Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Twenty Four The time for Ran Koh is moving at a snails pace, by noon she is snapping at everyone, and jumping at any noise. Running to the front door of the 'Joketsuzoku Village', her shoulders sagging each time it is a false alarm. Finally Ryoga and La Si decide to take pity on her and help take her mind off the waiting. "Hey, Ran Koh, La Si and I need a favor." Ran Koh turns and looks doubtfully at them, with a goofy grin plastered on his face. "Yes, La Si need help, can Ran Koh help, please." Ran Koh just looks at the comical expression on La Si's face, she knew what they were trying to do, also, she felt guilty for taking her frustrations out on her friends and family. She nods her ascent, and La Si jumps for joy. La Si and Xian Pu both have the same bubbly personality which is one reason many people tend to think they are twins. La Si grabs Ran Koh's hand then with her other hand grabs Ryoga's and drags them both away. Mas Cra and Ku Lon are standing in the kitchen doorway watching the scene before them, holding in the laughter. La Si drags the two friends out of the complex and to a near by park. She sits Ran Koh on a bench near the lake, and then she takes Ryoga's hand and heads for the bench which is closer to the lake. "_Hey! _ What am I doing here if you two came here to be _romantic_?" Ran Koh shouts as she stands up with her hands on her hips. La Si giggles then looks to the young sorceress. "You chaperone, La Si can't be alone with Ryoga or great grandmother demand challenge. La Si and Ryoga not ready for challenge yet." Ran Koh looks at them eyes wide, then she can't help herself she just starts laughing. She plops down on the bench holding her sides she is laughing so hard. "It is not that funny Ran Koh." Ryoga comments, Ran Koh nods her head as she pulls herself together. She takes a couple of deep breaths. "I know, but I am so tense about this evening that all my feeling exploded into that laughter. Thanks guys, I really needed that, now go off and have your _date_ I will be here when you get back." Ryoga and La Si give Ran Koh a hug, then head for a bench next to the lake to talk and be together. Ran Koh smiles lovingly at her soul mate and possibly his future wife, then turns and stares across the lake. Ran Koh sits back down on the bench and looks out over the peaceful lake, when she is started as something lands in her lap. She looks down and sees a small calico cat of white, black, and orange. It looks half starved, so Ran Koh reaches into to hyperspace and pulls out a small bowl and some cat food. She never knows when she is going to need it. She puts the full bowl on the bench next to her. The little cat jumps down and starts to wolf down the meal. Ran Koh's mind begins to wonder, while she pets the feeding cat, she thinks how her life might have been without the merging of herself and Ra Koh. She begins to shudder as she remembers what she saw in her fathers mind. Realizing all the fiancées she would have to deal with, because Genma would not take responsibly for his own actions. Her musings are interrupted as she senses the closeness of someone she has no respect for other than her father. She was about to start to look around when she hears a deep booming voice. "Ah, Tendo Nabiki, have thee brought me the photos I seek of the beautiful temptress Tendo Akane?" "Sure did, Kuno-baby, 5000 yen per picture." She states holding out her hand for the money. Ran Koh still being mad at her for having the complex bugged, decides to have a little _fun_ while she waits for Ryoga and La Si. The cat sense her dislike of the new comers and starts to bristle, she pets the cat. {Shhh, little one, I will take care of this you finish eating.} Concentrating, on the new spell she has been working with, she mumbles the incantation quietly. Then she probes with her senses, as she can feel the magic reach out toward its intended victim. /*\*/*\ Nabiki stands in front of Tatewaki Kuno waiting for him to count out the money for the six photographs of her sister working out. When suddenly Kuno's eyes widen and he takes a couple of steps back as he watches a cloud of bright yellow float toward Nabiki. "_What_ sorcery is this, that falls before my _divine_ presence?" " He gasps as Nabiki is surrounded by the moving smoke. He watches transfixed as Nabiki tries to wave away the yellow cloud with little effect, but it clears quickly, leaving Nabiki standing there dripping in a sticky gooey mess. The photographs have been dissolved and as she stands there her bits of her clothes begin to fall off. "EEP! Kuno give me your top _NOW_!" Kuno raises an eyebrow at her, then smiles evilly, turning he walks away whistling a happy little ditty. Nabiki stares after him dumbfounded, then when another piece of cloth falls to the ground, she turns and runs for home. Hoping she gets there before she is totally embarrassed. Ran Koh starts to giggle, realizing it is not a very good spell for fighting, but it sure is a good one for getting even with nosey busybodies. As she sits there chuckling, Ran Koh suddenly stiffens. She stands abruptly and begins to scans the area. The little cat jumps to her shoulder and tries to hide under her hair. She reaches up with one hand and strokes it back, calming it. She turns around to face a small cove of trees behind her. Standing ramrod straight she stares into the trees, glowing with the golden white light that denotes her symbol is active. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Ryoga is also glowing as he stares at the trees. La Si is looking nervously between the two of them. /*\*/*\ A stately gentleman stands outside the 'Joketsuzoku Village', waiting for entrance after he has knocked on the door. He arrives minutes after the three teens have left the complex. He sees a lovely young woman of about 25 come to the door. She is quite tall, has waist length orange-red hair and has the most beautiful emerald green eyes. Che Ri opens the door to the complex, staring deeply into the man's eyes; she blushes then asks him in flawless Japanese. "May I help you?" The gentleman bows deeply, he is thirty-five years old, with dark brown hair, and deep blue eyes that have a mischievous twinkle. He stands an inch or so taller then Che Ri. He is wearing a dark suit with a charcoal gray over coat and matching hat. He straightens from his bow and smiles a brilliant smile at the young woman, who again blushes. "I have an appointment with a Cologne." The young woman nods and steps to the side to allow him to enter. After he walks through the door Che Ri closes and locks it, then motions for the man to follow her. She leads him down the complexes main hallway, toward the stairs to the third level. He admires how they have tastefully decorated the wide hall with some of the goods from the now full Emporium, a vase on a wood table here a bookcase there, showing off the talent of those that made them. Walking toward the stairs to the upper level the man stops in front of an alcove, where he sees a ginger jar that stands four- feet tall and five feet wide at its widest point, he gently reaches out and touches the jar. The jar is beautifully done, it is done in robin's egg blue, then around the top is painted garland of pink lotus blossoms. The garland hangs down the sides about the one third the way down the jar. Which is used to separate the four scenes. One scene is of a mist filled valley with hundreds of springs with bamboo poles in the pools. The next scene is that of a citadel on top a mountain with a red dragon flying over top of it. The third scene is that of a tall mountain with clouds obscuring the top. Superimposed in front is a fiery Phoenix. The last scene is that of a village of warrior maidens. "Tell me young lady is this for sale? I would like to buy it if it is." He asks Che Ri, she raises an eyebrow and nods her head yes. Then answers his questions. "Yes it is, you can discuss it with Ku Lon she will help you with its purchase." "Good but can you remove it before tonight, to protect it?" He asks her, she nods then directs him to the stairs to the upper level. They climb to the third floor, where he sees a community living area. They pass the living room and several closed doors. They finally stop at another door which she opens and directs him inside and to a chair. She turns to leave then looking over her shoulder to tell him. "I will tell elder Ku Lon you are here, she will be with you shortly." Che Ri turns back toward the door and leaves the office. The gentleman looks around the office with its white walls and dark cherry wood furniture. He decides he likes the Chinese undertone to the decorations in the office. He is standing at the window that faces the park, he can see the cherry blossoms from where he is standing, and he smiles as he can smell their delicate scent through the open window. Then by the lake in the park he sees a flash of golden white light; he raises an eyebrow, at the curious site. "That glow is either Ran Koh or Ryoga." /*\*/*\ Che Ri enters the kitchen of the Nekohanten, to see nothing but a blur going from pot to pot. Mas Cra is sitting at the work table her hands also a blur as she chops vegetables for tonight's opening. "Excuse me elder Ku Lon but a gentleman has arrived, he says he has an appointment with you. I put him in your office." Ku Lon stops nods to Che Ri. While she is wiping her hands on a dishtowel she turns to the young Amazon. "Please keep an eye on the food for us Che Ri. We shouldn't be to long. Come Mas Cra this is going to be interesting. Oh, and Che Ri when Ran Koh comes back have her _and_ Ryoga come to my office." Che Ri nods affirmative and turns to watch the simmering cuisine. Ku Lon and Mas Cra hop away balancing on their staffs. While they head to the third floor, they suddenly stop, nearly falling from their walking sticks. They turn in the direction of the park with narrowing eyes. "You felt it as well?" Mas Cra asks her counterpart. Ku Lon nods. "Ran Koh has cast a strong spell" Mas Cra raises an eyebrow and looks questioningly at Ku Lon. She smiles and answers. "I know Ran Koh's signature, I have been around her when she has cast other spells, so I have tuned my senses to detect when she is spell casting." Mas Cra then nods looking impressed. They turn and head for Ku Lon's office. They pogo up the three flights of stairs to the third floor community area. They head toward Ku Lon's office, when they enter the see a man standing at one of the windows; just then they see the flash of golden white light. "That glow is either Ran Koh or Ryoga." Mas Cra tells the gentleman, he turns to face two very short women balancing effortlessly on top of two five-foot long staffs. Ku Lon chuckles as she faces Mas Cra and responds. "Well actually I believe it is both of them. They shall be arriving soon, I feel something important has just happened." She then turns to her guest and pogoes over to him her hand extended. The gentleman takes the offered hand and smiles brilliantly at both women, his deep blue eyes sparkling. Mas Cra also pogoes forward and shakes the man's hand. "Thank you for coming so early, Mr. Takashi." Ku Lon says, as Mas Cra nearly falls of her staff. Ku Lon directs Mr. Takashi to a chair and helps Mas Cra to the other, all the while grinning impishly. /*\*/*\ Nabiki runs down the street hiding behind trees and in bushes whenever she spots someone coming in her direction. She tries to stay hidden in her flight home as much as possible, but sometimes it is not possible. She 'eeps' every time another part of her clothing dissolves from her body. She rounds the corner that will put her near the entrance of the Tendo Dojo. She stops in horror when she sees Kuno and several of the boys from the Kendo Club standing at the front gate. She looks down at herself to see only her bra and panties remain, but they two are slowly disappearing. She looks around and wonders if she would be able to climb the wall when she hears her younger sister charge the boys. "_WHAT_ are you doing here! _Can't_ I be safe in my own home!" "Ah the beauteous tigress Akane Tendo, we wai..urk!" Kuno responds but does not get to finish as Akane starts punching and kicking. When she sends the last of the stunned boys into orbit, she looks on the ground and notices a bunch of cameras. She gathers them up with the intention to return them to the boys when school starts again. She enters the gate slamming it behind her, not realizing the lock as been activated. Nabiki runs to the gate and tries to enter, but the gate will not open. She frantically rings the bell while trying to stay in the shadows. The last of her clothes disappear as she waits for someone to answer the bell. She finally hears Kasumi head for the gate. While Kasumi unlocks the gate, Nabiki hears the click of a camera. She turns and comes face to face with Sasuke, Kuno's old ninja, who is taking a multitude of pictures. Before she is able to lung at him, she realizes she is giving him a full view of herself and turns toward the gate with a scream. "AAAAHHHH, KASUMI PLEASE HURRY AND OPEN THE GATE!" She shouts Kasumi finally gets the gate open and Nabiki rushes inside and slams it shut. She leans against the gate for a moment taking deep breaths. "Oh my! Nabiki _where_ are your clothes?" Kasumi asks as she takes her apron and tries to cover Nabiki with it. Kasumi notices the yellow goo in her hair and hurries her into the house. When they enter she takes Nabiki straight to the bath then proceeds to help her clean the gooey sticky mess from her body. "Nabiki what is this stuff, and where are your clothes?" Kasumi prompts as she washes Nabiki's hair while Nabiki washes the slime from her body. "I don't know sis, but it dissolved my clothes, camera, purse, everything, I am just lucky it didn't dissolve my _hair_!" Kasumi nods knowingly as she pours a bucket of cold water over Nabiki to rinse her. She then leads her little sister to the furo for a nice long soak. "You relax here for a while Nabiki, I will bring you something to put on." Kasumi states as she closes the door to the bathroom. Nabiki sinks low in the tub, a myriad of emotions playing across her face, emotions she has kept bottled up since the death of her mother. Then the _Ice Queen_ returns as she thinks of what to do. [When I find out who did this they're _dead_!] Then Nabiki sits up abruptly, splashing water over the edge of the furo, she then slump back down in the water her eyes closed tight as a single tear escapes and trickle downs her cheek. [Oh, man, I am _DEAD_ Kuno's lackey Sasuke took all those pictures, oh boy, I am _dead_!] She sinks lower into the water, when she hears Kasumi enter the changing room and then leave. Slowly she gets out of the furo. Her mind is churning formulating a plan on how to retrieve those pictures. When she goes into the changing room she finds her bathrobe and slippers waiting for her. She smiles fondly as she thinks a moment about her older sister. It then turns to a frown as her current predicament crowds in, she slips on the robe and slippers then leaves the bathroom. She heads straight for her room, closing and locking the door. /*\*/*\ Ran Koh turns as Ryoga and La Si come up behind her, Ryoga's symbol glowing under his bandana. "I am sorry guys but I think we need to return to the 'Joketsuzoku Village'." La Si looks from Ryoga to Ran Koh confused and a little scared, but not that she would admit it. She is an Amazon. "What wrong why you and Ryoga glow?" "We'll tell you on the way back to the complex, but I think we are about to get a new guest." Ran Koh answers and turns toward home. She picks up the cat food bowl and tries to put down the little calico, but the cat refuses to be left behind. Ryoga can't help but chuckle. "Looks, like you have a new friend Ran Koh." Ran Koh glares at him, and then shrugs as she picks up the kitten and takes it with her as she leaves. Ryoga and La Si follow in beside her. While they walk away, a coppery red glow can be seen in the woods where Ran Koh had been staring. The glow fades as it starts to follow the trio.