[Ranma][FanFic] Unfolding Destiny pt 7: The Search
Richard Marshall
This is a fanfic in the works that can be seen at
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Ranma is owned by Vis Communications, Rumiko Takahashi,
and other subsidiaries.
Unfolding Destiny
Part 7
The Search
At the south entrance to the national, the group stood and looked
at the map. "Alright, this park leads to a forest about a kilometer to
the west of us. If we follow the paths we should get there without
getting lost. . ." Akane said to the others and they nodded in
preparation.
They started along the main path sing a compass to keep on the
right path to the west. As they reach the border of the forest the trees
are noticeably becoming more densely thicketed and the canopy slowly
covers over head. At the edge of the park they stop and look around.
Pools of a rainy season sparkle on the paths. Shampoo takes a look
behind them "Funny, it not wet here.."
They all take a look to the park and a puzzled look carries
through them. "That is strange." Ukyo said after a bit of silence. They
turn back to the forest and two gray wolves leap from the bushes and
snarls at them.
"Well, looks like you've gone too far. . ." Spoke a wolf with a
white tuft of hair along the top of its head.
Shampoo and Akane smirked at the to wolves "Not far enough for
our liking." Akane said with a bit of anger.
"Hmm, looks like we're in for a fight boys. . ." with this a
second pair of wolves appears behind the group causing Ryoga and Perfume
to turn to them. Growling slightly the two forward ones leap at Akane
and Shampoo.
"Ahh." Akane shrieked as the wolf dug its teeth into her arm.
"Get off me!!" She sent a chi blast into the K-9's ribs and it let go
with a whimpered cry.
Shampoo had better luck she had pulled out her sword and caught
the wolf with the end of it. It slid lifelessly onto the ground and they
turned to the other two. Whom one had wrestled Ryoga, and lost , the
other found a nasty bonbori to the noggin.
The group shrugged in unison and continued their way "That was
pretty easy." Nabiki commented and Akane looked to her.
"Hey it could have been worse if we weren't ready for combat."
Akane said as they walked.
"I know. Still for talking wolves they were easy." Nabiki
retorted.
"Now, now, don't count us out yet girlie." They spun around and
the wolves stood high on their legs as if unhurt.
"Back for more?" Ryoga said getting into fighting position
pulling out his umbrella. The wolves chuckled softly and began to
twitch, bulging their muscles. Growing into huge mass of wolf humanoids,
standing on their hind legs.
"Werewolves?" Nabiki questioned but the answer from the beasts
was a charge. Ukyo pulls her spatula as Shampoo readied her sword. Akane
pulls out pieces of a lajitang, an oriental spear with two half moon
blades on both ends, from her back and connects the two pieces just as
the wolves close in and strike at Ryoga.
Ryoga blocks the first attack and throws a punch at the beast
before him. He blinks as his fist meets air and his arm receives
parallel slash marks near his shoulder. He winces and pulls back. Akane
swings quickly with the blades of the lajitang every now and then the
wolf gets a close call but it seems to strike her more often. Shampoo
leaps by Akane the wolf with the white tuft giving chase and soon
strikes out. Shampoo ducks the attack and cuts laterally, the speed
surprising the wolf as he is cut superficially.
A shout of pain erupts from perfume as the one on her and Ukyo
tags her with a claw. Ukyo throws a mini spatula at the beast and misses
nearly hitting Nabiki who was trying to climb a tree. Ukyo spins around
and sliced down with her battle spatula and luckily clips it's shoulder.
With a howl it grabs its shoulder and Ukyo advances with her sharp edge
cutting into the wolf. Blood seeping onto the ground and the bong of a
bonbori takes the beast into dream-land.
Ryoga staggers back sluggishly his sleeves torn off and the
scratches along his arms slow him down. The beast looks a bit warn, the
lost boy giving the thing a power struggle where he lacked speed.
Pulling one of his bandana's into play Ryoga tosses it at the beast who
leaps expectedly as Ryoga sends a barrage of bandanas toward it,
catching it in several places. With a grin he slams his umbrella into
the beast's head with cracks like a walnut before it hit the ground.
Akane and Shampoo have begun to double team the wolves and giving
out a tremendous amount of ki in the process. Blades flutter from their
position pressing the two wolves back. The one with the tuft gets
unwittingly too close and soon flops to the ground. Chucks of flesh
missing from its body. With one gone they turn to the other wolf that
had now backed up to a tree and Akane leaps forward as Shampoo rushes
in. Akane striking down onto the wolf's head as Shampoo runs underneath
and severs its torso from its legs. They breathe slowly trying to catch
their breaths as they gather around Nabiki.
Ukyo and Perfume are leaning against the tree as Ryoga slumps
onto the ground kneeling. Checking on the damage, Nabiki surveys the
party and distributes bandages and ointments to them. Ukyo looks at
Nabiki strangely and takes a small cotton cloth and dabs at Nabiki's
cheek. Nabiki winces at the pain and shock. Ukyo dresses it with a small
bandage and smirks. "You ought to be careful, sugar."
====== ====== ====== ======
Back at the Tendo Dojo, Ranma stirs slightly as he sleeps. Dreams
flood his mind. Of Akane, Ukyo, Shampoo, and others helping him
somehow... Slowly as his eyes move under their lids he calms and settles
back into his pillow.
====== ====== ====== ======
As the light darkens in the late sky, the group follows the path
deep into the woods. Akane stops on the path and looks towards the
nearby lake. "There's the lake that's on the map. We'll camp near hear
alright?" Exhausted they nod and begin setting up camp. Four tents are
set up two larger tents and two smaller ones. Ukyo and Nabiki get one,
Shampoo and Akane get one, and Ryoga and Perfume get ones to themselves.
Shampoo cooks a small meal for everyone as they gather around the fire.
"The food smells good" Ryoga said looking at his plate. He takes
a small bit and nods to Shampoo who nods and smiles back. The rest
simply eat, quietness of the woods taking them also.
====== ====== ====== ======
Ranma-chan slumped up against the wall. Kyoko kneels nearby
keeping an eye on her. The events displayed on the far wall confused her
slightly. People she did not know and was very close to Ranma-chan had
just gotten past the gatekeepers to the forest. The gatekeepers were
wiped out very quickly, considering.
Ranma-chan knew it was going to be a long day watching her
friends in the forest. Working their way deep into the monster-ridden
place. As day turned to night before her eyes, she sighed relief that
for now they were safe and the rest of the day was without incident. Her
eyes closed in calm soothness. She felt a stirring within her, happily
knowing that Ranma might wake up. As she looked at the picture again she
saw Ukyo and Nabiki enter their tent as Shampoo and Akane went to
theirs'. Ryoga and Perfume had the first watch it looked like.
====== ====== ====== ======
Ryoga and Perfume sit near the fire. Their backs positioned to
support each other's. "Ryoga?" Perfume said softly.
"Hmm..?" Ryoga half turned his head.
"You scared?"
Ryoga thought and shrugged "Yes, a little, Perfume. Why?"
"Oh. . . N-No Reason. . .." Perfume said softly peering into the
woods. Ryoga turned back to the tents and the other side of the camp.
The Forest was a quiet place, something didn't seem right to them as
naught a cricket or cicada made a noise. Only the sound of crackling
fire seeped into the still air. A gentle wind picked up for a moment but
that was all.
The moon glowed softly through the canopy and the two lookouts
softly shook the first signs of drowsiness. As the hours progressed the
two began to yawn and stretch near the soft fire. It didn't take them
long to fall fast asleep after that.
====== ====== ====== ======
Ranma's eyes opened as the night's cool breeze fluttered the
curtains. Groggily he sat up. Looking around his blurred vision made out
his room. Rubbing his eyes with his palms he noticed a tugging on his
wrists. After studying his hands, he shrugged and headed down the
stairs. Nagging pains on his wrists and his ankles persisted, he could
almost swear they were cut, yet not. The house was quiet and dark. Soun
and Genma were fast asleep at the shogi board and Kasumi was obviously
asleep by now.
He turned his attention to the late evening skies as he passed a
window. He blinked his eyes carefully and with another moment. He
slumped down quickly as if struck on the back of the head. And with that
his sleep continued.
====== ====== ====== ======
The next morning the groups awoke as a startled scream came from
Perfume. With a rushed they rushed out of the tents to face the new
challenge and all but Ryoga stopped in their tracks at the sight before
them. A ghostly cave stood over the lake. Its gaping mouth towered over
the group. At closer look it seemed eerily familiar.
Nabiki's calculating eyes widened and she pulled out a small
picture from her bag. "I think we found it. . ."
"Found what, Nabiki?" Akane turned to her and Nabiki showed her
the picture. "Oohhh. . .. . ."
Everyone gathered around Akane and looked to the picture then to
the cave. "The mirror is cave." Shampoo said with a smile. "We find. Now
we go save girl-type Ranma!" Ryoga gently outlined the symbol carved
into the rock at the base of the cave. They ran head long into the cave,
and as they reached the mouth they halted seeing their reflections as if
looking into a mirror.
Akane walked to her reflection slowly and placed her hand on the
near invisible surface. Pressing onto it she felt it give but her hand
would not push through. . .
====== ====== ====== ======
Ranma-chan's head hung low against her chest, a small welt is
seen in the base of her skull. Her restraints hold her body to the wall,
her feet not touching the ground. Gamei stands near by looking to
Ranma-chan's form her chains lifting her up higher on the wall before
settling at 10 feet. Gamei nods softly and looks to Kyoko.
Kyoko kneels near the wall in her gi, quietly obeying Gamei. The
shadows of the room play as the mirror looking in on the group. The soft
murmur of conversation floats through the room. Gamei's eyes look over
to the images in the mirror. The gateway to his realm clearly visible
from the vantage point. With a confident nod he snaps his fingers. . .
To be continued. . .
====== ====== ====== ======
By Richard Marshall(DK)
C&C will be appreciated
Knigh...@aol.com