it?", Kinami asked.

"Amazingly.", Nabiki replied. "Well, you've met the great Ranma Saotome, even if a little..."

"Living impaired?"

Nabiki chuckled. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

"So, What are we going to do about the restaurant while we're in San Francisco?"

Nabiki shrugged. "Well, I'll probably collect on a favour someone owes me."

"Who?"

Nabiki smiled. "Now Kinami, am I one to divulge my secrets freely?"

Kinami rolled her eyes. "The Ice Queen returns..."

"Hey!", Nabiki shot back, "I'm paying for the trip to San Francisco."

"I guess you've got me there. But I'm assuming your buying one- way tickets until we see who survives the trip?"

Nabiki stared at the floor for a moment. "Kinami... Its not like that. I don't want a death anymore than you do. No price is worth a human life", she looked at her friend. "Frankly, I'm appaled that you would even think that."

"But its a possibility."

Nabiki nodded. "This Kenoru person is powerful if he could defeat Ranma, Mousse and Shampoo all at once. When we get there, we'll have at least three more martial artists with us. Four if Ryoga comes along, and Maybe even Five if Tarou finds Happosai, considering he'd help us."

"Considering this Shampoo and Happosai are still alive."

Nabiki nodded. "Considering. Look, I don't want to even think of that as a possibility. Lets just finish cleaning up, and we'll talk to the group tomorrow. I'll set up some plans for the trip."

Kinami nodded her agreement, and continued.

"Brother dear, I'm home.", the voice came from the entrance of the house.

Tatewaki looked up from the book at his desk and paid attention to his sister. "Yes, sister. I'm in the study."

Kodachi soon showed up in the study and set her breifcase down. "Why didn't you return to work?"

"I had a very... Disturbing experience."

"What happened? From the looks of you, I'd say you had a fight."

He nodded. "Indeed, sister. However I was the dishonourable one."

"Whatever do you mean?"

Tatewaki took the book he was reading and pointed it towards his sister. "Ranma Saotome."

The book was in fact an almanac of Obituaries published in the newspaper over the past several years, and he had picked it up on his way home. The obituary in question was that of Ranma Saotome.

Kodachi remembered the name. She scowled at the thought of the man who had broken her heart for that of Akane Tendo. However, her brother forbade her to do harm to either one.

"What of him?"

"I am beginning to think..", he leaned up towards his sister, "He may not be dead."

Kodachi scoffed. "Of course he's dead. The obituary is right here."

"Yes, but the man I fought today. He called himself... Ranma Saotome."

Kodachi looked at her brother for a moment. "Are you sure? Could you have been mistaken?"

He shrugged in reply. "I do not know. He was hidden beneath a costume and cowl. I could not get an accurate view of him. Most of his body was hidden by his cape and chains, as well as many other.. Rather preturbing ornaments."

"Cape? Chains? What type of Ornaments?"

"Small, jewel-sized replicas of skulls. Whether they be human or not, I do not know."

"Ranma Saotome was not a practioner of the black arts. Why would he have such ornaments?"

"I do not know. My previous beliefs of him as a sorcerer were unfounded. But now I am not so sure."

"What shall we do?"

"I shall go to the Tendo Dojo tomorrow and inquire about it, however I did sense some... Familiarity in him. It could have been him."

"Would you like me to accompany you, brother?"

"No. I am quite able to handle such a situation by myself. If another fight were to break loose, you would not be prepared."

Kodachi nodded. It was true, she hadn't practiced her gymnastics for years now, ever since her father had returned to Hawaii. She hadn't had her heart in it anymore, and just gave up.

"Very well, brother dear."

"Mousse, you may stay in Nabiki's room, just up those stairs and-"

"Second door on the left.", Mousse interupted, "I remember."

Soun smiled and nodded. "Of course. You've been here enough times in the past. And Ranma, you may still have your old room, if you wish."

Ranma nodded and stared off into the night from the tea room. He paused long enough to give an assuring nod and then went back into his trance.

"It's getting late, maybe we should retire for the night.", Soun said, "I'll talk to you two in the morning."

Mousse nodded. "Half past eight. It took us that long to get here?"

Ranma nodded. "We would've been here alot earlier if you two hadn't been talking so much."

"True. But I doubt I'd be able to sleep. I was.. up a little late last night, so my sleep pattern might be a little out-of-sync."

"Mousse?", Ranma asked.

"Yes?"

"You killed someone last night, didn't you?"

Mousse silently nodded. Even without looking, Ranma knew his reply. "Who was he?"

"His name was Gendo Satoni. Scum if there ever was any. His police records showed simple crimes. Theft. Extortion. But I got all the real information I needed on him. Murder. Rape. Arsony. This sicko was into all of it."

"What about Makaro?"

Mousse looked down for a moment. "I wasn't paid to kill him."

"So thats it then. Just kill who you're paid to, and if the guy your working for is worse, then who the hell cares?"

Mousse began to argue. "Its not like that--"

"Isn't it?", Ranma looked towards Mousse, "Makaro would have killed Nabiki if I hadn't shown up when I did. You were just going to stand there and let him do it."

"I... I don't know if I would have let him do it or not. Ranma, over the past five years my emotions have been disappearing one by one. Remorse and guilt were the first to go, but when I found out you were.. Here, they _ALL_ came flooding back. Every life I've taken. Every heart I've broken because of my actions has affected me. They've affected me since the day I first took a life, and to the day I die they'll affect me."

"I'm sure that makes everyone you've killed feel a hell of a lot better."

Mousse kept staring at the floor. "It doesn't change anything. I offered to forfeit my life but--"

"Don't make excuses, Mousse. Its not worth it. The reasons I'm not letting you kill yourself are because A. I need your help, and I'm sure Shampoo does as well, and B. Because if and when you do die, I'm not going to let you take a cowards death."

"Ranma... I--"

"I don't want to hear it. Just go. Have your simple nightmares, and I'll live mine."

Mousse didn't say a word. He got up and walked towards the door. He paused and turned his head to look at Ranma. "Every life I've taken _WILL_ haunt me till the day I die. But I know I deserve it. Ranma, you didn't deserve what happened to you. There is no excuse for it. And I will stand by you to avenge your death, and would give my life if it meant bringing yours back."

Ranma didn't reply. He just stared.

Mousse sighed and walked up the stairs.

"There you are!", Akane yelled from her car window. Outside, the familiar form of her husband perked up and turned to face her.

"Akane!", he yelled, running towards her.

"Thank god. I've been looking for you for the past two hours. Ranma fell asleep in the back seat."

"Is he alright?"

Akane smiled. "Yep."

"Sorry I got lost, I got kinda.. distracted after work."

"Get in, we've got to put him to bed."

Ryoga leapt over the car and opened the door. He quickly slipped in and smiled at his wife, his previous worries nearly forgotten.

"Oh, by the way. I.. uhh.. ran into someone today."

"Who?", Ryoga asked.

"An old friend. Someone we haven't seen in a long time."

"Uhhh", Ryoga suddenly began to tense up. "Happosai?"

Akane chuckled for a moment, "No. Someone who we thought was dead."

Ryoga began to sweat nervously. *How could she know? Did she run into him? Did he run into her?* He decided it best to feign ignorance.

"I give up.", he mustered the courage to say.

"Well, I stopped by Ucchans while looking for you, and Daddy was there, with two other people. One of them was Mousse."

"I'M SORRY AKANE! YOUR FATHER TOLD ME NOT TO TELL--- MOUSSE?!?!?"

Akane looked wide-eyed for a moment. "What? You mean you knew already?"

"Uhh.. Yeah. I was going to surprise you when you got home.. heh heh.", he said. *God I hope she buys this.*

"Thats funny, he said he was going to call and tell me. He never told me he told you."

"Must have.. Slipped his mind?"

Akane laughed. "Well, we're probably going to stop by the dojo tomorrow sometime. We were originally going to go there tonight to catch up, but its too late now."

"Thats okay, it'll be fine tomorrow.", Ryoga said nervously.

Akane nodded. "Right now lets just focus on the task at hand."

Ryoga sighed in relief and agreed.

"So, you've made alot of progress, and in under 20 hours! I'm impressed, Spawny."

Ranma looked suddenly towards the source of the voice. He scowled once he saw who it was.

"What the hell do you want, Clown-boy?"

"Clown-boy? Hoo! Thats rich. But if I were you, Saotome, I'd be showing a little more respect. I trust the old fart told you about me."

"Yeah, the 'vomitor' or something."

The Clown started to chuckle. "Thats 'violator', and I'd thank you not to forget it. Unless of course, you think you can beat me."

Ranma waved his hand. "Go away. I'm not in the mood."

"Oh, how I do love these situations. Lets see now, how does it go. Oh yeah. You tell me to get lost, I push the matter further, you get pissed, then you die a second time. Oh, joy!"

"I said get lost, fatty."

"Fatty? Oh, _THATS_ original. But seriously Spawn, I don't understand what the master sees in you humans, you're weak, emotional beings. And most of you don't have the guts to even watch a decent torture session."

"Does it matter, your 'master' means nothing to me."

"I'd show some more respect if I were you. You don't get to be ruler of hell for several millenia by being disrespected."

"I'll disrespect whoever the hell I want."

"Oh really? Well, then I guess I'll just hafta make you respect him. I suppose if I had a little chat with, say Akane, you would--"

"You touch her and I'll rip your demon head off!"

"Ooh, touched a sore spot eh? Want me to make Akane kiss it better? I can, you know. I can make her do anything I want. I can get her to s--"

"SHUT UP! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

"Jeez, at least let me finish my taunting before you go ahead and challenge me."

"This won't be a challenge.", and with that, Ranma launched an aerial assault of kicks and punches to the Clown's body. It sent him flying back towards the wall of the grounds, as he smashed into it with great force.

Ranma just grunted and turned away. "Not even.", he muttered.

All of a sudden, a gruff laugh came from the direction of the wall.

"Not bad. It usually takes a bit more than that to finish me off.", he said as he began to glow. "My true form, however is a little bit harder."

The light had come seemingly from underneath his skin. The blood red glow seemed to eminate from under his flesh as it began to ripple, and expand. The flesh seemed to melt off as his true form came forth. The pitch of the laugh changed as the Clowns body turned into that of the Violator.

"Now, Spawn. Lets see you take me like this."

"What the hell?", it didn't come from Ranma, behind him, Mousse had come downstairs to see what the commotion was. He stared wide-eyed at the grotesque form of the demon.

"Mousse, get back inside."

The Violator laughed. "Ahh, a toy. Lets play, shall we?"

"What is it?"

"Mousse, GET BACK INSIDE!"

"Not a very bright boy, is he?"

"But--"

"JUST GO!", Ranma began to launch another aerial attack, this time with some variations. It threw the demon back for a moment, but he just stood there, smiling. If you could call it a smile.

"You think that could take me, Saotome? It may have put the Clown away, but I'm more ready for it."

"KACHUU TENSHIN AMIGURIKEN!", Ranma yelled as he tried to land a flurry of punches on the creature. He succeeded, but unfortunately, Violator just stood there, laughing.

"Interesting Technique. Picked up from the Joketsuzoku, I believe. Well, Saotome, who the hell do you think _THEY_ got it from?"

"What?"

"Talented folks, but they're nothing but a bunch of plagiarists."

"I'm not going to put up with this... MOUKOU TAKABISHA!", The Chi attack flushed outwards from his fists. A Thick black chi-stream hit the demon square in the jaw, but it kept standing there, laughing.

"Your chi has no effect on me. You're a creature of darkness, just like me. Don't even try it."

Ranma refused to give up. He closed his eyes and kept straining for a moment longer. He began to feel dispair welling up inside of him, and for an unknown reason thought of the one thing that had kept him going for as long as he did. Akane.

The chi blast suddenly began to turn slowly from black, to dark red. The demon grunted in surprise as the tickling sensation turned into a slight burning pain.

"Impressive. But it does nothing to me but- UGH!", he flew back against the wall as the beam turned from dark red to a more solid red.

He got up slowly and growled. "That _FUCKING HURT_!", he yelled, and suddenly went into a full attack mode. He blocked every single one of Ranma's attacked, as he laughed. He finally put a stop to it. He picked Ranma into the air with a single hand and began to speak.

"I'm impressed, Ranma. I'll give you that much. But you've got no hope to beat me at full strength. I've gone easy, but you pissed me off, and now you pay the price."

The demon began to squeeze harder and brought his other hand and positioned it over Ranma's chest. He smirked as he began to put pressure on it.

"DIE!", the scream was heard from behind them, momentarily distracting the demon long enough for Ranma to get loose. Mousse has sliced a fair sized gash in the demons side with a kitchen knife, and was busily making identicle slits all over its body.

"Damn you!", he yelled, Ranma began to start attacking the demon in an effort to help Mousse get away.

"Hey, no fair two-on-one!", the demon chuckled.

"Mousse, get out of here, I'm alright now."

"This--"

"GO!"

Mousse frowned for a moment, then threw the knife into the demons back and made a hasty retreat inside the house. Ranma was left to finish the job.

"I'll rip your heart out!", Violator yelled.

"I think you just failed", was Ranma's only reply. The Violator was weakened now, and in pain. But he was still going to win, eventually. He needed some sort of edge. The attack from Mousse had helped, but.. What now?

Mousse had apparently had the same train of thought as Ranma, and quickly came up with an idea. He ran out the front of the Dojo, and into an alleyway. The noises from the battle still extremely loud. He suddenly spotted what he was looking for.

Ranma was quickly getting worn out, and didn't know how much longer he would hold. But then he noticed Mousse, he was no longer inside, but standing on the top of the wall. He had only moments to glance at him, because the fight was taking most of his attention. All he knew was that Mousse was holding something in his hand. He tossed it towards Ranma. Then he noticed.

It hadn't taken effect immediately. Ranma still had to realize what was standing by the edge of the Koi pond, hissing at him. A moment later, a vision of himself as a young man with fish sausage links tied around his neck appeared. He immediately knew what Mousse was trying to do. And Ranma realized, if he was going to win, he would have to submit. He jumped towards the cat and held it in his arms.

The cat was frantically scratching at him, trying to free itself. The demon stood there dumbfounded at what was happening, and shrugged.

"What the hell are you doing?" it asked.

Ranma grunted in response, his heart running into overtime and fear overtaking him. A moment later. It kicked in.

At first, the demon laughed at Ranma, as if it was some kind of joke that he was walking around on all fours, hissing at him like a cat. He wasn't laughing for long, as Ranma launched at him.

The demon hadn't expected it. He had figured that it was some symbol that Ranma was giving up, and found it a humourous distraction. But when it attacked, taking him off-guard, he found it painful and yelled once noticing that Ranma's Chains were now assisting the fight. Violator reached out to try and block another attack, but when Ranma's cape wrapped itself around his arm, and pulled it aside, dislocating the bone, he fell back, having Ranma land on him, and proceed to rip off his flesh as a cat would its prey. It was then that Violator realized, he had no chance in hell of winning. Moments later, it was over, and Violator dissolved into the ground.

Mousse shook his fist in the air and expressed his pleasure from atop the wall. He frowned when he realized he would have to do something about Ranma.

"Whats going on?", Soun asked, groggily rubbing his eyes and comign out into the yard. It had apparently attracted the attention of the creature that had been inhabiting Ranma's mind and sent him running towards him. Soun yelped in surprise, but calmed as Ranma began to rub himself against Soun's legs.

Mousse shook his head. "Might be a bit easier than I thought.", he said as he jumped off of the wall.

The figure that had been silently watching from three rooftops away stared at the figure. *Amazing*, he thought to himself. He had heard of the Cat-fist before, but never had the pleasure of witnessing it. All he knew was that the technique was banned. He smiled under his old beard, his worn face adjusting to the sudden change in shape. Indeed, it had been years since he had used those muscles.

Count Nicholas De Cogliostro jumped down from the rooftop of the building and began to walk. Until moment earlier, he had expected Violator to win, but smiled at the thought of a new spawn being able to best him on the first challenge. Unfortunately, he also knew of the other challenges that would come. There would certainly be an Angel, as well as other abominations that he himself had faced in the past.

He made a mental note to talk to the boy again the next day.

Ukyou sighed in relief as the airplane touched solid ground at the Tokyo International Airport. She watched intently out the window while she waited for the plane to make a complete stop. It was now past Ten at night, too late to worry about going to Nerima. She would have to find a hotel for the night, and leave the next day.

Her mind reeled with possible outcomes of the next day. She would walk right up to her old friends and say, 'Hey, whats up. Sorry for going away for six years, but can ya blame me?'. She frowned inwardly. Of course they would blame her. But this was something she had to do, too many demons had manifested themselves in her closet, and it was time to excorcise some of them. She would leave on a morning train, probably arriving in Nerima around ten in the morning, and set out for a place she knew someone would still be. Her old restaurant. She could envision the route she'd use in her mind. Get off of the train, head down Kasakami street, take a left on Mirasako, and head straight until she reached her restaurant.

Even though the appointed time wasn't until at least a good nights sleep away, she felt the butterflies in her stomach fluttering about. She tried her best to mentally spray them with some repellant, but they remained, still strong and moving.

She glanced at her watch just as the plane came to a complete stop. She removed her seatbelt and prepared to get up, grabbing her carry-on luggage as she watched the stairs extend to the entrance outside.

Ukyou sighed in anticipation. *Soon*, she told herself. *Soon.*

Chapter 6: Neko-Spawn
Ranma silently prowled along the inner hallways of the bottom floor of the Tendo Dojo. It had been a full hour since he had made use of the Cat-fist, and he had since been unable to recover his former self. Visibly bored in the feline sense, Ranma began to play with his chains as if they were nothing more than a tail as Soun sighed, watching.

He managed a brief look outside, and noticed that Mousse had since removed himself from the porch overlooking the koi pond, for some higher ground. He was on the roof.

Soun couldn't blame him, really. Ranma would hiss and yowl whenever he would come near, but it didn't seem as if he wanted to hurt him, as long as he kept away. Soun, on the other hand was given the royal treatment. Ranma would rub against his leg and make mock purring noises. He let his mind wander for a few moments before he snapped back into reality. Something would have to be done about Ranma.

Soun recalled hearing the story of what had happened from Mousse, of the demon that he never saw engaging in combat with Ranma. How Ranma almost lost until he thought to enable the cat-fist. How the so-called 'Neko-Spawn' had ripped the being to pieces and then proceeded to preen himself. Soun sighed for a moment. He would have to stay awake until he could figure out what to do with Ranma. If he fell asleep, there would be a great chance that Ranma would leave, and wreak havoc around Nerima.

Soun got up as he decided. Before, triggering Ranma's curse would break him out of the trance state. Maybe the shock of cold water would bring him back. And if that didn't work, he may have to use a last resort. Akane.

Ranma gave Soun a detached look as he got up to go into the kitchen. A brief sound of running water, and a quick return to the tea room, and Soun had backed Ranma into a corner. Ranma watched the object in Soun's hands intently, knowing full well what it was.

Ranma didn't wait any longer. He lashed out, using a chain to knock the bucket clean out of Soun's hand and onto the floor. All that was left was a stunned looking Soun, holding one empty hand in the air.

"I don't think he wants to get wet.", Mousse's voice came from outside.

Soun frowned for a moment, and looked towards the source. Mousse was poking his head down from the roof and watching with an amused look on his face. Ranma stopped his preening long enough to his at the man, but then continued.

"I guess that won't work eh? I'll have to try a different approach."

Mousse shook his head, "Not a good idea. There is the possibility that it may work, but theres also the possiblity that it may not. And if you get him wet, he may not be happy."

Soun looked at Ranma, who was now circling the same spot several times. A feline instinct that strangely seemed to fit Ranma.

"I suppose you're right. But the only other thing that managed to break him out of the Cat-fist was--"

"I don't think Ranma would appreciate that very much."

"I know. I only want to use it as a last resort."

"Still, there has to be some way. Maybe if you talk to the 'cat'. Maybe Ranma will come out."

Soun shook his head, "I doubt it."

Mousse closed his eyes for a moment and thought. "What about the others?"

"Eh?"

"Well, if Akane could bring him out, what about Nabiki? Even Kasumi?"

Soun blinked and pondered the suggestion. In all theory, he could call up Nabiki or Kasumi and get them to have a go at bringing Ranma out of his trance. After all, if Akane could do it, what about the other Tendo Sisters? Even Kinami? Maybe it was just a female presence that would break him out of his trance.

Soun glanced at the time and hesitated for a moment. Then he decided the situation was an emergency and proceeded to pick the phone up and dial.

Nabiki's eyes shot wide as the phone next to her bed rang. There were two phones in the restaurant, one downstairs and one in her room, right now, she wanted to destroy the latter.

She picked up the phone and groggily answered. "Hello?"

"Nabiki? Dear, I think you should get to the dojo."

"What? Why?", NAbiki glanced at the time. It wasn't as late as she had thought. "It's 11:30!"

"Something happened to Ranma, and I think you may be able to help. Possibly even Kasumi."

"Wait. Whats wrong?"

"Its hard to explain, dear. But the gist of it is that he's gone into the Cat-fist trance."

"WHAT?!?!?"

A distinct thump was heard from another room and an angry voice yelled out, "Nabiki! I was almost asleep!"

"How?", she asked her father, temporarily ignoring the sounds coming from the adjacent room.

"I'll explain it all later, but you need to get here. Bring Kinami, maybe she can help."

"Fine, call Kasumi and get her to bring Tofu."

"Of course, maybe he can help."

"Alright, we'll be there in a few minutes."

"Hurry."

"Alright, bye."

And with that, she hung up the phone. She got up to face an angry looking Kinami at her door.

"What was that all about?"

Nabiki frowned. "We've got a problem."

"What now?"

"Ranma has turned into a cat."

"Again with the curses?!"

Nabiki laughed and shook her head. "Just come with me and you'll see."

Tofu nearly jumped out of his shoes when the phone rang. He was usually up till around this time, but had not expected the phone to ring this late. He frantically picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Ahh, Tofu. Is Kasumi awake?"

"Oh, hello father. She went to bed about ten minutes ago. Why?"

"Its hard to explain. But I can explain it all when you both get here."

"Can you tell me anything now?"

"Not without causing some problems. Just get over here and I'll explain it to you both."

"Okay, I suppose.", Tofu replied, unsure of the problem, but acknowledging the weight of it.

"Thank you, Tofu. Come quick."

"Alright, see you soon."

Tofu hung the phone up and stood. He turned around to walk into the bedroom of he and his wife and proceeded to wake her up. She opened her eyes and smiled.

"Whats wrong?", she asked asfter seeing the look on her husbands face.

"I don't know. Your father just called, theres something wrong, and he needs us at the dojo." "Oh my. Both of us?"

"Yes."

"I wonder if Nabiki and Akane are going to be there too."

"Only one way to find out.", he smiled, helping his wife out of bed.

Kasumi gave Tofu a quick peck on the cheek and began to dress herself. Tofu smiled and left in search of his shoes.

"They're on their way now.", Soun directed outside.

"How long before they get here?"

"Not long. A few minutes. Nabiki will probably get here first."

"Well, I'll meet them outside."

Soun nodded. "Of course. But you'll have to help me explain Ranma to Tofu and Kasumi."

Mousse nodded. "After seeing me, they'll accept it without much question."

Mousse perked up and listened closely. He looked at Soun and said, "Someones here."

"How can you tell?"

"I can hear a car."

"Oh."

And sure enough, Nabiki walked through the front entrance of the dojo, followed by Kinami.

"Boy you guys were quick. Took us an hour and a half to walk home."

Kinami shrieked in surprise and then glared at Mousse. "Do you _HAVE_ to do that?", she asked, shaking her fist.

Mousse shrugged. "Why are you so jumpy?"

Nabiki shook her head and began to focus. "Where is he?"

Mousse thumbed towards the dojo, and Nabiki walked on. Kinami stuck around with Mousse, with a look of pure confusion.

"Whats going on now?"

"Eh?", Mousse asked.

"Well, Nabiki told me Ranma turned into a cat. I thought he turned into a girl."

"He does... err... did.. But he could also turn into a cat."

"And how, pray tell does that happen?"

Mousse shrugged. "Not sure. He's scared to death of 'em. Whenever he's too close to one, his mind pops and turns into one."

"So now theres a cat walking around that used to be Ranma?"

"Well, not quite. Theres a Ranma walking around, that thinks hes a cat, that used to be, and still is, Ranma... In a way..."

Kinami shook her head. "I _DON'T_ want to hear anymore."

"Oh my.", a familiar voice was heard from the gate. Kasumi stood there shocked for a moment, and then smiled.

"Oh, hey Kasumi.", Kinami greeted.

"Hello Kinami, how was the advice I gave you?"

"Well, it didn't turn out as well as I had hoped, but thanks anyways."

"Oh hello Kinami, how are---", Tofu began, then he spotted Mousse.

"Uhh.. Hi, you two."

Kasumi nodded and greeted Mousse warnheartedly, as Tofu yelped and fainted promptly.

"Uhh, Dr. Tofu, you okay?", Kinami asked, approaching the unconscious form.

"Oh I'm fine, Betty.", he replied.

"Betty?"

Tofu blinked for a moment, then looked up at Kinami. "Oh", he said, "I'm sorry Kinami, I just imagined something.", he laughed as he got up, "My eyes must be playing tricks on me. I thought I saw Mou- -"

Mousse smiled and waved at Tofu as he prompty yelped and lost consciousness, a second time.

"I hope this isn't going to happen every time he wakes up."

Kasumi looked down at her husband for a second and sighed. "I suppose we should get him inside."

"Kinami, give me a hand here please", Mousse asked as he grabbed Doctor Tofu's arm and hoisted it over his shoulders. Kinami did the same.

"So Mousse, I suppose you didn't die after all.", Kasumi pointed out.

Mousse shook his head. "No. I survived. It was hard, but I managed."

"What about Ranma?", she asked as if it were as simple a question as "Would you like some tea?"

"He.. uhh.. Well..."

"He's dead.", Kinami interupted.

"Boy you're blunt."

"Is there a problem with that?"

Mousse smiled and shook his head. "Kasumi, Ranma died five years ago. Seriously, but--"

Kasumi just kept walking, never losing her smile as she interupted. "So he is dead."

"Not quite", Nabiki said at the door.

"Oh, hello Nabiki.", Kasumi greeted her sister.

Nabiki managed a smile as she hugged her sister. She was quick to help bring Doctor Tofu inside.

Once inside, Mousse tried to take it easy. Ranma already knew that he was inside, as he could tell from the hissing, however right now was not a time he wanted to spend outside. He helped put Doctor Tofu on the ground near the stairs and then backed towards the wall. Kasumi let her smile drop for a moment as Ranma cautiously walked into the room.

"Oh my.", she exclaimed, visibly shocked.

"Mrowr...", was Ranma's answer, although it was directed more towards Mousse than Kasumi.

Doctor Tofu chose this moment to wake up. Not noticing Mousse, but instead looking at the mass of chains and red cloth slowly approaching his wife, his male instinct went into play and jumped to action. He quickly wedged himself between the creature and his wife, taking up a defensive stance.

"Get back Kasumi!", he yelled, ready to defend if the creature would attack.

Ranma simply looked up at Tofu casually. Tofu was still holding up a defensive stance when Ranma stopped his hissing and began to preen himself. Tofu then dropped his stance, and began to feel dizzy again.

"Doctor Tofu?", Soun asked.

Still dizzy, he managed to answer. "Eh?"

"I believe you know Ranma.", he said, motioning towards the creature preening itself.

Tofu couldn't take any more of it. He hit the ground, hard.

---

Dreams.

No. Not dreams. Nightmares.

Nightmares of things long past. Nightmares of pain and misery, in remembrance of his life.

Nightmares of Ranma. Nightmares of Mousse. Nightmares of the entire Kenoru ordeal.

Further back.

Nightmares of past mistakes. Of family secrets and mysterious ailments.

Nightmares of the truth. His truth.

A vision. A vision that takes the pain away. A face. A beautiful face. Kasumi.

The Nightmare turns lighter.

Not for long. Kenoru returns. Kasumi's smile fades into an evil grin.

It's not Kasumi. It's Kenoru.

He's saying something...

"Tofu!", Soun yelled, trying drastically to wake him up.

Slowly, one eye opens, and a gasp escapes from Tofu's lips.

"What?", he asked, rubbing the back of his head. After he noticed his glasses sitting on the table beside him, he picked them up and returned them to their normal position on his nose.

"Thank goodness you're awake!"

"You aren't going to faint again, are you?", Nabiki asked.

Tofu shook his head. No longer dizzy, that was for sure. It took him a moment to realize what had caused him to faint earlier. After he had, a lightheaded feeling, and he was finally in control of the situation.

"I'm fine.", he said. "Ranma and Mousse are alive then?"

"I am.", Mousse said from the oposite side of the room.

"Ranma... Well, thats a bit iffy..", Kinami continued.

"Iffy? What do you mean?"

"Well, right now he's not Ranma. He's Spawn, the wonder- cat.", Kinami quipped.

"Spawn? Wha?", he asked, watching Kasumi stroke the creatures head.

"It's hard to explain Tofu, but he did die, and has just returned. Not," Soun glanced at the time, "Twenty-four hours ago."

"But, how?"

"We still aren't %100 sure, but apparently, he's been recruited by some demon god named Malebolgia to be a warrior in some kind of demon army.", Nabiki continued.

"Yup. That creepy old guy in the trenchcoat told us.", Kinami informed him.

"Creepy old guy?"

"Yeah, he called himself Saint Nicholas De Clockiolo or something."

Nabiki shook her head, "It was Count Nicholas De Cogliostro."

"Yeah, that guy," Kinami said, snapping her fingers.

Tofu still couldn't grasp the notion, but decided to play along. "How did he get like this?"

"That was kinda my fault.", Mousse spoke up, "He was fighting some demon thing and would've lost if I hadn't thrown a cat at him."

"But now we've got a bigger problem. Getting him back to normal!", Nabiki interupted.

Mousse shrugged, "Either that or he be the one ripped to shreds!"

Tofu shook his head again. There was no time to get dizzy, he was needed for something important. "Have you tried triggering his curse?"

"Well", Soun interupted, "He no longer has his curse."

"What about Akane?"

Nearly everyone except Kasumi shook their heads. Soun spoke up, "Not an option. He doesn't want her to know he's back yet."

"Were there any other known methods of retrieving him from the technique?"

"Not that we know of."

"Wait. There is someone who would know.", Nabiki said.

"Who?"

Nabiki smiled and looked straight into her fathers eyes. "Genma."

Soun was about to dismiss the idea when he thought. Genma had trained with Ranma for six years after his learning the cat-fist, and he would certainly know how to get him out of it. However, contacting him would be a problem.

"Can we call him?"

Soun nodded. "Yes, but theres no guarantee he would be there. Nodoka might, but I doubt he would be."

"Why's that?"

"He's always going on training trips, remember."

"Oh yeah. Call now, maybe we'll get lucky."

Soun nodded as he reached for the phone and began to dial. He waited a few moments, and was beginning to look disheartened when he heard a groggy answer.

"Hello?", Nodoka answered.

"Nodoka? Its Soun, how are you?"

"Soun?", she answered, "It's 12:30! What do you want?"

"Ahh, well.. That is...", he kept saying until Nabiki took the phone from him.

"Mrs. Saotome? We need your husbands help. Is he in?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, he is. But he's sleeping. In panda form, and you know how hard he is to wake."

"Its a bit of an emergency."

"Okay, hold on a minute."

Nabiki held for a moment as she heard a few sounds in the background. A muffled growl, some footsteps a splashing noise and a muffled yell. A minute later, another groggy voice was on the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Saotome. It's Nabiki."

"Do you know how late it is child?!", he yelled. Nabiki smirked as she heard a distinct smack. "Ow!"

"Its an emergency."

"What kind?"

"Well, we've got someone here that was trained in the same method that Ranma was."

A moment of silence on the other end of the phone went by. "The Cat-fist?"

"Yes. This person is under the influence of the cat fist, but he doesn't have a Jusenkyo curse. I was wondering, before the curse how did he come back to normal?"

"Well, he did go under the influence of the training a number of times before he was cursed, and it was always harder to bring him out. What you do is this..."

Nabiki nodded and commited Genma's suggestion to memory, giving a dirty look at it, she continued. "Is that the only way?"

Genma stood silent for a minute. "Well, there is another way, but you may not want to do it."

"Whats that?"

"Ever had the hiccups?"

"Yes, of course."

"You know the methods of getting rid of them, right?"

"Of course."

"Well, thats definately not something you want to do. I brought him out of the Cat-fist once, but not before getting beaten to a pulp."

"Ahh."

"Mind if I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Who is it?"

"Eh?"

"Who's under the cat-fist right now. Who?"

"Its just a friend of ours."

"Would I know him?"

"You might." Nabiki definately didn't like the direction the conversation was going.

"Should Nodoka, Ranko and I head over there? If we leave tomorrow morning, we'd be there in an hour. You know, in case the methods don't work."

"Well, I don't think--"

"Good, we'll be there tomorrow morning!"

"It would be a good-- Wha?", Nabiki continued, but stopped upon hearing that Genma had hung up.

"Whats the matter?", Soun asked.

"They're going to be here tomorrow morning."

"What? Couldn't you stop them?"

"You try and stop him when he wants something!"

"So, what did he say to do?"

"Well, there were two suggestions. Both of them sound dangerous."

"To whom?"

"Well, the first one might not be so dangerous to us, but to the one who has to be in the romo with Ranma, definately."

"Eh?"

"Hold on. I'll be right back, Mousse, Kinami, come with me."

A few minutes later, Kinami and Nabiki returned. A slight commotion coming from outside.

"I suggest we get everyone out of the room, except Ranma."

Ranma was already tensing up, as if he could sense something wrong.

Everyone oblidged and stepped out into the yard, shutting the door behind them. Nabiki and Kinami walked outside and took places by the windows. She nodded towards Mousse.

In a split second, Mousse had manged to deposit three vicious dogs in the front door of the home, and slipped out again, locking the door. Sounds of barking, yowling and screeching were heard from outside, but Ranma had knocked the lights out somehow, and the group was unable to see what was happening. A moment later, three dogs went running out of the window, and down the street, yelping as they went. A quick glance inside at Ranma, who was now preening himself again left Nabiki seriously disheartened.

"Okay," she said. "Time for plan B."

"Plan B?", Mousse asked.

"Heres what we do.", she said, motioning Kinami and Mousse together and giving them a quick talk.

A few minutes later, Mousse had managed to slip into the window of Nabiki's bedroom, and donned the mask he had been wearing for the past several years. The mask felt strange on his face, even though he was used to it. But after having his change of heart earlier, he had decided not to wear it any longer.

He slipped down the stairs silently, walking more on the wall than the stairs themselves, making sure not to create as much as a creaking noise. He had slipped into the entrance room of the home when he noticed Ranma paying close attention to the window.

Kinami was there, tracing her finger along the opposite side of the window, attracting Ranma's attention as he playfully batted the window with his 'paw'. This would give Mousse the time he needed to put the plan into effect. He slipped into the kitchen and began to set up the system. Soun would have been sued to property damage by now, so he could do it with a clear conscience. It took him thirty seconds to set it up, and he was about to leave when he heard a frantic rapping at the window. It was Kinami pointing towards him. After another moment, he realized she wasn't pointing at him, but behind him. Slowly he turned around to see a hissing Ranma approaching him.

As he backed away from the creature, he heard another frantic rapping, but his heart was pounding faster now. The idea of being ripped to shreds didn't exactly appeal to him as he backed further away. Another frantic rap at the window and Mousse felt something strange happen.

First thing he noticed was broken glass fall around around him, then he noticed everything around him dissappear, literally. Last thing he noticed was a pond hurdling towards him at monster speeds. Then he lost consciousness.

"Oh my god.", was the first thing he heard after waking up. Kinami was standing over him mouth agape.

"Mousse? Is that you?", she asked.

"Of course its me. Damn! I should've remembered the trap!", was his answer, although it came out more as a "Quack Quack Quack.. QUACK!" Than anything else.

"Its true. Oh my god its true!", she yelled. She picked Mousse up and prodded him around, recieving several angry quacks.

A moment later, Kasumi returned with a pot of hot water, and poured it on him. She smiled and just walked away.

"There, you happy now? Damn trap. Oh well, lets try again."

"No need.", a voice came from the patio door.

Mousse spun around and looked at the standing figure of Ranma, who has just apparently come out of 'Cat-fist mode'.

"You came out? How?"

"Well, you literally scared the hell out of me.", he laughed. "I remember stalking you in the kitchen, and I was about to attack when the next thing I knew you literally flew out the window and into the koi pond."

"Uhhh."

"I'm still not sure if you just scared me, or made me laugh so hard it hurt."

"Oh.. great. Glad to help.", Mousse said flatly.

"This Jusenkyo thing _IS_ real?", Kinami shouted.

"Yes it is. Feel glad you witnessed my transformation, its the last time."

"Mousse.", Ranma shouted from the patio, amongst the growing crowd walking towards him.

As Mousse turned towards him, he could make out the growing facial expression of a smile under his cowl.

"Thanks," he said.

Chapter Seven: Dilemma of the Golden Edge Part One
Kinami sighed as she stepped into the car. All was right now. Ranma was no longer a cat, two more people learned of Ranma's secret, and it was late. Nabiki got into the car and turned the key.

Kinami smiled and waved goodbye to the small collection of people that had gathered at the gates of the Tendo home. Kasumi and Tofu were there, just about to leave. Ranma, Soun and Mousse were speaking to them. The only ones to wave back were Kasumi and Mousse. Kinami sighed again.

A soft laugh escaped the Nabiki's lips. She turned to see an amused smile on her friends face.

"What?"

Nabiki shook her head, visibly amused. "You like him."

A blush soon consumed Kinami's face. "No I don't. He's just... A nice guy."

"Even though he was going to kill us?"

Kinami lost the blush in order to argue. "That wasn't him! You even said so yourself earlier! That was not Mousse!"

Nabiki smiled and looked at her dead in the eyes. "Gotcha."

Kinami's blush grew again. "I.. Uhh.. It doesn't matter anyways, I've got Genken."

Nabiki laughed out loud. "That freak? Are you kidding me? I thought you called it quits with him!"

"Well, I was going to...", she put on a mock smile, "But then he promised--"

"Promised that he wouldn't do it again, right?", Nabiki finished.

Kinami looked at her friend and nodded. She knew what was going to come next.

"Look, jerks like that don't keep those kind of promises. Goddamn it Kinami! You're a better fighter than he is, and you still let him wipe the floor with you!"

"But I lo--"

"No, you don't. He just makes you think you do. Listen to me Kinami, people like that don't change easily. How many times has he promised you the same thing?"

"Well--"

"Countless times. What makes you think this time is any different?"

"He promised!"

"He always promises. I'm telling you Kinami, I can only help you so much. But you've got to take the first step!"

"I--"

"Oh my god.", Nabiki gasped as they pulled up to the restaurant.

"What?"

Nabiki could only answer by pointing out the window, at the front door of the restaurant. Standing in front of the restaurant, looking seriously annoyed and randomly banging on the door was the man they were talking about. It was Genken.

"Genken? What's wrong?", Kinami asked, stepping up to her boyfriend.

"Kinami? What the hell? I thought you were inside...", he began, suspiciously eyeing Nabiki.

"I'll be inside", Nabiki said, opening the door.

Genken watched until she opened the door and closed it, then a few seconds later began to speak to his girlfriend again.

"Where the hell were you?", he asked.

Kinami answered defensively. "We were at a friends place."

"Which friend? Do I know them?"

"Nabiki's fathers house."

"What were you doing there?"

"Look, Genken, I don't see--"

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?"

"An old friend of Nabiki's needed help!", she shot back defensively.

"I thought you said you were at her father's house!"

"We were, thats where--"

"No!", he interupted, "Something fishy is going on here. You're lying to me, aren't you?"

"No, Genken, I--"

"AREN'T YOU?!"

"NO!"

"What the hell? After all I've done for you, you treat me like this? Don't you know your place, girl?"

"Genken, I was only--"

"SHUTUP!", he said, lashing out to hit her. Kinami dodged easily, which left Genken a little more than mad.

"Genken, I didn't--"

"SHUTUP BITCH! YOU'RE LYING TO ME!", he punched again, this time connecting with her side, sending her bending over. He then proceeded to pound her several times in the shoulder.

"Genken!", Kinami cried, "Stop it! I didn't--"

"Shutup I said!", then he stopped hitting her. "Goddamn it! See what you make me do? If you'd just be more truthful, this wouldn't happen!"

Choking between sobs, she tried to continue, "I was telling the tru--"

"Don't lie anymore!", he snapped, "It'll only make things worse."

Kinami could only sob. It was at this moment that Nabiki could stand it no longer. She burst out of the restaurant and started to yell.

"Get the hell out of her Genken, before I call the police!"

Genken snapped back at her, "You don't want to mess with me, girl... This is a private matter!"

"I've messed with people worse than you and come out on top!"

Genken laughed, "I'd like to see that happen with me, bitch."

"Get the hell out of here Genken. I'm warning you--"

Genken jumped towards her, "No, I'm warning YOU, bitch. You don't want to mess with me. I'll shoot you in the fucking head and leave you to...", he stopped and laughed for a moment, "Damn, bitch. You're not even worth it.", he turned towards Kinami, "I'll be back tomorrow. Be ready.", and with that said, he left.

Nabiki waited for him to leave her sight, and then proceeded to help Kinami up from the sobbing mess she was in on the ground.

"See what I mean, Kinami?", she pleaded.

"It's my fault, I--"

"You what? You lied? You told him the truth, Kinami. He doesn't trust you, he hits you. I'm willing to bet anything he thinks you're screwing around on him!"

"I'm not."

"I know you're not. If you're not with him, you're with me. He's a monster, Kinami. He may not look it, but he is a MONSTER."

"Nabiki, I can't deal with it."

"You could have dodged those punches easily. The only reason I didn't come out earlier is because I thought you would have stood up for yourself. He needs to be taught a lesson. And if you don't do it, I'm going to get someone who--"

"NO!", she screamed. "I'll take care of it myself. Mousse doesn't need to know about it!"

Nabiki stood silent for a minute before continuing. "Kinami. Mousse will know about it. I'm not going to tell him, but he will know. And so will Ranma."

Kinami looked her friend in the eye as she helped her inside the Restaurant. "Genken has something coming to him. He deserves it."

"I said I'll take care of him myself."

"Whatever, lets just take care of that shoulder okay?"

Kinami looked at her friend and nodded.

"What?! They're WHAT?!", Ranma asked.

Mousse chuckled. "I suppose we should have told you right away. They'll probably be here around 7:00..."

"But, what about me?!"

"They don't know about you yet, Ranma", Soun informed him. "But it will be hard to hide."

"My parents are coming here. They'll be here in..", he glanced at the time, "Thirty minutes, and you choose _NOW_ to tell me?"

"Well, we never really thought about it last night after you 'came back'..."

"But thirty minutes?"

"Well, we could prepare. It _IS_ daytime, so you will be a bit harder to hide, especially to a martial artist like your father."

"I could go out again...", Ranma suggested.

"I wouldn't do that. It was enough of a risk for you to go out yesterday, which was a business day. There weren't many people out on the streets. But today is a bad idea."

"So what am I supposed to do? Go up to my parents and say 'Hi'?"

"Why not?", Mousse suggested.

"Eh?"

"Why not? They don't have to know its you. We could just say your an old friend of mine."

"And what about when they ask about you?"

"Well, I don't have any problem with them knowing I'm alive."

"But what if they ask about me?"

"We tell them the truth. Ranma Saotome died five years ago at the hands of Kenoru."

"But--"

"Just relax. I'll just say your a friend of mine from China, the costume is for religious purposes. They won't question it."

"But my voice..."

"You his from your mother in plain sight, Ranma. Your father notices crap."

"Yes, and his sister never met him before, so--"

"Whoa!", Mousse interupted. "Sister?"

"Yeah. Apparently I've got one now."

Mousse shook his head, "Wow. Complications up the wazoo."

"Anyways, lets prepare. Umm, won't Ranma need a name?"

"Good point. Uhh. Wonton?"

"I'm not a dog-man."

"Oh right. How about a Joketsuzoku name, it would make the story more believable."

Ranma shrugged. "I guess, as long as its nothing to do with cosmetics."

Mousse laughed. "Believe it or not, thats not intentional."

"Oh sure, with names like Cologne, Shampoo, Perfume, Lotion and Mousse I'm supposed to believe that?"

"Okay, fine. Lets scratch that idea."

"Look, just call me Hiruken, and we'll leave it at that."

Mousse shrugged. "Okay."

"Theres not going to be a class today, is there?"

"No, but remember Akane said that they would stop by today sometime."

"Yeah, god I hope its not until later. Otherwise I'll have to hide in plain sight as Hiruken."

"Well, hopefully there won't be any surprises later on."

"Hopefully."

Ukyou couldn't believe her eyes. She had expected to go to the restaurant, and then slowly work her way back into the lives of her friends, but standing not three feet away from her in the crowded train, were the parents of Ranma Saotome.

"Ukyou?", Genma asked, adjusted his glasses.

Nodoka smiled and cradled a child in her arms. She looked to be about four years old, with red hair and alot of Ranma-like features.

"H-hi Mr. Saotome... Mrs. Saotome...", she replied.

"Well, I'll be!", Genma bellowed, "Ukyou's come back to Nerima!"

Ukyou feigned a smile. This would be harder than she had originally planned. She decided to turn her attention to the child in Nodoka's arms.

"Hello", she smiled, "And who might you be?"

The child seemed shy for the most part, and hugged her mother tighter.

Nodoka smiled and began to speak. "It's okay, Ranko. This is your Auntie Ukyou."

Ranko managed a small smile and a very meek, "Hi." To Ukyou.

Ukyou laughed. At least, as much as she could manage, and began to speak again. "Ranma's little sister?"

Nodoka nodded, and then let her smile drop for a moment.

"He must be proud.", Ukyou continued with a smile. This brought the attention of both parents directly on Ukyou. Genma stared at her, jaw to the floor.

"What?", she asked.

"Ukyou, you mean.. You don't know?", Genma asked.

"Know what?", Ukyou did not like what was being implied.

Nodoka tried her best to keep a straight face, and began to inform Ukyou of the events that had transpired five years earlier.

Three stops later, Ukyou couldn't speak. She was too shocked. Ranma was dead, something she had never expected in a million years. And killed no less, by a martial artist.

She shook her head. It wasn't possible. Ranma always survived. He would always find some way out. He couldn't be dead.

Genma adjusted his glasses and continued, "I'm sorry, Ukyou. We thought you knew."

Ukyou felt like running away. She had to. It wasn't right.

She shot her head up and fixed a gaze on a spot on the train window. *No.*, she told herself. *I've come too far. Ranma's dead, but there were other reasons I was coming back. To make peace. To help run the restaurant alongside Nabiki, if such a thing was possible. I can't turn back now.*

"I'm sorry. I should have stayed in contact. It's just...", she shook her head, choking back a tear. "I came back to make peace with Akane and the others."

Genma managed to put a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright Ukyou.", he said, caringly.

The knock came rather suddenly, but not unexpected to the trained ears of those at the Tendo home.

"Is it them?", Ranma asked, looking at the time. "They're a bit early."

"I don't think so. They don't have a car, do they Mr. Tendo?", Mousse asked.

Soun shook his head. "No."

"Then its someone else."

"AKANE?", Ranma asked.

"No, her car sounds a little out of shape, this one sounds new."

Soun stepped up to the door and peeked through the window.

"What is _HE_ doing here?", Soun asked.

"Who?"

Soun opened the door.

"Yes?", he asked.

"Ahh, the honourable Soun Tendo. I come here seeking the answer to a question I have recently been fixated with."

Ranma groaned quietly. He had expected Kuno to come looking for him after what had happened yesterday, but the timing was _WAY_ off.

"I'll take care of it", Ranma said, stepping to the door. "What do you want, Kuno?"

Kuno gazed deep into Ranma's eyes, seeming to be looking for something.

"Then it is true.", he said. "Ranma Saotome has come back from the pits of hell."

"So you finally believe me, now?"

"Indeed.", he looked down. "I apologize for my past misdeeds against you. Although," he looked up again. "I wish to know the methods which have brought you back amongst the living."

"Hey Kuno!", Mousse waved from inside the house.

It took Kuno a moment to realize who was waving at him. His eyes widened, and jaw dropped. "Mousse as well? How have you done this, Saotome? Were you truly dead as thought, or were you merely masquerading?"

Ranma shook his head. "If I explain, do you promise not to try and attack me again?"

Kuno nodded, "After the events that transpired yesterday, I will have to agree."

Ranma let Kuno in and took him to sit down in the tea room. Five minutes later, he had finished explaining what had happened.

"So. You were truly dead.", Kuno lowered his gaze.

Ranma could only nod.

"It is unfortunate that I had realized my misdeeds only after you had perished. But it is even more unfortunate that you had perished at all.", he stood up, "You may include me in any plans to avenge your death. And I will provide the way of travel."

All three of them perked up. "What?"

Kuno nodded, "It is the least one can do to repay."

All three of them smiled, "Are you serious?"

"Yes. I will make the necessary preparations."

Ranma was speechless. He knew Kuno could be nice when he wanted to, but this was too much. The only thing he could say was, "Thanks."

Kuno nodded and smiled.

Ukyou walked down the road, thinking. Even after having heard the horrible news of Ranma's death from his own father, she found it extremely hard to accept.

Genma and Nodoka had offered to bring Ukyou with them while they went to the dojo. Genma had said somebody was having trouble with the Cat-Fist technique and wanted to go and help out.

Ukyou scoffed as much as she could under the current circumstances. When did that old goat ever help with anything? During the course of his life, he made it almost a religion to complicate Ranma's life further. From Amazon Fiancees to the Cat-Fist, and several other instances. Even his curse. All Genma's fault.

Ukyou shook her head. There was no point in placing blame on anyone but herself. He had been dead five years. Five years. She could have done something if she had still been around. Gone with Mousse, Shampoo and Ranma. Maybe at least Ranma would have survived if she had gone along. As it was, Shampoo only remained of the group.

Ukyou thought a bit harder. She knew from what Genma had told her that a man named Kenoru was the man who killed Ranma. She could try and hunt down this man, and exact her revenge through her own methods. Kenoru probably wouldn't suspect her until the last moment, and by then it would be too late. If only she could--

She stopped. Blinked twice and realized where she stood. She had unconsciously walked right into her restaurant, and found herself standing in the middle of the floor.

Kinami looked confusedly at the woman who had just walked in. She carried a guitar case over one shoulder, and a fairly heavy pack on the other. It looked like she was ready to move in.

"Can I help you?", Kinami asked. "We don't actually open for about 5 minutes."

"Oh. Uhhh.. I'm sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking about where I was going."

Kinami nodded, "Oh thats fine. I guess I should have locked the door last night anyways."

The woman gave a quick confused look and decided to sit at the table.

"So, what can I get for you?", Kinami asked.

"Well, actually... I'm looking for someone."

"Oh? Well, you may have to wait a little while.. As I said, we don't open till seven, and the regulars show up about 15 past."

"Well, Actually I'm looking for someone who I _THINK_ may still work here."

Kinami thought for a moment. "Well... I'm the only worker, there was another guy a few months ago named Tarou, is he who you're looking for?"

The woman blinked. "Pantyhose Tarou?"

Kinami nodded. "Funny name eh? Was he who you were looking for?"

The woman shook her head. "Uhh, no... I'm looking for Nabiki Tendo."

"OH!", she exclaimed, "Nabiki! Sure, she's probably still sleeping... We were up pretty late last night. I'll call her."

"Great, I was worried she might have--"

"NABIKI!!!!!!", she yelled at the top of her lungs. A moment later, a loud, audible thud was heard upstairs, and the woman was busily trying to stop the ringing in her ears.

"Sorry, we don't have any way to communicate other than that."

"I see.", she nodded.

"So anyways, my names Kinami Yabui, Resident chef here at Ucchan's fine diner!", she bowed.

"Uhhh... I'm Ucchan.", the woman replied.

Not quite getting it, Kinami gave the woman a confused look. "Eh?"

Ukyou managed a short laugh, temporarily forgetting what she had been told earlier, and was about to speak when an audible gasp was heard from the door leading to the stairs.

Nabiki gasped. It was the only thing she could do for the time being. She had not expected Ukyou to show up now of all times, but there she was, sitting at the grill bar talking to Kinami.

Nabiki thought she would be happy to see Ukyou again after so long, but she found herself becoming increasingly annoyed.

"Great!", she shouted to nobody in particular, "Who next? Kirin? Prince Toma? How about Herb?"

Ukyou remained visibly stunned by Nabiki's explosion, while Kinami just let her jaw drop to the floor.

"Uhh, Nabs?", Kinami asked.

Nabiki shook her head. "Sorry Ukyou, but since yesterday morning my life has been filled with reunions and surprises. You were kind of unexpected."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. I got an interesting surprise when I arrived here. What kind of surprises did you get?"

Kinami chose this moment to but in, "Oh, well, first these Yakuza freaks showed up and tried to extort more money out of Nabiki, then Ra--"

Nabiki unnoticedly placed her hand over Kinami's mouth. "Nothing!", she shouted, recieving some teeth from Kinami.

"What?", Ukyou asked.

"I uhh..", Kinami continued. "Well... Uhhh... You see.. I uhh...."

Nabiki shook her head. "It doesn't matter, what surprise did you get?"

"Oh.", Ukyou looked towards the floor. "I found out about.. Ranma.."

"Whoa!", Nabiki yelled, "You mean you didn't know?"

Ukyou shook her head. "No. I was in Africa for a few years, then I spent last year in Los Angeles."

"America?", Kinami asked. "Is that anywhere near San Fransisco?"

Ukyou nodded, "Not far. Why?"

"Hey!", Kinami yelled, "What a coincidence! We're going there ourselves!"

Ukyou smiled. "Vacation?"

"No, we're helping Ra--", she began before getting cut off by Nabiki.

"We're uhh... Helping.. uhh.."

"Nabiki...", Ukyou frowned. "I know somethings up, you might as well tell me before I get it out of someone else."

"I.. uhh..."

"Whatever.", she turned towards Kinami. "You tell me."

Kinami smiled and nodded. "We're helping out with avenging Ranma's death. A bunch of us martial artists are getting together to put this Kenoru guy out of commision."

Ukyou looked confused. "You sound like you knew him."

"Well, I've only known him a day, but I think I've got the basics sorted out."

"Wow, you only knew him a day? And you're helping out?", Ukyou shook her head. "Count me in."

An audible groan was heard from Nabiki, when the question came about. "Can you pay for yourself?"

Ukyou smiled. "Yeah, no problem."

Nabiki smiled and went about her work.

"So who else is going to come along?"

Kinami picked up the question really quick. "Well, theres me, Nabiki, Mr. Tendo, Mousse, Ranma, Ryouga might come, And now you..."

Ukyou mentally tallied the names in her head when something clicked.

"What?", she asked, noting the look on Nabiki's face like the proverbial cat had been let out of the bag.

Kinami also noted what she had said, but assumed that she already knew Ranma had come back, but was just taking it very well.

"Uhh...", she replied.

"Mousse and Ranma?"

"Uhhh... Well, Mousse never really died, Ukyou.", Nabiki replied. "We only found that out yesterday."

"Ranma?"

"Well... He did die, but something... Happened. Its really hard to explain."

"Explain.", she said as she put her guitar case on the stool next to her.

Nabiki noted the shape of the guitar case and immediately knew what was contained within, as she started to explain.

A minute later, after a brief, but thourough explanation of the events of the day earlier, including the cat-fist the previous night, Ukyou stared at the wall, in complete shock.

"Impossible.", she began.

"Genma only thinks its someone else under the Cat-fist."

Ukyou shook her head. "How is he?"

"He's still Ranma, but he has become a bit... Distant."

"How do you mean?"

"It's too hard to explain, you'd have to see for yourself."

"At the dojo?"

"Yes."

"Can you close the restaurant for the day?"

Nabiki thought for a moment. She would go out of business soon if she didn't keep the restaurant going, but this was important. Kinami wouldn't stay behind either. She nodded.

"Hey, I'm coming along too, right?", Kinami asked.

Ukyou gave her a quick look. "Hows your shoulder?"

"Eh?"

"Your shoulder is injured, are you going to be okay to come with us?"

Kinami blushed for a moment and then fixed her face. "Yes.", she said blankly. "I'll be fine."

"SAOTOME!", Soun exclaimed.

"TENDO!", Genma replied.

The two men immediately hugged and proceeded walk into the house. Nodoka and Ranko soon followed.

However, Genma and Nodoka both stopped dead in their tracks as son as they saw the two other occupants.

The man in the mask gave a half-hearted, disinterested wave, while the other put a meek smile on his face and greeted the two. "Hello Mr. Saotome, Mrs. Saotome."

"Mousse? Glory be, son! How.. Why... HOW?!"

"Well, the long and short of the matter is that I survived."

Genma adjusted his glasses and fixed them on the man standing next to Mousse. A Bit tall to be Ranma, he thought to himself, and continued with his next question.

"So Ranma is..."

Both of the men nodded. Mousse spoke. "Yes, he did die. I'm sorry."

Genma shook his head. "No need to son, he died with honour." Mousse nodded.

Genma laughed and proceeded to pat Mousse on the back roughly. "So, who's this?", he asked.

"This is a friend of mine from China."

"Glad to meet you, son.", Genma shook his hand. He pulled his face over towards Mousse and whispered something to him about his friends apparel.

Mousse nodded. "Hiruken is from a neighbouring village. His people have strict laws about letting themselves be seen or heard outside of their homeland. So you won't hear him speak or see his face while he's here."

Genma nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, its still nice to meet you, boy.", he turned back towards his wife. "Mousse, I'm sure you know Nodoka, and this here is Ranko."

Mousse laughed. "The resemblance to Ranma's girl half is uncanny!"

"You noticed it too, eh?", Genma laughed.

"So," he continued. "Hiruken, are you the one who was under the Cat-Fist?"

'Hiruken' nodded as a reply. Genma looked him over and smiled, "Nasty technique, isn't it? If I had known its side-effects, I never would have taught it to Ranma. Still, the Cat-fist got us out a quite a few nasty situations I'm not sure we would have survived otherwise."

Soun smiled and invited his friend over to their usual seat by the Go board as Genma excused himself without another word. Leaving Nodoka and Mousse to talk.

"So Mousse, how is Shampoo these days?", Nodoka asked.

"Well, actually, Shampoo is in San Fransisco right now to the best of my knowledge. I haven't really spoken to her. She still thinks I'm dead."

Nodoka 'tsked' and shook her her head. "Thats too bad. I was almost certain you two would have gotten together."

Mousse nodded. "So was I at one time."

Nodoka let a restless Ranko go from her arms to roam around the dojo for a little bit as she continued. "So, what have you been doing to keep yourself busy?"

Mousse went wide-eyed for a moment and looked towards the floor. Trying his best to keep a straight face. "Oh, this and that."

"Thats nice."

"Who are you?", Ranko asked the masked man, seemingly unafraid.

"Ranko, thats not nice.", her mother scolded her, "This nice man is Hiruken."

Ranko smiled and extended her hand to shake. "I'm Ranko!"

The costumed man nodded and extended his hand in reply. A smile was scarcely visible under his cowl.

Ranma enjoyed it. He really did. Well, the introduction his sister had just given him, that is. Not the rest. It reminded him too much of his past where he was masquerading around as Ranko.

Here he was, not only hising his identity in front of his Mother, but his Father and new sister as well.

Well, his sister was hardly new. She was, after all, four years old. But from his viewpoint, she was _NEW_.

After he had finished shaking hands, she smiled and looked into Ranma's eyes. "Want to play?", she asked.

The surprising thing was, that Ranma actually _WANTED_ to. He wanted to be in close corners with his family as long as humanly possible. Maybe even longer.

He nodded and proceeded to get up to go play with Ranko in the corner.

"Ranko," her mother called, "Don't go far.", she said with a smile.

Ranko nodded and pulled Ranma into the corner to play with a small assortment of toys that had been collected there specifically for the purpose of little Ranma & Ranko's amusement.

Ranma then began to play with his four year old sister.

"Will she be okay with him?", Nodoka whispered to Mousse.

Mousse smiled and nodded. "Oh sure, he wouldn't hurt her any more than he'd hurt his own sister."

Nodoka then continued to smile and nod. She wasn't one hundred percent sure the laws of his village pertaining to harming family, but it would have to do for the time being.

The knock then interupted the conversation. Nodoka offered to get up and answer the door, but it opened by itself after a moment. Nabiki walked in and looked stunned for a moment to see Nodoka, then smiled.

"Oh, hello Nabiki.", Nodoka greeted.

"Hello Mrs. Saotome. How are you?"

"Oh I'm fine. Do you have Ukyou with you?"

Ukyou meekly walked in and smiled. "Hello again Mrs. Saotome."

Nodoka smiled in return, "Hello again, Ukyou. It's nice to see you're smiling again."

"Hey, Mrs. Saotome!", Kinami greeted.

"Oh my, its just one big reunion here, isn't it? Hello Kinami!"

Kinami walked into the room and proceeded to sit next to Mousse at the table, as everyone sat. Ukyou gave several detached looks in the direction of Ranko and 'Hiruken'. And then noticed Soun looking blankly at her.

"Ukyou? Is that you?", Soun asked.

Genma turned around and smiled, "Hey Ukyou, looks like you made it here after all!"

Soun returned his look to Genma. "You knew she was here?"

"Of course, we met her on the train. We were going to tell you, but we wanted to make it a surprise."

"Well, it _WAS_ a surprise!"

Ranma could only stare. The past day or so had been filled with Reunions and confrontations. But he had thought the last of the reunions until they arrived in San Fransisco had been done. He was wrong.

From the looks he was getting from Ukyou, she knew who he was. He would have to talk to Nabiki about that afterwards. Even though he almost knew it was Kinami who had revealed it.

The look he was getting from Ukyou was unsure. It could have been a look of shock, joy, adoration... He wasn't sure.

He decided it would be best to get Ukyou away from his family before she revealed something he didn't want revealed.

"Whats he still doing here?", Kinami asked.

Mousse suddenly clicked in on the situation. Neither of them knew the situation that was happening right now.

"Oh, Hiruken decided to stay for another day.", Mousse covered up, looking directly at Kinami. Nabiki caught on right away.

"Oh, isn't he expected back today though?", she continued.

They both got a confused look from Kinami. Ukyou, however was still totally intrigued in the man in the corner.

"What are you guys--", Kinami began, then recieved the looks of warning from both of them. "Oh, right.", she continued.

Mousse finally decided to say something about what he noticed the moment Kinami had walked into the room. "What happened to your shoulder?"

Kinami looked down and replied, "I uhh.. Bashed it on the corner of a table when I tripped."

Mousse didn't need the look from Nabiki, or even the sound of Kinami's voice to tell him she was lying. He knew it was impossible to hurt the back of ones shoulder while falling forward towards a table. And even still, she was good enough a martial artist to avoid hitting the table if necesary. Still, he decided not to push it until afterwards.

"Hey Ukyou, long time!", he greeted the woman sitting across from him, who was still staring in Ranma's direction.

Ukyou snapped back for a moment and smiled, "Oh sorry, hey Mousse. Hows it going?"

"Oh fine.", he continued, then decided it was futile since Ukyou had gone back to staring at Ranma.

"Umm... Hiruken, can I talk to you for a minute?", he asked the costumed man in the corner, then turned towards Ukyou. "You too. Excuse us, Mrs. Saotome. Kinami. Nabiki."

After recieving a nod from the three of them, he brought his two friends into a parallel room.

"Ranchan?", Ukyou asked.

The costumed figure meekly nodded. "Yeah. Hey, Ucchan."

The smile on Ukyou's face could not have grown wider. She wasted no time at all to take her friend and former fiance in a bear hug that would have put Genma out of commision.

Mousse chuckled for a moment. "It's a good thing I brought you guys in here.", he began, "Ukyou, you've got to stop staring at him like he's the center of attention. We're having a hard enough time already trying to hide his identity, and with his parents here, its going to be even harder."

Ukyou released her bear hug and meekly nodded. "I understand.", she replied.

Ranma chose this moment to say something. "Ucchan, its good to see you again, but he's right. We're in a sticky situation right now, and what we need to do is make this inconspicuous as possible. I promise we'll have time to talk afterwards, but for now I've got to lay low."

Ukyou nodded again. "Okay."

"Now, get out there and mingle. Chat. Do all that girl stuff!", Mousse intructed her. He recieved a playful punch in the arm as she departed. "I want to talk with you after as well, Mousse!", she smiled, and then ran out into the living room.

"So?", Ranma asked.

"What?"

"What do you think really happened to Kinami's shoulder?"

"Oh. That.", Mousse replied. "I don't know. But I know you can't damage your shoulder that easily."

"Obviously.. Nabiki seems to know something about it, should we ask her?"

"Is it really any of our business?"

"Well, she's hurt. And she's hiding that fact from us. Its safe to say she doesn't want us to know. But I still think somethings up."

"Yes.", Mousse nodded, "Past experiences have led me to believe that more may happen if we don't find out whats wrong."

"So, should we ask Nabiki?"

"Theres no guarantee that she'd tell us."

"A full on 'attack' of questions to Kinami would probably help her avoid the truth even more. We should work on it."

"Yes. You can't talk, so I'll talk to Nabiki."

"Agreed."

Moments later, Ranma had returned to his place in the 'toy corner' with Ranko, Ukyou was engaging in a steamy conversation with Nodoka and Kinami, and Mousse had pulled Nabiki out of the way long enough to talk with her.

"Nabiki, I've got yo ask you--"

"I can't tell you."

"What?"

"Kinami made me promise I wouldn't tell you guys. You've got to guess."

"I... Guess?"

"Yep."

Mousse shook his head. *At least she doesn't break promises straight out.*, he thought to himself.

"Okay, start guessing.", Nabiki said.

"Well, she's hurt. And I know its not from tripping and catching it on a table. Right?"

Nabiki nodded.

"Which leads me to believe that someone hurt her."

Nabiki nodded.

"Intentionally?"

Nabiki nodded.

"Someone I know?"

Nabiki shook her head.

"Was she attacked last night?"

Nabiki nodded.

"Mugged?"

Nabiki shook her head.

Mousse thought a bit harder. There were only a few more possibilites.

"Does she have a boyfriend?"

Nabiki nodded.

Mousse felt something inside him break for a moment, but ignored it and continued. "Did he do it?"

Nabiki placed her finger on her nose.

"Damn.", he muttered. "Its not the first time either, is it?"

"No."

Mousse shook his head. It wasn't his place to but in like this, but something inside of him seemed to be pushing him to. "Can you give me any more details?"

"She's had a boyfriend for about four months now. Genken...", she chuckled, "I still don't know his last name, and I doubt Kinami does either. But anyways, certain events that I'm not allowed to talk about have happened on and off, but without fail. The first was three months ago. She would come back from dates with a Black eye, a limp, one time she came home with blood soaked clothes. I thought she had finally broke it off with him about two weeks ago, because the incidents had stopped, and Kinami was becoming alot more energetic. But last night he showed up again."

"What happened?"

"I promised not to tell. But I can tell you this much. He's a martial artist. He thinks he shit-hot, but in truth, even Kinami could beat him. I've seen him fight before. Heck. Even Kuno could beat him. I don't mean this Kuno, I mean the old Kuno who studied Kendo."

Mousse nodded in understanding. He knew the type, he had done in a few of them before. Paid to do so by the fathers of the 'victims' and in some cases, the 'victims' themselves. It was the only part of his job he enjoyed. Something quickly clicked in his mind after the mention of Kuno that he had forgotten to tell Nabiki earlier.

"By the way. Looks like you won't have to worry about paying for us to get to San Fransisco..."

"Eh?"

"Kuno's flying us there."

Nabiki smiled and did an inward 'Yes!' as she continued.

"So, can you do anything about Genken?"

Mousse nodded. "I can. I won't kill him, but I'll certainly make him think twice before messing with Kinami again."

Nabiki smiled and gave a thank-you hug to Mousse, and then continued her way back into the tea room.

Mousse stood at the door for a moment looking at the sky, before deciding to go back inside.

Chapter Eight: Dillema of the Golden Edge - Part Two
The car door shut quietly, and the footsteps moved even quieter. If it had not been for the noise the child was making, they would have caught everyone off guard. Especially Mousse. Although, Mousse was the only one to notice before they walked into the home.

"Hello?", Akane yelled as she walked into the door. Instinctively, Ranma's eyes shot up.

Ryouga followed behind her silently, and cautiously. He had agreed to come along to see Mousse the previous night, but he knew deeper down it was really Ranma he had wanted to see. To speak to.

"Ahh, Akane!", Nodoka greeted. "Welcome to the party!"

dropped. There were several people, nearly all of them had surprised her.
 * Party?*, Akane thought as she walked into the tea room. Her jaw

Some, however, she had expected. Her father, obviously. Nabiki and Kinami were more than likely to be there. Mousse's friend from the night before, and of course, Mousse. Seeing Mr. & Mrs. Saotome in the tea room with their daughter in the corner was surprising enough as it was.

But the deciding factor was sitting opposite Nabiki, next to Mrs. Saotome.

"U... Ukyou?", Akane asked, eyes shot wide open.

"Uhh.. Hi there, Akane...", she replied meekly.

A million thoughts ran through her mind. Several different outcomes played themselves through. Maybe it was the shock of seeing both Mousse and Ukyou back in Nerima. The former alive, and the latter.. well.. back... Maybe it was the fact that she had run out on Ranma and herself six years earlier, and that she partially blamed Ukyou for Ranma's death, that had she been there, he might not have died. But whatever it was that led her to slap Ukyou accross the face, succeeded.

Ukyou was not expecting it. Akane just walked up to her, face expressionless, and let her palm fly into the side of Ukyou's face. With a surprising crack, Ukyou feel back from her kneeling position and onto the floor.

"What--!?", Ukyou asked. But stopped as she saw Akane letting the tears flow freely.

"Akane, dear?", Nodoka asked, mouth agape, "What's the matter?"

"How... Dare you?", she asked under her breath.

"What?", Ukyou replied.

"How dare you come back after all this time?! Where were you when Ranma took off to China to die?"

"I... Akane, I didn't know!", she defended.

"Oh, how convienient!"

Everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing, and stared at the two of them, shocked.

"Akane, she didn't--", Ryouga tried to interupt.

"It doesn't matter!", she replied. "It's too late now, anyways!"

Mousse walked over to Ukyou and helped her up. "Are you okay?", he asked.

Ukyou nodded. "I'd... I'd better go...", she said, running off towards the door.

At this point, Ranma just didn't care anymore. "No.", he said, blocking the entrance. The truth is, nobody, not even Ukyou noticed his movement by the time he had arrived at the door.

"Move.", she said, trying her best to remain expressionless.

"Ukyou, sit down. He replied."

Nodoka gasped. She was going to gasp after he had spoken the first time, but wasn't quite sure she had heard the voice.

"Ranma, I'm going to go. I'm obviously not welcome here."

Genma promptly fainted while Akane stared into space for a moment. Her face betraying her emotions. She was too shocked for words.

"No.", Nodoka said. "It can't be."

"_MOVE_, Ranma."

"Ukyou, sit down. NOW."

Ukyou chose that moment to try and pry him out of her way, there was no success, as she collapsed to the ground and began to cry.

"I thought... Hiruken... He... Sounds like Ranma!", Nodoka muttered to herself. She looked towards Genma's unconscious form laying on the ground near the Shogi board, next to a catatonic Soun.

"Well, so much for that!", Kinami blurted.

"What's going on here?", Nodoka asked.

Ryouga walked over to the person standing in front of the tea room entrance. "R.. Ranma?"

Ranma did the only thing he could do. He nodded.

Soun was the first to come out of his catatonic trance. Akane still stood silently, not showing any form of emotion. A few minutes later, Genma awoke from his involuntary slumber.

"I suppose I'd better explain.", Ranma said as he sat down at the table.

"A few of you already knew who I was, even before this little.. Problem. Either by accident, or my revealing myself."

Ukyou sniffled a bit at his words.

"That fact is, whether or not you believe it, I am Ranma Saotome. Or at least, I used to be."

"No.", Nodoka placed her face into her hands. "It can't be. _YOU_ can't be..."

"Please, listen to me."

Genma decided to choose this moment to speak. "I don't know who you are. Who you think you are, but I'm giving you ten seconds to get the hell out of my sight.", he said clenching his fists.

"Pop, I--"

"_DON'T YOU DARE_, call me that. I am not your father, you are not my son. My son is dead."

"Honey, please--", Nodoka pleaded with her husband.

"No!", Genma looked at his wife, with a betrayed look on his face, "You actually believe this nonsense?"

"He deserves to be heard out. Even if he isn't who he says he is."

"He is who he says he is.", Soun interupted. "He's proven that already."

"Don't tell me he's got you believing this nonsense!", Genma replied.

"It's not nonsense.", Mousse continued. "It is Ranma."

Nabiki could only nod.

Genma shook his head. "I don't believe this. Don't you see? Ranma is _GONE_. He's dead, nothing we do can change that!"

"You're right.", Ranma interupted.

"See, he admits it. Now who are you?"

"Ranma Saotome."

Genma clenched his fists again, growling, he continued. "And now you can't even make up your own goddamned mind on who you are!"

"Shut up, pop. Just sit down and shut up."

"Who are you to talk to me like that?!"

Ranma pounding his fist on the table and stood up. Ripping his cowl off, to reveal his form to the people in the room. "Look, I've had a really bad experience. Ever since I came back yesterday morning! And ever since then it's been nothing but a roller coaster. Protecting friends from friends, fighting demons from hell, becoming a goddamned cat! And now to top it all off, my own _FATHER_ is too blind to see whats in front of him."

Genma couldn't speak. He could only stare at the grotesque form standing in front of him. Akane was the first to break the silence.

"You're alive.", she said, tears streaming out of her eyes.

Ranma turned towards her. "Akane, I--"

"SHUT UP!", she replied, "You're alive. You've been alive all this time, and _NOW_ you decide to come back and tell us?! I don't care that your face is like that. I don't care now, and I wouldn't have cared then. Only if you had come back. Ranma, don't you get it? I loved you. I _LOVED_ you goddamn it! I still do, I never got over your.. Death", she scoffed. "But now you're back. And what do you expect us to do? Jump for joy? It's not as easy as that. Most of us have accepted the fact that you were dead. Look at your parents," she pointed at them, and Ranko, who was in the corner, standing next to little Ranma, frightened at what was happening. "They've accepted your death, and moved on. It took them a while, but they moved on. Look at Ryouga and I. We accepted it, and also moved on with our lives. I swear, it was a mistake to name our son the way we did, if we had known you were still alive."

"That's just it! I _WASN'T_ alive!", he shouted. "Look at me Akane, look at me. Do you think I could have survived this long with a face like this, with a body like this? Hell. I don't even feel pain! I was shot several times last night, but look at me. No blood. Hell, I don't even _HAVE_ blood. Do you think I've been alive for the past five years? Hell, I only came back yesterday. Whether it was the fates that brought Mousse and Ukyou here at that time, or it was pure coincidence, it happened.", he collapsed, "Damn it Akane, now you know why I didn't want anyone else to know."

Akane was speechless, as was everyone else after hearing the confession. Genma decided to break the silence.

"I'm still not convinced.", he said, "For all I know you're just a doppleganger. And a very unconvincing one at that."

"Fine.", Ranma said, getting up to walk to the door, "Believe whatever the hell you want."

"Ranma, wait.", Nodoka yelled as she ran up beside him.

"What?", he said, without looking back.

"For almost a year, my own son was hidden from me in plain sight. I promised to myself that nothing like that would ever happen to me again. I knew it was you from the moment I heard you speak, Ranma.", she looked into his eyes as he turned back.

"Your eyes may hide you, but I know my son. I know."

"Mom, I... I'm not the same.", he said.

"You were always my son. You always will be. I love you, son.", she said as she embraced him in a powerful hug. Genma stood up and adjusted his glasses.

"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, for now.", he said, "But the minute you slip up, I'll be all over you."

"Then I suppose he'd better not slip up.", a voice said from the doorway, surprising everyone.

"Don't you ever annouce yourself?", Ranma asked the old man.

"I like it better this way.", Cogliostro shrugged.

"Who are you?", Genma asked.

"Need I introduce myself again? Just call me a friend.", he replied.

"What do you need, old man?"

"I was fortunate enough to have witnessed the fight with Violator last night. A very interesting technique, Saotome. Cat-fist I believe."

"What?", Genma asked. Vaguely recollecting the call the previous night. He mentally smacked himself over the head.

"Interesting is not the word for it. I'd rather not have the technique, thank you very much.", he said, glaring at his father.

"I'm familiar with the methods used in training for the Cat-fist. It must have taken a very disturbed individual, to have even considered training you in such a technique."

Genma suddenly leapt to his defense. "I'm not disturbed! I just.. forgot to read the next page..."

Nodoka had heard all of this before, but was still confused as to something. "Who are you to Ranma?", she asked.

"I am... One of his kind..."

"One of his kind? Whatever do you mean?"

"Lets just call me his advisor."

Ranma nodded, "He told me about Violator before he showed up last night."

"Indeed I have. Most usually are defeated by him on they're first challenge. Ranma is one of the few I've seen who have bested him."

"I've fought demons before."

"Indeed. The incident in which the demon of mischief was released from his prison, and inhabited a young lady named Kasumi I believe."

"How did you..?", Ranma asked.

"I have more sources than you could have imagined, Saotome. The priest was simply one of them."

"The priest? Bazu?"

Cogliostro nodded.

"Ranma, my time here is short, there are other matters I must attend to quickly. It seems there has been a mistake. You may not see me for a short while after this, but I've come to warn you of something."

"Whats that?"

"Do not take lives, by any means. Do not participate in the taking of a life, even if the life you are taking is the same person that took your life away from you. It is imperitive that you follow these rules."

"Why? I was already sent to hell, what does it matter anymore?"

Cogliostro eyed him carefully. "Hell is more than just a place you go to die, Saotome. Heaven is more sinister than you could imagine as well.", he said as he left through the gates.

"Who was that?", Genma asked.

"Cog.", Ranma replied.

"Count Nicholas De Cogliostro..", Mousse corrected.

Nabiki thought for a moment. Spying the time, and seeing it was now past noon, she decided it would be better to catch up at a later time, lest she go out of business. She was low enough on money as it was.

"Kinami, we'd better head back to the restaurant. Ukyou? You coming?"

Ukyou reluctantly nodded, not making eye contact at all, she moved along to tag behind the two of them.

"Bye guys...", Kinami waved, somehow losing her enthusiastic state of mind.

"Ryouga?", Ranma asked.

Ryouga had been waiting since he heard about Ranma's presence the day earlier to get a chance to speak with him, but somehow, now didn't seem the right time. The children had since left to play in an upstairs room, and he was sitting at the tea room table with the rest of the adults.

"Yes?"

"I'm not angry. I don't blame you in away way."

Ryouga felt a weight lift off of his chest as Ranma recited the words. Whether he truly meant it or not, he didn't know.

"Thank you.", he replied.

"Mother?", he asked.

"Ranma?", she replied, worriedly.

"I've missed alot over the past five years. Everything here is new to me. Akane and Ryouga, Ranko.", he laughed, "Little Ranma."

"I know, dear."

"I don't expect Pop to believe I am who I say I am, but I do have this to ask of you.", Ranma said, recieving a frown from Genma as he realized they were talking like he wasn't even there.

"What's that dear?"

"Can I borrow him?"

Genma's mouth dropped open. "What do you mean?", he asked.

"Well, most of us are going to San Fransisco. We've found out Kenoru was there, nothing more."

"You would like your fathers help in bringing him to justice?"

"No prison could hold a man with that kind of power.", Genma replied.

"No.", he agreed. "But Cog is right. We can't kill him. We can only fight him. Lets just hope everything turns out alright."

"Yes.", Nodoka agreed. "Your father may accompany you."

"Hey, you can't leave me out of this!", Ryouga yelled out.

"I didn't expect you to, Ryouga, but its up to Akane."

"What?", Akane asked.

"I'm asking you if you would allow Ryouga to come along. Theres no guarantee that any of us will return alive, that why I'm asking your permission."

Akane thought for a moment. The last time, someone she loved went to fight Kenoru, he wound up dead, even though he had brought along two, extraordinary martial artists. But this time, there would be more. Greater numbers. A look at Ryouga's face clenched it.

"He can go.", she said. "But I'm coming along too."

"No.", Ranma refused. "You've got a son to worry about. If Ryouga doesn't return, then you've got to raise him yourself. I was raised by my father. Trust me, a single parent is better than no parent at all."

The guilt wracked her. She had actually been considering leaving her child behind and going off, to possibly die, or worse.

"Akane, he's right.", Ryouga agreed. "You've got to stay here, you could get hurt, and then Ranma would have nobody."

"But.."

"No buts.", he said.

The phone rang moments later. Soun rushed over to pick it up and answered.

"Hello?"

A pause.

"Yes, of course. It's good to hear from you again."

Another pause.

Soun seemed to be counting up numbers in his head. "Besides you and I, Seven more."

A final pause.

Soun smiled, "Yes. I'll tell them. Goodbye."

Soun hung up the phone. "That was Kuno. He has set up the transportation, we'll need to get out our passports."

Ryouga smiled. He always had his passport with him, you never knew where he would end up.

"When are we leaving?", Ranma asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon.", he replied.

"Do you think they're okay?", Ukyou asked, visibly worried.

"They'll be fine. I.. I'm sorry about the way Akane acted when she saw you.", Nabiki replied.

"It's alright. I deserved it. I shouldn't have run off like that in the first place."

"What time is it?", Kinami asked the only member of the group that had a watch. Nabiki checked the time.

"Twelve Thirty...", she replied.

"Are we taking the scenic route?", Ukyou quipped. "Usually only takes a few minutes to get to the restaurant."

Kinami looked down for a moment, thinking. "We'd better hurry. He might be there soon."

"Kinami...", Nabiki warned.

"I just want to be there when he gets there, Nabs."

"Who?" Ukyou asked.

"Gen--", Nabiki began.

"My boyfriend.", Kinami quickly replied, shooting an icy stare an Nabiki.

"Ooh, a boyfriend, eh? What's he like?", Ukyou asked, trying to get her mind off of what happened before.

"Uhh, Ukyou?", Nabiki asked.

"What?"

Nabiki just shook her head.

Kinami never answered, and began to walk a little faster.

"Did I say something wrong?"

It was nearly two o'clock when it was decided that they should part ways and get ready for the upcoming trip. Ryouga and Akane went home, while Genma and his family stayed at the Dojo.

"So, it's really going to happen now, eh Ranma?"

"Looks like it..", he replied, staring off into the afternoon sky.

"Do you miss it?", he asked.

"Miss what?"

"Everything. Life, the way things used to be..?"

"You mean with Ukyou and Shampoo glomping on me wherever I went?"

Mousse laughed, "I can't believe I used to think that was your fault..."

"It was in a way... I beat her..."

"Yeah... Sometimes I try... Sometimes I try to think what might have happened if Kenoru had never come around into our lives."

"I try not to think about that. If he never had come along, Akane would have definately died. Then I'd be even worse off."

"Kenoru ruined the lives of too many people, Ranma."

"I know. Its not fair. Even you. I remember when we were friends. You would _NOT_ stand for bullies. The minute you saw one, you'd go nuts.", he laughed. "Remember when Gosunkugi was surrounded by those guys at school, and you had met me an' Akane for lunch?"

Mousse laughed. "We sure gave those guys a run for their money."

Ranma smiled under his cowl. "Sure did, even old Gos was thankful after that..."

"Which is out of character for him."

"Of course."

"But I do miss it.", he said.

Mousse nodded.

He laughed. "I could even live with my curse right now if I had to."

"I've had to for seven years."

"Isn't it funny, though?"

"What?"

"An assassin, who turns into a duck..."

"Actually, being a duck has helped me pull off a few jobs I never would have been able to otherwise..."

Ranma looked into the Koi pond for a moment.

"I never lived without remorse, Ranma. Even moreso now, last night I had wanted to kill myself. I'm thinking of turning myself in after we've taken care of Kenoru."

Ranma nodded. "It's your choice, Mousse. If you feel its the best thing to do, then..."

"I do. Theres nothing more for me to do."

"What about Kinami?"

"Eh?"

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed...?"

"Oh _SHIT!_", he yelled.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I forgot!", he yelled, banging himself on the head.

"What? Oh, you mean..?"

"Her injury, it was caused by her boyfriend!"

"On purpose?"

"_YES_"

"Shit, who is he?"

"I dunno, some guy named Genken, that all I know. He's supposed to see her today sometime."

"Should we go give him a talking to?"

"You wanna come along?"

"Of course, if theres anything I hate more than Cats, its guys who hit girls for fun."

"Welcome to--", Kinami began, then stopped. The store had been empty except for her, while Nabiki and Ukyou negotiated upstairs. Seeing Genken walk in was a bit of a surprise, even if she was expecting him.

"Amazing, you're actually here...", he muttered.

"Genken, hi.. I uhh.. It's good to see you."

Genken laughed. "Whatever.", he said, with a slight slur to his voice. He sat down as the bar.

"Is there something I can get for you?", she asked.

"Gimme some sake."

"Genken, I think you're already--"

"Just gimme some fucking sake, bitch."

Not wanting to 'incur his wrath', she reached under the counter and gave him a bottle of sake.

"350 yen", she said, not making eye contact.

Genken laughed. "Put it on my tab.", then smirked at her. "How come you never put out?", he asked.

"What?"

"You heard me. How come you never put out? We've been going out.. what.. two months now? Ain't it time to give me some sugar?"

"Genken, you're drunk, I think you should--", she was cut off by a loud cracking noise on her cheek. She cried out loud enough for someone to hear.

"Don't you fucking talk back to me!", he said.

It wasn't long before two individual's came running down the stairs. "Genken!", Nabiki yelled, seeing Kinami on the floor, holding her face. "Get the hell out of my store!"

"Maybe you want some instead, eh bitch?", he said, approaching her menacingly. "What about your friend there? We can make it a threesome."

Visibly appalled, Ukyou stepped down in front of Nabiki, "What the hell do you want?", she asked.

"Genken, leave them alone!", Kinami yelled from the floor.

"Shut up! I'll get to you later!"

Ukyou started with a backhand to the face, but somehow, luck smiled on Genken, and he managed to grab her arm and twist it behind her back.

"I think you do want some of me, don't you, bitch?", he asked her. "How would you like it if I snapped that pretty liitle arm of yours right off? I can do it, you know. Make it so you'll be beggin me to leave you alone."

"Get the hell off of me or you'll be sorry!", Ukyou warned him.

"Ooh, what are you going to do, huh?"

"Genken, get the hell off of her!", Kinami warned.

Genken finally lost his temper. He released Ukyou and spun her towards the ground, manging somehow to knock her head on the edge of a chair and render her unconscious, when he turned to Kinami.

"What the fuck? After all I've done for you, all I've _EVER_ done for you, this is how you repay me? I've had just about enough of you, bitch!", he raised his hand and readied it for a large slap across Kinami's face. It never connected. Just before Genken was about to strike, the door swung wide open.

"Get the _HELL_ away from her!", Mousse yelled.

Kinami's heart jumped, "Mousse, leave him alone, this is my problem!"

Genken did a double-take. "Mousse? What the hell kinda name is that?"

"Mousse, please. I can handle this.", Kinami pleaded. Nabiki had a very worried look on her face.

Mousse looked down to the ground, spying Ukyou. This seemed to make him even madder. "If you touch her, I'll _KILL_ you.", he said.

"Who the fuck are you, faggot?", he looked towards Kinami. "Is this the loser you've been seeing behind my back? Huh? Answer me, you _BITCH_!"

"Genken, please. He's--"

"Shutup! I don't want to hear anymore from you.", he pushed her back towards the grill and looked towards Mousse.

"You, faggot, are going to die.", he pointed at him.

"We'll just see about that."

"STOP!", Kinami yelled. Both of them stopped in mid-attack and looked towards Kinami. The third party chose this moment to appear.

"You need our help, Kinami?", Ranma asked.

Kinami looked towards Ranma. "No. I can handle this.", she said as she took up a defensive stance only a few feet from Genken.

"What the fuck is this? A male harem?", he looked towards the new figure standing behind Mousse. He stood a good head taller than him, but about ten times as menacing. He turned to face Kinami. "Oh, you think you can take me, bitch? I'll have you on the floor screaming for mercy in seconds!"

"Shut up, Genken. I'm not going to take your shit anymore!"

"You'll take whatever the fuck I have to dish out, bitch!"

Mousse looked visibly worried. Apparently this man had managed to take out Ukyou, as she was lying on the floor unconscious. Even after Six years, she still had to be good enough to defeat him.

"Come on bitch, lets go!", Genken said as he clenched his fist and ran at her, head on.

Kinami easily sidestepped his punch and kicked him in the back, sending him sprawling into the floor.

"Lucky shot.", he said as he wiped his mouth. "Won't happen again."

"We'll see."

Genken managed to wrap his arms around Kinami and send her to the floor, exactly the place she didn't want to be. Pushing her back against the floor, and manuevering her legs against Genken's stomach, she sent him flying over the grill and regained her balance all at once. On the other side of the grill, Genken stood up and looked menacingly at her.

"You'll pay for that, bitch!"

Mousse smiled. He had an eye for skill, and he could quite obviously see that Kinami was more skilled than Genken. The only problem was that every time Genken was hurt, Kinami's emotional state seemed to degrade.

"AGHHH!", Genken ran at full speed towards Kinami, but istead of launching an attack, he pulled a jackknife out of his pocket and launched it at Kinami. It hit her in the upper arm as she screamed in shock.

"See now, bitch? I told you."

Kinami pulled the knife out of her arm and tossed it to her side. All emotion seemed to drain from her face as she looked at him. No look of betrayal or hurt. Only rage.

"You are going to pay, you son of a bitch.", she said to him.

"What did you call me? I'll make you eat those words, bitch!", he pulled another knife out of his pocket.

Before he could even throw it, it was out of her hands. Kinami had covered the distance to him faster than anyone in the room had even thought possible. She kneed him in the stomach and tossed him across the room with her bare hands. She chased after him and began to kick him ferouciously. A moment later he was unconscious.

The eyes of everyone in the restaurant were transfixed on Kinami. Nobody, even Ranma or Mousse could have guessed she had _THAT_ much skill. Nabiki had seen her spar with Ryouga at the dojo from time to time, but the amount of skill she had shown at that point simply astounding her. She was good enough to beat even Ryouga if she had wanted to.

Kinami's face never molded itself out of the raged look. Mousse walked over to her after she had stopped her assault on the unconscious form of Genken, lying on the ground.

"Are you okay?"

She laughed. "Amazing."

"What?"

"I never thought about it that way before."

"Whats that?"

"I didn't mind him threatening me. But the minute he threatened my friends, everything just blew up. Then after he threw the knife, I lost it."

"How did you..?"

"I've never really been angry before. Not _THIS_ angry. Sure, I've had to defend myself against muggers and would-be rapists, but this was different.", she pointed at him. "I l--... No.. I _THOUGHT_ I loved him. Even if he was drunk, he's still an asshole."

"Kinami, I--", Nabiki began.

"I should have listened to you to begin with, Nabs. I'm sorry."

"No, I am."

"Theres no reason for you to be. This was going to happen eventually. At least I got to him before he killed me."

A few feet away, Ukyou groaned and raised herself up. "What.. What happened?"

"Genken did.", Mousse pointed at the floor.

"When did you guys get here?"

Ranma spoke up. "We decided it would be best if Kinami didn't have to face him alone."

"Wait.", Kinami asked, "You knew?"

"In a way... I knew something was wrong when I saw your shoulder this morning. I just didn't know what."

"Then how did...", she looked towards Nabiki. "You?"

"Not really. I just kinda guessed. From the look on Nabiki's face, I knew.", Mousse said. It wasn't really a lie, he remembered the look precisely.

Kinami looked towards the ground again. Genken finally began to stir.

"What the hell...", he said, groaning.

"Get out Genken.", Kinami said.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, get the hell out of here."

"You can't tell me what to do, bitch!"

"Don't try my patience Genken. I put up with enough of your shit for the past month! Now get the _HELL_ out of here before I kick your ass _AGAIN_."

"Again? You just got fucking lucky--"

Ranma put his hand on Genken shoulder. "I suggest you listen to her."

Genken stopped. "Get your fucking hand off me before I make you bleed."

"Fine.", Kinami said, taking another defensive stance, "You wanna fight again?"

"No Kinami, conserve your strength. We'll all need it once we get to San Fransisco. You should get someone to look at your shoulder."

"I can help there.", Mousse said, "I've learned a healing trick or two over the years."

"What the fuck?", Genken protested. "Are you deaf, get your--", he grabbed Ranma's hanf and began to twist, "Goddamned hand _OFF_ of me!"

Unfortunately, Ranma's hand did not twist. It did not budge. All Genken's actions hand succeeded in doing were making Ranma madder.

Ranma picked Genken up with one hand and twisted him around to face him. He used his free hand to remove his cowl.

"What that fuck!?", he cried out.

"You can't hurt me, Genken. I'm already dead. Now, either you leave or I'll put you in a similiar situation."

"You couldn't hurt me if you tried.", Genken taunted.

Mousse shook his head. "Listen you stupid idiot! Can't you let your damned warped sense of pride go? I despise you enough as it is, don't make it worse by proving your stubborness too!"

"I'll kick your ass too, faggot!", he replied.

"ENOUGH!", Ranma yelled, picking Genken up into the air. He brought he other hand around, a grotesque claw of what it used to be, and charged a force of green Ki. Genken's eyes widened at the sight of it.

"Don't make me use this.", he said, "It would be very unpleasant."

Fear gripped Genken as he tried desperately to retain his pride, the warped sense that he had. Finally, he let himself go. He quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out the last remaining weapon he had. He plunged the knife deep into Ranma's heart. Genken was dropped to the floor immediately.

"Yeah!", he yelled, psyched up and jumping around like a boxer, "Come on man, lets see how you take that!", he turned his back to Ranma for a split second. Which was a split second too long.

The blow can fast and hard, knocking Genken into the wall and breaking three ribs. He tried to get up and breath in some air, he could only barely manage to do the latter.

Ranma approached him quickly and pulled the knife out of his chest. The neon green fluid flowed freely.

"You son of a bitch!", Ranma yelled, genuinely angry. Had he been more wary of Genken's sneakiness, he amy have been able to stop it, but as it were, he was bleeding. It would be a few more minutes until the wound would heal, but the fluid managed to stop flowing a second later.

Genken could only gawk. He had been a bully during his teen years. And had taken pride in the knowledge that he had never lost a fight to anyone. But now he was in over his head. When the realization hit him, he just couldn't handle it.

"Go. Now.", Ranma said.

Genken looked up at him. He was absolutely sure that Ranma was going to kill him.

"Before I change my mind. _GO_."

Genken was out of the door and down the street faster than a bullet.

"Are you alright?", Mousse asked Kinami after everyone had settled down.

She nodded.

"Do you mind if I ask you something?", Nabiki asked Kinami.

"Whats that?"

"How did you _DO_ that?"

"Huh?"

"I've never seen you fight like that. Even with Ryouga. You had enough skill at that moment to match, or even _BEAT_ him!"

"Well, I never really thought about it. I just attacked. I let my instincts take over."

"Waitasec." Ranma began. "You think about your attack before you do it?"

"Sure.", she shrugged, "Doesn't everyone?"

"I think.. We're about to find out how skilled she really is...", Nabiki deadpanned.

"Kinami, you're supposed to let instinct take over when you fight. Thinking about your attack before you do it is liable to get you killed!"

"Hmm.. I wish somebody would have told me that!"

"How long have you been studying the Art?"

"Well, I started when I was a kid. My dad put me into a Kenpo class. Since then, I've been doign it off and on, but then I saw anything-goes style, and _HAD_ to learn it.. I've improved since then."

"Kinami, if you do that well while thinking about your attacks, imagine how well you'd fight on instinct."

Kinami thought for a moment. "Better?", she asked.

Ranma, for the first time in a long time, laughed whole-heartidly as Mousse bandaged up her arm.

Chapter Nine: I Left My Heart...
(...Bitch of Joketsuzoku...)

"Who's there?"

(...I've faced warriors of skill you can't even hope to comprehend...)

"I'll destroy you."

(...Isn't that what you said five years ago? You, your pathetic boyfriend, and the worthless slayer of Saffron?...)

"It doesn't matter. You killed Joketsuzoku. You killed my... friend. You have to die. It's law."

(...Law... What is law, Joketsuzoku? It means nothing to me. I kill and slay. I manipulate and molest. I thieve and coerce. It has not once meant anything to me, nor shall it ever...)

"I will kill you or die trying, Kenoru."

(...You think it makes any difference? I killed the slayer of Saffron. I destroyed the man in white robes. The one you know as Mousse...)

"No. It won't make any difference, Kenoru. They are both still dead, and nothing can change that. But by killing you, their deaths won't be in vain."

(...Stupid Bitch of Joketsuzoku... Come then. Bring yourself to me and I will slay you, as I neglected to do so many years ago. Maybe then you can comprehend what I truly am...)

"I will kill you, Kenoru."

(...You couldn't hope to face five of my men. A mere five men were enough to overtake you...)

"They got lucky."

(...No, Bitch of Joketsuzoku, you did. I know not how you managed to escape them, but the dream link is in place. Coming to me shall ensure your demise...)

"We'll see about that, Kenoru."

(...Indeed we shall, Bitch of Joketsuzoku... Indeed we shall...)

The battered body twisted and turned on the apartment floor. The dreamlike utterances coming from her sleep was enough to send chills up Kei's spine.

"What the hell is going on here, old man? It's like she's talking to someone."

The old man took a puff from his pipe and eyed Kei thoughtfully. "I believe Kenoru has placed a dream link in her."

"Dream link? Can he do that?"

"There is much Kenoru can do that would surprise me."

"Can you stop it? It's creepy."

The old man hung his head and shook it. "Unfortunately it's beyond the realm of my understanding."

The woman before him shook her body around a bit more. He reached forward to check her temperature.

"She's cooling down. At least that much we can be thankful for."

"Allow her to sleep. She will wake up when she needs to."

"What about us?"

"What about us, Kei?"

"Well, she is Joketsuzoku. She's naked under a blanket, with two men in the room. How would you react?"

The old man blinked. "Good point. Not to worry, I'll take care of her should the problem arise."

"She looks so different, old man."

"Yes. I've noticed as well. The scars I suspect came from Kenoru. However I had never imagined that he could do such a thing to even her."

"Do you think she'll recognize us?"

"It's possible, boy. You should stay where it's dark however, I don't think she'll be able to comprehend your presence."

"And you?"

"No doubt she's heard I was here, boy."

"Well, given your track record with women, I don't think she'll understand it completely. Hell. I didn't even understand it at first."

"That is understandable, Kei."

Kei looked deeply into the girls face before him. Even in sleep, her eyes had crunched up, and she was shaking her head violently.

"God, what is he doing to her?" He asked.

"Could be anything. He could be forcing her to relive what happened five years ago. He could be doing something much, much worse."

"When will she wake up?"

"When he does, I suspect. The dream link only works when the both of them are sleeping."

"Can't we use that to our advantage?"

"Perhaps. But I doubt she would be willing. You've got to understand Joketsuzoku, boy. If she doesn't deal the deathblow, nobody does."

"Should I call Ake?"

"You should. Set up a meeting. Organize the Ryukaze's at the usual meeting place."

"I'm amazed at how fast those guys learn." Kei mentioned.

"As am I, boy. They almost remind me of... of Ranma."

"Well, there's no way they can match him in skill, but they sure are fast learners."

"Indeed, boy."

Kei made his leave and walked to the corner of the room and picked up the telephone. Dialing a predesignated number, he let it ring once. Twice. Three times, and then hung up.

The phone rang almost immediately.

"Hello?" He answered.

"The dragons of wind fly majestically."

"As the monsters of Jusenkyo fly alongside."

"Kei." The female voice greeted.

"Hey Ake, hows tricks?"

"Fine over here, Hon. Usual meeting place?"

"Yeah, we may have that extra edge we were talking about before."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. I found this girl--"

"Girl?"

"Yeah."

"She pretty?"

"Not prettier than you, Ake."

Behind him the old man groaned. "Enough lovey-dovey crap, get on with it."

Kei laughed. "Anyways, I found her getting beat by some of Kenoru's men. If I didn't show up when I did, she would've been a lot worse off than she is now."

"If she got beat by his men, how can you be so sure she's the edge we need?"

"She's Joketsuzoku."

"What?"

"Chinese Amazon. These people are born and bred as warriors. Plus, I've had a couple run-ins with her before."

"So she's good."

"Damn good. I can still beat her on her best day, of course. But she's good."

"That's only if you cheat, Kei, dear."

"Hey, since when have I cheated?"

"Every time you get into a fight, you've got to bring a bucket of water."

"Hey, that form helps me out. If it weren't for that, I'd never be the warrior I ever hoped to be."

"You know, I couldn't imagine growing up as you did. Cursed to turn into a horrible monster whenever you get wet."

"The monster part was easy. It's the other part that was so hard."

"What other part?"

Kei blinked. "Nothing. Don't worry about it. Anyways, look. Meet me at the normal meeting place."

"What time?"

Kei looked back at the old man. "Time?"

"Three hours."

Kei turned back to the phone. "Around six, alright Ake?"

"No problem with us, Kei, dear."

"Alright. I'll meet you guys there and we can discuss what's going on."

"Alright. See you then, honey!"

Kei smiled and placed the receiver on the phone. He turned back towards the old man.

"So, what are we going to do about her?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, we obviously can't leave her alone. What if she's not awake in three hours."

"She will be."

"How do you know?"

The old man pointed at her. "Because, the dreams have stopped."

"What?"

"Kenoru woke up, so Shampoo should wake up soon."

Kei laughed. "What kind of name is Shampoo, anyways?"

"Believe it or not, it's not intentional."

"That right. It not." The purple haired beauty before then muttered as she left sleep. She sat up and looked at the two before her in confusion.

Then the blanket slid down to reveal her less public parts.

The old man twitched a little, but kept himself in check.

Shampoo could only blink. "You... Happosai?" She asked, astounded.

"Shampoo, darling. You might want to fix your blanket."

Shampoo looked down. Modesty took over and she blushed, covering her breasts with the blanket.

"What you do here?"

"I'm here for the same reason as you are, Shampoo darling."

"Kill Kenoru?"

"Yes."

Shampoo turned to face the other man. Who was partially hidden in the darkness. "Who he?" She asked.

Happosai puffed his pipe. "I believe you've met before. Shampoo, I'd like you to meet Kei."

"I no know anyone named Kei."

"He rescued you from the alley with Kenoru's men."

Shampoo blinked. "Rescue?"

"But you knew him before, as well."

"What?"

"Kei, come introduce yourself."

Kei stepped into the light.

Shampoo stared. "Pantyhose?? I rescued by Pantyhose?"

Each mention of his former name sent flinches through his body. "Not Pantyhose anymore. My name is Kei. Kei Tarou."

Shampoo blinked. She looked up at him. "Thank you. You save life of Shampoo. She owe you a debt."

Kei shook his head. "No, that's alright."

"No. Is amazon law. Must repay debt before anything else."

"But I don't want anything."

"Even if debt mean..." Shampoo looked down shamefully and stood up. She immediately disrobed.

"NO! Not even that!" Kei yelled.

Shampoo looked at him sadly. "Shampoo no good enough? Body have too many scars?"

"No... uhh... No, it's not that. You're pretty, but... I've uhh.."

"Cover yourself Shampoo. He's got someone else."

Shampoo quickly sat and placed the blanket over herself. "How I repay?"

Happosai sighed. "You can repay him by helping us."

"How? I do anything."

Kei nodded. "Yeah. Help us get Kenoru."

Shampoo blinked. "You... you after Kenoru too?"

"Hell, yeah." Kei smiled.

"Indeed. I found his location last year. About four months later, Tarou showed up."

"Why Pan-- Why Kei help?"

"It's an agreement. I help him out, I keep my new name. I don't mind it that much, actually. I may not have enjoyed Ranma's company much, but I didn't wish the guy dead. So I'm helping take care of the bastard."

"Not just Ranma die. Mousse too."

"True." Happosai muttered. "Then for the both of them, we shall avenge."

Shampoo smiled. "I in."

"We meet the Ryukaze's in three hours."

"Who they?"

"The Ryukaze's are a local street gang. They've got just as much a grudge against Kenoru as we do. We've been training them for the past few months."

"Training? Street gang?"

"Yeah. I thought it was a mistake at first, but once you get to know them, they're actually okay. They're not like other gangs. These guys are decent."

Happosai smiled. "That and the fact that he's dating one of them."

Kei smiled in return. Shampoo could only stare.

"So Pantyhose get girlfriend?"

"Could you PLEASE stop calling me that?"

Shampoo laughed. The first real laugh she'd had in a long time.

"Where we meet them?"

"By the docks. There's a warehouse owned by Ikanisa manufacturing out of Japan. It's not used much, so its the perfect place for a meeting, and any training we may do."

"Docks? Had bad encounter in docks last night."

"What happened?"

"Ran into men. Shampoo think they hate anyone who not white."

"Skinheads?"

"No hair on heads. Tattoo of.. Swas.... Swas..."

"Swastika?"

"Yes. That it."

"Yeah. They were skinheads. One of the only downer about this city. There seem to be alot of them. They never come around this area. They usually hang around the docks. I've had a few run-ins with them before. They usually wish they hadn't run into me, though."

Shampoo nodded. "I know. I kill some last night. Unavoidable."

Kei nodded. "That happens sometimes as well."

"Can Shampoo ask question?"

"Go ahead."

"Where clothes?"

"What happened?" He asked. It was more of a command.

"I don't know, sir. We had her. We were sure we did."

"How could you have lost her? She was unconscious."

"There was this... thing, sir."

"Thing? What thing? Explain."

"I don't know how, sir. It was like... a minotaur With.... tentacles."

"A minotaur with tentacles?" He looked up and smiled. "Jusenkyo."

"Pardon me, sir?"

"Nothing. I wouldn't expect your feeble mind to grasp it. You are forgiven. It is hardly your fault that you are so weak you were unable to beat a simple curse."

"Curse?"

"Carry with you hot water from this point on. If you run into the creature again, spray it at him."

"Yes, sir." his servant bowed.

As his servant left, Kenoru laughed. "Jusenkyo, indeed."

"This place?" Shampoo asked.

"Yeah. We meet them here, usually."

"They know about curse?"

"Yeah. It came about about two months ago. The got freaked and ran, but Ake stayed around. She knew it was me, and called the rest of them back."

"Ake knew it was you?"

"Yeah."

"Is that Ake?" She pointed at a single woman, no older than twenty, walking up the side of the warehouse.

Kei nodded. "Ake, nice to see you."

"Hey Kei, honey. This your new squeeze?" She joked.

"Hardly. This is Shampoo."

Ake's face twisted into confusion. "What?"

"It not intentional." Shampoo said.

"Well, you'd think otherwise, with a name like that."

"Yes. I get that alot."

"No doubt." She extended her hand forward. "Nice to meet you, Shampoo. Names Akeiko, but my friends call me Ake. You can call me whatever the hell you like with a grip like that." She took her hand away from Shampoo's grip and rubbed her hand.

"Sorry." Shampoo apologized. "Not know own strength."

"You don't speak Japanese very well, do you?"

Shampoo shook her head.

(You speak better English?)

(No. Know more Japanese than English.)

"Very well then, Japanese it is. I don't know any Mandarin, so I can't help you out there."

"Is okay, Shampoo needs more practice anyways."

"Anyways, shall we enter?"

"We shall, Ake."

"Hey Happy, how are things?"

"Quite well, actually. Especially now that Shampoo is here."

"The others are waiting inside. I'll double check things out here and meet you inside."

"Very well. Shall we enter?" Happosai asked.

Kei and Shampoo nodded, and then entered.

"So, how do we know this chick's as hot as you say?" Someone asked from within the group.

"Trust me. She is among the most skilled people that I know."

"You say, but how do we know?" Someone else muttered.

"Kei and I have trained you over the past four months. Each of you have at least doubled your skill. You've seen Kei and I fight."

"Can't we get a demonstration?"

Shampoo laughed. "Who want to test Shampoo first?"

"I will." A man stepped out from the group. He was tall, rather crude-looking.

"Ishido, you--"

"No. Shampoo fight him."

Happosai shook his head. "Very well. He is as I used to be. Be forewarned."

Shampoo blinked in confusion for a second. Then understood.

"Anyone who defeat amazon in combat receive kiss of marriage. You ready for that?"

"I'm ready to get kissed by you anytime, baby."

"We fight then."

"Four seconds?" Ake asked, staring.

"You put him down in four seconds?"

"Anyone else have any question as to Shampoo's skill?"

No one spoke.

"Very well. Now that that's over with, time to get down to business."

"What business?"

"Tomorrow is the night we'll get Kenoru. Tomorrow is the night."

"What?"

"He'll be expecting Shampoo, but not all of us. You may be of limited skill, but we also have the element of surprise."

"Are you crazy? He'll have his men on us in a heartbeat!"

"Not if he's not expecting us. He may only be expecting Shampoo. Possibly one other." He glanced at Kei momentarily. "But there is no way he could expect me. Me or the rest of you."

He looked at Shampoo. "I'm sorry, Shampoo. But I'll have to ask that you not sleep tonight. Your link with Kenoru will give him much needed information that would put us at a disadvantage."

"Link?" Ake asked.

"A dream link. Kenoru must have established is when she fell unconscious after his men had beat her."

"Yes. Kenoru spoke to me in dream."

"Kenoru is a sorcerer of the utmost skill. His art is also unexplainably skilled."

"So what's the plan?"

"We know where Kenoru is. We've always known, but we lacked the ability to get to him before he could get to us."

He sighed. "Tomorrow, some of our lives may be lost. If any of you don't wish to fight, you may decline now and still retain your honour."

Nobody declined.

"Very well. Tomorrow night we will attack."

Ake nodded. "Tomorrow night."

"Six o'clock okay?" Someone asked. "I'm getting a pedicure at five."

Everyone broke out into a fit of laughter. "Alright. We meet here at six o'clock. From there we go for the attack."

"Is that acceptable?"

After a barrage of acknowledgment, Happosai sighed. "We will avenge those who lost their lives to Kenoru. We will fight until there is none left to fight."

"Agreed." Ake walked up to Happosai and knelt over. She shook his hand.

Happosai smiled. "Agreed."

"We just walk in?"

"He'll be expecting you, Shampoo."

"But not you?"

"As long as you don't sleep, he won't be able to get past the defenses of your mind. Therefore there is no way he will find of our part in the matter."

"What about Tarou?"

"He may expect a monster of Jusenkyo, but I doubt he will expect more of us."

Shampoo looked towards the ground.

"Whats the matter?" Kei walked into the room, asking.

Shampoo shook her head.

Happosai nodded and walked back into the adjoining room. "I should sleep. Being as old as I am, it's unavoidable. Kei, you stay up with her. ensure she doesn't sleep."

"Right." He sat down next to her, looking out the window.

"Big place, isn't it?" He asked.

Shampoo nodded.

"Nothing like Nerima. Bigger. More densely populated."

She nodded again.

"Kinda makes you homesick, doesn't it?"

"Nerima not my home."

"I never said it was. I meant your village."

"Yes. Village, I miss."

"How long has it been?"

"Since I in village?"

"Yeah."

"Too long. Last month I in Hong Kong. I find out Kenoru here. I come here. I kill, find Kenoru. Then rescued by you."

Kei nodded. He could understand how she felt.

"It's been a while since I've been home too."

"How long for you?"

Kei laughed. "Years. I don't miss it, though. I don't even think I'll ever go back."

"Why not?"

"Because at home, they know me as Pantyhose. No matter what I tell them, they'll still think I'm Pantyhose."

"But you have new name. You tell them, they believe."

"It's not that easy. You don't think I haven't tried that before? When I was twelve, I went around telling everyone my name was Michael. It was a western name I always liked. Eventually, they found out I was lying, and the ridiculed me. They told me that I'd never get my name changed.

"Must have been like hell."

"It was. Anyways, I left home at 14. Then I came across Jusenkyo. It's a funny thing, really. Before I found Jusenkyo, I thought my... curse was natural. Something to make me more powerful than the others. Something that would allow me strength over my weakness. But then I found Jusenkyo. And I met the guide. And he told me the story of the spring. Of my spring. And of how so many years earlier, a man came and helped a woman through labour. Of how he accidentally bathed the baby is a cursed spring."

"That your spring?"

"Yeah. It never really made sense to me at first. And then he told me something that clinched it. He told me what the man had named the baby."

"What happen then?"

"I ran. I just ran. It took me a week to gather my thoughts, but eventually I came back. In cursed form, of course. But I stole the client register."

"Then you come to Nerima."

"Yeah. And then I found him. The old guy. The freak. And he refused to change my name."

"I remember that."

"Anyways, to make a long story short, after the incident with Rouge, I had some time to think. I had decided that the old man would never change my name." He laughed. "I joined a damn monastery. I still can't believe it."

"Monastery? What.. is?"

"Oh.. It's a place where monks hang out. You know, Buddhists and all that?"

"Oh. I understand now."

"Anyways, I hung around in there for a while. I never stopped my training, but they taught me how to stay calm. Eventually, I had gathered enough courage to search him down again, and instead of forcing him, to ask."

"Ask?"

"'Master Happosai, can you please change my name?'" He laughed. "I thought it was so corny when I found him. I thought he was going to laugh in my face and say no." He smiled. "And then something amazing happened."

"What?"

"He did. He smiled at me. I still remember the look on his face. He smiled at me and patted me on the head. And he said, 'very well, Kei.'"

"He name you right there?"

"Yeah. I couldn't believe it myself. I thought I was dreaming."

"What happen then?"

"I thanked him. Oh God how much I thanked him. It wasn't until that night that he asked for my help."

"He ask? I thought you say it was agreement."

"Well, it's easier to explain it like that. In truth, he offered me a choice. I could help him. IT could mean the loss of my life, but it would certainly avenge Ranma. Or I could leave with my name intact, and no dishonour would befall me."

He laughed. "It's not like I really ever cared about honour. But for some reason, I just couldn't leave him to fight it alone."

"How you find him?"

He laughed. "Nabiki Tendo."

"Nabiki?"

"Yeah. I had to work for her for a bit before she'd tell me where he was. I didn't mind that all that much either. That was when I found out what happened to Ranma and Mousse."

"Yes. Five years ago."

"Yeah. I heard the whole story back there."

"You see Akane?"

"Yeah. She and Ryouga get along good. Little Ranma is a cute kid."

Shampoo blinked. "Akane and... Ryouga?! They have child??!"

Kei blinked. "I thought you knew."

"I no find out until you tell me."

"Yeah. Ranma's also got a little sister now."

Shampoo smiled. "She look like him?"

"His girl form, yeah. It's amazing, really..."

"I happy for them."

Kei smiled. "Yeah. Ranma would be proud too."

Shampoo smiled. "I think so."

"So, you seem to be in a better mood now."

Shampoo sighed. "I fine. I no know what you talking about."

"Oh come on. Something was bothering you. I'm only here to help."

"It nothing."

"Oh come now, do you think I just fell off the turnip truck?"

Shampoo blinked. "You hurt?"

"What?"

"You fall off truck. You hurt?"

Kei laughed. "It's an expression. Don't change the subject."

Shampoo looked down towards the ground. "I... it hard to explain."

"Try me." Kei said, smiling.

Shampoo sighed. "I no know how to say. I... no know who I do this for."

"What?"

"Law says one who kills Joketsuzoku must die. Ranma part Joketsuzoku. Mousse full Joketsuzoku. I fall in love with Ranma. Once. But then I love Mousse."

"So, you're not sure who you're doing this for?"

"No. Ranma or Mousse? I not know."

"What about yourself?"

"What?"

"Don't do it for Ranma or Mousse individually. Do it for yourself. You've suffered a great loss that I can't even begin to imagine. A loss that neither Mousse or Ranma felt. Two people you loved died before you. Don't do it for them, do it for yourself."

Shampoo blinked. "I... I think..." She paused.

Kei laughed. "That a good answer for you?"

Shampoo smiled. "Yes. That work. How you get so smart, anyway?"

"Don't forget, I spent almost five years in a monastery."

"Place of monks, right?"

"Right." He smiled.

Chapter Ten: ...For San Fransisco
Shampoo blinked. It wasn't as if she couldn't fight against the fatigue, but it was that she preferred not to. But it had to be done. Since Tarou had gone to sleep earlier in the night, she had made herself busy by practicing her kata, drinking nearly two pots of coffee, and sitting down to watch some american television.

She nearly spit out her coffee when she flipped to the asian news channel. It was covering a murder story in Nerima, Japan.

"With me here now is Detectives Hiroshi and Daisuke of the Nerima police. Detectices, can you tell us anything about the murder?"

"Well, Kumiko, last night we were called out to a scene not far from here," Daisuke began.

"You mean I was called out. You were still asleep when I called you," Hiroshi corrected.

"Whatever."

"Anyways, we came out and found out there had been a murder. After some investigation on our part, we found the identity of the stiff... er... man, to be Gendo Satoni. Son of mayor Satoni, if you catch my drift?"

"Do you know if this was a planned execution Detective?" She placed the microphone in front of Hiroshi.

"Oh, definately. The head had been severed, the skull had been crushed, along with his ribcage."

"I don't really see any need to go into that much detail, Detective. Are there any suspects."

"Not at this time, Kumiko. The one suspect we did have is dead."

"Dead?"

"Yes. About five years ago. A man from China we once knew."

"Can you tell our viewers anything more?"

"Hi, Mom!" Daisuke called.

"Very well then." Kumiko pulled the microphone away. "This is Kumiko Tosaka, from Nerima Ward outside of Tokyo, signing off. Back you you, Mitsuhara."

Shampoo blinked.

She blinked again. "Two idiots.... Detectives?" She muttered under her breath. "Aiya."

"Morning, Shampoo." Tarou greeted, stretching and walking onto the balcony to practice a kata.

"Morning, Kei." She muttered, nursing a cup of coffee.

"You know, that stuff will stunt your growth." He said, trying to make conversation.

"Shampoo not plan to do any more growing."

Kei shook his head and continued with his kata. "Ready for tonight?"

"Ready and waiting." She returned.

"Try not to get too wired on that coffee, Shampoo." Happosai said from behind her, causing her to drop her coffee and spin around into a defensive position.

"Why you do that, old man?" Shampoo asked.

"Making sure you were alert."

"I alert and ready."

"Kenoru's men are strong, Shampoo. You may have to fight through them before we get to Kenoru."

"Shampoo can do."

"I sure hope so.'

"Why you not pervert?"

"What?"

"You pervert before. Yesterday, Shampoo naked. You tell her get clothes on."

"People change, Shampoo."

"You change too much."

Happosai sighed. "I changed because I had to. Yes. I'm a pervert. I still am in some ways, but when theres a greater mission at hand, I can put those feelings of perversion aside." He winked at her. "Besides, ten years in a cave meant I had alot of built up tension to relieve!"

"So you steal underwear?"

"You'd prefer I did it in other ways?"

Shampoo thought for a moment of what other ways he could be talking about. "No. Underwear stealing is good."

"Good. Now, Shampoo. Tell me whats been happening in your life."

"Why?"

"Because I'm curious."

"Why you curious?"

"Because I am. Come on, Shampoo. Humour an old man."

"Alright. What you want to know?"

"How are things back at the village?"

Shampoo blinked. "I not know. I no have been there since after... Ranma die."

"Oh dear. What about Cologne?"

"Great Grandmother in village. She protect me when I come back no with husband. She tell them husband die. I... I banished until I kill Kenoru."

"Didn't Cologne do anything about it?"

"Yes. Great-Grandmother did. Village want send me to Jusenkyo for trial. Great-Grandmother said I already have curse. They send me away. Say I no come back until Kenoru dead."

"So you've been looking for him for five years?"

"No. I... I not look for him until not long ago. I train in Beijing."

"Beijing?"

"Yes. I... I no have enough skill to even beat Kenoru men." She put her head into her hands.

"Shampoo, don't worry about that. Kenoru's men are strong, they are trained to work together to defeat a foe. Apart, they are worthless."

"But they still defeat Shampoo."

"At least you don't have to marry them." Tarou said, trying to lighten the mood.

Shampoo glared at him.

"Do you?" He asked, unsure of himself.

Shampoo managed a slight laugh. "No. Shampoo not have to marry them. They use dishonourable technique to beat Shampoo, so law not apply."

"Well, thats good." Tarou sighed.

"Well, it's ten now. We have eight hours to prepare. The restaurant closes at five-thirty on Sunday, so we'll have no problem with customers."

"Eight hours." Shampoo nodded. She looked to Tarou. "We spar?"

"Not in here we don't. The landlord lives right underneath us."

"Where we spar?"

"Theres a park about two blocks away. I've never sparred there, but it looks like a big place."

"Good. We go now?"

Tarou looked out the window briefly. "Sure, but if it looks like rain, we're back here in a flash."

Shampoo nodded in understanding. "Right. You no want to scare anybody."

Tarou smiled. "Let's go."

As the two ran out the door, Happosai yelled out. "I want you kids back by three! Theres something we've got to talk about!"

He sighed as he heard a yell of acknowledgement from the hallway. He then closed his eyes and placed his hands in front of him. "Ancestors. Give me the strength I need." He sighed.

"This nice park." Shampoo muttered, looking around at the trees.

"Yeah. For an inner-city park, anyways."

"Pretty colours on wall."

Tarou laughed. "That's uhh... Grafiti..."

"What that?"

"Vandalism.. uhh.. property damage."

"Oh. Shampoo know all about that."

"Anyways," Tarou pointed over to an empty basketball court. "How about over there? That looks like a good place."

Shampoo nodded and the two of them ran over.

"Alright. No weapons, all hand to hand. No illegal use of curses, right?"

Shampoo nodded. "You turn into monster, I scratch eyes out. Understand."

Tarou laughed as he brought himself into a defensive position. "Oh yeah. And if I beat you, this is only a sparring session, right?"

"IF Kei beat Shampoo, Shampoo not give kiss of marriage. Don't worry."

"You mean when I beat you, don't you?"

"Shampoo not let Kei beat her." She smiled, circling her opponent. "Shampoo beat Kei before that happen."

"Let's go, then."

They went. It started with simple attacks. A test punch, a kick from each opponent. 'Testing the waters' and all that. After a moment, each of the started to get an idea of the other's strength. They increased their attacks.

The truth was, in human form, Tarou wasn't all that bad in the art. In monster form, he was even better. But Shampoo had been training as a human her entire life. The most recent years, she'd been experimenting with martial arts in her feline form. And it was safe to say, she was fairly deadly as a cat as well.

But as it was, they were at a stalemate. Each party was pulling punches, not using all the speed and strength they were supposed to be. But neither of them were aware of it.

Punch. "You know," Kick. "Shampoo, you're," Block. "Actually not that," Jump. "Bad..."

"Shampoo," Spin. "Glad you," Crescent kick. "Notice."

"Hey," Dodge. "Do you think," Thrust. "We're drawing," Smack. "A crowd?"

Shampoo pulled her attention away from the fight for long enough to see a crowd of people watching them. Some with concerned looks on their faces. Others watching in disgust, and another watching in excitement."

"You think," Dodge. "We tell them," Jump. "What we," Spin. "Doing?"

"I don't," Punch, "think it," Block, "would matter."

"Want to," Kick. "Give them," Jump. "A show?"

Tarou smiled. "What," Dodge. "Do you," Hit. "Have in," Parry. "Mind?"

"Follow Shampoo's lead." She smiled.

They backed away from each other, still in defensive position. Shampoo turned and bowed to the crowd. Kei followed her lead.

Many members of the crowd turned there faces from disgust and concern into interest. Shampoo turned to Kei and smiled.

"Here trick I learn from Great-Grandmother."

"Oh yeah?"

"BAKUTSAI TENKETSU!" She yelled, ramming her finger towards the ground. The concret exploded in a mist of rocks and dust. The crowd gasped.

"Hey, that's pretty good." Tarou smiled. "Heres something I learned from Rouge."

Tarou placed his hands together and closed his eyes. A moment later, he rose from the ground. He looked towards the same spot Shampoo had blown up and gathered something in his hands. When he released it, the fireball hit the same spot with a poof, and another explosion.

Shampoo chuckled. "So, you meet Rouge again?"

"Yeah. It wasn't fun at first, she was trying to kill me. It was at the monastery. Fighting isn't allowed at the monastery, so I just ran. By the time she realized I wasn't fighting back, I had managed to dump some hot water on her." He chuckled. "You know, she's a lot easier to deal with as a human. Anyways, I explained things to her, and we ended up as friends. Even her Ashura side warmed up to me. She ended up teaching me how to do that fireball thing."

"You think maybe you teach that to me someday?"

Tarou smiled. "Sure thing. I can't do it as well as Rouge, but then again, when she does it, she's a Goddess."

Shampoo smiled. She had heard all about Rouge from Ranma and Akane not long after she had given up on him.

"She still have stiff neck?"

"Yeah. I--" He stopped. "Oh shit."

"What problem?" She turned around.

Two policemen stood, one of them batting a baton into his hand.

(You two come out here.) one of them said.

"What we do?"

Tarou narrowed his eyes. "Do as they say. I don't want to cause any trouble."

"Shampoo no want to cause trouble either. But no want to be arrested.'

(Out here. Now.) The other cop said.

(Alright, we're coming.) Tarou yelled out.

"You speak good English."

"And Chinese. And Japanese. Hell, I speak a mean scottish!" He smiled.

The two of them stepped out towards the policemen.

(There problem?) Shampoo asked.

(What happened in there?) One of the policemen asked.

(Sorry, Officer. We kinda got out of control.)

(With what? C4 and a jackhammer?)

(Not quite.)

The one with the PR-24 pointed at the ground in the basketball court. "That smoldering hole in the ground over there. Explanation. Now."

(Shampoo apologize. She not think of actions. Hole in ground her fault.)

(Not just her,) Tarou interupted. (If I hadn't been showing off my new trick, it wouldn't be as big.)

One of the policemen blinked. (New trick? What the hell kind of trick does that?)

(A... fireball?)

(That's it. Search 'em.) He said.

Shampoo narrowed her eyes. (You no want to touch Shampoo.)

(Well, I'm afraid, girlie, that I'm going to have to.)

(Look, if its the hole in the ground, don't worry. I'll pay for it. I'll repair it myself if I have to.)

(Pay for it? You know how much that hole will cost?)

(A few thousand to pave over.)

(Exactly.)

(Don't worry. I've got enough.)

(It doesn't matter. We're bringing you in.)

Tarou shook his head. (You can't bring us in. We've got somewhere to be tonight.)

(Well, it looks like you're not going to be there.)

One of the pulled out handcuffs. (Read 'em their rights.)

(You have the right--) (Shut up.) Shampoo narrowed her eyes.

(Excuse me?)

(Shampoo say shut face.)

"What are you doing?" Tarou asked.

"They going to arrest us. We can't be arrested or we never get Kenoru."

(English, hello!)

(Just a second.) Tarou muttered.

"We can't stay here. We can outrun police easy. Even if in car, we outrun."

"It's not that easy." They've got guns.

"They shoot us because we run? That silly."

(ENGLISH!)

"You stay here if you want, Kei. Shampoo go. Now."

"Wait." Tarou blinked in thought for a second. "Fine. You take the north route, I'll take south. We'll meet back at the apartment building."

"Go. Now."

They bounded off.

Two very confused policemen could only sit and stare at each other.

(Where'd they go?)

(I think they just jumped away.)

(Jumped?)

(Yeah. High.)

(You wanna report this?)

(Oh sure. We didn't catch them because they jumped away.)

(Good point.)

(I thought so too.)

(What now?)

(How about some donuts?)

"I don't like doing that. They were only trying to do their job."

"At least we no hurt them. We just run away."

"Are you two done bickering?" Happosai interupted.

"Yes."

"Good. Now. Heres the plan. Shampoo, you will go in first. Followed by Tarou. The Ryukaze's and I will wait down the block until we get the signal."

"What is signal?"

"Simple. Break a window."

"That it?"

"Yes. One of the Ryukaze's will be waiting near the restaurant. When a window breaks, the rest of us will file in."

"Then we all fight Kenoru."

"Right. We can't underestimate him, though. He's smart. Smarter than one would imagine, and powerful. You, me, Kei and the Ryukaze's may be enough to overtake him. But if he's got him men there, it may be even harder."

"So what we do in that case?"

"Retreat. Theres no point in dying prematurely. We can regroup and try again at another time."

"No. Shampoo kill Kenoru tonight."

"Shampoo, do you want to kill him and live, or not kill him and die?"

Shampoo blinked.

"I vote for live!" Tarou interjected.

"Very well, now may I continue?"

"Yes."

"Now. When you find Kenoru, break a window. Make it look like an accident, though."

"Yes. Shampoo will."

"Now, Tarou. You follow behind her. Be discreet, though. And bring some water with you. We may have better use for your cursed form."

"Right."

"But he may also be suspecting you. It's safe to assume that he knows all about Jusenkyo."

"Right."

"Carry extra cold water. You'll need it."

"Right."

"It's 4:30 now. We meet the Ryukaze's in an hour. Make sure everything is ready."

The meeting came and went. The Ryukaze's were ready. Interestingly enough, one of them got a pedicure.

"Are we ready, guys?" Ake asked.

"Yup."

"I want you all to know I've got plans for next weekend, and all of you are included. We all go in alive, we all come out alive. Got it?"

"Yup."

Ake smiled and turned to Kei. "So, Shampoo goes in, then you follow. She breaks a window and that's our cue, right?"

Kei nodded. "Yes. But be careful."

"Not to worry. Carefulness works."

"Are we ready to go?"

"The restaurant's closed. All the workers have left. Kenoru is still inside. I'm not sure if he's alone, though.' Happosai mentioned.

"Alright. Shampoo go now."

Ake walked up to her an shook her hand. "Good luck." She smiled.

Shampoo smiled in return. "Shampoo no need luck."

And then she walked off.

Getting in was the easy part. Getting in silently, however was slightly harder, but she pulled it off either way.

The restaurant was dark. Unlike the day before when she had come in in broad daylight and issued a challenge to Kenoru. Kenoru, however was upstairs in his den above the restaurant, and she had to get by his men first. Not wanting to hurt anyone, she led them into an alleyway and they fought.

That was the last thing she remembered before waking up in the presence of Kei and Happosai.

She moved swiftly through the rows of tables, past darkened booths and old pictures. She knew where she was headed.

Aparently, so did someone else.

"Bitch of Joketsuzoku..." The voice taunted.

Shampoo spun around. Standing there. Sheathed Katana at his side, and smiling widely, was Kenoru.

"Kenoru." She scowled.

"I'm surprised with you, Shampoo of Joketsuzoku. I had originally thought I had killed you. It was a major blow to my self esteem that you were left alive." He smirked. "I shall have to remedy that."

"Shampoo kill you first, Kenoru."

He smiled and shook his head. "Ahh, idle threat. How I've missed them. You were... what, eighteen when I had first fought you? Look at you now. A young woman. If not for the scars, I'd say you were a beauty worthy of me."

"No woman deserve that kind of punishment."

"Oh, but thats not true. Women flock to me, Shampoo. You would have too, if you had seen the other side of me."

"Whatever side of you is all the same."

"Not true, Shampoo. When I was young, my brother and I were kind, gentle souls. I was hardly capable of harming a fly."

"Brother?"

"Yes, Shampoo, Brother. But thats beside the point. One day, he left me to die." He smirked. "He left me to die, shampoo. At the hands of a powerful sorcerer."

"Good. You deserve it."

"Ahh, but the sorcerer didn't kill me. He saw my inner strength. How determined I was to get away alive. It wan't long before he made me realize it was impossible. So he trained me."

"What?"

"He trained me in his art. His magical arts. His martial arts. You would be surprised at how accurate a martial artist can be when touched my particular kinds of magics."

"Why you tell me this?"

"Allow me to continue. Years went by, and I wasn't strong enough to defeat him. Even more years, and I still wasn't strong enough. He taught me everything he knew. And one day, I beat him. I defeated him."

"What difference that make?"

"I killed him. Because of what he had done to me over the years. Finally, I was in charge. I held the cards. I could rule the world if I so chose to." He smirked. "But I did not. I simply ruled my part of it. I recruited strong warriors to do my bidding in exchange for... services. If they refused to, I killed them. It was that simple. Ranma was among the strongest I've ever encountered. But it was, in the end, as it always had been."

"Kenoru. Ranma and Mousse were good people." A raged voice came from behind them.

"Ahh," Kenoru smirked. "Could this be the monster of Jusenkyo?"

"Damn straight." He jumped up and stood beside Shampoo. "We're taking you down."

"I know not what grudge you hold with me, monster of Jusenkyo. But it is safe to assume that you were a part of Ranma's little troupe back in Japan."

Tarou narrowed his eyes. "Are you going to talk or fight?"

"I suppose the Ryukaze's are waiting for the signal, are they not?" He smiled.

Both of them nearly lost balance. "What?" Tarou asked.

"Dear, dear Ake. If she were not my wife, I wouldn't know what to do with her."

Tarou's eyes widened. "You lie."

"Ake, you can come in now." He called out.

The doorway crowded. People piled in. Tarou recognized each of the smirking faces as ryukaze members.

"Did I do good, honey?" Ake asked, walking up to Kenoru.

"Indeed." He looked at Tarou. "Doesn't that just get to you? Four months of training, planning, and it's all over?" He smiled.

"The old one got away." She informed him.

"That's of no consequence. These two are the ones to be gone. Shall I leave them to you, dear Ake?"

"Yes. I want them."

"Very well. I shall watch while your men take them down."

The Ryukaze's started to surround them.

"What we do now?"

Tarou narrowed his eyes. "Only thing we can do." He reached down towards the water bottle at his side. "Fight." He splashed himself.

The fight began. Shampoo started taking down gang members one by one as Tarou swiped an entire group away with one hand. Kenoru stood and laughed.

"STOP!" The voice cried from the darkness.

Kenoru stopped laughing. "Ahh, the old man? I can handle this one."

"Not quite." The figure stepped more into the light.

Kenoru's eyes widened. Tarou and Shampoo were too busy fighting to notice.

"You." He said. "It can't be you. You're dead. I'm certain I killed you."

"Well," Mousse replied, "I guess you were wrong."

Chapter Eleven: On Foreign Soil
Kodachi frowned. Since the previous day, her brother had been remarkably distant.

It wasn't as if that sort of thing was abnormal for Tatewaki Kuno, the 'blue thunder' of Kuno Enterprises, but he usually at least greeted her.

As it was, Kodachi stood over her brothers still form.

"Do you plan to watch over me for long, sister?" He asked, not breaking his concentration.

Kodachi gasped as she realized that she had addressed her. She knew her brother had become remarkably more skilled since taking on Kenpo, but she had at least assumed she would remain undetected.

"Something troubles you, brother." She stated. There was no questioning tone to her voice.

Tatewaki sighed. "Aye. Though it is none of your concern, sister."

"As it never is." She narrowed her eyes. "But this time it seems ever more serious than others. What is it now, brother? Another holding company gone backrupt? A lawsuit?"

"Neither sister. What troubles me is of personal nature." He replied, not straying his attention away from his meditation.

"Personal enough for you to have the jet fueled, and hire two pilots to fly to America?" She asked, dropping the file she held in her hand to the ground.

Tatewaki winced. He had wished for his sister to remain ignorant to what he had planned.

"Moving a small payload of passangers to San Fransisco, California. The airplane leaves at eight o'clock, arriving at the San Fransisco airport a mere four hours later."

"Sister--" "Why wasn't I informed of this, brother?" Tatewaki sighed. He slowly uncrossed his legs and stood up. He turned to face his sister with a monotone look to his face.

"Sister. I had hoped that you would not find out about this."

"Why?" She asked, the betrayal showing in her voice. "Sister. It not be betrayal that leads me to charter the airplane." He sighed. "Nor does it mean that I wish to abandon you... like..."

"Don't speak his name, brother." She cast her gaze towards the floor.

"Aye. I will not. He has caused far too much pain in this household."

"Why do you wish to travel to America?" He sighed again. "I find it difficult to explain, sister. I at times, hardly believe it myself."

"Does this have to do with your absence from work the other day?"

"In part, yes." "Brother. Don't tell me that you would go to America because of someone claiming to be Saotome--"

"I have found the truth, sister." He interupted. "I have spoken to the man. He is, in truth, Ranma Saotome."

Kodachi narrowed her eyes. "You cannot be serious, brother. Did you see his face?"

"Nay, but I know it to be true." "How?" "The other warrior, thought dead. Mousse. He was there."

Kodachi's eyes went wide with shock. "How? How could they both have lived if--" They went wider. "That chinese wench! How dare she lie to us!"

"The one called Shampoo did not lie. She had thought them both dead. As it is, she was half right."

Kodachi twisted her face into a look of confusion. "What do you mean, brother?"

"Saotome truly is dead. He has spoken the truth to me."

"Dead men don't talk, brother." "Nonetheless, Saotome has returned to us. The story I hear is that he was sent to hell. And he is now a warrior for the army of hell, and the earth is merely his training grounds."

"How can this be?" "I believe he speaks the truth, sister. Ten years of his life remain a mystery. As we know him, he is undeserving of hell, but nonetheless, that was his destination."

Kodachi sat down and stared her brother in the eye. "To continue on this line of discussion would only further my confusion, brother. What of San Fransisco?"

"We go to avenge." "Avenge?" "The death of Saotome." Kodachi's eyes widened. She had heard little of the man who had killed him. Mostly because she found she didn't care anymore. But from what she had heard, he was a powerful warrior. Perhaps even a sorcerer of sorts.

Kodachi tightened her resolve as she looked into her brothers eyes. "I shall pack my things."

Tatewaki nodded. "I had suspected you would wish to accompany, if you had found out."

"But I do it not for Saotome, but instead to rid the world of a threat to the safety and wealth of the Kuno family." She warned. "I care not for Saotome."

He continued to nod. "Very well, sister. We shall leave first thing in the morning."

"Kasumi?" Tofu asked. "Are you still awake?" Kasumi groaned a little, and with a yawn, she answered. "Yes, Tofu. I'm awake."

"Sorry," he smiled. "I... couldn't sleep." "Why not? Ranma?" "Something like that. Yes." "What's the problem?" "Look. Theres... theres something you don't know about me. Something I never told anyone."

Kasumi was more awake now than ever. "What's wrong, Tofu?"

"It's something I'm not proud of. Something... something I did while I was a young man that... that makes--"

"Tofu?" Kasumi gasped, tears beginning to gleam in her eyes.

"Kasumi?" He stared in confusion. Then the blood started. First, it poured from the sides of her mouth.

"Oh my God. Kasumi?!" He yelled, bringing her into his arms.

"To--fu--" She managed to gasp out. Then he saw it. The blade.

"Leave me, will you, brother?" The voice called out. "I'll repay you. If it takes me a thousand years, I'll repay you for leaving me." "Kenoru?" He called. "Oh my God, Kenoru. No, please. Not Kasumi!"

The childlike voice seemed to ring out from the blackness. But, as the blackness began to swirl, he heard another voice.

"Tofu! Wake up!" Kasumi shook him frantically. Thankfully, he did. He opened his eyes and quickly brought himself up.

"Kasumi?" He asked. "Tofu, you were having a nightmare." Tofu sighed. "A nightmare." He wiped the sweat from his brow.

"What was it about? You kept calling my name." Tofu shook his head. "Nothing to worry about, Kasumi. I just... I just had a bad dream, thats all."

Kasumi gazed into her husbands eyes affectionately. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"Yes. I'm... I'm fine." She smiled. "Alright." She lay back down in the bed and stared towards the ceiling.

"Kasumi?" "Hm?" "Do you... do you mind me going?" "To San Fransisco?" "Yeah." She laughed. "I know everything will turn out fine." He smiled. "I hope so." "Shh." She put her finger to his lips. "Quiet. Don't hope. Know."

Tofu smiled and kissed his wifes hand. "I know it will."

"Kinami?" Mousse asked. Since Ranma had left, Mousse decided to stay with Kinami, to make sure she was alright. As it was, he found that she was as tough as they come.

"I think she's asleep, duck-boy." Ukyou whispered from the edge of the room.

Mousse casually looked towards Ukyou and then back to Kinami. She was breathing regularily, and she was, in fact, asleep.

"She's had a big night." Ukyou said. He nodded. "Yeah. You've had a big day, too." She laughed. "That's an understatement. I come back, then find out Ranma's been dead for five years. Then I find out he's back from the dead."

"How'd you find out, anyways?" "I ran into his parents and his sister on the train here."

Mousse nodded. "They didn't find out until today, either."

Ukyou looked towards the ceiling. "Was I the last to find out about this?"

He shook his head. "No. Shampoo doesn't know." "How is Shampoo, anyways?" Mousse scoffed. "Your guess is as good as mine. She doesn't even know I'm alive."

"When did she ever?" Ukyou asked, innocently. He laughed. "Actually, she did warm up to me before... before Kenoru."

"So, how tough exactly is this Kenoru guy?" "Tough." He nodded. "Tougher than anyone we've ever faced."

"Well, you came out okay." She said. Mousse shook his head. "No, I didn't." "You mean the scar, hardly noticable." Mousse closed his eyes. "Scars are not always worn on the outside, Ukyou Kuonji." He got up.

Ukyou blinked. "Mousse?" "I'd better get some sleep if I'm going to be up in time for the plane tomorrow." He looked at her. "I'll see you in the morning."

Ukyou blinked in surprise as she noticed the man she was talking to, had already left. Silently, as though he wasn't even there.

Genma sat alone in the silence of his hotel room. He had steadfastly refused to stay under the same roof as the man who claimed to be his son.

Nodoka had wished to stay at the Tendo home, but finally gave in after Genma's refusal. Before she had left, Akane had expressed interest in talking to her, and she and Ranko were now at her apartment.

Which left Genma alone. Under normal circumstances, he would take to opportunity to indulge in his gluttonous nature. But now, things were far too disturbing.

He would accompany everyone in the morning, to keep his word. Though it was true he wasn't known for honouring agreements to complete strangers, somehow, with the involvement of nearly everyone he held dear, he knew it was unavoidable.

If sleep had ever crossed Genma's thoughts this night, he soon found that it was erased before it could register. Sleep was the last thing on his mind.

"Are you sure it's no bother? I'd hate to leave Genma dear alone at the hotel, but it's dark. And Ranko doesn't seem to be able to leave." She smiled at her sleeping daughter.

Akane smiled. "Of course not, it's the least I can do for what you're doing for me."

"Are you sure of your decision, Akane? I can't stop you, but I will support whatever decision you choose."

Akane nodded. "I'm sure. I don't think I've ever been this sure."

Nodoka smiled. "You'll still have to deal with your husband and... Ranma in the morning."

"What do you think will happen?" "I don't know, Akane. I'm certain we will be successful, but in regards to Ranma." She smiled. "I just don't know."

"So", Ryouga smiled. "She's been holding back on me, then..."

"I don't think holding back is the word, Ryouga." Ranma shook his head. "She really didn't know that she was supposed to follow instinct."

"I always figured her as a smart girl. But to actually plot out which moves to use before a battle even starts?"

"You two still awake?" A third voice called from above them. Mousse stood on the stone wall, smirking at them.

"In case you haven't noticed, Mousse, I really don't need sleep." Ranma warned.

"I know. But Ryouga does." He pointed. "And we'll need it for whats coming tomorrow."

Ryouga nodded. "Yeah. I understand that, but We could always sleep on the plane."

"True, but it'll only last three to four hours." "The plane trip?" "Yeah. How well can you fight with six hours sleep, compared to three hours?"

"He's got a point, Ryouga." Ranma smiled. "What about you?" "You think I can't handle myself? You do realize who you're talking to, right?"

Ryouga smiled. "You know, it feels so weird being able to talk to you again."

Ranma shook his head. "Second nature to me." "Eh?" "Remember, five years passed for you guys. Only a few seconds passed for me."

"A few seconds." Ryouga shook his head. Mousse jumped down beside the two. "Tag." He lightly punched Ryouga in the side. "You're out."

Ryouga looked at him confusedly for a second, and then realized what he was getting at. With a sigh, he got up. "Alright. I'll see you two in the morning."

"You should stay here tonight." Ryouga thought for a second. "Yeah. I guess that would be the best idea. I don't wanna get hopelessly lost while you guys are all fighting for your lives in San Fransisco."

"He's got a point, you know." "Well, if Kenoru proves too much for us, we'll sick Ryouga on him. Maybe we'll luck out and he'll 'lose' him." Ranma laughed.

Dawn came. Dawn went. The moment the tip of the sun touched the horizon meant nothing more than another day at work for most. But for a select few, it meant more. Much, much more.

For two Nerima Detectives, it meant hell. "What do you mean?" Hiroshi glared. "I mean, fired. We are f-i-r-e-d FIRED!" Daisuke yelled.

"Why? What the hell for?" "The news last night." "What, because of the news reporter?" "He says we told her too much. Some of the facts were still classified."

"Classified? That's bullshit. I read those papers myself yesterday. They were not classified!"

"I know, 'Roshi. But they are now." "How the hell did this happen?!" He shook his head. "I'll give you one guess." Hiroshi thought for a second. And then it dawned. "Satoni."

He nodded. "Damn right. He did this because he thought we'd link the yakuza to him."

"Bastard, that bastard!" Daisuke shook his head. "Well, it's happened... We've got to deal with it."

"How?" He asked, looking at him. Daisuke shook his head. "Who knows?" "Dai?" "Yeah?" "What's going on over there?" He pointed at a large gathering of people on the side of the road as they continued on their way.

"I don't know." He narrowed his eyes. "Isn't that the Tendo dojo?"

"Isn't that Ukyou?" Hiroshi pointed. Daisuke's eyes widened as he brought the car to a screeching halt.

"What'd you do that for?" Hiroshi asked. "Isn't that Mousse?" He pointed.

"No. No way. We told you yesterday, Akane. No." "Ranma, I'm not as weak as--" "Damnit, Akane. I'm not saying that. I thought you had realized by now that I never meant to say that. You have to stay here, where it's safe."

"Ranma." He felt a hand on his shoulder. "You know as well as I do that she won't give up."

Ranma turned to Ryouga. "She may not give up, but she'll have to. I'm not going to let her board that plane."

Ryouga shook his head. "And then she'll buy some tickets and board another one." He looked at him. "Ranma, let her come."

Akane smiled at her husband. She looked innocently towards Ranma.

He raised his hands in the air and shook his head. "Fine. Whatever. She's your--" His words were cut off by a screeching not twenty feet away.

"Oh great." Nabiki muttered. "Here comes the idiot patrol."

"What?" Ukyou asked. "Hiroshi and Daisuke." "What are they doing up this early?" "They're cops. My guess is, they have the early morning to afternoon shift."

The doors swung open in unison. Soon after, two men appeared from within.

The stared in disbelief at the crowd in front of them.

Mousse frowned. "Not now." "What?" "Not now. They're cops, and they're here to take me in."

Nabiki suddenly dawned on the situation. "Nabiki?" Hiroshi asked. "That.. uh... that's Mousse, right?"

Nabiki shook her head. "No. It's his brother." "Brother?" Daisuke asked. "Mousse had a brother?" "Yeah... this is.. uh... Gel." Mousse blinked in surprise. "Thank God." Daisuke muttered. "I thought I was staring at a ghost."

Ranma stepped towards them for a moment, and then removed his cowl. "You sure you're not?" He asked them. Hiroshi promptly fainted. Daisuke was conscious long enough to mutter half of a word, and then he joined his friend.

Nabiki blinked. "Did you have to do that, Ranma?" He laughed and nodded. "It's easier than explaining the whole thing."

She nodded. "Good point." "Gel?" Mousse asked. "You couldn't think of anything better than Gel?"

She shrugged. "Gel isn't an official Joketsuzoku name?"

He shook his head. "I've told you guys time and time again. Our names are mere coincidence."

"Sure, Mousse," Ranma patted him on the back. "Sure."

"We're supposed to meet him here. Gate 43." Soun noted.

"I think you're drawing a crowd, Ranma." Nabiki muttered.

Tofu chose that moment to speak up. "You mean we aren't one?"

"So, the plane supposed to leave at like, eight. Right?"

"Indeed. The plane shall leave as soon as we board." another voice, not from the current group commented from nearby.

Ranma turned to face Kuno. Soon after, he wished he hadn't.

"Kodachi?" He asked, audibly confused. "Hello, Saotome. It has been a while, has it not?" She asked.

Kuno closed his eyes for a moment. "I must apologize for not warning you of her presence. I myself was not aware of it until late last night."

Ranma shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We could use your help, Kodachi. Thank you."

"I apologize for not accepting your thanks graciously, but I do not respect you in the way I once did, Saotome. I will fight alongside you, but nothing else."

Ranma laughed. "That's all I ask, Kodachi."

Ukyou seated herself quickly. "Boy, it feels weird getting back on one of these in so short of a time."

Kinami buckled herself in beside her. "You just came in on one the other night, didn't you?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Straight from LAX to Tokyo." "LAX?" "The airport in Los Angeles." "Oh yeah, what's it like there, anyways?" She asked. She shrugged. "Not like here, I assure you. People are much more... distant over there."

"How so?" "Well, you could walk down the street in Nerima, and run into someone you know. you could talk for a few minutes, and then be on your way."

"Yeah?" "Well, in LA, you could see someone you know on the street, and they could see you. And you'd walk by with not even a word spoken between the two."

"Why's that?" "I don't know. I've never figured it out. But that was only during my first year there."

"What do you do?" Ukyou laughed. "Promise not to laugh?" Kinami blinked. "Uh. Okay." "I'm an actress." "Actress? In America?" "Yeah. I've also got a record out, believe it or not."

"A SINGER TOO?!" She laughed. "Yeah. It didn't do too well, but it made me a fair bit of money. I still get royalties from it."

"So, your, like... famous there, then?" "I wouldn't use that word. Sometimes people recognize me on the street, sometimes they walk on by." "What kind of acting do you do?" "Well, I started out as an extra. Only in the past year or so, have I managed to get supporting roles in some movies." She smiled. "People are quick to hire me, because I do alot of my own stunts." "Really?" "Yeah. I've focusing mainly on acrobatics lately. I've kinda lost my fighting edge. I.. I just didn't have the will to fight."

"Why not?" "I never really figured it out until now. Believe it or not, it wasn't Ranma. It was... me. All along, it was me."

"What?" "While I was chasing Ranma, I had a reason to fight, to train. When I found him, he had two other fiancee's and a crazy woman after him. So then I had a reason to fight." Kinami blinked. "When he... admitted that he loved Akane, and I left... I had to reason to fight anymore."

"But now you do?" She smiled and nodded. "Yeah. I'm with you guys now, and we'll take this Kenoru bastard down if its the last thing we do."

Kinami smiled as the plane taxied down the runway, and eventually took off into the air.

The ocean passed by beneath them as Ranma sighed. "So, leaving was fairly uneventful. How are we going to manage the arrival?"

Kuno sighed. "I know not." He closed his eyes. "However, I believe you have a certain amount of stealth to you, even in your current... form."

"That I do." "I believe that when we arrive, you should take our weapons, and escape the airport."

"I can take care of any weapons we'll need." Mousse mentioned, stepping out from the back.

Ranma looked at him in surprise. "Mousse?" He smirked. "What do you think?" He showed off the long white robe he was wearing. "I always keep it with me, to remind me of what happened. I never thought I'd wear it again, though."

"Where do you keep it?" "I'm a master of hidden weaponry, remember? If I can hide swords, bonbori and training potties easily, why can't I hide a simple robe?"

"The airport will have metal detection devices." Kuno informed him. He winked. "Got it covered."

"Very well. Ranma, you should exit the jet in any way possible, and meet us on the boundary of the airport." He looked towards Mousse. "I suspect you know of Kenoru's wherabouts?"

He nodded. "That I do." He looked up into the back of his head for a moment. "I remember the name of the restaurant, and the street. Do I need to know much else?"

"I would suspect not." He nodded. "All the information we will need is readily accessable by the telephone directory."

"How much longer until we arrive?" "We should arrive there at approximately eleven thirty." He noted. "It should not take us long to locate the restaurant."

Mousse looked up into his head. "So, about five thirty San Fransisco time?"

"Indeed." Mousse nodded. He was about to say something additional when something from the front of the plane caught his attention.

"Saotome?" Soun asked. "Saotome, what's the matter." He looked dazily around for a moment. "Tendo... I... I've never flown before."

Soun nodded. "Nor have I, Saotome. Exhilarating, is it not?"

"That's not the..." He burped. "Word I'd use for it."

"Saoto--" Soun couldn't finish the sentence. A thick liquid has hit his face with remarkable force.

Ryouga widened his eyes. "Did he just...?" Tofu smiled. "Throw up? Yes. Mr. Saotome has a classic case of motion sickness."

"That's disgusting." He muttered. Tofu smiled again. "I agree." Ryouga shook his head, trying to change the subject. "So, anyways. What do you think will happen when we find Kenoru?"

Tofu blinked for a moment. Then cast his gaze towards the seat in front of him. "I honestly don't know, Ryouga."

Ryouga put a concerned look on his face for a moment, at the doctors apparent inability to answer thoroughly. He decided it best to leave the matter alone.

"Foolish man." Kodachi laughed. "We shall have to have that cleaned during our stay."

Nabiki and Akane could only stare. Neither could believe how friendly she was being, regardless of the past, or the situation.

Nabiki found it prudent to say something in return. "I don't suppose he knew about the air sickness bags, then."

Kodachi blinked. "Airsickness bags? Dear me, no. We don't have any of those."

Akane blinked. "Why not?" "Well, Akane Tendo, we have found no need for them. None in the Kuno family suffer from airsickness, and our business associates who use travel aboard this jet are so used to air travel, it bothers them not."

Nabiki nodded in understanding. "And it probably saved some money by having them installed, as well."

Kodachi laughed. "We could if we chose to. The fuel alone costs more than it would to simply install some air sickness compartments."

Nabiki smiled. "I guess theres no in-flight movie, then?"

Kodachi laughed again. She pushed a small button on the arm of her chair as a section of the seat in front of her opened to reveal a small television, and head phones.

Nabiki's mouth dropped open. "What do you wish to watch? We have a selection of over one hundred live action or animated features."

The rest of the flight went fairly well. Nabiki, Akane and Kodachi sat together and watched a grand total of two movies before landing.

Ranma, Tatewaki and Mousse sat in the rear of the plane, discussing the best course of action upon locating Kenoru.

Meanwhile, Soun cleaned up his face and tried to keep his own lunch from exploding all over Genma. As Genma leaned his seat back to try and settle his stomach.

Ukyou and Kinami were busily chatting about several subjects. Mostly of life in America, but Ukyou tried to veer the conversation unsuccessfully towards Mousse several times.

Ryouga and Tofu merely slept right until the point of landing.

And then they were there. On Foreign soil. Nearly one half hour before they had expected. Dispersing from the airplane was easily done. Ranma stealthily used the darkening skies and made his way out of the airplane, and eventually outside of the airport.

Mousse, as he had stated, had no troubles getting through the metal detector, even though he held under his robes several metal objects. Each had shown their passports, with no trouble getting through, with the exception of Genma, who had to show several pieces of identification.

By the time it was over, the group met outside of the airport, and were now faced with a foreign city.

"What now?" Ranma asked, thanking nobody in particular for the dark November skies abvoe him.

"Twin dragons." Mousse said. "What?" "That's the name of the restaurant." Ukyou blinked. "You're joking." He shook his head. "Nope. I'm not. Why?" "I've eaten there once. When I was down here for a film shoot."

Ranma blinked. "Film shoot?" "I'll explain later. Look, it's not far from here. It'll take us... Twenty minutes to get there."

"On foot?" She nodded. Ranma smirked. "Then let's go."

"What is it now, Celeste?" Angela asked, angrily. "We've got a problem with the hellspawn, Angela." Angela sighed impatiently. "I told you I'd be there tomorrow."

"That's just it. He's not here anymore." "What?" "The seers all say he's in San Fransisco. But theres something else. Something they can't penetrate."

"What do you mean?" "It's hard to say. They're having trouble staying on his necroplasma levels."

"How?" "I don't know. Look, can you make it to San Fransisco? Tonight?"

"I'm in LA right now." She said. "I had a plane booked for Tokyo in the morning, but I can make it to San Fransisco by tonight, if you need me to."

"Angela, do it. But be careful, this ones tough. We've already gotten word that he's beaten Violator without loss or injury."

Angela's eyes widened. "Violator?" She held a certain amount of respect for the demon's fighting skills. Even if he was working for the opposite side.

"Be careful, Angela." She nodded. "I will."

"How do you feel about it?" Akane asked. Ranma blinked. "About what?" "You know. The fact that we're all going to take down the guy who killed you?"

He laughed. "I don't know actually. I am a bit nervous, but other than that.. Well, I just don't feel the same."

"I still can't believe how easy this is." Ryouga said, coming up behind them. "Are we sure he'll be there?"

Mousse shook his head. "I'm not. But let's hope he is. Because if not, he'll definately know we're looking for him."

"How much farther, Ukyou?" Ranma asked. "Just around that corner. About a block away." "What's that?" Tofu asked, pointing ahead of them. Each of them noticed the small form, running frantically around the corner. Mousse and Ukyou were the only ones close enough to hear his swearing.

"Damn!" Happosai yelled. "Damn it! How could I have not seen it before?!?"

Happosai was confused at the moment. He knew that by running at the moment, he was dishonouring Shampoo and Kei. The only thing he could do at the moment, was stay away from the Ryukaze long enough to think.

Fortunately, he also wasn't looking where he was going. Fortunately, the large form before him didn't fall over even from all the force Happosai had accidentally pushed upon him.

"Sorry," Happosai apologized, patting the dirt off of him.

As he looked up into the face of the man he had bumped into, he went wide-eyed.

He had just bumped into a giant.

"I don't believe it." Ranma muttered, looking down at the form before him.

The old man blinked in confusion for a second. Not even noticing the others around him, he spoke.

"Sorry about bumping into you, but I've got a bit of a crisis here." He blinked again, realizing something. "Do I know you? Your voice sounds kind of familiar."

Ranma laughed. "Master?" Soun asked from behind them. Happosai blinked, looking past Ranma. "Soun?" He looked at other faces around him. "Genma? Ukyou? Akane? Ryouga? Nabiki? Mousse?" He paused.

Mousse smiled. "Hey there, old man." Happosai yelped. "YOU'RE ALIVE?!" He smirked. Ranma did too. "What are you doing here, old man?"

Happosai knew the voice. He just couldn't place it until he saw all those around him.

"Ranma?" He asked. He nodded. Happosai stared in shock. "What's the matter, Master?" Genma asked. Happosai tried to push all of his confusion down, and save his questions for later. "Kei and Shampoo! They're both in there with Kenoru! The Ryukaze... they turned against us!"

Mousse narrowed his eyes. "What?" "In the restaurant. They're all in there." Mousse was the first to start running. Soon after, they all followed.

Happosai just blinked in the wake of all the martial artists.

"Ranma.. is alive?" He muttered.

"Mousse, wait up!" He wouldn't listen. He kept moving. He reached the restaurant. He entered. He saw what was happening.

"STOP!" He yelled. The figure closest to him didn't even turn. "Ahh. The old man? I can take care of this one."

Mousse scoffed. "Not quite," and then he stepped forward.

Kenoru's eyes widened. "You." He said, shocked beyond belief. "It can't be you. I'm certain I killed you!"

Mousse smirked in reply. "I guess you were wrong."

Chapter Twelve: Windows of the Soul
Angela perched herself on the edge of the rooftop of the building she had just jumped on to. The Hellspawn was here. She could sense the necroplasm, even if it was faint.

Why the Hellspawn had moved from Japan to San Francisco, she had no idea. Nor did she care. Her only job was to terminate it. Send it in to purgatory. Anything to prevent it from becoming another of hells generals.

She sniffed the air lightly, allowing all of her angelic senses to analyze it as much as possible. The spawn was there, all right. In fact, he was a lot closer than she had thought.

Mere blocks.

She smelled the air again, trying to get a bearing on the Hellspawn's location. Instead of his location, another smell permeated her senses.

Blood.

Suddenly, her ribbon began to writhe back and forth. It too could sense the blood. The death.

Something big was happening, and Angela knew she had to find it.

Jumping from the rooftop to a fire escape below, she made her way to street level.

Two blocks over, one block up. The Hellspawn was there.

Kenoru narrowed his eyes. There he was. He remembered him quite well as one of his more challenging opponents. Him and the Japanese boy. Both had been satisfying kills. He had thought he had thrown the Chinese girl from a cliff, but she turned up alive, and now this boy?

He furrowed his brow. Could this mean that the other boy was living as well? He had burned him beyond recognition, nearly to a crisp.

But this boy stood before him, angered and scarred.

Kenoru smiled. Scarred badly.

"So," he taunted. "You are alive. Surprising, I must say. I had thought I had killed all three of you."

Mousse sneered at Kenoru. "You thought wrong."

"Oh well," Kenoru smirked. "I suppose you'd like to fight me, then?"

Mousse stood back a few feet from Kenoru. "I'm not afraid of death any more, Kenoru."

Kenoru laughed. "No, I suppose you wouldn't. Would you, now?"

Mousse surveyed what was going on. The melee below was raging out of control. There were far too many fighters for Shampoo and the other to fight off. The others were still behind. He didn't have the time to waste on Kenoru.

Suddenly, his eyes picked up something it hadn't before. A large shape moving through the crowd. A large brown shape. A single swipe of the arm had taken out four opponents, but not by much. They all got right back up to fight more. They were climbing on to the things back.

Mousse's jaw almost dropped open. It would have, if he hadn't been trying to keep a poker face in Kenoru's presence.

He smiled inwardly. This Kei person wasn't actually Kei. It was Tarou.

Mousse had to make a quick decision. Help Tarou and Shampoo, or stay and fight Kenoru.

Mousse sighed. Ranma deserved that honour.

"This isn't over, Kenoru. I'll spit on your grave yet," he said, running towards the melee, jumping from table to table and extending chains from his sleeves to bind a few fighters.

Kenoru watched him leave. Perhaps this would be amusing.

Kenoru's enhanced senses picked something up. It was... something.

He spun around as quickly as his feet would take him. And looked.

Nothing. Nothing visible to his eye, anyway.

He closed them for a second, trying to feel the new arrival.

Nothing.

Frustrated, he backed away from the entrance. There had to be someone there. Either that, or he was imagining things.

He sat down in a wooden chair and stared at the door, awaiting an entrance.

"Ranma!" Ryouga called, trying to keep up. "Wait!"

Ranma turned around for a moment. Mousse was already inside. "No time," he replied. He then looked up, and began to scale the side of the brick wall.

Ryouga paused in confusion. Why was he...?

Behind him, the mass of Neriman martial artists had closed in.

"Where's he going?" Ukyou asked.

Akane looked up at the ascending form of Ranma. "He's going to drop in on him."

Genma nodded. "That's probably the best course of action. As far as we know, that doorway," he said, gesturing towards the entrance at the end of the alley. "Is the only street level entrance. From up there, he might find a window or something."

"So it's probably safe to bet that this Kenoru guy is gonna be waiting right by that doorway?" Kinami asked, poking her head into the circle.

Genma looked over. He nodded. "Most likely."

"Well, then," Ryouga said, cracking his knuckles. "We'll just have to find another entrance."

Kinami backed away as Ryouga moved towards the wall.

"Make sure you don't knock down any structural supports, son," Soun said. "We wouldn't want the place falling down on our heads."

Ranma dug his claws into the brick, making foot and hand holds with each step. It wasn't long before he reached the top.

Looking down, he noticed that the others were using a similar tack. Ryouga was approaching the side wall very menacingly.

Finally, as he reached the top, he looked around.

Bingo. A skylight. The perfect entrance.

Hearing the loud blast from below, he bided his time. If things went well, Kenoru would still be reeling from the shock of having a dozen or so martial artists break in through his wall.

If he timed it right, he could shock the hell out of him by dropping down.

He walked over to the skylight and looked down. The battle was raging. He could barely hear the yells and shouts of the people below.

Yes. He could jump in right now and take Kenoru by surprise. He could easily--

"Hello, Hellspawn," a voice interrupted his train of thought. A FEMALE voice.

Ranma looked up in surprise.

There was a woman standing on the side of the roof. She was a red haired American, by the looks of her.

But what she was wearing was what sent him into confusion.

She wore a strange black mask on her face, with a strange tiara that bore... wings?

Her clothing was rather questionable. Like a metallic golden bikini of sorts.

In one hand she held a staff... No, more like a trident with a single arrow-like point, but it had what appeared to be a colourful ribbon attached to it.

A ribbon that floated in the wind, yet there was none.

Ranma narrowed his eyes as they fell upon the most disturbing things about her. Her earrings.

The crest on her earrings resembled... Resembled his own mask.

Suddenly, his cloak and chains began to rage out of control.

Ranma tried his best to control it, not understanding fully what was happening.

"Who the hell are you?" Ranma asked.

The woman smiled as she stepped closer. "I surprised your mentor hasn't told you about us yet, Hellspawn." "Mentor?"

"One of the phlebiac brothers, I'd imagine. More than likely Violator."

Ranma narrowed his eyes. "That creature is hardly a mentor."

The woman shrugged. "Very well, I'll have to tell you myself. My name is Angela," she said. "And I'm here to kill you."

Ranma looked her over for a moment. "You're here to kill me?" he asked. After a moment of silence, he closed his eyes. "Fine."

Angela smirked. "So glad you see it my way, Hellspawn."

"After I'm done, you can kill me as much as you want," he said. "But only after I'm done. There's someone down there who would kill me, who would kill all those who I love, and I've got to get to him first."

Ranma began to move towards the skylight.

Almost in a flash, the woman moved toward him and placed her staff at his chest. "You think I would let you do that, Hellspawn?"

Ranma started to grind his teeth. "Don't call me that. I never wanted to be like this. I never wanted to be a Hellspawn."

Angela laughed. "Is THAT why you made the deal with Malebolgia, then?"

Ranma narrowed his eye. "I didn't know."

"No, your kind never do, do you?"

Ranma grabbed her staff and pushed it out of his way. "Leave me alone, I've got to do this."

Ranma once again began to move towards the skylight. This time, he felt an intense pain hit him in the chest. He flew back across the rooftop to land on his back. Angela moved towards him menacingly and held her staff at his throat.

"I don't think you heard me, Hellspawn. I said I CAN'T let you add to the army of hell."

Kenoru sat with his back to the action. He knew he was missing most of the fun, but if he was right, whatever was about to come through the door would be loads more fun.

Of course, by some insane twist of fate, nobody came through the door.

Kenoru watched with mild interest as the side wall of the restaurant was blasted away in one shot.

He smiled widely as several people began to pile in. Several young martial artists, and a couple old ones.

Ahh, even the old man who was trying to recruit the Ryukaze.

Standing up, he smiled. This WOULD be fun.

"Welcome to my restaurant," he said. "Do you have a reservation?"

"What do we do?" Ryouga asked, looking at the form standing about twenty feet away from the group. "Is that Kenoru?"

Happosai nodded. "That's him. That's the devil."

"I think it might be better if we help out over there," Kinami mentioned. "Ranma's going to want to take him out..."

Akane nodded and looked towards the melee. "Is that Tarou?"

Almost everyone in the group looked over at the mention of his name.

"You guys go fight," Tofu muttered. "I'll distract Kenoru for now, until Ranma gets down here."

Shampoo grunted as one of the fighters got a good shot to her stomach. She was used to the pain, but she still couldn't hold all of it off.

Even with Kei there as a big help, the two of them couldn't even hope to take on that many people. She looked up for a moment, seeing Kei fall to the ground under the weight of at least a dozen of the Ryukaze.

Suddenly, three of them had surrounded her. Shampoo was ready to fight them off, but then she was struck from behind.

Reeling to the floor, she tried to avoid getting herself into a position where she would get attacked where she was vulnerable. She rolled herself up into a ball, ready to push her legs out and leap to her feet on a moments notice.

Unfortunately, they had surrounded her. Keeping her down on the ground, they planted kick after kick to her side and head. A moment later, she dropped her bonbori.

Clawing out the best she could, she tried to damage them in any way she could, instead, only hearing the laughs.

And then, she heard a grunt. A slink of... chains?

Then the kicking stopped. She got up, looking out of her swollen eyes. The three Ryukaze were on the ground, moaning.

She looked over. Kei was still bound to the ground. How...?

She turned around to see the man standing behind her, holding another man by the throat. With one great push, he threw the man across the room.

Shampoo gasped.

"M... Mousse?"

Mousse looked down and nodded. "We can talk later. Right now, we need to defend ourselves."

Shampoo looked around. Mousse was right, there were still far too many people fighting. Even the three of them would have a hard time, especially with Shampoo's injuries.

Still, she could protect herself.

Kei grunted under the weight of Kenoru's lackeys. There must have been twenty of them all around him, each one beating him with fists, chairs, tables. He could feel blood dripping down his side, so it was probable that they were using blades.

He tried to brace himself up with his hefty arms, but each time he tried, they were forced out from under him, forcing him back down.

Kei was trapped.

He briefly wondered how Shampoo was faring. She couldn't have been doing well. Especially is Kei was trapped down in his cursed form.

Suddenly, he had a thought.

What if he could get the drop on them?

Quickly, he reached for his belt. He kept a thermos there, ready for spilling. No time to twist the cap off.

Bringing it as close as he could to himself, he thought.

He would have to make it quick. They would only be disoriented for a second.

He closed his eyes and squeezed the thermos as hard as he could. It popped open and spread hot water all over his body.

As the change occurred, several people fell to the floor. Kei worked as quickly as he could to get to his feet, flipping over several people and landing on a nearby table.

He reached once again for his belt, hoping he had thought to pack another bottle of water.

"Dammit!" he swore. He hadn't.

Suddenly, he felt a wetness on his back. He looked down on himself. The change had occurred.

He smirked and swiped several of Kenoru's lackeys away from him.

Turning back, he looked to see who had caused his change.

"Don't worry about it, Hon," the girl said. "That's on the house!"

Kei blinked. It was... the girl he worked with at Nabiki Tendo's restaurant in Nerima?

No time to worry about it now. He had to get back into the action.

Choosing his next target, he realized the battle was a lot more crowded than before. He recognized several people. That Hibiki guy. The Tendo's pop. Even that girl, Akane. The one he had kidnapped.

Kei smiled. He didn't know what had brought them there, but for once, he was glad someone was helping.

"Ahh," Kenoru smirked. "What have we here?"

Tofu narrowed his eyes, and stared at the man. Could it...?

"Are we having a staring contest?" Kenoru laughed. "Because that's the only way you would win, weakling."

"Kenoru," Tofu said. "It is you."

Kenoru looked at Tofu appraisingly. "Do I know you?" he asked. "Oh yes, you must have been friends with that boy I killed, just like everyone else."

"No," Tofu replied. "You are Kenoru Ono, right?"

Kenoru dropped his smirk. He suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"

Tofu's eyes popped open. It was true.

Kenoru crossed the distance between them in a mere instant, and held Tofu by the throat.

"I said WHO ARE YOU?"

Tofu gasped under the pressure of Kenoru's grip. "I'm... Tofu!"

Kenoru's eyes betrayed no emotion. "And how do you know my name, Tofu?" he asked. "Tell me!" he added as he squeezed harder.

"I'm... your brother," Tofu gasped.

Kenoru almost laughed. Almost. "Brother? You think I would be that stupid?"

"Kenoru, please," Tofu said. "Listen. You were born in Okinawa twenty-four years ago. You.. went missing on a trip to Beijing twenty years ago! Please, you've got to believe me!"

Kenoru's eyes began to shimmer. "I was raised in Beijing," he said. "But that doesn't make your story true."

The blood began to clot up in Tofu's head. "Please," he pleaded. "On your right leg, there's a scar. A burn mark. You got it when you were two, from some hot coals."

Kenoru's eyes opened wider. "I'm listening," he said, loosening his grip.

"Don't you remember? The time at the temple in Kyoto? You fell in the water.. You were soaking wet, we had to spend the rest of the trip in the hotel because you had a fever."

Kenoru's eyes shimmered with remembrance. Suddenly, he dropped Tofu to the ground.

Tofu gasped for air and allowed his blood pressure to return to normal before standing again. "You... remember?"

Kenoru looked at Tofu. Suddenly, he smiled. "So... It seems I do have family after all."

Tofu swallowed. "Ken--"

"It changes nothing. It's what I once was. But no longer what I am."

Tofu's heart jumped. "Kenoru, please--"

"Because you were once my brother, I shall grant you this," Kenoru smirked, then looked into his eyes.

Tofu began to back away.

"A quick death," he said, and then kicked Tofu in the guy, sending his flying against the wall.

"Well," one of the fighters smirked. "We've got newcomers."

Akane narrowed her eyes. "You don't want to fight us," she said.

"Oh, but I think I do," the woman replied. "Ken-sama wouldn't be happy if I didn't."

Akane brought herself into a defensive position. "Fine," she replied. "But don't expect to win."

And they were gone. Akane led with a kick to the girls side, while the girl returned with an easily blocked punch to the side of Akane's head. Akane jumped up and tried to kick the girls side, but she ducked before it could connect, and landed an uppercut to Akane's stomach.

The two of them fell to the ground.

"You're good," Akane said.

The girl sneered at Akane. "I know I am."

And they fought again.

Ukyou swung her spatula in a wide arc. It had been a while since she could use it so effectively, but it was coming back to her almost as quickly as she could remember it.

Clang! One down.

Whack! Another one. Upside the head this time. This was getting to be a lot of fun.

Slam!

Ukyou jumped up onto a table and examined her damage. Three down. One had to have gotten a serious concussion. The others were just unconscious.

Smirking, she jumped further into the battle, finding herself next to Kinami.

"Hey, Hon," Ukyou said. "Having any trouble?"

Kinami nodded. "There's too many. One at a time I'd have no problem with, but-*oof*-... Hey, you ASSHOLE!"

Ukyou watched as Kinami trailed off an went ballistic on someone who had managed to get a punch in on her.

Boy, did it bring back memories.

"Hey," Ryouga said, hopping down beside her. "Where the hell is Ranma?"

"Indeed," Tatewaki said, finding himself next to her. "The good doctor seems to be in trouble."

Ukyou shrugged. "I thought he was going to drop in on us."

"He wouldn't have... skipped out on us, would he?"

Tatewaki shook his head. "I refuse to believe that."

"Well, if we don't do something soon, Kenoru's gonna kill Tofu!"

"Allow me to take care of that, boys," a fourth voice called from overhead. The three of them watched Kodachi leap overhead and find her way to Kenoru's location.

"Hey, is she--" Ryouga began.

"Boys?" Ukyou asked.

"This does not fare well," Tatewaki finished.

Ranma was starting to get pissed. "Look, if I don't get down there NOW, my friends are gonna DIE!"

"As if you really care, Hellspawn," Angela replied.

Ranma grabbed the tip of her staff and threw it away from him. Although it never left her grip, it allowed him enough time to get to his feet.

"So, is this a challenge now, Hellspawn?"

Ranma levelled his glare. "I've told you before, don't call me that. My name is Ranma."

"No, Hellspawn. Your name WAS Ranma."

Ranma growled and reached toward Angela, trying to rip the staff from her hands.

He failed miserably. The ribbons flared to life and gripped around his arm, sending him flying several feet into the air.

"I see you've met my ribbons, Spawn."

Ranma groaned as he stood up.

"Listen," he said. "I don't care what your motive is. I don't care if you've got a personal vendetta against me, I don't give a crap if you were one of my fiancees, or even if you've just got a killer case of PMS. All I want is to get down there and protect my friends. I've got no beef with you. If you wanna settle this, fine. We'll settle it afterwards. Right now, what's going on down there is a HELL of a lot more important than what's going on up here."

Angela smirked. "My, how noble. Wanting to help your mortal friends by killing another."

"The man that killed me. The man that almost killed my friends."

Angela levelled her staff at Ranma. "I don't have the time for this, Hellspawn."

"Neither do I," Ranma replied. "And as much as I'd like to fight you right now, this is more important."

Angela sneered at Ranma. "Fine," she said. "We'll settle this NOW!"

She ran at him, her staff in front of her.

Ranma managed to dodge enough so that the staff did not hit him. Angela, however, did, which sent the two of them flying down into the skylight.

Kenoru approached Tofu. So he was his brother. Rather amusing, really.

Either way, he would die.

Kenoru looked up for a moment. He could sense another approaching.

As the ribbon attached itself to his arm, Kenoru looked up in time to see one of the other fighters descend on him. She was about to kick him.

Kenoru simply put his hand up and flashed a kit shield around him. The attacker was sent flying backwards at an intense speed.

Kenoru smirked. There was no way any of them stood a chance against him.

Menacingly, he moved towards the fallen form of his brother once again.

The girl attacked Akane again, this time catching her in the ribs. She smiled happily as she felt the bones crack underneath. Akane reeled back to the floor and swore.

"So," the girl taunted. "What do you think about that?"

Akane narrowed her eyes. "Not much," she bluffed.

Enraged, the girl attacked yet again. Akane braced herself for the attack

But she was not prepared for what happened before the attack could meet her.

The attacker fell to the floor in an unconscious heap. Akane blinked in confusion for a second before she saw the second form.

"Shampoo no like her very much," she said, and then looked down at Akane. "You is okay?"

Akane smiled and nodded. Shampoo reached over to help her up, gripping her hand.

"Is surprise to see all you here," she said. The battle was wearing quite thin. Most of the others were unconscious. There were now only two people for each of them.

Very thin, indeed.

"Shampoo think we should help doctor," she said. "Kenoru going to kill."

Akane spun around to Kenoru's location. Kodachi was lying unconscious a few feet away, and Tofu was trying to get to his feet while Kenoru approached him.

The two of them started to run towards them when they were interrupted by a spray of glass from above.

Akane looked up to see two separate forms fall to the floor, landing on a table.

It was Ranma and... A girl?

The crash of glass came as a surprise to Kenoru. One of the more pleasant ones of the evening. IT was just full of surprises.

But as he stretched his aura to include the two newcomers, he realized with great interest what the two newcomers actually were.

An Angel and a Demon.

Now THIS was far more interesting than the battle.

He moved himself over to where the two of them had fallen and smiled.

Ranma sprinted away from Angela as fast as he could, before she could recover and stick him with her staff. Rolling away, he stood up.

Looking about, he took in the area. Tofu was lying on the ground, trying to get up. Kodachi lay unconscious just a few feet away. Everyone else was conscious, however, and either fighting, or watching him.

Ranma then looked at the man who was standing over Angela.

He narrowed his eyes. Kenoru.

"Well," he smiled. "Isn't it grand that our little scuffle should attract the attention of not only a hunter angel..." he looked up. "But a Hellspawn as well?"

Ranma narrowed his eyes.

Kenoru touched Angela's side, and a strange dark field surrounded her.

"I will deal with her afterwards," he said. "Now, now, now... A Hellspawn." Kenoru walked towards Ranma.

He just stood there and trained his eyes on Kenoru.

"How fortunate. I was not aware there was a Hellspawn around in this day and age."

"There wasn't," Ranma replied.

Suddenly, Kenoru's expressions changed.

"I SEE!" he cried. "So THAT'S it. That's why all of these people are here."

Ranma stood there.

"You're that boy I killed in China, aren't you?"

Ranma began to growl.

"Of course. Why else would all these people be here," he smiled. "You should thank me, you know. If I had not killed you, you would not have all these glorious powers."

"Screw the powers," Ranma said. "I never asked for them. All I want is your head." He pointed a stretched out claw towards him.

Kenoru sighed. "I had so hoped you would be on my side. Imagine the powers the two of us could use. You, with the power of Hell, and me, with the power of my line."

Ranma brought up a defensive stance. "Are you going to fight, or what?"

Kenoru smiled. "How rude of me. Of course I will. This will be rather evenly matched, if I do say so myself."

As the two of them stood there, a small crowd appeared around them.

Angela groaned. Falling through the window shouldn't have weakened her so much. IT should have--

She paused. Opening her eyes, she could feel something.

Dark ki. EXTREMELY dark ki. Dark enough to bind her to her position.

Angela's heart jumped. She couldn't move. That meant the Hellspawn could--

From her viewpoint, she could see several people around her. More importantly, she could see the Hellspawn.

And he was fighting a mortal.

Her eyes popped open. It was the mortal who had trapped her.

Watching the fight was all she could do. So she did.

The battle started quickly. The two of them throwing nearly invisible punches at the other, beating each other down as much as they could.

For all Ranma's newfound strength, he still found the battle hard.

Kenoru found himself challenged. But as the wide smile appeared on his face, he knew he would still win.

By a landslide.

The blows were exchanged back and forth at an immense speed. Kenoru was successfully gaining ground on Ranma, while he tried his best to block.

Finally, Ranma fell over.

"So, boy," Kenoru taunted. "Even as a Hellspawn, you still can't kill me?"

Ranma grit his teeth and stood up. That was impossible. There had to be some way....

Damn. No Cats available. No time to get Shampoo wet, either.

Ranma stood still for a moment as he considered his options. He had defeated Violator by using the Cat Fist. Angela... well, he hadn't really beaten her yet.

His mind drifted back to his other battles. His first meeting with Kuno after his return.

He had done something to Kuno that time that he never even remembered.

It was like his cape came to life and smacked him silly.

Ranma absently thought about it, almost considering it as nothing.

Until he noticed his cloak. It was fluttering around in the wind.

Only there was no wind.

Just like Angela's ribbon.

Then he recalled something she had said. She referred to her ribbons as one would a person.

Ranma closed his eyes for a moment, and tightened all of his muscles.

The effect was instant. His cloak and chains shot out as one.

Opening his eyes, Ranma realized something.

He was in control.

"Are you just going to stand there, boy, or are you going to fight?"

Ranma smiled. "I'm going to fight."

He then shot his chains out, striking Kenoru on the side. Kenoru fell back in shock, and dodged as best he could.

His cloak stretched out and held on to Kenoru's leg, hefting him up into the air.

Ranma smirked. He was in control now.

Kenoru's eyes glazed over. "Impressive, Hellspawn."

Ranma reached his hand forwards, and then felt a burning pain.

The pain intensified as his hand reached closer to Kenoru.

Finally, the pain reached its climax, and Kenoru shot a ki ball from his hands, sending Ranma sprawling across the floor.

Kenoru felt fear. REAL fear. The Hellspawn was stronger than he had thought. Stronger than what he had heard from his master.

The Hellspawn could do away with him in seconds. It was merely a lucky shot that had--

He looked around. He was surrounded by people.

He smiled. That was it. He had something the Hellspawn didn't have.

Potential hostages.

He crossed the distance between himself and one of the surrounding people in an instant. It was the girl he loved in life. The girl who's life he had saved in return for his own.

The girl squeaked as he placed his hand over her mouth and returned her to the center of the restaurant.

"Listen up, boy," Kenoru smiled. "Fight fairly, or I'll kill this lovely one!"

"Akane!" a boy from the crowd called.

Kenoru smirked. He loved causing problems like this.

Ranma groaned as he got up. It had been a lucky shot. He should have realized it when he did.

He looked up and realized Kenoru was holding Akane. He got up as quickly as he could.

"Don't try it boy. I'll cut her neck open."

Ranma paused. He examined the situation. He needed an option. He needed a way to fix things.

"Hellspawn," he heard a voice groan. He looked over. It was Angela.

"I don't have time--"

"I can help, Hellspawn. Let me out."

Ranma narrowed his eyes. "And have you kill me? Besides, you can't even move. How do you expect me to get you out?"

"Your power relies on the dark. You can suck up the shield easily. And I give you my word as an angel that I will not fight you until this one is taken care of."

Ranma weighed his options. People had started to distract Kenoru now. He was getting edgy.

He could release the angel without his noticing.

Quickly, he reached over, and touched the shield.

"Stay back," he warned everyone. "I'll break her neck!"

"Kenoru!" the Hellspawn called. "Let go of her!"

Kenoru looked towards him. "Do you agree to fight fairly?"

"And what do you call that?" he replied.

"I call it using every available option. You see, I'm allowed to cheat."

The Hellspawn narrowed his eyes at him. Kenoru smirked. He had him now. He--

He felt the pressure grow around his neck until it was fully apparent. Someone was behind him. Someone he hadn't sensed.

The Angel. She was... Helping the Hellspawn?

He had to release the girl. There was no time to cut her throat and keep himself from choking to death.

"There you are, Hellspawn," the Angel said. "Do what you will with him."

The Hellspawn neared him, and looked directly into his eyes.

"You should die for what you've done. For what you would have done if we hadn't stopped you," he said.

The Hellspawn came closer, and brought his fist forward. Slowly, he reared it back.

Kenoru closed his eyes in anticipation at what was going to happen next.

Suddenly, he heard the fist move. Kenoru grit his teeth, hoping he would survive the impact, but knowing he wouldn't.

And then he felt the wind on his face. He opened his eyes, seeing the Hellspawns fist not two inches from his face.

"But I wouldn't give Malebolgia the pleasure," he said.

Kenoru smirked. He was bound by the Angel's ribbons, barely being able to keep himself from choking, but the Hellspawn couldn't kill him.

"I knew you couldn't do it, boy," Kenoru taunted.

"Shut up, spore," the Angel said, tightening her ribbons. "Hellspawn, I have a suggestion."

The Hellspawn looked up at him.

"A suggestion?" Ranma asked.

Angela nodded. "It will not kill him. But he will be bound for eternity. Neither Heaven or Hell would be able to reach his soul."

Ranma looked towards her. "How?"

"It will take some power from both of us, but we can bind him to purgatory. A neutral dimension. He can harm no one there, nor can he die." She looked at him. "Ever."

Ranma smirked. A perfect punishment. "How do we do it?"

Angela reached her hand out. "It will take both of us. Come."

Ranma walked over to her and reached his own hand out.

"All of you," Angela said, looking at the people. "Leave. This is not for mortal eyes."

Surprisingly, they all left without question.

As the last of them exited, Ranma stood there with Angela.

"Now what?" he asked.

"Now, we pray."

"Pray?"

"Pray to ourselves. Pray for the innermost powers of yin and yang to emerge."

Ranma sighed. "And how do I do that?"

Angela smirked. "Easily, Hellspawn. Merge your cloak with my ribbon."

Ranma nodded, and did so. His cloak was as reluctant as Angela's ribbon, but they met, and twisted into one.

Kenoru hovered between them, fully conscious but unable to do anything.

"Now, close your eyes. I shall speak."

Ranma did so.

"Powers of Yin and Yang. Light and Dark. Positive and Negative. Male and Female. Heaven and Hell. Heed our powers and grant this mortals punishment," she said. The glow began to surround both of them. Light on Angela's side and Dark on Ranma's side.

"Beyond the realms of Heaven, Hell and earth lies that of purgatory. Open the door and send this mortal to where we desire."

Each glow began to swirl, meeting in the center, between the two of them where Kenoru stood.

"Open the door," she chanted over and over. Ranma remained silent and lent his power.

A white hot rift formed between them, creating an entrance in mid-air. With a slight push from Angela and Ranma, Kenoru was pushed through.

Moments later, the rift closed, and Ranma's cloak retracted from Angela's ribbon in a flash. Both being fell to the floor.

"That was... different," Ranma said.

"He's bound. He can never return from there. He's gone for good now."

Ranma stood up to face the Angel. "I suppose you'll want to--"

"No, Ranma," Angela replied. "No."

Ranma narrowed his eyes. "You called me--"

"Never have I seen a Hellspawn do something like this. Hellspawns are known widely for being evil, for killing for no reason. Yet you refused to kill him, even after all the evils he's done."

Ranma stood silently.

Angela took her staff and placed it into the ground nearby.

"Return to your home, Ranma. This fight is over. We'll call it a stalemate."

Ranma began to speak, but was promptly interrupted.

"I will seek you out again some day, Ranma. Whether it is for reasons of peace, or war, is up to you."

Ranma looked towards the ground and nodded.

"Goodbye."

Ranma looked up to say his farewells, but as he did, he noticed something.

Angela was gone.

Sighing, and walking amongst the ruin of the old restaurant, he walked to the exit Ryouga had fashioned on his own, and made his way outside.

It was over. Time to go home.

Epilogue: Angels & Announcements
Ranma sat on the roof of the Dojo, looking out over the sea of houses before him. It had been a week since he and the others had returned from America.

A week since Kenoru had been bound to the purgatory.

A week since he had parted from the Angel, Angela.

Mousse had returned to China a few days earlier to tie up some loose ends, leaving only with a promise that he would return.

Shampoo had left after the Kenoru incident. Ranma still wasn't sure that she knew who he was. In some way, he thought it better that way. She was more than likely returning to her village, explaining of what had happened to Kenoru.

Panty-- no... Kei Tarou had decided to remain in San Francisco. After he had fulfilled his part of the bargain, he decided to hang around there.

Ukyou was staying in Japan for another week before returning to a film shoot back in Los Angeles. It was funny. A B action movie star. Ranma never would have thought.

Akane and Ryouga were back at their own home once again, taking care of little Ranma. Ranma would be lying if he had said he wasn't jealous. But he was happy for them. He also vowed that if Ryouga ever mistreated Akane, he would beat him into a bloody pulp.

His father, mother and sister returned home the day earlier, after spending some quality time back at the Dojo.

Nabiki and Kinami went back to running Ucchans. Nabiki was in the process of getting Ukyou to do a publicity stunt, while Kinami was busily pining over Mousse. Who would have thought?

Doctor Tofu had been strangely silent since his return to Japan. He refused to believe that it was really his brother that had caused all of this. He and Kasumi had left for Beijing a few days earlier to visit the grave of young Kenoru Ono. Perhaps the only thing Tofu could hang on to.

Angela... Ranma hadn't heard from Angela since San Francisco. But he knew he would. And VERY soon.

"Hello again, Ranma."

Ranma didn't turn. He had sensed Angela's presence since she arrived in Japan.

"Are you here to fight me?" Ranma asked. "To kill me? It might be better."

Angela snorted. "Don't be absurd... I'm here to give you some news."

Ranma turned around. "Oh?"

"I've spoken with my contact at the celestial embassy here in Tokyo."

"Celestial Embassy?"

Angela nodded and stepped toward Ranma. "It appears there's another Hellspawn in New York."

Ranma shrugged. "What does that have to do with me?"

"As a rule, Hell only permits one Hellspawn per century."

"So they've done two?"

"No. It seems Malebolgia has torn up your contract, so to speak."

Ranma looked towards her. "What?"

"The Celestial court has also agreed to look over your case. It took some string pulling, but they've looked at it."

Ranma stood up. "What?"

"Ranma, you shouldn't have been condemned to hell. What you killed for in life was a mistake. It was in defense of the one you loved."

Ranma started to breathe heavily. "What are you saying, Angela?"

Angela smiled. "Take off your mask."

Ranma slowly reached for his mask. He hadn't taken it off for over a week. He didn't want to. He hesitated for a moment, and then pulled it off.

Angela handed him a small hand mirror. "Your suit should be able to come off with minimal effort. I'd suspect you haven't been able to use your cloak very effectively lately, have you?"

Ranma looked into the mirror. His face was no longer scarred. His eyes were no longer green. His hair... He HAD hair.

He was himself. He was Ranma Saotome.

"How--?"

Angela smiled. "As I said, your case has been reviewed. Rather than hell, you've been reassigned to heavens army."

"But... I mean... my face. I'm..."

"What? Did you expect to look like a Hellspawn in heaven?"

Ranma looked up. "So I'm going to heaven?"

Angela smirked. "On occasion, yes."

"On Occasion?"

"Ranma, this honour is very rarely bestowed upon a mortal. Only twice in history has this even been considered."

"What?"

"As an Angel of heaven, it is my duty to bestow this upon you. Honorary Angel Warrior."

Ranma nearly lost his balance.

Angela laughed. "You can stay here in Tokyo. You can go wherever you want, but if the embassy contacts you, and they will, you are required to fulfill anything the require of you. You will be given a staff, like mine. I'm a bounty hunter. That's my job. You... well... think of it kind of like a detective for heaven."

Ranma blinked. "A detective?"

Angela shrugged. "It's the best way I can describe it."

"So then... I'm... human again?"

"In guise, only... You'll also find that some... well... other parts are fully functional, and you can have children. Mortal children. But deeper inside, you are angelic. You will have the powers of an angel, the advantages of an Angel. But just so you know, you'll have the limitations of an angel."

Ranma sighed. "So I'm free, then?"

"In a manner of speaking. You'll work for us here in Tokyo. There are others here."

Ranma couldn't feel it coming, but he knew the smile was plastered on his face, leaving him grinning like an idiot.

"Anyway," she checked her watch. "I'm wanted in New York. The new Hellspawn should be awakening soon, and I'm going to have to hunt him down."

Ranma nodded.

"Good luck, Ranma," she said, jumping down from the roof.

Ranma sucked in a breath of air as he took in the sight around him. He promptly removed his gloves to reveal his hands. Human hands. He then ripped his cloak from himself and jumped down to the ground.

He was human again... Well, human with a few perks. He could live with that.

Ranma looked into the koi pond, revealing his reflection.

Human. Totally human.

He splashed the water on to himself, just as an experiment.

Yup, he was a girl again.

Oh well. Can't win 'em all. Ranma could care less. He was human again. He was no longer deformed.

He ran into the house as fast as he could and bounded up the stairs.

"Hey, Mr. Tendo!" he cried.