[Ranma][FanFic] Anijza Part1/06: "The Taking of Ranma Saotome"

[Nicholas Stone]

Ranma 1/2

Anijza

Part One:

'As on Earth as in Hell'

Nicholas Stone

The Taking of Ranma Saotome

Saturday;
Akane withdrew into Nabiki's room for the rest of the evening, not wanting
to be around the person whom she knew had something to do with her current
predicament. At the desk, she began re-reading and reviewing every math
note, all of her books, and anything else she could find, laboring long into
the night until finally sleep overtook her.
It wasn't until Nabiki's alarm went of that she awoke, sitting up gasping
sharply startled by the noise. A blanket slid down off her shoulders and in
the bed lay her middle sister still dead to the world. Akane looked around
at the myriad of sprawled paper about the desk then smiled. She stood up
and stretched the stiffness out of her limbs before checking on the time.
The clock read eight o'clock.
"I'm supposed to be at study hall," she said to herself.
There was no sense of rushing now, Sensei Mukuro certain to hold her extra
for being late, so as quietly as she could Akane tip-toed out Nabiki's room
towards her own. A peek in found Anijza still asleep her tuff of red hair
the only thing protruding above the covers. Tension knotted Akane's stomach
but she stepped in and went over to the dresser. After a quick change into
a fresh dress, Akane quietly headed for the door. Devious thoughts crossed
her mind, maybe an 'accidental' slam of the door to wake this arrogant girl,
or just a kick on the bed to rouse her.
What she really wanted to do was beat Anijza down into a small pile of dust.
That wouldn't be right though Akane knew. No, have to be cordial and proper
to a foreign guest, must not disturb our gratuitous image.
"Have fun," called a voice stopping Akane at the door. She looked back and
found Anijza peering sleepily out from the sheets. Noticing the hard stare,
she yawned and sat up. "I mean at school. Study hard, okay?"
Concern from Anijza. Akane could not believe her ears. "I... I will," she
answered.
"Good. Don't worry about Ranma. I'm going to take care of him today."
Why you-!
Akane's teeth ground tight together behind her blank expression forcing
herself to open the door without a word, leaving Anijza alone. Images of
Ranma and Anijza together only brought more tension in her. Anijza was not
about to get away with anything today, she thought as she rushed down the
stairs.
The door to Ranma's room stood partially open and she peered inside. It
looked like the makings of a frat house from a collage movie she'd seen;
Ranma, Genma, Mousse, and Ryoga lying strewn about snoring out of sync in
their slumbers. Akane could not help but giggle at the sight, and then
remembered why she came there.
A gentile tap on Mousse's foot drew a short jerk from him.
"<ZzzGaggah!> (smack) (smack).... uh, Shampoooo, why won't you forget him!"
Akane giggled again, pulling hard on the leg of his pajama pants. Mousse
groggily woke up and lifted his head. He squinted his eyes drawing in a
long yawn and short shake of his head. Finally, he recognized who it was.
"Aka-."
She held a finger up to her lips silencing him. Pointing to Ryoga, Akane
motioned for him to join her out in the hallway. A few minutes passed
before Mousse appeared with Ryoga stumbling groggily behind him. She led
them away from the guestroom out to the foyer.
"I've got to go to study hall, Mousse," she said.
"You're late," he answered. Akane's threatening smirk silenced him.
"Listen, you and Ryoga have got to stay with Ranma today no matter what."
"I know, but what about this afternoon."
"Should be no problem. You're going along with them down to the chocolate
shop."
Mousse stretched, rubbing his eyes for a moment. "Yeah, but it'll just be
me. What if she tries to take me out of the picture, huh?"
Akane rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Will you listen to yourself! This is
not a spy movie. She won't do anything like that not while Ranma is
around."
"I still don't like being alone with her."
"That's why Ryoga's going along."
"Where am I going?" asked Ryoga as his mind finally caught up with his
surroundings.
"With Mousse and Ranma down to the chocolate shop!"
He smirked, rubbing the back of his head. "Chocolate? I'm allergic to
chocolate, Akane."
"Then order something without it. Ryoga, are you awake yet?"
Ryoga blinked and looked around. "Gee, Akane. Aren't you going to be late
for school or something?"
Throwing up her hands to the sky, Akane made a short turn wondering how she
could be leaving Ranma's fate in their hands. Fortunately, Mousse was up to
speed with her.
"We'll watch him, Akane," he told her.
"Thank you!"
Akane glanced at the time noting how late it was getting. She picked up her
backpack and opened the door. "Oh and Mousse, call Shampoo and see if she's
heard from Cologne yet."
"Right."
She left; Mousse and Ryoga watching her go. Ryoga tipped his head to one
side and nudged Mousse on the arm.
"Y'know the only reason I'm doing this is because Akane asked me," he said.
"Otherwise, I'd be more than happy to see Ranma get taken away to Korea for
a while."
"Tell me about it," answered Mousse. "That would be a blessing from the
gods if it were to happen." Arching a brow, Mousse gazed up in the
direction of the stairs letting out a short grunt. "Then again, I've also
grown not to like this Anijza Kwong too. She just isn't right."
Ryoga shrugged. "I guess it's a Vanilla Parfait then?" he said.
"And hopefully that's all..."

* * * * *

The heaping mountain of ice cream in the bowl before her brought an honest
growl of hunger from Anijza's stomach. It had been a long time since she
had the pleasure of entreating rare a delicacy. Bordered by a belt of long
cut banana slices and topped with whipped cream and nuts, her hands trembled
with anticipation. However; Anijza forced herself to postpone her
indulgences, watching as Ranma seated beside her stared out the pane window
of the chocolate shop in obvious disinterest.
This was wrong, she thought. Ranma should have been amorously engrossed
with her by now, but somehow he was not even fazed by the tomes she set in
the books he had read. The sound of spoons clattering in now empty bowls
came from the opposite side of the table. Mousse sat back rubbing his belly
thoroughly stuffed after eating his sundae. Beside him, Ryoga scooped up
the last lumps of a vanilla-orange sherbet twist humming with distinct
pleasure with each bite.
That is why; Anijza's brows furrowing together annoyed by their presence. A
sigh from Ranma made her recalculate her assumption. Akane Tendo, she lay
at the root of her difficulties, and because of her hold on Ranma's heart
plus the interference from Mousse, somehow it had been enough to weaken her
spell over him.
It was time to push her objective into a pact and leave this forsaken plain.
"Ranma-chan. Is there something wrong?" asked Anijza, inching closer to
him.
Ranma let out another sigh, nodding slightly. "Akane," he answered, "I just
can't help but feel that I caused her to fail that test and put her in the
situation she's in now."
Ryoga paused in mid-bite and blinked rapidly in disbelief. "Ranma, you
admit to doing wrong against Akane?" he said.
"Yeah, I am, Ryoga. If I had been smart I would have asked her to join in
with my studies instead of fighting with her."
Mousse eyed Anijza. He arched a brow noting the change of attitude in her,
not fooled by the question. "You really didn't do much more than read
books," he said. "With my help of course."
"And I thank you for that, Mousse," snapped Ranma, giving him a hard stare.
"But Akane would have benefited too from the attention I received."
"So now she's in student purgatory languishing beneath the whip of your
teacher," said Ryoga. "What are we going to do about that?"
These two must go. Anijza inched up closer to Ranma. She placed a hand
gently on his arm and he turned. The look they traded was much more than
normal and Ranma shuddered for a minute. He stammered a bit, swallowing
hard as he forced his attention away from her.
So, my spell is in place. The only thing hampering it is Akane's hold.
Well I will fix that!
"You know, I was thinking about that," continued Ranma. "What say we go
down and help her study?"
"What!" said Anijza.
Mousse laughed, humored by her response. The way Ranma looked at her
foretold troubles in the works, and that Anijza's evil fingers were trying
to wrench him away from thoughts of Akane.
"Sounds great," he said. Secretly, having Akane around would strengthen
their situation and maybe even drive Anijza away.
For Anijza, that meant Akane's hold would certainly break the spell
lingering about Ranma. No, Akane Tendo had to be taken out of the picture
if only for a few hours. By then, and if she could get him away from his
intruding friend, she would have his agreement and be back on their way to
her domain.
"I like the idea," added Ryoga.
"But Ranma! I thought we would talk about you coming back home with me!"
said Anijza.
Mousse and Ryoga flinched slightly at the comment. They traded looks then
Ranma answered her.
"Now, Anijza? I don't think this is the time for me to be thinking about
things like that?"
Anijza curled up against his arm giving Ranma the saddest look she could
muster up. "But I so want you to come with me."
"Akane needs me right now, Anijza."
In a huff, Anijza pulled away. She turned her back to him and angrily
crossed her arms. "Akane, Akane, Akane! What about me?"
"A-A-Anijza, don't you think you're taking this a bit to hard?" asked
Mousse.
She ignored the question, turning back around. "I helped you, Ranma!"
"And I appreciate that, Anijza," he replied. "But Akane is my... well she
is close to me and I feel guilty about everything that's happened."
"So you want to just thrown away everything we've built between us?"
Ranma leaned back astonished by that remark. He did not want Anijza angry
with him either, and what would his father and Mister Saotome say if he
insulted her and she returned to Korea bitter and disgraced. She sat with
her head bowed low sniffling on the brink of tears.
Gently, Ranma took her hands in his. "Anijza, I don't want you to cry,
okay?"
The sorrowed look she gave him made Mousse sneer. "Oh come on," he said,
"Ranma, you're not going to fall for this, are you?"
A sharp kick from Ranma made him yelp in pain.
"Anijza, if anything I'd still like you to do one thing for me."
"And (sniff) (sniff) what's that?"
He leaned closer. "Would you help Akane for me?"
"She said she did not want her help, Ranma," Ryoga said, gaining a sharp
kick from Anijza.
The looks of sorrow disappeared, replaced by a bright smile. This was
opportunity knocking and she quickly jumped at the chance.
"I will, but I want a definite answer from you first, Ranma Saotome."
Ranma hesitated. "If you will do this, then maybe I will."
"Maybe?"
Mousse pulled himself upright still grimacing from the kick he received.
"Ranma! Akane will not like this," he said.
"I'm going to talk to her about it," he replied.
Anijza drew back. She eyed him for a moment then rubbed her chin
thoughtfully.
"Let me get this right. You are willing to go with me as long as Akane does
not object?"
Mousse shot to his feet, palms slamming down on the table. "Ranma, don't
you-."
This time it was Anijza who kicked him in the shin, dropping Mousse into
Ryoga before the later could add any objections to the conversation.
"Well?" drawled Anijza.
Ranma could hear Akane and Ukyo's warnings in his ears again. Korea...
kidnapping? It still sounded absurd, but she really was pushing the issue.
An image of Akane set back from the next class pushed away any doubts.
"In light of things, I guess you could say something like that."
Mousse and Ryoga froze and then slowly pulled themselves back upright in
their seats. "Uh-oh," muttered Mousse gazing at Anijza. She held a devious
smile on her lips, turned giving him a brief almost triumphant gaze then
picked the spoon up from her dish.
"Ranma, why don't you go back to the dojo and wait for me there?" she said.
"Home? I thought we were going to go and help Akane?"
She smiled, looking up. "I think I can help Akane better alone, don't you
agree?"
Mousse did not like the sound of that. "Uh, (ha-ha), maybe we should all go
down and help Akane, eh?"
The sharp narrowing of Anijza's eyes made Mousse press back into the seat.
"No, and Ranma needs to get back and be ready to travel."
"I do?" asked Ranma.
"Why wait?" questioned Ryoga. Mousse slapped him across the side of his
head.
"What are you saying? Whose side are you on anyway?"
Anijza calmly began to devour the parfait. "After I get done with Akane,
she will not have any objections at all, Ranma-chan."
"You think so? She really has some objections to you right now."
Anijza stopped, giggling for a moment. "Oh I know so," she answered,
flashing him a confident grin. "Now you go home, and take these two with
you."
Ranma thought about it. With a shrug he stood up. "Come on, guys," he
said.
Mousse pushed Ryoga out of the seat. As he stood up, he suddenly turned and
leaned menacingly towards Anijza.
"Don't you do anything to her, Anijza," he said. "I don't know what you are
up to, but you better not harm her in anyway."
Anijza continued to eat the dessert, hearing Mousse's threat but playing it
off as insignificant. She had what she wanted, and as Mousse stormed off
Anijza stopped giving them a smug look as they left.
"Ah, Akane Tendo... this will be such fun..."

* * * * *

Outside, Mousse was livid with rage at Ranma for what he did. Ranma thought
nothing of it, still not believing that Anijza meant anyone harm or that she
was trying to take him away permanently. The three rounded the corner and o
nce out of sight of the restaurant, Mousse grabbed Ranma by the collar.
"You idiot!" he shouted. "How could you go and say such a thing to Anijza!"
"What's gotten into you, Mousse?" answered Ranma, swatting his hands away.
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"You told Anijza you'd go back to her home," Ryoga said.
"I said maybe, not yes. What harm can that cause?"
"Plenty!" snapped Mousse. He grumbled something under his breath looking
around for a phone booth. There was one at the next corner and grabbing
Ranma by one sleeve ran towards it.
"Gimme some money," he said to Ranma. A five-yen coin was thrust into his
hand and he went inside.
The tone beeped for a few seconds, then the receiver was picked up.
Shampoo's voice answered and Mousse started speaking before she could say
anything.
"Shampoo! It's me, Mousse. Don't say anything yet just listen to me.
Ranma's blown it, and now we've got to get to Akane before Anijza does. I
don't... what do you mean let Akane go? Cologne would not want that to
happen and you... oh she would, huh? Well I'm not going to let it happen
and neither are you. I'm taking Ranma back to the Tendo Dojo, you get down
to Furinkan High and... SO CLOSE THE DAMN PLACE, WILL'YA! Listen to me
Shampoo, there might be lives at stake here, so get over there and get Akane
home before it's too late! ...What? ....She did? When she going to be
back? This evening? Oh that's great; all we have to do now is keep Ranma
at the dojo until Akane talks to him. So are you going or not? ...Thank
you, Shampoo... huh? ....No I am not going to tell Ranma that! (Sheesh!)
We'll see you two in about twenty minutes."
Mousse slammed the receiver back into its cradle. Outside, Ranma stood
eyeing Mousse curiously after witnessing his tirade on the phone.
"A little trouble with Shampoo?" he asked him.
Mousse smirked. "Sort'a. Let's get back to the dojo."

* * * * *

Fifth Floor Study Room, Furinkan High School;
The words and pictures were starting to blur before Akane's eyes, eyes tired
after a full morning of review and re-review. This was the third book she'd
read and every time it seemed to be the same thing running in her mind over
and over again.
Ranma.
Not the formulas and theorems she was supposed to be memorizing, but
thoughts of Ranma and was he still all right.
Being trapped in the study room, the only student apparently on the campus,
only made her anxiety grow worse. If only to sneak away, leave early and
run back home before that witch Anijza made her move. A quick phone call to
find out if Mousse, Ukyo and the others were there to guard and protect him.
Ranma needing protection, now there was something she'd never thought would
happen. All the times past with her under some form of duress, now he
needed it and the worse thing is that he wasn't even aware of the danger at
all.
Unable to take anymore, Akane slammed the book shut. "I can't do this," she
said standing up. Unconsciously, she began pacing around the table
muttering aimlessly to herself.
"If I leave now, Sensei Mukuro will certainly find out that I left before
the end of the day. I just can't sit here and allow Ranma to be at the
mercies of Anijza! Maybe lunch? Maybe I can take an hour and go call home.
Yes, that's it!... no, no, I'm not supposed to leave this room. What would
happen if he decided to come down and check on me?"
Akane let out a moan, slipping back into her chair. She rested her head on
the table covering it with her arms.
"Damn you, Anijza! You better not touch him!"
"Akane," called a familiar voice form the door. Akane sat up with a start
turning around to find Shampoo peeking inside. Still dressed in her
waitress uniform, she waved as she entered.
"Shampoo! What are you doing here?"
Shampoo pulled out a chair and sat down. "Mousse call me. Tell Shampoo I
to close restaurant, come get you and bring back to dojo."
"Me? Why?"
"Ranma do something he not supposed to."
Akane slammed a fist down. "I knew it!" she shouted. "Damn Anijza! Damn
her!"
"Evil girl do something to Ranma. Mousse sound so upset."
"And that's not good either. Oh Ranma, what did you do?"
Shampoo shrugged. "Mousse not say, but he think this now mean life or death
for you."
"Me?"
The Amazon nodded. "Evil girl apparently coming to hurt Akane, so we go."
"I can't leave now, Shampoo," replied Akane. "I've got to stay until the
end of the regular day and besides my teacher is just down the hall."
"You mean sleeping man in faculty room?"
That bit of news made Akane pause for a second. "Figures," she said, "but
what if he wakes up?"
"From sound of snoring, he not wake up until tomorrow."
Akane started shoving her books into her backpack. "So Anijza's coming here
to get me you say?" she asked while she packed.
Shampoo stood up and went over to the window. "From what Mousse say she is.
Evil girl not want you to-." She stopped, peering down at the campus
grounds. A girl stood at the end of the walkway, a girl dressed in a dark
blue sailor cadet uniform looking up at Shampoo.
"Akane, what evil girl look like?" asked Shampoo.
"About my height, red hair-."
"Wear sailor uniform?"
Akane stopped packing. "Yes... why?"
"She here."
Like lightening, Akane rushed over to the window. Anijza turned her gaze
upon her.
"What does she want?" said Akane.
"Mousse say she want to hurt you. Is challenge, no?"
The dark stares remained locked between the two. Anijza's lips drew up into
a light smile suddenly turning away walking off across the grounds.
"Where she go?" said Shampoo.
"I don't know, but we're going after her."
"After her?" Shampoo grabbed Akane by the arm before she could head for the
door. "Silly Akane want to get hurt?"
Akane jerked free from her grasp. "I'm not afraid of her, Shampoo. She's
been kicking my ass since she got here, and now she's literally thumbing her
nose, daring me to try and stop her."
A change Shampoo did not expect from her chief rival, the Amazon arched a
brow. "Hm, you not girl to take lightly after all," she said. A dark grim
formed. "Okay, Shampoo with you. We go kill evil Anijza girl."
"Maybe not kill, but close enough."
They bolted for the door...

* * * * *

A mad scramble down the steps found Akane and Shampoo quickly outside. They
ran down the walkway searching for Anijza ready do her some serious harm.
"Where'd she go?" said Akane looking around. Shampoo spotted Anijza just
rounding the corner of the gymnasium, giving Akane a tug on the arm. Hot on
the trail now, Akane led Shampoo in a dead run hoping to catch Anijza before
she got out of sight once more. It was not to be and as they came around
the corner, Anijza was nowhere around.
The half open double doors became the obvious choice, but Akane suddenly
felt caution pulling at her nerves.
"She's playing with us," she said.
"That, or she want new basketball game against you," replied Shampoo.
Tempting, but Akane did not think Anijza was here to play one-on-one with
her. Carefully she opened the doors and went in.
The courts were empty, but a light shone from the girl's locker room, it's
door gently swinging back and forth. Akane and Shampoo traded knowing looks
crossing the courts to take up position on either side of the door. Slowly,
Shampoo pushed it open; Akane peering in through the opening. There was no
sign of Anijza and she shrugged.
"Evil girl is ghost," whispered Shampoo.
"No. No she knows what she's doing," answered Akane. "Watch our backs."
They entered the locker room and began a slow search walking down the main
aisle.
"Where the hell could she have gone?" wondered Akane as they looked around.
"She here somewhere, and this good place to beat evil girl down. No one
see."
Akane suppressed her giggles, flashing Shampoo a quick smile, more than
eager to do just that. On to the next aisle over the two went, but still
there was no sign of Anijza. This locker room was large, thought Akane, but
not large enough for one girl to just completely vanish. Something was not
right here.
The sudden grip on the back of her shirt made Akane yelp in fright. The
next thing she knew she was being forced to look at Shampoo, seconds after
smacking face first into hers. They both cried out falling to the floor
holding their heads in agony. A foot slammed into Akane's stomach and she
doubled up trying to protect herself, but then another firm grip took her by
the neck and she was pulled upright.
Anijza held the two up for a moment giving them each a contemptuous sneer.
She laughed and then rammed them both head first into the nearby lockers
with a loud crash. There was nothing the two could do; dazed from the blows
as Anijza repeated her actions until finally, Akane and Shampoo sagged
unconscious in her grasp.
"As it has been said before," said Anijza, letting them fall to the floor.
"All too easy." She knelt lifting Akane's head up by the hair and stared at
her battered face.
"Now, Akane Tendo, I will put you out of the picture for a while..."

* * * * *

When Ranma, Mousse and Ryoga arrived at the dojo they found Ukyo, Kodachi,
Konatsu, and Tatewaki there waiting along with the rest of the Tendo clan.
Mousse updated Ukyo on what happened at the chocolate shop, and she sat
shaking her head, every once in a while shooting Ranma stern looks. He
couldn't understand why they were all so mad at him, gazing at the ring of
people that suddenly formed around him.
"What, What did I do?" he cried. "I did not do anything wrong!"
"Ranma! You told Anijza you'd go back to her home," said Ukyo.
"I said maybe, after I talked with Akane."
"That's not how she's taking it," said Ryoga.
"Will you guys stop worrying? Grief, it's not like I've made a commitment
to marry her or anything!"
Soun and Genma looked up from their game curious about all the concern the
others were showing.
"I don't understand what all the commotion is all about," said Soun.
"Anijza is our guest and we should be honored that she would like Ranma to
travel to her homeland."
"Daddy," said Nabiki, "Anijza is not exactly the girl you want taking Ranma
home."
"Oh? Why is this?"
"We found out some things about her, Daddy," explained Kasumi, "things that
are not exactly right."
"And you think she's up to no good?" said Genma joining into the
conversation.
"Yes!" shouted Ukyo. "The bitch is after Ranma, and she wants to make him a
permanent part of her equation!"
Soun and Genma stared at them. Suddenly the two men broke out into
laughter, rolling about on the floor in uncontrolled fits, clutching at
their sides. The others could only watch them dumbfounded by their
reaction.
"Must be some weird sense of humor in your words, Ukyo," said Kodachi.
Genma managed to come up on his knees. "You should hear yourselves," he
said, gasping for breath. "Ranma staying with Anijza in Korea? This is so
far fetched its hilarious!"
"Nabiki, Kasumi you really can't expect us to believe this, this, ... story
you all have dreamed up?"
"It's not a story, Mister Tendo," said Mousse. "She talks to dogs, I've
seen and heard her!"
Ranma threw up his arms. "Oh no, not that story again," he said.
"I personally do not see either what is so wrong with Saotome accompanying
Anijza Kwong back to her homeland," said Tatewaki.
A sharp smack to the head from Nabiki silenced him. "Hush, slave! You're
here to do my bidding, no kibitzing allowed. Now get back to rubbing my
neck!"
Ranma exited the ring of people around him, sitting down at the table. "You
guys really have gone overboard with all this jealousy," he said.
"It's only because we're concerned about you, Ranma," countered Ukyo.
"But Ucchan, Anijza may have a hard crush on me, but I doubt that she'd
stoop so low and drag me off against my will back to Korea."
"We don't even know if it is Korea she came from," said Nabiki.
"She's right, Ranma," added Kasumi. "Her records are nowhere to be found.
That is not a coincidence."
"Maybe," replied Ranma. "But you can't rule out that they just got
misplaced."
Konatsu walked over and sat down next to him. "Okay, but how do you explain
her driving Happosai away like she did?"
That Ranma had no answer for, and he could only shrug.
"She's not right, Ranma," said Kodachi.
"And for some reason she wants you," finished Ukyo, stabbing a finger at
him.
He thought, reflecting on Akane's words again, wondering if he should begin
to take them seriously. "There's only one thing to do then," he said.
"What's that?" asked Ryoga.
"We confront Anijza and ask her why she's really is here."
"That's not going to solve anything," said Nabiki. "All she'll do is lie."
"Okay, then we'll ask her to call her parents in Korea. That should solve a
lot of things."
"And you're going to pay for that call, Ranma?" said Soun.
"If it will clear up all of the problems, then yes we shall."
"We?" questioned Genma.
Ranma ignored him. "Okay?" he said to the others. They could not argue
with his reasoning, and to speak to her parents would certainly resolve
things.
"Then it's settled," continued Ranma. "Right after I talk with Akane about
going to Korea, we'll talk to Anijza."
Ukyo drew in a sharp gasp. "Akane!" she exclaimed. "Mousse, you said
something about Anijza going to see Akane at school?"
"Oh that's not good," said Kodachi.
"Don't worry," replied Mousse. "I called Shampoo and told her to bring
Akane back before Anijza got down there. They should be here in a few
minutes."
That was a relief. Ukyo sat down again. "Now if we can only get Cologne
here."
"Oh yeah I forgot," said Mousse, "Cologne called Shampoo and told her she'd
be here this evening with Happosai."
"Damn, now I've got to lock up my underwear again," said Kodachi.
"Forget your underwear, Kodachi. With Cologne coming back we will surely
get to the bottom of this little mystery now," said Nabiki.
Ranma laughed, shaking his head. "You guys just won't give up, will you?"
he said.
"In this situation, no," answered Ukyo.
He sighed. "Well I still think you're all overreacting, but once Akane and
Anijza return things will be cleared up and everyone will be satisfied."
"Just like that, eh?" commented Ryoga.
"Yeah, just like that."
"And you're not worried about Akane?" asked Nabiki.
"Why? Anijza is going to help her and they'll both come back laughing and
chatting like best friends. You'll see."

* * * * *

SHRRREEEEIIIIEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!
A final tight pull affixed the last strip of gray duct tape around the two
helpless figures lying cocooned in the stuff from their ankles to their
mouths. Anijza tossed the depleted roll aside, standing triumphantly over
Akane and Shampoo admiring her work.
The two could barely manage a squirm, bound and then wrapped back-to-back, a
rope looped around their waist snaking up over a strong beam in the
athletics equipment room. Their muffled screams of protest pleased Anijza
and she laughed at their plight.
"Hah, hah, hah, hah, hah! Ah, so the most difficult and annoying Akane
Tendo is finally at my mercy," she said.
Akane let out a moan, unable to look up, trying to break free of the tape
holding her immobile. Anijza went over to where the end of the rope hung
down and with an effortless pull she hoisted her two prisoners up until they
dangled mere inches from the floor.
"You tried to stop me, Akane Tendo," she said, tying the end around a post.
"But you have failed and now I will claim what is mine."
Akane's hateful stare never wavered as Anijza approached her again. Anijza
made a quick check of her work ensuring that there were no loose gaps,
nothing that could allow them even a remote chance of freeing themselves
anytime soon. She chuckled evilly, watching as Akane tried to squirm free.
"You can't escape, Akane. I figure you two will not die from hunger, and
that someone will find you... in the next few days!"
Akane and Shampoo renewed their struggles; Anijza's head tipping back as she
laughed aloud. Waking around to Shampoo, she arched a brow, leaning close
up into the Amazon's face.
"Nice meeting you again, Shampoo," she said, letting out a long purr.
Anijza rubbed the top of Shampoo's head gaining an immediate protest from
her. Anijza laughed, stepping back.
"Beat me down... puulleeazzzeee!"
"MMMMM! MMM MMM MMMMMM!"
Ignoring Shampoo's muffled grumbling, Anijza returned to Akane. She stared
at her for a moment, and then suddenly drew close embracing them. Anijza's
head pressed up against Akane's letting out a long almost grief-stricken
sigh.
"Oh, Akane Tendo you are so, so lucky I cannot kill you. You just don't
know how much I want to do that," she whispered. Anijza rubbed her cheek
lovingly against hers. "I realize that you love Ranma Saotome, but now hear
me, child. Ranma belongs to me now. Erase what thoughts you have of him
because you, and your friends will never, ever see him again."
Akane's terror filled eyes followed Anijza as she backed away from them.
The girl took hold of the rope again, untying the end from the post. She
pulled them up until they dangled high above the floor, re-tying the rope
around a hook on the wall. The two could not look down, but they heard
Anijza walk beneath them.
"Do you understand, Akane? Forget Ranma. He is mine!"
Anijza's steps drifted over to the door, and with a sharp click the room was
cast into a dim gloom followed by the locking of the door.
"MMMANNNIIIAAAAAA!" came Akane's desperate muted cry, but her screams were
futile.

* * * * *

Ukyo eyed the clock, her mind wondering why it was taking Akane and Shampoo
so long to get back. Unless Anijza had gotten there and did something, they
should have been walking up the walkway right this very second. She excused
herself from the gathering in the Tendo living room and hurriedly went to
the front door. Her hopes were dashed, no Akane Tendo or Shampoo. The dark
feeling inside her made Ukyo's imagination start running wild.
Anijza? I can't see how she could do anything to Akane physically, but she
was an unusual creature and held hidden talents that might be more than
Akane could handle. What about Shampoo though. Mousse said he sent her
down there?
She ruled out studying, those two were like oil and water. No way was Akane
about to allow Anijza the pleasantry of having her as a student. Ukyo
started pacing wondering what to do now. Sitting here might mean Akane's
demise, it only made sense to send someone there to check on her.
But who?
I can't go, what if Anijza returns. Mousse and Ryoga would blow any attempt
to keep Ranma from Anijza's claws; Nabiki and Kasumi... Ranma would
unquestionably be doomed. Kodachi and Tatewaki were formidable, but still
if in light of what she knew about Anijza right now. No, there was only one
person she knew could be trusted to get down there and have any chance
against Anijza if it came down to a fight.
Konatsu.
Ukyo peered back into the living room. A steady conversation about Ranma
and his recent good fortune was currently in swing. She spotted Konatsu
sitting at the table and made her way over to him.
"No Akane," guessed Ranma as she sat down.
"Not yet, uh, did I miss anything?"
"Not much," replied Ryoga with a yawn. "Ranma here was just recounting how
easy his math test seemed."
"Well it was!"
Ukyo giggled. "And you don't find that unusual? Sometimes Ranma I don't
understand you."
"What's there to understand?" said Mousse. "Ranma's a sucker for any pretty
face."
Ranma started slightly. "Oh, and like you're not?"
"Nope. Shampoo's the only pretty face for me."
They all broke out into laughter. Out of view, Ukyo reached over and tugged
on Konatsu's sleeve. He cut his eyes over at her and she gave him a subtle
signal towards the foyer.
"Akane is sure late," said Ukyo glancing down at her watch.
"She's not due back for a few more hours, Ukyo," replied Ranma.
"I thought Shampoo went down to get her?" asked Soun. Ranma remembered
then, nodding.
"She could be doing some extra study with Anijza."
"Yeah, fat chance on that," said Nabiki.
Ukyo stood up again. "I'm going to call and see what's holding her up."
Ranma never got time to call Ukyo back as she ran out of the room. Outside,
Ukyo met up with Konatsu standing patiently by the front door. "You want me
to go and check on Akane, right?" he said as she approached.
"You guessed it. If Anijza went down there like Mousse said, then she's
either done something to Akane and Shampoo, or they're actually putting in
some study time."
"In either case, I will call you when-." Konatsu stopped hearing the front
gate open up. They peeked out the window spotting Anijza walking almost
merrily across the lawn towards the patio entrance of the Dojo.
"She is alone," commented Konatsu."
"Yeah. Scratch that study bit. I wonder what see did, and what excuse
she's going to give."
Konatsu shrugged and opened the door. "Let me know when I get back," he
said.
"Hurry, Konatsu. Anijza's not here just to play around. We'll stall her as
long as we can."
"Right. Be careful."
He set out across the grounds, making sure that Anijza did not see him as he
departed. Ukyo shut the door and turned around heading back to the living
room. This was not good by any means now it was only a matter of time
before all hell broke loose. If Anijza has done something to Akane and
Shampoo, what's to say that she can't do it to them either?
There was no way that little squirrel would get Ranma, not if she could help
it. Her mind set, Ukyo stormed back to rejoin the others...

* * * * *

For all of their huffing and struggles, the only thing Akane and Shampoo
managed to do was get themselves rocking around still bound and helpless as
before. Akane seethed with fury angered by the way she allowed Anijza to
come and jump them so easily. A rookie mistake caused by blind desire to
confront Anijza in one last showdown, and now look at them, hanging around
like some fat carp while Ranma lie exposed with no one to prevent him from
being taken away.
A short wriggle by Shampoo brought her attention back to their current
predicament. She shifted her shoulders trying to pull away some of the tape
off her arms, but it was no good. Anijza did her job well, and even if she
was able to break free there still was the matter of having her arms and
legs bound plus the fact that they hung several meters above the floor.
Akane's head began rocking involuntarily from side to side as Shampoo went
again into another tantrum. It's doing us no good, Shampoo, thought Akane.
Shampoo's violent thrashings subsided leaving the Amazon breathing heavily
for breath.
"MMFFFIITTHHIIITT!" she puffed aloud.
Akane chuckled humored by her reaction. While there was a break between her
partners thrashing Akane took stock of the situation and tried to reason
away out of it. Okay, so we're taped together, hanging above the ground
without any real means of cutting ourselves free. A brief strained glance
towards the work area identified several tools that could be used to aid in
their escape.
Would be nice if we were on the floor, so that might be our first objective.
Hm, I wonder how a spider would do it?
"HUFFANNEEFFPH!"
Akane made out Shampoo's distorted calling of her name. "HUMMRPH?"
"HEEFPH MOFF MUOOPH MEPHS NOONMPH PHRUMPH PHAPHS!"
Now I'm going to understand that, Shampoo, she thought. Resuming her
observation, Akane rolled her eyes up at the ceiling and the rope suspending
them in the air. A way to loosen that, it might be their only chance of
getting out of this trap.
So how to do it?
"HUFFANNEEFFPH!"
Akane huffed thinking how stupid it was for Shampoo to try talking with her
mouth tapped shut.
"HUMMRPH?"
"PHRINPH OHPHFS HRUMPHING!"
Not a syllable, thought Akane. Her attention returned to the rope. That
too seemed unattainable unless someone stumbled along by pure luck and found
them. Her guess was Monday, way too late to stop Anijza.
"HUFFANNEEFFPH!"
This girl just won't quit!
"HUMMRPH!"
"MMMHHURRRPHMURUMPH!
"PHMMURRUUFFPHSS PHURUMMPH MMMUHMMN!"
"MMNNRROOOPH!"
Apparently that was not what Shampoo wanted to hear and she thrashed about
again jerking them around. Akane moaned loudly as the Amazon raged, and
then suddenly she felt a short sharp jerk. Shampoo stopped and Akane cut
her eyes around at their surroundings.
Did we just drop down a bit, she thought?
Looking back at the far wall Akane could see that indeed they had dropped
slightly down. She strained her eyes peering at the rope tied around the
hook. It had some slack in it, part of the wraps distorted from the shift.
Anijza screwed up, Akane's hopes rising! All of Shampoo's thrashing
uncovered a flaw in Anijza's little trap and now they needed to exploit it.
A few concerted jolts might make the rope come undone. It would be a drop
and they might get injured in the process, but the effort was well worth the
chance. Now too get Shampoo on the same page.
"MMAMPHOONPH!"
"MRUMPH?"
Oh Shampoo, don't be mad at me now! "MMAMPHOONPH! MNPHSFPH MAPH MNOO
MRRUNPH MIPHS MMNROPHFS!"
...
...
...
HMNPHFS?
Come on!
"PHNMM MNORPH! PHMNMM MNPORPH!"
...
...
...
HMMMIMPH NOMM MMM!"
Akane growled angrily, jerking sharply to her left trying to turn Shampoo in
her direction. It was slow work and when they were almost facing in the
opposite direction, Akane drew in a long breath jerking up as hard as she
could. The rope did not budge and Shampoo frowned letting out a confused
moan. Akane turned her around some more and then repeated her action. This
time the rope did slip slightly. Shampoo felt it move looking over at then
hook.
"MMMMMMM!" she let out, finally catching on.
Thank you, thought Akane with some relief.
Akane wriggled her shoulders preparing for the next jerk. "MMRPHE?"
"MMMHM, MMMHM!"
Together, they jerked themselves up coming down with a powerful tug on the
rope. It shuddered and the vibrations played upon the length shaking it
enough to allow more rope to slip around the hook. Shampoo let out a short
squeal as they dropped further down coming to an abrupt stop. A short fall,
but nowhere near what Akane expected. It was better than nothing, Akane
wriggling again to signal Shampoo she was ready for another try.
Another tug brought them further down and things were starting to look good
to them. As they dangled twirling slowly around while catching their
breaths, Akane could see that they were down low enough to see out the
narrow windows above the door. Oh, if only someone would come by and see
us, she thought desperately. Shampoo let out a short moan, shifting to
signal that she was ready for another try. Akane breathed in and then they
both jerked their bodies up as hard as they could.
Nothing happened, Akane cutting her eyes about searching for even the
slightest change. A trickle of sweat started working its way down her
forehead, the loop of rope holding them now jerked painfully tight around
their waist, but Akane was determined to try again. She managed a brief
shift of her shoulders waiting for Shampoo's response. The Amazon was
strangely quiet.
"MMAANPHOO?"
...
...
...
"HMMPH?"
"MMANPHO, MOMPHNG MONNG?"
"MMEEPHSS."
This wasn't sounding good to Akane. Suddenly, Shampoo jerked to her left,
slowly turning them around into their original position. As Akane caught
site of the wall, her heart literally sank into her stomach. The coils of
loose rope had indeed slipped, but now instead of pulling free, most of the
slack became entangled forming a very large and tight knot that effectively
prevented the rope from slipping further. With their last remaining hopes
dashed, Akane could do only one thing.
"MMFFFIITTHHIIITT!" she puffed, closing her eyes...

* * * * *

"Leave now?"
Anijza pressed up close to Ranma, a pleading look on her face.
"Yes, now," she answered him in a apprehensive voice.
Ranma leaned away from her, tugging on his collar. The rest of his family
and friend gathered around the living room watching the scene with various
looks on their faces.
"No, no, no, no, no," said Ukyo, waving her hands before her. "Ranma's not
going anywhere with you, little girl."
Anijza's shoulders heaved as she drew in an angry breath. The dark look she
shot Ukyo when she turned around startled them. Ukyo herself flinched;
surprised by such an expression and then it disappeared, Anijza turning to
Ranma once more.
"But you promised!" she shouted.
"I did not," he replied. "I said after I talked with Akane, and I haven't
done that yet."
"That's not what you meant!"
Anijza's fury made the others pause. It was the loudest they had heard her
speak, and by the desperate look she gave Ranma, their suspicions grew.
Ranma tried to calm her down, backing away.
"Now look, Anijza. This crush of yours has got to end. Besides, we've
plenty of time before you have to go back to Korea. The school semester
still has two months to go."
Anijza followed right along with him. "No! I've, I've already made
arrangements for us to leave today, and, and-."
"And what's the rush," asked Nabiki.
She stopped spinning around. Anijza caught the anticipating looks coming
from the others. Their interference had already caused to many delays, she
sensed that they were going to try and prevent Ranma from leaving at all.
Anijza's fury built up, jaw set tight as she glared at Nabiki.
"The trip is going to be long and I wanted to get an early start," she
explained.
"Korea?" said Ukyo. "Hell, it's almost a stones throw from Japan.
"Yes, and speaking about Korea, we've all grown quite curious about certain
things, Anijza Kwong," continued Nabiki.
Soun hushed his daughter to silence. "Forgive Nabiki's rudeness," he said
to Anijza, cut her a sharp glance. "She and the rest of Ranma's friends
hold this notion that you are trying to kidnap Ranma."
"Oh really," said Anijza. She looked around and then began to laugh, hiding
her real emotions.
Soun and Genma laughed with her. "Silly, eh?" he said.
Anijza paused from her chuckles. "I kidnap Ranma-chan? Is this why
everyone is so angry with me?"
Ranma sat down at the table. "Yeah, they think you're trying to whisk me
away to some unreachable hamlet in Korea where I'll never be found again."
They got the unreachable part right, thought Anijza. "And here I am
thinking I've done something to offend everyone."
"You have," commented Kodachi.
"Mind yourself," snapped Soun, cutting her off. He smiled again. "Anijza,
I do wonder about your affection towards Ranma. As it is known he is to wed
Akane once they graduate."
"So you say," Ukyo muttered under a feigned cough.
Anijza played on the opening. "Well... I must admit I have grown quite fond
of Ranma. I really want him to come and meet my family."
"It's your family we have questions about," said Kasumi.
"My family?"
Nabiki let out a sly chuckle. "Yes, Anijza. We were wondering if you could
do us the honor and call them."
"Call them?"
"Yes, you know. Like use the phone?" said Ukyo.
Ooo, all of these bitches will pay dearly for their meddling!
"I, uhm, I do not know if they would be home right now."
"You don't even know your own families schedule?" wondered Mousse.
You I will personally pluck!
"They work odd schedules."
Genma arched a brow, casting Soun a questioning look. "Well can you call
them anyway? If Ranma is going to go with you-."
"Hey, I haven't agreed to anything yet!"
"-I would like to speak with your father or mother and make sure it will be
okay with them."
"It will be okay, Mister Saotome!" said Anijza, but the ensuing silence told
her that they were not buying it. Anijza clenched her teeth tight as she
made her way to the phone. Everyone followed, gathering around as she took
hold of the receiver. A brief moment of concentration altered the workings
of the appliance, and then she picked it up.
Her fingers quickly punching in a number, the ring from the other end
distorted. There came a click followed by a low, deep chuckle.
[So, you have to call upon me to assist you?] said the voice of her master.
Anijza feigned a smile. "Hello, daddy!"
[Ha, ha, ha, ha... daddy is it? Okay, I'll play along. This proves to be
interesting.]
"I'm fine, daddy. Everything is wonderful here in Japan," continued Anijza,
"Uh, daddy, Mister Saotome would like to speak to you concerning his son
coming back with me to stay for a while."
"Awhile?" inquired Ukyo.
Ukyo's questioning only increased the tension knotting Anijza's stomach.
She fought to hold back her shudders and went on with the call.
"What's that, daddy? You would not mind if Ranma-chan comes to visit? Yes,
yes daddy, that is his name, Ranma."
Mousse smirked at her from behind, pulling one lower eyelid down as he stuck
out his tongue in a mock gag.
[Put on this 'Mister Saotome'. Don't want to sour his mood by running up
his phone bill.]
Anijza pulled the phone away, muffling the dark chortles with a hand. She
gestured towards Genma and he came over.
"Hello?"
"Mister Saotome?"
Genma felt a cold shudder crease his back at the sound of Anijza's father's
voice. "Uh, yes, Mister Kwong. I am Genma Saotome, Ranma's father, and I
understand that Anijza has extended an invitation for him to come and visit
your country."
"Yes, my 'daughter'... such a unpredictable thing is she not?"
"I-I must say she is, sir."
"So, is there anything to stop your son from... leaving your home?"
"You approve?"
"Of course. We here in- I mean we are but a hospitable culture, Mister
Saotome. It would honor us greatly if your son came to stay with Anijza for
a while."
Genma thought about the offer a moment. What of the engagement to Akane?
What will Soun say if Ranma does indeed not come back? He discarded his
last thoughts, realizing that his son was deeply in love with Akane and not
even hell or high water could keep them apart. A small trip away might even
do them some good. From what he has heard, getting items such as wedding
gifts and even a good suit are cheap there.
"If there is no objections on your part, then I will allow Ranma to go if he
wants."
"I will take good care of your son, Genma (heh, heh, heh, heh)."
That last laugh unsettled Genma, but he let it pass. "We will call you soon
with his decision."
"Excellent. Can you put my daughter back on please?"
Genma handed the receiver back to Anijza.
"Yes, daddy?"
[It is up to you now. Hurry, this will be your last chance.]
"Okay, daddy. Bye-bye!"
She hung up and turned to the stunned people around her. They all stood
staring at Genma like the roof had just caved in on them.
"What?" asked Genma.
"I did not agree to go to Korea," said Ranma.
"But you said-," began Anijza.
"I said after I talked with Akane."
Ukyo was right up on Genma, fury in her eyes. "We didn't get to hear this
'Mister Kwong'!" she shouted at him.
"And we never got a chance to ask him about Anijza's school records either,"
added Nabiki.
"What's wrong with my records?" asked Anijza, clearly at the end of her
tether now.
Ranma interceded before an argument broke out, grabbing Anijza and ushering
her back into the living room.
"There's no need to fight," he said, setting her down at the table.
"Listen, Anijza. I made a promise to Akane that I'd speak with her about
anything that concerned you and I."
Anijza crossed her arms. "Humph, I know," she replied.
"So you can-." Ranma paused in mid-sentence. "You knew about that?"
Oops, thought Anijza.
"Ah, yes, uhm... Akane told me."
"She did? When?"
Yeah, when did she tell you that?" asked Ukyo.
Anijza remained silent, unable to answer. Her lack of response sent
suspicion trough Ranma's mind. He knelt beside her, taking the girl gently
by the shoulders and turned her around towards him. For a moment Anijza
thought she might need to strike then, but Ranma provided a way out.
"Did something happen between you and Akane down at the school?"
A false pout and hurt look appeared. Anijza sniffled lightly.
"She, she... she was rude to me, Ranma-chan!" she cried embracing him.
"You unhand Ranma this instant!" cried Kodachi. She was barely kept from
lunging at them by Ryoga and Tatewaki.
Ranma pushed Anijza gently back from him. "What did she do?"
"She did not want my help! She told me to go away and leave her alone!"
"That stubborn woman!" shouted Ranma. "Why can't Akane get over that
bullheadedness of hers and admit she's not perfect?"
Ukyo, nor Nabiki and Mousse, were buying none of Anijza's tale. "Ranma!"
she shouted coming to the table. "You don't believe what she just said?"
"It does sound unlike my fair Akane," added Tatewaki.
"With the things you guys have been thinking, and her jealousy, I would not
put it past her."
"We're trying to look out for you, buster!" snapped Ryoga. "If Akane thinks
something is wrong with Anijza, you might want to listen to her."
"I did, and like all of your theories, they sound far fetched."
Ukyo dropped to her knees, letting out a sigh as she hung her head. "Ranma,
this is getting us nowhere."
"You are right, Ukyo," said Soun. "And I want everyone to stop picking on
Anijza right now."
"Picking on her?" said Nabiki.
"You haven't seen picking on yet," growled Kodachi.
Anijza maintained her charade, pressing fearfully against Ranma again. This
time he did not object, feeling guilty for doubting her after what she did
for him. "We've proved beyond doubt that Anijza is from Korea. Now why
can't you all accept that?"
"Because I don't trust her!" snapped Ukyo, looking sharply up at them.
"Any girl who talks to dogs has got to have something wrong with them too,"
said Mousse. A silence followed, everyone giving him a skeptical smirk.
"Well she does!" he cried.
"Enough of this foolishness," continued Soun. "Genma sees no problems with
Ranma going to Korea, and as for you girls and your mistrust of my guest,
please be so kind and keep it to yourselves."
"I don't trust her, daddy," Kasumi said.
"Neither do I," added Nabiki.
Kasumi objecting to anyone made Soun think. He cast a wary gaze in Anijza's
direction before responding to her remark. "We still are the host here,
Kasumi. Do you wish to disgrace us too?"
"No, daddy."
That said, Soun sat back down at the Go table; Genma retaking his seat
signaling the topic was at an end.
"So we can go now, Ranma-chan?" asked Anijza, pleased that things had
finally appeared to go her way.
Ranma shook his head. "Akane," he replied.
Even out of the way, that little toad was disrupting her plans! Anijza
wanted to take Ranma then and now, but that meant reviling her true colors,
something against all the rules she had to abide by. This would take
careful timing, one quick moment alone with him and it would be all over.
If only there was a way to remove his friends.
"If we're going to wait for Akane's return, why don't we go and find a place
where we can be alone?"
Ranma swallowed the lump in his throat, inching slightly away. "Uh, why?"
"I have something I want to share with you. Something special."
Ukyo's firm grip on an arm pulled Anijza around. "Not a chance, Anijza,"
she said, seething with fury. "No little squirrelly bi-."
"Ukyo," said Soun firmly.
She stopped and then let Anijza go taking a seat beside her. "We wait for
Akane here, and if you have anything to share with Ranma, you can share it
with us too."
Anijza leaned back, one eye twitching slightly as she stared at Ukyo. "Hmm,
that might not be such a bad idea," she said.
Rules be damned!
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Mousse.
Anijza did not answer him, cooing up against Ranma once more. "Ranma-chan,
my throat is dry. Could you be a darling and get me a glass of water?"
The way she said that sounded odd to Ranma, but he complied with the request
getting up and headed for the kitchen. As the door slid shut behind him,
Anijza stood up walking to the center of the room. Her eyes made a slow
circuit around the room, face turned down into the darkest glower of hate
any of them had ever seen.
Anijza's fingers flexed, cracking loudly as she balled them up into tight
fist. With a short shake, the ribbons holding up her hair fell away
allowing the long locks to drop about her shoulders. Ukyo slowly stood up
as the others stared at Anijza in surprise.
"Uh, Anijza?" said Mousse, but he went quiet as the girl raised her fist.
There came a brief flash then they began to glow a brilliant light blue.
"I have grown quite tired of all of your interferences," said Anijza. "It
is time to eliminate it..."

* * * * *

Konatsu arrived at the vacant grounds of Furinkan High School quickly
rushing over to the main building in search of Akane and Shampoo. He ran
through the halls of the first floor but turned up nothing, sprinting up the
stairs to the second floor. Again, his search proved empty, Konatsu pausing
to think. Akane had to be there, he thought looking up and down the
hallway. Dark images filled Konatsu's mind, sensing that something bad
befell Akane and Shampoo.
Another search on the third and fourth floor ended like the first, but when
he came out onto the fifth he found one of the teachers in the faculty
lounge asleep in a chair. Carefully, Konatsu stole up next to the man
shaking him lightly. Nothing, that was strange. Another firmer shake could
not bring the teacher around.
"Sir?" called Konatsu. He might have been drugged, thought Konatsu. There
appeared to be no evidence of foul play. With no time to waste, Konatsu
continued on down the hallway. He reached the study room five and looked
in. On one of the tables lay a backpack half filled with books; the rest
stacked apparently intending to be put away as well.
Upon closer examination, Konatsu could see a majority of them were math
study guides and books, and he knew he found where Akane should have been.
But where was she now?
it did not look like there was, but for Akane to just up and leave her books
behind told him she was in some kind of hurry. And what of Shampoo?
Konatsu reflected on the situation. "Let's see. Anijza came back to the
dojo alone. Akane and quite possibly Shampoo were gone, but definitely not
at the dojo at least as far as I know." He looked around the room again.
"Hm. I think I better have a look around the school grounds, and then find
a phone and call Ukyo to see if they returned."
The dark images came to Konatsu's mind again, and he rushed out continuing
his search...

* * * * *

With their cocoon-like prison showing no signs of weakening, Akane and
Shampoo settled in for the long wait of rescue. As they dangled in the air
Akane tried hard not to cry, but she could only feel sick to her stomach
realizing that Anijza was going to take Ranma away from her quite possibly
forever.
She prayed that somehow Ukyo and the rest of her family and friends would be
able to prevent the kidnapping, and even drive this strange girl out of the
dojo and their lives. Sadly, she knew that was not to be the case. By the
way Anijza had subdued them, this was no ordinary girl, and even with all of
their combined skills it might not be enough.
Cologne, Akane though, wishing and hoping the elderly sage could hear her
desperate pleas and return with answers or away to defeat Anijza once and
for all.
Shampoo shifted, squirming as she tried for the umpteenth time to wriggle
free of the constricting tape that bound them together. Akane had to admire
the Amazon's determination, but clearly all it did was cause this rope
around them to tighten even further. It was already beginning to hurt,
Akane letting out a light moan for her to stop.
She did, and they slowly twirled above the floor marking the time as the
afternoon sun's rays started to go dim. At least they could see outside,
Akane staring lifelessly out the windows above the door. Something suddenly
moved off in the direction of the main grounds, a figure faint and blurred
but she could see that it was a person walking along the sidewalk.
Immediately her hopes rose. This was a chance to get out of their
predicament, but now the only problem was getting whoever was outside
attention before they passed by.
"MMMM, MMMM!" sounded Akane, jerking her body around desperately searching
for something that could make a loud noise.
Shampoo wondered what her chief rival was doing as they turned. She caught
sight of the person outside and began to moan as loud as she could to call
them over. It was no good, the figure disappearing around the corner of one
building for a moment. Meanwhile, Akane spotted a tall storage cabinet a
short distance away, its shelves stocked with various tools and items. If
they could manage to knock it over, or even some of the things onto the
floor the noise might just draw the stranger's attention.
It was worth the effort and Akane jerked to one side then the other rocking
them around. Shampoo did not know what she was doing until she was spun
around, and then joined in with the effort. Soon, they were careening about
in the air steadily swinging closer and closer to the cabinet. Akane
managed a brief look outside, panicking when she did not see the person at
first, relieved as a figure reappeared heading back up the sidewalk.
No, she thought! This way, this way!
Pain shot through her feet as they finally hit the top of the cabinet.
Akane let out a muffled cry but ignored it repeating the action again. One
of the trays lurched from the blow jumping up to the edge with a loud smack.
The stranger walking up the sidewalk did not stop Shampoo could see and she
jerked as hard as she could slamming them into the cabinet.
SMASH!
The tray slammed to the floor spilling its contents about.
It was Akane's turn to look out the window. She could see the person
outside standing motionless looking around, but then walked off to the left
back to the main buildings.
Damn it, she thought, continuing to rock back and forth. Another kick sent
several more trays crashing down. There followed a tense silence as the two
paused to see if their efforts had been all for nothing. Shampoo could not
see the person anymore letting out a sad whine of despair. Akane too
moaned, unable to hold back her tears crying freely now.
A jiggle was heard coming from the door, someone testing the knob to see if
it was locked. Akane and Shampoo quickly let out with desperate moans for
help. The jiggling stopped and it was quiet once more. The tension built,
both girls wondering if their pleas had been heard. Akane's breath became
rapid as she listened for even the slightest sound of movement.
Please, please don't go. Help us! Please help us!
Her prayers were answered by the sound of a blade sliding along the crack of
the doorjamb. The latch popped aside and the door slowly opened.
Konatsu slid his knife back into its sheath staring around at the mess on
the floor. He looked up and let out a gasp, starting sharply when he saw
Akane and Shampoo dangling from the rafters above. Their muffled cries
broke him from his shock.
"Hang on, girls!" he said, "I'll have you down in a moment..."

* * * * *

Rumbles shook though the kitchen of the Dojo, Ranma dropping the glass of
water in his hand as he tumbled to the floor. "Earthquake," he shouted,
groping for anything solid to hang on to. His concern turned to the safety
of his family and friends crawling steadily towards the door as the shakes
and jolting continued. He could hear cries coming from the living room,
strange flashes of blue-white light arching through the cracks and seams of
the door way. Suddenly it stopped and Ranma jumped to his feet.
He burst into the living room calling to everyone hoping that they were all
right, skidding to an abrupt stop at the sight before him. Everyone lay
scattered about the room some draped across or under furniture, others face
down unconscious. What held Ranma transfixed in terror though was the sight
of Anijza hovering up in the air enshrouded in that same bluish-white glow.
Sensing his presence, she turned towards him. Gone were the timid shy
features of a young teenaged girl, she appeared more mature and her hair
writhed in the air as if it had a life of its own. A smile appeared and
Ranma took a hesitant step back.
"So, Ranma. Are you ready to go now?" said Anijza, her voice slightly lower
than before.
He looked around the room still shocked by what he saw. "What, what have
you done to them?" he finally managed to say.
"Hmm. I grew tired of their interference. Not supposed to do something
like this, but how is it said here... oh yes, they were cramping my style."
Ranma gazed around the room again. "Who are you?"
Anijza laughed. She hovered back down to the floor walking towards him.
"Silly boy. I'm Anijza; your soon to be new fiance."
"You're not Anijza!" shouted Ranma, backing away from her.
She stopped, casting a humored gaze on him. Anijza's high-pitched voice
briefly returned. "Yes I am, Ranma-chan, and I'm here to take you back home
with me." The smile faded, brows furrowing close together. "So stop
playing and let us go."
Akane was right! Ranma continued backing away from Anijza feeling behind
him for the door. "I'm not going anywhere with you, Anijza!"
Anijza followed along closing the distance between them. "Oh yes you are,
Ranma Saotome. I have you word that you would accompany me back to my
home."
"I did not agree to go with you anywhere!"
"Not until after you've spoken with Akane." She waved a scolding finger at
him. "Tch, tch, tch, tch. We both know pretty much what she would say. I
can't be having that."
"So you did something to Akane!"
"I did manage to hamper her immediate return."
Anijza stopped, rubbing her chin as she pondered her actions for a second.
"To bad, I really despise her too. I'm going to catch some heat for what
I've done, but I hate rules and what are rules for if you can't bend them a
little?"
Ranma's back pressed up against the door. "Why me, Anijza?" he asked.
"Because, Ranma. I've long since desired you ever since our first meeting,
but enough trivial conversation. We'll have plenty of time for that."
Anijza held out a hand. "Come, Ranma Saotome."
Ranma shook his head. "I'm not going anywhere with you, Anijza," he told
her again.
Brief hits of anger coursed though Anijza. She sneered slightly at him then
repeated her demand. "Don't make me have to take you by force, Ranma!"
A fight in the dojo was not what Ranma desired, nor did he want to fight
Anijza even if she was the cause of all that had happened. She had to be
led away before any more harm came to the others lying around the room. The
back of his foot kicked the door aside; Anijza pursing her lips tight.
"Ranma," she said threateningly.
"I'm not going with you, Anijza," he replied and dashed through the kitchen
for the back door.
"Ranma Saotome, don't you run from me... RANMA!"
Ranma lit out through the back door and across the yard, a chill filling him
as Anijza's angry shriek pierce the sky...

* * * * *

It took Konatsu several long and painful minutes to free Akane and Shampoo
from their bonds, updating them on Anijza's return as he worked. Finally
freed of the tape, the trio wasted not a second running as fast as they
could back through the streets of Nerima township to the dojo.
Pausing to catch their breaths at the gates, Akane thrust them open hurrying
up the walkway and into her home.
"Daddy! Nabiki, Kasumi, Ranma!" she called rushing through the hallway.
They burst into the living room and came to a stop staring around at the
unconscious figures strewn about. "Kasumi!" cried Akane running over to her
elder sister's side. She cradled her up in her arms, gently patting her
cheeks trying to revive her.
Meanwhile, Shampoo had gone to Mousse's aid while Konatsu pulled Ukyo from
beneath the overturned table. He sat her up shaking her gently, calling her
name. She let out a low murmur and moved weakly in his arms.
"Ukyo. Ukyo wake up!"
She moaned again, suddenly jerking sharply arms flailing madly about. "AH,
AH, AHHHH! GET IT AWAY FROM ME, GET IT AWAY FROM ME!" screamed Ukyo.
Konatsu pulled them down, holding her tight to him. "Ukyo, come out of it.
It's me, Konatsu!"
Ukyo's eyes snapped open, darting about in their sockets. A crazed look
appeared briefly then Ukyo shuddered looking up at him.
"K-K-Konatsu?"
"Yes, it's me, Ukyo."
She shook again and then drew in a gasp. "Oh my gosh!" Ukyo said, sitting
straight up, "Ranma, Ranma where is he?"
"We're hoping you could tell us," said Akane.
Mousse moaned, rubbing the side of his head in pain. "Ooo... what did that
bitch hit me with?" he said as he sat up.
"Evil girl beat you all?" asked Shampoo.
"Told you she was strange," he answered.
Ukyo sprang to her feet, staggering from sudden rush of blood to her head.
"Hold on, Ukyo," said Konatsu, catching her before she could fall. "I think
you need to rest a moment before trying to move."
She pushed his arms aside going to her knees. "We've got to... we've got to
find Ranma."
Kasumi had finally come around; Akane sitting her up against the wall then
going to see if Soun and Genma were all right. She found Soun crumpled in
the corner with Genma over him, both men covered with pebbles from their
game of Go. "Daddy," she said fearfully, separating them. Soun groaned,
slowly opening his eyes.
"Akane?" he said, and then clenched them shut as a spasm of pain shot
through his head.
"Lie still, Daddy," said Akane. She could see Genma was okay, rubbing his
head as he tried to recover his wits. "Shampoo, Konatsu, how are the others
doing?"
"Tatewaki and Nabiki are sunning themselves on the patio," replied Konatsu,
pointing to the large hole torn through the sliding doors.
"Evil Kuno all right," said Shampoo, pulling a dazed Kodachi out from the
far wall.
Akane looked around again. "Where's Ryoga?" she asked only to be answered
by a shift from the tipped over dish cabinet lying on the floor. Ryoga
pushed it off his back and sat up with a grunt.
"I'm here, alive, don't know how, but alive," he said.
None of them appeared to be critically hurt and Akane let out a sigh of
relief. "So what happened and where is Ranma?" she finally asked.
"That bitch Anijza sent him into the kitchen, and when he was gone she
struck," growled Ukyo.
"No!" exclaimed Akane. "Did she take him away?"
"We were out cold before we could do anything, Akane," said Kasumi.
Akane was frantic, jumping to her feet. "I'm going search upstairs," she
said, but Konatsu's firm grip stopped her.
"I do not think they are here," he told her.
"We've got to look for them," she replied.
"I'll tell you this," said Genma, "After what Anijza has done, Ranma is
definitely not going to Korea with her."
"For the last time, she's not from Korea!" Ukyo shouted.
"Wherever she from, she have Ranma!" said Shampoo.
Ryoga disagreed. "Ranma's not going to let Anijza take him (Ow, Ow)
anywhere. Not before talking to Akane first. You heard him."
"Oh, he said that?" asked Akane.
"Put the admiration aside," said Ukyo, "Ranma's still gone, and we have no
idea where either of them went to."
"Then we've got to search the city," decided Akane.
"No time to waste," said Ryoga, standing up. "It's going to be hard enough
not knowing where to begin."
"I can help with some of that," said Mousse. He headed for the patio and
the pond outside. "You guys get Nabiki and Tatewaki back around, I'll take
a quick dip and get airborne. With some luck I'll spot him or Anijza."
"Luck? Be more like miracle," said Shampoo with a laugh.
Mousse undid the buttons of his robe letting it fall as he stepped out onto
the patio. Akane took hold of his arm and he stopped, looking back. The
desperate stare she gave him said more than words. Mousse smiled patting her
hand gently.
"We'll find him, Akane," he told her. "And we're going to kick Anijza's ass
too."
"I just want Ranma back," she replied.
"I don't think he'll have any trouble staying out of her grip. Don't worry,
Ranma will run rings around her."

* * * * *

Ranma's legs pumped rapidly as he ran down the main street through Furinkan
trying to stay out of Anijza's clutches. Every so often he would look back
to find her still hot on his trail a short distance behind and showing no
sign of giving up. Persistent, he had to admit, but determined as she was
he would not allow her to get him.
A quick turn down a street, Ranma sprang up through the air onto the
rooftops hoping Anijza would loose him, or at best not be able to follow.
"RAAANNNMMAAAAA!" he could hear her angry cry. Anijza had not lost him and
was pursuing nimbly along unhindered by the move. Damn it, thought Ranma
picking up his pace, what will it take to shake this strange girl?
Anijza growled, furious by this delay Ranma caused her. Doesn't he know
that it is futile? Surely, the Master will delight upon my return, but he
will also be annoyed for all the wasted time spent here on this plain.
Thoughts of her and Ranma together at last drove away any fears, imagining
them both in heated moments of passion more than worth all the difficulties
she had endured.
"Ranma, you will not escape me!" she cried, leaping thought the air.
Ranma just bounded across to the next building when Anijza came down hitting
him with a firm body tackle around the waist. They tumbled across the roof,
arms and legs flailing as they tussled.
"Will you stop fighting me!" shouted Anijza. A hand took hold of Ranma by
the collar of his shirt, closing tight cutting off his breath.
She is strong, thought Ranma fighting to break free. He rolled levering the
girl over him pulling back leaving a good fist full of cloth behind. "NO!"
cried Anijza; but Ranma did not stop, sprinting for the other end of the
roof.
He leaped across then cried out in surprise as Anijza hit him in the back.
They slammed down onto the next roof, bouncing to a stop in the center.
Anijza sat astride Ranma's chest glaring angrily down at him.
"Now will you stop running?" she said.
"Not a chance!" shouted Ranma defiantly. He pitched his body up catching
Anijza off guard and she sailed through the air. Ranma look around hearing
Anijza's cry as she flipped over the edge of the roof towards the street
below.
Compassion and concern suddenly filled him. He did not want to hurt her;
running over to see if she was still alive. Down below several passers-by
stood staring up in his direction staring at the figure clinging with no
visible support against the side of the building. Ranma's jaw dropped open,
and then Anijza looked up.
"You did not think it would be so easy, did you Ranma-chan?" she said.
Ranma yelled, scurrying backwards narrowly avoiding Anijza's one-handed
swipe. She pulled herself up and smiled at him.
"I will have you, Ranma," said Anijza, stalking him like a Bengal Tiger
across the roof.
Terror filled Ranma's soul. He did not stop retreating from her, turning
around to leap across to the next roof a fearful cry on his lips.
"So," said Anijza as she stood up. "Here we go again."
She followed him, continuing on with the chase...

* * * * *

Sliding to a stop at one of Nerima's four-way intersections, the gang
searched their surroundings hoping for any sign of Ranma or Anijza. The
busy streets remained oblivious to the happenings that had befallen them,
nothing out of the ordinary that would lead them in the right direction.
"We should separate," suggested Soun.
"And let that bitch pick us off piecemeal!" replied Ukyo. "We only failed
back at the dojo because she caught us off guard. This time when we find
her ass, we'll be ready!"
"We'd cover more ground though," said Kasumi.
"I for one don't want to run into Anijza alone," commented Nabiki. "I'm for
staying together."
While the others debated their next course of action, Akane peered up into
the sky for Mousse; now in his Mandarin Duck form. She spotted him gliding
high above the city, moving in slow orbits across the sky searching for
their objectives.
"We'd better follow Mousse," she told them. "He has the best chance of
finding them."
"If he can see that far down," said Kodachi.
Akane smirked letting the barb pass. She grabbed hold of Ryoga's hand
again, setting off in the direction Mousse was going, the other following
along.
In the sky, Mousse indeed had the best view straining with all his might
through his thick glasses searching the various streets below. He was
passing over the business district now, close by all of the renovations and
new construction areas when a familiar mop of red hair briefly caught his
eyes.
Squinting hard, Mousse made out Anijza running along the street at breakneck
speed. A look in the direction she headed found Ranma also sprinting for
dear life. He had a good lead on the girl, but she was rapidly closed the
distance. Ranma came out into the street across from the very same
construction zone he and Akane had narrowly escaped death; running in place
for a second then dashed towards the wire mesh gate.
A good tactic, Mousse knew that he'd have to hurry before Anijza could catch
up with him. He pitched over, winging his way back across the sky to get
his friends...

* * * * *

The gate guard covering the entrance to the work area held out his hands
trying to stop Ranma's desperate charge. "Hold up, hold up!" he cried, but
Ranma never slowed, ducking under his arms.
"Hey! Hey you stop!" shouted the guard. A girlish titter from behind drew
him around.
"So he got in there, hmm?" said Anijza, walking calmly towards the gates.
"Yes! I'm going have him arrested, the fool!" shouted the guard. He went
for the phone in his shack, but Anijza caught him by the front of the shirt.
Her eyes never left the yard. "Do not bother, I will retrieve him."
"What? Let go of me girl, or I'll have you-."
He never finished, Anijza's powerful fist slamming into his chest. The
guard flew back into the shack, slumping down unconscious onto the stool
inside. The workers around them drew fearfully away from this strange girl.
Anijza quietly dusted her hands clean, gazing across the construction area.
"This is starting to get fun," she muttered to herself. "Ranma, your
resistance is exciting me. I will relish breaking your spirit. Yours will
be a tale the Master will long remember."
Ignoring the noise of the machinery around her, Anijza concentrated, feeling
Ranma's presence through the din.
"There you are," she said, heading in after him.

* * * * *

Amidst the stacks and piles of pipes, concrete blocks and other materials,
Ranma moved ever so carefully fearing more of another encounter with Anijza
than the hazard of getting hit by some stray object. The roar of machines
was almost deafening but he knew t would aid in his concealment. A sharp
smack of metal from behind made him jump, whiling around thinking it was
Anijza trying to sneak up on him.
She was not there and he let out a sigh, leaning back against a tall pile of
steel rods.
"Hey!" called a forman from up the way. "You need to leave before you get
hurt!"
"Yeah, and you don't have some mystical demented bitch on your ass trying to
drag you back home to a shotgun wedding either!" yelled Ranma.
"I don't need a shotgun to corral you, Ranma-chan," commented Anijza above
the surrounding din.
He cried out, leaping across the way and stared up at the girl lying prone
on stack. Anijza let out with a titter, sitting up and beamed down brightly
at him humored by his shocked expression.
"Ranma, hiding with do nothing but delay the inevitable. Why won't you just
surrender so we can get along to my home?"
"I'm not going with you, Anijza!"
Anijza smirked. She stood up and planted her fist on her hips. "Yes you
are, now stop this-."
"You!" cried the foreman who had just been shouting at Ranma. He strode
angrily down the open aisle towards her, ignoring Ranma's desperate
warnings. "Young lady, get down from there! You will get hurt. Now come
down from there!"
Another annoyance that Anijza scoffed at. "Run along little man," she said
waving him off, "I'm after a better specimen of your species."
Fury flushed the foreman's face, and he pointed angrily up at her. "Get
down from there now! Do you hear me, NOW!"
"You dare shout at me!" snapped Anijza.
Ranma watch in horror as Anijza made a slight flick with her index finger
sending a small globe of blue-white light streaking towards the foreman. It
hit him in the stomach and he cried out flung back into the base of a steal
girder. All work immediately stopped, the workers around them staring
speechless at his crumpled form then back at Anijza. There was a mad flurry
of dust and movement as people ran for their lives.
Anijza's laughter cut the now silent area. "Oh that was fun. Now Ranma,
shall we... huh?"
She looked around but Ranma took the opportunity to disappear further into
the construction yard. That infuriated Anijza and she leaped down to the
last spot he stood at sniffing the air. She picked up his scent, ruminating
on the pleasingly musky smell with a light shudder. Ah, more of this and I
will be unable to control myself, she thought. Ranma you are driving me
wild!
Anijza howled up to the sky resuming her pursuit of Ranma...

* * * * *

Spurred on my Mousse's frantic quacking, the gang followed the Mandarin duck
as he flew back towards the construction zone where he last spotted Ranma.
When they arrived there was a crowd milling about the gates, some tending to
the injured guard, others wandering lost talking about what had just
happened moments ago. Comments about a girl attacking one of their foreman,
and of a young man running for his life quickly told them what was going on.
Akane could hear sirens and knew they better get in there before Ranma was
lost to Anijza. Waiting for the right moment in the ensuing confusion, they
slipped past the gates and scurried into the construction yard. Mousse took
flight and the others stopped to catch their breath.
"Now do we split up?" asked Ryoga.
"No," answered Akane. "Mousse will find them and then we all will converge
and take Anijza before she knows what hit her."
"I want her too know what's hitting her," commented Ukyo, rolling her
sleeves back ready for the upcoming fight.
"Shampoo kick teeth down throat before crushing fingers under heel!"
Konatsu shuddered, eyeing them all. "Gee, I don't know who's worse. You
girls or Anijza?"
"This girl is going to pay for what she's done," said Nabiki. "You know how
much it is going to cost to fix the house up?"
"The only thing that matters is getting Ranma safe and away from her," said
Akane.
She looked up trying to spot any sign of Mousse. Tatewaki suddenly tapped
her on the shoulder, pointing up at the duck circling overhead not to far
away. They could hear Mousse's quacking and knew he had found one of their
objectives.
Konatsu led the way and they soon were sprinting across the construction
yard and through the myriad stacks of material. Suddenly, Mouse swooped
down coming to a landing near an open portion of the yard. He held up a
wing and they halted.
"Why silly blind duck getting in way?" said Shampoo.
Mousse turned, pointing up the aisle. A girl's voice called Ranma's name
from around the corner of some wood planks, followed by the appearance of
Anijza Kwong. Her back was to them, totally oblivious of their presence.
"Oh do you see what I see," said Ukyo, cracking her knuckles with
anticipation.
Tatewaki's bukoto slid from his sash. "Revenge," he said.
"Hoh, hoh, hoh, hoh. I am going to enjoy ripping all of her hair off her
head," added Kodachi.
Akane let go of Ryoga's hand glaring hard at her now sworn enemy. A sneer
curled the corner of her lip, hands flexing eager to latch around Anijza's
throat.
"Bitch," she growled, and set out leading the charge towards her.
Anijza however continued her search for Ranma. He was in the immediate
vicinity that she was sure of, but was doing quite a good job eluding her.
A fine catch, she thought. Ranma must be endowed with powers I could not
even begin to imagine. That or he is one lucky human.
A trampling sound came from behind and Anijza smirked as she turned around.
She almost yelped with surprise seeing Akane Tendo leading her friends in a
dead run towards her. No doubt from their looks they intended to do battle.
Very well, thought Anijza, I guess the first lesson was not enough, and as
for you Akane Tendo, I will be more than happy to oblige.
Anijza raised her fist ready to defend herself...

* * * * *

It was happening again, the earthquake.
Ranma stumbled to the ground knocked from his feet by a violent rumble that
shook the entire construction yard. He knew this was not a natural
occurrence, but Anijza's doing and that meant she was fighting somebody. It
might be the authorities but more than likely his friends coming to help.
After beating them once he knew they would not stand a chance against her.
A cloud of dust appeared above the tops of the stacks around him. Ranma
made his way to the ensuing struggle praying he would not be too late. A
loud series of cries split the air then the rumbling stopped. Choking on
the dust, Ranma covered his mouth fanning the air trying to see what had
happened. Several shadowy forms started to materialize out of the gloom.
He squinted his eyes and when the dust finally settled it reviled a sight to
him that made his chest grow tight.
The surrounding yard was a wreck with his friends scattered about the debris
like broken mannequins. Ranma shook upon seeing his father lying face down
on the ground, but then he look to the center of the battlefield in time to
see Akane, down on her knees grimacing with pain; Anijza holding her up by a
fist full of hair grinning in triumph. She let her go and Akane fell
forwards across Ryoga's body, motionless.
"NO!" shouted Ranma.
Anijza turned. "Ah, Ranma. I've been looking for you," she said
cheerfully.
Rage beat loudly through Ranma's temples, fury so intense his whole body
tingled with energy. He stared at Akane's lifeless form then up at Anijza.
"You bitch," seethed Ranma.
That caught Anijza aback. Her shoulders sagged stunned by the insult.
"W-what did you call me?"
Ranma started walking towards her with his fist balled tight. "You BITCH!"
he shouted again.
"Ranma-chan (sniff, sniff) that hurts!"
"Not as much as the pain I'm going to make you feel now," he replied.
Anijza took a hesitant step back. "Ranma, I did not come here to fight you.
I just want to take you home that's all."
The dark fury wore deep on Ranma's face. "Over my dead body!" Ranma
stopped, stabbing an angry finger at her as he spoke. "You hurt Akane...
you hurt my friends TWICE! Now you give me some doll-faced puppy-dog look
and expect me to run off with you? No way, Anijza! I'm not one to hit
women, but you have gone WAY above normal bounds now."
"Ranma, I-."
"Ah-uhn... you wanted me, this is the way you're going to get me."
Several construction workers and a few others appeared around the perimeter
staring in shock at the carnage. They started to approach but a sharp wave
of a hand from Ranma stopped them.
In the meantime, Anijza's innocent demeanor melted away into one of
irritation and impatience. Her dark eyes stared hard at Ranma, one brow
arched high in annoyance. Placing her hands to her hips she took a
commanding stance then pointed at him.
"Enough of this!" said Anijza, "Ranma you are forcing me to have to hurt
you."
Ranma took a fighting stance. "Come on then," he replied.
Anijza charged, letting out a cry, her fingers barred ready to grab him. He
deflected her grasp taking one arm to lever Anijza up over his head. She
sailed through the air smashing down into a stack of pipes with a loud
crash. The pile collapsed and Anijza thrashed about pushing them off with
no effort at all.
"I'm not going with you, Anijza," said Ranma.
She stood up and walked towards him in a steady, even pace. "You are mine,
Ranma Saotome and nothing you do will change this fact."
Ranma's surprising leap and foot to her face rocked Anijza backwards.
Somehow she managed to stay on her feet, hands pressed to her chin in mute
pain. An angry growl sounded and then Anijza lunged hitting him with one
shoulder in the stomach. Ranma cried out as a flurry of blows rained down
on his body. He staggered, ducking low avoiding a roundhouse kick aimed at
his head.
Damn she's fast, he thought, dodging several more swipes and blows. He
feinted left, catching Anijza's arms to knock them aside. The resounding
punch to her chin sent the girl head over heels across the ground and she
rolled to a stop face down. Ranma hoped she would remain that way, but a
light shift of her red hair told him otherwise. Several of the workers let
out surprised whistles not believing this small girl could take such
punishment.
Anijza looked up at Ranma. Her lips were bloodied, several trickles running
down her chin but the girl smiled as she stood up.
"A strong punch you have, Ranma-chan," she said moving towards him again.
"She's got to be on something", Ranma said to himself. He backed away
wondering if there was anything he could do to stop Anijza. His punches
were almost at full force, but she appeared to be enjoying this beating.
Wouldn't doubt it, he mused with a grunt. Strange girl, just strange.
Ranma's back pressed up against a stack of wood planks stopping his retreat.
A threatening swipe stopped Anijza briefly, but again she laughed stepping
up close to his body.
"Are you ready to surrender now?" she asked.
Ranma's angry cry answered the question. A right then left cross had Anijza
stumbling back; fist blurring through the air as he pummeled her body.
Still, the girl remained on her feet and Ranma knew this called for more
drastic measures. Slowly, he began moving in a tight circle, picking up
speed with each turn. The air around them began to swirl, cool winds
flicking up the dust. Suddenly, Ranma turned sharply towards Anijza and
lashed out with a blow cutting through the chill leaving a streak of light
behind as it approached its target.
KAPOW!
Anijza's body bounced to a stop at the edge of the gravel quarry. She
moaned actually stunned by the Dragon's-Fist punch, rising up on her arms
trying to shake off the effects. Ranma was not done yet. He concentrated;
palms held low before him, every ounce of his inner strength focusing on the
small spot between them. A spark appeared followed by a small globe of
bright white light growing larger by the second as he poured more of his Chi
into it.
Sweat ran in rivulets down his face, muscles bulging tight on his body as
the globe built up in his hands. Flashes of energy crackled around him and
Ranma looked at Anijza. She was just rising weakly to her feet when the
globe of energy hit. Her cry split the air; the ground shaking from the
loud boom.
Ranma shielded his face with his arms as dust and debris filled the air
obscuring his vision. It went on for several more seconds then everything
went quiet. As the dust settled he could see a deep trail carved though the
dry ground towards the quarry. All eyes followed its path, and there atop a
large pile of gray gravel lay Anijza flat on her back like some human
sacrifice on an alter.
"Now if that wasn't something," commented on of the workers around him.
Ranma glanced around at them then dropped to one knee. He was drained from
his exertions, wanting so desperately to just lay down himself and go to
sleep.
"Wow, that was some fight," said another worker. "Who the hell was that
bitch?"
"I... I don't know," answered Ranma. "But if that didn't stop her, then I
don't know what will."
Anijza's head suddenly lifted, her eyes snapping open. "You might try just
coming home with me like you said you would."
Gasps and stuttered cries of terror filled the air; Ranma too frozen with
horror at Anijza's surprising recovery. He could only watch bewildered as
she stood up casually fixing her tattered clothes as if nothing mattered.
Some of the workers headed for the nearest exit and he pulled himself to his
feet ready to do the same.
"Ah-ah-ahn't!" shouted Anijza, waving a stern finger at him.
Why am I stopping, he though as Anijza continued to fix herself. Ranma
started to go on with his steps, but again Anijza caught him.
"Behave," she said sternly, stopping him in his tracks.
With a last toss and fluff of her hair, Anijza scampered down the pile of
gravel. Ranma gulped hard as she walked up to him, not knowing what else he
could do against this terrifying girl. Her lips twisted into a pout, and
she looked him over for a second.
"You are a mess," said Anijza. To Ranma's surprise she began to straighten
his shirt, brushing away the dirt. "You are so stubborn, Ranma Saotome. A
simple request, one simple request but no! You want to resist me. You
would think my example of your friends would have been enough."
"I don't know who you are, Anijza, but as long as there is still strength in
my body... I'm going to fight you!"
Anijza paused and stared up at him. "Yes," she said, cut a brief glance
back over her shoulder at his friends lying about the yard. "You do have
spirit, Ranma-chan. That I cannot eliminate."
"You're damn right you can't!" snapped Ranma.
"The strength though will be no problem."
Anijza punched Ranma hard in his stomach, a blow so hard he though he could
feel her fist touch the inside if his back. His yell sounded dim, and then
a fist to his chin slammed him over onto his back. A tight grip pulled the
collar of his shirt tight around his throat choking Ranma as he was jerk
from the ground.
"I must say you are the first in several eons to actually make me feel such
pain, Ranma," said Anijza, drawing her fist back behind her head.
Rock hard knuckles slammed repeatedly into his face beating him into a dazed
stupor. A knee to the midsection doubled Ranma over, followed by a sharp
backhand which sent him slamming into a concrete support with a cry of pain.
Anijza stood over him. "Don't get me wrong, Ranma-chan. You know I still
love you," she said reaching down to pick him up.
"Yeah (Ooo), yeah this is some way of showing it-urk!"
The blows to the face continued, Ranma's head bouncing back and forth like
an overturned speedbag. Anijza slung him out into the middle of the area,
turning him over and continued his beating.
"I just don't (punch!) see what you (punch) see in her (punch, punch)?"
"(Ow!) Who?"
A firm lift over her head slammed Ranma face down to the ground. Anijza
took a hand full of hair and pulled his head back.
"Her!" she shouted, pointing at Akane's inert form. "She's weak, she's
stupid, she's, she's, she's not the woman that I can be for you!"
"You both have a mean right. There's something you have in common."
Anijza continued her pull until Ranma was held upright on his knees. There
was no resistance left in him. He was a bloody mess, but gently Anijza
cupped his face in her hands and leaned close.
"I will take care of you, Ranma Saotome. I will make you a powerful man, so
powerful not even the other deities would dare to challenge you."
Deities, wondered Ranma? His senses were failing; pain wracking through his
body, but the defiance so natural to the Saotome blood remained in him. He
reached slowly up taking Anijza by each wrist and pulled her hands away.
"I will... never... go with you... Anijza," he told her weakly. His
shoulders sagged, head tipping forward. "...never.." he muttered again.
Anijza caught him before he could fall, staring lovingly into his battered
face. She smiled, brushing his hair aside. "You have no choice, my
darling," she whispered lightly into one ear.
Suddenly, a moan came from behind them. Anijza turned to see Ryoga slowly
regaining consciousness. He tried to sit up, but felt the weight of Akane's
body lying across his chest and stopped. A firm shake made Akane murmur
something incoherent, and then slowly her eyes opened.
"Yes, this will be such a fitting way to depart this miserable plain," said
Anijza.
She held Ranma up by the scruff of his shirt pushing his head to one side
and placed her palm against his exposed neck.
"Look upon me, Akane Tendo," called Anijza.
Akane's eyes drifted to them, focusing slowly. It registered who it was
Anijza held in her evil grasp, and she let out with a desperate moan. Ryoga
also looked back and sneered.
"Let him go you bitch!" he snarled, fighting to sit up.
Anijza laughed. "Stare upon Ranma Saotome one last time, Akane! I have him
and I am taking him to where you will never be able to follow."
Akane and Ryoga leaned against each other and together came up on their
knees. Their efforts humored Anijza; gloating over the desperate look Akane
gave them.
"Ranma!" Akane called out.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! Your pain is my victory, Akane Tendo! I have won and now
I am claiming my prize!"
Searing pain burned sharply though Ranma's neck. His breath cut short as
Anijza's fingers pressed their way into his flesh. The snap of sinew and
cartilage echoed his pain; Ranma jerking with no success to escape Anijza's
torturous meld. A long last cry pierced the sky.
"AHHH! HELP ME... SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!"
Akane tried to stand but her legs would not support her. She could do
nothing but watch with Ryoga in helpless fright as a circle of flame rose up
high around Anijza and Ranma.
"Ranma!" she cried, hot tears stinging her cheeks.
Anijza allowed Akane one more last long look. "It is time to leave," she
finally said.
The sheets of flames bloomed over them, matching the glow in Anijza's eyes.
Ranma moaned again barely visible through the fire.
"AKANE! RYOGA! HELP ME! SOMEBODY, SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!"
The heat was becoming unbearable, Ryoga and Akane shielding their faces with
their arms.
"NGAHH! IT HURTS, AHHH I'M BURNING! PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP ME! HELP ME!
HELP ME... ME... ME... Me... Me... me... me... me... me... m-."
It was the last thing Akane and Ryoga heard Ranma say as a pillar of fire
rose up one last time collapsing in a thick rolling puff of dark gray smoke.
Stunned silence followed and as the smoke and ashy residue cleared, Akane
drew in a gasp.
A dark stain scorched the earth, bits of smoldering debris on the ground.
Anijza was gone and she had taken Ranma with her...

* * * * *

Evening set, a sad and mournful mood filling the Tendo Dojo. In the living
room sat the survivors of the battle; Doctor Tofu to the injuries they
sustained. Their thoughts lingered on Ranma, where he was and what Anijza
was doing to him.
At the table Cologne listening close as they recounted the week's
happenings. When they were done, she hummed lightly shaking her head.
"Damn it," muttered Cologne, slamming her fist down. "If only I had been
quicker. This never would have happened."
"Don't blame yourself, Cologne," said Happosai, still bound tightly to her
staff in one corner of the room.
"If your demented self had not fought me all the way, I might have been!"
snapped Cologne. The old sage's fury scared them, and an unsettling quiet
followed.
Ukyo sat up from the mat she laid on, nursing the wrap around her ribs.
"Its too late for hindsight," she said, "What we need to be thinking about
now is finding Ranma and getting him back."
"Yes," said Akane. They all could see the emotional pain in Akane, trying
as best they could to alleviate her fears. Nothing but the safe return of
Ranma would solve that.
Genma limped over and sat down next to Akane. She looked up at him then
rested her head against his chest. A tear ran down her cheek, Genma gently
wiping it away. "There, there, Akane. We will find Ranma."
"I don't know, Mister Saotome," said Mousse. "Korea is not exactly a small
country."
"It is two to be exact," added Kodachi, her forehead wrapped in bandages.
Konatsu sat up next to Ukyo. "Korea?" he said. "You should think again."
"Where else could that bitch take him?" asked Nabiki.
Ryoga spoke up. "Not Korea! That smoke and mirrors show Anijza pulled
today tells me they went further inland."
"Further inland?" questioned Soun.
"Yeah. A show like that could only come from China."
Shampoo laughed, cut short as the pain from her injuries caught up to her.
"You silly, lost boy," she said. "And it not matter where Evil Girl take my
husband. I get him back and break girl into small bits!"
"Like today?" said Cologne.
They all went silent again.
"Look, no matter where on Earth Ranma is, we need to find and get him back!"
said Ryoga.
"Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it," added Mousse. "Ranma would do the
same for anyone of us."
"He is to be my heir," declared Soun. "We must find Ranma!"
Nabiki leaned back in her chair eyeing her father. "And where to start, eh,
daddy?"
"It doesn't matter!" snapped Ukyo. "I want Ranma, and I intend to get him
back!"
Akane's belabored crying caught their attention. The renewed feeling of
remorse only heightened the anger building inside them.
"Don't worry, Akane," said Ryoga. "Ranma is as good as found!"
"I cannot see my Fair Akane in such tears," Tatewaki said. He drew his
hastily mended training sword and held it up high. "I swear by the House of
Kuno, Ranma Saotome will be returned!"
"It might not be as simple as that, kids," Cologne said.
"We can't just give up," countered Kasumi.
Akane pulled away from Genma and gazed around. "You guys are such good
friends," she told them.
"As it is said, 'what are friends for?'" said Konatsu.
"Our only problem now is a starting place," continued Akane.
Again, silence prevailed as the odds drew up against them.
>From the corner, Happosai suddenly spoke in a warbled voice. "She took him
to Hell," said his demonic spirit.
Ryoga clasped his hands together. "Well, I'm gonna miss that stubborn
fool."
A long cry came from Genma. "Oh my poor son! He will be remembered in my
prayers daily," he said, cupping his hands to his face.
"Looks like your 'demon' theory has come true, Konatsu," Kodachi said.
"Unfortunate," he replied sadly.
Tatewaki's sword slid back into the folds of his sash. "I suppose I can
donate something for a memorial to Ranma."
Akane's palms suddenly slammed down on the table startling them all. She
glared at them eyes wide and her mouth open; rising up to her feet. "I just
cannot believe what I'm hearing!" she said to them. "Ranma would not
abandon anyone of you no matter what the situation, and hear you all are
literally... writing him off as gone!"
"You did hear where Happosai just said Ranma had been taken?" asked Ukyo.
"So!"
"So?" exclaimed Mousse. He looked fearfully up at the ceiling with a shrug.
"Akane. Ranma is in Hell. You know, Hell like in nine times?"
"Bad place. Even Shampoo want to avoid it."
Akane sneered at them; her so-called friends were backing out of rescuing
Ranma faster than fleas leaving a dead rat. There lay some truth, a genuine
fear about the dark netherworlds but no way would she leave Ranma at the
mercies of Anijza twisted intentions.
"NO!" she yelled.
"Akane, please-," said Soun, attempting to settle his youngest daughter.
"Daddy, I cannot allow Anijza to win this thing! She has my fiance and who
knows what she is going to do to him!"
"Sounded like she wanted to sire his children," said Nabiki, gaining a sharp
glare from Akane.
"The Hells are not something to be taken lightly, Akane," said Cologne.
"Dark Forces live there. Forces we as mere mortals are not meant to see."
"Please, little sister, please don't do anything rash," pleaded Kasumi.
Akane could only give her elder sister a sad gaze. "I have to," she
replied, and then looked around at the other with a hard stare. "Ranma is
gone, and I do not care if he's at the bottom levels of Hell, I'm going to
get him back. Do you all hear me?"
In her fury, Akane brought a fist crashing down on the table, breaking it in
two. They stared at the raging girl shocked into silence by her action.
"I swear I will get Ranma back," she continued, "and I'll do it with or
without your help!"
Akane backed away reaching around and pushed the torn patio door aside in a
huff. She stormed out, taking a seat at the edge of the deck and stared out
into the night. The others, who gathered around behind her exchanged
humiliated looks amongst themselves. Ryoga came out and sat down beside
Akane. He could see tears running down her face, forcing back sobs as she
looked up into the sky.
"Akane," he said, taking a hand in his. "Listen, maybe we are acting
selfish about helping Ranma, but you have to admit Nine Hells is no place to
be walking around in."
"It doesn't m-matter," she replied.
Ryoga looked back at Ukyo; who gave him an innocent shrug. "Okay. We all
want him back, but there is still one major problem to face."
Akane turned to him, frowning. "What is that?"
He swallowed lightly, gripping her hand tighter. "How are you going to get
down there?"
She had no answer; drawing back in sudden realization. Akane pulled away
from Ryoga and stood up. She gazed at the sympathetic looks from the rest
of the group and then crossed her arms across her chest, staring at the
ground.
"I will find a way," she sadly said, walking over to the corner post. Akane
leaned up against it thinking about what she had just said. Her eye drifted
back up to the night sky, and Akane let out a long sigh.
"You hear me, Ranma Saotome," she said softly, "I'll find a way. I
promise..."

To Be Continued