Ranma Tales ½: Chapter 22 – The Hordes

Part 1: Hounded

The woman hops down from the pole with a single leap. She doesn't even seem to need to bend when she lands, as she stays perfectly straight the whole time. After landing she slowly walks forward with a cautious grace. When she comes within a dozen feet of the two, and no one has said anything yet, she repeats "I'm looking for Ranma Saotome, would anyone know where he is?"

Ranma gets a bit of sense together and asks "Why do you want to know?"

None of them could be sure, because of the mask, but they were positive she smiled. She answered "Well I was hired to track him down. He owes some important people money and they know he's a bit dangerous so they sent me to collect it."

Ranma blinks and says, without thinking, "Money? Why would I owe anyone money?"

The woman looks at him and says "No offense kid, but that's a pretty lame way to protect the guy... There is no way your a middle aged man."

Ranam frowns "No I'm not, but I am Ranma Saotome."

The woman curses and says "I thought for sure I'd found the right one... I mean how many Ranma Saotomes can there be in Nerima?"

Ranma, still frowning, replies "As far as I know there is only one."

The woman shakes her head "Yeah, but your not a middle aged dangerous martial artist. The profile I was given listed the guy they want as an A rank martial artist with a son who traveled around a lot. It's why they hadn't sent anyone sooner, they've been waiting over six years for their money. Now however they got a report that Ranma was found in Nerima."

Ranma shrugs "Well that sounds vaguely like my dad... We used to travel around a lot, but the name is mine and as far as I know I've never borrowed money from anyone..."

The woman stares and says "Maybe he put the debt in your name? Where is he so I can ask? Maybe they will be happy if I can at least correct the error..."

Ranma sighs "He's in an unmarked grave in the middle of nowhere in China. He's been there for three years now... So he's not exactly available to comment..."

The woman sighs and says "That's not good for you kid... If he's dead and he was the one who incurred the debt in the first place... The debt falls to you to repay..."

Ranma, who is now wondering if his frown is going to be permanent, asks "How much money are we talking about?"

The woman shrugs "I'm not sure exactly, I'd guess about one billion yen however (roughly ten million dollars if I did my math right)."

Ranma just stares mouth gaping open. Akane does a pretty good impression of a fish out of water. Both Miho and Hinata doing some serious blinking, absolutely sure they are dreaming.

Finally Ranma mumbles "one billion yen...?"

The woman nods "Yes... Now, you have two options. You can come with me and try to work out a deal with them. Or I can subdue you and take you back with me? I get paid either way..."

Ranma says "What will happen with me if I come with you?"

The woman shrugs "I don't know. I don't exactly care either. My guess however is they won't take kindly to your failure to pay. They aren't exactly the Yakuza or the Triad, but they aren't exactly nice guys... I'm also betting that after this long they don't really want a lengthy court battle to get it back."

Ranma stiffly replies "So basically if you catch me... I'm dead?"

The woman shrugs "They hired me because they know if you try I'll simply catch you and take you in regardless. I'm not known as Shiki the relentless kunoichi huntress for nothing."

Hinata asks Ranma "The name mean anything to you?"

Ranma shrugs "Not really. That name could mean a lot of things, depending on how you choose to take it..."

Shiki replies "You really shouldn't underestimate me. That's a good way to lose quickly. So are you going to make me subdue you or will you come peacefully?"

Ranma looks at her and calmly says "I'd have to be insane to go with you...and I'm not."

Shiki shrugs "Ok then we do this the hard way. Just don't blame me later." Akane moves closer at this point, ready to help Ranma.

Hinata holds up her hand and says "Um I think your forgetting you interrupted my challenge. I was already fighting him. Wait in line."

Shiki asks "So you're going to get in my way? I'm not being paid to keep you alive. I also don't play in the kiddie leagues."

Hinata shrugs "Fine by me. But if you want to take him you'll have to go through me first." She's not sure what Shiki means, but she does know that whatever this woman can dish out she will just have to match it.

Shiki simply holds out her hands and twin wakizashi swords form in her hands. Just about everyone blinks, making sure they had just seen what they had seen. Miho doesn't understand it at all. Hinata, Ranma, and Akane however do. Shiki had upped the ante.

Hinata smiles and says "It's been awhile, but I'm sure I still remember how..." Then a rather ornate set of bankokuchoki (basically brass knuckles) form on her hands. Satisfied Hinata goes into a combat stance.

Before they can begin however, a voice calls out "Is this a private party, or can anyone join in?"

Part 2: Hunted

Standing nearby where thirteen guys, one standing in front of the others. He was the one that had spoken. All of them were thugs, but not the crappy type. No these were 'professional' thugs, the type of thug you'd expect from crime lords, Yakuza, the Triad, etc. They'd seen a few fights and lived, which for their type was saying something.

The man in front was similar, but obviously the one in charge. He was a fairly tall Japanese man of about thirty years of age. He had black hair that was grown out long and left to hang as it would. His eyes were a dark grey color and his face was accented by several piercings, including a safety pin in his lip. His clothes were simple consisting of a black sleeveless t-shirt and a pair of heavy black work pants. He was toying with a switchblade in his hand non-stop and he gave off the impression of being a complete weasel.

He sneers "Well too good to answer? If you are, I guess we need to teach you manners among other things."

Shiki looks over her shoulder at him and asks "Who do you think you are to interfere?"

He man continues to sneer and says "I'm Itachi Ochi. We are members of the Yakuza and heard Ranma Saotome was here."

Akane says "Weasel huh? Guess his parents knew how to name him..."

Ranma asks "Why is everyone after me? Do I have a sign on me that says, 'I want to be harassed? Please come annoy me?', well?"

Itachi replies "I don't know who you are kid, but if ya don't shut up I'm gonna hurt ya. Now would someone tell us where to find this Ranma Saotome or should we start hurting people?"

Shiki laughs at him and says "You just told him to shut up, you moron."

Itachi glares and says "That kid is Saotome? That doesn't make sense he's supposed to be an old man! Now tell me the truth, damn it!"

Shiki replies "I am. The info is wrong. Ranma Saotome is that kid. Seems his father played a fast one on everyone and gave his son's name to make things more difficult."

Itachi glances at his men and says "Take the kids; we'll sort this out later. I'll take care of the annoying bitch."

Shiki glares with her one uncovered eye and says "You take care of me? In your dreams, pervert." Then before anyone can move she has her blade poised over his throat from behind, where she's now standing. She'd moved nearly twenty feet in less time than it takes to blink. However the only reason Itachi was still alive was that his knife had moved up to block her blade before it could reach his neck.

Shiki remarks "Impressive. It seems you aren't completely worthless. Just mostly worthless."

Itachi responds with a growl "Watch it little girl or I'll have to spank you."

Shiki simply replies "He's mine. I found him first. If my employers leave anything when they are done with him, then he's yours. Not a moment sooner."

The thugs however hadn't stopped moving even with their leader in trouble, they obeyed his command without question. Three had headed back toward Miho. The other nine had headed toward Ranma, Akane, and Hinata. One of the men closing on Miho made a grab for her and she screamed.

Before anyone could move, yet again, Shiki had stepped in front of the thug and cut his guts open with a quick slice from her blade. The thug screamed and clenched his hands over his guts. She looked over at Itachi and says "I didn't say I'd sit by and watch you harass the others either. We can both tell this girl can't try to stop your men. Leave her out of it."

Itachi laughs and evil menacing laugh and says "Fat chance. She's a useful pawn to use against the others. I'm sure they will be...more pliant with her in our hands."

Akane growls. Hinata glares at him and makes a point of not looking back at the man writhing on the ground holding his bleeding guts in. The last thing she wants is to enter the Blood Riot again, here and now. Ranma tenses, knowing this isn't going to be pretty.

Shiki says "How about this. You and me. One on one. Winner gets first dibs on him. However the others stay safe and unharmed."

Itachi smiles and says "I can deal with that. Let's play." and sets himself in a loose form of a ready stance.

As soon as Shiki moves however his men make a grab for Miho again and the others do something similar. Shiki though seems to have expected this as she stops and calls out "Kaiho Yaiba: Ibara Shinzo! (literally, Sword Release: Thorn Heart)". Vines tear themselves from the ground by all three groups of thugs and proceed to try entwine around them. This all happens in a very short amount of time, under three seconds, which doesn't leave much time to react. Itachi manages to escape the attack, but all the others fail and are wrapped in the vines.

Ranma is pretty impressed, her sword release is potentially much more adaptable than his current one. But then he's always been direct. She definitely wasn't quite as direct.

Akane was speechless. 'This is how much farther ahead some other martial artists really are? I know Ranma can do it, but I've never seen him use his. I really need to work to catch up.'

Hinata and Hotaru are fairly impressed as well. Hinata was even a tad jealous. Hotaru in Blood Riot had once managed a sword release, but Hinata had never managed it. In general she didn't need a sword release as her Ki attacks were all fairly impressive. She even had one that she did with Hotaru to access her affinity of fire, rather than her air affinity. Caught people off guard all the time, when it had been needed.

Itachi calls out to his men "Free yourselves and continue as ordered!"

Shiki says to him "You couldn't follow your word, so I've dealt with them. My vines draw the will from the victim making them basically lay there until I free them. They won't be going anywhere."

Itachi says "Well that's too bad. Guess we have to settle things then? I can do that!" He flips his switchblade casually in his hand.

Shiki walks forward calmly until she's standing roughly twelve feet from him. She asks "Ready?"

Itachi smiles and says "Sure babe lets play..."

He barely finishes talking when Shiki starts to rush toward him at an angle and shouts "Raiku Kaga (Lightning Bud)!" A flash of electricity shot off her hand at him and he dodged. She then vanished and he found himself suddenly avoiding a sword blade from the opposite direction she'd been running in, as she'd done another instant move and come up on him from the other direction. To avoid he dropped flat to the ground and lashed out with his foot toward her, but she had already moved.

Shiki was now sailing through the air over his prone form. She calls out "Raiku Kaga!" again in midair and he just barely manages to move out of the way as he rolls up to his feet. As he stands up he suddenly finds a blade at his throat and feels a soft prick from a second blade as he hears Shiki whisper "Chishi Hana. (Fatal Flower)" in his ear. He moves instantly to get out of her reach. She however doesn't seem to be in a hurry.

Itachi takes the chance to look down and sees she split open the shirt over his belly. He also sees something else strange. Where the sword blade touched him on his stomach is a stylized mark in the shape of a rose. Itachi says "What the hell?"

Shiki replies "It's a special type of Ki attack. It forms a Ki charged tattoo on your body in an instant. It's composed of a mix of your Ki and mine. After the first time I use it it builds up and burrows deep within your body. If I touch that spot again, the Ki will discharge into your body everywhere the attack touched. In other words it will hit all your vital organs it has touched. Because of where I hit you, I'd say you'd die rather painfully after that second touch."

Itachi just stares for a second and then growls "You bitch!"

Shiki shrugs "I'd suggest trying to stay out of reach if you can. I don't see any reason to let you live after all." Itachi just growls.

From the side comes clapping and everyone turns to look at a new group of people standing nearby. One woman and four henchmen. What really made this group stand out wasn't just the woman, though she was quite impressive, it was that the henchmen with her had guns. Guns pointed in four different directions. One at Miho. One at Ranma, Akane, and Hinata. Another on Shiki. And the last aimed at Itachi.

Part 3: Haunted

The woman leading them is a dark skinned girl of mixed Japanese and probably Latina ancestry. She has deep blue eyes and shoulder length pure white hair. Wears a two piece dress consisting of a low cut black blouse that stops before her waist and a black leather mini-skirt. Around her waist is a silver chain belt made of small loops of metal. She also wears a Black leather duster jacket over everything. She has a cool relaxed expression, but her eyes hold some sort of internal pain.

Her henchmen were all relatively young men dressed fairly well in suits and sunglasses. They would fit in fairly well in a business setting, except for the handguns and SMG's. Well maybe if they were involved in a 'hostile takeover' they might fit.

Shiki asks "Don't tell me you are after Ranma Saotome as well."

The woman frowns slightly and says "You mean you two are fighting over him? Well if that's the case I'll just have to insist he comes with me instead."

Shiki says "Get in line for your ass kicking then. He comes with me so I can get paid. This punk," She points at Itachi, "got here before you to challenge me."

The woman shakes her head "Sorry, not gonna work that way. Now where is Ranma?"

Both Shiki and Itachi point at Ranma, who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else. He says "Why does everyone want me?"

In his ear, Akane whispers "Well I want you to, but not for the same reasons." That definitely changed what was on his mind.

The woman laughs and says "I don't know what you've been told, but Ranma Saotome is like fifty. That boy is defiantly not fifty. Don't waste my time."

Itachi sneers "Well then leave. I'll be happy to take him after I beat up this bitch here."

The woman just sneers back.

Shiki says "It's a long story, but here is the simple form... Ranma's father made apparently deals with a bunch of people using his son's name. He however is quite dead, leaving things with his son."

She sighs and says "Then I guess we do need to settle things then." She walks over toward them. When she's near them, she lashes out with an attack at Itachi as she calls out "Guttari Genko (Senseless Fist)". She connects with Itachi's jaw as he had been paying to much attention to Shiki and hit the ground. He was out cold.

The woman faces off against Shiki. She says "I guess I should introduce myself... I'm known as Angel. These boys with me work for the Triad. I'm more here as 'muscle' than actually in charge. I don't think they however want to try to take you on after what we saw coming over here. So it's just the two of us. Let's have fun."

That said she crosses her arms across her chest and closes her eyes. Her aura flares and takes on the glowing impression of wings. Then they aren't just impressions. They are metallic glimmering wings coming out of her back.

Shiki comments "That's the most unusual soul sword I think I've ever seen."

Angel replies "Thanks."

Ranma, Akane, and Hinata have trouble believing those wings are soul swords, Miho just sort of stares. Women don't grow wings everyday... Well maybe they do, but she doesn't see it!

Shiki starts things off by tossing another Raiku Kaga at Angel. Angel actually takes to the air to dodge. Apparently they are rather functional wings, even if physically they shouldn't provide nearly enough lift to actually work. While in the air she calls out "Ijo Hinote! (Beyond Flames)" Air that is filled with Ki so it's visible, streams through the air in a huge blast that vaguely looks like translucent flames. Shiki dodges out of the way.

In the meantime, Angel's men had gathered up Ranma, Akane, Hinata, and Miho. However it was four to four, even if Miho couldn't help, these odds weren't really so bad. It helped that two of the men paid more attention to the fight between Shiki and Angel, than their captives. Apparently, since they hadn't done anything, they were written off as non-threats. Too bad for those guys.

Ranma, Akane, and Hinata share looks and silently agree to take all four at once. At the same time three voices call out. From Hinata "ToSeidai! (Grand Saber)". The man watching her flew halfway across the courtyard. From Ranma "Lightning Flash!". The man in front of him slumped to the ground with little trails of smoke coming off of him. From Akane "Flame Strike!". The man in front of her screamed and dropped the molten gun that had just burnt his hands. A follow-up kick sends him out cold. Ranma and Hinata reach the last as he turns back around from the other fight. Ranma hits high and clocks him with a punch to the face. Hinata hits him low with a open handed strike to the guts. He flies a good five feet before landing on the ground.

Goons taken care of, Ranma says "Hianta why don't you get Miho out of here? I'm not sure your apartment is going to be safe at the moment..."

Hinata nods and then, looking at Miho, says "Want to go back to your place? We probably need to talk again anyways..."

Miho nods "Sure." Hinata drags her off the back way around leaving Ranma and Akane by themselves.

Akane says "We should probably leave as well while they are busy."

Ranma nods "True... But I want to see how dangerous they are first. Let's stay for awhile at least." Akane shrugs and they watch the two women go at it. Both were on the ground at the moment.

Shiki pulls away from the fight long enough to say "You are the first person in a long time to make me do this, but I want to end this." That said she pulls the eye patch away from her other eye. Everyone gets a good look at the eye she kept hidden. It was far from normal. It was like a dark pit rather than a normal eye and shadows seemed to flicker in its depths.

Angel, who is slightly disturbed, says "Is that meant to help in some way?"

Shiki replies "It lets me access the rest of my powers..." She pauses and raises one arm toward Angel and points her hand at the other woman. She calls out "Yakan Hana! (Nocturnal Flower)". A huge surge of shadow energy forms and fires from her hand as she speaks. Angel uses her wings to block, but is still pushed back a dozen feet.

As her wings unfold Angel says "I guess I should stop holding back to then..." As Shiki fires another bolt, Angel folds her wings again and calls out "Yadori Arashi Kara! (Basically 'Shelter from the Storm')" A ring of soft light forms around her and goes out ten feet in all directions, nearly reaching back to Shiki. The nimbus of light parts the shadowy blast and leaves Angel unharmed. Angel calls out again and says "Unchained Circle!" As she unfolds her wings the nimbus of light bursts outward in all directions and sends Shiki flying.

Shiki however rolls with it and comes back up to her feet in an instant. Shiki replies by saying "Kage Nui! (literally 'Shadow Sewing')" The shadows on the ground grow sharp points and hurl themselves at Angel. Who again blocks with her wings. Shiki follows up instantly with another "Yakan Hana!", which knocks Angel back again.

Angel replies by yelling out "Sword Release: Crown under the Sky!" Her wings fade away as a circle of green light forms across the ground covering half of the courtyard, almost reaching Ranma and Akane, where they stand watching. Then the sky lights up with it's own radiant green glowing circle and pillars of green brilliant fire descend from the sky to strike the ground inside the circles.

In return Shiki calls her own attack "KaihoYaiba: Senbonzakura! ('Sword Release: Thousand Cherry Blossoms')" Her swords disappear, but the entire courtyard is filled with cherry blossoms. These blossoms flow all around Shiki and protect her from the blasts, getting blown away, but others taking their place.

Akane stares wide eyed and open mouthed. This was like watching some shonen anime or one of those american super hero comics. Sure she could do way more than a normal person... But causing green pillars of light from the sky or a torrent of cherry blossoms as a defense? It was like being a novice again and being shown a fight between masters.

Ranma tugs on Akane's arm. "Come on, I think it's time to leave..." Akane nods and moves to follow him just as they hear two voices call out at the same time behind them. Shiki yells out "Kage Shibari Shi (Shadow Bind Death)!" Angel yells out "KaihoYaiba: mangetsu higure ('Sword Release: Full Moon Evening')!"

Even though it was afternoon and it was a clear day the sky seemed to darken and then a blinding flash of light came from behind them. Luckily they where both facing away from it, as they fled away from the area entirely. Soon they were well on their way home.

Part 4: Heart

Kasumi sat down at the table next to her sister and handed out cups of tea. Kaori even came over long enough to take a cup. Kasumi however looks nervous. Something Nabiki wasn't exactly used to. Normally very little phased her older sister. Then again a lot had happened lately and even more that morning.

Hitome isn't one to stick her nose into other peoples business, but Kasumi is doing a really bad job hiding her discomfort. Finally Hitome asks "Is something wrong Kasumi?"

Kasumi sighs and says "I'm just thinking about what my mother told me this morning..."

Hitome calmly says "Do you talk to the dead often or is that a recent thing?"

On the couch Kaori shivers, Hitome may understand all about talking to spirits of the departed, but Kaori always seemed to get in trouble whenever spirits were involved. This was one conversation she wanted no part in. She hops up and grabs Nabiki's arm, who squawks as she's pulled away. Kaori says to Nabiki "Come on, show me around!" The two are out of the room fairly quickly.

Kasumi actually blushes, and then says "Actually I've talked to Mother fairly often since she died. Without her, things would have been very different over the years."

Hitome nods "I can understand that. Have you always been able to do that?"

Kasumi replies "Well I could always see things I didn't understand. Mother understood what I saw and eventually taught me what those things were. When she started to have medical problems she taught me how to call on spirits, though I've never used it on any other spirits."

Hitome replies "It's not exactly something to be done lightly. Though in this case I can easily understand why she taught you and why you would make use of it." She pauses and then says "I am however surprised how strong your ability is. I knew your mother was strong. She was in the last generation of great Betsushikime and much admired until the day she quit. She broke all contact when she left, which is more than a little odd."

Kasumi nods "She told me and Nabiki about that this morning. She knew she was meant to be with father, but father wasn't the best of people when she met him. She also didn't want to scare him away by finding out exactly who and what she was. So she hid everything from both sides. That's also why she never really trained me."

Hitome just says "Interesting" and continues sipping her tea.

Kasumi says "She also told me I'd have to learn about my abilities." Kasumi sips her own tea and then says "She suggested I ask you to help train me."

Hitome chokes on her tea. After her coughing fit stops she says "I'm not exactly sure I'm the one to ask for that. I've never taught anyone before... The dojo had experts on fighting and everything, so I've just never needed to... On the Miko end... Well I could teach you what I know I guess... It's not really formal training as such though... It's more a collection of knowledge and practices..." She realizes she's rambling and stops.

Kasumi smiles and says "That's more than enough. I'm sure if mother told me to come to you it's because she feels you would be the best choice right now."

Hitome nods "Um... I hate to ask, but do you have any combat training?"

Kasumi shakes her head "That was always Akane's thing and father didn't think to try to teach us until Akane came and he found out mother couldn't have anymore children. I had the least interest as I was always attached to Mother's legs back then." The last part makes her smile.

Hitome smiles herself, which is a rare sight. She says "You don't have to have combat training to be a Miko... After all most never need it. However if you want to be a Betsushikime it would come in handy. I am not a good person to teach you that though."

Kasumi frowns "I'm not much for violence... I've only ever been in a fight once, which was when Shampoo and Ryoga attacked... I'd like to avoid ever being in a fight again. Mother however said I'd be in danger if I didn't learn how to use my abilities now."

Hitome nods "Ok. I'd suggest finding someone who could train you if needed however. Something you find acceptable. If push comes to shove it's better to learn and never use, then need and not have."

Kasumi nods and Nabiki comes back with the hyperactive Kaori in tow. Nabiki grumbles to Kasumi "Remember to keep all forms of sugar away from this girl..."

Kaori smiles broadly and Hitome actually laughs. Eventually Hitome replies "We've tried that as well... It doesn't work... The hyperactivity seems ingrained."

Kasumi giggles. Nabiki smiles. Kaori looks stricken. Hitome smiles behind her tea cup, which she holds firmly in front of her mouth.

Eventually Kaori laughs as well. From that point on topics stay fairly light, until Hitome realizes what time it is and informs them that they need to return home for practice. Kaori groans and begs Hitome to play hooky so they can stay. Hitome declines and they leave vowing to be back soon.

Part 5: Home

A tired Ranma and Akane stumble inside the Tendo house. When they enter the living room Nabiki looks up and says "That was an awfully long talk..." She trails off a she notices their disheveled states.

Ranma and Akane sit down and pour themselves tea from the tea service which is still out. Nabiki looks thoughtful and then says "Ok... I can't figure out which was more likely... The two of you getting involved in some crazy fight... Or deciding to visit a love hotel and ripping each others clothes off."

Both Ranma and Akane blush profusely. Akane proclaims "Nabiki!"

Nabiki smiles and says "What? I know you two want each other bad. I'd have to be blind not to... I'm guessing it was the other option though, huh?"

Ranma nods "Personally I'd rather wish it was the love hotel myself." Akane blushes an even brighter shade of red at this. Ranma goes on "We did meet with Hinata and we fixed things... Mostly... However Hinata seems to have some grudge with the anything goes school and my father... So she challenged me to a fight. Then before we can even get serious, a kunoichi named Shiki shows up. She tells us that she's after me... Or more she's after my father using my name. It just so happens he ran up some huge debt and her employers, the Takhashi Group, want me to make up for it. Then Hinata tells her she has to wait in line and that she's first. They get interrupted by a bunch of Yakuza thugs lead by a guy named Itachi, who also wants me.. Shiki and Itachi get into it when they get interrupted... By a woman called Angel who is with a bunch of Triad goons. Of course they want me as well. Angel takes out Itachi and then Shiki and Angel go all out. In the meantime the rest of us left, leaving some unconscious thugs and goons behind."

Nabiki doesn't look to surprised. Instead she says "Sounds like a fairly busy day... I expected them to give me more time though..."

In unison Ranma and Akane say "Huh?"

Nabiki smiles slightly and says "Since I started my research on your mother I've found the most interesting trail of debts, misdeeds, and assorted craziness associated with your name. I just figured we'd have up to a year before they made sense of your trail and followed it here."

Ranma asks "When were you going to tell me?"

Nabiki shrugs "When I finished. No sense worrying you until I had an idea of how big it actually was. Well I can already tell you, you've only met three of the worst offended parties. I know there are more out there. So you can expect more visits."

Ranma sighs and Akane takes his hand in hers. Ranma looks up and asks Nabiki a single question "How much do they think I owe?"

Nabiki asks "Total?" Ranma nods. Nabiki sighs "You don't want to know. Most international companies are hard pressed to have that much on hand however."

Ranma looks ill. Akane says "I'm sure it will be ok Ranma."

Nabiki simply says "I'm working on how to fix it. I even asked Kaori earlier if your sensei's clan would help, when she stopped by with Hitome earlier. She seemed rather hopeful about things."

Ranma smacks his head "I forgot we asked them to stop by today."

Akane frowns "I did too..."

Nabiki waves her hand "Don't let it bother you. You had other things to worry about. They are the type to understand."

Akane asks "So did you learn what the problem between them and the triplets is?"

Nabiki holds out her hand and says "Fifty thousand yen (roughly five hundred dollars)"

Akane blinks and says "What?" Even Ranma blinks.

Nabiki shrugs "I figure I can trust you with it, but this is a secret more than worth the price. It's also something you don't need to know... So it's not free." She smiles.

Akane simply says "No secret is worth that much." Ranma agrees. Nabiki just shrugs with a enigmatic smile.

Part 6: Hidden

Saeko Kenjou smiles to herself. Suigin Tou had found the most interesting information about one of their targets. A target that seemed connected to all the others. A target named Ranma Saotome.

This information was useful because it could draw in the others she had found. Including ones she hadn't told the Dark Sisters about. If his magic worked on them as well as it had the others, then she could gather up all the stragglers and finish them all at once. Maybe even have the targets kill each other if she played her cards right.

All she had to do was control the flow of information and pull the right strings at the right time. It was her favorite game. It's one she had used on her own mother to bring that haughty bitch down. She spent her days painting flowers in a mental ward now. That made Saeko happy, very happy indeed.

Author's Note:

I'm going to rehash a topic I've talked about before. Namely calling out 'attack names'. I realized when writing this that I forgot one other big reason why these aren't often such a problem to say in combat. That reason is that in Japanese many of the attack names are single words due to the way Japanese works. 'base' words in Japanese are literally fused together to create new words describing one term. 'Tenshi' ('Angel') is literally two base words ('ten' and 'shi') fused to make one new word. This really makes things shorter in Japanese, for instance 'Sensatsu Suishō' means ' Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death' in English. Which is easier to say? I think the Japanese version is and it consumes the half second it takes to put together most of the ki attacks they use... Also normally the longer the attack name, the longer it takes to create the attack. Which normally means it will be more powerful as well.

Btw 'Shiki' is of course not the womans actual name... But the female ninja won't tell anyone who she is anytime soon... Shiki however follows the 'flow' in the rest of her character. It can mean a lot of things in Japanese including 'four seasons', 'Time of Death', 'Ceremony', a 'command', and 'beginning time or initial period'... All of which reflect on her in some way. Variants on the word also mean 'color tone' and 'sexual passion', which also reflect on her. Which explains Ranma's comment about her name. Of course she didn't pick that name, it was actually given to her by her mother... Much like her real name. If you want to find out more check out the Reference Guide on my website...

I did something similar with the Yakuza thug leader. Itachi means 'weasel' in Japanese. Hence Akane says he's aptly named. This time it wasn't quite so much an accident as before with Shiki. I specifically looked up 'Weasel' in Japanese Romanji. I wanted to emphasize that is how he is. He also ended up being a character we will probably see again.

This chapter introduces a sort of running gag, you'll see repeated many many times from now on. See Ranma and Hinata will end up fighting more than once, but they never get to finish a single fight. Something, normally someone, always comes in and interrupts. I think it's going to be funny as they both try to finish a single fight against each other.

I should probably explain what a Betsushikime is... I don't think I have before, if I have just let me know... Betsushikime are a type of demon hunting Miko common to manga and anime. They are the ones you'd see wielding weapons and tackling monsters. I tried to get a direct translation for everyone, but it comes out to something along the lines of 'extra spiritual texture'.. Or at least that makes more sense than the twenty other combinations based on the parts of the word... Of course if you are going to chase around monsters having combat skills is helpful... Otherwise you have to be really powerful.

This is now the proofread copy, with most all the grammar errors and what not fixed! Thanks again goes to borg rabbit for proofreading. If you still notice an error let me know!

By the way, I want feedback! I know there are more than a few of you out there following this story I never hear from! Let me hear from you all! It comes in handy whenever writers block crops up and I need incentive to write!

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Well it's been ages since I last updated (actually almost a year), but I figured I owed it to the fans of my series to tell you what's going on.

I've been extremely busy, because I decided to go back to school to finish my second degree... Which has taken almost a year to do... Add to that meeting the love of my life at nearly the same time... Together they've left me very little time to write more for Ranma Tales 1/2. I also started a side project which is a web manga with some other people, which is in it's infancy, that takes up a few extra hours I have. However I have planned out another entire (2 section) story arc that I've been sitting on since february of this year. If life decides to give me more time in the coming months I hope to return to at least finish the final planned arc...

Well that's all I wanted to say, thanks for reading!