Wheel of Fire Special #8: Hunter's Moon Written by Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NYChotmail.com) www.angelfire.com/art/rcxshizuka/ranma/ranff.html Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Proper licenses belong to respective properties and characters. All other material herein belongs to the author, and plagiarism of this concept, in part or in whole or borrowing, in part or in whole, will not only get you my ire but the priceless sight of seeing you behind bars. No part of this document may be reproduced, retransmitted, or altered, in part or in whole, for monetary gain, incidental, consequential, directly, or not at all, without express permission from the author (if you are unable to contact me then that does not grant you these rights). Such condition applies to all my works, and your ignorance is no excuse, as I reserve the right to update this disclaimer, and it stands in whatever shape or form it manifests in any work, appearing there or not. ------------------------------------------------ Day 2 of Stage Two-- Early Evening "You sure this is the right place?" Akane asked, looking down the stone steps toward Miranda. Having climbed up half the mountainside up the stone stairs to the shrine, Miranda, carrying the heavier of the two packs the girls carried, was taking a break, sitting on the steps, facing the downward path. Breathing heavily, leaning backward against her pack, the martial artist was clearly out of shape. "What the hell did you put in this, anyway?" she asked finally, wanting the answer to the question that plagued her back at the train station. "It feels like you packed a fridge in here." "It's just a week's supplies," Akane said. "You want me to carry the heavy stuff?" "No!" Miranda cried quickly. "I can handle it. Just let me catch my breath." "This is the third break in a row," the other pointed out impatiently. "YOU carry fifty pounds up." "I thought you wanted to do it." "Of COURSE I do! Just remember that the next time you pack all this crap. Don't you know how to pack light?" "I might need something!" "If you need something you go buy it at the store!" Akane's temper flared. She took deliberate steps down to the step where Miranda's pack was resting against the stair, and considered knocking it over. "Then maybe you shouldn't have been so lazy to let me handle it!" Pulling her head all the way back, Miranda stared up at Akane. "And don't you THINK of pushing me over. I manage to live off the clothes on my back for two weeks in straight training. I don't know about you, but I can do without any of your conveniences." Akane stopped herself, realizing that Miranda was probably right; Miranda was just as hardy as Ranma, and likely could live like a vagabond if she wanted to. On the other hand, Ranma hated living like that. "If that's the case then why are you carrying that stuff in the first place?" Satisfaction settled in when Miranda did not respond immediately. The martial artist squinted back at her disdainfully, tne pulled her head back up. "Shut up." Silence settled on the two as they heard a wild howl echo in the distance. Akane could not tell what it came from, but part of it sounded human, and the other of a creature not of this Earth. She felt a shiver down her spine, suddenly realizing they were in the middle of nowhere. "What the hell was that?" Miranda asked, her voice betraying a hint of fear. "I don't know," she replied, "but I think we'd better get up to the shrine before it decides to come looking for us." The suggestion seemed to pump adrenaline into Miranda's exhausted body, as she got up in an instant and set about running up the rest of the distance. Akane tried her best to keep up with the martial artist, looking up at the canopied sky, seeing that the sun was setting rapidly. Her heart raced, matching each step she took in her flight. Despite her rapid pace Akane could not keep up with Miranda, who disappeared over the top of the steps when Akane estimated she was at the three- quarters point. The howling creature bellowed again, and this time it sounded a lot closer. "Miranda!" she shouted, silently cursing her cowardice, "wait for me!" The air around Akane seemed to still around her, and her training allowed her to feel the presence of an entity behind her. Somehow she found the energy that Miranda found, and Akane was running at a greater pace than before, fear overcoming her. She dared not look back, imagining whatever the creature was, it was going to be at her heels at any moment now. Tripping over the last step Akane fell at the foot of the arch that marked the entrance of the shrine. Only meters ahead of her Miranda collapsed in exhaustion, having used up all her remaining energy to get into the courtyard of the ill-traveled shrine. No lights or candles were illuminating the area, marking the squat structure ahead quite vacant at the moment. Akane wondered if the creature behind her scared them away, but it was the moment she knew it was on top of her. Turning onto her side, Akane barely caught a glimpse of white wisps of energy, quickly replaced by a large spectral, bony claw threatening to claw her eyes. She had no time to flinch, which gave her the opportunity to realize she was being saved. "It's got to be fate," she heard her rescuer say. Sitting up, Akane recognized the owner of the voice. "Ryoga!" she cried in recognition. The latest arrival to the vacant shrine held two spectral claws up and away with his brute strength. "Akane, are you okay?" "Pay attention to your adversary!" cried the spectral beast, its unearthly voice definitely matching the howl from earlier. Akane tried to decipher the sensation, picking out a strong, deep, male voice, along with an equally strong female voice. Ryoga heaved the monster backward, allowing Akane the chance to see the attacker for the first time. The beast was surrounded by an ethereal, white wisp of energy, outlining it fully. It stood on human legs, wearing hakama tied at the ankles over socks and sandals. Akane made out human-form arms behind the bone claws, watching their movement match that of the claws. Bone wings spread from the creature's back, bound by nothing. Her eyes flared a deep blood red, absent of pupils. Although she had never seen such a beast first-hand, Akane knew who it was, matching Ranma's description. "You're...." "Deathclaw," Shizuka/Deathclaw finished, smacking her lips together like a feral beast. Yet, their full attention was on Ryoga. "Come, Lost One; show me how powerful you really are!" "If that's what you want, then you're going to get it!" he promised. "Stop!" Both Ryoga and Shizuka froze in place, looking toward the entrance arch, where Kanna Rajura stood, her arms folded. Her death scythe shouldered over her back, Kanna looked no less imposing against the frame than did the possessed priestess. "You," Ryoga recognized. "Kanna?" Akane said, surprised. "What're you doing here?" "Understand what you're getting into before you fight them," Kanna warned. "You aren't simply fighting Shizuka. You're fighting both of them at once. They are more than willing to kill you, but are you?" "I'll do whatever it takes," Ryoga answered, raising a clenched fist. "Nobody's going to hurt Akane!" "Show me your killer instinct," Shizuka/Deathclaw beckoned. Her expression darkened. "Show me this fighting spirit you pathetic humans call 'heart!'" Akane watched as Ryoga and Shizuka both threw their own fists, and she felt the urge to help him. But Kanna shook her head. "What's going on?" "Deathclaw is the creature that possesses Shizuka," Kanna explained. "However, since Shizuka is strong, she retains control over her body until she loses consciousness. It's painful for the both of them to try and control the same body at the same time, you see. Shizuka purposefully chose to awaken Deathclaw before by knocking herself out, but this time she purposefully remained conscious in order to utilize both their abilities at once." "They don't look like they're struggling for control," Akane noted, watching as Ryoga expertly dodged each of Deathclaw's wild slashes. "It looks like they're acting in unison." "They're having a difficult time trying to control themselves," Kanna added. "Their base instincts are taking over, because it's the only thing they have in sync under such stress and pain." * * * "Show me your 'heart!'" Shizuka/Deathclaw demanded furiously, catching Ryoga's left fist in her right claw. "Show me your power of love and friendship you fragile creatures treasure so much!" "Shut up!" Ryoga seethed, grasping the claw holding his arm with his free hand. He heaved the monster over his shoulder. "What's with all this nonsense?!" The dual creature's wings extended, giving her control over her fall. Shizuka/Deathclaw landed on her feet, quickly folded her wings, and turned again to face Ryoga. "What your 'enlightened' society is trying to teach you! Your damn anime symbolism!" "What's that got to do with anything?!" "Generation after generation of people, poisoned with the mentality spawned from such fantasy," the two continued. "Girls striving for love and strong men. Boys striving for hot women. Fuckin' angel wings. I hate angels!" "None of it makes sense!" Ryoga cried. "What the hell are you talking about?" "Humanity's priorities are screwed-up! I will destroy its poisons, and cleanse this Earth of all that is black and white in a universe of grays!" At that point Ryoga could not stand it anymore. Wishing to shut the monster's mouth, he vaulted forth, ready to finish the battle in one blow. Shizuka/Deathclaw was caught off-guard, still in the middle of her rant, but they recovered in time to intercept Ryoga's punch for the gut. Both spectral claws clamped down on the martial artist's arms, trying frantically to hold back the furious power. "Fear me, anime whore!" they cried. "Just shut up!!" Ryoga cried, throwing his remaining energy in his free, second fist. This time his blow hit home, smacking Shizuka on the jaw, and sending her flying back. The spectral claws holding his other arm dissipated into nothingness as both Shizuka and Deathclaw lost consciousness simultaneously. * * * Guest Quarters, Shrine of the Four Gods For long moments Ukyo watched Ranma stare out the window of the Genbu tower's northmost, and bottommost, room, staring out at the stars, seemingly looking for something. Whether he was thinking of Akane, or trying to devise some way for his Moko Takabisha to penetrate an energy barrier, Ukyo didn't know, nor did she ask. Not one word passed between the two ever since Ukyo entered Ranma's temporary room, seemingly lost herself. "Why did I come out here?" she often asked herself. Certainly, it was good to see an old friend, but Ukyo realized that simply wasn't the reason she went out of her way to come to the Shrine of the Four Gods. "How can I help?" Ukyo asked aloud. "If you can figure out how to beat Ziel, I'm all ears," Ranma answered, refusing to pull himself away from the window. The truth was, Ukyo did know the answer, but Mizuki's words held her back. She lowered her eyes, finally understanding that the reason she came was also what she should not do for Ranma. She wanted to help him, for all the times he helped her in the past. It was something Ukyo never did herself, nor did she ever thank Ranma. "Ranma," she said, "I'm getting in your way." The martial artist glanced over his shoulder, genuinely surprised. "What?" "I'm not the right person to help you; Akane is," she explained. "You've done so much for me in the past, that the least I could do was repay the favor. But I can't; I don't know how. Mizuki said the best way for us to help is to not help, and for that, I may as well go home." "But“Ï¢ came out here," Ranma said, turning his back to the window. "That's got to mean something." "I'm just capitalizing on opportunities that aren't there," the okonomiyaki chef said with a nervous laugh. "People are worried about you... Ranchan. I mean, the first thing I wanted to do when I found you was tell everybody where you were. But I realized you came out here because you don't want to see them. You didn't want to see me come out here." "That's not true...." "You're sulking like a big baby!" Ukyo cried, unsure where her sudden burst came from. "You got beat up by someone stronger than you, and all you can do is run off and make everybody worry. Maybe I'm not the only one who needs to go home. Does it really matter that much that you'd isolate yourself from your friends and family just to prove that you're hot stuff? We already know that. But that's not why we're your friends." Ranma said nothing, finding himself at a loss for words. Ukyo looked away, realizing she was crying, and tried to wipe off her tears with her fingers. It was no good saying anything without getting so emotional.... "Ucchan," he said finally, "I don't like training blind like this. I don't know how... but... I need your help." Those last four words caught Ukyo by surprise. She forced herself to look at Ranma, and saw that he was being serious. "I'm not going to stop trying to beat Ziel," he continued, "but... you're right... I think. I think... I, well...." "You don't have to say it," the okonomiyaki chef assured him, feeling relieved. "You can find help here," another voice said. Both Ranma and Ukyo saw Mizuki standing in the doorway, a folded slip of paper in her hand. She held it out for Ukyo to take. "Shizuka's staying at my retreat out here. Just follow the directions." "Mizuki...." Ukyo accepted the paper, unsure what to think of this. Ranma's eyes passed from the folded note back to the high priestess. "Why?" "You have many friends waiting for you there," she explained. "They have been searching for you for quite some time now. And besides... I can't help you. You possess a spirit which is far beyond my understanding, and I would only hold you back." She chuckled to herself, uneasy. "I can't teach anybody anything." Ukyo wondered silently if the high priestess was referring to Shizuka with those words. "Nah," Ranma scoffed, "you helped a lot. Thanks... for everything." Walking up to the high priestess the martial artist extended an open hand. "These people should be lucky having you around." Returning the handshake, Mizuki cracked a smile. "I sometimes think that myself." * * * Mishima Estate, Guest Room Two chairs were set up in the guest room which Nekurow occupied-- one taken up by Nekurow himself, and the other by his own guest, Ayame. It took little effort for the dark hunter to get out of bed, yet, as he stared out the window, into the darkness, which his chair faced, he could not help but wonder what was out there. The girl sitting beside him, Ayame, always came to visit whenever she had the time. Often she said nothing important, speaking of trivialities as to what happened in school that day, or perhaps local gossip. In any case, she never stopped talking, as if her relayed news were of some import. "I'm going to take leave of this place tomorrow evening," he announced. "That soon?" Ayame asked, perplexed. "Shouldn't you heal first?" "The more I lie around in bed, the more out of practice I will become," the hunter explained. "I need to remain in shape, as you do." "It's not THAT bad to miss a day or two." "Your task is not as prudent; I must still find those two demons, and demolish them, before they wreak more havoc." "Well, if they've been around this long," the girl said, "and lived among us like that in peace, why should they leave?" "Because they represent a threat to humans." "But what if they wanted to live in peace?" Ayame wondered. "Demons live longer than humans, don't they?" "Most do," Nekurow affirmed. "I don't think the ones you're hunting, if they've been living in Tokyo for so long... well, I don't think they're causing problems because they want to. Maybe it's because they're afraid of you." "Demons know no fear as we know it." "That's still fear, isn't it?" "Perhaps. They do not scare easily." "But you said so yourself, that demons fear you. It's just that these two are so afraid they'll fight you for it." "For that, I respect their strength, but nothing more." "It's like I said before," she continued. "I told you about Miranda, right? I never seriously got into this martial arts stuff until after she attacked me. I got tired of getting beat-up." "I expect that they will try just as hard as you." "But isn't there a better way? Something where you don't give them some ultimatum?" "I know of no other way," Nekurow admitted. "The Gate of Heaven, which leads to the Kami Plane, is blocked-off, and guarded jealously by the priests of the Four Gods. Only my kami sponsors can grant me access to their accursed plane, but not regularly. The only way is to exterminate their physical forms, so that their spirits return to their world." "Dead," Ayame added cynically. "Some manage to get around that, if they are clever. I have fought and killed several demons more than once. Exorcists are weak; only the strongest know how to banish demons to their plane, while most I've met know only how to seal a demon. Sealing is counterproductive, as only time will tell until the same demon releases itself." "Why don't you ask those priest people to open the Gate for you?" "The priests shun my kind," Nekurow explained. "They claim the Gate is too dangerous to open and close so recklessly. They are too fearful to use their powerful Banishing Rite that will expel all demons from this world, in fear of harming their demonic allies. You see, those priests are in collusion with demons and rogue kami, such as the Star Crusher." "'Star Crusher,' huh? The name sounds familiar." "She is a renegade celestial dragon banished to Earth after failing her Emperor," the hunter elaborated quickly. "That creature is responsible for much of the damage to this world, and, with the cooperation of the priests of the Four Gods, has returned to the Kami Plane a stronger sorcerer than ever." "Oh." Nekurow eyed the girl, curious at her sudden silence. He wondered for a moment if she knew of the one he spoke of, but discarded the notion; Nekurow hardly believed such an insignificant girl would have any encounter with ones such as Zhou Tian-long. * * * "I just wanted a peek at our 'new friend,'" Chika said, as Kodachi lead her through the quiet hallway leading to the guest room. "I mean, after Ayame made a big deal about it at school." "I cannot fathom what that girl is thinking," Kodachi said neutrally. "She guards this fellow jealously, as if she were her own! As if I would deign to settle with a man twenty years older than I am!" "That old?" Chika whistled. "Dang, she's really aiming high this time, huh?" "She's with him now, 'talking,'" the other explained, her arrogant airs preventing her from sinking into a state of petty jealousy. It wasn't as if Kodachi was seriously jealous, Chika knew, but rather, she was concerned that Ayame was falling for the poor guy. Ayame talked as if he was some kind of kindred spirit at school.... Both girls reached the door to Nekurow's guest room, and they heard the two occupants going back and forth over some indecipherable topic. Chika moved to open the door, but Kodachi barred her with her arm. "What?" she asked. "Why are you so eager?" asked Kodachi. "I'm not," came her reply. "I'm just wondering why she'd go through all this trouble to take care of some old geezer. He might be cute." Kodachi said nothing, fixating her eyes away from Chika and toward the closed door. "I cannot stand to see someone broken in such a despicable manner," she answered quietly. "The human body is one's own shrine, which must be taken care of as best as possible. There is nothing more beautiful, nor fragile, than that which we are. To mar such a shrine would be a travesty to Heaven and Earth!" "Ever thought of going into anesthesiology?" Chika asked, knowing that resorting to chemical warfare often left the 'shrine' intact. "I have no such designs at this time," Kodachi admitted. "My attentions have been spent elsewhere these days." "You know it's not bad being a doctor," the lackey persisted. "I mean, you've got the smarts and attitude to do it; why don't you? We're looking toward college anytime soon, you know. I know what I want to do, but you don't." Although it was hardly circulated, Kodachi's closest friends knew that the younger Kuno sibling had no real plans for college. There wasn't anything that interested her more than rhythmic gymnastics, but even she recognized that there was no long-term future in it. Chika firmly believed that Kodachi already knew what she wanted to do, but had yet to realize it. It was a matter of finding which glove fit best, so to speak. Ayame, on the other hand, was a year younger than both Kodachi and Chika, and thus didn't have to worry about it as much. The younger rhythmic gymnast had no designs to go to college, fully knowing that she wasn't really bright or gifted. Perhaps it was her self- downplay that drove her to look after people, or even a possible guaranteed position in her family business's hierarchy. She already worked for them part-time, and was probably being groomed to take over the company someday, so college wasn't as big a deal for her. Yet, despite coming from a weapons-development firm Ayame had an unexpectedly large heart, and perhaps it bled for this Nekurow fellow. Chika once again reached to open the door, but stopped herself this time in hesitation. Looking toward Kodachi she realized that she wasn't paying attention anymore, and was about to walk off. Chika lowered her arm, cracking the door open slightly to view within. Shaking her head, the sister of Shion turned and walked back the way she came, wondering why she bothered to come in the first place. * * * Day 3 of Stage Two-- Abandoned Shrine Kanna slid the door shut, but it did little to drown out the mad cackling of Shizuka within. Her eyes passed from Akane, to Miranda, and to Ryoga, who stood in the hall expectantly. She shook her head. "She's still nuts," Kanna announced, remembering how difficult it was to put her in restraints after Ryoga's fight. Although Shizuka was out for quite some time nobody thought that she would wake up off-balance still, so Ryoga and Miranda had to hold her down while Kanna tied her up. The entire time Shizuka was ranting and babbling about some random topic she was disgruntled over, and Kanna long since stopped trying to figure out what she was talking about. The others stopped a lot sooner than she did, and somehow, that made them much wiser for it. Kanna shrugged. "Sometimes she's ranting about anime. Then about clichés. Then sometimes things about her parents. I can't make any sense of it." "So now what'll we do with her?" asked Miranda. "I mean, well...?" "Let me see her," Akane volunteered. "Even now Shizuka shouldn't be alone." "It might be dangerous," Kanna warned. "I trust you," she replied. "I think I can take care of myself." "I'll go with you," Ryoga said. "If that girl tries something...." "No, really," Akane insisted, stepping past Kanna and placing her hand on the door, "I'll be fine." Silently, Kanna watched Akane slide open the door out of the corner of her eye, and instantly her ears were assailed by the babbling torment contained within. No one spoke a word as Akane stepped inside, then gently slid the door shut. Kanna realized she was holding her breath, and forced herself to exhale. "You think it's okay?" wondered Miranda. "Well, if she thinks I did such a good job locking her down," Kanna replied, "then who's to think otherwise?" * * * It seemed quite odd to Akane that Shizuka, who was tied to a heavy post moved into the side room by Ryoga, calmed down and quieted. Her arms were tied around the back of the post, and her feet and legs by strong chords of their own. Although a thick rope held her neck back Shizuka's head was leaning forward, as if the priestess were staring at the floor, or thoroughly exhausted from yelling and screaming all night. It was far more disturbing in that she stopped the moment Akane slid the door shut. "Shizuka?" The bound priestess said nothing, only breathing with quick breaths. Akane's eyes surveyed the room, taking in the emptyness, save for the post. Uprooting it from the courtyard Ryoga plunged the large, half-meter diameter post through the roof, and securely embedded it through the floor, and into the ground below. Although Shizuka's raving certainly moved it a bit, it was not enough to make anything larger than a slowly- growing hole in the ceiling and floor. "A... kaaaa... ne...?" She jumped in surprise, having expected Deathclaw's hellish slur to come along with the drawl. Akane took two careful steps in Shizuka's direction, bending over slightly to get a sight of the priestess' eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked. Shizuka took a deep breath. "My arms are asleep." Okay. "Can you tell me what's wrong?" "Untie me," the priestess whispered. "My legs are sore from standing for hours." "So you remember what you did? You attacked me." "Oh. Yes... that. Sorry." "'Sorry?' Is that all you've got to say?" "Sorry." Akane groaned. Closing the distance between herself and the post she stopped in front of Shizuka's hanging head. Putting one hand on each side of her head, Akane thrust it back against the post, forcing Shizuka to pay attention. "Now listen, you...." The deranged priestess' expression caught her off- guard. Shizuka's eyes lazily stared back at her, and her mouth hung open, with still-moist streams of tears rolling down her cheeks. Akane stared intently into her eyes, and knew that Shizuka wasn't seeing her at all. No, her eyes were fixated on some point past her, as if she could see through Akane, or Akane were not there at all. "Do you know how you people look to the dead?" Shizuka asked. "For that time, I could see what Deathclaw could see. I saw your soul. It was a strong and healthy soul. I wanted it. I hungered for it. I wanted to make it my own. I wanted your body." "Is this what Deathclaw wants?" Akane guessed. "I saw why I shouldn't be conscious while he is in active control," the priestess continued. "I knew it would hurt, but not that much. We fought over each other for control over the same body. He wants to do one thing. I want to do something else. We found a common ground, and we attacked you. Sorry; you looked strong." "Stupid," Akane muttered, "are you trying to apologize, or insult me?" "What do you think?" "I don't know what to think," she replied honestly. "For one thing, I don't know why you like hurting yourself so much." "Someone has to. Pain tells you you're alive... or, at least, that's what they always say. Damn cliché." "Huh?" "Kanna was right; our common ground wÙßwate. She did say that, right? Or did I make it up? No matter; hate makes me strong. Deathclaw is jealous of, and hates, the living. I hate clichés." Shizuka forced a weak smile. "Sure, you're telling yourself, 'Love is the most grand emotion.' You ever watch anime? No? Well, I'll tell you what they're poisoning young minds with. They're sending a message that says 'love conquers all.' Stupid, stupid. They would have those people think hate is a bad thing. But what they don't tell you is that hate is a form of love." Akane released her hold on Shizuka, and allowed her to keep her head up under her own power. "I don't understand...." "Akane, I'm a villain," she continued in her cryptic speech. "Villains do terrible things in order to accomplish their goals. Villains are people that have feelings, too. Villains don't ever win. Such is the way they are portrayed, so that people won't go out into the world and do terrible things. Yet, there has to be such people out there, because some of those things have to be done." "Good guys don't kill people; villains kill themselves with their own greed and hate. That's just plain silly. Such stories have morals that look down on such things as greed, ambition, pride, and hate. They would have you think that humanity would do well without such petty, despicable emotions and feelings. I don't believe one word of it, because, if you strip those away, we are no longer human." "I've met kami. I've met Celestials who could be just as cruel as Infernals. They're worse because they hide it under lofty pretenses. The reason I supported Sypha was because she knew the truth, and wished to challenge the Celestial authority holding sway over the Kami Plane over the millennia. Such would help to change humanity's outlook forever on such things as good and evil. Evil is not necessarily as black as it really is, and good is not necessarily as white as it really is." "Shizuka... who cares?" Akane replied. "Don't think about it so much; nobody does this except you. You're too concerned about everybody else that you forget about yourself; that's your problem. From what you said you think you're the most selfish person out there, but I think that's not true. It's just that you're not selfish ENOUGH." "Now you're not making sense," Shizuka said in turn. "You say you hunt demons. Do you get any pleasure out of doing it? Do you enjoy it?" "Yes." "You're not saying 'yes' because you personally gain from it; you're saying 'yes' because you're helping others. I don't know how you don't recognize that." "Listen," Akane said, forcing Shizuka to look at her. "You've got to stop beating yourself up like this. You're not hurting just yourself, but the people around you, too. People who care about you, and are concerned for your well-being. People you care about. There's nothing philosophical or subliminal about it. It's NOT okay to purposefully hurt yourself, no matter what. I don't care if it's because you got beaten up by some guy in a black coat, or if you can't beat Kuno; no one wants you to hurt yourself over it. Do you understand?" Slowly, Shizuka nodded her head. Moving around to the other side of the post, Akane began working at Kanna's knots. "You're worse than Ranma, you know? At least he has the sense not to go to the lengths you're going." Akane worked silently, and Shizuka said not a word as she finished undoing the tough bonds Kanna created. In no time Akane had the thick ropes undone, leaving Shizuka to stand freely with her back against the post. Akane turned to the front, noting that Shizuka had quietly cried herself to sleep, standing up. Shaking her head Akane gently pulled her away from against the post, and slowly lowered her down flat on her back to the ground, careful not to make any sudden noises. Sitting down on her knees, she rest Shizuka's head on her lap, and stroked her hair back away from her face. She looks so tired, Akane thought. It's like she grew up without having grown-up. If she were awake right now she'd detest sympathy... but... maybe that's just what she needs. It really must be terrible to think you're standing alone for so long.... "Don't get too comfortable," a dark, grating voice intoned. Akane was instantly alerted, her head darting about. "Who's there?" "You can't see me," the voice replied. "Look down." Instantly, she realized who it was. Deathclaw was speaking to her directly, into her mind; it made sense, considering that Shizuka was out. Yet, as far as Akane could tell, Deathclaw doesn't ever speak to anyone like this; always through Shizuka, when she let him use her voice on those occasions. "You. What do you want?" "Nothing, for the moment," Deathclaw replied, his voice making itself comfortable in Akane's mind. "What is it to you that you would relax your guard to one of your most dangerous enemies?" "She's not my enemy," Akane answered sincerely. "The question is, are you?" She imagined the skull dragon smiling in her mind's eye, amused. "I am the Yang to her Yin. I am that which makes her whole. You would take her in that fashion, or not at all. So tell me, am I your enemy?" Akane closed her eyes, clearing her thoughts of quick remarks. If Deathclaw wasn't lying through his teeth, then maybe Shizuka had a reason to purposefully get possessed by such an evil being. Yet, even though she was possessed, Deathclaw almost never manifest save for when Shizuka wished. What was it that would bring Shizuka and Deathclaw together? Were they really that different? "No, I guess not," she answered finally. * * * "I'm going back up to the cabin," Kanna announced, stretching her arms out into the air. "It's up in the mountains a ways; I'm expecting guests." "More guests?" Miranda said bleakly. Kanna raised a finger. "If something goes wrong with Shizuka, let me know as soon as possible. I'm sure that between you two they'll be safe." "Akane will, that's for sure," Ryoga corrected. "I can't say the same about Shizuka, if she decides to attack her again." * * * High Priestess' Quarters, North Tower "'Too late?'" Hokuto repeated in disbelief. "You just missed them," Mizuki told the Shadow Weaver. "Ranma and Ukyo left this morning to meet-up with Shizuka at my retreat." Hokuto paced in a circle, running her hand through the length of her traveling cloak. "I don't know where it is, so I can't travel there. You're going to have to give me directions." Silently, the Shadow Weaver cursed her luck. Had she thought to come to the Shrine of the Four Gods sooner she could have at least gotten Ranma's attention. The problem with catching him now was a matter of real-time encounters, as Hokuto could only achieve her shadow travel to places she's been to before, and could remember precisely with her mind. It seemed a stupid limitation to her power, but shadow transit wouldn't work otherwise. Sometimes, it was possible to get somewhere through use of a photograph, but there was a larger chance of ending up someplace where you didn't want to be. On top of that, Mizuki never thought it prudent to take pictures of her little cabin, so the point was moot anyway. "I'll see about getting you that," the high priestess said. "But what's going on? I might be able to call Kanna." "A phone message won't guarantee they'll come," Hokuto insisted. "I can take them back to Tokyo faster if I go myself." "Fine, but what's wrong?" "Ziel's been captured by a man with a bone flute," the Shadow Weaver explained. "If we don't do something soon the flute will take over his mind, and our enemy will have one of the strongest weapons at his disposal." * * * Mountain Retreat Kanna hardly waited long before the summoning circle, a circle of ash left over from the first summoning, erupted in flame. The cloaked salamander Cinder emerged from the midst of the flames, holding a wrapped length in his left claw. The salamander's mechanical eye zoomed in, and he held the wrapped sword and scabbard for Kanna to take. "Where is the girl?" Accepting the package, the tactician replied, "She's having some... problems." "I see." "So, I see you fixed the sword, after all." "I fixed it myself," Cinder said neutrally. "In the past days I taught myself how to do so, and it was a simple matter to fuse the blade back together." "You control the flame, after all," Kanna said. "However," the salamander said in warning, "advise that girl this sword is not fit to be used in combat any longer. The structural harmony of the blade cannot be repaired; if it is used in the same manner as before it will simply break again. As you know, a blade is forged from one piece of metal. Fusing the broken blade was as if making a blade of two different pieces. Reforging the blade and restoring it in that manner is beyond my ken; it would require the human that forged it, or someone knowledged in its forging. The key point is that this sword was forged by a human, and we only know how to forge a salamander weapon." "I understand," Kanna said, nodding. "So it's nothing more than a ceremonial blade now." "She will know what to do with it, I trust," Cinder added confidently. "I understand that girl would not have left the sword in my care had she not known what the consequence would be." "I don't mean disrespect, Master Cinder, but why don't you ever refer to Shizuka by her name?" "Why do you insist on referring me as 'Master Cinder?'" he countered with a question of his own. "Because it's your name, and I'm trying to shikayou respect." "I owe no such respect for that girl," answered Cinder, folding his polished steel arms. "Nor does she, nor you, respect me enough to refer to my full name and title. You are not privileged enough to know my full name and title, just as I am not privileged to refer to her by her full name and title. Such honor is bestowed only on our finest peoples, such as my lord and master, Lord Kolvar na Strakhil. One as great as he is beyond such pettiness befitting his subjects and retainers-- unlike the cowardly Celestial Emperor, who continues to hide behind his common name." "So names are part of your political climate, too?" Kanna concluded, nodding sagely. She realized that, in his own way, the salamander was making out himself to be a humble servant by flaunting his lord's power so. This Kolvar must be so powerful it doesn't matter if people know his true name, she reasoned. "'Cinder' is your common name, then? It's just that most of us humans don't have such names." "Most do not," he agreed. "Yet, I sense you do. It seems that human society has it in reverse than it is in the Kami Plane; your so-called 'nick-names' are more special than your true names." Kanna smiled. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. They call me the 'Crystal Spider.'" She held up her necklace, a violet-hued crystal containing a preserved silk-spinning spider. "Mainly because of this... and because some of the girls back in grade school thought I was creepy. Most girls are afraid of spiders, you know?" She shook her head. "Of course you don't know... who am I kidding?" Cinder nodded, lowering his arms. "Your lineage is so honored for that relic." Bowing respectfully, he added, "I will take my leave of you." The flames of the circle erupted around the fire master once again, consuming his form in a brilliant, violent flare. Kanna only had time to blink once before it vanished as quickly as it came, leaving no trace of the summoning circle this time, now that the terms of the pact have been fulfilled. She looked down at the bundle in her hands, skeptical. "What in the world is she going to do with this worthless thing?" * * * "I'd like to think I've grown-up," Ukyo said, trailing behind Ranma as the two trekked up the pathless mountainside, her hands on the straps of her backpack. "But I'm still chasing stupid dreams." "It can't be that stupid," Ranma replied, without looking over his shoulder. "You're one silly guy," the okonomiyaki chef said, smiling to herself. "Even after you got married I still think about you a lot. Things that could've been, and the way things weren't. Things like that. Things like how one event can cause a whole series of events down the line." "Strangely enough," she added, "in hindsight, I can't think how anything would be like if your pop didn't steal my dad's cart. I wouldn't have met Akane, Konatsu, or the others. Everything did work out in it's own way, don't you think?" "Maybe," the other granted, "but it could've been less painful along the way." "Okay... so I wouldn't need to get better direction for the same event," Ukyo admitted, waving her arms about. "But still, it's great that i can talk to you like this, now." "I'm not sure about that," Ranma said, thinking to himself. Ranma stopped in his tracks, holding his arm out to bar Ukyo's path. Getting the hint, she paused as well, straining her ears to detect whatever it was that forced Ranma to stop. "I wasn't expecting more visitors this soon," they heard a third voice say. "I know that voice," Ranma said under his breath. Both Ranma and Ukyo jumped in surprise as Kanna dropped in from the tree above, landing with a loud clomp. Standing straight up the elder girl had one hand over her shoulder, on her strange scythe weapon, which rest along with a wrapped bundle that was barely visible. "Kanna," Ukyo remembered. "What're you doing here?" "I see you two are hitting it on," Kanna noted, smiling mischievously. "Boy, wouldn't Akane like to hear the gossip mill on this one!" "What about Akane?" demanded Ranma. The tactician waved a finger. "Lots of people have been looking for you, silly boy. They've been helpful of late, but I'm sure they'll be happy to see you." "Akane's here?" he guessed, unsurprised. "Maybe I should leave," Ukyo suggested. "Everybody's over at a shrine down that way," Kanna said, ignoring Ukyo's comment. "It's not that far. Of course... are you sure you want to deal with all of it?" "All of what?" "Ryoga, Miranda, and Shizuka are there, too," she added. "Shizuka in particular's been a handful." "I can imagine," Ukyo murmured. * * * Courtyard, Abandoned Shrine Boredom settled in as Miranda suppressed a yawn, leaning against the wall to the left of the main entrance as Ryoga stood on the wall to the right. Kanna was only gone for a few hours already, but nothing was happening-- and that bothered Miranda. "So you're Ryoga Hibiki," she said, opening a conversation based on boredom. "I heard you fought against Ranma." "Yeah," he replied. "That was a long time ago." "Was he always that bad?" "'That bad?'" Ryoga echoed, turning his head and giving Miranda a surprised look. "He's the best there is." "I beat him, you know," she boasted. "I heard that, too." He turned away, leaning his head back against the wall. "I think it was luck." "'Luck?' What about skill?" "'Luck,' because Ranma hadn't decided to train hard to beat you back. It's probably because you're a girl." Miranda's expression became sullen. "You're shitting me, right?" Again, Ryoga gave her the look. "I've fought him many times. You fought him... once?" "Twice," she corrected. "So you beat him once out of two matches; that doesn't mean you're good. That means you got lucky." "Stop saying it was luck!" Miranda cried, beaming. "You wanna fight? I'll make you eat those words!" She threw one gloved punch, which Ryoga caught easily, without turning. No way, Miranda thought. That loser Ranma did the exact same thing that time.... I HAVE to be faster than that.... "Feh," he scoffed. "Fighting you proves nothing. No wonder Ranma doesn't want a rematch; you're all talk and no skill." "You better watch it, pal," Miranda seethed, her blood boiling. "Or I'll make you eat those words!" "Oh yeah?" Ryoga said. "I'd like to see you try!" * * * "Where're my weapons?" Shizuka asked, lying on the floor on her side, resting her head on her arms, facing away from Akane. "It's just a precaution," Akane explained, sitting only a meter away. "We can't tell when you're stable." The priestess smiled to herself. "You know, my old Aikido sensei said that, too." "You studied Aikido?" Akane asked, surprised. "Yeah; I got kicked out of the dojo, though. All the time I kept asking questions, and sensei didn't like it. Of course, he really lost it after he introduced the weapons training...." "What did you do?" "After I shut-up and learned the finer-points of using a bokken," the priestess recalled, rolling over onto her back, "I went ahead and nearly killed one of the other students with it. I mean, I must've done something right, because I turned a 'harmless' exercise into a death-dealer. Kid's lucky." "Oh, I see," Akane said, sounding nervous. "After that Mizuki had to train me personally," Shizuka finished. "They at least taught me enough to know how to swing it... sort of." She shook her head. "Didn't last at all." Turning over to face Akane, she added, "You did notice my suckage at hand-to-hand, yes?" Akane nodded. "I heard you were goin triter Kuno many times over the past week or two. He's kind of like that, but he's extremely skilled with his sword. I don't think it's a good idea for a beginner like you, not to mention a drop-out, to take him on. Kuno's on his way to the top in competition." "That's why I went after him," Shizuka replied. "And why I go after Ranma. It's faster-- even if painful-- to learn how to beat a master, because, even if they hold back on me, I know what to do in a real fight." "Don't you think that's a little dangerous? It takes years of practice to get to the level they're at. Even I can't catch-up to them." "My intention is not to 'catch-up,'" Shizuka corrected, "but rather, to determine my own style. The only thing that works for me is what I experience works. Mizuki's been bullshitting this 'style thing' to me for years; I think her style is full of it, and if it works for her, that's fine; it just didn't work for me. So I'm inventing my own style that befits me. If there's something I've learned from Aikido is that martial arts is a philosophy." "That's one way you could look at it," Akane said. Changing the subject, she asked, "Are you hungry?" At the mention of food, Shizuka sat up, perked. "I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday; of COURSE I'm hungry!" Reaching into her pocket, Akane produced a power bar. "I'll split this one." "Isn't that mine anyway?" Shizuka asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Yeah," she replied, "unless you want to cook up something from the supplies." The priestess shrugged. "Well, why not?" Jumping back to her feet, she asked, "I don't promise anything fancy, though." "If you're willing to eat it, I guess it can't be all bad," Akane said, finding some amusement in the matter which Shizuka didn't understand. * * * Darkness Ziel's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the blinding single light overhead. He tried to move his arms, but found them restrained. He lay flat on his back, against some kind of table, probably for torture purposes. The Wind-User could not recall how he turned up in such a dismal location, recalling only the terrible noise in his head when the cloaked man appeared with his bone flute. The flute... yes, that was the key.... "I see you are awake," the unseen enemy said. Ziel zipped his lips, unwilling to give his captor any sense of satisfaction. "Ziel Kagura," he continued, "of a lineage tracing back to a demoness during the Warring States period. Since then your bloodline inherited a special power-- more specifically, the ability to control the wind. Your line uses a special fan to achieve this, yet the fan itself is not important; each member of your line has used their own fan. So it's merely a focus to your talent." The Wind-User shut his eyes, but the light seemed to shine through his eyelids. "Yet, along with such power comes a certain... drawback. Since you're not fully-blooded, your power over the wind is not as strong as your ancestor. Your human blood makes you weak, and unable to control the wind without discipline. You are held back by fear." Again, he remained silent. "The secret is so obvious: each member of your line has never become a soldier, nor have they become a public servant by any means. They fear they will lash out and draw blood. Your line has instilled into you a fear of murder. You fear such extreme violence that you would avoid it at all costs. You fear the sight of blood, in fear of awakening your primal urges." "Yes, that's correct," continued the dark one. "The Kagura family works hardest to discipline against an instinct shared by humanity and demons alike. You are truly not human, nor are you demon. You're an abomination." "I am Ziel Kagura," the Wind-User seethed, unable to hold himself back. "I surpass you weak creatures." "Your true nature lies sealed within you! Why fight it? Your family will carry the curse forever. Use it to dispose of the weak, and bring about a new age without humans or demons." He felt his blood boiling. "I am not your pawn!" "Remember how they ridiculed you!" encouraged the enemy. "Remember how those humans shunned you, and beat you up on the way to school every morning. Remember your frustration when your parents forbid you from using your power to protect yourself! Remember breaking that command, and truly instilling fear in your tormentors!" "Those worms of humans," Ziel seethed, "they knew nothing of fear...." The tone of the bone flute played once more, and Ziel screamed in pain as the notes flooded his ears. The infernal noise... noise... NOISE!! "I'll kill you!" Ziel promised, screaming at the top of his lungs. "Come out here and fight me, coward!" But the music played on, infuriating Ziel further. He flexed his arms, feeling broug pulsating through his veins, and the rush that followed consumed him. A swirl of air erupted in the dark chamber, and the light hanging overhead exploded into a shower of glass. Yet not one shard would touch Ziel as a violent spiral formed over and around him, tearing up into the sky like a great drill. "Frail human!" he roared, the wind shattering his bonds with the precision of a surgeon. "Your kind will taste my wrath!" * * * Nerima "What the hell...?!" Mousse cried, holding his glasses over his eyes when the explosion erupted from the mountains north of the city. Shampoo stood up from her seat at the cafe table to see, along with the other customers, her eyes fixed on the great fireball beyond the city limits. She raised a hand as a visor for her eyes, and squinted. "Let's see what it is," she decided. Mousse looked back at her, peeling his eyes away from the spectacle. "Are you crazy? That's not just an explosion! It's a fire!" "Not just fire, either," the other martial artist corrected. "Someone strong is there. Maybe we know him." * * * Ayame felt Nekurow standing beside her as she stared out in the fireball's direction, standing in the courtyard of the Mishima estate. Moments before she watched silently as the dark hunter practiced swings, planning to get back into shape as soon as possible. "It's him," Nekurow knew, sheathing the Orochi Sword. "The Wind-User is challenging us." "But you haven't recovered your strength yet!" Ayame said. "And besides, if he can make big explosions like that...." "His province is the wind, not fire," he pointed out simply. "The explosion is only a consequence; his attack is invisible to the naked eye." Adjusting his sunglasses, Nekurow added, "Yet my vision enhancement can detect the patterns in the air, so I may have an edge." "You're not going to kill him, are you?" "This one is one of the strongt emons," Nekurow explained. "If left unchecked more people will be hurt. I will kill him." * * * "I just got off the phone with Mizuki," Nabiki read on her computer screen, the message coming from Shion. "Kanna is indeed back in Japan, and she's wherever Shizuka is, training." "Did you feel that explosion a little while ago?" she messaged back, typing frantically onto her keyboard. The shock of the blast still rattled her bones, and Nabiki could feel the waves just thinking about it. "Who couldn't? But what do you want me to do about it?" "Well, shouldn't it be that Nekurow guy?" "Nekurow's accounted for. Chika says he's over at Ayame's place, recovering." Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" she typed in response. "Ayame's fooling around with him, or something like that. I'll call Kodachi and see if she's still there." "What about Ziel?" "How should I know? He's probably hiding somewhere, because he didn't check in yesterday." "Times like this you wish Ranma was around." "Oh yeah. Mizuki said he was hiding out with him the last couple of days. He ain't there anymore, though." "Really? So where is he now, because Akane wasn't going that way." "Who knows." Nabiki sighed, leaning back in her seat. Her brother-in-law seemed to like raising hell while he was in town, but when something happens Ranma is nowhere to be found. For that matter, knowing that anyone beside Kuno was in town to protect them from any sort of danger wasn't encouraging. Whoever it was that was doing it, Nabiki hoped he or she would just go away. * * * Courtyard, Abandoned Shrine "Everything was all fun and games," Shizuka said impassively, walking with uneven steps, her eyes studying the darkening clouds of the morning sky above. "It didn't last. It never lasts." Not far away, Akane, with Ryoga and Miranda to either side, watched from the shade of the roof's overhang, the latter sporting a number of bruises for some reason. While Akane remained relaxed the other two remained alert, just waiting for the priestess to flip-out. "It's like it was all a dream," Akane said. "I never noticed how much of a kid she was at heart." "I don't buy it," Miranda voiced coldly. "It's all a clever facade to lower our guard." "Yeah," agreed Ryoga. "You can't judge a person by their appearance alone; that gets you in trouble." He tapped the taped cardboard box at his right with the heel of his right foot, the contents which were the whole of Shizuka's ridiculous array of weapons and theoretical weapons. Although the box reached as high as Ryoga's waist the only things that weren't resting on the bottom were a single snake-pommel sword, peace-knotted into its sheath, and an unloaded single- barrel shotgun. "So what do we do with her?" Miranda wondered. "Maybe she'll forget about fighting," Ryoga hoped. "Hey, guys, I'm back!" Attention turned toward the stairs as Kanna entered into view, waving with one hand. Shizuka saw her friend coming, rushing off to greet her. She stopped in her tracks when she saw who was behind Kanna. "YOU!!" Shizuka screamed, reaching to her left waist for the sword that wasn't there. "Um, nice to see you, too," Ranma said, annoyed. "Ranma!" Akane cried, running out to greet him. But Ryoga was three steps ahead of her, and Ryoga was already throwing Ranma around with his lightning fists. "Ranma, you jerk!" he cried angrily. "How DARE you make Akane worry about you!" In turn Ryoga's head met the flat of a giant spatula. "I know that spatula anywhere..." he murmured, face throbbing in pain. "Geez, Ryoga," Ukyo said, shaking her head, "you're as stubborn as ever." "Full house, huh?" Miranda said, taking her time in her approach. She looked down at Ranma on the ground, havig noeen given a good one by Ryoga, and was being kicked in the side with Shizuka's weak kicks. She rubbed her gloved hands together in delight. "This is getting better every minute...." * * * "So that's the story," Akane said, and Ranma nodded. Although it took some time calming everybody down Akane, with some help from Kanna and Ukyo, managed to get each of the others to stop tearing each other apart long enough to listen to each others' tales. In some respects, as she sat in the middle of the bare temple room with the others, it felt as if the picture was coming together all at once. "Well," Miranda said, "it sounds as if you need an expert's opinion." "Like what?" Ranma said, eyes narrowing in disgust. "I bet I could waste this Ziel guy easy," she answered. "Point me in the right direction, and I'll take care of him for you." "Even if you could compete, I'm still going to do it myself!" "Lots of luck, loser-boy!" the loser replied, cocky. "If you got beat by me, how do you stand a chance?" "You don't!" Ranma countered. "You'll just run away because you're afraid of losing to anybody." "Hey!" Akane shouted. "Can't you guys just stop fighting for once?" "What'd you expect?" Shizuka muttered, eyeing Akane. "Ranma's a blockhead, and Miranda's full of it." "Don't you ever say anything positive?" Ukyo criticized the priestess. "Every word that comes out of your mouth is putting somebody down." "Oh, like you're all gold and sunshine!" the priestess shot back, smiling, accepting the challenge. "Praise and support are double-edged as well!" "It goes for you guys, too," Kanna said, verbally stepping in between the two girls. "Friendly types we've got here," Ryoga noted sarcastically, folding his arms. "So now that we're here... now what?" "I plan on completing my training," Shizuka answered. "I'm not going to beat that jerk Nekurow if I sit on my hands." "Of course, that might produce the same results," Ranma said under his breath. "What did you just say?!" "You couldn't fight your way out of a paper bag." Had it been possible smoke would have poured out of Shizuka's ears. "You wanna bet, girly-man?! Let's go outside and I'll make you eat those words!" "Fine!" Ranma agreed. "I'll just have to scrub that mouth of yours!" "Ranma!" Akane beamed. "What're you doing?" "Don't worry," he assured her. "I can't possibly lose to a nobody like Shizuka!" "Well, you never know," Miranda considered, scratching her chin thoughtfully. "I mean, really...." "Um, Ranma," Ryoga voiced, concerned, "I don't think you want to try that...." "What's the worse that could possibly happen?" Ranma declared boastfully. "I can handle anything Shizuka throws at me." * * * Standing across from each other in the courtyard Ranma stretched his arms and legs out, and stifled a yawn. Behind him, Akane, Ukyo, and Ryoga waited from a fair distance, not knowing what Ranma would do in the coming battle. At the other end of the courtyard Shizuka busied herself with replacing all the weaponry that was stripped from her earlier, with Miranda standing by the opened box and handing the priestess one article at a time. Shizuka never tore her eyes away from Ranma, and replaced each weapon automatically-- shouldering her shotgun, sheathing her sword, hiding her steel cards and wards in her inner sleeve pockets. Behind her Kanna made herself known. "Shizuka, I hope you know what you're doing." "That's fine," Shizuka replied, taking her string of summoning beads, having only three beads remaining after using most of them to summon Cinder previously. "I don't know what I'm going to do specifically, but I have a good idea." Raising her left arm, she tied the string to the end of her sleeve. "You're just going to get yourself hurt over this," Kanna persisted. "When was the last time you beat Ranma? Never." "There's a first time for everything." "And a last," Miranda said under her breath. "So it's going to be a little different minus one sword," Shizuka said, feeling confident as she slipped on her harpoon gun onto her right leg, quickly adjusting the trigger. "I don't need it; I've figured out something that I should've seen a long time ago." "And that is...?" Kanna wanted to know. "You'll see," the priestess promised. The tactician sighed. "Well, just remember that anything you use against Ranma, he'll be able to counter it easily. Even the shotgun. So after your magic I don't see how you could possibly win." Shizuka smiled to herself, fanning three wards in her left hand. "He's never fought me when I was REALLY motivated!" * * * "I hope Ranma knows what he's doing," Ryoga said, critical of the martial artist. "If he saw what that girl did last night he wouldn't be so cocky." "Do what?" Ukyo wondered. "She won't," Akane assured them. "I trust her." "Well," Ryoga decided, "if you've got that much confidence in her, then I guess I should, too." "Whatever," Ukyo said, shaking her head. ----------------------------------------------- Author's Rant Although the two have fought many times over the course of the series Ranma and Shizuka never had a formal battle whereby Shizuka wasn't seriously disadvantaged (at least, from her usual standard). No doubt even now she's handicapped, missing one sword, but this promises to be better than any of the previous fights. Training is over. It's a semi-gag that Shizuka never gets to summon anything, and when she does, something goes wrong. The Kami Plane is made up primarily of three 'tiers' that somewhat dictate alignments: the Celestials are basically the 'good' races (celestial dragons, archons), the Surfacers are the 'neutral' races (ranges from werebeasts to fey-folk), and the Infernals are the 'evil' races (ghosts, nightmares, salamanders... and includes Orochi). Sypha herself is quite evil for a celestial dragon, and has appropriately held 'Heaven' hostage by allying with 'Hell,' so to speak. The inner workings of Sypha's plans are effectively laid-out throughout the story, as she left a lasting impression on those around her. So much characterization, and Sypha hasn't even appeared at all. Stay tuned for more. -- Razorclaw X (spiceoflife@NYChotmail.com) www.angelfire.com/art/rcxshizuka/ranma/ranff.html