[Ranma][Fanfic] Curse of the Ghost Dance: Act 5

[Code Name D.]

-->Begin theme for Master Peace Theater<----

The camera slowly crawls across a round wood table that is polished to
a shine. Arranged on the surface, are a number of gold and silver ornate
frames that contain various pictures of Ranma, Akane, Shampoo, Genma, and the
others. Each one of them standing proudly and with their nose stuck up in
their air.

We also see a rather tacky looking plastic framed picture of a certain
Japanese Copyright Agent who is holding up a sigh that says "moshi moshi".

Finally, the camera reaches the other end of the table, and begins to
cross a richly decorated room with a Persian rug on the floor, and a warm and
glowing fire that was built in a marvelous marble hearth.

The camera finally rests on the back of a velvet green reading chair.

-->The theme for Master Peace theater reaches its finale. <--

Slowly, the chair turns around, bring its occupant in view of the
camera, revealing the host of the show, who is dressed in a black spy cloak
and hat. He is a sly looking man with beady yellow eyes that dart nervously
about him, as if he expects an assassin to jump out of the wood works at any
moment to jump him. But he eventually relaxes and reclines in his chair. He
reaches into his cloak, and pulls out an already lit pipe.

"Good evening, and welcome to Ranma Piece Theater. I of course, am
your host, Code Name D. Here to bring you yet another installment of that
exciting drama, Ranma 1/2, and the Curse... of the Ghost Dance."

Suddenly, Code Name D turns to face another camera.

"Ranma 1/2 is of course one of the latest master pieces to be
imported here from the exotic east. It is a story of a boy, who because a
girl when doused in cold water. Ranma, of course as we all know, was
conceived by the theatrical genius, of Rumiko Takahashi. Who, of course owns
all the characters that we are about to see today."

Again, Code Name D turns to another camera.

"When last we left our valiant heroes and heroines, Ranma Saotome and
Terry Clearwater had just learned that the millionaire Goldoil, was in fact,
a fraud, and acting on a premonition, were rushing back on foot. Meanwhile,
back at the ranch (I always wanted to write that.) Akane Tendo was beginning
to exhibit odd behavior to a small cornhusk doll that was given to her by a
mysterious figure, with yet unknown intentions for our heroes and heroines.

"And now, we continue our story. We are about to learn the part that
Goldoil plays, in the mysterious figure's wicked plot.

"Sit back, relax, and enjoy act five of Ranma 1/2, The Curse of the
Ghost Dance, titled, The Taking of Akane."

Code Name D presents:
/----------------------------------------------/
Ranma 1/2
The Curse of the Ghost Dance
/----------------------------------------------/
By Douglas Kulp
Based on the characters and
situations created by Rumiko Takahashi
/----------------------------------------------/
Act V
The Taking of Akane
/----------------------------------------------/

The demonstration had gone well, despite the boy to girl, girl to
boy, incident. If anything, Goldoil seemed to be more impressed than ever,
in that neither Terry nor Ranma allowed their curses to sway them from their
dedication into Marshal Arts. So finally, the Saotome School was allowed
time to do what they had came to do. Sight Seeing! Or at least planing a
sight seeing trip.

This chore some how fell onto Genma's and Ukyou's shoulders.
Meanwhile, Dusty, Cash, Soun, Kelley, Sandy, and Kuno were all taking
advantage of the cool shade offered by the front porch of the main house.
The rest were out in the barn in back, taking advantage of the Clearwater's
gym.

Kuno was in the corner by the railing, sitting on a "welcome" mat,
and allowing himself to meditate. His bokken was held before him in his
palms before him, and his eye's were closed as he quietly chanted "Akane
Tendo or the Pig Tailed Girl." to himself. Before him, he had two small
cardboard cut outs of his afore mentioned true loves. Both of whom were
smiling joyfully back at Kuno, even through his closed eyes.

To the outside observer, it might appear that he was attempting to
decide upon which shall receive his devotion. But no one really knows for
sure, probably not even Kuno.

Sitting on a white painted swing bench that was suspended from the
front porch sat Genma, Ukyou and Dusty. Some how, Genma managed to grab some
Japanese printed tour guides and was attempting to place them on an atlas to
see which sights were in range. A trip to Dallas seemed to be very plausible.

Dusty was busy reading the sports section of the town's newspaper,
while Ukyou, who was suppose to be helping Genma, seemed more interested in
looking at Dusty over the tall glass of Lemonade that she nursed.

Sitting in a white painted wicker chair, and grumbling to himself, sat
Cash, who appeared to be engrossed in the Stock indexes.

"Hmm, the Nikkei dropped again," he said, "Darn."

Sitting on two more wicker chairs, facing each other over a
checkerboard, sat Soun and Kelley, with their glares locked in bitter
strategy. Well, Soun's gaze was any way, but only because he was being
soundly trounced.

"Well?" Kelley snapped at him from the other side of the table, "Are
you going to move our not?"

"Be patient. I'm thinking," Soun said.

"Yer thinking? Ya sure could have fooled me. More likely that your
stall'en," Kelley said, crossing her arms.

Suddenly, Soun was struck by an inspiration. He took one of his pieces
and made his move. It was a stroke of genius, clamping down the jaws on his
opponent.

"Ha ha, take that. This game of checkers isn't all that complicated
really. Once you've mastered the subtleties of go and shogi, this game is
child's play," Soun said.

"Hmmm," Kelley said, studying her opponent's move. "Not bad. But
still, I think you should reconsider. I'll be glad and let you take that move
back if ya like, see'n that your not use ta play'n and a guest and all."

"Nonsense, why would I want to do that, especially when I've just made
a dramatic come back?", Soun said.

"Come back ya say. Soun, you are a great guy and all, but yer a few
head a cattle short of a herd," Kelley said.

Kelley and Soun's discussion roused Kuno from his meditation, and he
leaned over to observe what was going on.

"It would seem, Mr. Tendo, that your opponent is correct," he said, "It
would be wise to avail yourself upon your opponent's greater measure of
experience, if not her generosity and exercise the better part of valor."

"No!" Soun said, now becoming irritated, "Why should I do that, when I
am winning."

"Victory can never be assured until you opponent is truly vanquished,"
Kuno waxed.

"Really, Soun honey, ya better think about that there move," Kelley
said.

"I stand pat," Soun said, folding his arms over his chest, "I don't
know how you enlisted Kuno into this charade, but I will not be fooled into
being merciful. Do your worst. Ha ha ha."

"Well, if you insist," Kelley said, shrugging her shoulders.

She then took one of her checker pieces, and proceeded to jump over
each and every one of Soun's remaining pieces, virtually clearing the board,
until her piece finally came to rest at Soun's side of the board.

"King me," Kelley said.

Soun looked at the utter devastation that he had been inflicted, and
his jaw fell to the floor. Kuno only looked away, and put his fingers to his
temple.

"Ah yes. The game of checkers, a game of deceptive simplicity, in
where it's vary challenge lay in that what you may over look," Kuno waxed.

"You ain't just whistle'n Dixie," Kelley said, looking mighty pleased
with herself.

"Foolish host, for I have no desire to partake of such an arcane
melody. Why must you insist that I display such that I do not?"

"Say," Dusty said, looking over to Ukyou, while nodding his head
towards Kuno, "Dues he always carry on like that? All those these and thou,
kind a make my head hurt."

"Huh?" Ukyou said, suddenly looking around as if just noticing where
she was.

It was then that Cash put down his newspaper, and sniffed the air.

"What's that smell?" he said with a smile.

"Yay, now that you mention It," Soun said, "It smells like, cookies."

"Why, Redd Darenger must be whipping up a batch of his chocolate chip
cookies. The best in the county," Kelley said, "They even one first place at
the county fair once."

Cindy growled at her friend.

"You just got to rub it in," she hissed at her friend, "And in front
of strangers no less. Look, I did my best to turn him into a man. Maybe I
should never have caved in when he wanted that doll for Christmas."

With that, every one stood up, and ventured into the house, and
eventually into the kitchen.

There, slaving over a stove with a mixing pot in her hand, was Akane
Tendo, who was busing herself by mixing up a bowl of batter. Just then, the
timer went off.

"Awe, good. The first batch is ready," she said. Her expression
changed strangely, and she looked over to a cornhusk doll that she had placed
on the counter. "Huh? What's that Ranma? You think I should but raisins in
the next batch?

She put down the bowl, and opened the stove. With a pink oven mitt,
she removed a cookie sheet covered with fresh and hot chocolate chip cookies.

The others only stared at the wonder taking place in the kitchen.
Peeking from around one side of the door was the Darenger clan, sniffing the
air with utter ecstasy. Peeking from around the other side of the door was
the Saotome School, looking a bit pale. Soun Tendo even began to turn a
slight shade of green.

"Huh? Someone is behind me?" Akane said to the doll. She then
turned around and just noticed the crowed that had gathered in the doorway.
Then with a wide smile, she turned towards them, and presented the cookie
sheet full of goodies.

"Hi! Come, help yourself," she said with a wide smile.

"NO! WAIT!!", Genma shouted, stepping in the way of the Darengers,
"Please, you mustn't. Trust me, you would rather eat the Cajun's cooking,
than Akane's cooking."

The Darenger clan recoiled with a gasp. Only Kelley stood her ground,
but was still equally horrified.

"Dag nabit, panda brain. Are you trying to poison us? You can't
mention him and any word related to food," Kelley snapped.

"HAY!!", Akane said, glaring at Genma who was receiving a piercing
glare from two sides, "How dare you insult my cooking. It's not that bad! Is
it Ranma?"

Akane suddenly turned her attention to a small, cornhusk doll that was
placed on the counter next to some raw food stuffs. She then returned her
attention to her self proclaimed father in law.

"See! Ranma likes my food!", Akane said with a beaming smile.

"Ranma? I don't see him here," Ukyou said, looking around the
kitchen. It was then that she noticed the doll.

"Ranma ain't the only one that likes your food," Cindy said, her words
strangely muffled.

Ukyou, Genma, and Soun looked over, and recoiled in horror to see
Kelley and the whole Darenger clan digging into Akane's cookies with true
gusto. Even Kuno pushed his way throw, and was enjoying culinary bliss.

"Oh Akane Tendo! You cuisine is bliss to by senses. Your youth and
beauty thus truly bless and gift these delicious with love itself. So great
is your gesture towards me that I willing share your masterpiece with all who
hunger," Kuno waxed loudly.

"Wow, these are really good," Dusty said.

"Land sakes, I've never tasted better," Kelly proclaimed.

Only Soun, Ukyou, and Genma hesitated, remaining standing at the door
in a stare of near shock. Akane's father even gulped nervously.

Genma was about to say something else, when Kelley shoved a cookie into
his mouth.

"Land sakes, your a weenie, Saotome," she said. She then devoured
another cookie.

Genma almost gagged, until the flavor and melted chocolate hit his
taste buds. Then with a look of total confusion, Genma began to chew.

"Sa.. Saotome?", Soun said, his brow braking into a cold sweat.

Genma began to chew faster, and faster, and then swallowed.

"Hay, these really are good," he said, "Can I have another?" Akane
beamed with pride at Genma's endorsement, and she raised the cookie sheet up
to Genma where he took another.

"You want one dad?", she said, then turning towards her father.
Hesitantly, he took one, and nibbled a small bite. Then his apprehension
melted as he devoured all that was left on the cookie sheet.

"You know, these really do taste exactly like the cookies Redd bakes,"
Cindy said, "Did he give you the recipe?"

Akane lost her smile in place of a more inquisitive look.

"Actually, Ranma gave me the recipe," she said, again, looking back at
the doll on the counter. "He even helped my technique a little too."

Observing the gleeful faces of enjoyment, the others stepped foreword,
and tried some of Akane's cooking. Once a bite reached Soun's mouth, tears
welling into his eyes.

"Can it be that my little Akane has finally come to master the art of
cooking! Oh happy day, happy day!!!"

Akane could only laugh at her father's joy.

"Oh dad, don't be so silly. Now, if you don't mind. I have to bake
a special batch. One for my darling Ranma," Akane said. With the mention of
her fiancé's name, her eye's lit up, and she looked sky word. A single tear
formed.

" 'Darling Ranma'?" her father repeated. "Oh..," Soun said, he then
fell to his knees at his daughter's feet, his hands together in prayer as he
wept uncontrollably, shedding a virtual flood of tears. "Oh.. I am so..
happy!"

But the scene only gave Ukyou reason to step back. Her face was full
of concern.

"Akane's never like this? And since when could she cook?", she said to
herself. Something is wrong here.

"Ahh, Akane? Where is Ranma?", Ukyou said.

"He went into town for some reason," Akane said, who was starting to
poor the next batch of cookies onto a clean cookie sheet.

This answer only left Ukyou even more confused. If Ranma wasn't here,
than whom was Akane talking too? She carefully stepped past every one who was
busy stuffing there faces with Akane's cookies, and came up to Akane's side.

"Something is wrong here," she quietly whispered to herself.

< + + + >

"Something is wrong here. I can feel it," Ryoga said to himself.

Ryoga looked up from his napping place that he had found under a
large oak tree. It seemed to be the ideal spot to sit and think. To think
about how much Akane meant to him, and how desperately he needed to let her
know, once and for all, his true feelings for her.

Then he happened to feel it.

Sitting up, he looked all around the Darenger Ranch. Every thing
looked as it did before. Not a thing was out of place. Even the lone cow was
still standing in the corner of its penned in area by the driveway.

But he could still feel it. An anonymous air hung like an invisible
cloud over the ranch. But why was he feeling this way. He hadn't felt this
sense of foreboding ever since Happosai got sick, and nearly forced Akane and
Ranma to get married so soon.

Ryoga closed his eyes from the dreadful memory. His love for Akane
drove him into insane jealousy. It was as if some force compelled him to
attack Ranma the way he did. Nearly driving him to... murder. But the battle
nearly cost him his own life in the bargain. A fitting lesson for his mistake.

Now it was happening again. Only this was worse. The air he felt
before, was simply a feeling of doom. This, this was malevolent. Evil.

He opened his eyes, half expecting the sky to be dark, or the high noon
sun to be bleeding red. For there to be crows on the roof of he barn before
him, or worse. But the sky was crystal blue, without even a hint of a cloud.
A pair of birds chasing each other from tree to tree, and a squirrel having
lunch.

But the feeling was still there.

Finally, after seeing nothing, he brought his eye's back down to
earth. It was then that he noticed a gathering around the big red barn that
lay in one corner of the ranch.

"Huh?", he said to himself as he walked to the commotion.

He saw every one there. Genma, Shampoo, Area, The Cajun, and even Bob,
as they were fascinated by something. They were all watching Redd Darenger as
he franticly attacked a large hanging bag.

"Say, he's not half bad," Ryoga said.

"Hiya, he nearly as good as Akane," Shampoo stated.

"Yes," Ryoga said, "It's but it's almost as if he fighting with Akane's
style. Shampoo, where is Akane?"

"Shampoo think Akane in kitchen," Shampoo answered.

"That can only mean something bad. But where's Ranma? Isn't he
suppose to be here too?"

"Ranma go into town with Tarry. Shampoo not know why. Why you ask?"

"Just a bad feeling is all," Ryoga said.

"You sense it too?"

Ryoga turned to face Bob, who's expression mired his own.

"Seeing Redd fight like this isn't normal. It's lucky if he don't trip
over his own two feet, let alone beating up on the punching bag."

"The señor and señorita have not been apart when you come," Area said
from over them, "Now you say señor Redd fight like señorita Akane?"

"And Akane is in the kitchen," Ryoga said, "It's like there switching
places."

Suddenly, they heard a loud set of car horns playing 'Look Away To
Dixie Land' from the driveway. One by one, each head from each martial artist
popped out from the door of the barn, and spied Goldoil's Cadillac driving up
to the main building.

+ + +

"Great leap'en jack rabbits,", Kelley proclaimed, "It's Goldoil! What
he doing coming back here so soon?"

"Maybe he's already decided that we have the contract," Soun offered.

"Maybe he's decided to take us up on our offer to stay for dinner,"
Cindy offered.

"Oh no," Soun said, "If Redd can no longer cook, that means Akane will
have to. Cookies are one thing, trying to impress Goldoil is another. Trust
me, you don't want Akane to cook. She's as bad as the Cajun."

"SHHHHHHH ! ! !", The Darenger clan said.

"You don't ever mention the Cajun and food together in the same
sentence."

"Yay, du sum call The Cajun!", a sudden white blur said as it rushed
towards the main house. He moved so quickly that he had to skip on his outer
foot in order to keep his balance while making the corner. He then stopped in
front of the porch, only to see that no one was there. Looking this way, and
then that way. The only thing that he saw was a lonely tumble weed, propelled
by the wind in front of him.

"Now wer evrya go?", he mumbled to himself while shrugging his
shoulders.

< + + + >

Once again, 'Look Away To Dixie Land' blared out over the Darenger
Ranch as the Pink Cadillac coasted to a stop in front of the barn. In the
mean time, the students from the Clearwater and Saotome School ventured from
the barn/gym. Some how, Kuno found himself in front, and was first to greet
the millionaire.

"Once more, we are fortunate to share your presents, Mr. Goldoil," Kuno
said, "But I must confess as to the circumstances that leaves a great mystery
over your unexpected return."

Goldoil leaped out over the driver side door again. But instead of a
smile, Goldoil only looked at Kuno strangely.

"What he say?"

"He said that he's glad to see you again," Ukyou said, "But he was
wondering why you came back?". Her translation, or more accurately, the need
of it, won Ukyou a stabbing glare from Kuno.

"Well, I can certainly understand your confusion. Dag nabit if it
doesn't place my schedule in a bind, but there is the matter of unfinished
business with Mr. Saotome and Miss. Clearwater. Ya' haven't been seeing them
around, have ya'?"

Precisely on cue, all the Cajun refugees happened to peek out from
behind the corner of the barn to see if The Cajun was around. But Goldoil's
page brought them out of hiding.

"Mr. Goldoil," Genma said politely, finally joining the others, "We
weren't expecting you back so soon?"

"Heck, we weren't expecting to see you back at all," Kelley said, "Of
course, that's not to say that you ain't always welcome here you know."

"I know what you mean. But with all the hubbub, with boys changing
into girls, and girls changing into boys you know, I got kind of distracted,"
Goldoil said. With that, he casually strolled around the small mob of both
schools, and looked into the barn/gym. Redd was still taking his frustrations
out against the suspended punching bag.

"I got to see ever body fight, except two people," Goldoil said, looking
around the ranch. He then reached into his jacket, and pulled out his list.

"Akane Tendo, and Redd Darenger."

Fortunately the whole of the Clearwater School and the Darenger clan
let out a collective gasp in surprise.

"Redd Darenger?", Kelley said, "Goldoil, you kidder you, Redd's no
fighter."

"Not a fighter? Look's like he's beat'en the stuffing out of that
there bag," Goldoil said.

Every one leaned over, and looked back into the gym to see Redd
Darenger still attacking the punching bag with formidable force.

"Well I be puréed with a run away spoon," Kelly said, "I guess he is a
fighter after all."

"Redd?", Bob said, "But he's not a martial artist."

"Indeed, though his heart is clearly primed for action, I fear he
possesses a greater kin to boxing, and then even only just so to measure as
competent," Kuno waxed. "I fear that young Darenger would be poor matching
with fair and yet fiery Akane Tendo," Kuno waxed.

"Sí, then señorita not fight señor," Area said.

"Well now, don't that just beat all," Goldoil said with surprise,
"You arn't trying to weasel out of a deal, are ya Miss. Clearwater?. Even
after you used one of them there tickets to bring your daughter here to the
good old US of A. I was under the line of thinking that Akane was a martial
artist?"

"She is," Genma said, "and rather good in her own right."

"No doubt señorita Akane, yet señor Redd no artist," Area said, "No
mater what Area see."

"As much as I, his mother, would hate to say it,", Cindy said, "But
Area is right. Redd is not all that good of a fighter. Surly no where near
Akane's equal."

"It would seem that an error, how ever slight or humble, has been
created during your communications with the Darenger," Kuno said, "Surly, the
fault is ours, Mr. Goldoil. Yet perhaps we should concede that true
conversation may yet shed some light upon your true dilemma."

"There ain't no dilemma here, Mr. Shakespeare," Goldoil snapped, "If
there ain't no fight, there ain't no deal. Well, Mr. Saotome, Miss.
Clearwater, am I going to see a fight, or do I need to call my lawyer about
them tickets?"

< + + + >

Akane Tendo suddenly found herself in an unusual position. She was now
standing in one corner of the boxing ring that the Clearwater had built in
their barn, wearing a gi that was defiantly out of place among the hale bales,
and hung cow skulls and old saddles that were displayed on the walls.

At the far corner of the ring, sitting on a small stool sat Redd
Darenger. He too looked out of place, but emotionally, since he wore a
cushioned helmet, a padded fist, and full sized boxing gloves. Never the
less, Akane decided that he appeared to be a mouse placed in a snake's cage.

"I don't understand stand dad. Why is Goldoil making us do this?",
Akane quietly asked her father, who was standing supportively right behind
her, just outside the ring.

"I only wish I knew. But Akane, the dojo depends on this," Soun said.

"I know. But... how far do we have to go, for the dojo? Won't we
dishonor the dojo if we have to resort to tactics like this?"

Her father's frown deepened. She had given him something to consider.

"Perhaps you are right, Akane. I'll discuss it with Saotome when I get
a chance. But there is more at stake than just our school. The Clearwater
School is at stake here as well. She is the one who will pay up if Goldoil
doesn't get what he wants. Pull your punches, but try to make this fight as
showy as possible," Soun said.

"Okay."

Akane stood up from her stool, and pulled nervously at her gi,
straitened out what wrinkles it had, if any, and them moved to the center of
the ring. Redd rose to meet her, and nervously came forward to meet her.

"All right now," Goldoil said, "This is how were gonna do this. I want
a clean and friendly fight. No broken bones are gonna come for any fool
demonstration on my account. But I still want to see what you got, so there
ain't gonna be any holding back. Of course, I know that Akane is a better
fighter than Redd is, so Akane, you can only strike at the padded areas,
excluding the head of course."

Goldoil, then pulled on a cord.

<BANG!>

Akane dropped into a defensive position, already deciding to allow Redd
the first strike.

Redd tightened his padded gloves to his chest, a formable barrier to
his sternum, her only real target.

The two fighting styles were defiantly unmatched, as Akane eyed her
opponent coldly and still. Redd on the other hand bounced and bobbed on his
feet, moving around as much as possible, making himself a moving target.
Wasting precious energy in the process.

Redd then lunged forward with a series of punches to her head and
chest. Akane dodged each with ease, almost with the same casual and
dismissive manner that Ranma dodges her strikes.

Finally, he lunged with a left punch. Akane dropped on her knees
slightly, and threw her right fist directly inside his arm, and struck him
square in the sternum.

He stumbled backwards. More surprised than injured. He then tightened
his defenses, and approached again.

Until now, the whole barn was silent. Then, Redd's brothers and
countrymen began to shout encouragement. While his mother shouted advice and
strategy.

Now I know why Ranma holds back when we spar. The only way Redd is
going to hit me, is if I let him. Well, I do need to make for a showy fight.

< + + + >

Some where else on the ranch, lay an old and abandoned rickety shed.
The rigger of weather and sun had been brutal to the structure, and it slumped
and tilted against it's own weight. Still, even if it's resistance was in a
sad state, it still stood against time, like a relic from an age long past.

Sunlight poured in through the shattered and broken walls and the
gaps that have been punched into the ceiling. It was completely empty, save
for an owl who slept away the day, who had made a nest in the belly of an old
and rusted tractor, who stood as quiet, and as forgotten as the shed itself.
Its metal parts haven't been moved, or tended to for decades since it's
abandonment.

Suddenly, the owl's eye flickered open, and it looked nervously about
the empty shed. A pair of dim red eye's opened in the dusty daylight at the
entrance. A spooky gray smoke drifted about the flowing eyes like settling
dust and the dry and still air. The eye's then turned, and regarded the owl.

With a loud shriek of panic, the owl leaped from its perch, and into
the hot air. It then swooped past the eyes, and into the day, fleeing in fear
from the apparition.

Then the mysterious figure stepped out of the smoke, and into the shack.

"Arise again, brave spirits," the figure said, raising his arms, and
opening his mouth. More gray smoked ebbed foreword, and drifted upon the
ground like thin and empty water. The thick and compacted soil then cracked,
and move under it's own accord.

A pair of bleached skeletons erupted from the ground. One wearing a
rusted armor and ridged hat, while the other was adorned with tangled fathers,
and rotting leather armor. But as the smoke swirled around them, flesh
appeared, leather healed, and metal became polished.

Finally, two solders now stood before the dark figure. A Spanish
soldier clad in silver armor and armed with a long pike. An Indian warrior,
wielding a formidable bronze war hatchet.

"Go, and collect the dolls held dear by Akane and Redd. Let nothing
stop you, while I see to your reinforcements."

The soldier came to attention, bringing his pike to his right
shoulder, and his left arm, level across his chest. The warriors stood up
straight and tall, and held forward an open hand, in salute. Then, they both
simultaneously opened their eyes to address their master. Their eye's glowed
a pale yellow, and was devoid of any spark of either soul, or spirit. Both
quickly marched from the shed, to carry out their mission.

< + + + >

Ryoga Hibiki suddenly narrowed his eye's, as his gaze snapped away
from the ring, and locked onto a spot quite distant from the outside of the
barn. That spooky feeling that he felt before had never left him. But now,
something had changed. Something that demanded an immediate investigation.
He silently turned, and left the ring side, and moved outside.

Bob also noticed that something was up, by spotting Ryoga's sudden
distraction, and departure. Quietly, he made his own discrete departure, and
slipped out as well.

Ryoga now stood at the entrance to the barn. Again, he surveyed the
ranch. But there still wasn't any thing out of place. The only thing that he
could see was a small white cloud hovering far over head. But the feeling
persisted. In fact, it was so strong that he thought that he could almost
sense the direction that made him feel most uneasy.

"See something?" Bob asked, now standing beside him.
"More like I feel something," Ryoga said, not bothering to look at his
odd companion.

His nervousness began to shift strangely, and then, it left. Or more
acutely, the focus left, and now he was simply feeling the tension all around
him, as if whatever it was, was now gone.

"If you tell me what you feel, perhaps I can help," Bob said.
"I doubt It," Ryoga said, "its not that I don't trust you, but I don't
understand this feeling myself. I just feel like... like I'm in danger. Like
were all in danger.

"Hmm, Come on," Bob said. He then walked away from the barn, and in
the direction that Ryoga was looking.

Ryoga turned to look back at Akane and Redd, who were still engaged in
there lop sided fight. He stared at Akane for one final moment, treating this
departure as he did every time he left Akane. As if this moment would be the
last time he would ever see her. Dedicating every motion, her every curve,
every flash of her eye's, to memory.

Then, without question, doubt, or further hesitation, he turned to
follow Bob. Perhaps he had resources that might answer these mysteries. He
could only hope so, for his senses were definitely warning of a great evil
peril.

< + + + >

Ranma-chan continued to measure her pace. Her jog seemed agonizingly
slow, even as her apprehension raced. But to go any faster meant tempting
death. With the intense heat, dry and dusty air, she was already reaching the
limits of her endurance.

Keeping pace directly next to her, was Tarry. Her own face was equally
grim and determined. But her face practically pored with sweet, and her
fatigue was not hard to miss. What kind of shape would they be in when they
finally arrive? What it they had to charge directly into battle, so close to
exhaustion?

Ranma reached up with her forearm, and pulled away her own sweat from
her brow.

"Perhaps running out here, into the desert, wasn't such a good idea,"
Ranma-chan said between measured and necessary gasps, "Without water, we will
never make it."

"The Lord will provide," was Tarry's only response.

Finally, they toped over the next hill. There, at the bottom, was a
narrow stream full of clear water, and flanked on ether side of a small
hedging of trees and foliage.

The two slowed down to a walk, to allow the muscles to relax before
stopping for water and rest. Upon reaching the water, Tarry's reaction was
decisive, as she jumped into the stream.

She, now a he, stood up, and splashed water upon his face, and then
cupped water to his mouth to drink.

Ranma-chan did like wise, washing away the sweet and dust, and
drenching her thirst. She then let out with a girlish giggle as she splashed
about.

She then joined boy type Tarry, who had perched himself onto a small,
dry bolder.

"Boy, did that feel good," Ranma-chan said.

"You mean, girl, don't you," Tarry said fiendishly.

"Hay, I don't call you names."

Tarry returned a smile, but it was brief. Even despite their rest,
it was impossible to forget about the dire situation that demanded that they
tread so close to exhaustion and dehydration in the Texas desert. In fact,
it seemed as if Ranma was being constantly reminded by something.

"Huh?", she said as she looked up throw the thin leafs of the trees.

When they had left Dirt Hill, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. But
now, there was a large white cloud that hovered in the sky, just over the
Darenger ranch. It was completely benign, and yet it could only seem to add
to the tension in some indescribable way.

"Something is defiantly very wrong," Ranma-chan said, "It's like a
storm or something."

"Huh?", boy-type Tarry said. "Yay, I feel it too. Only it wasn't the
sky I was thinking about. It feels almost as if the ground is mad at us."

"At us? That's ridiculous. Why would the ground be mad at us?", Ranma-
chan said.

"I don't know. But we had better find out soon. Damn, I wish I hadn't
left the Anti Christ back at Dirt Hill."

"Nothing we can do about that now. Come on, we better get going,"
Ranma said.

"Right. Were wasting time here. The sooner we get back to the ranch,
the better."

With a final splash of cold water, Ranma-chan and boy-type Tarry
returned to the dirt road, and started trotting along at a measured pace.

< + + + >

Ryoga had continued to follow Bob in the direction where he was
staring. There, at the edge of a particular desolate and barren pasture,
stood a lonely and some what decrypted shack. It was half teetered over from
age and neglect. In places, the boards the made up the walls were so thin
that he could see though to the dusty pasture that lay along the far side.

"Is this the place?", Bob asked.

"Hiey," Ryoga replied.

"Excuse me?", Bob replied.

Ryoga looked over at Bob, and realized that the pendent must have
missed a word. Indeed, Bob's words were slurred, and were heavily accented
Japanese that he could barely interpret.

Ryoga searched his limited English vocabulary, and found the word that
he needed.
"Yes," he said, not wanting to rely on the pendent for a second time.

Bob's response was only to frown deeper. They both knew that if they
could not communicate, then they could not collaborate against the still
unknown threat. Perhaps it was designed as such, and that meant they were
against a foe, and not just a force.

Bob unzipped his coverall, and pulled out his pendant, and removed it.
He then handed it to Ryoga.

"Can you understand me better now?", Bob said. Surprisingly, his
distorted accent was gone.

"Yes. Yes I can," Ryoga said, now holding both pendants. "I see, you
doubled the strength of mine. But it means that you can't..."

"I can still function without it a lot better than you would fare
without understanding English. But if for some reason, bad should go to
worse, go to town and find Miss. Anderson. She speaks both English and
Japanese."

"I understand that Ukyou knows some English as well," Ryoga said, "So
we do have some options."

"Good, we can use some. Come on, we had better hurry, we may not have
much time."

The two of them once again headed towards the old shack. Their pace
was casual, yet deliberate and measured. For some reason, their steps
synchronized, and Ryoga had the strange sense as if he was a cowboy, stalking
his way to a gunfight. If only the atmosphere wasn't so tense.

It was still a good two hundred meters away when Ryoga final did begin to
sense something from it.

Suddenly, the feeling flushed around them, like a sudden tide. The
mood became vary ominous. Ryoga exchanged a single glance with Bob, and he
looked back. No translation was needed.

Instantly, the pair drew out their weapons, and stood back to back to
cover each other's flank.

Ryoga had produced his bamboo umbrella, while Bob pulled out a long and heavy
looking wrench that could torque down a nut as big as Ryoga's fist. For a few
heartbeats, they both stood ready. But it seemed that it was just them, the
dust, and the old shack still waiting for them in the distance.

Then, as if to confirm their fears, the sun disappeared. A
dominating white cloud over head had blotted out the sun. But already, the
light began to dim at its thicker parts. It was a storm in the making.

"I was wrong," Ryoga announced, "It's not the shack, but the sky."

"No. Not the sky, but the ground," Bob said, "I could have sworn I
felt it tremble in rage a second ago."

They gave each other the merest of glances from the corner of their
eyes from over their shoulders.

"Their both the threat," they simultaneously stated.

"It is starting to make sense now. I'm from Japan, known as the land
of the rising sun. And the sun is in the sky," Ryoga said.

"While were from the land of the free, attuned to the ground," Bob
continued, "We know what we are up against, but we don't know why."

"I hope it isn't the sky and the ground that were against. How can we
fight such forces?", Ryoga said.

"By finding out what's going on. And the answers, if not the first
clues, will be in that shed," Bob said.

They broke their defensive formation, and quickly walked the distance
to the abandoned shed. However, their weapons were still drawn, and they were
still prepared to use them.

Finally, they approached the wide and tilted entrance. Ryoga knelt
down and examined the dust.

"There are three sets of foot prints here. One appears to be a boot of
some kind. The other two are of sandals."

"Moccasins," Bob said.

Ryoga looked up, wondering if his pendants were beginning to fail again.

"Indian word for sandal," Bob said.

Ryoga stood up, and they both stepped inside.

The shed was completely empty, save for a rusted and forgotten
tractor that hadn't been used in decades. Ryoga continued to follow the
tracks. One set pointed inward, and then disappeared. The other two tracks
left the shed, but mysteriously from a collapsed hole in the dirt that was
about in the center of the shed.

"I don't like this," Ryoga said.

He then looked up at Bob, and discovered that he was hugging the
tractor, and caressing the dry and rusted engine.

"What are you doing?"

"Shhh!", Bob said. He then put his ear to the upper cowling.

"Machines have a spirit. Just like a weapon dues," Bob then withdrew
from the cowling, and climbed atop the control platform. With a rusty
squeak, he plopped himself into the tattered seat, and began to fondle and
grip a large three foot wide steering wheel that dominated the platform.

"If you listen, they will speak to you," Bob passively said, as if
focussing his attention on something else. "She's a tractor that used to
belong to a farmer a long time ago. He was poor, and struggling when his
fields turned to dust. That farmer sat here and cried, and apologized to
her," Bob said, "He told her that he had to go to California to find work.
She's been sleeping here ever since. Her only companion being a horned owl.
That is until recently, when something bad happed."

"You mean it, or he, I mean she, saw what happened?", Ryoga said.

"She can't see any thing, only sense it," Bob said, "An angry force
came here, and taped into that angry force that we felt from the sky and the
ground. That anger was drawn there, to that hole." With that, Bob dropped
back down to the ground.

"Something must have been reanimated here," Ryoga said, and that angry
force must have sent them back to the ranch. We have to warn the others."

With that, Ryoga ran from the shed, and back out into the open.

"Wait. We have to do something else to," Bob said, running after
Ryoga and prompting him to stop and wait up for him, "I think this magic
force is getting stronger. Soon, I reason that the pendants will fail all
together. And this talk about angry sky and grounds sounds like Indian mumbo
jumbo." Bob then pointed to one of the distant mountains that rested on the
horizon. "There is an old Shaman that lives in those hills. He's the one who
made the pendants. If any one can make some sense into this he can.
Besides, we need to find out what's wrong with the pendants before they fail
us completely."

"But how can we get there? It must be hundreds of kilometers away?"

"There's another way," Bob said. With that, he returned back into
the shed, and approached the tractor. He produced a socket wrench, and
proceeded to remove the oil pan. He gently lowered it to the floor, reveling
that it was sloshing over with black oil.

Gently tipping it over, the oil began to poor out, and revealed a pool
of clear and clean water underneath.

"You go and warn the others," Bob said. He then raised the water
filled pan over his head, and poured the cold water over himself.

In the blink of an eye, Bob disappeared. Suddenly, a green feathered
parrot flew up, and landed on the engine cowling of the old tractor.

Ryoga recoiled briefly. He knew he shouldn't have been surprised.
Tarry was already shown to be cursed. Plus, he had is own curse to contend
with. Never the less, it was still a shock.

The parrot eyed Ryoga coldly, and with jerky movements.

"<Rraww>, Bob go talk to shaman. <whee herrr>"

Ryoga then regain his composure.

"Well all right then. I'll go warn the others, and find those two men
before they can do any harm."

With that, Bob the parrot flapped his winds, and took off into the
dusty air. Ryoga took flight in his own way, covering ground at a full
sprint, back to the ranch.

< + + + >

Akane's ordeal continued. With relentless energy, she pummeled poor
and over matched Redd. But she had to admit that he was tuff, and persistent.
He took his punishment, and always got back up.

The barn was again, silent. The Darenger clan was no longer shouting
encouragement, but was simply waiting for Goldoil to end the charade.

She easily dodged another clumsy punch, and shot Goldoil a stabbing
glare. Knowing full well that it might jeopardize the dojo. But this had
gone on long enough.

But Goldoil didn't respond. In fact, there was no response from him at
all, he just simply stood there, and stared into space.

Akane shifted to one side, and caught Redd's punch in mid swing.
Stopping the fight.

Goldoil still didn't respond.

"Akane!", her father howled, "What are you doing? You know that if
there is no fight, there's no money!"

"Look," Akane said, pointing at the motionless Goldoil, still holding
the cord to the bell.

Every one did. And Goldoil still did not respond, in any way.

It was finally Shampoo who approached him.

"Hiya, he no moving."

She then took him by the shoulder. Suddenly, her touch disturbed his
balance. Still on his feet, he toppled over, like a stiff log. His flesh
split in half, and literally seemed to suddenly oozed to the ground.

Simultaneously, every one shrieked, and retreated as far as the barn
walls would allow. The Martial artist had all jumped up to the balcony, and
drawn their weapons. But Goldoil only continued to disintegrate. Rotting
flesh quickly turned into dust, and was then carried outside by an unseen
wind, leaving bleach bones behind. Soon, they too disintegrated into dust,
and were carried away. Within a matter of minuets, Goldoil had been reduced
to nothing. Not a single hair remained, leaving every one to wonder if he
was really there.

"What the...?", Akane said, stepping foreword.

"AKANE ! ! !"

"Huh?!". Akane stood up, and turned towards the shout.

"Ranma!", she shouted.

"Tarry!", Redd said, suddenly charging from the barn, "She's in
trouble!"

"AKANE ! ! !", Ranma shouted again. What ever it was, his need her for
was desperate.

"Ranma! I'm coming! Hold on!", she shouted, now also sprinting
outside.

Akane's display left every one else puzzled.

"What's she talking about," Saotome said.

"Indeed, her state has deteriorated so, that she is delusional with the
voice of her tormenter. Ranma Saotome, thus truly haunts her dementia," Kuno
waxed.

"It ain't gona matter if Tarry and Ranma's in trouble. Goldoil is a
fake!", Kelley announced loudly, "And them two just walked into the jaws of a
trap."

Every one did a double take. Then quickly came to their senses. As an
unruly mob, they all sprinted from the barn, and after the two fleeing lovers.

"Akane Tendo, restrain your haste!", Kuno shouted, "For you know not
the dangers that abound."

But it was no use, Redd just rounded the corner of the main house, with
Akane close on his heels.

Both the Saotome School and the Clearwater School chased after them,
sprinting around the corner of the house less than a minuet away. Then they
all froze in place.

Standing before them, was an impressive and menacing army of Spanish
Soldiers and Indian Warriors, standing among each other in mixed strength.
Beyond their ranks, they could see that Akane and Redd had been allowed to
pass without challenge.

All eye's then turned towered their only route of retreat, only to find
that several more ranks of Spanish and Indian solders and closed in on their
flanks.

"Great tumblen tumbleweeds, we've been bushwhacked," Kelley needlessly
stated.

Both Schools quickly collapsed into a defensive ring, brisling with a
bizarre assortment of weapons, while the Darenger brothers found themselves
shoved into the center.

Kuno, having found himself in the unenviable position at the point,
held out his bokken in defiance against the ranks of hostile soldiers before
him.

Genma and Soun were in defensive postured, standing side by side, but sharing
the mind of a single combatant.

Kelley and Cindy stood together in similar posture.

Ukyou had her giant spatula in hand.

The Cajun had produced his tongs and poker, unfortunately, he was also armed
with his ever persistent grin. Which only meant that he was eager for the
brawl to begin.

Area readied a long fifteen foot whip with a loud snap, and drew herself to
her full height, towering a full head and shoulders above every one else.

Shampoo stood ready with her bondori in hand, and a pricing glare in her eye.

Marry Ann stood her ground, with a menacing hatchet in each hand.

"What devilry is this!", Kuno snapped, "The trap has sprung, and thus,
the jaws close upon us!"

Barely a heartbeat's worth of eternity passed, as both schools waited
helplessly for the assault. The odds were desperate, and they found
themselves out numbered ten to one, and with the relatively helpless Darenger
brothers held in the middle.

Then, with a blistering shouting of male lungs, the hellish wrath of
the ambush was unleashed. Then the students of the Saotome School of
anything Goes Martial Arts, and the students Clearwater School of Anything
goes Indian Fighting, unleashed the full measure of their arts and skills
along with battle cries of their own.

Cannons fired, arrows flew. But were met with every bizarre assortment of
weapon carried by the Schools.

Within seconds, the ambush became a horrific battle, and rapidly began to
deteriorate. There were no term, no ultimatums. This army had been clearly
sent to kill them all, without question, without hesitation.

Within seconds from the start of the melee, both schools were force to pull
out all the stops, and fight with deadly force. And the battle became a
blood bath.

And still, rank after rank, after rank, of solders and warriors pressed
in upon them.

Only skill and courage separated the brave students, from sure and certain
oblivion.

To be continued:

_________Closing
Credits_______________________________________________________ -->Insert the
them song for Get Smart here.<-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- Story by : Douglas E. Kulp Editing by : Lila R. Kulp (Soon to be Lila R.
Shaumeyer. Congratulations sis.) Based on stuff by : Rumiko Takahashi
Transportation and lodging by : Code Name D.
_____________________________________________________________________________
__

Well, if you're not addicted to this story by now. You must be dead. (Either
that, or your not a Ranma 1/2 fan.)

________________ +-------------------------------------------+
[ Code Name D ] |Comments and critiques are welcome. |
[ ___/\/\___ ] |Flames and gripes are also welcome. |
[ _(_@ @)_ ] |Just use your pre-installed Download |
[ _\__\/__/_ ] |Editorial Listing of Elements To be |
[ \ () * / ] |Enhanced. Also known by it's acronym |
Beware of the spy |as the DELETE key, to send it on it's way. |
doug...@feist.com +-------------------------------------------+
or code_...@my-dejanews.com

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