"Lum-chan . . .?"
*Konban wa, Ran-chan. Sleep well?*
"Strange." The rose-haired teen stretched before gazing at the
controls of her scoutship. Twitching her extremities to ensure she
had full mental control of her body, she yawned, and then she leaned
over to adjust the flight controls. "I did. Weird that I can 'sleep'
with you taking over my body. Hmmm . . . " She stared at the
astrogator. "Not so far from Earth now."
*About another hour or so,* a familiar woman's voice echoed deep
inside Ran's mind. *No sign of any ships, especially Noukiite ones.*
"Thank the Fates," Ran moaned as she rubbed her eyes, she trying not
to let her own grief overwhelm her as she assumed manual control for
the final leg of her -- of THEIR -- escape to Earth . . .
** ** **
It had been an annoyance at first.
Two weeks after the Second Tag Race ended, she was visited one
evening by two of the "Men in Black." In the hands of one was an
order declaring that Ran's residency visa had been rescinded and that
she had no choice but to return home to Uru. Naturally, Ran tried to
protest, but that had died when she saw the fellows accompanying the
SCAA agents. Zephyrite Inquisitors.
The next hour blurred past as Ran rolled up shop, turned over the
lease on her property to the SCAA, and then, without being given a
chance to say good-bye to her friends and classmates, blasted off for
home. At first, she thought it had been one of Lum's dirty tricks
that got her sent off Earth. But when Ran saw the tiger-striped scout
beside hers -- along with the Zephyrite destroyer who paced them as
far as Toshitto, the Oni colony world closest to Earth -- Ran then
realised that from then on, NOTHING would be the same.
Settling on Toshitto, Ran watched as Rei, who normally served as a
deep-space sovereignty pilot covering Uru's frontier with Zephyrus,
was ordered with his group to Machibusu, scene of the heaviest
fighting against the Noukiites. She wanted to go with him. Military
authorities wouldn't let her. According to Rei's squadron commander,
the Noukiites were using ships of a design that outmatched anything
the Onis possessed. It was but only a matter of time before Machibusu
was overrun and the road to Uru would be wide open. That frightened
Ran. The Noukiites were showing uncommon savagery against their
foes. The chance of victory, despite what the propaganda being
churned out by the government said to the contrary, was becoming more
unlikely by the day.
Then . . .
One night, she was struck down by a blinding headache. Fainting on
her bedroom floor, she remained unconscious for a day. When she
finally awoke, the newscast was on, reporting about an anti-matter
bomb that just wiped out the heart of Onishuto, the Urusian Union's
capital city. Where Lum, her family, Rei's family, Ten-chan and so
many others lived. Her videophone then rang. It was Rei's commander
with more bad news. The pilot had been killed in an ambush by
Noukiite irregulars. Overwhelmed by grief and nausea, Ran staggered
into the bathroom to look at herself via her vanity mirror.
Lum's image stared back . . .
** ** **
*Ran?*
Ran's attention returned to the present. She stared out the main
view port of her cockpit to see a familiar blue sphere looming before
her ship, it accompanied by a large moon in the near distance.
"Home," she whispered as she programmed the ship's controls to begin
atmospheric approach.
*For the rest of our lives, no doubt,* Lum noted.
"Hai, Lum-chan, for the rest of our lives."
* * *
*Do you sense that, love?*
*Yes . . . * A weak grunt escaped from the being in the hollowed pit
of one of the two small rocks presently pacing Ran's scoutship off its
starboard quarter. *It appears the Mother has brought us . . . here
for a reason.*
*You are in pain, beloved.*
*I can last, my dearest . . . * If the wounded Nendo-kata could do
more to reassure her mate, she would. *At least until we give the air-
breathers in that craft yonder a chance to be truly free of their
current predicament.*
*Agreed.*
**** **** ****
"Lonely Souls"
By Fred Herriot
pyeknu@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
OR fherriot@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
**** ****
Plot elements/certain scenes here composed/written by Steve Cornett
**** **** ****
Based on "Urusei Yatsura" and "Ranma 1/2," created by Takahashi
Rumiko; and "Sister Princess," created by Tenhiro Naoto and Kimino
Sakurako.
**** **** ****
Set in the universe of the fan-fiction series "Urusei Yatsura - The
Senior Year," created by Mike Smith and Fred Herriot
**** **** ****
NOTE: The writer's notes are in a separate text file.
**** **** ****
THE FOURTH PART, "B" SIDE - FREEDOM FROM DREAMS
"Here you go, Hibiki-san."
"What's this?" Ryouga opened the zip-up package to see a booklet of
pictures inside. "Oh, Yotsuba-san, you didn't have to . . .!"
"It's checky," the detective assured him. The party at the chapel
had gone on much later than Ryouga initially hoped, forcing the
wanderer to camp outside the rotunda overnight. He had been offered a
chance to stay at the cottage with Toshiko and Kumiko, but didn't want
to risk spending a night close to Ranma's love-starved mirror-twins.
"After all, if it weren't for Hibiki-san, Ani-chama's and Ane-chama's
wedding dress party wouldn't have gone well! Hibiki-san deserves to
remember it as much as everyone else!"
"I . . .!" Ryouga then nodded before he zipped up the package,
slipping that into his pack. "Thanks, Yotsuba-san. I really
appreciate that."
"Ryouga-kun, are you ready to go?!"
Both turned as Mamoru skated through the front gate after her daily
inline skating run through town. Ryouga nodded. "Yeah, Mamoru-san,
I'm set."
"Okay!" The athlete skidded to a halt beside him. Slipping an arm
around one of the wanderer's, she beckoned him towards the ferry
dock. "C'mon, I'll take you down there so you can catch the first
trip to the mainland!"
"Try not to get him lost, Mamoru-chan!" Yotsuba advised.
"Right, right!"
Partings were made, and then Mamoru and Ryouga raced off, the
wanderer keeping pace with the athlete. Yotsuba watched them,
snapping a picture with her camera before heading in. "He's a pretty
okay guy even if he does have that big chip on his shoulder," she
mused in her native English as she turned to head upstairs. She then
stopped. A sly grin crossing her face, the would-be detective tiptoed
to the door to Ataru's room. Gingerly opening it -- Ataru never
locked his door when he resided in Welcome House -- she peeked inside.
Peacefully asleep, Ataru had a content smile on his face. One arm
was wrapped around Ranma, she leaning against his side. One of her
arms was draped on his chest. Both were, to Yotsuba's relief, dressed
in pyjamas. Even if Yotsuba, like the other sisters, would love it if
the day when their brother would marry the martial artist came sooner
than later, even she believed they should take their time in
developing their relationship. A glance to her right revealed Ranma's
homemade wedding dress sitting on Ataru's work desk.
A groan escaped Ranma, causing Yotsuba to tense. The detective
slipped into the hallway, gently closing the door behind her.
"Ne, Ataru?"
"What is it, Ranma?"
"Does she always look in on you like that?"
He gave her a warm squeeze. "She's not the only one." He opened his
eyes. "Not that I mind it in the long term. She does care."
She returned his look. "Big change from Nabiki."
They gazed at each other. "Well . . . " he mused.
"I guess we have to have a good morning kiss," she proposed.
Surprise crossed his face for a moment, and then he chuckled. During
the wedding dress party, they had shared a chaste kiss when Ryouga,
acting as the preacher, had declared them "husband" and "wife." "Good
idea."
They slid together, lips caressing. A camera flash went off, causing
them to spin to the door. "CHECKY!" A grinning Yotsuba leapt up and
down, holding her camera while her free hand flashed the "'V' for
Victory" sign.
"***YOTSUBA! GET OUTTA HERE!***"
Yotsuba cried out as a storm of pillows flew right at her face. She
scrambled clear as the door slammed closed behind her. Sensing she
was safe, she whooped as she raced off to her room. "Ani-chama and
Ane-chama just kissed!" she sang. "Ani-chama and Ane-chama just
kissed!"
Back in the room, the "couple" in question moaned as Yotsuba's
assertion rang through the hallways. "Then again . . .!" Ataru added,
rubbing his scalp.
"Yeah, then again . . . " Smiling, she tilted her face so they could
gaze once more into the other's eyes. "So where were we?" she coyly
asked.
"Right here."
He leaned down so they could kiss.
* * *
"Ye gods! I can't believe it's THAT bad!"
Ono Toofuu shook his head. He was kneeling across the dining room
table from Negako. Before the chiropractor was a diagram of Ranma's
head, points marked out to indicate exactly what damage the martial
artist had accumulated since she was five. "It is that bad." The
ninjutsu grandmaster nodded. "Genma's basic purpose was, I admit,
sound. At the time this treatment was applied, Ranma was slipping
toward developing a chronic form of autism. What Genma did not
realise when he applied this treatment is that the human brain needs
to recycle its neurons periodically to ensure one's soul remains as
intact as possible. That could not happen once Genma conditioned
Ranma's mind to focus on martial arts. THEN add the damage from the
Neko-ken . . .?"
"It's a wonder he didn't become a mental vegetable," Toofuu finished
for her. "The only thing that ultimately kept him going in the long
term . . . "
"Was her overall intelligence and cognitive potential."
The young doctor nodded. "So what do you want to do with Ranma-kun?"
"To permit the treatment to take effect in the shortest period
possible -- given the problems her curse forces -- Ranma must remain
in one body for the treatment period," Negako instructed. "Since the
curse's nature does not allow us to freeze Ranma as a boy, she must be
a girl. Therefore, I need you to write a note to the school
authorities stating Ranma will be locked as a girl for the period of
this treatment and explaining the medical necessity behind doing so.
If that requires Ranma to attend girl-only classes, so be it." A
sarcastic smile crossed her face. Seeing that, Toofuu tried not to
grin; Negako was not the type of person to express overt emotion to
just anyone. "I am sure Pauline would take personal delight in
'torturing' Ranma this way."
"The principal, right?" Toofuu mused.
"The same."
"Negako-san, please tell me: How did he get THAT name?"
"If she was alive, all you would have to do is ask his mother."
Toofuu chuckled before a concerned look crossed his face. "There's
something more to all this, isn't there, Negako-san?"
"There is, but I will remain silent about that for a time . . . "
Her voice trailed as her head turned west-northwest. In the
direction of Tomobiki, Toofuu realised. After a moment, he grasped
her hand. "Negako?"
The grandmaster's eyes widened. "Lum . . .?"
* * *
"Lum-sama . . .?"
A tomboyish brunette with blue-grey eyes bolted out of bed. Gazing
around her, Momose Tamako seemed lost for a moment. Her body then
deflated. She remained still as her mind rolled through what she just
felt from the direction of the Holy City. Taking a determined breath,
she then slipped out of bed. Proceeding to the bathroom to perform
morning ablutions, Tamako glanced at the closed door, canting her ears
to determine if her "parents" were awake. Detecting nothing but
silence, she turned back to the business at hand.
So, the day had finally come. The mission she and four others had
been specially built to perform was still valid. The Goddess HAD
survived what the news media reported had befallen her. But with four
of the Holy Apostles having been murdered on Monday, extraordinary
measures had to be taken to ensure Lum's safety. Momose Tamako, along
with four others, would ensure that.
Finishing, she returned to her bedroom to dress. Well, all good
things had to come to an end. She had enjoyed a good life in
Shimizu. It bothered her at first that she was pretending to be the
Momoses' daughter -- what happened to their child, Tamako did not know
and felt it prudent not to inquire (even if she was as free as an
infiltration agent can be; there had been no controlling officer
dispatched by the Church to monitor her) -- but like others in her
trade, she got into the swing of things and carried on from there.
Now, it had to end. Time to press on with her mission.
Preparing an overnight bag, she slipped out of the house. Her
"parents," from what Tamako could tell, were asleep. From the house,
it was a simple trip to the Shizuoka train station on the Tookaidou
Shinkan-sen line, which would take her to Tokyo. She had rented a
long-term storage locker at Shizuoka-eki, it containing all the things
she would need in the Holy City. After that was emptied, she
proceeded to the counter to get a train ticket to Tokyo.
Unknown to the Terran-Avalonian spy, the emptying of her locker
triggered a transmitter that fired a command to a receiver in the roof
of the Momose home. That activated explosives set throughout the
building. Soon, white-hot flames engulfed the whole house. Tamako's
"parents" had no chance to escape.
* * *
"Tadaima!"
"Welcome back, Akane-chan." Kasumi looked up as Akane stepped into
the living room. "How was your run this morning, little sister?"
Akane sat by the table. "I'm a bit out of shape." A glance around
revealed they were alone. "Where're Dad, Nabiki and the panda?"
"Father and Uncle got drunk, AGAIN!" Kasumi sighed, her exasperation
at Souun and Genma's antics evident. "When I found them this morning
in the doojou, all I could get out of them was Uncle saying 'She saw
me! She saw me!' and Father's 'The schools will never be joined now!'
routine. I put Father in his room and Uncle in the guest room. I WAS
tempted to dump him in the pond."
"Idiots!" Akane shook her head. "What about Nabiki?"
Footsteps. "Right here."
Both turned as Nabiki stepped into the sitting room, she dressed in a
black martial arts jersey and hakama trousers, a white belt tying her
top down. "Oh, my!" Kasumi gasped, shuddering delightedly. "Nabiki,
you look beautiful!"
Nabiki smirked as she sat down. "Thanks, Onee-chan."
Akane blinked. "Why a white belt? You made it up to rokkyuu . . . "
"True, but the Moroboshis' family Art is *ninjutsu,*" Nabiki reminded
them. "In Saikoo Jinseijitsu-ryuu, there're only three levels." She
pointed to her belt. "White represents a 'genin.' You don't know the
forms. A black belt represents a 'chuunin.' You know the forms. A
black belt with kanji represents a 'joonin.' You know the forms AND
you can teach them. And if your belt has 'chi' on it, then you're
considered the grandmaster of the Art."
Kasumi nodded. "That being Negako-san."
"That's pretty simple," Akane noted.
"I only hope Father doesn't get angry at the idea of you taking on a
new teacher," Kasumi warned. "You ARE still seen as part of the
Tendou-ryuu."
Nabiki snorted, making a dismissive wave. "Too bad. If Dad won't
get off his duff and teach me, much less Akane, I'll go somewhere
else. Hell, I'd be tempted to ask Ranma-kun to teach me, to be honest
with you."
Akane sighed. "Doubt he'll be in the mood to consider that."
"Give him time, Akane-chan," Kasumi advised. "Still . . . "
"What?" the other sisters asked.
"Why don't you ask Negako-san to teach you, Akane-chan?"
Akane considered that, humming. "There's an idea."
"It's a good idea." Nabiki then blinked before snapping her fingers
as something came to her. "Heck, why don't you come down to Negako-
san's place today, Akane? You have no plans to go out with Tokoro or
Asano, do you?"
Akane shook her head. "Um, no! Not really."
"Great! Get your gi!"
* * *
Twenty minutes later, the Tendous stepped through the gate of the old
shrine Negako resided in. They stopped on seeing the grandmaster of
Saikoo Jinseijitsu Ninjutsu-ryuu guiding Inu Chigaiko in a basic
meditation kata. "Do not jerk your movements," Negako instructed, not
bothering to glance at the Tendous though she could sense their
presence. "Good morning, Nabiki, Akane."
"Ohayou, Sen- . . .!" Akane caught herself. "Um, Negako-san."
Negako lightly smirked. "She can learn."
Akane flustered. "Ohayou, Nabiki-san." Chigaiko then swept her hand
in a gentle block. "Like this, Negako-san?" she asked.
"Yes. Akane, you desire to seek instruction with me, do you not?"
Akane bowed respectfully. "Please?"
"Very well. Be warned: You have MANY habits that require being
broken. If you seek my instruction, those habits WILL be broken.
Understood?"
Akane nodded. "Hai, I understand."
The youngest Tendou sensed Negako's eyes rake over her. She
immediately turned away from that gaze to stare at the ground. Nabiki
remained in her place, not moving to comfort Akane. In a way, Akane
was grateful. Even if she found it quite difficult to contemplate
taking over the doojou when she finally came of age, she was
interested in the Art. Oh, if only Ranma could have found some way to
break past that damned chauvinism of his . . .!
"That is the first lesson you must learn," Negako mused.
Akane stared wide-eyed at her. "Eh?!"
"Your habit of blaming Ranma for your faults." Negako crossed her
arms as she gazed at Akane. "Akane, you are aware of how Ranma became
the way she is. Why do you continue to take faith in such erroneous
beliefs as that?"
"I . . . " The youngest Tendou sighed, gazing anew at the ground.
"I'm sorry, Negako-san. It's a stupid habit of mine."
"I am not the one you need to apologise to. Further, I do not
believe Ranma would receive an apology from you anytime soon,
especially given Tuesday's events. Chigaiko, stop." She glanced at
the Tomobiki native. "You need to catch your breath and have
breakfast before continuing. Do so now."
"I . . . h-hai! Excuse me, please!" Chigaiko stopped. Bowing
respectfully to the grandmaster, she then headed into the old shrine.
Negako then drew out a pair of clippers from her pocket. Walking up
to Akane, she took a lock of hair from behind one ear. Akane blinked
at her. "What's that for?!" she asked as she stared curiously at
Negako.
"Emergency purposes," Negako explained. "Nabiki, take Akane and have
her put on the shirt and hakama I laid out in my bedroom. Her old gi
will not be necessary here. I will be with you to commence the lesson
in ten minutes."
"Right. C'mon, Akane."
Nabiki waved her sister inside. "'Emergency purposes?'" Akane asked.
Nabiki shrugged as they passed through the doors. "Search me. But
Negako-san does strike me as the type who knows what she's doing."
Akane nodded. Negako watched them step inside, and then she looked
up, her eyes narrowed. "I know you can hear me. Respond now."
A small beacon of light appeared before her face. *Oh, Most Blessed
Angel of the Earth . . . * a weak, female voice responded. *What
commands do you, beloved adopted sister of the Saviour, have for my
unworthy self?*
Negako held up the hair. "Prepare a body based on Tendou Akane's
DNA," she then instructed. "Transport it to Chikage's bedroom on
Promised Island. When the body is made, ensure all psionic abilities
are sealed from conscious control. I will unseal them when I deem it
necessary."
The hair disappeared in a sparkle of light. *It will be done.*
The light vanished. Negako smiled. *With that done, any ideas she
might have about becoming the priestess of a 'faith' around Ataru and
the others are dashed.* She headed inside the shrine, pausing at the
doorway to glance once more heavenward. *Hopefully, her daughters
will be of a better temperament.*
* * *
Chikage looked up from her tarot cards to see a nude body, lying on a
stretcher, materialise beyond her desk. She walked around her table
to give the new arrival a careful inspection. "Yes, this will do,"
she declared.
Sparkles of light shrouded the body from neck to toe before
solidifying into a light brown, sunflower-embossed kimono. Once that
was done, Chikage nodded. "Now for the final ingredient," she added,
holding out her hands.
A flash of light later, a certain doll rested in her arms.
*Where . . .?!* The Noroi no Ningyou looked around in surprise -- as
much as a doll could look surprised, of course -- and then she turned
up. *Chikage-sama?!*
"Aria is out of her room, so we'll do this now," the sorceress
announced as she lowered the doll onto the body. "I believe this will
happen swiftly."
*Wha- . . .?!*
A bright aura shrouded both the doll and the unmoving body. The
body's eyes then opened, glowing briefly before reverting to their
normal deep brown shade. As the aura faded, the doll slumped as its
resident consciousness departed it for the last time. Chikage lifted
the doll from the young woman's body, and then she teleported the
former back to Aria's bedroom. A startled gasp escaped the woman as
she sat up, looking confusedly around for a moment. "What
happened . . .?" she demanded before looking down on her hands. "This
body . . .?" She blinked, the enormity of what just happened hitting
her, and then she gazed on Chikage. "Chikage-sama, what have you
done?!" she demanded.
"Given you a body you may use," the sorceress explained as the
newcomer stood. "Since Akane was the last person you 'possessed,' it
seemed proper that a body for you be cloned from her. Negako-anekun
just facilitated that, though I'm unaware exactly HOW she did that.
Is it sufficient?"
The girl shifted around, moving each joint to ensure each part
functioned as it should. A content smile then crossed her face.
"Yes, it is sufficient for me," she answered before she looked down at
herself. "I sense this is not a fully human body, though. Where did
Negako-sama acquire it?"
"That, you will have to ask her." Chikage then tilted her head to
the doorway. "Would you like to see Ane-kun?"
The other girl nodded. "Yes."
They stepped out, heading to the stairway. Proceeding to the first
floor, they walked into the dining room. "Oh, Chikage-chan, there
you . . . " Sakuya then stuttered to a halt on seeing the newcomer.
"Who's this?"
"An old acquaintance of Ane-kun's from a vacation she took with her
father and the Tendous some months back. Where is she?"
"Right here," Ranma announced as she stepped in. "Who are you
talking . . .?" She stopped as the girl turned to look on her.
"Akane?! How the hell did you . . .?" Her voice trailed off as her
eyes took in the other girl's kimono. "Oh, no . . .!" she then moaned
as her hands automatically shifted up.
Seeing the martial artist tense, the newcomer cried, "WAIT!"
Ranma froze, fear and anger burning in her sapphire eyes. Seeing she
was still, the newcomer prostrated herself. "Ranma-sama, I did you a
terrible injustice when we met months before. Please, I humbly beg
your forgiveness."
Silence fell over the dining room as the others watched this curious
tableau. Ranma looked first at the girl wearing Akane's face, and
then she turned to Chikage. "Um, can you tell me what's going on
here, Chikage?"
"That, Ane-kun, is a long story," the sorceress said.
* * *
"***WHAT?!***"
"It is true, Young Master." A Kuromegane knelt before Mendou. "Ran-
sama's ship has returned to her lot near the Moroboshi home."
Mendou Shuutarou sat back in his chair. "Why would she be allowed to
come back to Earth? From what we learned, the United Nations was
determined to ensure ALL aliens from Uru were to remain off-planet as
long as the war . . . "
A telephone rang. Seconds later, another Kuromegane raced into the
room. "Young Master! Ran-sama is calling!" he announced.
Mendou picked up his extension. "Moshi-moshi. Ran-san?!"
"Ohayou, Shuutarou. How are you today?"
Mendou blinked, his face paling as that familiar voice came back to
him. "L-l-Lum-san?!" he stammered as he dropped to his knees in
shocked disbelief.
* * *
"So your old owner was . . .?"
"Violated and murdered by her brother." The doll-turned-girl nodded,
her eyes downcast. "Somehow -- I don't understand how -- I gained the
ability to project my spirit into my beloved owner's body so that I
could . . .!"
"Avenge her death?" Sakuya finished.
"Hai."
"And that's how you came to be known as the 'Noroi no Ningyou.'"
Marie then shook her head. "That's just awful!"
"Why would her brother do something like that?" Mamoru asked.
Ranma shuddered. "I don't know, but I'll tell you this: If he was
still alive and if I had the chance, I would've killed him!"
The others grimly nodded. "It's a good thing that Hinako-chan, Aria-
chan and Kaho-chan aren't here to listen to this," Karen mused.
"Agreed. So every time someone did something improper before you,
you felt compelled to redress such transgressions?" Haruka asked.
The newcomer nodded. "I did. Ranma-sama was the last 'infidel' I
dealt with. Though at the time . . . " She glanced apologetically at
Ranma. "I didn't realise that it was your father who provoked that
incident."
"What did the jerk do *that* time?" Rinrin demanded.
"He stole a bottle of milk from me after coming out of the onsen,"
Ranma replied. "It was the last one they had there, too."
A chorus of groans flowed from the sisters. "That does not surprise
Hime at all!" Shirayuki shook her head. "Not one bit!"
"Anee, you're smart to dump the jerk!" Mamoru stated.
"Agreed," Sakuya mused.
The front door opened and closed. "Tadaima!"
"BIG BROTHER!" the sisters cheered as Ataru stepped in. He carried a
smiling Hinako piggyback, Aria and Kaho holding onto his arms.
"Got your spices, Shirayuki-chan," Ataru announced as he lowered
Hinako down, and then he drew some bottles from his jacket. He
noticed the newcomer beside Ranma. "Tendou-san, what . . .?" His
eyes widened suddenly as his ki senses picked up something odd about
her. "Wait! You're not . . .!"
"Um . . . no, she's not," Ranma explained. "You remember me telling
you about that spirit-doll I bumped into some months back?"
Ataru nodded, gazing at this replica of Akane before he turned to
Chikage. "I take it Onee-chan has something to do with this, too?"
The sorceress smiled. "Somewhat."
"Right . . . " he drawled.
"Waaai! Ningyou-san is a girl now!"
Everyone watched as Aria walked into the newcomer's embrace. She
smiled as she drew the Parisian close. "I am grateful, Aria-sama,"
she whispered. "You gave me the ability to love and trust again. I
am forever in your debt."
The others smiled, save one. "Aria-chan's awful!" Hinako crossed
her arms. "Aria-chan got herself a new doll and she didn't tell Hina
about it!"
Laughter filled the room. "I think the first thing we have to do is
give our new friend a name to call her own," Chikage announced.
"I know!" Ranma spoke up. "Tendou Kimiko."
The doll-turned-girl gazed on Ranma. "'Kimiko?'"
"Sure. That's the name of Akane, Nabiki and Kasumi's mother.
Besides, it's better than 'Hey, you!' or 'Ningyou-san.'" Ranma
shrugged before leaning down to gaze into Aria's eyes. "After all,
she's not a doll now, is she?"
Aria shook her head. "No, Kimiko-neeya isn't."
A blush crossed the newly named woman's cheeks on hearing Aria call
her "big sister." "Then Kimiko I shall be. Aria-sama?"
"Hai?"
"My old body is in your room. Promise me you'll take care of it?"
Aria nodded. "Hai, Aria promises!"
The Rinrin Viewer beeped. "Viewer on," Rinrin ordered as people
looked at it. She then blinked on seeing the man appearing on the
screen. "Oh, Reigi-san, ohayou!" she then called out. "Is there
something wrong?!"
"Hi, everyone! Ataru-kun, we've got a problem," Yumoa Reigi warned.
Ataru tensed. "Being?"
Reigi explained. As the information sank in, the sisters moaned.
They all knew of Lum's "friend," especially concerning the times Ran
tried to seek out vengeance on Lum by targeting Ataru. They also knew
of the problems Rei brought into their big brother's life. When Reigi
was done, Ataru closed his eyes. "Damn! I thought they were going to
make sure she didn't come back!"
"I don't understand it myself," Reigi admitted. "I'm trying to get
someone to contact the SCAA and find out what's happening. Do you
want me to call Brother Sunfire and get the Inquisition over here just
in case?!"
Ataru sighed. He couldn't bludgeon even an idiot like Ran with the
threat of the Holy Inquisition forever. Maybe a personal
confrontation would make her see she had no place on Earth. "No, but
have Brother Sunfire call the Inquisition anyway. If Ran's decided to
come here, something must've happened to Rei. Let's find out what
that's about before making decisions, okay?"
"Alright. I'm putting the clan's forces on alert just in case. I'll
also call Negako and give her a head's up as well."
"Don't bother, man. She'll already know. Trust me!"
Reigi chuckled. "Yeah, you got a point."
Everyone laughed. Chikage moved to leave the dining room. "I take
it you need help getting to Tomobiki, Ani-kun?" she asked.
Ataru nodded. "Definitely."
"Want some help?" Ranma asked.
"No. You don't know her like I do." He indicated Kimiko. "Besides,
I think Kimiko-chan would like a chance to get re-acquainted with
you."
Ranma glanced at Kimiko, who smiled back. "True."
* * *
Ataru and Chikage took the latter's travelling rainbow to Tomobiki.
The sisters, Ranma and Kimiko watched them from the lawn in front of
the rotunda. "Hina wishes Onii-tama would take everyone with him,"
Hinako lamented.
Hands squeezed her shoulders. "Hinako-sama, Ataru-sama is protecting
you from those he feels present a grave threat to your general health
and welfare," Kimiko told the youngest of the sisters. "Don't be
angry at him."
Hinako blinked before turning around to hug Kimiko. "Still, the
sooner he's finally finished with those jerks, the better." Sakuya
then crossed her arms. "Especially the ones like Ran and Rei. Who
gave people like them the right to think we're no different than a
pack of monkeys?"
"They were that bad?" Ranma asked.
"Don't you know, Anee?" Mamoru wondered.
She shook his head. "Not really. Until I met Tampopo-chan, I only
knew the general basics about all that went on in Tomobiki. Not that
it wasn't really important in the grand scheme of things, but to
me . . . "
"If it wasn't martial arts, it ultimately didn't matter?" Karen
asked.
"Hai."
"Ranma, where did Ataru-kun and Chikage-chan go just now?"
Everyone turned. "Ah, Kumiko-san! Toshiko-san! Ohayou!" Karen
greeted.
"Ohayou, everyone . . .!" Toshiko replied as the mirror-twins came
up. Both then stopped on seeing the elegantly dressed Kimiko standing
beside Ranma. "Ranma, what is SHE doing here?!" she snarled, her eyes
flashing dangerously.
Kimiko winced at that hateful look, and then she moved to slip behind
Ranma. "Relax," the latter declared. "Kimiko isn't Akane. She's the
spirit of that antique doll I ran across sometime before I went to
Mirror Mansion."
"Her body got cloned from Akane's by Negako-aneki," Rinrin added.
"I . . .!" Toshiko then chuckled. "Oh, I'm sorry! Um . . . " She
then stopped. "Wait a second! If she's here, what does she want?"
A hand tugged Toshiko's arm. The crimson-haired mirror-twin looked
into Aria's sorrowful face. "Toshiko-neeya, don't be mad at Kimiko-
neeya. Kimiko-neeya likes Nee-ya very much. Toshiko-neeya should
like Kimiko-neeya, too."
Toshiko shuddered -- even in her short time on Promised Island, she
had learned the most important rule: "DON'T make Aria upset and
ESPECIALLY don't make Aria CRY!" -- and then she relaxed. "It's
alright, Aria-chan. I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm just
concerned for Ranma's safety."
"That is something we all share." Kimiko lightly smiled before
humming. "Speaking of which, there is something I'd like to do. With
your permission of course, Ranma-sama?" She gazed in amusement on
Ranma.
Ranma smirked. "Does that include beating the tar out of Oyaji?"
Kimiko's smile turned to pure ice. "What do you think?"
"Well, it's certainly rude to deny a lady a request, especially one
such as that." Kumiko then walked over to tenderly grasp Kimiko's
hand. "Kimiko-himesama, may my sister and I have the honour of
escorting you to your duel against the honourless lout Ranma must call
a father?"
Kimiko's cheeks reddened. Before she could reply, however, the
ominous growl of an empty stomach made its own statement. "Ah! Hime
thinks Kimiko-chan needs to have some breakfast first!" Shirayuki then
declared.
Everyone else laughed.
* * *
The command car came to a halt before the gateway of Ran's property.
The driver opened the door, saluting as Mendou Shuutarou disembarked.
Beyond the gate, Ran's scoutship sat in its usual place, steam
billowing from the retro-thrusters. The main gangway was deployed,
ready to welcome visitors.
"Remain here," Mendou ordered.
The driver saluted again. "Hai!"
Mendou approached the ship, his heart turning over as his mind
replayed the phone-call he received at the mansion. Lum was ALIVE.
Yet she was without a body, her soul having somehow taken up residence
in Ran's mind. How did that happen? Was there a way to restore Lum,
allow her to live her own life? If so, what then? Would the United
Nations allow Lum and Ran to remain this time?
What was going on?!
"Shuutarou."
He spun to see a well-built, tomboyish woman, she possessing short
cut, dark brown hair and milk-chocolate eyes, gazing at him. She was
dressed in a black martial arts gi, a black belt wrapped around her
waist. On the end of the belt was stitched the kanji CHI. Gazing
into her eyes, Mendou was quickly reminded of Moroboshi Ataru. The
similarity was striking. Who was this . . .?
"Negako-san? Is that you?"
Mendou turned as someone appeared at the top of the gangway. At
first, he thought he saw the long, flowing green hair and twin horn-
buds that had haunted his fantasies for nearly two years. Yet, though
she spoke with Lum's voice, the body was Ran's. "Lum-san . . .?" he
hesitantly ventured.
Negako walked past Mendou, she stopping at the bottom of the
stairwell. "Welcome back, Lum, Ran. It seems you both are in quite a
spot of trouble."
Ran descended, she gazing into the other woman's eyes. Then, to
Mendou's surprise, Ran leaned into Negako, wrapping her arms around
the latter. Negako seemed to think about it before returning the
hug. "Where's Darling, Negako-san?" Ran wondered, her voice strongly
tinged with Lum's accent.
"Ataru is not here, but he will come in the next several minutes. He
has been told of Ran's return. I dare say he will be as shocked as
Shuutarou is about your present state of joint-ness," Negako said.
"Much has changed, Lum."
Ran pulled back, a hurt look crossing her face. "How bad . . .?"
"Ran?!"
Everyone turned to see a crowd at the gate. Shinobu, Ryuunosuke,
Sakura, Cherry, Kotatsuneko. "Hi!" Ran's voice returned to normal as
she waved. "I'm back!" She stopped before her voice shifted.
"Er . . . rather, WE'RE back."
Ryuunosuke's jaw dropped. "Wha- . . .?!"
Sakura approached, drawing her spirit-sensor as she waved it before
Ran. The vanes rustled, causing the priestess to pause. "I see."
She nodded. "The gods truly must have a strange sense of humour.
Welcome back to Earth, Lum."
"Um, Sakura-sensei, that's Ran . . .!" Shinobu protested.
"With Lum's spirit within her as well, Shinobu," Sakura amended
before she sighed, turning to Mendou. "Given Monday's events, we
should move this discussion to a more secure location. Your estate is
the best place."
"But of course, Sakura-sensei." Mendou bowed, grinning, and then he
turned to Ran, offering his arm. "Lum-san . . . er, Ran-san!"
Ran wrapped an arm around Negako's. "No offence, but we feel a lot
safer around Negako-san here than anyone else," Ran/Lum said.
The ninjutsu grandmaster nodded. "If you insi- . . . "
"**EVIL SPIRIT! BEGONE!**"
Everyone turned as Cherry and Sakura, they both alerted to Negako's
nature by their spiritual training, lunged at her, beads and spirit-
sensor out to battle this -- in the clerics' eyes -- ultimate enemy of
humankind. Before they could get close, someone dived at them from
out of the sun. The attacker's feet caught the monk and the priestess
in their necks, sending them to kiss the walkway! Everyone jolted,
turning away for a split-second. Then on looking back, they gaped on
seeing that it was Ataru who just intercepted them! "Darling!" Ran
gasped, her voice a melodic blend of hers and Lum's.
Ataru stepped off Cherry and Sakura before gazing at the clerics who
had been the bane of his life since the day he and Lum were
"engaged." "Regardless if she is a thousand years old, she is STILL
my sister! Got me, dorks?!" He winked before a pink-haired typhoon
slammed into him. "He- . . . wwhoulf!"
"DARLING!" Ran, speaking clearly with Lum's voice, sobbed as she
showered Ataru with a rainstorm of kisses. "Oh, Darling! I knew
you'd come!"
Ataru grunted. Then, after tapping places on the alien's body to
loosen the barnacle-tight glomp holding him down, he shoved Ran away.
"Lum, would you MIND, please?! I'd like to breathe, you know!" he
panted, feeling his chest.
"MOROBOSHI, HOW DARE YOU . . .?!"
"***SHINZOU BAKUHATSU SHOKU!***"
*BOOM!*
Everyone save Ataru, Negako and Mendou hit the deck. The latter was
frozen, stunned beyond belief after seeing his katana literally
EXPLODE in his face after Ataru tapped it with the Heart Blast Touch.
"DARLING!" Ran/Lum gasped. She then breathed out on seeing Mendou was
okay. "Darling, be careful when you do that!" she then scolded. "You
could've taken his head off!"
"I was tempted to do that," he said to the alien teen before gazing
into Mendou's face. "Next time, Sword-for-brains, I aim for your
head! Got me?!"
"H-h-h-hai . . . " the scion of the Mendou clan stammered.
He fainted. Ataru glanced at him before turning to look at Shinobu
and Ryuunosuke. "If it hasn't sunk into your heads by now, let this
be a warning: The game has CHANGED. I'm in NO MOOD to put up to all
the garbage! Okay?!"
They fearfully nodded, wondering what sort of trick Ataru might
decide to pull out of his hat next. "Darling!" Ran/Lum huffed.
"Honestly! They're not like those dorks you had to live with all your
life! Stop picking on them!"
Ataru sighed before turning to look at her. The possessed alien teen
blinked. Then, on seeing the pain flashing deep in his brown eyes,
she paled. "Wha- . . .!" She covered her mouth, her eyes widening.
"What happened?!"
"It's a very long story," Ataru flatly announced.
* * *
"EH?!"
The sisters were gathered around the telephone by the kitchen to hear
the update from Negako. Kimiko was finishing breakfast in the dining
room. Ranma was in her room making arrangements to purchase clothes
and other items for the latest person to come to Promised Island.
"Are you sure, Aneki?!" Rinrin demanded. She then blinked as the
answer came. "Oh, man!" she gasped. "How'd that happen?!" A longer
pause. "Okay, I got you. Thanks for telling us." Another pause.
"Hai, I'll pass it on to Ranma-aneki. Right, 'bye!"
She hung up. "So who else came back?!" Kaho demanded.
"Lum did."
"But . . .!" Karen blinked confusedly. "Lum's dead! Isn't
she . . .?!"
Rinrin shook her head. "Somehow, Lum's spirit got sucked into Ran's
head. And since the Noukiites would LOVE to get their hands on Lum,
they had no choice but to come to Earth. Anyhow, I'm going to tell
Aneki, okay?"
The others nodded as the Island's resident super-genius headed up to
Ranma's room. Knocking on the door, she called out, "Aneki?"
"C'mon in, Rinrin," Ranma called back.
Rinrin stepped in. Toshiko was now pocketing a bankbook. "We'll
make sure the panda doesn't take advantage of Kimiko-chan," she
assured her sibling.
"Great," Ranma replied with a nod. "Be careful, okay?"
"We'll be fine," Kumiko vowed.
The mirror-twins then headed out. Rinrin walked up to place a warm
hand on Ranma's shoulder. "Lum's come back too, Aneki," she
announced.
Ranma blinked as she took that in before she sighed. "Well, isn't
that crazy?" she mused. "Shit, you'd think that I'd be used to weird
things happening around my friends, especially with the crap I've been
through. But that . . .?" She whistled before staring at Rinrin.
"How?"
Rinrin explained, finishing with, "I hope Lum won't end up making
things worse, like making Aniki stay in Tomobiki. That's where all
Federation aliens stay when they live on Earth. It's been that way
since the first Tag Race."
Silence fell as they stared out the windows. Ranma took a deep
breath. "Do you think he'll go back to her, Rinrin?" she asked.
Rinrin stared down at the martial artist. "Aneki?"
"Do you think Ataru would go back to Lum?"
She considered that, and then she shook her head. "Nah! I don't
think so. I mean, were this before Aniki went to Sanctuary the last
time, Lum would have a chance. But too much has changed now. WAY too
much. I've noticed it. We all have. Something really hurt Aniki
when he went there." She then asked, "What did Aniki tell you about
that? Did he say anything?"
Ranma shuddered. "Three billion . . . "
"Eh?!"
She started. Ranma then noticed Rinrin gazing quizzically at her.
Catching herself, the martial artist took a deep breath before gently
squeezing her visitor's hand. "I can't say anything about it now,
Rinrin-chan. Gomen."
Rinrin blinked before nodding understandingly.
* * *
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