[Ranma][FanFic] Shampoo 1/2, Chapter 8

[DB Sommer]

Subject: Shampoo 1/2 Chapter 8: Do You Remember Me?

Ranma 1/2 Presents:
Shampoo 1/2

By: D.B. Sommer
Standard Disclaimer:
I don't own any of this stuff. It is all the property of the Goddess
Takahashi and whomever she leased the rights to. Ghost Sweeper Mikami
is owned by someone else.

As I promised before, the story format has been changed to prose.
Since it is basically my first attempt at using prose, it may be a bit
awkward. Let me know how it sounds. As always, any C+C is appreciated.
Feel free to ask for previous chapters at som...@nb.net

An alternate universe: What's gone on before (or what you really need
to know to enjoy this fic.) In the Beginning, the Saotomes traveled to
Jusekyou and began sparring, not realizing that Shampoo and Mousse
had already begun a duel there. One mid-air collision and bath In
Spring of Young Drowned Man later, we have a Male Shampoo as well as a
female Ranma. (So Ranma/Ranma-kun= male Ranma/Ranma-chan= female
Ranma. Shampoo /Shampoo-chan= female Shampoo. Shampoo-kun= male
Shampoo.) Shampoo elects to travel to Japan with Ranma, and is briefly
engaged to Kasumi. After that mix-up is corrected, Ranma is engaged to
Akane. At school, water and confusion mix and the school believes
Ranma-chan is Shampoo and Shampoo-kun is Ranma. The female student
body has been after Shampoo-kun ever since. Last chapter RanRan and
LinLin made an attempt to force Shampoo back to China, but were
defeated by Akane and Ranma. Also, Ryouga had a journey through time
and space in an effort to get Ukyou a part for her oven, Tusbasa
tagging along for the entire trip. Now a mysterious girl has arrived
at Furinkan in an effort to destroy some "Great Evil" there...

Chapter 8
"Do You Remember Me?"

Akane found herself standing in the entryway of the Tendo House. She
couldn't remember how she got there, she was simply there. She looked
around and realized something was disturbing her, something that was
not
quite...right. As she stood there it finally dawned on her, it was the
house itself. It looked somehow different. It was difficult to make
out the details on things, and it seemed to her there was a feeling of
less color, as though everything was somehow drab and slightly off. A
closer inspection revealed that things were out of place, some of the
furniture looked different. She immediately spotted some new chairs in
one of the rooms and a different coat rack from the one she was used
to. But as different as they were, they also felt impossibly familiar.
Her reverie was interrupted by the sounds of children's laughter
coming from upstairs. Maybe they had some idea of what was going on.
Her mind went through the possibilities as she ascended the stairs.
There was no way Kasumi could have done that much redecorating
overnight. Her sister was a creature of habit, and would not have
changed anything without mentioning it to someone. That pervert
Happosai might have come done something, but this didn't seem his
style. Perhaps she simply wandered into someone else's house. No, that
didn't make any sense either. There was too much she recognized. She
was still running through the possibilities in her mind as she was
almost to the top of the stairs. She heard small feet running around,
and rushed up the last few steps in an attempt to see who was making
the noise. When she arrived at the top there was no one to be seen.
She turned and started to head towards one of the bedrooms when she
heard a voice.

"Hello there."

Akane looked back to see a woman standing where there was none a
moment ago.

"I couldn't have missed her standing there, and there's nowhere she
could have been hidden. Where did she come from?" Akane did notice
that rather than feeling panicked by the woman's sudden appearance,
she felt at ease. She saw no reason not to respond.

"Hello."

Akane tried to make out the woman's face, but there seemed to be some
sort of haze blocking out her features. An impossible amount in the
space between her and the newcomer. The woman spoke again.

"Do you remember me?"

Her voice was soft and gentle. Akane didn't fell the least bit
frightened by the faceless woman's interrogation. In fact, she found
herself relaxing and wanting to answer her.

"No. Should I?"

The woman's tone took on a note of sorrow, "How sad. Perhaps you
should ask someone who would remember. Someone older."

Akane was confused. What was that supposed to mean? Older how? What
difference would that make. She shook her head.

"I don't understand."

The woman slowly raised her hand and caressed Akane's face. It was a
warm and gentle gesture, relaxing Akane further. She spoke once again.
"I'm sure it will all come back to you in time. When you're ready."

A loud noise suddenly erupted from all around, coming from the walls
themselves. Everything started to become more and more hazy until it
disappeared altogether. Then there was light. Akane reflexively hit
the button on the alarm.

She rubbed her eyes, "A dream. All of that was a dream. What the heck
was that all about?"

She paused for a moment to try and remember all that she could before
it drifted from her mind, as most dreams did upon waking.. There was
something about the house and children, and she distinctly remembered
the encounter with the strange woman. She racked her mind to put a
face with the voice. It was such a nice and pleasant voice she was
sure she could remember it, but no one came to mind. She couldn't
waste anymore time wondering about it, so she started getting ready
for school.

Ukyou had already dressed in her boy's school uniform. She exhaled a
bit in frustration,. the source of it being Ryouga. His hair was an
unruly mess and she was fighting a losing battle trying to put it in
somewhat decent shape.

She looked the lost one over, "Come on Ryouga, work with me. You want
to make a good first impression at school, right?"

"I'm a little nervous." In fact, he looked as though he was about to
pass out. "It's been so long since I've attended school. What if I
can't keep up? What if I make a fool of myself? What if I have to take
swimming in gym? Can bats get A's in Phys. Ed.?" A cold sweat broke
out on his brow.

Ukyou wasn't going to play into his panic, "We'll get you out of it
somehow. Now come on, or we'll be late." She grabbed his arm and raced
out the door with him. As they went outside he made her stop after
only a few steps.

"Wait." He started to look around furtively, "Tsubasa may be out here.
Look! There!" He pointed out a trash can. "That may be him." He ran
over and demolished the can. It didn't scream. "Hmm, guess not, but
what about that?" He pointed out a mailbox, ran over and demolished
it.

Ukyou looked at him uncertainly "Are you going to destroy everything
between here and school?"

"We can't take any chances with your safety. I'm going destroy
everything between here and there if it will keep you safe from him."
Ryouga then proceeded to demolish a telephone pole.

Ukyou gave a little smile, "That's so sweet. Of course we'll be late
for school." She shrugged, "Guess we'll just have to leave earlier
tomorrow." She followed in the wake of Ryouga's path of destruction.

Eventually the duo arrived at school just in time to see Shampoo-kun's
morning calistetics with the female population. Ukyou saw Akane and
Ranma-chan observing the fight off to the side. Ranma-chan had Kunou
already beaten and underfoot, twisting her foot every now and then
when he threatened to come around. Ukyou moved to join them, making
the mistake of letting go of Ryouga's arm. Fortunately, she realized
her mistake and grabbed his arm before he ended up in Okinawa, again.
She came within earshot of the conversation Akane and Ranma-chan had
started.

Akane spoke, "Did you hear they uncovered some old artifacts beneath
the school?" Ranma-chan shook her head so Akane continued, "When those
insane cheerleaders first arrived they tore up one of the basements.
Underneath were some old relics or something. They're keeping there
until some archeologists can identify them." Akane took notice of
Ukyou and Ryouga, "Hey, looks who's coming!"

Ranma-chan started to smile and wave at Ukyou, but the smiled died
halfway on her lips when she saw Ukyou's companion, "What's he doing
here?" She pointed to Ryouga.

Ryouga got defensive immediately, "I'm attending school now."

"And what makes you think you can even find your way here?"

Ryouga turned at looked at his companion and gave her a smile, "Ukyou
is helping me."

Ranma-chan just looked to the ground and shook her head, "Poor girl."

Ukyou shrugged, "I don't mind."

Ranma-chan observed the fight taking place in the schoolyard. The
number of attackers had definitely dropped to about half of what there
was the first day of discovering the dating ritual. Shampoo-kun
finished off the last of them as Ranma-chan handed him his school bag
and everyone entered the school.

The principal's was sitting behind his desk. It was too early in the
morning to have to deal with this sort of thing. The girl that was
confronting him appeared to be a normal sixteen years old, wearing
glasses, and had red hair. If it wasn't for the shrine maiden's outfit
she was wearing he would have sworn she was an ordinary Furinkan
student. That was to say, she was as rude and obnoxious as the
majority of the student body. It sounded as though she was winding
down on her speech and he would soon be able to nod his head knowingly
and dismiss her.

"I tell you there is an evil presence in your school." She was
becoming more and more infuriated with the principal's relaxed
attitude. Didn't he know there was danger?

"The students aren't evil, just misguided." It was a comment he heard
frequently. What did they expect him to do. Discipline them?

"I meant a supernatural evil. Didn't you listen to a word I said?"

In fact, that had been part of the conversation he had tuned out. He
rose up from behind his desk and walked forward to the girl. "And I
tell you there isn't any. If our school was haunted, don't you think I
would be aware of it?"

A mysterious smile crossed the girl's face. She turned to go, saying,
"I'll wait outside for your decision." as she closed the door behind
her.

The principal sat down, exhausted already, "What an odd girl, she'd
fit right in here. The school is haunted indeed." He turned back to
his desk and saw a disembodied head hovering above his desk, which was
also levitating. "Then again, perhaps there is wisdom in her
suggestion."

At the homeroom there was still some time before class actually
started. Most of the students had broken off into small groups
discussing things with one another. Ukyou was talking with two such
girls in one of the groups.

Sayuri looked directly at Ukyou, "So what's up with the new guy?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Chisa didn't buy it, "We saw you arrive with him and noticed you had
your arm in his. So is he, like, your boyfriend or something?"

Ukyou began to blush. "No. Nothing like that."

Sayuri's eyebrows shot up, "Then he's available?"

Ukyou's face changed shades of red, "I thought you wanted Ranma."

"Well I do. But since I haven't come close to beating him, and I
haven't had a date in a while, I thought I might play the field a
bit." Chisa dittoed her friend's sentiment, causing Ukyou to turn a
deeper shade.

A little distance away Ranma-chan and Ryouga were having their own
conversation.

"I can't believe you're making Ucchan take you to school every day.
It's like you're a little kid or something."

"She doesn't mind. In fact, she volunteered. And don't call her
Ucchan."

Ranma-chan shook her head, "She's just taking pity on you. Just like
when she hired you as a waiter."

That really got Ryouga riled, he liked his job, "I do a fine job of
waiting on tables."

Ranma-chan gave him a flat stare, "Like when you were serving her food
to the pet store because you kept getting lost."

Ryouga started to blush, "She told you about that?"

"Yep. I'll bet she has to go pretty far out of her way for you. So
where do you live now anyway? The Batcave?"

Ryouga finally had one on her, "Ha Ha. For your information she
doesn't have to go far at all. I live with Ukyou."

The entire room broke the laws of physics and instantly surrounded
Ukyou's and Ryouga's desks.

"I don't believe it."

"You sly dog."

"I think it's shameful."

"I wish I could live with a girl."

"And here I thought Ukyou didn't like guys since she didn't go after
Ranma. Turns out she has one on the side already."

"So what's she like? You know?"

Ukyou went back to her shade of red from embarrassment, "Wait a
minute. It's not like that."

Ryouga became red too, "It's totally innocent."

"He works for me..."

"...and I have trouble finding my way around..."

"...so it only makes sense..."

"...I'm even renting the room..."

"...it's part of his pay."

The room went silent as Godai-Sensei approached the two desks, looking
over the duo intently. He nodded his head as if deciding on something,
then turned to Ryouga. "So you are renting the room from her?" Ryouga
nodded his head, "So that makes her your manager?" He nodded again. "I
have a piece of advice to give you."

Ryouga leaned forward intently, "Yes?"

"Whatever you do..."

"Yes?" Everyone leaned in to listen more closely.

"...do not let her..."

"Yes?" Everyone now joined in with Ryouga.

"...take tennis lessons."

Everyone facefaulted.

Godai-sensei continued, unaffected by the state of his class, and
delivered his monologue. "Oh sure. Tennis coaches may seem like nice,
charming, rich, good looking kinds of guys. But inside, they are
nothing but busybody lowlifes, that interfere with normal people's
love lives. Stay away from them at all costs."

In the next moment the robed girl stormed into the room, looking all
around the until her eyes settled on Ranma-chan, then dramatically
spoke up, "I sense the aura of magic around you girl. I see that your
soul is being held by a man. You shall be released from those bonds."
She reached inside her robes and stuck a strip of paper that
suspiciously looks like a large price tag between Ranma-chan eyes.

Ranma-chan looked cross eyed at it. "Am I on sale or something?"

The girl looked at the tag and took it off. "Damn! Thought I tore that
off." This time she put a ward between Ranma-chan's eyes. Ranma-chan
removed this one herself.

The newcomer stared in disbelief, "You can remove wards? What a
powerful demon you are. We'll try the direct approach." She then
pointed her finger at Ranma-chan. The finger began to glow. The girl
waved it around and started forming a symbol in midair. The pattern
remained glowing as her finger completed the symbol. "Begone demon!"

The symbol shot out a beam of light that engulfed Ranma-chan. She felt
a force start to blow her backwards. The beam became brighter as
Ranma-chan's image was lost from view as everyone covered their eyes.
The light faded and the symbol disappeared.

The girl gave a V for victory sign and began talking to no one in
particular, "I have banished you to the nether regions you
hellsp...WHAT?"

Ranma-chan was sitting there, apparently unaffected.

The girl quickly recovered, "So. You have some sort of resistance
against banishment. Let's try some more conventional magic." She waved
with her hands and shouted, "Repulsion!" A beam of energy shot out
from the girl's hands, the force of which plowed desks to the side and
picked Ranma-chan up and threw her into a wall. Ryouga was sitting at
a desk that was blown out the window. Ukyou rushed over to and looked
out, seeing that Ryouga had landed in the pool directly under the
window.

Shampoo-kun moved to strike the girl. "You hurt Ran...mean Shampoo.
Now be hurt."

The girl stared at Shampoo-kun, "So you are possessed as well, by a
girl, I see. Very well. She started making nother symbol in midair.
This action did not go over well with the majority of the females in
class.

"She's attacking Ranma. Let's get her." The women moved as one and dog
piled on the girl.

The newcomer struggled to get out of the grasp, "He has you under a
spell, I tell you. Let me free you." She struggled further to no
avail.

Godai-sensei spoke, "Good work girls. You seem to have caught a
terrorist." As he finished the principal walked in. "Who're you?"

The principal identified himself. Godai faintly remembered seeing the
man once when he was hired five months ago. The principal continued,
"She's no terrorist. Her presence here is at the behest of the school.
She's going to take care of a, ah, ghost problem. Her name is Minami.
Release her!" The girls reluctantly did so.

Akane moved closer to the girl, seeming to be somewhere in awe. "So
what are you? A priestess?"

"I am no mere priestess. I am a ghost sweeper." Minami struck the
dramatic pose she had learned from her Ghost Sweeper supervisor.

Akane smiled, "I've heard of you. You were the one that rescued Tokyo
from that Nosferatu."

A battle aura erupted around Minami. Akane managed to use the one
comparison which would set her off, "That was Reiko Mikami.
M...I...K...A...M...I. My name is Minami. I would appreciate it if you
did not compare me to that aging mercenary cow." She briefly
considered frying Akane on the spot, but elected not to since innocent
deaths counted against you in field tests. Something like minus ten
points or some such.

Akane apologized, "Sorry. Wow! A genuine ghost sweeper." She caught
Minami muttering something under her breath. "What was that?"

Minami cleared her throat, "I said I am actually only a ghost sweeper
in training. But one more demon and I'll have enough points to become
a full fledged ghost sweeper. So you see why I must banish them. I can
clearly see these two," She pointed to Ranma-chan and Shampoo-kun,
"are possessed."

Ranma-chan spoke up, "I ain't sad. I feel fine."

"I said possessed, not depressed you moron. You're being controlled by
a demon. Seems to be affecting your intelligence too."

"You said it looks like a boy above her," Akane pointed to Ranma-chan.
"and a girl with him?" She pointed to Shampoo-kun. Minami nodded. "I
think I can explain this."

It was at that moment that Ryouga-bat flew into the room. Minami
stared at him intently. Her face perked up.
"A vampire! They're worth double points!" She pulled out a hammer and
stake and held them over her head as though she was about to hammer
the stake into something, namely Ryouga. She began running around the
room chasing him. Fortunately for the flying rodent, Ukyou jumped to
his defense by holding her spatula so as to cut off Minami's pursuit.
"You will not harm him."

Minami came to the obvious, and incorrect assumption, "I see. It's
already bewitched you. I will free you from his influence." She began
gesturing for another spell.

"Wait!" Akane grabbed Minami by the hair, disrupting the spell. "You
come with me." She began dragging her off. "Ranma! Shampoo! Bat!
Follow me!"

Ukyou joined the group as they made their way to a closet in the hall,
where some of the emergency water supply that Ranma-chan and
Shampoo-kun had stashed for quick changes was located. Inside there
was a thermos of hot water next to a canteen of cold water. Everyone
sat down, Akane finally letting go of Minami's hair.

Akane turned to Minami. "Have you ever heard of Jusenkyou?"

Minami spoke up as though reading form a book, "Located in China, an
area of many cursed pools, that, if you fall into one you become
whatever drowned in it when doused with cold water, and hot water
reverses the process. Right?" Akane nodded. "No." Everyone
facefaulted.

Ranma-chan was the first to recover, "What do you mean you never heard
of it? You just described it exactly!"

Minami held up her hand in a warding gesture, "What I mean is I don't
believe in it. Who ever heard of a curse as stupid as th..."

Her voice trailed off as she watched Akane pour hot water on
Ranma-chan, Shampoo-kun, and Ryouga. Ryouga immediately covered up his
private parts.

"Clothes! Clothes! Only do that when my clothes are near."

"Oh shut up." Ranma dumped a canteen of cold water on him. He then
doused himself and Shampoo back to their school forms.

Ukyou moved to go, "I'll get his clothes. We're going to have to
leave several extra sets around here just in case."

Minami had been watching the events with her mouth wide open.

"You three actually went to Jusenkyou?" They nodded, "How stupid can
you be? HA HA HA..." Her survival instinct kicked in and she stopped
laughing. She realized maybe it wasn't a good idea to enrage powerful
martial artists when you were locked up in a closet with them.

Shampoo-kun: "Was accident."

Ranma-chan: "Believe me. If I had know I would never have gone."

"SKEEEE!" Bat for, "it's all Ranma's fault."

Minami stared at the trio, "So you aren't possessed. That means the
demonic energy I detected must be somewhere else."

Ranma-chan looked at her suspiciously, "Are you saying this place is
haunted?" Minami nodded in agreement, "If this place were haunted then
something weird, not relating to the three of us mind you, would be
happening." She opened the door and pointed out into the hallway
without looking. "Do you see anything out of the ordinary?"

Ranma-chan noticed that the four of them are looking wide eyed in
surprise. She turned to see what they were staring at. She was greeted
by the sight of dozens of gym shorts walking down the hall in single
file. No one was in them.

"O.K. Maybe there is something odd going on."

Minami waved the four of them off, "You can all go back to class. I
must investigate further."

Once Ukyou returned with Ryouga's clothes, everyone headed back to
class. During the day, the walls moan, the pool fills with blood,
objects move of their own volition, and other ghostlike things occur.
After school everyone leaves, terrified. Ukyou, Akane, Kunou, Ryouga,
Shampoo-kun, and Ranma-chan, remained behind and surrounded Minami.

Kunou complained first, "Something must be done about this. My kendo
club could not be held today due to the bokkens animating and
attacking my members. If not for the "Blue Thunder" they would surely
have fallen."
He gave a dramatic pose and lightning struck in the background.

Minami gazed admiringly, "Neat trick! Anyway, I've determined that the
danger here is getting worse. It has been increasing geometrically
since my arrival. I shudder to think of what it will be like by
tomorrow."

Ranma-chan looked seriously at the girl, "Is there anything we can
do?"

"In a situation like this there is only one thing to do." Minami
looked the group over.

Ukyou finally broke the silence, "Yes?"

"Ghost Posse."

Later that night everyone arrived at the school but Ukyou and Ryouga.
The okonomiyaki chef finally arrived and apologized immediately.

"Sorry it took so long."

Ranma-chan smiled, "No problem. Where's Fangs?"

Ukyou looked to the ground, "He's coming."

Ryouga appeared, wearing a duster, chaps, cowboy boots, and a leather
cowboy vest. Everyone save Ukyou gave the Universal Takahashi symbol
of surprise.

Ranma-chan was aghast, "What the heck is that for?"

"I've watched American TV. I know what posses are supposed to wear."

Ranma-chan looked at Ukyou. The cook gave a pleading look. "I tried to
stop him. Really."

Kunou placed his hands on Ranma-chan and Akane. "Akane Tendo, Shampoo.
This is too dangerous for gentle creatures such as yourselves. Stay
behind, where it is safe, and allow me to give you a parting embrace."
He began hugging them far too intimately.

Akane decided it was her turn, "The only danger around here is you."
Ranma-chan joined in as they beat the tar out of him and left his
broken form on the floor.

Minami looked the group over, "Is everyone prepared now?"

Ryouga spoke up, "I think we should go over the basic Ghost Sweeper
rules."

Everyone looked towards Minami who appeared as confused as everyone
else, "Rules?"

Ryouga continued, "Yes. Like, not thinking of giant marshmallow men.
If someone asks you if you're a god say yes. Don't cross the beams."

Ranma-chan balled up her fist. "Please Ucchan."

Ukyou assented, "All right. But just this once."

Ranma-chan punched Ryouga in the head.

"Why did you hit me?" Ryouga started to make a fist in Ranma-chan's
direction.

Ukyou stepped in, "Because you were embarrassing yourself Ryouga."
That managed to calm the human bat down.

Minami saw that the group was as ready as it was going to be, "We
shall begin. Everyone stay close together. And whatever you do don't
separate."

The group entered the school, weapons drawn, and Minami in the lead.

Minami informed the others of her discoveries. "I have been giving
this much thought. I suspect that what we are dealing with is a
Sanslaygh. They're better known as fear eaters. Basically it's an
empathic feeder that drains emotions from humans. The only thing it
can live on is fear though. It usually employs spirits to do its dirty
work, and I warn you, it has the ability to alter your perceptions in
order to create a fear reaction. You'll find yourself confronted with
the impossible and believing it." She looked over her group more
closely, "It might actually
be worse for you people since you tend to accept the unusual as
commonplace. Just stay close to me and you won't have anything to
worry about." She didn't continue with the "probably" that followed in
her mind.

Ukyou suddenly realized someone was missing, "Where's Ryouga?"

Ranma-chan stared at her, "You sound surprised he got lost. Why didn't
you cuff him to yourself, or put a bell on him or something?"

Minami turned and faced the group. "Well that took record time. We
have got to do better than this. We haven't even seen a ghost yet.

Akane stared, bug-eyed, "G...G...Ghost."

Exasperation crept into Minami's voice, "Yes. We haven't seen a ghost.
Would you like me to say it more slowly so you understand?" At this
point she realized everyone's eyes were bugging out at something
behind her.
She allowed a small smile to creep across her face, "Oh I see. I can
handle a ghost." She pulled out a ward and turned. "Spirit! You now
face Ghost Sweeper, in training, Minami."

She was confronted by a horde of about fifty ghosts in front of her.

"Maybe I should wait a little longer for that promotion."

She bolted, as did everyone else. The ghosts gaving pursuit. After
running for several minutes Ranma-chan pulled up next to Minami.

"Do Something!"

"Like what?"

"You're the ghost sweeper."

" Oh yeah. You're right." She spoke up to everyone. "Lets make a
stand."

The group stopped and turned to confront the spirits. Minami pulled
dozens of wards from her robes and hurled them at the spirits, each
ghost disappearing as the mystic symbols touched them. Ranma-chan
leapt up
and started attacking the spirits. Surprisingly, the attacks worked
and the ghosts dissolved from the assault. The others followed suit.
Soon the room was clear.

Ranma-chan was breathing heavily, "That was a lot easier than I
thought. Right Akane?" She looked around, but the girl was missing.
"Great! Now she's gone. Guess I'd better find her."

"I'm going to find Ryouga. He might need help." Ukyou walked off.

Shampoo-kun stared at Ranma's retreating form. He looked down to the
ground, and then walked off in the opposite direction.

Minami spoke to the empty room, "I am sooo glad you all took that
advise about staying together so seriously. I hope you all get eaten
alive."

Ryouga hadn't drifted too far off. He was still wandering around one
of Furinkan's corridors.

"She told us to stay together and everyone left. What a dumb ghost
sweeper."

A large ghost, bearing a huge mouth, long sharp fangs, and pustule
like skin, charged at Ryouga from out of the darkness at the far end
of the corridor. Ryouga stood his ground. and punched the ghost,
stopping it from the impact. "I know it's you Tsubasa. Get out of that
stupid costume." He pried open the creature's jaws and stuck his head
inside, and looked around. "I guess he isn't in here after all." He
pulled his head out and walked on. The ghost remained behind, staring
at Ryouga's retreating form, with mouth still agape.

Minami was finishing off another series of ghosts, when they all
stopped and suddenly disappeared into the walls.

"Now what are they up to?"

Ukyou strode the halls, spatula drawn.

"Where did the ghosts go? And where's Ryouga?"

Ukyou suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head that disappeared
instantly. She looked up and saw Ryouga emerge from one of the rooms,
wearing his standard clothes and not the posse outfit. He saw Ukyou
and gave a disgusted look.

"Ryouga. I'm glad I found you. You all right?"

He looked at her disdainfully. "Of course." He began walking quickly
away.

"Wait up!" She hurried and caught up. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
No answer. Ukyou began to worry at the change in attitude of her
companion. "I can't believe there are ghosts in this school."

Ryouga finally stopped and turned to Ukyou. "You know what I can't
believe? That a wanna be boy like yourself thinks she has any chance
with a guy like me."

Ukyou recoiled, "I don't know what you mean."

"Oh come off it! You hang all over me. You hire me even though I get
lost going to the bathroom. You pay me an outrageous wage. You let me
stay at your restaurant for next to nothing."

Ukyou looked very scared, "No! It's not like that."

Ryouga sneered, "It's exactly like that. You even changed the name of
the store just because I called you Uk-Chan once. Once!"

Ukyou voice started to crack, "I...I wanted to change it."

He began grinning evilly. "And all this just because I called you
pretty. You're so pathetic. You know, there's a reason why no one else
ever called you pretty. You're ugly. Even your fiancee dropped you
because of it.
Wearing boy's clothes was just an excuse to hide. It's so much easier
to pretend you aren't repulsive by intentionally making yourself that
way it. Did you know Ranma told me he was glad you didn't want to be
engaged to him anymore? He was afraid he'd get sick having to be
around you."

Ukyou started to cry, "That's not true. Why are you saying that?"

Ryouga didn't let up, "Shampoo laughs at you for being weak. Akane
pities you for your pathetic life. And I only hang around because you
give me everything. Face facts girl, I'm using you, just like the
Saotome's did." He started to laugh, producing a deep cruel sound.

Ukyou huddled into a ball on the floor crying and mumbling that it
wasn't true. Ryouga smirked and looked extremely satisfied.

Elsewhere, another Ryouga was walking around in his posse outfit,
perking his ears up.

"That sounded like Uk-chan. I wonder where she is?" He sighed, "Maybe
I should change into a bat and find her."

He felt a pain shoot through his skull, leaving as quickly as it came.
He continued walking until he saw Ukyou at the end of the hall. She
waved to him just as Ranma-kun appeared, as if from nowhere, next to
her. Ranma
picked her up, leaving Ukyou squirming trying to get out of his grasp.
Ranma laughed and smiled at Ryouga.

"I'll keep her company tonight. After all, I am her fiancee." He
quickly ran off.

"Let her down Ranma! Fight like a man!"

Ryouga pursued until he came upon a labyrinth that mysteriously
appeared in the middle of the school. He spotted Ranma carrying the
still squirming Ukyou.

"Catch me if you can, Batboy."

Ukyou continued kicking, "Ryouga save me!" Ranma entered the maze.

Ryouga started to really panic. How was he going to rescue her from
within the maze. He continued onward into the labyrinth. Once inside,
Ryouga could hear Ranma and Ukyou, but couldn't see them. He could
swear they
were just ahead of him, but try as he might, he could never catch
sight of them. He started to lose hope.

"The only way I can find them is if I change."

He started looking around for a some cold water, and surprisingly
found a bucket of the stuff. He dumped it over his head, producing no
change.

"What's going on?"

Ranma's disembodied voice came from seemingly everywhere. "Oh, what's
the matter? Batboy can't change. Ain't that just too bad. The one time
that stupid curse could come in handy and it doesn't work. Guess you
don't
have any excuses. You're going to have to find her on your own. That
should take what, ten, twenty years? Plenty of time for Ucchan and I
to become better acquainted since we haven't seen each other in so
long."

Ukyou's voice seemingly from all around as well. "Ranma what are you
doing? Stop. Please don't do that." Her voice started to sob.

"UKYOU!!!" He started shattering walls at a breakneck pace trying to
find Ukyou, tears forming in his eyes.

Shampoo-kun paused, "That sounded like Bat Boy." He then felt a pain
shoot through his head and pass just as quickly as it did for the
others. He entered a room only to discover that it was no classroom.
Inside was a
huge building that was full to the rafters with people, mostly women
in Amazon garb. A huge dais sat in the middle of the room and at the
far end there appeared to be a large raised judges bench. It sat high
enough
so the people sitting there could look down on everyone else to the
room. She looked down to see that she had change back to her female
type without the benefit of warm water. She looked at the room again.

"The Hall of Judgment!"

Two powerful Amazons moved out from some shadows and grabbed her arms
and placed shackles on them. She was quickly dragged and placed in
front of the tribunal before her. She was thrown onto the dais alone.
Cologne sat in the highest seat at the bench, pounding her gavel for
silence.

"Is there anyone who wishes to say anything before sentence is passed
on this...man?" The last was said with loathsome contempt.

Shampoo wasn't going to give up, "I want to speak!"

One of the other members spoke. "We cannot hear your voice" She
motioned to the two women beside Shampoo. "Gag him, and let judgment
be passed!"

Shampoo was gagged as a large woman came forth with an even larger ax.

"That sounded like Shampoo," Ranma-chan paused for moment, but heard
nothing further. She continued her search.

"Where did that uncute tomboy get to now? Baka!" She sounded more
concerned than her words indicated. Ranma-chan felt a pain go through
her head like the others. She entered a room and came face to face
with
Ranma-kun, wearing the same outfit she was.

Ranma-chan dropped into a defensive posture. "Who the heck are you
supposed to be?"

Ranma moved into an identical posture. "Ranma Saotome. And you?"

"Back up pal. That's my name."

Ranma sneered back, "Try again. Ranma is a guy. You're a girl."

Look buddy. I don't know what you think you're trying to pull, but I'm
the real one. I'm a guy too."

She looked around and found a bucket of hot water sitting next to her.
"Watch."

She dumped the water over her head, resulting in no change.

Ranma sneer changed to a smirk, "See I told you, Ranma's a guy. You're
just some pathetic girl having delusions."

Ranma-chan balled up her fists. "No I'm not! I'm going to beat the
truth out of you!" She threw a punch which her male counterpart easily
blocked. She threw two more punches which Ranma easily blocked as
well. He
looked down at the girl with even more contempt.

"You can't beat me. But don't worry, I'll tell you the truth anyway.
The truth is, you were never much of a man to begin with. You get
nervous around women. You avoid responsibility like your old man. You
don't even try to think. You can't even win the heart of your own
fiancee." He smiled at the girl. "Let me take over. I will do a much
better job."

"The hell you will!"

Ranma shrugged, "Not convinced? Let's ask some others."

Family members start appearing from the darkness behind Ranma. None of
them looked pleased.

Genma began, "He's right. The son I raised would be more
responsible."

Soun continued, "A real man would have won Akane's heart."

Kasumi looked disdainfully at Ranma-chan, "He really is a better man
than you are little girl."

"Too bad you can't figure out a way to get rid of this curse. Anyone
else would have solved the problem by now." Nabiki threw in.

Shampoo giggled, "You just weak little girl. Even Mousse better than
Ranma girl type."

Somehow that hurt Ranma-chan more than the others comments, but the
worst was yet to come.

Akane snuggled under Ranma's arm and spoke dreamily. "Now here is a
real man." She turned her attention to Ranma-chan. "Why don't you run
off and play, little girl?"

Her laugh began the torrent of chuckling that came form the others.
Ranma-chan held her hands over her ears. "No. It's not true. I am a
man. I AM A MAN!"

"That sounded like Ranma." Akane's voice wavered badly, indicating
just how on edge she was. "What is happening? I hate this." She took a
deep breath. "Got to pull myself together. No more running."

She felt a sharp pain in her head like the others. She exited the room
and came face to face with Ranma-kun.

"Oh thank goodness I found you." Akane sounded relieved.

Ranma just gave her a disdainful look, "Yeah. Whatever."

That changed Akane's tune in a hurry, "You could at least act like
you're happy."

Ranma now became openly angry towards Akane, "Why would I be happy? Do
you know how much I hate being engaged to you? Look at you. You're
ugly, clumsy, dress badly, and can't do a single thing like a normal
girl could."

"Why you..." Her diatribe was cut short, as Ranma began screaming in
her face.

"SHUT THE HELL UP! If you think I'm going to let you hit me, think
again. You know I'm a better martial artist than you and can clean
your clock anytime I want. All you know how to do is abuse. No wonder
I don't love you."

Akane suddenly felt shame-faced, "That's not why I..."

"I said shut up! You can't do anything. Kasumi would make the perfect
wife through her gentleness and homemaking abilities. Nabiki at least
has some intelligence. But you, all you have is martial arts, and now
everyone around you is better at it than you are. I can't believe I
got stuck with you."

Akane voice started to crack, "I am a good martial artist."

Ranma scoffed, "You're so good that your own father has no faith in
you. Why else would he be so desperate to pawn you off on some guy he
never even met? Admit it. He wants a guy to run the dojo so you won't
lead it
down the tubes. You're the one he wants to get rid of. You're the only
one that really is useless."

Akane began crying, "I am not!"

"Oh, is that so? Let's see. You have a fiancee who doesn't love you. A
father that has no faith in you. Sisters that view you as so much
excess baggage." He held his arms out. "Congratulations! You are
officially worthless."

Akane felt herself breaking down. She started curling up into a ball
like Ukyou did earlier. "I am not worthless. I am not."

Akane's mind, like the others, started to drift back on a journey of
denial. There was an unexpected stop, however. She opened her eyes and
discovered was in a hospital room sitting next to a bed. A woman was
lying in the bed, but Akane could not make out the face because of a
haze that was like the one from her dream. The woman began to speak
using the same voice as the one from the dream, save that she now
sounded weak and very sad.

"Akane. There you are. How are you?"

Akane was uncertain, "I'm okay, I guess."

The woman had a coughing fit, then continued. "Akane. I have to tell
you something."

Akane felt a surge of sadness begin to overwhelm her. Tears formed at
her eyes unbidden, "Yes."

"There may be a time, not so far off, when I may not be able to help
you. I wish with all my heart I could be there for you, but I can't."

The tears that had started to form began to fall. "Don't..."

The woman silenced her, "Listen. There is something I want you to do
for me. You have to be strong. Your sisters and father are going to
need your strength very much, as much as you will need theirs. Just
because you
are the youngest doesn't mean you can't help." She had another
coughing fit, worse than the others. The sadness in her voice
deepened, "Oh! I wish there was some way I could be here longer. Of
all the girls you still
have the most to learn. In many ways you will have it the hardest. You
probably won't understand any of this for a long time, but listen to
me, and believe what I say. You will never be alone. A part of me will
always be with you. Draw strength from the fact that there will always
be someone who loves you no matter what happens, no matter what you
do, no matter where you go. Remember."

The vision began to fade. Akane tried to stay but there was nothing
she could do as darkness overtook everything. She opened her tear
filled eyes to see she was still in the school room, Ranma still
ranting about
how useless she was. Akane slowly stood up.

"And another thing..." It was "Ranma's" turn to be cut off.

Akane looked down at the ground and spoke quietly, "Shut up."

Ranma was taken aback, "What?"

Akane applied a bit for edge to her voice, "Shut up!"

"Why you..."

Murder glared in her eyes as she finally looked him in the face. "I
SAID BE QUIET! IT IS MY TURN!"

She stalked over to Ranma, "I am not worthless. My sisters love me and
I love them. My martial arts are good, but Ranma is better, that just
means I have a goal to shoot for. Why do you think I've been training
so hard? You may also be right about Ranma not loving me, I don't even
know if I love him. Until I get that sorted out I'm not going to worry
about it. You may even be right about daddy and the dojo. He can be
positively archaic about some things, and he might not believe a girl
can run the dojo, but you listen to me and listen to me well. He may
think I can't run it but I KNOW I CAN. I don't need a husband for
that." Akane felt a sharp pain in her head identical to the one from
before.

"STOP THAT!" She slapped Ranma in the face. "It's too late! You
thought you could confront me with my fears, but all you did was hit
me with a few of my insecurities."

She grabbed Ranma by the collar and started talking much more softly,
yet sounded even more dangerous.
"Would you like to know what real fear is all about? Would you? Real
fear is the first time you realize the world is a harsh place that no
one can protect you from. Real fear is when you discover that those
you love and thought were invincible are just as helpless as you are.
Real fear is when you watch a loved one slowly wither away until
there's nothing left but a dried out husk, and all the hope and love
in the world isn't going to bring them back. Understanding reality.
That is the greatest fear of all."

She finally releases him, eyes still glaring.

"Now get out of here before you make me do something you will really
regret."

Ranma disappeared as though he never existed at all. Akane heard some
unusual noises coming from the basement below her. She allowed
curiosity to win out and entered the first level boiler room to see a
huge,
bright light at the far end of the room. The glare prevented her from
seeing what might be there, but she saw Minami drawing an elaborate
circle on the ground with chalk. She paused to look up at Akane.

"So you were the one that did it." She lets out a low whistle.

Akane was confused, "What do you mean?"

"That thing," Minami pointed to the light. "was reeling in pain a
little while ago. You must have done something nasty to him. He was
hit pretty hard. "

Akane gave a small smile, "It tried to use some fears against me. I
stood up to him."

Minami looked impressively before giving a soft chuckle, "Talking back
to a Fear Eater. You'd make a pretty tough ghost sweeper. If you ever
want to become one, I'll put in a good word for you."

Akane raised her hands defensively, "No thanks. I've had enough ghosts
to last a lifetime. What did it do to you?"

"It tried to terrify me with a bully from fourth grade. I was worried
for a moment, but then I remembered he was a toad."

"Yeah. Guys like that are just jerks. I'm glad you remembered what a
loser he was."

Minami shook her head, "You misunderstand. I don't mean the guy was
like a toad, I mean I turned him into one. He pushed me too far one
day, so the next he was eating flies." She looked up from her drawing
and sounded far away, "Poor Sentaro. He really should have learned to
keep his mouth shut."

Akane was taken aback a bit by her newfound friend's confession.
"Remind me not to get on your bad side. Now, how can I help?"

"Just stay where you are. It regards you as indigestible material.
Your mere presence hurts this thing plenty."

Minami finished the circle, stood in the center, and began to chant.
Her body began to hover above the ground and give off an iridescent
glow. The circle released burst of energy into the ceiling and winked
out. The
light across the room went out as well. Minami floated back down as
Akane stared .

"Neat. Is that it?"

Minami nodded, "Yep. That thing is history."

Tentacles sprang out from across the room and grabbed Minami. With the
light gone there was an unrestricted view of what the creature really
looked like. It was a repulsive thing with dozens of green tentacles
and a huge bloodshot eye in the middle.

Minami started to panic, "This isn't possible. It's a Sanslaygh, that
circle always works against them."

Minami managed to reach into her robes and grab a ward. She touched
the tentacles with it, smoke rising where it touched the creature. As
the tentacles released her, she hurled several other wards at it,
keeping
it at bay.

Minami shook her head in confusion, "I don't understand. The only way
it could stay was if it was summoned, or it has an anchor. I would
have spotted any summoning circles. That must mean..." She snapped her
fingers "Akane come here."

Akane rushed over, and Minami chanted something, placing her hand over
Akane's eyes. Akane felt a burning sensation that seemed to come from
within. The heat passed but her eyes still felt distant, almost as
though something else was seeing through them. She drew back.

"What did you just do?" She felt nauseated by the feeling that
something was inside her eyes themselves.

Minami pulled out a ward. "Does this glow?" Akane nodded in the
affirmative. "Then the spell took. You can see enchanted object. Now,
I need you to find a glowing object and destroy it. That is this
creature's anchor. Once it's gone I can banish it. I'll have to stay
here and distract it to keep it from trying to protect the anchor."

Akane agreed. The sooner she got rid of the feeling in her eyes, the
better. "Where is it?"

"It has to be nearby. Given the Sanslaygh's position, I would say it
lies beyond that corridor."

Minami pointed to a doorway that was very close to the monster. Akane
ran for it at top speed as the creature shot out a dozen tentacles to
snare her. They ended up being seared off by a white beam of light
from a ring Minami had. The creature reeled in pain as Akane made it
to the corridor. Minami's drew a hilt from her robes, it produced a
blade of ebony energy.

"You remind me of my last boyfriend. He was all clutchy and grabby
too. That's why I had to use this on him." She indicated the sword.
"DIVINE RETRIBUTION!" Minami leapt into the fray.

Akane was looking desperately around for something, anything that
glowed. Her eyes finally rested upon a table next to a hole in the
ground with huge piles of dirt around it. There was tape marking off
the hole and
a sign saying to stay away from the excavation. Akane saw several
objects next to a sign that was labeled "Do not touch!" All of the
objects looked unclean. She noticed one of them was a glowing blue
bracelet. She retreived it and placed the it upon a cinderblock. She
drew back her hand and delivered a chop. The blow broke not only the
bracelet, but the block underneath it as well.

Sensing the anchor's destruction, Minami ran back to the circle and
repeated the process. This time the creature vanished after the
spellcasting. Akane came into the room with the shattered pieces of
bracelet. Minami took them from her and examined it. After a few
moments, she made an announcement.

"It's a shard'al."

Akane looked confused, "It's a what?"

"An ancient magic device used to summon Sanslayghs."

"Who would want to do that?"

"As part of the rights of passage into adulthood for some cultures,
they would make a youth confront his fears by summoning a Sanslaygh.
If the youth passed it then he would officially be recognized as an
adult. It was never too popular though. Too dangerous." She tossed the
pieces away.

Akane looked at her wide-eyed, "Why would anyone be crazy enough to do
that?"

Minami gave Akane a sober look. "It is a terrible trial, but if you
can confront your fears, it can change you. Wouldn't you agree?"

Akane allowed the information to sink in and then nodded her head in
agreement.

Minami spoke up, "Let's get the others."

"Ranma!" Akane quickly ran out of the room.

Eventually the others were gathered up. The group appeared shaken in
their confrontations and was unusually quiet. Ukyou glanced at Ryouga
suspiciously. He caught the look and misinterpreted it, promptly
falling into one of his depressions. Shampoo-kun was holding his
throat and Ranma had changed into a guy and was constantly feeling his
chest. Only one was unaffected by the events. Well, only one wasn't
depressed by the
events.

"Hot damn! I am officially a ghost sweeper. I gotta call dad." She
grabbed a pay phone and made a call. "Hi. Dad. I did it. I banished
the demon. Sanslaygh with an anchor. Tough one." She paused. "Great
you'll
process the paper work." She paused again, "Yes, now I can...What? You
can't be serious. What do you mean there's more to life than being a
ghost sweeper? No there isn't. I won't do it." She paused once more as
the others heard incoherent shouting emitted from the phone. "But it's
not fair." She finally reluctantly acceded to the demands, "I'll do it
but I won't like it." She slammed the phone down, then pulled out her
hilt, destroying
the phone.

Ranma spoke the question on everyone's minds. "What's wrong?"

"I am officially a member of Furinkan High. I'm going back to school.
Dad thinks I need an education." Minami railed up to the heavens. "I
don't need a regular education. You don't need know physics to banish
ghosts. All you need are circles and wards. WAAAAA!" She started
crying. The others elected to leave her there rather than accidentally
get hit with one of her spells.

Several hours after the others returned home, Akane entered the
kitchen. The object of her search was there, as Kasumi was cooking
dinner.

Akane was uncertain how to begin, "Sis. I need to ask you a favor.
I'll understand if you don't want to do it though."

Kasumi turned to smile at Akane, then turned back to the oven, "Don't
be silly. Ask away."

"Could you tell me about...Mom?" Her voice was just above a whisper.

Kasumi stopped as though struck by a bolt of lightning. She didn't
turn around but rather spoke to Akane with her back to her.

"What do you want to know?"

"What she was like, I mean really like. What you thought of her. What
she looked like. I started remembering a little bit, but it's all
hazy. I don't think I felt up to facing it before now, but I want to
remember. Please."

Kasumi turned. A slight look of sadness was in her face. Despite this
she smiled. "Of course. Let me put on some tea. This might take a
while."

The talk lasted until sunrise.

Epilogue

The control tower crew at Nerima gathered around the radar screen. One
of the controllers spoke up.

"That's the flight. Right?"

The one sitting at the console answered, "Yes. It is. Put the ground
crew on stand by."

"Do you think they're going to land safely?" A third man broke in.

The tower chief added his opinion, "Nakajima is one of our best
pilots. He won't crack."

The object of their concern touched down without a problem. Ground
crews placed the stairs next to the plane to disembark the passengers.
The first two off were a girl, wearing a fez, cowboy boots, sarong,
and leather
flight jacket. Her companion was a panda wearing glasses, a tricorn
hat, chaps, ice skates, and a tee shirt which said, "I visited
Paraguay and all I got was this lousy T-shirt."

Kodachi looked at the airport terminal, and took a deep breath, "It
feels good to be back home darling. What should we do first?"

Mousse-panda held up a sign, "Visit Doom upon Saotome?"

Kodachi smiled, "That sounds like a splendid idea. OHHOHOHOHOHOHO!"

Kodachi ripped off her accessories and stood clad only in her leotard,
running off ribbon twirling. Mousse-panda attempted to follow, but
ended up on the tarmac because of his skates. Kodachi wrapped her
ribbon
around Mousse-panda's ankle and dragged him behind her. Ground crews
quickly ran into the jet to unload the passengers. Fifty of the people
had to be treated for the psychological trauma of being locked in a
plane with
Kodachi's laugh for ten hours straight. The pilot retired and became a
Shinto Priest in an effort to atone for whatever evil he did that
required him to be punished for having to be on the plane.

Special Thanks to:
Ryan Anderson and Harold Ancell for their tips and C+C.