======================================================================= Ranma 1/2 The Crystals of Reality by James Epnett ======================================================================= Chapter 1 -- The Guardian (Draft) Section 1 The bright glow emitted from below the old bamboo door and illuminated the room in a wash of brilliant light. The glow fluctuated, like a strobe light set on minimum speed. The bamboo door began to open, slowly, it's hinges squeaking loudly as the old woman pulled it until it hung fully open, exposing the room of radiant light. She walked into it slowly, looking up into the array of brilliance. The display before her was an intricate one, and had been created by the finest architect of her home village. She slowly kneeled before the monument and lowered her head from the shrouded force that emitted the bright glow. Her staff lowered down next to her, and she spoke, her voice hoarse, and edged with concern. "I have been the guardian of your great secret for the past two centuries, and never have I seen such an uproar in your existence." She paused, closing her ancient eyes. "What has caused this unrest? Please, send me a sign, so that I may understand." A fluctuation in thhe flashing grew more intense and harsher as a heavier unrest washed over the room of light. The woman opened her eyes and looked up into the light. An image began to form in the pattern of energy -- a human outline. She watched for a moment. "So this is what I am to be warned of. A time of chaos and destruction is at hand." The old woman, the Guardian, lowered her head again. * * * Ranma started and his eyes opened suddenly. His breath came in deep gasps as he lay silently on his futon, staring up at the ceiling. A low mumbling caught his attention, and he turned his head to the left to see Genma sleeping next to him, his face down on a pillow, his midsection and rear arched into the air. Ranma rolled his eyes and sat up. He looked over at the clock on the table and shook his head. The clock read 4:12am. He yawned and stretched. He would be the only one up right now, this he knew, so he figured he could train for a few hours before Kasumi awoke to cook breakfast. He stood slowly from his futon and stretched. He yawned again as he felt his muscles loosening from the previous nights sleep. But something didn't feel right. He froze and wiggled his hips a bit. He look down at his waist and felt his cheeks growing warm and they also tinted a rosy red color. His boxers were expanded forward from his waist, and he knew instinctively why. The pressure in his groin was unmistakable. "Aw Jeez," he mumbled, shifting. He heated when he woke up like that. What was worse, he was always afraid someone would see it. Namely Akane. God he would die, not only from embarrassment, but an Akane-inflicted mallet wound on the forehead would deliver him to concussion city. And god forbid Nabiki ever see him like this. He groaned internally at the thought of what she would say and do. Ranma moved around to the closet and pulled a pair of pants out. He balled them up and moved towards the door. He peeked his head out and looked around. It was clear. He sighed in relief and moved out into the hallway. Slowly he tiptoed towards the bathroom. He felt uncomfortable as each step only seemed to cause more noise. It was unnerving. He reached the bathroom and slowly slid the door open -- and stood face-to-face with Nabiki, who was exiting the bathroom. Ranma started and jumped. His hands lowered quickly to use his pants as a cover over his crotch. Nabiki looked Ranma up and down. "Good morning to you too, Saotome." Ranma gulped out loud and took a step back. M--mornin, Nabiki." "Is something wrong, Ranma?" Nabiki stepped from the bathroom and turned towards her bedroom. "No. Nothin at all. Just gotta use the bathroom real bad is all." Ranma smiled nervously. Maybe she hadn't noticed. She certainly didn't seem to indicate having seen -- "Okay," Nabiki replied, snapping Ranma from his thought. "It's all yours." With that, she began towards her room. Ranma smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't noticed. Thank god. He moved towards the bathroom. "Oh, Ranma," Nabiki called from her bedroom door. The pigtailed martial artist poked his head out the door. "Yeah?" "A small piece of advice." She paused, as if for dramatic effect. "You shouldn't wear such tight boxers. They show off your.... better half a little too well." Nabiki winked and disappeared into her bedroom, closing the door softly. Ranma stood in the bathroom door, staring stupidly after her. His face became warm and he blushing so deeply, he could feel it in his ears. * * * "That's funny," the young man stated after studying the shape of a large bolder for a few moments. "I KNOW I've been here before." He reached up and scrached his head, running his fingers over his black and yellow bandanna. He stood up from his spot next to the boulder and lifted his massive travel back pack. "I know Nerima has to be around here somewhere." Ryoga Hibiki turned his head upwards to look at the large, bright moon above his head. This desert area was killing him. He had been the whole day without water, and had come no closer to finding his "home" town. As a matter of fact, he wasn't even sure he was in Tokyo anymore. Scratch that, he KNEW he wasn't in Tokyo anymore. He shouldn't have taken that boat ride, he decided. The few people he had bumped into hadn't spoken any Japanese. He had only assumed that they spoke English because he wasn't honed to the language. He knew a little, though, from what time he had managed to spend in school. The eternally lost boy turned and started towards one of the large cliffs that rose up high above the Earth. He stopped at it's edge and crouched, looking down into the deep canyon. He sighed and shook his head. "Which way now, Ryoga?" he questioned himself. He stood slowly and looked in both directions. "This way. I definitely came from this way." And with that, be began east. A great number of things would have been set to rest in the lost boy's head had he read the large wooden sign that he had past three times over that night. The sign read -- "THE GRAND CANYON". * * * Ranma walked out of the bathroom, now wearing the pants he had taken in and the undershirt he had worn to bed that night. He had brushed his teeth, slapped on some deodorant, and washed his face. His face was still a rosy color, and he made an extra effort to not make noise as he passed Nabiki's room. Ranma thought, moving down the stairs three at a time. He moved out the back door onto the veranda and looked out over the koi pond. He stood there for a moment, breathing in the cool, early morning air. It was such an exhilarating feeling. He smiled to himself as he pulled his shoes on, and then leapt off the porch and landed smoothly next to the koi pond. He closed his eyes for a moment and let his body relax as he listened to the sounds of early morning. After a few more moments, he fell into a typical dragon style stance. He began his newest kata, moving his legs in time with his arms as his body moved through the back yard. He tried to focus his mind and forget about his run in with Nabiki. He breathed deeply and continued on, punching and kicking in a smooth, lethal dance. It flowed so naturally. Ranma always knew when a training session was going to go well when he was able to perform a newly developed kata with such ease. But something was wrong. He didn't know what, but he felt uneasy all of a sudden. He wasn't sure why. A wary feeling suddenly flooded through him, and it caused him to sway to a halt. His eyes opened slowly. He faced the house, his back to the wall. Ranma looked down at the ground, at his shadow. His eyes began to trail away from the -- Ranma thought. His eyes fell instantly back to the shadow. He was right. The shadow was too tall, and it stood on the wall behind him. Ranma spun around suddenly. "Hey, what do ya think you're doin spyin on m--" His voice caught in his throat. The wall was vacant. A small piece of paper blew through with a cloud of dust, caused by the rather strong breeze that morning. He turned back around quickly to look behind him. The shadow was gone, and only the shadow of the wall and the top half of his body remained. He reached up and scratched the back of his head. * * * Akane stood next to the telephone. She spoke into it softly, smiling occasionally. "Good. 3:30, then?" She paused. "That's great. Thank you very much." She hung the phone up and walked toward the kitchen. She looked around the overly empty room and smiled as she approached the stove. Suddenly, a knock came to the door. Akane turned to go that way. * * * Cloud Manji stood at the front door of the Tendo Dojo, his stomach growling loudly as he waited for someone to answer. "Who is it?" A soft voice called from the kitchen as Akane walked swiftly into the hall. "It's Cloud," he said, waiting for the young women to reach the door. "May I come in?" "Sure, come on in." Akane smiled politely as she neared the door. Cloud pulled his shoes from his feet and entered the house. "What's up?" asked Akane, escorting Cloud into the family room. "Not much. I was finding it quite lonely at my home, to tell the truth," he replied, sitting across from Akane at the coffee table. Akane stood before the table. "Would you like some tea?" "Yes please." Cloud's stomach growled and he cleared his throat, hoping Akane hadn't heard. Akane made for the kitchen, and Cloud continued to talk. "Actually, I was wondering if you had an extra spot at the dinner table tonight. With Ku out of town, I have neither the funds or skill to cook for myself." "I'm sure we can fit you in," Akane called. "Actually, we were just about to have lunch." "We?" asked Cloud, scanning the room for other people. "Ranma and I, that is." "Where is Ranma?" "He's out back, training." "Where are everyone else?" Cloud asked, a deep sense of foreboding washing over every fiber of his being. "Mr. Saotome, father, and Happosai are out training." Akane's last word was acid. Cloud flinched unconsciously. "Nabiki had business to take care of, and Kasumi went to Dr. Tofu's clinic to barrow a few medical books." "So that means...." Cloud froze, suddenly wishing he had stayed home. "That's right." Ranma was suddenly in the door that led to the garden out back. "Akane is cooking." Cloud's stomach sank, nausea washed over him. He did not want to be disrespectful, but the memory of his last meal prepared by Akane and Dr. Tofu's stomach pump filled his mind. "I would not want to impose on you..." He did not finish, Akane was back in the room with a tray that carried three glasses of tea and three bowls. "Not at all." Akane placed the tray on the table. Cloud looked longingly into the bowl. It couldn't be *that* bad. he thought suddenly, The sight in the bowl was *not* a pretty one. It *looked* like scrambled eggs, but was covered in a dark brown sauce. Cloud's face drained of color. He reached for the glass of tea Akane had brought to him and drank as much of the hot liquid as he could. If he could burn his taste buds severely enough, he might not need taste the substance. "Where do you think *you're* going?" Cloud looked up to see Ranma edging his way for the back door. "I'm not really hungry, Akane..." Ranma froze, the look on Akane's face said it all -- that and she suddenly had a *very* large mallet in her hand, tapping it impatiently in the other. "I knew I came in too soon..." Ranma whispered, taking a seat at the table. Akane followed, sitting down in front of her space. Cloud looked up from his bowl. "Akane?" Akane looked up at Cloud. "I'm not trying to be rude, but can I ask what this is?" Akane smiled at her friend. "It's brown rice, silly. I've been trying to adapt my own sauce based on one of Kasumi's recipes. Try some." Ranma grimaced. he thought, looking at the bowl in front of him. Cloud looked down at the bowl, still convinced that the contents were some sort of strange egg. Reluctantly, Cloud reached for his chopsticks, as did Ranma. At about the same time, both caught a clump of the substance and place it in their mouth. Cloud was the first to be observed, his face becoming paler still. He chewed the rice, at the protest of his stomach. At least his taste buds were still slightly numb. With all the strength he could muster, he swallowed it. Ranma had also become pale, his right eye began to involuntarily twitch. he thought, chewing it as best he could. After a strained moment, he swallowed the food, followed by a swig from of his tea. Cloud and Ranma both looked at Akane, and regretted it. Akane's face was bright red as she looked at the contents in her bowl. She sniffed at it, but refused to eat it. "Oh no," she said, an annoyed look crossing her face, "I think I used too much anchovy paste." She whispered the words, as if trying not to let the two across from her hear. Ranma and Cloud's eyes were like saucers. Both calmly stood from the table. After a quick glance at each other, both bolted for the bathroom, both trying to out run the other. Akane watched in disbelief at the sight before her. Both men ran like animals, trying to hold back the contents of their stomach. Ranma reached the bathroom first, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Cloud, unable to think, made for the closest window. He pulled it open and leaned out. * * * After a few moment, Ranma exited the bathroom holding his stomach and looking quite sick. Cloud approached Ranma from the end of the hall, in much the same condition. As they made their way back to the family room, Akane's battle aura caught their attention. They both looked up at her, and realized that she held a super large mallet in her hand. "So," she said in a low voice, "my cooking is that bad, is it?" Ranma's tone was low and weak. "Well, yes." * * * The two human-shaped holes in the top of the Tendo house could be seen from almost anywhere in the neighborhood. Ranma and Cloud fell fast from a low orbit flight - and right into the koi pond behind the house. A large panther and a red hair girl both sat upright in the pond, looking at the house. Akane glared at them from the door. "Baka," she screamed, "the both of you!!" She slammed the doors closed as hard as she could. Ranma shook her head. "I guess that's what we get for telling the truth." Cloud growled softly, nodding. Ranma suddenly became very still. Her head turned very slowly towards the panther that sat next to her. Cloud looked over at Ranma and suddenly remembered what he had been told about Ranma and cats. A terrified expression had crossed the pig-tailed girl's face. Her mouth twitched as she rose back out of the pond. "C--c--ca--CAT!!!!" Cloud watched Ranma literally fly from the pond, as though she were running on top of the water. She ran towards the wall surrounding the yard -- and right through it, leaving a giant Ranma shaped hole. Her screams could be heard all through out Nerima until they slowly began to fade. Cloud shook his head and rose from the pond. He walked slowly out of the yard, through the Ranma shaped hole. He had had enough of the Tendo home for one day. * * * Akane stormed into the kitchen. Her mind rushed as she tossed the trey and bowls of food into the sink, not bothering to empty them. She knew Ranma was an insensitive jerk, but did he always have to make fun of her cooking? She tried, she really did. She walked back to the living room and sat down at the coffee table, resting her elbows on it. "That jerk." * * * After Ran-chan had had time to calm down and realize that the large panther was no longer near her, she had climbed down off of the telephone pole she had claimed as her perch and started home. Her mind wandered as she walked. She was still unsure of what she had seen that morning when she was training, but she was almost certain that it WAS the shadow of another person. It was nothing new to be spied apon, and whoever had been watching her would not have been the first. It could have been any number of people. Ranma went through the list and knocked off each person one at a time. Ryoga. Ranma knew he probably never would have found the Dojo in the first place, and even if he had, he would have just attacked her. No, she knew it wasn't Ryoga. Then there was Mousse. Mousse was one to spy, but the chances of Mousse knowing that she had been the one training in the backyard were slim. The guy never wore his glasses, and had mistaken her for a potted plant once. He had been less than 3 feet away, yet. No, Mousse was out of the question. Kuno. But why would Kuno be spying on her? If anything, he would have been spying on his pigtailed goddess, and as she was in male form, he would have been spying on Akane, who had been in bed at that time. So, Kuno was out. Ranma was running out of people to blame. He knew that it couldn't have been a female -- The shoulders were too broad, and the figure wasn't right. Then again, if Ukyo could make Ranma think she was a guy with the figure she possessed.... Ranma shook her head. She had to stay focused. And right now, she wanted to know who the heck was spying on her. * * * The strobe of the light had grown more urgent, and the energy from within the infrastructure of the display had become more powerful. The Guardian looked up into the brilliant light. "I have come no closer to locating him, and time is running short. Please, offer me strength in this time of great urgency." The fluctuations of energy shifted, becoming more intricate, more urgent, as if beckoning her to hurry. * * * He had finally made it. After five weeks, he had made it back to Tokyo. How long he would be able to remain was a different story. Ryoga had been trying to find his way back into town since he had caught that strange guy following him when he was at Hokkaido. Ever since then, he had found it increasingly hard to make it back into Tokyo, as if something besides his sense of direction were deliberately keeping him back. But now, he had made it. He walked slowly down the crowded street, thinking about the man who he had caught spying on him. He had just passed into the Hokkaido mountain range to train. After his latest failure against Ranma, he had decided to return to Hokkaido to train and try to perfect the Shishi Hokoudan, and had managed to strengthen the Shin Shishi Hokoudan. Ryoga shook his head and realized his mind was wandering away from what he wanted to think on. He focused on the man, who had come to him one night while he was training. He had been dressed in a long, black over coat that came down almost to his ankles. The rest of his wardrobe had been simple -- black T-shirt, black kung-fu pants, black boots, like work boots. He remembered the guy's face. It was very pale and deeply lined. He looked like a ghost, Ryoga remembered, and had said nothing at all when they had bumped into one another. He had known the man wasn't well suited to be in the Hokkaido mountains, and must have had a camp set up somewhere. He never found one, and had caught the guy following him three times more. Every time he had tried to confront him, he had vanished into the forest. It was unnerving. But now that he had made it back to Nerima, he could concentrate on his one and only goal -- destroying Ranma. * * * He watched as Ryoga moved across the street and into a dead-end alleyway. He smiled to himself, a thin, humorless smile. "Welcome home, Mr. Hibiki. Now that I have found the other two, you are better suited to be here, in Nerima. But don't get too comfortable." He waited for a moment, and saw a small piglet exit from within the alleyway. He chuckled lightly. "Looks as though you found a stray mud puddle, Ryoga." He turned and began down the long street, his over coat blowing up in the light breeze as he darted through passing pedestrians. * * * Ryoga squealed in irritation. He KNEW something like that was going to happen. He looked back down the alleyway to see his clothes and backpack laying in a large puddle of water. He shook himself off and began down the street, keeping an eye on the people around him. He didn't want to become someone's next pork dish. * * * Ranma walked up to the entrance to the Tendo Dojo and stopped. She took a deep breath and then reached out to open the door. She waked through it into the house. "Is any body home?" she called exhaustedly. "In here," Akane called from in the living room. Her voice was a bit happier than Ranma had expected. This she was thankful for. Ranma walked towards the living room slowly. She walked into the room and opened her mouth to speak. "Look Akane, I --" She fell short when she observed Akane's clothes. Akane stood near the coffee table. She was dressed in general golfing attire, all the way down to the stupid hat. She held a club coaster next to her as she went through her clubs. She looked up at Ranma. "Yeah?" Ranma bit her lip, tears building in her eyes as she held back the urge to laugh. "N--never mind." Unable to contain it, Ranma suddenly exploded in laughter. Akane looked at the red head, her eyes wide. "What are you laughing at, *Ranma*?" She sounded almost hurt, though her tone was edged with acid. Ranma held her sides and stood doubled over, laughing hysterically. "Did I miss Halloween or somthin?" "What do you mean Halloween?" Akane narrowed her eyes, her body began to glow blue. "Ranma, I'm warning you." Ranma shook her head, standing back up straight, trying to regain her composure. "Well, w--what's up with the stupid costume?" "It happens to be a normal golfing outfit." "Golfin'?" Ranma arched a brow. "Why are you wearin' a golfin' outfit?" "Because you and I are going golfing, that's why." Akane turned from Ranma and began to go through her clubs again. Ranma had completely stopped laughing. She stared at Akane's back stupidly. "Golfin? What for?" "I called and reserved a spot on one of the only three Golf courses in Tokyo, that's why." Akane turned her head to look at Ranma, her face soft. "I thought it would be something you and I could do to spend a little time together." "Time together?" Ranma pulled a face. "We spend time together. Too much time together if ya ask me." Akane frowned and felt a familiar ache forming in her stomach. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. After a moment, she spoke. "It's up to you, Ranma." Ranma watched as Akane moved towards the stairs. "I'm leaving in 20 minutes. Be ready if you're coming." With that, Akane vanished up the stairs. Ranma looked over at the golf equipment and suddenly felt a sharp stab of guilt. She realized suddenly how cruel she had just been and shook her head. She noticed that she had suddenly started to feel differently in various ways. She was finding that it hurt more and more when Akane was upset with her. She was unsure of what it meant, but it was unnerving. Slowly, she moved up the stairs and walked down the hall to the bathroom. She entered it and turned on the shower. * * * Akane stood next to her golfing equipment. She went through the bag slowly and made sure she had plenty of golf balls and all of her clubs. After doing a head count, she sighed and looked down at the floor. Ranma's voice suddenly caught her attention. "So you ready or what?" Akane looked up at the stairs and saw Ranma coming down them. He wore one of his blue, sleeveless tai chi tops, and a pair of black kung-fu pants. On his head, he wore a golfers cap. Akane couldn't help but smile at the sight of the extremely goofy hat nestling atop Ranma's head. "Yeah, I'm ready." Ranma nodded and smiled, picking up Akane's golfing equipment. He turned towards the door and started towards it. Akane moved up behind him and smiled. "Thank you, Ranma." Ranma smiled and nodded, feeling nervous suddenly. "Don't mention it." He opened the door and stepped out onto the front porch. Akane exited after him and pulled the door shut. "BWEEEE!!" Akane looked down and saw P-Chan, sitting before her feet. Ranma looked down at the small black piglet and rolled his eyes. "Oh great." "P-Chan!" Akane cried happily. She bent down and picked the piglet up, cradling him close to her chest. "Where have you been you naughty boy?" P-Chan squealed happily. "Have you missed mommy?" Akane asked in a rather babyish voice. She cuddled the piglet tightly. Ranma rolled his eyes and started towards the gate. "You treat em like some kinda baby or somthin, Akane." Akane only smiled and followed Ranma. ======================================================================= Ranma 1/2 The Crystals of Reality by James Epnett ======================================================================= Chapter 1 -- The Guardian (Draft) Section 2 Ranma eyed his new opponent. It was hopeless. He had never in his 16 years on this Earth thought this day would come. But it had. All the training. All the time consuming practice and dedication to his art. It all meant nothing at that very moment. He had finally met his match. The small white golf ball seemed to stare back at him as he watched it. It lay there silently on the large patch of smooth green grass that surrounded the small white hole in which he was supposed to knock the ball. Akane looked at Ranma, her hands on her hips. She let her golf club rest silently against her hip while she waited. P-Chan sat on the ground on the opposite side of the hole, watching Ranma, a small grin covering his little piglet face. "Come on, Ranma!" Akane called. "Other people want to play golf to." A thin coat of sweat gleamed on the pig-tailed martial artists forehead. He moved into position and lowered his club so that it rested just behind the ball. His tongue lolled out of the corner of his mouth and he squeezed an eye shut, concentrating on the ball and the hole. With a sudden, fierce battle cry, Ranma pulled the golf club back and swung it forward. It struck the ball and sent it into the air with great speed and verve. P-Chan squealed and fell flat on his belly as the golf ball rushed over his head. He looked up at Ranma and screeched in anger. Everyone surrounding the hole flinched as the sound of the golf ball striking and embedding into a tree rung out through the course. Ranma stood silently for a moment, staring after the ball. He suddenly threw his club to the ground. "Jeez! I ain't no good at this, Akane! It ain't like I can figure out what were supposed ta be doin! Why do we have to learn this game anyway, huh??" Ranma turned to his fiancee, his face twisted in frustration. Akane stifled a chuckle and picked up her pitching wedge. She walked past P-Chan toward her ball, looking up at Ranma. "I told you, it's something we can do together, Ranma. Plus, there aren't that many full-sized golf courses in Japan. It's a chance for us to do something new." She stopped behind the small white ball and looked up at the green, which she stood roughly a foot from. Ranma moved away from the green, picking up his club. Akane aimed her club at the ball and swung. The ball flew into the air for a short moment and then landed on the green. It rolled slowly towards the hole and fell in. Akane smiled to herself and turned to face Ranma, who looked rather astonished by the ease at which she managed to sink the ball. "It isn't that difficult. You just have to know what you are doing." She paused, then said, "And don't hit it so hard. What kind of club did you use?" Ranma watched Akane as she approached him. He lifted his club. "This big wooden one." He held a three wood up in her face. "There are too many of these things, so I just grabbed the nearest one." Akane stifled a laugh and pulled a putter from her golf club holder. "Here, use this one." Ranma took the club and handed the three wood to Akane. He looked the small metal club over. "This tiny thing?" He shrugged and walked over to the tree. He reached up and pulled the ball from the bark and dropped it. The ball rolled down the hill that the tree stood on and back onto the green. Ranma walked back to the green and stood over the ball, looking down at it. He lowered the golf club and began taking slow, deep breaths. He pulled the club back and swung again - hard. The ball soared into the air and flew toward a tree. Ranma watched as it hit the tree and bounced off. It flew and hit another tree and bounced back towards the green - and right into Ranma's face. "URK!!!" Ranma shouted as the ball struck him directly between the eyes. His body fell backwards from the force of the small white ball and he hit the ground hard, groaning. "Good grief." Akane walked up to Ranma slowly, shaking her head. "Anything Goes Martial Arts wont help you on the golf course, Ranma. You're now training in Akane's Anything Goes Golf." A small grin covered her face. Ranma sat up slowly, his hand over his face. "Hey, if ya can learn to boil water correctly, I can knock that lousy ball into a hole." He sprung to his feet and turned to face his ball, a big red dot tinted his skin between his eyes. Akane smirked, bending down to pick P-Chan up, who instantly snuggled into her arms. "If you say so, Ranma." She walked over to the golf cart and picked up the score sheet. She marked a three under her name. "It's a par 3. It isn't THAT hard." Ranma looked over towards his ball, which lay several inches from the hole. "Okay ball...." His hands hung down by his hips. He wiggled his fingers as if two guns were strapped to his waist. Akane and the other players watched, curious looks on their faces as Ranma slowly approached the ball. Ranma's face twisted in a childish smile as he kicked his golf club out of the way. "It's just you and me now." Akane chuckled to herself. She could almost hear the whistling music before a gunfight from old American western movies playing in her head. "Take this!" Ranma cried as he flung his body towards the ball. A large cloud of dirt and grit rose into the air, covering the golf ball and Ranma's flaring arms and legs. Akane stared in disbelief and her cheeks flushed red as complete strangers began to watch the rather childish scene, whispering amongst themselves, Ranma's grunts and oofs becoming louder as he continued to fight the golf ball. "Don't tear up the green, Ranma!" Akane yelled, watching. The cloud suddenly began to clear, and Ranma could be seen laying on his back, his legs pointing up into the air. His pants and tai-chi top were both torn and tattered. The pigtailed marital artist breathed heavily, laying on the green, exhausted. His eyes opened slowly and he realized that the golf ball lay on his forehead, right between his eyes. His eyes crossed and he looked at the ball. "You are a worthy foe. We'll just call it a draw." With that, he sat up slowly. The golf ball rolled down Ranma's nose, over his chest, and off of his body. It whirled steadily along the green, between his legs, until it hit and fell into the small white hole. A smile washed over Ranma's face and he was suddenly on his feet, doing a small victory dance. "Yes! Witness my newly developed Saotome School of Anything Goes Martial Arts Final Attack: The all powerful Beat-The-Ball-Into-Submission Technique!" Akane watched Ranma, a disbelieving look on her face. She sighed and picked up the score sheet. "Well, at least you finally got the ball in." Under Ranma's name, she wrote 247. Ranma strolled over to Akane and glanced at the score sheet. "247. That's good, right?" He looked up at his fiancee, smiling smugly. Akane opened her mouth to speak, then paused. She grinned weakly and nodded. "Well, you're certainly improving." Ranma smiled and tossed his club into the club holder. Akane held up the score card and looked up into the sky. "It's starting to get late." Ranma looked up and noticed the pink tint that had started to envelop the sky's normal blue color. He looked over at Akane. "What time is it?" "7:15," Akane said, looking at her watch. She lifted her golf bag and began forward. She stopped and picked P-Chan up in her arms, who instantly snuggled up against her chest. Ranma followed Akane, carrying the rest of the equipment. He moved up next to her and glanced over at her. "So, did ya have a good time?" Akane smiled lightly and nodded. "Yeah. I'm a lot better at this game than I thought I would be." Akane glanced at her fiancee. "Thank you, Ranma." Ranma nodded, feeling that same nervousness again. "Yeah, well, don't mention it." Akane smiled and turned her head to look forward - just in time to see the tall figure she had all but run into. She started and stepped back. Ranma looked forward and almost instantly had a very distinct air of defense around him. The man looked up at the couple. Ranma noticed the pale, deeply lined features of the young man's face. He could also tell that he was very well built, and was either a martial artist or a body builder. Akane let her eyes travel up the man's body, as he was so much taller than her, to his face. "Oh, excuse me," she said, stepping to the side. "No, excuse me, madam," replied the man, bowing his head. He looked up slowly and let his eyes travel down Akane's body. He smiled, a rather tightlipped smile. P-Chan looked up to see the man. His little piglet eyes bulged in his head and he began to squeal and struggle. Ryoga tought, struggling. Ranma looked over at P-Chan, and then up at the man. His eyes narrowed slightly, noticing the path the man's eyes kept taking. Akane dropped her golf clubs and held onto P-Chan with both hands. "P-Chan! What's wrong?!" The man leaned forward and lifted Akane's golf clubs from the ground. "Forgive me. It seems I have spooked your pet piglet." Ranma reached out and took the clubs from the man, slinging them over his shoulder. "It's okay," Akane replied, cuddling P-Chan close. "He starts easily." Ranma watched the man for a moment. There was something he didn't like about him, besides how he kept sizing Akane up. Maybe it was the way he carried himself, or his aura. Ranma wasn't quite sure, but he found himself unable to relax. The man looked between Ranma and Akane for a moment. "Well, if you will excuse me." The man circled around the two teens and continued on down the trail. Ranma turned to watch the guy go. After a few moments, he turned back to look at Akane. "Come on, Akane. We should go." Akane nodded and looked down at P-Chan, who had begun to relax. "That guy was creepy. He scarred poor P-Chan to death." Ranma began down the trail, leading Akane slowly. "Yeah. Well, I'm sure P-Chan would tell us why he panicked like that if he could." Ranma glanced down at P-Chan, who returned a knowing look. * * * "So that was the amazing Ranma. He doesn't look so wonderful. Then again, looks can be deceiving." He smiled at an irony only he could understand. There was a brief pause. "Still, he should be no challenge. Not after tonight, anyway." The man walked slowly up to the Cat Cafe. He stopped out side the front door and watched the building for a moment. * * * Mousse stood behind the sink in the kitchen of the Cat Cafe. He reached down into the soapy water and grabbed at some of the items below the surface. He pulled up the scrub brush and began to scrub at it with the steel wool. Cologne stood behind the stove, on a highchair, working a skillet over it that contained an order of stir fry. She jerked the skillet upwards so that the food within would move and stir itself. She looked up from the stove, over at Mousse. She sighed and sat the skillet down. "Boy." Mousse did not answer as he continued to clean the scrub brush idly, lost in his only little fantasy world. "Boy!" Cologne called again, a little louder this time. No answer. "Boy!!!" Mousse jerked back to reality as an empty tin can hit him on the back of the head. He reached up and rubbed the point of impact. "What?" "You're washing the scrub brush," Cologne informed, annoyed. Mousse pulled his glasses down from his head, onto his face. He waited for the sink to come into focus. His face flushed red and his flesh grew warm. "Oops." Cologne shook her head and returned to cooking. She mumbled under her breath as she poured the food out into a carry out container. She hopped off of the stool and moved into the main room. "Shampoo! Order up!" Shampoo bounced into the room from upstairs and glided over to the counter. "Hiya! Great grandmother call Shampoo, yes?" Cologne leaped up onto the counter and placed the food down. She nodded. "Yes, child. I have a delivery order here." Shampoo moved quickly to pick up the canister. Cologne gave her the directions to the home of the order. "Oh, and Shampoo." "Yes?" "Be careful, child." Shampoo blinked at Cologne's warning and then smiled, an almost childish smile. "Shampoo always careful!" With that, she bounced out of the cafe and into the streets. Cologne watched her go before heading back into the kitchen. She walked over to the stove and hopped up on the stool. She waited for a few moments and then sighed. "I'm going upstairs, boy. Be sure to get those dishes spotless and take care of any customers that come in." "Yeah, yeah," Mousse replied, now scrubbing the bottle of liquid soap with a sponge. "I've got it under control." Cologne groaned and leapt from the stool. "Cretin," she mumbled, walking to the door. * * * The man watched Shampoo hop on her bicycle and head down the street. He nodded, as if expecting this, and turned his head back towards the Cat Cafe. He watched for a long moment, pulling his coat tightly around him to fight the annoying chill of the autumn air. He watched patiently, looking in through the glass windows at the restaurant, which was all but empty. The kitchen door suddenly opened into the main room. No one could be seen moving through the door, so he assumed it must be the old one, Cologne. He nodded again, as if expecting this as well. He watched as Cologne stalked up a set of stairs towards the upper floor. His eyes rose from the lower lever to the upper floor, where he could see a dark window. A light suddenly flashed on. After a moment, Cologne appeared in the widow. She looked out the window at the city street below. Slowly, she reached up and pulled the blinds down. This was his chance. He moved towards the entrance to the Cafe and walked in. * * * "Ranma, I'm heading to bed." Ranma looked up to see Akane walking past him, towards the stairs. "Okay, Akane. Good night." Akane smiled. "Good night." Ranma watched her disappear up the stairs. He looked around the living room. Everyone else had already headed up stairs as well. His eyes skimmed over the floor of the living room until he found what he was looking for. Sleeping silently next to the door leading to the veranda was P-Chan. He snored softly as he rolled around onto his back. Ranma stood and moved hurriedly towards the small piglet. He had to hurry, before Akane remembered she had left her `pet' down stairs. P-Chan awoke with a jolt as he felt his body lifted harshly into the air. He knew immediately that it was not Akane, due to sent and the harshness of his awakening. He looked up to see Ranma carrying him across the room. Ranma stopped at the stove in the kitchen and picked up a kettle. He hurried back to the veranda door and jumped off of the terrace, landing next to the koi pond. He put P-Chan on the ground and poured the hot water over him. Ryoga stood up and glared at Ranma, balling his fist. "Ranma, what's the big idea!" Ranma tossed a set of Ryoga's clothes at him. "Here, ya forgot these here once when ya fell into the koi pond." Ryoga looked down at himself and cried out in embarrassment, his face flushing a light pink. He pulled on the clothes in a blinding array of movements. Ranma waited impatiently, tapping his foot on the ground. He looked off into the distance while Ryoga dressed. Ryoga finished pulling the ties up around his legs and stood up straight, looking over at Ranma. "So what do you want, Ranma. I was trying to sleep." Ranma turned to look at Ryoga. "Tell me everything ya know, Ryoga." The lost boy stared stupidly at Ranma. "What are you talking about?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't play dumb," Ranma warned, his tone dead serious. "That guy at the golf course today. You totally freaked when he came near ya." Ryoga swallowed hard and turned his back. "I don't know what you're talking about, Ranma. See ya." Ryoga started for the back wall. The pigtailed Martial Artist moved forward swiftly and grabbed Ryoga by the shoulder. "You ain't goin no where till ya tell me what ya know about him." Ryoga turned to look at Ranma. "Why does it matter, huh?" This was going no where, and Ranma knew it. He decided to try a different tact. "Did ya see the way that guy was lookin at Akane?" Ryoga tensed and turned fully to look at his rival. "What do you mean?" "Come on, man, he was practically un-dressin her with his yes. Don't tell me ya didn't notice." Ryoga narrowed his eyes. "He was what?" Ranma smiled inwardly. He had taken the bait. "So tell me everything ya know about him." Ryoga sighed, the look of ire never fading from his features. He looked at Ranma and began. * * * Mousse raised his head at the sound of the bell on the front entrance to the restaurant jingling. He dropped the scrub brush, which he had been stupidly scrubbing with a sponge, and turned to walk out of the kitchen. He walked into the main room and looked around. At the counter stood a man in dark clothing. Mousse walked up to the counter and stopped before a hat-stand that stood next to the man. "May I help you?" he asked the hat stand. The man looked over at Mousse and stifled a laugh. "You must be Mousse." Mousse nodded to the hat-stand. "That's right. Who are you?" "Ka'lar!" Mousse and the man both turned abruptly towards the stairs. Cologne stood in the stairway, looking at the man, her eyes wide. "Greeting, Cologne," Ka'lar replied, smiling. "I'm gratified that you remember me." "How could I not?" Cologne asked, edging her way towards the counter. Mousse looked up from Cologne at the hat-stand. "You know this man, great grandmother?" Ka'lar reached out and tapped Mousse. "I'm over here." Mousse pulled his glasses down and turned to face Ka'lar. Cologne nodded. "I know him all too well." Ka'lar turned from Mousse to face the ancient Amazon. "Before you ask, I think you know why I am here." He paused for a moment and smiled, his cold, tightlipped smile, and then added, "Guardian." Mousse blinked. "Guardian?" Cologne stopped and looked at Ka'lar for a long moment. "You're the one..." "Indeed I am." Ka'lar nodded and moved further into the room, towards Cologne. "And it is time for me to take control." * * * "So basically, you don't know nothin about him, right?" Ryoga nodded, his expression sour and frustrated. "All I know he was following me when I was at Hokkaido." "And you said he didn't have ANY equipment out there?" Ranma arched a brow. "Exactly. I don't know how he could have survived being so deep in the mountains without equipment. I never even found the remains of a camp fire." "Chances are you circled his camp for several hours, Ryoga." Ranma shook his head and took a few steps towards the house. Ranma though, "Hey, don't bring my sense of direction into this," Ryoga snapped, barring his two, fang-like teeth. "I'm telling you, there wasn't a camp out there." "Okay, okay," Ranma conceded, turning to face the lost boy. "Then tell me why he would be followin you." "Why don't you tell me why you're so interested in knowing so much about this guy, huh?" Ranma grimaced. "Cause..." He paused for a moment. "Cause I think he was watchin me train this morning." "Tell me why he would be following you?" Ryoga asked sarcastically. "I don't know. But he WAS at the golf course today, and I really didn't like the way I saw him lookin at Akane." Ranma punched his fist into his palm. "And if I find him...." * * * Shampoo moved down the street on her bicycle, annoyed. The smell of cold stir fry invaded her nostrils, and it only annoyed her more. It figured that the address she had been given was a dead end. "It was probably tomboy Akane. She try to make fool of Shampoo," she said aloud, turning a corner. She peddled faster so she could get home quicker and get rid of the smoldering food. Shampoo made her way up the street that the Cafe was on. She pulled her bike to a halt and hopped off. She leaned it up against the wall and walked towards the front door. She slowed down and looked towards the windows. There was no light coming from within the Cafe. This was odd. Shampoo knew that the cafe didn't close until midnight, due to the autumn rush. She walked up to the door and pressed her hand against it. It swung open and stopped when it hit a fallen chair. "Great grandmother?" Shampoo called in a small voice. She poked her head into the building and stepped in. The room was a wreck. The chairs and tables were all but overturned and scattered out throughout the room. Shampoo looked around in shock, taking in the sight of her destroyed home. "Mousse?" Shampoo called his name too, walking deeper into the restaurant. "Sh--Shampoo...?" A shaky voice caught Shampoo's attention. She walked hurriedly over to the counter and leaped over it. She landed next to the form of Mousse. He lay on the ground, his glasses on the floor next to him. His clothes were torn and stained in what Shampoo could only assume was blood. Shampoo kneeled next to Mousse and gasped at the sight of him. "What happen to Mousse? Is Mousse all right?" Mousse opened his eyes and looked up at her. "He.. he killed great granny... He..." Mousse's head fell to the floor and he was unconscious. Shampoo stood up in a sudden motion and looked around the room. "Great grandmother?" She moved across the room hurriedly, looking through the rubble and debris. She lifted up a table and gasped to see the form of Cologne laying on the floor next to her staff. Shampoo kneeled and shook Cologne. "Great grandmother? Shampoo here for you." Cologne's head fell to the side, her breath came in deep, labored gasps. Mousse had been wrong. Shampoo shook Cologne again. "Great grandmother?" "It's too late..." Cologne whispered. "Too late..." Shampoo jumped to her feet and looked around the room. She suddenly noticed something. From the door at the top of the stairs came a brilliant glow. She bolted towards the stairs and took them three at a time. * * * Ka'lar stood before the old bamboo door. He reached out slowly and pulled the door open. Beyond, the brilliant glow from earlier had begun to die. He stepped into the room slowly and squinted in the light. Through the glow, he could make out the shape of three, perfectly designed crystals, each one floating above a separate pedestal with a green emerald at the center of each. He looked up at the brilliant display and bowed his head, closing his eyes. "Crystals of Reality, I have come to claim what is mine." The flashing of the three crystals began to strobe out of rhythm, creating a magnificent show of color. "I have chosen the three that will feed you, make you stronger," Ka'lar continued, "With the collection of each one's subconscious, your power will grow until you bestow to me, your new Guardian, the power of Reality." He slowly lowered to his knees, bowing down. Shampoo suddenly burst through the bedroom door. She looked around and squinted in the bright light that filled the room. She could see the old bamboo door to the closet hanging wide open. She sprinted towards it and into the other room. She stopped and looked down at the man who knelt before the massive display of energy. Ka'lar turned his head and smiled. He rose to his feet slowly and turned to face Shampoo. "Ah, Shampoo." Shampoo looked at Ka'lar in astonishment. "Ka'lar! What you think you doing?!" "I have come to collect what was rightfully mine, dear child." Ka'lar rose his hands slowly up into the air. He closed his eyes and continued. "I summon thee to active life! Take the subconscious of the three I have chosen and drain them to make you stronger!" Shampoo suddenly bolted towards Ka'lar. She leaped into the air and spun her body around, bringing her foot around in a spinning heel kick. She never made it. She grunted as she felt a bolt of pure energy surge through her body, and she cried out in pain as she soared through the air and into the wall. She slid down it onto the floor, unconscious. Ka'lar threw his head back and laughed, a mad, exaggerated laugh. * * * Ranma stopped mid-sentence as his body jerked violently, as though he had just woken up from the dream of falling. He blinked and shook his head. He looked up and saw Ryoga, who looked as confused as he felt. Ryoga shook his head and turned to look at Ranma. "Did you feel that?" Ranma nodded. "Yeah. I don't know wha--" His words caught in his throat as his body jarred yet again. An explosion of light and energy suddenly surrounded the two teenage martial artists. "What's going on?!" Ryoga called against the inrush of sound that accompanied the energy. "I don't know!" Ranma yelled back. Ryoga suddenly looked up at the Tendo home as Akane's voice echoed around them. She was screaming. Ranma heard this too and looked up towards the home. He took off suddenly, moving towards the house. He stopped and found that he could not move as a sudden pressure began to surround him. He tried to lift is leg, but the pressure and sound continued to grow. Ryoga fought the extreme pressure, but his endurance was slowly breaking down, and he toppled over onto his knees. Ranma also fell to his knees. His hands rose to cover his ears as he fought to drown out the horrible sound that continued to grow louder as the pressure continued to build. He felt his ears pop, and breathing was becoming difficult. Ryoga suddenly toppled over onto his chest and found himself drifting into unconsciousness. Ranma could no longer take it. His mouth opened and he screamed. ======================================================================= Next: Chapter 2 - Ranma (Part 1) =======================================================================