The Dragon and The Ghost

Parts 1 - 17

by Sean D'Anna

=====

 This fanfic came about after watching Dungeons and Dragons, playing
Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 back to back as well as Chrono Cross, and
watching The Slayers, Slayers Next, Slayers Try, Record of Lodoss war,
Dragoon ... I think you get the idea. It's Ranma 1/2 set in a fantasy
world, using the characters but not the story line. This will replace
Ranma Xero, mostly because I went back and read it and was far from
satisfied from what I saw. I may do a rewrite of that fic someday, but
not for a while. 
 The story itself was written to orchestrated music mostly. The D&D
soundtrack, All the Star Wars films, The Indiana Jones Trilogy,
Escaflowne, Slayers. I could go on for a while, but these are the major
musical influences in this tale.

 The first part is a bit dark, so you've been warned. 

 The Dragon Ghost.

 Prologue


 Deep in the mountains near the ancient kingdom of Joketsuko...

 He had been running through the dark forest all through the night.
Somehow they had found him despite his best efforts over the past few
months. Twin moons lit the sky over his head; one a gigantic orb of
golden yellow that looked as if it would scrape the mountaintops in it's
passing as it slowly rolled across the night sky. The other was a light
red, it's orbit much higher in the sky above, and it seemed as small as a
mere coin in the starlit night. Mist rolled across the valley as he
struggled through the brush, shoving wiry branches out of his way as he
passed, somehow not disturbing the young boy who lay sleeping on his
back. A small ponytail lay draped across the eight year old's shoulder as
he slept.

 He looked back at the innocent face of the child and smiled slightly.
"Just stay quiet boy, I won't allow them to find us."

 Howling pierced the silence of the night as his pursuers closed the
ever-shortening gap between them. The pound of horse's hooves floated
through the fog towards him and he quickened his desperate pace.

 Finally he broke from the thick growth around him and pushed his way
into a clearing. He paused with a sudden fear welling up inside him as he
saw the valley below him. Various pools of water dotted the land and he
swallowed as the mist only allowed a few of them to be seen. "Where?" He
turned towards the sounds of his pursuers and moved forward with
determination on his features again. Without a moment's thought he
vanished into the thick fog.


 "Blast this cursed fog!" snarled the dark figure as he rode through the
forest. He was clad in the black armor of the samurai. A golden mask
covered his face and a single gold blade protruded from the front of his
helmet curving to almost a foot above his head, the cape across his
shoulders was a deep purple and draped down the horses side reaching the
animal's knees. In his hand was a long serrated pike that remained tucked
under his arm as he rode in search of his prey. His giant jet-black steed
wore similar armor as well, and had a great red flag with a black dragon
embroidered in its center within a great circle.

 All around him men in similar armor, if a little less flamboyant,
glanced around nervously as they combed the forest for the man who had
eluded them for so long.

 Another figure rode up on a reptilian steed that almost looked like a
horse itself. A dark power seemed to radiate from him and an arrogant
smirk rested on his lips as he turned to face the dark warrior. His long
white hair seemed to drape down his back with a splotch of color in his
bangs. He was dressed in brown cloak with the hood pulled down. His
clothing was expensive looking with a gold and purple woven pattern
featuring a coiling dragon, he sported light armor and shoulder guards
with teeth like spikes jutting from them.

 "This man is elusive, but hardly a threat."

 "That is not for us to decide," snapped the armored warrior sternly
without giving the man a glance. "The Emperor want's him dead, that is
enough for me."

 "As you say," commented the man lazily.

 The armored figure snorted distastefully. "We must kill him and the boy,
he cannot be allowed to live."

 "The Emperor's greed knows no bounds, he will see all of them
destroyed?" The white haired man seemed almost amused by this.
"Conquering them would not be enough it seems."

 "Damn you Herb. Don't just sit there! Do something about this blasted
fog!" snarled the armored man angrily.

 "No. No doubt it hinders him much more than us. He is on foot, with a
child in his care. I am not here to give you and your men comfort, merely
to see that the job is done. The Emperor does not trust you completely
with this task."

 "As well he shouldn't," commented the warlord as he rode forward again.

 Herb smiled and narrowed his eyes. His pupils slimmed down to two small
slits in the center of his golden irises. A small cry of alarm floated
out through the air. "We have them!"


 The fugitive fell onto his face and stumbled onto the ground roughly as
his foot caught a root on the mud-covered ground. The boy on his back
cried out in alarm as he was thrown from his back and slid across the
ground jarring him awake suddenly. The man heard a small splash and
struggled to his knees. He crawled forward and pulled the boy's
half-submerged body from the small spring where he had landed. The child
was shaking with fear, but remained silent.

 "Ranma, you must keep silent, the enemy is near!"

 "No, the enemy is here Saotome."

 Genma turned slowly around and his eyes went wide with terror as he saw
the imposing figure standing before him. His eyes searched around for an
escape and saw men all around him on horseback.

 "I am sorry old friend, it is over. You and your son will die."

 "Tendo," growled Genma angrily.

 "It is not my wish, but I will allow you to die like a man at least.
Stand and face me."

 Genma balled his fists up and took up a stance in front of his son's
prone form, the boy had passed out again from exhaustion.

 "Finish him quickly Tendo," said Herb as he rode up from behind the
pair.

 "Silence!" commanded Soun as he gave his companion a passing glance.

 "You have betrayed me Tendo. We have fought together many times, our
children were to be married one day, and now you have betrayed everything
we stood for!"

 "Genma, when will you understand? I have a family to worry about."

 "What do you think that is Soun?" snarled Genma angrily as he pointed
back at his son. 

 "I take no pleasure in your death," said Soun calmly as he rushed
forward and thrust his pike forward. It went deep into Genma's belly
sending the man to the ground as he screamed in pain. Somehow the words
did not make him feel any better. He twisted the spear and backed away
leaving it in place. Finally he withdrew a small kodachi from his back
and stalked towards the sleeping child. He raised the blade over his head
and paused. "What is this?"

 He lifted the child up by his neck and stared into his face. After a
moment he pulled the loose silk pants down in a single motion and dropped
him on the ground with a look of shock on his face. He turned towards his
men and screamed in anger. 

 "This is not Saotome's son!"

 Herb dismounted from his steed and frowned. "What are you talking about?
Are you trying to betray our Emperor Tendo? To save some part of your so
called friend?" He walked over to the child and fell silent, an angry
glare fell upon the exposed child's crotch and he snorted. "Clever."

 A golden light appeared in his hand and he pulled the spear from Genma's
belly before placing his hands on the wound, the man had passed out long
before from his injuries. It healed instantly and he stepped away from
the fallen man. Soun walked over to his side and frowned.

 "Pick him up and bring some rope."


 Ranma Saotome woke up and shielded his eyes from the light of the sun
above him. He glanced around and saw a blue sky. He staggered to his feet
and shook off the annoying pain in his head. He felt weak and nauseous.
He staggered around for a moment taking in his surroundings. "Where am I?
Pop?" After a moment, his vision cleared up and he noticed the pools of
water around him, he frowned and noticed his pants were around his ankles
and pulled them up allowing himself to walk again. The chutes of some
kind of plant rose from the water high into the air above him. He frowned
and glanced around in search of his father. He ambled off in a random
direction and came to the edge of the spring, drawn by a small murmuring
noise that had caught his attention. His eyes went wide with shocked fear
at the sight he found.

 Between two small scraggly dead trees hung his father. His arms and legs
were spread and his old dogi hung off of him in tatters. He was bleeding
freely from the hundreds of scars that covered his body and face. It
looked as if he had been sliced to pieces almost. The man glanced up
painfully and looked at the small child before him from his suspension.
"My son."

 "Pop!" screamed the boy as he rushed forward and pulled desperately at
the ropes.

 "No son. I am already dead."

 "No Pop! We can get help! Don't leave me!"

 "Silence boy!" The words had been meant to sound forceful, but came as a
mere whisper. "I am not long for this world, but I have much to tell
you."

 "Pop?" muttered the boy sadly.

 "You have a great destiny boy, never forget that. Inside my gi is a
scroll. I want you to take it; it will help you survive to fulfill that
destiny. Never forget the art, or your training boy. I will be watching
you from the hall of the gods." Genma coughed and a trickle of blood fell
from his lips and poured onto the ground. "Listen, never forget what I
have taught you my son. Now leave this cursed place boy."

 "Pop! Who did this?" screamed the boy as a sudden rage filled him. He
stared into his father's eyes pleading with him. All that met him was a
dead stare. "Pop? Pop no. No! NOOOOOOOO!"

 Ranma Saotome's cries echoed through the valley for many hours after
that. He screamed and pleaded with his father's dead body until his
throat was raw and he could no longer speak.


 Herb frowned as he rode along side Soun. "Your friend was far stronger
than I had anticipated."

 "Genma always was stubborn, and foolish."

 Herb turned to face the men. "We've got a lot of work to do. I want
every male child in our path dead. Anywhere Saotome could have hidden
him!"

 Soun looked at him for a moment and said nothing. He slowly turned to
face the soldiers and sighed deeply. "You heard him," he said with a
sudden icy chill to his voice.


 As the moons rose into the sky again, Ranma stood before the pile of
stones that marked his father's grave and stared at the scroll in his
hands. He had been taught to read from the time he uttered his first
words, but his father's handwriting made things more difficult despite
his age. "Father, I will master this. I will make you proud, and I will
avenge your death, as well as mother's." His tears fell to the freshly
dug ground and he hung his head as sadness swept over him again,
weakening his legs and forcing him down again. After a time he rose from
his knees and started walking towards the west.


 The Dragon Ghost

 Part 1

 The Horse and the Dragon


 Eight years later...

 Ranma walked through the crowded streets of the large city and smirked
to himself as he casually tossed a small bag of coins into the air. He
had just lifted the purse off of a well off merchant a few hundred yards
back and was feeling quite smug with himself. He paused for a moment and
looked towards the sky with a contented smile on his face before
continuing on is way.
 
 His clothing was drastically different from that of his youth. The loose
black pants were similar enough, but the white shirt and brown leather
vest were a drastic change for him that he acquired after traveling to
the city when he was only nine. He made a decent living at his trade and
rarely used the simple katana that was strapped across his back. In fact,
he couldn't remember a single time he had ever needed to draw it in
battle.

 The city's name was Alura. It was typical of the western side of the
continent. Dirty hovels and alleyways, large busy marketplaces full of
street merchants; peasants wandered through with the occasional mercenary
passing through with the traders. They liked to work security for fast
easy money as the richer merchants traveled across the country selling
their wares. Most of the men in the city were armed with a broadsword or
a dagger at least, many of the women carried knives as well. 

 Ranma wandered through the market street and gazed up at the castle that
rested in the center of the city. It rose far into the sky above seeming
to scrape the bottom of the clouds, in fact, he could remember days where
the top of the tall tower in the center could not be seen because of the
clouds. He smiled as he passed a gruff looking dwarf pedaling an
assortment of pots and pans in a small booth. Dwarves and Elves were rare
in the city, but occasionally one would see them running a booth in the
market. The portly dwarf snorted at him in disgust and ignored him in
favor of a customer that walked up. He continued on his way and frowned
as a cloaked figure stood in his way.

 "I see much turmoil in your soul young man," commented a feminine voice
from within the shadows of the cloak.

 "Not today all right?" muttered the boy halfheartedly as he attempted to
pass by.

 "You are tainted by the stench of magic boy. Are you a mage?"

 Ranma paused and looked at the woman with a small frown. "I don't need
no stupid magic."

 "I see. We'll meet again soon boy," said the woman with a hint of
amusement in her voice.

 "Go sell your fortunes to someone else elf," snorted the boy as he
continued on his way.

 The figure within the cloak paused and looked up from the shadows of her
hood. Her youthful features contorted slightly and she frowned. "He has a
good eye to see that past all of this clothing."


 Ranma turned into a dark alley and stopped cold in his tracks. "Are you
going to quit following me or what?"

 All at once a pile of refuse seemed to burst to life as a shadowy figure
emerged and charged him. Ranma sidestepped the skillful punch and smirked
as he sent his knee up towards the attacker's abdomen. It was easily
blocked and the pair jumped away from each other and faced off for a long
moment without moving an inch.

 "You're mine!" screamed the man as he rushed forward again and kicked. 

 Ranma pushed himself over the man's leg and landed behind him. He turned
to attack, but the man was already gone. "You're getting better. Are you
done fooling around Kumon? We've got to get back soon."

 The boy stepped from the shadows and snorted. He was dressed in light
brown pants and a dark blue shirt, a heavy looking broadsword hung off of
his hip as he strolled up to Ranma casually. "Right, I saw you take that
guy's wallet, took your sweet time getting here too. What the hell do you
call that?"

 "Buying dinner," replied Ranma with a shrug. "Come on, we've got to get
to the guild and unload some of this junk."

 "Which you left me to carry!" said the boy as he picked up a sack from
the ground.

 "Fine, I'll pay for you too," said the pigtailed boy as he started
walking again.

 "You'd better!"


 The inside of the guild was rather like a cross between a bar and a
market. Men ate and drank at tables around the room and several booths
lined the walls along one side of the room. Two large heavy doors stood
atop a small staircase that led to the guild master's quarters. Several
of the men and women inside turned to face the pair as they entered, but
quickly turned away as nothing of interest could be seen.

 "Come on, let's get rid of this stuff now. It's heavy," snorted Kumon as
he shifted the load on his shoulder uncomfortably.

 "I guess we can eat afterwards," commented Ranma. His face told that he
wasn't too pleased with the idea.

 The pair walked up to one of the shadier and smaller looking booths. A
small old man leered at them as they put the bag on the counter. He
stroked his long beard lazily as he greeted them. "Ah, Ranma and Ryu, it
has been some time! How have you been? Out of town again?"

 "That's right, Myuten this time," said Ranma cheerfully. Ryu remained
silent and turned away from the conversation.

 "Oh, they have a nice magic guild there!"

 "Why do you think we went?" said Ranma lazily.

 "What have you got for me then?" said the old man with a chuckle.

 "Couple of elemental rods, a crystal ball with a seal on it, some black
dust, a few bottles of potions, and a dagger with a light enchantment on
it."

 "No dragons teeth?" The man gave a heavy sigh.

 "They aren't in season," commented Ryu casually.

 "That's why I want them so badly," said the man cheerfully as he poked
through the bag.

 "Don't think you're getting this stuff any cheaper cause we don't have
any either. I know a few shops that would kill to get some of this
stuff." Ranma crossed his arms and smiled at the man looking confident as
usual.

 "I wouldn't think of it," said the old man with a nervous laugh. It was
obvious that he was going to attempt to bargain down because of it.

 "I can give you six," said the old man with a serious look suddenly
crossing his features.

 "Ten thousand," said Ryu.

 "Well..." started the old man carefully.

 "Ten thousand or we leave right now." Ryu's voice was as calm as ever.

 "All right," said the old man as he gave in. He chuckled inwardly; ten
thousand was a steal for some of the things they had brought back. He had
been doing business with them for some time now. It seemed as if they
either didn't know or didn't care how much the stuff was really worth.
Probably the latter considering how much the pair traveled around. They
would often visit the cities in the surrounding country, but they always
ended up back in Alura. It was funny really; two of the most wanted men
on the continent, and no one even had a clue what they looked like.

 Ranma collected the money and turned towards his partner. "Come on,
let's eat."

 Ryu merely grunted and nodded his head in response.


 She entered the small dark hole inside of the alley and smiled at what
she found. She wasn't really surprised, after all, most thieve's guilds
were notoriously lavish inside. After a moment she removed her hood
letting her long violet hair flow down her back. She pushed her way
through the crowd and smiled as she walked around several tables. A young
red haired girl was having a rather physical argument with a large gruff
looking man beside her. Her companion was sitting back and drinking a mug
of ale with a calm and board look about him. Nearby another group was
swapping stories about death defying escapes from various adventures they
claimed to have had. Men spoke loudly about trolls they'd killed and
ogres as well. A few goblins roamed about the room serving tables with
some of the rougher looking women. Hanging from the rafters whores waved
at the men who entered lazily and hung off of their patrons.
"Disgusting."

 "Hey little elf girl, how much for a night with you?" slurred an
oversized and drunken oaf as he lumbered towards her.

 The woman narrowed her eyes and pushed past him without a single word.
She made her way to the bar and leaned on the counter knocking her hand
on the dirty wood surface. A middle aged man turned towards her with a
look of disinterest, until he noticed how she looked. Elves were prized
as whores and wives; they didn't age much in the course of a human life. 

 "Looking for a job cutie?"

 "Stop being foolish. I'm looking for someone," said the woman
impatiently.

 "That'll cost you," said the man with a shrug. He backed off a little
bit when he noticed the armor under her cloak. Most elves were pretty
passive and easygoing, but crossing one wearing armor was not a good
idea.

 "I'll decide that on my own thank you. I understand a man named Dragon
Ghost operates within this city."

 The man looked at her blankly and shrugged his shoulders. She placed a
single gold coin on the table and he took it. "Yeah, I've heard rumors.
He's not a member of the guild. If he is, it's a big secret to be kept
away from me."

 "I need to speak with the guild master then."

 "What do you want with the likes of him anyway? If you're looking to
hire a thief, there's lots of able men here. If you're a bounty hunter,
I'm afraid this place is more dangerous than you think. Not that many of
'em care about that; most of 'em don't walk out of here though. "

 "How do I get in touch with the guild master?" said the woman as she
placed down another coin.

 "I'll tell him you want to speak with him," said the man as he pocketed
the money and walked into a door behind the bar.

 After a few moments he returned and nodded to her casually. "Go through
those two doors up there." He pointed towards the large heavy doors that
took up most of one of the far walls.

 She nodded and walked away.


 Ranma grumbled as she ate her meal lazily. The large dumb oaf sprawled
out across the floor unconscious had spilled a sizable amount of his ale
on her. Now she smelled. Ryu pretty much ignored the situation; it was
all too familiar. Ranma had never spoken about where he picked up the
unusual curse and he didn't press the information. He didn't really care
anyway.

 The redhead tore at the large leg of meat in her hands with a small
amount of anger. "Sometimes I hate this stupid curse."

 "You should relax more," commented Kumon as he kicked his feet up on top
of the table.

 "Yeah, whatever," said the girl as she tore into another portion of
meat.

 A small lizard like creature with tiny leathery wings landed on the edge
of the table and hissed. It glanced at the pair for a moment before
turning to Ranma. "The guild master wishes to speak with you."

 "Now?" she said with surprise on her face.

 "Yes." The creature fluttered away.

 "Well, looks like we're getting a little extra work again," said Ryu as
he watched her stand and walk away.


 The guild master smiled to himself as he fingered his curly beard. He
wore a rather loudly colored shirt and an odd looking round hat on his
head. "I am Guild King. What do you want the Dragon Ghost for anyway?"

 "To the point are we?" I wish to hire his services. Can you allow me to
speak with him?"

 "No."

 "Why not?" said the woman with her eyebrow arching slightly.

 "I do not allow anyone to speak with him. Tell me what it is you want
and I'll tell him, then you can come and pick up whatever it is you want
from me later."

 The elven girl smiled and pulled out a small medallion from the folds of
her cloak. "I really think I should speak with him personally."

 The Guild King's eyes narrowed at the sight of the necklace. He sighed
and shook his head. "I shall allow it."


 Ranma entered the room and frowned when she saw a young elf sitting on
the Guild King's throne. The man was nowhere to be seen. 

 "Who are you? What do you want?"

 The girl stared at her for a moment and giggled to herself. "This is the
famed Dragon Ghost? I heard he was a man!"

 Ranma narrowed her eyes at this and snorted. "He is."

 This got the elf a little more than surprised. "Who are you then?"

 "I'm his manager."

 "I see."

 "What do you want?"

 "I have a job for him," said the woman as she pushed back her hair
lazily.

 "What is it that you want?" snorted the redhead lazily.

 The girl on the throne paused slightly and leaned forward. "You!?"

 Ranma backed away with a cautious look about her. "What?"

 "An elf? You're an elf? How odd," the girl leaned back in her chair and
smiled. "I suppose that will make this easier."

 "What of it?"

 "If you weren't I couldn't show this to you."

 Ranma narrowed her eyes at the small crystal the woman pulled from her
cloak. She held it in her palm and an image appeared above it, the image
of a golden staff with a red crystal above it. It's design was simple and
it had almost no ornamentation at all, save the two dragon wings that
held the crystal in place at the tip of the staff.

 "Is that?"

 "Yes, the staff of the elders. I want it." The elf girl's eyes narrowed
carefully as she watched the girl's reaction.

 Ranma shrugged her shoulders. "That will cost you."

 "I can pay," replied the girl with a shrug. She tossed a huge bag of
gold at Ranma's feet. "The other half when you get me the staff."

 "That staff is one of the most guarded secrets of the elven tribes. It
won't be easy to get."

 "No, but if you want to steal from a wizard, everyone knows that you
must summon the Dragon Ghost. He must have powerful magic in order to
steal from such men. Even the most powerful of wizards have fallen prey
to him. They are unable to understand how he does it. Do you know?"

 "It's a secret." Ranma turned away with the bag of gold in her hands. A
light smile crossed her lips as she exited the room.

 The woman paused as the redhead opened the door. "Aren't you going to
ask who I am? Or why I want it?"

 "Why? It's just a stupid staff. I don't recall it having any powerful
spells on it from legends, so I don't really need to know what you need
it for do I?"

 Ranma walked out and chuckled as she slung the bag over her shoulder.
"Ryu's gonna love this one."



 The Dragon and The Ghost

 Part 2

 The Staff of Elders.

 --------------------

 Ranma stood on a hillside with Ryu beside him. They overlooked a great
valley with the city of Alta in its center. The bustle of the town was
evident even from where they stood. Caravans entered the large gates in
the great stone wall that surrounded the village. The setting sun in the
distance made the scene quite breathtaking. However, the pair ignored the
scenery for the most part and planed their next course of action.

 "So, someone wants you to steal the staff of elders from the elven
village near Koran?" Kumon frowned and scratched his chin in thought.

 "That's what she said," confirmed the pigtailed boy lazily.

 "I don't like it, this smells like a trap."

 "It could be internal politics. She might be starting some sort of coupe
or something. Besides, you always say that when somebody hires us."

 "I've been right before."

 Ranma sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, twice, big deal, and so
what if it is? That's never stopped us."

 "It doesn't seem like something the elves would do though. Drow maybe,
but not elves."

 "Hmm, you're right, but then again, everybody has a few bad apples."

 "So why are we helping her then?" snorted Ryu angrily.

 "She paid us well. We've done things like this before, even if she is
some sort of megalomaniac, someone always comes along and stops them. It
isn't our concern."

 "Yeah, I suppose. Something about this doesn't sit right with me though.
I get the feeling we might end up playing the hero in this one Ranma. You
know I hate that."

 "Well don't come then, this is more my style anyway. Lots of magical
traps and stuff I'm sure."

 "I don't see what you're so worried about. We haven't done anything to
piss any elves off. Lots of wizards and mages, but not elves." Ranma
smiled and pat his companion on his back.

 "So we do it then?"

 "We've already been paid," noted Ranma as he produced the bag of gold
and tossed it to the ground at Kumon's feet.

 "Well, that settles it then. The Dragon Ghost strikes again." Ryu shook
his head and smirked. "Come on, let's start setting up camp."

 -------------------

 The next day Ranma and Ryu started out early, they were well into the
wilderness by the middle of the day and made their way into the great
forest that was the home to the elven city.

 "I didn't know they were so close to Alta," commented Ryu lazily.

 "Hmm," Ranma nodded in agreement and took a flask of water off of his
belt. He poured it over his head and changed into his female form. "Two
humans wouldn't arouse much suspicion, they get a lot of traders here.
We'll draw less attention this way though."

 "You've been here before?" commented Ryu lazily.

 "Once or twice on business, they pay good money in some of these shops
for magical items. They love novelty spells, no hardcore stuff here
though. Elves don't really need black magic or healing spells."

 "You would know," grumbled Ryu as he glanced around. After a moment of
silence he spoke up again. "Any idea who our mysterious elven client is?"

 "Not really no," Ranma cocked her head to the side and thought about it.
"She could be a disguised Drow, but I didn't get much menace from her.
She could be some sort of low level noble looking to up her position with
this somehow. I'm not real good at stuff like this, I don't see any
reason to worry though."

 "Why is that?" snorted Ryu casually.

 "From what I've heard, the staff doesn't have any sort of magical power.
It's a sort of symbol for the leaders of the tribe."

 "Sacred artifact eh?"

 "More or less, elves don't talk about it much. It's not really all that
important. It may be valuable though."

 "Maybe she's going to ransom it, if it's a political symbol."

 "Who cares? Let's get this over with," snorted Ranma as she turned with
the path. 

 The pair came upon a wide path with torches hanging on a few of the tree
trunks. It was getting late and they had been lit recently, a few lazy
looking guards stood up in the tree branches on tiny wooden platforms
watching the forest intently. Travelers like them could pass unmolested
for the most part, especially with Ranma's curse. Soft music floated
across the air towards them as they neared the village.

 The path ended suddenly and Ryu looked up at the town. He raised his
eyebrow in slight surprise at the sight. All of the buildings were
suspended from the branches, wooden and grass huts with hanging walkways
between them; a few of the homes were even carved into the trunks of the
gigantic trees. The plants inside the village were hundreds of times
larger than those in the rest of the forest. "Impressive."

 Ranma nodded her agreement and pointed to a particularly large tree in
the center of the village, it was as large as a palace and rose thousands
of feet into the air. "That's where it will be."

 "Looks like a party," commented Ryu as he nodded towards several large
bonfires on the forest floor with elves dancing around the flames. There
were several large tables of food as well. It seemed as if the whole
village was present. 

 The pair walked into the crowd and put smiles on their faces as they
wandered through. There were several humans present, as well as a few
dwarves. Ranma took Ryu by the hand and forced a blush onto her face as
she led him through the crowd towards the palace. A few of the elves
noticed this and gave knowing smiles at what appeared to be an
embarrassed couple sneaking away to be alone. They weren't bothered.

 Finally the pair moved away from the crowd towards the great tree.
Several windows were carved into the wood and lights could be seen from a
few of them. The pair stopped and nodded towards one another silently as
they slunk into the shadows.

 "How do you want to handle this?" asked Ryu as he pulled off his
traveling pack and set it down before removing a few grappling hooks and
some rope.

 "My way of course, we can't just barge in there shouting. The whole
village is out here right now. We need to be as quiet as possible."

 "So, I'll stay here then?"

 "For now, I want you to stay nearby. I'm not sure what kind of security
they put around this thing, or if there are any spells protecting it.
Give me a couple of dispel wards, I'm betting they have some kind of
tracking spell on the damn thing."

 "Right, I'll stand watch over there." Ryu pointed to one of the hanging
walkways that came particularly close to the large tree. "If this is a
trap, they won't take long to move in. If that happens I'm getting us out
of here in a hurry Ranma. We don't need another screw up."

 "We got away clean didn't we?"

 "Shut up. That was far to close for my liking, and that damn dwarf is
still after your hide!"

 "Whatever," grumbled Ranma as she faded into the shadows.

 "Damn careless wench!" snarled Ryu as he started to stalk away. A moment
later he was lying on his stomach, there were several tears along the
back of his shirt. "Damn you Ranma!"

 "Who's a wench?" teased a ghostly voice from the shadows.

 --------------------

 The elder of the elves walked through the hallway and smiled as she saw
the party down below her through the windows. It was the festival of the
moon, a harvest time tradition that had existed for thousands of years.
She remembered most of them herself. She continued her walk and came upon
a young elf girl with violet hair that fell down to her waist.

 "Ah, Shampoo, how are things going?"

 The girl smiled. "Everything is going as planned Great Grandmother."

 "Excellent. Walk with me a ways child."

 Shampoo frowned; she hated when the old woman called her that. She was
almost two hundred. However, she complied and walked with the woman
through the darkened hallways.

 "I see that you felt it as well child."

 "What is that great grandmother?" said the woman cheerfully. "The
festival is going well."

 "That's not what I mean child. A presence has vanished from existence.
It seems someone has died, one of our own. She is not familiar to me
though. It saddens me to see life ended so prematurely, she was young."

 "A murder?" the elven girl's eyes went wide. 

 "No, I sensed no violence in her passing, it was most unusual. Quite
sudden really."

 Shampoo nodded at this. "Tragic."

 "Well, I'm off to bed, at my age these parties don't last as long as
they did once."

 "Good night great grandmother."

 The woman paused slightly as she moved towards her chambers near the top
of the stairs. She spoke in a hushed voice. "Shampoo, alert the guards,
there is a thief among us."

 "What?" said the girl in shock.

 "Quickly child, I shall attempt to locate her. She cannot hide from our
magic."

------------------

 Mousse stood patiently at the entrance to the small shrine. The doors
were opened and he was staring at the staff in front of him. It was
thrust into a simple wooden pedestal; the crystal on top of it glowed in
the flickering torchlight. "It would be so simple to take it. I would be
accepted again." He clenched his fists and growled slightly. "No." He
turned away from the temptation. "I promised I would not. I cannot break
that oath, not to her." He placed his glasses on his face and sighed as
he hung his head. Guard duty sucked; there was no way around it. It was
made worse by the party going on outside, and the temptation of taking
the damnable staff. It really would be easy; he knew all the traps that
filled the room. At least he thought he did, it would be just like that
old hag to hold out on him. That thought ended the debate. He turned
towards the hallway again and waited for his relief to come.

 Suddenly the crystal around his neck glowed brightly. A voice filled the
hallway suddenly that almost filled him with joy. 

 "Mousse! There is a thief, be on guard."

 "Yes Shampoo! No one will get by me!" he cried excitedly.

--------------------

 "Elder, I detect nothing." Another of the aged ones sat over her crystal
ball and stared deeply inside. There is one with larceny in his heart,
but he stands outside. He has not moved for some time, I doubt if he is
foolish enough to try anything.

 Cologne narrowed her eyes. "Impossible, I know what I felt. A presence
outside vanished as if in death, then reappeared for a moment inside the
halls."

 "Perhaps your age has made you jumpy?"

 "You'd like that wouldn't you? No, the life force within her was too
strong for me to be jumping at shadows."

 "As you say, but there is still nothing. Perhaps a spirit with a strong
bond to this place has been visiting?"

 "Perhaps, but I still want us to be on guard."

 "It will be done," said the crone as she turned away from her crystal
and walked out of the room.

----------------------

 Ranma stood watching the elven boy for a moment in the shadows. The boy
seemed well adjusted to the darkness; he was also very alert at the
moment. His gaze shifted up and down the hall searching for intruders.

 "My such a diligent guard," she thought to herself before backing away
from the scene. The staff could be seen inside a small room behind him.
There were several magical traps she could see, and probably a few more
she could not. "That's a little much for a staff that does nothing.
Unless..." She faded back into the shadows.

---------------------

 Ryu frowned as two more guard appeared at the entrance to the palace.
"Changing the guard?" He paused and noted that a few more appeared on
either side of him watching him intently. "No, they're bulking up
security." He narrowed his eyes and leaned against the trunk of the tree
he was standing in. "It seems they're on to something, but is it us?" He
chuckled slightly. "Well Ranma, it seems that you've underestimated them.
I'll wait a little longer too see if anything else happens first."

---------------------

 Ranma entered a large darkened chamber and smiled. There was almost no
light in the room, not even enough to see with. She knew that any light
within the room would attract attention. Especially with it being an elf
palace. They wouldn't even need magical detection to know something had
changed in the room; the flow of nature would be enough to alert them.
She slunk silently across the room to where a large bed sat along the
wall. 

 Her instincts told her all she needed to know. Silently she fell at the
foot of the bed where a large chest lay. She knelt down beside it and
opened the lid carefully. A few robes and some small jewelry could be
seen inside, she carefully removed them and smirked to herself as she
pulled out a small hidden panel out of the bottom. A long golden handle
glinted slightly in the tiny ray of moonlight that shone through the
curtains. She smiled to herself and placed one of the wards across the
staff. "There, now to get out of here."

 She jumped up into the shadows of the ceiling and smiled as the doors
burst open. Several elven men entered brandishing torches. In the center
an old elven woman rushed forward and shoved those in front of her aside
with a gnarled wooden staff. "That box, open it!" she commanded.

 Ranma slipped through the doors behind them without a sound and once
again took to the shadows.

 Inside the room the chest was opened, the clothing within was
undisturbed. "Nothing mistress."

 The woman snorted and started to toss the contents around carelessly.
She pulled out the hidden panel and frowned. "It is as I feared. Go now,
alert the village. The staff of elders has been stolen." She turned
around and rushed out of the room again.

-----------------------

 Mousse waited patiently, word had not yet reached him. The thief was
apparently still inside the palace. "If I took it now, they would believe
that the thief succeeded. He slowly stalked towards the open doors that
beckoned him ever closer. "Do I really want to go back though?" He paused
as an image appeared in the back of his mind. "Shampoo... I'm sorry, I
can no longer live in shame. I shall come back for you though." He slowly
rubbed his chin and reached out for the golden staff.

 "Mousse!" The elven boy jumped in alarm. 

 "Shampoo! What's going on?"

 "You have failed me? The Staff of Elders has been stolen!"

 The crystal around his neck glowed as the telepathic link came to life.
He fell to his knees as pain laced through his body. A blue energy
crackled around him. "Failed? The staff has not been stolen! I'm looking
at it right now!"

 Another voice entered the boy's mind. "Enough, Shampoo release him. He
has not failed his duty." Mousse felt the pain slowly subside and
struggled away from the doors again.

---------------------

 In another part of the palace the violet haired girl stood with her
great grandmother and stared at her in shock. "You mean?"

 "Yes child, the real staff has been stolen."

 "No! How could this be?"

 The elder who had tried to discover the intruder stood in the room as
well. "Nothing, the human thief still stands where he was before. He has
not moved, nor invoked any magic. He is not the culprit."

 "I know," said Cologne sadly. "The one we seek cannot be of this world.
It has the ability to erase all signs of its existence."

 "You mean?"

 "Yes, Shampoo, you have done well. Too well."

 "I understand Great Grandmother." The girl bowed and walked out of the
room.

 "What do you speak of?"

 "You will understand in time," said the old woman cheerfully.

 "Mousse almost betrayed us tonight."

 "No, he did not. I can see deeper into his heart than anyone else, he
would not have gone through with his plan. The deception is still there,
but it is weak. I wonder what it was he did to come to such an opinion of
himself? He will grow stronger, perhaps one day he will tell us what this
secret he hides away from us is."

 "I doubt that, it is buried far too deep."

 "In time, we shall see. His foolhardy love for my Shampoo is far greater
than even she imagines. I can only hope time erases it, for I see only
tragedy if it is allowed to grow."

--------------------

 Ranma stood with Ryu and smiled. "We have it."

 The guard that had been watching Ryu left a short time ago into the
palace. The place was swarming with them. The festivities had long since
ended and now guards walked among the guests.

 "Good let's get out of here."

 The pair walked towards the path that would lead them out of the village
and started walking.

 "You caused quite a commotion."

 "Yeah, I used that ward to seal away the spell placed on the staff. It
isn't anything but a tracking spell, but it was enough to alert the elves
inside that something was wrong."

 Ryu nodded and they left the light of the bonfires and walked into the
darkness. The woods seemed alive at night as the bushes and branches
shifted in the wind. "So, we bring this thing to the elven wench and she
pays us the rest of the money?"

 "That's right, we'll be able to take it easy for a while." Ranma looked
quite proud of herself at this announcement.

 "You two! Hold! No one is permitted to leave!" cried a voice from in
front of them. 

 The pair stopped and noticed the guards standing in front of them. There
were five of them, all armed with spears. 

 Ryu looked at Ranma and smiled. "What should we do?"

"Don't look at me, your the strong arm remember?" quipped the girl as she
hunched over. She seemed to fade completely out of existence.

 "I guess I earn my part of this now eh?" said Ryu with a grin appearing
on his face. He charged forward and screamed at them.

 "Don't move!" The guards paused in surprise and he rushed into them.
"Fierce Tiger Opening Gates Blow!"

The guards were sent reeling by the blow, at least two of them were down
for the count and a third would not recover in time to stop his escape.

 Two of the guards he missed completely though. They quickly regained
their senses and charged him with their spears held low. Ryu shifted
allowing one of the pikes to pass by him. His hand lashed out and cut
through the wooden handle snapping the blade off, his free hand met the
guard's helmet creating a dent and sent the man to the ground out cold.
He shook his hand off and frowned. Iron helmets really hurt.

 The other guard was already lying on the ground; he was stripped down to
his shorts with bruises running down the sides of his back on both sides.

 "Thanks for the assist."

 "No problem, it wouldn't do to have my partner get killed for his own
carelessness," commented Ranma as she appeared beside him.

 "Or mine for running her mouth," snorted the boy as he started walking
away.

 "Oh come on! Don't be such a jerk!"

 "Who's a jerk?"

 The pair happily argued their way out of the woods.

------------------

 "I've brought what you want," said Ranma as she stood in front of the
elven girl again. They were once again inside the Guild King's chamber
alone together.

 "My, but you have," said the violet haired elf with a small frown on her
face. She fiddled with the staff lazily as she spoke. 

 "Great, now pay me."

 She tossed another bag of gold at her feet and Ranma cheerfully picked
it up.

 The woman smiled. "So tell me, which one are you? Dragon, or ghost?"

 Ranma froze and slowly looked up at the woman.

 "So, it is true? I never would have guessed that the famous thief of
sorcerers was actually a duo. Our guards reported you and your companion
leaving the village."

 "Who are you? What do you want?"

 "I am Shampoo, the Princess of the Forest Elves. I wanted you to steal
the staff of elders, but I never expected you to steal the real one. None
of us did. We are quite impressed."

 "Is there a point in this?"

 Shampoo narrowed her eyes. This elf was being quite cheeky for someone
who just found out she was speaking with royalty. She sighed and pushed
it aside. "Of course there is. This was a test. We have a job, if you
complete it, you will be rewarded with enough money to retire on
permanently."

 "Retire? Why would I want to do that?"

 "I see, then there is more to you than the value of a gold piece is
there?"

 "Maybe." Ranma didn't like this. She wanted to leave, but the situation
would leave too much danger for her and Ryu. 

 "Moving on, the job is very difficult, hence the difficulty of the test.
I want you to steal something else for me."

 "No."

 "Pardon?"

 "I don't like people toying with me. If my partner was in here he'd kill
you for what you know. Pray I don't tell him." She turned to leave the
room.

 "Ten million gold pieces."

 Ranma stared at her again. "What?"

 "That is the reward for completing this task. Think it over, you know
where to find me." Shampoo stood up and walked past the young girl with a
smirk on her face.

 "Do you really think I can be bought?"

 "Anyone can be bought if you offer enough."

 "You're wrong," said Ranma.

 "If you can't be bought, then how did I come into possession of this?"

 "It was a challenge. People have died for less than what you tried in
here."

 "Oh, then this is a challenge more worthy than this staff could ever
hope to be."

 "What is it then?"

 "I cannot tell you."

 "... I'll think about it."

 After that Ranma stood alone inside the chamber. She clenched her fist
and stared at it. "Damn."

-----------------------

 
 The Dragon and the Ghost.

 Part 3

 The impossible dream.

 Ranma sat brooding across from Ryu in a run down looking tavern. The
place was sparsely populated by a few rough looking humans who sat along
the bar or at the tables that lined the walls. Smoke hung in the air from
a few patron's pipes and cigarettes. The remains of a meal was spread out
between the pair.

 "What's eating you Saotome?" said Ryu finally after a while of ignoring
the pigtailed boy.

 "That elf girl," said Ranma as he rubbed the sides of his head.

 "What about her? She paid us enough and the job is done. What, you got a
thing for her or something?" Ryu seemed slightly amused by the prospect.

 "No, it ain't that," grumbled Ranma, he sighed and looked up at his
partner. "She knows."

 Ryu sat up abruptly with an angry look in his eyes. "She knows what?"

 "She knows who we are. That whole job was some kind of test."

 "Test?" asked Ryu carefully.

 "Yeah. She wants us to do another job."

 "What job?"

 "She won't say."

 Ryu leaned back in his chair and growled. "Why didn't you tell me about
this?"

 "I'm thinking about taking her up on it."

 Kumon let out a humorless laugh. "So you do have a thing for the wench?"

 "No, she's offering ten million gold pieces."

 "So?" countered Ryu lazily.

 "You want in if I decide to go?" Ranma stared at him with a dead
seriousness in his eyes.

 "Like I would let you do something so stupid on your own," countered the
boy with another distasteful snort. He paused and turned his head away.
"Ranma, you know what we have to do to her. It can be done after the job
if you prefer."

 "Yeah, I know. She knows too much."

 The pair sat brooding and drinking for a long time after that.

----------------------

 Shampoo sat in her room overlooking the canopy forest from a window
carved into the wall of the great tree. She was dressed in a long flowing
gown of deep green that spread across the ground around her. Her hair was
done up in a tight bun on top of her head and several expensive looking
jewels hung from her ears and around her neck. It was late and the moons
shone brightly in the sky above surrounded by the stars. A silver light
played across the treetops below giving the top of the forest the
appearance of a frozen sea. The door to her chambers opened and a
familiar figure walked in.

 "Shampoo, it is time."

 "I know Mousse," said the girl with a sigh. "I hate these events."

 The elven boy was dressed in robes that hung loosely off of his body.
His hands were hidden away within his sleeves and his thick glasses
rested on top of his head. He nodded and moved to help her up stumbling
across a stool that lay in the center of the room.

 "Oh! I didn't see you there!" he exclaimed as he attempted to help the
stool to its feet. "Please forgive me Shampoo!"

 The princess giggled into her hand for a moment before straightening her
face up and scowling at him. "Mousse you idiot!" She kicked him in the
face sending him sprawling across the floor of the room as she passed
him. She pointed her nose into the air and left him in the room alone.

 "She is so fierce!" he sighed. After a moment of lying love struck on
the ground he stood up and dusted himself off. He smirked and picked up
the stool before placing it back in its place and walked out of the room
after her.

 Shampoo entered the great hall and smiled as she walked up to her great
grandmother. The room was a large ballroom with a wooden floor. Torches
lined all the interior walls that were carved from the great trunk of the
tree. Several tables lined the sides of the room filled with various food
ranging from wild game, to nuts and berries. Another table had several
large kegs of wine and wooden cups. The party was attended by many people
in expensive looking clothing. Mostly elves, but with a good majority of
humans as well. Most, if not all of the people in the room were probably
nobles of some kind.

 The shrunken old woman motioned to the chair next to her and nodded. 
She was sitting on a throne that sat upon a raised platform along the
back wall of the room. "Come, Shampoo. Do try better than that. I know
you hate these parties, but they are an important part of your future
duties."

 The young elf snorted and crossed her arms. "Politics."

 "Yes, not every problem can be solved with your fists. You are the
finest warrior of your generation my dear, but that will not be enough to
rule after I have passed on."

 Shampoo felt her jaw clench at the old woman's words. She did not want
her to die, for obvious reasons of course. The fact that she had no real
desire to rule only helped her reluctance to think about it. She paused
and glanced around the room.

 
 "Great Grandmother. Where is Mousse?"

 "Eh?" the old woman turned her gaze onto the floor. "I don't see him
here. Why?"

 "I must have hit him harder than I thought then," replied the young girl
with a shrug.

 Cologne cackled in amusement for a moment and sighed. "I'm sure he's
fine dear."

 "Really? That's too bad," muttered Shampoo under her breath. 

 The boy in question appeared through the doors of the great hall and
wandered around a bit before engaging in conversation. Unfortunately for
him, he was talking to one of the potted plants that lined the walls
between the hanging torches.

 Cologne turned towards her granddaughter and suddenly became serious.
"Do you have any word back yet?"

 "No, nothing," replied the girl with a shrug.

 "We may be forced to proceed anyway. The dark presence within the east
only grows in power each day."

 "Do you think this will truly work?" asked the girl with a stern look on
her face.

 "It must, the Emperor has been quiet far too long. I do not believe that
the conquering of the east will be enough to sate that childish imp long.
Soon he will look towards the fertile lands we inhabit. When that
happens, it will be far too late."

 "He is powerful indeed," agreed Shampoo. "I'll crush him myself if I
have to."

 "Don't be foolish child."

 "Are you saying I'm not skilled enough to beat that child?"

 "No, you are not. His army is fearsome, and he has many powerful
servants. You would not even be able to reach him, much less fight him
yourself. It is not your destiny."

 "I see."

 Cologne sighed and shook her head. It was easy to see that she was far
from convinced.

-------------------

 The party had ended a short time ago, Shampoo sighed as she entered her
room and lay out across the bed that took up most of the center of the
room. A beautifully carved wooden dresser sat along the wall opposite the
door. She sat up and looked in the large mirror that hung from the wall
just behind the dresser. After a moment she lowered her hair and walked
over to the mirror, picking up a brush from the dresser top. She sat down
in the small chair in front of it and began to brush lazily.

 After a while she stood up and went over to the window, gazing out over
the stars again. "I grow tired of waiting." She turned to the dresser
again and pulled out her nightclothes. Thinking on her position again.
The life she led was a far cry from what she truly wanted. The life of a
forest elf shouldn't have so much pageantry. She should live among the
trees, living with the flow of life. However, her station in life would
not allow that. She could feel the flow of nature still, it was strong
within her and would probably never disappear, but she knew that the
feeling was slowly fading from her. A cold wind blew into the room and
she shivered for a moment. She sighed and looked into the mirror again.
She stepped back in shock and stared at it.

 A small brown note had been stuck into the frame. It had two words
scribed inside of it.

 "Mission accepted."

 She carefully lifted the delicate note into her hands and flipped it
over a few times. She felt anger rise up inside her and threw it onto the
ground. "How dare they! Those arrogant!" She sat down again and calmed
herself. 

--------------------

 A strong looking figure clad in black armor kneeled before the Emperor.
The room was dark and cold, the shifty gray of marble and stone gave off
minimal light from the moonbeams that shone through the windows that were
carved high up in the walls of the great chamber. The large Dragon and
Phoenix emblem was hanging above the throne on a long tapestry that rose
to impossible heights near the ceiling. 

 "Ah, Your Majesty, how can I be of service?" The voice was young; it
seemed out of place within the frightening visage of the black metal.

 Herb stepped forward from the shadows and sneered. "Tendo, I trust you
have been well?"

 "I have," spat the voice with a hateful snarl suddenly apparent in his
tone.

 "Excellent."

 "We have a job for you."

 "Your will is mine," said the black clad figure as he bowed his head.

 "Good." another figure emerged from the shadows. The voice was feminine
and very beautiful. Her body was concealed by a long black cloak that
covered her form completely. "The Emperor wishes you to accompany him. We
will be leaving in three weeks."

 "May I ask where?" inquired the dark figure.

 "The northern country of Joketsuko."

 "Our mission?"

 "Diplomatic. He wishes to start, relations, with the king of that land.
It holds a valuable secret that could benefit us in the future."

 "I see." said the man cautiously. "My other duties? The Emperor does not
require my protection I'll wager."

 "My, but you are a sharp one! That will be revealed in time. Leave us
now, and don't forget to tell your sister I said hello, Akane." Herb
smiled as the girl growled angrily at him.

 "As you wish." Her voice dripped in venom as she bowed her head to the
man placidly.

 "My, but those Tendo girls are spirited."

 "Silence Herb. Keep your perversions to yourself in front of the
Emperor," snapped the cloaked woman.

 "Enough. Leave me," said a small voice from the throne. He was hidden
away by the shadows. 

 The pair bowed to him and backed away into the pitch-black corners of
the room.

---------------------

 Herb strolled down the hallways of the palace towards his room and
snarled. "Impudent brat. I'll see him dead soon enough. Lime! Mint!
Before me!"

 A pair of young beast-men appeared out of nowhere and kneeled before
their master. One was rather like that of a tiger, short orange fur
covered his body and two fangs protruded over his lips, a long tail waged
slowly from side to side behind him. The other was a werewolf, although
his features were more human at the moment, the wolf within him was still
evident in his appearance, his fangs protruded slightly out of his mouth
and his hair was slightly more wild and grew onto his face despite his
young age. Both of their eyes were golden like those of their master and
each wore the skins of the animals they represented as clothing.

 "Yes, master?" they chimed in unison.

 "I want you two to keep an eye on Akane Tendo for a while. She's growing
dangerous. I hold her sister close to me. That should be enough to keep
her at bay for the time being. However, her anger may grow to far for
that to matter."

 "Yes master."

 Herb turned away from them with his cape billowing a little over
dramatically as he entered his chambers. He closed the heavy door behind
him and smiled. 

 The room was lavishly decorated with expensive looking furniture and
carpets. All of them had the crest of the Emperor on them. In one corner
was a large bed covered in deep red sheets made from silk and satin. A
ghostly lithe figure rose from the bed and smiled at him.

 She was dressed in a tight dark blue evening gown and wore two large red
earrings. Her lips were painted a deep red that accentuated her pale
skin. Her short brown hair fell into place around her face as she moved
towards him.

 "Ah, Nabiki. Come to visit again?" said the man casually as he sat down
on one of the large wooden chairs that rested in front of the large
fireplace.

 "Don't be so naive," laughed the woman coldly. Everything in her actions
gave way to her icy persona. "You know what I want."

 "Ah yes, power that I can provide?"

 "Maybe later, I was thinking of something more physical at the moment."

 "Perhaps. How is our young Saotome doing these days anyway?"

 "He's still a thief, and every bit as hard to track now."

 "Yes, that technique of his is very interesting."

 "I am at a loss to explain it. He seems to know when I'm watching him; I
can never get more than a moment's glance at him. He's become quite
handsome."

 "Has he?" Herb's smile fell slightly.

 "Jealous?" quipped the girl. "Oh, Herb darling, you know that I'm
willing to become the Queen of Ice in more than reputation at your side."

 "Or anyone else who might be able to grant that to you," said the man
with his smug looking grin returning once again.

 "I'm not going to even try to deny that," said the woman with a sigh.
She sat down on his lap and kissed him for a moment.

 "You're cold," he commented.

 "The dragon within you appreciates that, you have no desire for warm
blood at your side."

 "Heh, I won't deny that either," said Herb lazily as she shifted in his
lap slightly. He looked at her again; the cold fire that burned in the
back of her light brown eyes caused a shiver up his spine. "You are
positively evil. What makes you think I trust you enough to make you my
wife?"

 She laughed again; it was as cold and heartless as before. "You don't,
but then again, that's exactly why you will. Now come to bed." She stood
up and took his hand leading him towards the sheets. He made no move to
resist her.

+++++++++++++++++++

 "Come out you idiots," snarled Akane as she stood on a balcony
overlooking the city below. It stretched out as far as the eye could see.
It was quite breathtaking from this height, but a closer inspection would
only reveal the dirt and grime that the rooftops hid from view.

 Lime and Mint appeared before her each growling in annoyance. "What is
it?"

 "Herb sent his two lackeys to spy on me again did he?"

 "Yes," grumbled Mint angrily.

 "Very well, if you're going to be hanging around you might as well make
yourselves useful. We leave in three weeks, and while you're here, I want
you to keep that idiot, Lord Kuno, away from me."

 "Of course," muttered the pair in unison.

 "Come on, we're going to see my father," snapped the angry sounding
woman as she stalked away. 

 The pair of beast men looked at each other and shrugged. They had been
sent to do this for their master before. Akane seemed to look at it as if
he was loaning her his two servants. They didn't mind really, it was
easier to follow her that way and keep tabs on what she was doing. She
was a much easier taskmaster than Herb anyway. Her tone was intimidating,
but she usually sounded like that, after a while they had gotten used to
her gruff nature.

++++++++++++++++++++++

 Kasumi Tendo smiled as Akane walked into the chambers of Soun Tendo. She
was dressed in long flowing white robes and had the same cheerful
disposition as always. She was a drastic contrast to the dull gray that
seemed to fill the palace. "Hello Akane, have you come to visit father?"

 "Yes, where is Lord Tendo?" said the girl with an unusual calm about
her.

 "In his chambers with mother. Shall I call him for you?"

 "No. He is expecting me today," said the girl as she pulled off her
helmet and tucked it under her arm. Her short cut black hair was matted
from wearing the heavy armor, but she looked quite stunning without it.
The only thing that marred her was a tiny scar just under her right eye
that ran across her cheek. 

 "Oh my! It's Mister Lime and Mister Mint! How are you today?"

 "Fine Mistress Kasumi," muttered the pair in embarrassment. 

 "Would you like some tea?"

 "Boy, would I!" exclaimed Lime happily.

 Mint elbowed him in the ribs and coughed. 

 "Sorry. I mean thank you, Mistress."

+++++++++++++++

 Akane walked into her father's chambers and kneeled before the man. He
was sitting on a small throne dressed in armor similar to hers, but much
lighter. He stroked at his mustache and frowned deeply. At his side a
beautiful woman of about his age sat. She was clothed in a simple dark
green dress and had a frail look about her.

 "Mother, Father," greeted the girl as she looked up at them from her
knee.

 "Tell me child, what did the Emperor want with you? If I may inquire
that is," asked Soun calmly.

 "He wished me to accompany him on his journey in three weeks. We will be
visiting the country of Joketsuko, to the north."

 "Hmm, I take it you will not be guarding him?" inquired the man further.

 "That would not be my duty, he would not say more."

 "Hmm, I see. I wish you well then."

 Akane nodded and bowed to her parents.

 As soon as she walked out the door Soun broke down into tears. "Oh! My
baby girl is growing up so fast!"

 His wife sighed and shook her head. "Idiot."

++++++++++++++

 Akane walked out into the small room where his sister served the two
beast men tea cheerfully. The scene looked somewhat ridiculous, but she
brushed it off and shook her head.

 "Come on, we're leaving."

 Lime and Mint looked up in unison and then back to one another before
standing up and following after Akane.

 "Goodbye! Thank you for visiting!" said Kasumi cheerfully as she waved
at them.

 Akane raised her hand and waved without looking back. 

 Lime looked at his companion and sighed. "She sure is a nice lady."

 "Yeah, most priestesses don't like us at all," agreed Mint.

++++++++++++++++

 Ranma stood in an open field outside the forest and waited patiently.
Shampoo would be arriving soon to tell them of their objective. Ranma was
in his cursed form at the moment and was pacing about nervously. 

 "Jeez, just sit down will ya?" snorted Ryu.

 "You know how much I hate waiting," retorted the pigtailed boy as he
continued to pace.

 "The wait is over," said Ryu as he stood up and nodded towards the
approaching elves.

 "There's more than one," said Ranma as he glared down at the two figures
approaching from the bottom of the hill. One of them they recognized, the
other was a short and shriveled looking elf who was probably thousands of
years old.

 "Hello," greeted the elder as she approached them carefully.

 "Who the hell are you?" asked Ryu.

 "I am Cologne, the elder of the elven tribe within these woods. This is
my Great Granddaughter, Shampoo. We want to hire your services."

 "I know that, she told you about us?" prodded Ranma carefully.

 "No, It was my idea to seek you out. Forgive my methods, but we had to
be sure of your skill. I will pay you well, and you will save this
kingdom from ruin if you are successful."

 Ryu growled. "I hate playing hero. War is good for business."

 "As you say," agreed Cologne with a small nod. "That is one reason why
we are paying you so well."

 Shampoo looked at the old woman in surprise, but remained silent.

 "Shampoo will accompany you," started the hag.

 "Absolutely not," snapped Ranma and Ryu at the same time.

 "You are thieves, I don't trust you," said Cologne with a firmness in
her voice. 

 "You trust us enough to put her in our care though?" said Ryu with his
eyebrow raised slightly.

 "I am the greatest warrior of the village, I can take care of myself,"
snapped Shampoo.

 "As she said," agreed Cologne. "However, this is not the only reason
behind this."

 "And that is?" asked Ranma.

 "Only she may return the item to us. If you return without her, you will
not be paid. Not only that, we will destroy you."

 "I don't have time to play babysitter for no palace raised little
princess. If she goes, you're on your own," said Ranma.

 "If you go without her, you will fail," finished Cologne.

 "What do you mean?"

 "Accept my terms and I can explain to you, otherwise..."

 "No," snapped Ryu.

 "Fine, why am I taking her?" asked Ranma as she put her hands up.

 "Two main reasons, first, to be sure you do not betray us to the
Emperor."

 This caught both of the thieves' attention.

 "Secondly, because only she will be able to grab hold of the prize. You
know no magic. It is her bond with nature as an elf, and her training in
sorcery that will allow her to obtain the prize."

 "You're going against the Empire?" said Ranma with a small look of
surprise evident oh her face.

 "We must, or our peace will be destroyed within a few years, if not
sooner."

 "Interesting," said Ryu with his usual calm.

 "Two conditions, one is that she gets no special treatment. I'm not an
envoy; she's on her own. Second is that you tell us what this big prize
is right now."

 "Fine, you are going to obtain the staff of the Emperor."

 "What?!" Ryu jumped back. "That's impossible!"

 "No, it is not. In three weeks time, he will be in Joketsuko on a
diplomatic mission. Well, not really, but that is the outward intent of
the visit. He will be out of the palace, and he will have the staff with
him."

 "Humph, that's one for the history books," commented Ranma.

 "Are you insane Ranma?! This is the Emperor we're talking about!"

 "So?"

 Ryu calmed down visibly at this. "We don't need this kind of publicity.
Wizards and mages are bad enough, but this?"

 "This'll make us the greatest thieves of all time Ryu. Don't pretend
you're not interested, or scared."

 "Who says I'm not scared? Only an idiot wouldn't be," grumbled Ryu as he
hung his head. "All right, fine."

 "Excellent. How long do you need to prepare?"

 "We're ready now," said Ranma with a snort.

 "Very well, come to the village in three days. Shampoo must prepare,
even if you are ready. There is much to do, so we'll leave you now." The
two elves turned away and started back towards their home.

 "This is another fine mess you've gotten us into Saotome," growled Ryu.
"Every two bit bounty hunter on the planet will be looking for us now!"

 "They already are. We're already the most wanted men in the world. How
much worse can it get?"

 "Every time you say that..." started Ryu.

 "Yeah, yeah, it gets worse. I know."

 "Come on, we've got a lot of gold to spend before we go. I want to be
happy one more time before I march off to my death."

 Ranma smirked at this and laughed. "Wine, women, and song then?"

 "Wine and song. Women give us headaches, you should know that by now."

 The pair turned away and began walking towards Alta city once again.

++++++++++++++

 Meanwhile, a short distance away...

 A short and burly young dwarf stalked towards the city in front of him.
He had a long and curly black beard and wore a large hammer across his
traveling pack. His chest was covered in thick iron armor, and a golden
helmet rested on his head with two long horns jutting from the sides. He
walked briskly and muttered under his breath, casually shoving aside any
travelers he came across with his massive, but stocky arms. "When I get
my hands on that Ranma runt... I'll tear him apart! The bastard! Nobody
steals from me! The nerve of that punk! I'll eat him alive! Better yet,
I'll cook him first!" He paused in the middle of the road, and roared
with laughter as he pictured the things he'd do when he finally found his
prey in the back of his mind. "Nobody messes with Good Fang the
Blacksmith!" He stopped and glanced around. The city he had been walking
towards was gone. "ARGH! Now where am I?"

 
 The Dragon and the Ghost

 Part Four

 Good Fang the Dwarf.

 Ranma stood with Ryu on the edge of the forest once again three days
later. Ranma was once again in his female guise and paced back and fourth
across the grass as they awaited the third member of their party. There
was a wind blowing across the field making the tall grass that surrounded
them wave like the waves of a great ocean. The sun rose slowly into the
sky to the west giving the field an almost golden appearance.

 "She isn't late yet Saotome," commented Ryu from his back. He was lying
on the ground watching the stars fade away into the sunlight.

 "Yeah, but I hate waiting for stuff like this," commented the red haired
elven girl.

 "You should learn patience," said a familiar voice. Both of them jumped
to their feet as Shampoo walked towards them a fair distance away. She
smirked as she realized they had heard her. 

 "Great, I hate telepaths," grumbled Ranma as she sat down with her legs
crossed as the elf princess approached.

 "You are not in tune with your mind then? How odd. It seems you were not
brought up within the elven people. I can see that much in your aura.
Your connection with nature is weak at best." Shampoo stopped about five
feet away from the pair and smiled again. "Shall we be on our way?"

 "Is anyone with you?" asked Ranma with a sudden air of nervousness about
her.

 "Do not worry. I came alone this time. Great Grandmother had other
duties to attend." Two large round maces protruded from over her
shoulders on each side of her head. In her hands was a simple pole that
was a little taller than she was and a small leather bag was hanging at
her side as well.

 "How much magic do you have on you?" asked Ryu as he ignored the
conversation.

 "Why do you ask?"

 "Magical objects are easy to detect. We don't need that on a mission
like this. If you have any, I suggest you find a place to store them
before we get to Joketsuko. You won't need them," said the boy casually
as he stood up and turned away from them. "Ranma, do what you have too.
I'll be at the base of the hill when you're ready."

 "What did he mean by that?" asked Shampoo as she eyed the redhead
carefully.

 "If you're going to be traveling with us, you have to know. First, I
need your vow. You will never tell anyone of what you see here now."

 "Very well. I give you my sacred oath. I will never tell," agreed
Shampoo.

 Ranma smirked and pulled a small flask from his side. "I'm not really an
elf." He poured the contents over his head and shifted. His shoulders
broadened as his chest vanished and he grew a few inches taller. His hair
changed to a solid black as well.

 The elven girl dropped her staff and placed her hand over her mouth in
shock. "What?"

 "Don't worry, the spell that did this to me is a natural one. It can't
really be detected. It looks like nothing more than nature itself to any
prying wizard." He turned away from her and chuckled to himself for a
moment. "If you have any questions, keep them to yourself. I've shown you
all you need to know."

 Shampoo's eyes were wide with terror and she fell to her knees.
"Jusenkyo."

 Ranma paused and turned to face her again. "Eh?"

 "You are cursed, by Jusenkyo?"

 "Oh, you know about that do you? Good, it'll save me a headache later
on. Let's get moving." He turned away from her and started walking again.

 Shampoo nodded silently and followed after him. The cursed springs were
a tragic story indeed. A great elven warrior met her death in the valley;
she cursed the land around her to prevent her attacker's escape. Only one
of the drow who had slain her had escaped the valley. Unfortunately for
him, an envoy of elves waited for him at the valley's exit. 

---------------

 The group walked for the rest of the day in relative silence. There
wasn't much to see, other than a few run down villages. Finally they
stopped for the night.

 Ranma dumped a pile of wood in the center of the campsite. The wood was
all long since dead and dried. She looked at him in silence for a moment
and finally spoke up.

 "You only took dead wood from the forest?"

 "It would take too long for fresh wood to burn, less smoke that way too.
It's an old thieves trick," replied the boy with a shrug. 

 Ryu appeared with a tiny dead deer slung across his shoulders and
smirked at the pair. "Well, I see you two are getting along all right."

 "Shut up Ryu," grumbled Ranma as he started the fire. He held his palm
over a few twigs and an orange glow formed in his palm. Shampoo watched
in astonishment for a moment and shifted slightly. It was uncomfortable
for her to watch a human like him. It just looked weird.

 "Oh now what?" snorted the pigtailed youth.

 "You wield an elven blade, take only dead wood from the forest, and
light a fire without invoking a spell. You are still in tune with the
natural force! How can this be? Only an elf would be able to do such a
thing."

 "She didn't seem all that upset that you turn into one, why would this
bother her so much?" commented Ryu as he looked at his long time
companion. The pair seemed to be ignoring her presence.

 "I dunno. I guess I just got a few extra perks from that curse is all.
It's no big deal."

 Shampoo nodded at the explanation. Ranma had not directed his answer at
her, but it was enough. It made sense in an odd way. Once one's spirit
was connected to the life force of the planet, nothing could take it
away. That was one of the things that made the drow so dangerous to her
kind. They represented nature as well, in their own way. Elves were the
light, life, and balance. Drow were their opposites, the shadows, death,
and chaos.

 "We should pass Antioch tomorrow. We don't need supplies, so I doubt if
we'll need to stop there. It's best if we go around to avoid any
problems," said Ryu as he started to gut and clean the animal.

 Shampoo noticed that he did not discard the innards, but placed them
inside a medium sized leather pouch. He noticed her gaze and smirked
again. "Waste not, want not."

 "Indeed," commented the elven princess.

 "We've learned a lot in our travels. You aren't the first elf we've ever
come across you know."

 "Yes. I recall a sacred jewel that went missing within the mountain
village of Darut a few months back."

 "Actually, we've never stolen from elves. That one can be chalked up to
the wraiths that live near the place. They like shiny objects, I'm not
sure why, especially since they hate light," said Ryu lazily.

 "How would you know?"

 "This guy I know named Shinosuke. The elves hired him to get it back for
them. He couldn't remember half the story, but you don't forget an
encounter with the wraiths." Ranma laughed out loud at the memory and fed
the fire. She noticed him casually flick a beetle off the dead wood into
the dirt and it scurried away unharmed. A small smile formed on her lips.
He seemed unaware of his connection to the great magical force of the
world, yet he still respected it unlike any human she had ever seen.

------------

 After their meal they sat around the flames together and merely absorbed
the warmth of the flames. Ryu shuddered as a wind blew across the forest
clearing they had chosen as their campsite.

 "Something up?" said Ranma as he noticed the other boy's discomfort.

 "I don't know. It seems as if this is going too smoothly."

 "Count your blessings then," replied the pigtailed boy with a shrug.

 "It is going to rain tomorrow," said Shampoo. Her nose wrinkled slightly
as she lay back with her arms folded behind her head.

 "Yeah, the wind is changing. We're going north, so we'll have to stop
somewhere along the way and get some new clothes."

 "The dwarves at the foot of the mountains would be the best place to
find what we need," commented Ryu.

 "Bah, dwarves," grumbled Shampoo.

 "We've got enough money. They shouldn't be too troublesome." Ranma
smirked at the face she made. "Mountain elves don't seem to mind them too
much."

 "They don't have the same habits as us. Dwarves are pests; they tunnel
under our homes and destroy the forest in their wake. 'Children of the
Earth' indeed."

 Both men snickered slightly at this and lay back against the ground to
get some sleep. "I'm more worried about how much they'll charge us for
supplies," commented Ranma. "Dwarven goods are expensive."

 "Well, they won't charge us too much I'll wager," said Ryu as he closed
his eyes. "They don't know who we are, but they'll know our trade by our
clothes if nothing else. Having her with us will help as well; the
mountain elves keep a good relation with them. If she keeps her mouth
shut about who she is, they might not know the difference."

 "Maybe we should go alone Ryu. The dwarves will smell the forest on her.
They'll charge us an arm and a leg then. I don't want to attract
attention by stealing any more than we have too."

 "Sounds good to me," snorted Shampoo. The idea of entering a dwarven
village was not appealing to her.

 "We have a few days before we have to worry about it. Get some sleep,
we've got a long hike ahead of us," snapped Ryu in irritation as he
rolled onto his side away from them.

 "Jeez, bite my head off will ya?" said Ranma as he closed his eyes and
went to sleep.

 Shampoo stayed awake a short time longer and listened to the sounds of
the forest around her. The insects' chirps and the nocturnal birds' cries
filled the air. Eventually, she drifted off as well.

--------------

 Akane stood watching the night sky over the imperial city. Her face was
stern and an air of menace seemed to surround her as she simply stared
off into the distance. Her mood was less than pleasant despite the view.
A few floors over her, her sister was visiting Herb again. Her hand
reached up slowly and fingered the tiny scar on her cheek for a moment.
It was best not to think of things like that. Still, it haunted her.

 "I'll kill that lizard yet," she growled quietly. There was no doubt
that Lime and Mint had both heard her. Their hearing was exceptional,
they made no indication that they had and remained in her room standing
guard by the door lazily. 

 She turned to look at the pair. They were totally relaxed from the looks
of them. Neither seemed to be particularly alert, they both looked
half-asleep. Had any other guard been found that way she would have
killed them herself where they stood. She smirked as she realized that
they were much more alert than they let on. The pair was probably more
intelligent than they let on as well. Herb seemed to enjoy mind games
like that. She sighed and turned her gaze back to the sky.

 By her door, Lime and Mint quietly conversed amongst themselves.

 "Hey Lime." The wolfen boy poked his companion in his side lightly.

 "What is it Mint?" grumbled the tiger boy with a small sigh.

 "Do you think we'll get to see her titties?"

 "Probably not, she always makes us leave before she changes clothes."
Lime's brow furrowed slightly in frustration at the mere thought.

 "Maybe she'll forget?" said the wolf boy hopefully.

 "That would be nice, but I doubt it," said Lime.

 "Yeah. It isn't fair that Prince Herb gets to see Nabiki's titties. He
should let us see them too."

 "You're right. It isn't fair. He's really greedy. He's also the prince,
so he's allowed to be greedy. There's nothing we can do. You remember the
last time we asked him if we could see her titties too don't you?"

 The wolf boy shuddered at the thought and hung his head. "With all these
girls around, you'd think we'd get to see somebody's titties."

 "Yeah, it's just like when we were still the Musk. Only there are girls
now, and they still won't let us see their titties. We aren't even
allowed to touch them."

 "I don't understand. Hey, Lime?"

 "What?"

 "Has anyone told you what that word 'pervert' means yet? Everyone calls
us that, but I still don't understand."

 "I dunno. Maybe it's a weird word for a beast-man?"

 "Or maybe it's someone who's not allowed to look at titties!" said Mint
with a tiny twinge of fear in his voice.

 "Boy, that would be bad wouldn't it?" said Lime as he tried to think. He
glanced down at the ground with his hand under his chin and noticed a
pair of black boots just in front of him.

 Both men looked up to see Akane staring at them from about two feet
away. She had a wineglass in her hand and she was frozen in the act of
pouring herself a drink. Her eyes were wide and she was almost dumbstruck
at the two idiots in front of her. She crushed the metal cup in her hands
and started to shake slightly.

 "Both of you. Get out now." she growled between her teeth.

 "Uh oh." said the pair in unison as they scrambled towards the door.
They vanished into the hallway and slammed the door behind them. Akane
threw her cup onto the floor and snorted in disgust as she slumped down
in a nearby chair.

 "Idiots."

-------------

 Tatewaki Kuno strolled down the halls of the palace with a smirk on his
face. In his hands was a dozen roses. He was dressed in finely woven
purple clothing with a short yellow cape fluttering behind him; his
sleeves were puffed out on his shoulders with a red trim around them. On
his head was a ridiculously expensive hat with a four-foot feather
bobbing in the air above him. He paused when he noticed two figures
emerge from his beloved's room.

 "Knaves! Who might you be to enter the Lady Akane's room?!"

 Lime and Mint turned to see a long blade of steel pointed at them.

 "Hey, it's Lord Kuno," said Mint in surprise.

 "Ah, it is the lovely Lady Tendo's servants."

 "Lord Herb's servants," corrected Lime.

 "Yes, whatever. Stand aside so that I might see your mistress this
night! I have come offering my undying love!"

 "Uh, no," said Lime.

 "I beg your pardon. Did you just refuse the order of a noble of the
House of Kuno?" The blade was pointed at them again.

Neither of the beast men looked particularly worried at the moment. Lime
stepped forward and bowed his head. "Pardon Lord Kuno, but our orders are
to not let you through. You understand of course."

 "She ordered you not to let me through?"

 Both of the men in front of Kuno nodded.

 "How odd. I wonder what her reasoning could be? He thought about it as
hard as he could for a moment. I have it! She wishes to keep me away to
protect her purity! Surely the pure heat of passion would draw such a
maiden to me! Fear not Akane Tendo! We shall wed on the morn, thus
securing your honor and purity!" He attempted to rush by the pair but was
held back easily. "What is this? Why do you still keep me from my love?"

 "Because our orders haven't changed," said Mint with a shrug.

 "Very well! I release you from your bond! Now let me through!"

 "Sorry, only Lady Akane can do that. She ordered us to tell you that
too," said Lime.

 Kuno slumped forward and hung his head. "Curses! Why must the Lady Akane
be so good at playing hard to get! I have it! I shall fetch my grappling
hook and climb up to her sill proclaiming my undying love!" The man
rushed off into the halls of the castle.

 "Does he even know that he just said that out loud?" asked Mint.

 "Probably not. Come on, we have to stop him before he gets himself
killed."

------------

 Less than five minutes later Kuno climbed up his rope towards Akane's
room. His eyes were full of righteous tears as he scaled the palace wall.

 "Oh Akane Tendo! Ever since that tournament where you bested the
greatest of the Emperor's Knights, and then I allowed my own defeat by
your hands! When you revealed yourself to be a noble lady of the court!
My heart soared with joy! I shall at last take you as my bride lovely my
lady! Come, let us gaze at the moonlight as you whisper tales of my
greatness into my waiting ears!"

 "That idiot! She'll hear him!" whispered Mint as he clung to the stone
wall just outside Akane's room. 

 Lime was opposite the rope that hung from the windowsill. "I don't think
he realizes what will happen if she finds out he's out here."

 Kuno reached the window and noticed the pair on either side of him.
"Knaves! How could you know of my plans? Surely you must have the keenest
of intellects!"

 Lime and Mint moved to grab him so they could crawl over to another
window and try to stop him from being an idiot for at least the rest of
the night. However, another voice stopped them.

 "Lime. Mint. Cut the rope."

 Both of the beast men looked up to see Akane glaring down at the scene
with her arms crossed over her chest.

 "Yes mistress," chimed the pair. To say they were disappointed would be
a bit of a stretch.  

 "Wait knaves! I demand that you stop at once!" cried Kuno as he
attempted to scramble up the rope.

 "Sorry," said Mint.

 "You heard the lady," agreed Lime as he nodded and began to saw at the
cord with one of his claws.

 "Gotta obey the Mistress," said Mint as the rope snapped.

 Kuno fell away and landed in the moat with a mighty splash.

 "He shouldn't bother us again tonight. You two may retire." Akane turned
away from the window and went back into her room again. "I wish the
Emperor would have let me pave that section of the moat over like I
wanted too."

 The two beast men looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders
before climbing back into the hallway through another window.

------------

 Ranma stretched his arms as the party walked along a dirt road early the
next morning.

 "I still say we should have kept to the forest and fields," grumbled
Shampoo.

 "Look. The trick to not looking suspicious, is not acting like you don't
want to be seen," said Ranma lazily as he strolled ahead of Ryu and
Shampoo slightly.

 "He is right. We'd have looked suspicious to anyone watching the area
sneaking around the woods that way. This is the best way to travel," said
Ryu ending the discussion.

 The group walked on in silence for a time. The scenery was relatively
bland, mostly fields with a few trees spotting the landscape in every
direction. Occasionally, they would run across a farm, or a home on the
side of the road. Around noon, a rough voice cut through the silence
ending the picturesque scene.

 "You! Ranma prepare to die!" 

 The thief dodged as a black and yellow blur slammed into the ground in
front of him. "What the?"

 Ryu pushed Shampoo back with one hand and drew his broadsword. After a
moment he smiled and put it back in his scabbard.

 "What is going on?" screamed the elf.

 "Nothing. It's just an old friend of Ranma's. There's nothing for us to
worry about here."

 "Well, if it isn't Good Fang the runt. How ya been?" said Ranma as the
dust cleared around the dwarf. The diminutive man held a large hammer in
his hands and stepped out of the crater he had created with a vicious
looking snarl an his lips. Ranma removed the Katana from his back and
tossed it to the side of the road.

 "You owe me a sword boy. I want my blade back, and yer hide for stealing
it!" snapped the dwarf angrily.

 "Oh, you mean that toothpick?" replied Ranma as he spread his feet apart
and raised his fists.

 "'Tis a fine blade! Fine enough for you to keep it for yourself! Lord
Kuno himself had me fashion that blade for him! It was worth two million
gold for him!"

 "You twerp. Who do you think hired me to steal it? For only ten thousand
gold I might add."

 "Enough talking!" roared the dwarf as he charged forward with his hammer
held high over his head.

 At the sidelines Shampoo gasped in shock. "Is he out of his mind? He
can't fight a dwarf with his bare hands! That disgusting creature will
tear him apart!"

 "Yes. If he can hit him," agreed Ryu with a small nod. He watched the
fight rather intently.

 Shampoo looked at him and blinked. "What?"

 "Don't worry, Ranma kind of likes him. He always takes it easy on the
runt."

 Ranma jumped up as the dwarf slammed his hammer into the ground creating
a crater that spread out for about four feet. He landed lightly behind
the creature and smirked as he took up his stance again.

 "I'll rip you in half when I get my hands on you Ranma!" roared the
dwarf as he jumped forward and cleared ten feet. Ranma sidestepped and
sent his knee up catching the creature in the gut.

 Good Fang snarled and rolled across the ground as he landed. He stood up
and shook his head for a moment before spreading his feet and clenching
his fists. "I'll get you yet!"

 "Talk, talk. You haven't managed to beat me yet runt," taunted Ranma as
he jumped towards his opponent.

 "Well, Good Fang doesn't forget either!" snarled the dwarf as he fell to
his back and kicked up with his feet. Ranma was caught in the chest and
thrown up into the air. The dwarf was on his feet in the same instant and
swung his hammer in an attempt to catch the pigtailed boy on his way
down. Ranma managed to twist in mid air around the strike and actually
managed to land feet first in the dwarf's face. Good Fang was slammed
into the ground hard.

 Ranma jumped away and Good Fang stood up again shaking his head. "That's
a good hit, a good hit indeed. Not enough though."

 "I didn't think it would be," said Ranma calmly. He took the initiative
again and passed just above Good Fang's fist. The pair stood facing away
from each other and the dwarf fell to his knees.

 "How do you do that?" snarled the dwarf with an angry glare back at his
opponent. "I can't even feel the puny poundin of a human, but you..."

 Ranma turned to face him and wagged his finger at the dwarf. "That's my
little secret."

 On the sidelines Shampoo gasped. "Katsutenshin Amaguriken? That's
impossible!"

 "Huh? Katsu wazzit?" said Ryu as he glanced over to her.

 "It is a secret technique within our tribe! It takes elves hundreds of
years to learn it. No human could possibly master that technique!"

 "I don't know what you're talking about. Speed punching of that caliber
is part of his school of martial arts. It's not some elven technique."

 Shampoo looked at him and frowned. "That can't be true. Tell me the name
of this style!"

 "We have sworn never to reveal the names of our schools. All I can say,
is that Ranma's father developed both our schools when he was young, and
sealed them. Only years later was Ranma allowed to learn this art."

 "And you?"

 "We all have our own pasts Princess. We are thieves, so ours is more
precious and dangerous to us than most."

 Shampoo nodded and turned back to the battle. "I see."

-----------

 Ranma dove away from another of the dwarf's kicks. He smirked as he spun
around and lashed out at the creature's belly sending it to its knees
once again.

 "Blast you!" snarled the dwarf. He staggered to his feet again and then
fell face first onto the dirt raising a cloud of dust.

 Ranma laughed out loud and wiped the sweat from his brow as he sat down
against a pile of debris from the battle.

 "Should we rob him now?" asked Ryu as he approached.

 "Are you kidding? That would piss him off even more," snorted Ranma in
reply. 

 "I'll take that as a yes," said Ryu with a knowing smile.

 "Let him be," snapped Shampoo as she pushed him away from the fallen
dwarf. "What on earth did you do to get this dwarf so angry with you?"

 Ranma smiled and nodded towards Ryu. "We stole this." He held up the
pigtailed boy's discarded katana and tossed it back at him.

 "That is an elven blade, the design..." started Shampoo. Ranma tossed
the weapon to her and she caught it one handed in the air. The weight
almost put her nose in the dirt. She let go and sat up with her eyes wide
with shock.

 "Aye, tis an elven design indeed, but not made by elven hands." Good
Fang sat up from his place on the ground. He was slightly delirious at
the moment and his dwarven accent showed even more. Name's Good Fang, or
Ryoga by the dwarven tongue. I'm a blacksmith by trade."
 
 "A man named Kuno hired me to obtain it for him. I agreed since the
price was right, and it seemed difficult enough to steal from a dwarven
village. Unfortunately, I was just starting out and didn't realize how
dangerous that could be. I hadn't perfected my technique and ol' Nice
Teeth here caught me in the act. I got away, and he's been after me ever
since."

 "Indeed I have! You've been carrying around that blade for almost four
years now boy! Give it back to me and I might only maim ye!" Ryoga stood
up and fumed angrily at the boy.

 "Another time maybe," snorted Ranma casually.

 "That job was my retirement money! You..." the dwarf started to shake
with anger.

 "You dope. You wouldn't have been paid anyway. Lord Kuno hired you to
make it!" Ranma turned towards Shampoo's questioning gaze and shrugged
his shoulders. "He liked the design of an elven blade, but the toughness
of dwarven swords."

 "Ranma is correct. If Kuno had not hired him, he would have had you
killed rather than pay the money," said Ryu calmly.

 Ryoga hung his head and grumbled slightly. He kicked some of the dirt in
front of him and squat down. "Tis a matter of principal."

 "Don't bother reasoning with him. He's still punch drunk at the moment,"
commented Ranma.

 "I'll show you who's punch drunk whelp!"

 "Enough!" snapped Shampoo as she stood between them.

 "Out of my way elf girl! I'll crush you as well!" The dwarf backed away
though when a bonbori slammed into the ground in front of him. The impact
easily matched the crater he had made with his hammer.

 "I am not as weak as I appear Child of Earth. Ranma has yet to show you
his true power I'd wager, after all, you are still alive."

 "Thanks," grumbled the pigtailed boy halfheartedly.

 "I've seen you. You carry around that blade as if it does not exist on
your shoulder. You are not as weak as most humans, and you are holding
back terribly in this battle."

 "You've got a good eye," said Ranma carefully.

 "That's the same thing I said when we first met boy," said the princess.

 "What's she talking about?" said Ryu as he stood between them.

 "We met on the street before that whole mess with the staff started. I
blew her off cause I thought she was a fortune teller."

 "And you were a man at the time?" Ryu looked back at Shampoo. Ranma
merely nodded.

 "You knew about the two of us, before that test didn't you?"

 "That there were two of you? Yes. Who you really were? No."

 "All this is real interesting, but I still got screwed, and it's all his
fault!" snarled Good Fang as he pointed his finger at Ranma again.

 "Stupid, stubborn, dumb..." Ranma was cut off as Shampoo interrupted
again.

 "What if he paid you for the sword? Two million was it?" She smirked and
put her hand on her hip.

 "Fine. I'll let him live then." Ryoga nodded in satisfaction. "Isn't
good business to let that kind of money get away."

 "Oh, and closing your shop so you can hunt down one thief is?" commented
Ranma with his arms crossed over his chest.

 "That's business principal!" retorted the dwarf angrily. "If you'll pay
me for my blade. I'll be on my way!"

 "How about if I just give it back?" said Ranma with his eyebrow raised.

 "It's no good to me! The buyer is gone! Money or no deal!"

 "There never was a buyer fool! He hired me to steal it!" retorted Ranma
as he put his face up to the dwarf's.

 "Now boys, lets behave for a moment. You will receive payment for the
sword, after this job is finished."

 "What?" said everyone but Shampoo, she was standing with a confident
looking smirk.

 "Come now Ranma. You said you weren't going to retire anyway. What good
is ten million in gold going to do you?" said the elf.

 "I didn't say I'd never retire!" retorted the pigtailed boy. 

 "Two million. Tis a fair price for the blade, the same as the original
deal."

 "Ten thousand! The price I was quoted to steal it!" retorted Ranma. "I
never got paid for that job either! The jerk tried to double cross me
too! Plus, I got stuck with carrying this heavy thing around and you
trying to kill me every month or so! Not to mention that guy's weird
sister. She was this sorceress chick, and she had a thing for me. Man
that was creepy."


 "One million at least! There's no other blade like that one!"

 "Half of that, and nothing more," retorted Ranma.

 Ryoga pondered the figure for a moment and sighed. "Deal."

 "Finally. Come on, let's go," said Ranma as he turned back to the
bewildered looking Ryu and Shampoo.

 "Yes lets," agreed Ryoga as he started walking with them.

 "Where do you think you're going?" said Ryu and Ranma at the same time.

 Shampoo giggled into her hand and turned away from the scene.

 "I'm staying with you until I get my money!" snapped the dwarf.

 "Are you nuts? We aren't going on a mining expedition you little troll!"
snapped Ranma.

 "Aye. You're off to steal something very valuable," said Ryoga. "I know
my place and I won't interfere with you. However, you ain't leaving my
sight until I get my gold." Ryoga crossed his arms and glared at the two
men.

 "Look Happy Tooth or whatever," started Ranma as he threw his hands up
in the air.

 "That's Good Fang!"

 "You don't trust us?" asked Ryu as he knelt down to look Ryoga in his
eye. Dwarves were more apt to negotiate with someone they looked in the
eyes. Ranma had been staring the runt down for the whole argument. It was
an old trader's trick to keep them from losing too much money to the
greedy little trolls.

 "No, you're thieves!" snapped Ryoga.

 "He does have a point," commented Shampoo.

 "You aren't helping," said Ranma.

 "Just forget about it. We aren't going to talk him out of it," said Ryu
as he stood up and started walking again.

 "He'll get lost in a day or two anyway," agreed Ranma finally.

 "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" snapped Ryoga as he charged after
them.

 Shampoo blinked and stared at the man. "He's that Ryoga? The legendary
wandering dwarf? He's supposed to be the greatest blacksmith and fighter
the dwarven people have seen in ten thousand years! But he's supposed to
have the worst sense of direction in all of the three worlds!" She stood
up and started after the group again. "Ranma, you are certainly becoming
very interesting."

 ------------

 
 The Dragon and The Ghost

 Part 5

 A Knight of Bahamut.

 Ranma walked with an annoyed scowl on his face. Ryoga had managed to
stay with them for almost a week now. The little dwarf refused to let him
out of his sight. Shampoo hung back with Ryu for most of the time, while
Ryoga walked in the middle of the group just behind them.

 "Don't you have somewhere else to be?" Ranma asked the diminutive man as
he spun around and glared at him.

 "No," snorted the dwarf in reply.

 "Give it up Ranma, we're stuck with him. No thanks to you I might add,"
commented Ryu lazily.

 "Well, we've just crossed the border to Joketsuko. We should be in the
mountains in about half a day or so," commented Shampoo as she ignored
their constant squabbling. The pair had come to blows several times over
the course of the past few days. Ranma always won of course, but Ryoga
would be on his feet a few moments later, and just as irritable as ever.

 "Great. That dwarven village should be near the base of the mountains. I
think we can make it by nightfall."

 "Planning to buy supplies?" asked Ryoga with a snort. "You weak humans
aren't dressed for the weather in this area. You'll both freeze before we
reach Morid."

 "We've dealt with worse. There's no need to try it again though, we've
got enough that we should be able to buy some warmer clothing," said Ryu.

 "Let's get going," said Ranma as he started forward again.

++++++++++++

 A short time later they came upon a small village. It was a human
habitation nestled within the hills. It was mostly a few wooden shacks,
mixed in with various shops and bars.

 "We could buy clothes here," commented Shampoo as she noticed a clothing
store with coats and furs in the window.

 "Dwarven clothes will keep us warmer. These humans spend most of their
time indoors. They mine the mountains near here, but their coats aren't
really made for traveling through the mountains. Dwarves live in the cold
and travel across the terrain regularly. I'll admit they spend more time
in the caves at home though." Ryoga proudly boasted about the dwarven
goods they could buy later.

 Ranma sighed. "As much as I hate to admit it, he's right."

 A voice halted the group. "Travelers! Hold!"

 The group turned to see a figure standing behind them. He was dressed in
silver armor and had a white cloth draping across the front of his armor
with a black dragon embroidered across it. A heavy looking lance about
twice the size of him rose into the air with a shining silver blade on
top of it.

 "Who the heck are you?"

 "I am a Knight of Bahamut. You must remain in this village for a time
I'm afraid. The passage to the north has been blocked."

 "So what? We'll manage," snorted Ranma lazily.

 "You do not understand sir, passage has been ordered halted by the order
of the Knights of Bahamut. You must remain here by the authority of the
Queen herself." The figure stepped towards them.

 "We don't have time to wait for you to move a rock slide," snapped
Shampoo. "We are on a mission for the Elder of the Forest Elves."

 "Your companions are dressed as thieves," noticed the armored figure.

 "What of it? We haven't stolen anything from this village," said Ranma
casually. "We don't have time for these delays."

 "I see. However, it is no rockslide that bars your path. The goblins of
the northern reaches have created a roadblock. Their master is said to be
a powerful beast as well. I ask that you wait until we have vanquished
them before you proceed. It is for your own safety." The knight was quite
insistent and lowered his spear.

 "I don't see any other knights in this village," said Shampoo. "It does
not appear to be garrisoned either. Are you planning to vanquish these
goblins alone?"

 "What of it?" said the knight with a casual wave of his hand.

 "Even the greatest knight cannot hope to vanquish an entire legion of
goblins on his own. I think our wait will be far too long."

 "Reinforcements approach from Morid. They will be here in three days,"
admitted the knight. "I have assessed the situation and prevent travelers
from moving on since the danger is too great. Surely you noticed the
caravans that lie outside the village. They are waiting for the road to
clear before moving on."

 "I thought I saw a few large camps on the other side of town when we
approached," said Ryu.

 "Does it matter? We can sneak by a few goblin troops without any
problems," said Ranma lazily.

 "You are fools to continue," said the knight with a warning tone.

 "Bah! Things like this are what I do for a living." Ranma dismissed him
and started walking again.

 The knight watched them for a moment. "I cannot allow that," he said
finally.

 "You plan to stop us?" said Ranma with his eyebrow cocked. Ryu growled
and stood behind him.

 "Ranma, perhaps it would be wise to wait. I don't want to fight if we
don't have too. We do have two more weeks to reach Morid," said Shampoo
as she put herself between them.

 The knight went rigid. He lowered his lance until the tip was almost
touching the ground. "Your name is Ranma?"

 "What of it?" said the thief as he leveled an evil looking glare at
Shampoo.

 "It cannot be," whispered the knight as he took a step forward. "You are
dead!"

 Ranma lowered his hands slightly and paused. "Who are you? What do you
know of me?"

 "Ranchan... is it really you?"

 The thief's eyes went wide. He jumped back and lowered his defense
immediately. "I know you. You! It can't be!"

 The group stood and watched the pair in confusion. Ryu walked up to his
partner and grabbed his shoulder. "You know this guy?"

 "Ucchan? I hadn't thought about it in years. We were... best friends."

 The knight removed his helmet and rushed up to Ranma throwing his arms
around him. His long brown hair was tied in a ponytail and fell down his
back. He was as young as Ranma was. "It is you! How can it be? How did
you survive? I feared the worst when I heard of your father's death!
Everyone thought you had died with him!"

 Ranma's face softened. "I almost did. How have you been Ucchan?"

 "How do you think? I became a Knight of Bahamut!" The young knight
laughed. "Just like we imagined ourselves when we were young. It was our
dream to be the greatest knights."

 Everyone looked at Ranma. The boy scratched the back of his head and
laughed uncomfortably. "Well, we were just kids then, after all."

 "Come on! I'll buy you dinner! You must tell me what happened! Why are
you disguised as a thief? What country do you work for?" The man began to
drag Ranma away by his arm.

+++++++++

 The whole party sat around a table inside a rather clean looking
restaurant. Ukyo beamed as he sat next to his old friend "We were such
good friends! When we were children Ranma and his father came to stay
with my family and me. They were there for about a year. I believe Uncle
Genma was teaching him his family school of martial arts at the time.
Ranma and I would spend many happy hours playing in the courtyard
pretending we were knights. Oh, such happy memories. I never truly
intended to become a knight to tell the truth."

 Ranma sunk lower into his chair as she told her story. Both Ryoga and
Ryu were giving him amused stares. "That was a long time ago."

 Ukyo's face hardened suddenly. "When I heard that he and his father had
been killed, I became driven to fulfill our childhood dream. I began to
train to become the greatest knight. That way I could honor his memory
and fulfill his dream." She turned to look at him. "I'm glad I did it,
even though you are still alive."

 "I see. Well partner, it seems you've been holding back on me," snorted
Ryu crudely.

 "I think it's rather beautiful," said Shampoo as she gave the
embarrassed Ranma a sympathetic smile.

 "I hoped you'd think that!" agreed Ukyo cheerfully. "Tell me Ranchan,
how are things? What country do you serve?"

 Everyone at the table was at a loss for words. "I uh..." stammered
Ranma.

 "Don't tell me, you are not a knight?" Ukyo looked concerned. "Have you
not been able to? Surely, the loss of your family has not prevented it? I
understand. I would be glad to help you obtain a position with the
Knights of Bahamut! Just say the word!"

 Ryu fell over in his seat with laughter. Ryoga quickly followed behind
him, even Shampoo was having trouble keeping her amusement disguised.

 "Hey! It ain't funny damn it!" snapped Ranma irritably. He turned
towards his old friend and sighed. "Look Ucchan, I'm not a knight. I
don't really want to be one. I'm on an important mission right now
though. I need to get through that pass. I can take care of myself, a few
hundred goblins ain't nothing for me to worry about."

 Ukyo's face fell slightly at his words. "Oh, I see. Surely you are a
formidable warrior to boast that way though."

 Ryoga nodded at this. "He's strong enough to stand up to a dwarf bare
handed. I don't care for him much, but I'll admit that for him at least."

 Ukyo was impressed. "That is high praise indeed."

 "He's done nothing that warrants high praise," commented Ryu lazily.
Ranma kicked him in his shin under the table and glared at him.

 All of a sudden the Knight seemed embarrassed. "Oh, I apologize. I have
been incredibly rude! I am Ukyo Kuonji, Knight of Bahamut."

 Ryu seemed to freeze and stared at her. "Did you just say Kuonji?"

 He looked at him and smiled. "That is correct. Ranma, why don't you
introduce me to your companions."

 The pigtailed thief sighed and nodded. "This is Ryu Kumon, my long time
partner. These two are Shampoo, the princess of the forest elves."
Shampoo nodded her head. "And this fat fool is Good Fang. A dwarven
blacksmith."

 "Oi," said Ryoga as he took a large gulp of ale.

 "My. Quite impressive Ranchan," said Ukyo.

 "You're the knight who slew Taimaht? The dragon lord?" Everyone looked
at Ryu as he said this.

 "I wasn't alone, I had a lot of help," replied the knight modestly.

 "Hey! That's great Ucchan!" said Ranma as he slapped the man on his
back.

 "Not really, only two of us survived that encounter," said the man with
a heavy sigh.

 "Oh," said Shampoo as she put her hand over her mouth. "I remember that
story. Quite tragic."

 "Yes. Only myself, and my squire survived," agreed the man.

 "Squire?" Ranma looked up at her and blinked.

 "Yes. His name is Konatsu. He is quite strange, but very capable." The
knight blushed for a moment.

 "Is he here?" said Ranma without thinking.

 "Yes, he is resting at the moment. We have a room here. I'd like it if
you stayed as well, if only for tonight. I believe that you can get
through those goblins, if only because it is you. You were always the
better warrior between us."

 Everyone looked at Ranma for a moment. "Thanks Ucchan. I don't see why
not. We could all use a real bed for the night I suppose."

 "Bah! What's wrong with the ground?" snapped Ryoga.

 "You can sleep outside if you want too," said Shampoo as she leveled her
gaze on him.

 "What? Aren't there enough trees out there for you?" retorted the dwarf.

 Shampoo turned her nose up at him and snorted.

+++++++++++++

 Late that evening, Ranma stood watching the stars again from the open
window of his room. He and Ukyo had agreed to share a room together.
Konatsu had not awaken and was sleeping in his own room. Despite the road
block, the hotels were not crowded. They had managed to secure enough
rooms to hold everyone. Most of the blocked travelers were merchants,
they opted to camp out with their goods rather than leave them alone.

 "I love the stars," commented Ranma with a wistful look on his face.

 "Yes, they are beautiful," agreed Ukyo. He was sitting in a small wooden
chair beside him. "Ranchan, I've missed you."

 "I know Ucchan. I'm sorry," he hung his head slightly.

 "You could have come to my family for refuge you know. We would have
been glad to take you in."

 "To tell the truth, I haven't had much time to think about my past. It
never occurred to me to look for you."

 "I see, you had forgotten then," the man hung his head slightly.

 "No, I thought about the two of us a lot. Just never in that way, you
know? I'll always be your friend Ucchan. I've just been so busy, just
surviving was a lot of work at first."

 "I... understand. I still love you Ranchan."

 "Huh?" Ranma's head turned so fast he almost snapped his neck.

 "I used to think about the way it would be if you lived. The promise you
made to me so long ago. You said you'd always protect me."

 Ranma relaxed slightly. "Well, you don't really need it now, do you?"

 "How can you say that?" snapped the man angrily.
 
 "Huh? What did I say? You're a knight now! That must mean you're real
strong right?"

 "Damn you, Ranma!" The man grabbed him by the head and kissed him full
on the lips. Ranma froze in shock and felt a tongue probe his mouth.

 Ukyo released him and stepped back. "I still want you to keep your
promise. Make me a woman tonight Ranchan!"

 "How the hell am I supposed to do that?" cried the repulsed and shocked
Ranma as he backed away.

 Ukyo removed his armor, dropping it to the floor beside him, and then
pulled open his shirt... her shirt. "I still want you to keep your
promise Ranchan."

 Ranma's mind went into shock. He fell to his knees and simply stared at
the girl's breast. He could not think of anything to say or do. He slowly
stood up and reached out with his finger. He poked her chest, as if to be
certain they were real. "I uh..."

 "Oh Ranchan!" Ukyo flung her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
This time there was no revulsion, only pure and uncertain confusion.
Ranma staggered back and fell into a table. A pitcher of water left for
washing toppled over and landed on his head.

 A blood curdling scream awakened everyone in the inn.

++++++++++++

 Ryu stood in the doorway with Shampoo and Ryoga staring at the scene in
shock. 

 "Jusenkyo? A place with cursed springs?" Ukyo looked confused. She still
had her pike pointed at Ranma from across the room. The poor red-haired
elf girl had her back to the wall and was shaking uncontrollably.

 "That's right," said Ryu with a small nod. He had yet to take his eyes
away from the girl's chest. "Um, You're not a guy?"

 Ukyo finally noticed her unclothed state. "Auuuggghhh!" Ryu ducked under
a thrown vase and quickly vacated the room. Ryoga followed quickly behind
them.

 "Kuonji, please calm down," said Shampoo as she stepped forward.

 "You get out too! Pervert!" screamed Ukyo as she covered her chest.

 "I am not cursed!" snapped Shampoo angrily. She pulled open her own
shirt and showed it to the girl.

 Ranma's eyes became locked in place. "I see nothing. I'm a girl too. I
see nothing..."

 Shampoo glared at Ranma for a moment and covered herself again.

 "All right. So what is this? What the hell is going on?"

 "It happened when Pop was killed," said the redhead. She looked away
from them and finally managed to stand up again. "Look, I'm going to stay
with Ryu tonight. We can talk about this later."

 The two girls nodded at this. Ranma closed the door behind her.

+++++++++

 "Ranma! You old dog! I never knew you had it in you!" roared Ryu. He
slapped his partner on her back and chuckled.

 "Bah! How could you? That woman ain't got no meat on her! Not even a
single hair on her chest! Nothin to grab on too!"

 Ranma and Ryu looked at him for a moment and turned away in disgust.

 "Look. I thought she was a guy! All these years, I never knew! She was a
real tomboy when we were little!" 

 "So, you told her you'd marry her?" Ryu raised his eyebrow slightly.

 "I didn't mean it that way! I thought she was a guy, and we were good
friends! She was always asking if we'd be together forever, and if I'd
protect her when we got older. I didn't think she meant it like that!"

 "But, you did tell her these things? Right?" Ryu smirked and leaned back
on one of the beds. Ryoga was already spread out on the floor. Ranma was
sitting on the other bed and looking at the ceiling in frustration.

 "Yeah. How the hell am I going to get out of this?" Ranma fell onto her
back and lay spread out on the sheets.

 "Do you want to? She didn't look that bad to me," commented Ryu.

 "You shut up! That's my best friend!" snapped Ranma as she sat up.

 "Well, what are you going to do about her?" asked Ryu calmly.

 "Run like hell, that's what. We've got a mission. I'll just take off and
not come back after it's over."

 "Great plan," said Ryoga with a satisfied nod. "I did the same thing a
few years ago. If the wench ever finds me again, I'll just tell her I got
lost."

 "You see! Ryoga's been following us for about four years now! It'll
work!"

 Ryu shrugged and lay back down on the sheets. "Your funeral."

 "So, you are a coward after all," Everyone in the room jumped up as a
new figure stood in the doorway. It was a young girl of about sixteen.
She had long black hair and was dressed in a simple looking dress. A
short sword hung off of her back.

 "Who the hell are you?" snapped Ranma.

 "I am Konatsu, lady Ukyo's squire."

 The men looked at each other for a moment. Finally, Ryu spoke up. "How
long have you been standing there?"

 "Long enough. I like your plan. It will hurt her, but she'll get over
it. I couldn't stand the thought of her being with a coward like you.
I'll allow it, just this once. Normally I'd kill anyone who would hurt
her like that. I don't think she'd like that very much right now."

 "I'm glad you agree," snorted Ranma angrily. 

 "If I ever see you again after that, I will kill you."

 "I don't think you're strong enough for that little girl," commented Ryu
lazily.

 "I'm stronger than I look," replied the girl.

 "Konatsu... Ukyo mentioned you. Wait a minute... you're a guy?" Ranma
turned green and stared at the figure in the doorway.

 "So are you."

 "Not at the moment kid," snorted Ranma as she thrust out her chest.

 Konatsu narrowed his eyes at this display. "Whatever. Just make sure you
leave tomorrow."

 "Why that little! I'll show her!" snarled Ranma as she started to get
out of bed.

 "Shut up and go to sleep. Do you want to end up married?" snapped Ryu.

 Ranma paused and stared at him for a moment. "Not really, but I can't
just let him get away with that!"

 "He is correct. It is a matter of professional pride now," agreed Ryoga.

 "Who asked you?" snapped Ryu.

 "I'll show that brat! He won't get away with talking to me that way!
We're going into the mountains tomorrow regardless. I will come back
though, I'm not going to leave Ucchan to that punk!" Ranma clenched her
fists and smiled. 

+++++++++++++

 In the hallway, Shampoo nodded to the young boy. "You did that on
purpose didn't you?"

 Konatsu gave her a blank stare and continued walking. "Lady Ukyo's
happiness is all that matters to me. Regardless of whether or not it is
with me. I owe her more than I can repay."

 "I see." Shampoo gave him a small wink and went back into her room.

+++++++++++++++

 "Well, good morning, Ranchan," said Ukyo with a small blush on her
cheeks as she saw her beloved exit his room. She was wearing her armor
once again. Konatsu stood beside her and gave him a distasteful frown.

 "Hi," said the boy nervously. He had just changed back into a boy again
and his hair was still wet. "We'll be leaving soon. It was nice seeing
you again Ucchan."

 "Yes it was," agreed Ukyo cheerfully.

 Ryu emerged from the room looking incredibly tired. "Who the hell's idea
was it to sleep with a dwarf in the room? I thought the whole room was
shaking!"

 "Ha ha! That's the snore of a real dwarf all right!" Ryoga strolled out
of the room and beamed cheerfully.

 Shampoo staggered out of her own room with a scowl on her face. "Great,
a morning dwarf." She was dressed, but still looked half asleep.

 "Well, lets get going," said Ukyo cheerfully.

 "Let's?" Ranma looked at Ryu quizzically.

 "Where are you going?" asked Kumon with his arms crossed.

 "I'm taking you through that pass. I won't let my Ranchan do something
so dangerous on his own. Konatsu will stay here and guard the town. When
the reinforcements arrive, he'll clean up the mess."

 "Uh, no," said Ryu dryly.

 Ukyo held up her spear and smirked at him. "Care to try and stop me?"

 "Through the pass and nothing more," said Ryu.

 "You're going to Morid aren't you? Getting there will be easier with a
Knight of Bahamut with you."

 Ranma started to protest, but finally hung his shoulders. "She's right.
I hate to say it, but the place will be crawling with soldiers. We aren't
likely to get very far before someone stops us along the road. Plus we
have to get across the mountains first."

 "I know the way. There's a pass that merchants use. Otherwise you'll
just have to climb over them. It's the only way through. That's where
we'll run into the goblins."

 "We do know where we're going, but it will be easier with a guide,"
admitted Shampoo.

 Ranma looked at Ukyo again. "Don't you have a duty here?"

 "No. I discovered the goblins while traveling. I sent a message with the
help of a traveling witch. I wasn't ordered here, and used my own
authority to stop travel until the goblins are dispersed."

 "All right then. We'd better go." Ryu walked outside the hotel followed
by his companions. Ranma quickly caught up with him as they walked
through the streets towards the edge of town. "We'll be at that dwarf
village in a few hours."

 "I know. It isn't too far away. We both know our way to Morid, we've
been there enough times."

 "Let's hope 'Miss Holy Knight' here will let us go about our business
once we reach the city," commented Ranma.

 "We'll just act like we're moving on to Northern Joketsuko. It shouldn't
be to hard to get her to stay in Morid until we return." Ryu looked back
at their new companion and sighed. "We're going to have to behave
ourselves for a while. You know I hate that."

 "Great," muttered Ranma.

 "Are you really planning on coming back to her again? It isn't like you
to do something like that just to spite that little cross dresser." Ryu
paused for a moment and blinked. "Never mind, it is just like you."

 "Hey! What's that supposed to mean!" growled Ranma.

 "Nothing, just forget about it," said Ryu calmly.

 "Like hell! Tell me what you meant by that!" snapped Ranma.

 A few feet behind them Ukyo turned to Shampoo. "Are they always like
this?"

 "Yes. They are very good friends," said Shampoo cheerfully. "Although,
neither of the idiots will admit that."

 "Oh my. This is going to be a long trip isn't it?" Ukyo hung her head.

 "Please don't feel too badly, but they haven't even started yet. Ryoga
hasn't said his piece yet."

 "All three of them are this bad?"

 "No. It's much worse normally."

+++++++++++

 TBC...

 Next time: Goblin Pass!

 C&C to Carrotglace@juno.com
 The Dragon and The Ghost

 Part 6

 The Goblin Path.

 Ukyo cheerfully walked beside Ranma as the group traversed along the
path that would lead them into the foothills of the mountains. They had
left the village no more than an hour before.

 "How many goblins are we looking at here?" said Ryu as he approached the
pair. Ryoga and Shampoo caught up and kept stride close to them to listen
to the conversation.

 "Probably around a thousand of them. I'm not certain. They've managed to
blockade the entire area." Ukyo's face hardened for a moment as she said
this.

 "That's an unusual maneuver. Goblins aren't very smart, but they usually
know enough to leave human settlements alone." Ranma looked thoughtful
for a moment. "Maybe there's a nest nearby? They are pretty territorial.
It could be they don't know where they've nested."

 "That's a possibility," agreed Shampoo. Her face told them that she was
skeptical about the idea.

 "I don't think so. I think it's deliberate. Otherwise they wouldn't have
a higher beast lording over them," commented Ryu.

 "You're probably right. I'm betting there's a sorcerer behind this. A
pretty strong one too. Goblins don't like people much, but they aren't
the type to make blockades. Cutting off this road will put economic
strain on Joketsuko. That has the earmarks of a magic user on it." Ranma
sighed and kicked a stone that lie in his path.

 "Someone's trying to put pressure on the queen. Maybe it's the Emperor?
He's coming here under a diplomatic pretense after all," said Shampoo.

 "I don't think so. His intentions are peaceful from what I've heard.
Something about an alliance," commented Ukyo. "How do you know about that
anyway? It's supposed to be a secret."

 "We have ways of finding these things out," said Ranma lazily. "In any
case, I think that Ukyo is right. The Emperor would know that the knights
here could clear out a blockade like this one easily."

 "So we're dealing with someone that is both stupid and strong?" snorted
Ryoga. "Sound's easy enough. I'm not in any hurry to engage these beasts.
My understanding is that our mission lies elsewhere."

 "Right. We don't have the time to deal with this. The knights will
handle it when they arrive," agreed Ranma.

 Ukyo looked at him for a moment and then glanced away. 

 Ryu took note of this and smirked. "What? Did you think we'd rush
headlong into the hoards? We told you we wanted to sneak by."

 "I know. I just don't know if we'll be able too. The dwarf village is
just ahead. Perhaps we can get some information there?"

 "Sounds like a plan," agreed Ranma. "No point in rushing into things. We
don't have much time, but we have some."

+++++++++++

 Lightning crashed around the tall dark tower that stood on one of the
cliffs in the mountain range. It was a twisted and old looking structure.
Dark clouds formed just above it giving it an air of menace, the sky
around the area was clear though. 

 Inside the castle, the trader's route could be seen from the balcony far
below. A dark cloaked figure stood watching with an evil glee in his eyes
as the swarm of dark green goblins could be seen on the road below, even
from the height where he stood.

 "Excellent." He turned away and walked into a large room that was
covered in shadows despite the roaring fire that had been made in the
giant fireplace. Long tables full of bottles and bookshelves full of
magical objects and books lined the walls. In the center of the room was
a round table with a crystal ball resting in its center. He sat down in
front of it and smiled. "Everything is going according to plan. Soon the
Queen's knights will fall, and I will rule Joketsuko with an iron fist."

 He waved his hands and a holographic image of a figure dressed in black
armor stood glaring back at him. "I shall prove myself to you. Soon you
will sit at my side as my queen!"

 "Sorcerer," a deep booming voice echoed through the room as the image
vanished and was replaced by a reptilian pair of eyes.

 "Ah, my dear friend," said the wizard pleasantly.

 "When will I have my revenge? How much longer must I wait?" snarled the
beast.

 "Patience my old comrade. The Knights of Bahamut will come to you in two
days time. We shall slay their legions easily with your help. After that,
I shall take control of the Queen's throne. Then our contract will be
complete and you can return to whatever it is that you do."

 "You are certain that she will be with them?" snarled the beast.

 "I cannot say. However, she will come eventually. Especially after they
find out about you. Have patience, surely you have learned that over the
eons."

 "I have indeed, but mine grows thin wizard. I have brought you the power
you have desired. Now you must fulfill your part of the bargain."

 "Calm yourself, Yumatano Orochi. Soon the death of your master will be
avenged, and I will rule all of Joketsuko." The wizard chuckled to
himself for a moment and the reptilian eyes vanished.

 "See to it that you do not fail me sorcerer," said the voice, as it
faded as well.

+++++++++++

 Ranma stood and gaped at the scene in front of him in shock. The group
was sitting behind a large boulder in the path. They stared in shock as
the goblins roamed freely through the remains of the dwarven village.
They were small creatures, a head shorter than Ryoga. They all had dark
green skin and wore light armor. Most of them had large noses and long
pointed ears. They looked scraggly and thin, with a hint of their feral
nature easily seen in their blood red eyes. Many of them carried spears
and daggers, others were unarmed. They were dangerous even without
weapons. Sharp teeth and claws, bolstered by their sheer numbers.

 "Damn it! This is worse than I thought! If they had the manpower to do
this, then they must be much more powerful than I had thought."

 "This isn't a few thousand goblins. There's something much bigger at
work here," said Ryu as he pointed to several large holes in the caves.
There were a lot of burn marks as well. The village was made up of dug in
tunnels within the mountain. The tunnels would have hundreds of large
caverns dug into them to create the dwarven hovels and businesses. 

 "A dragon!" muttered Ryoga harshly. He was holding his war hammer
tightly in his grasp and wringing his hands on the handle. His face was
contorted into a mask of pure anger.

 "This is much worse than I imagined," agreed Shampoo. "We have to find a
way around this. The knights must be warned if they hope to win. They
might be expecting a griffin, or possibly a giant to lead the goblin
hoards, but a dragon will catch them completely by surprise."

 "Damn it! I hate playing the hero!" snarled Ryu. He hung his head in
resignation and sighed. "We don't have a choice this time."

 "Come on Ryu, we'll probably get a reward for this or something," said
Ranma in an attempt to calm his friend.

 "We'd better!" snapped the thief with another harsh whisper.

 "Come on, there is nothing more we can do here," said Shampoo as she
began to sneak back down the trail again.

++++++++++

 "How are things proceeding Nabiki?" The Emperor's personal aide stood
next to the witch as she gazed deeply into a large mirror. The aide was a
young woman by the sound of her voice, but the long brown cloak she wore
hid her figure. They were in the center of a round stone room with
several torches just around a circle that marked the center. The mystical
mirror hung suspended in the air by some unseen magical force. There were
no windows in the empty room, and the only exit was a large set of doors
that led into the hallway.

 "Very well I'd say. That idiot, he doesn't realize that I gave him
Yumatano Orochi. Joketsuko will lose its best fighting force, even if
they succeed they will be severely weakened."

 "Exactly what I wanted to hear," said the aide casually.

 "Have I ever failed you?" Nabiki smirked and tossed her hair back.

 "You still live, do you not?" replied the woman as she walked away.

 Nabiki growled under her breath and turned back to the mirror again. 

 A moment later the doors opened again. The familiar clanking of armor
filled the barren room.

 Nabiki did not turn to face the newcomer. Nor could she see who it was,
an image of the goblin hoard filled the glass instead of a reflection at
the moment. "Akane. What can I do for you?"

 The image shifted to a wizard overlooking the blockade. Akane paused and
stared at him for a moment. "Do I know that man?"

 "Probably not. He did serve under father for a short time. I believe he
was kicked out of the Wizard's School, and became a soldier. He was far
too weak for training as I recall. I don't believe he lasted more than a
month. He was in your class though."

 "I see. I have come to find out about Joketsuko. My mission is unclear
at the moment. I'll need information about the land surrounding Morid,
and the path we'll be taking to get there."

 "Always the tactician I see. Too bad you were never as good at it as I
was. The maps are in my study, you know where it is."

 Akane raised her eyebrow slightly at her sister. "Don't act like I
didn't need to ask you first."

 "All right, I'll humor you. The spells protecting my chambers will be
down for an hour, starting now. Get what you need, then give it back to
me before you leave."

 "Thank you," said the younger girl as she spun around and walked out of
the room.

+++++++++++

 "This just keeps getting better and better," muttered Ranma as he snuck
through the brush just ahead of his companions. He turned back towards
them and motioned for them to stop. After a moment they all sat behind a
rather large shrub. They were inside a small forest that sat along the
side of one of the mountains.

 "How does it look?" asked Ryu.

 "No good, we're surrounded. Somehow we managed to miss all of these
imps. Damn, how could I have been so careless?" Ranma punched the ground
in frustration.

 "So, we wandered into the middle of their blockade without even
realizing it?" said Shampoo. 

 "That's about the size of it. Now we're stuck. Ryu and I could make it
through no problem, but you and armor girl over here won't make it."

 "Hey!" cried Ukyo.

 "He's right. That armor is polished to a shine. The slightest hint of
light and you'll flash like a beacon. We're going to hide out until dark
and try to make it through then."

 "Hiding in the dark from goblins is a poor idea," commented Ryoga.

 "We don't have much choice. That's when we'll be the least visible. I
doubt if Ukyo is willing to leave her armor behind in a place like this.
Out of all of us, she has the best chance of surviving if we're caught
because of it." Ryu leveled a neutral gaze on her for a moment as he said
this.

 "I have to make it through. We need to warn the other knights."

 "About what? We haven't even seen the dragon," pointed out Shampoo.

 "She's right. We don't know how big or how strong it is," said Ranma.

 "The damage to the village was enough to tell us it can't be ignored,"
said Ryoga.

 "He's got a point. Something that can do that to a dwarven village dug
into a mountain can't be taken lightly," agreed Ukyo.

 The conversation was cut off suddenly by a high pitched laughing sound.
The group turned to see a small goblin jumping up and down excitedly with
a leer on its face. The creature was no more than three feet away from
them. Its giggles were cut off suddenly, as Ryu cleaved the thing in half
with his sword.

 "Damn. We've been spotted," he stood up and wiped his blade clean on his
pants. "Don't just sit there, come on!"

 The group followed quickly behind him. "It's just one goblin!" said
Shampoo.

 "When was the last time you saw just one goblin?" retorted Ranma as he
moved behind her and forced her to run a little faster.

 "It could have been a scout!" growled Ryoga as he struggled to keep up
with the group. 

 All protests were cut off as another laugh came from behind them. It was
quickly joined by another, and then yet another. After a short time
Shampoo dared a quick glance back. The forest was crawling with them.
They swarmed just behind them seeming to flow through the trees like a
giant slime.

 "GO! GO! GO!" cried Ranma as he steered her towards a patch of light
through the woods ahead. Shampoo screamed as she was pushed out into a
clearing and over the edge of a cliff. Ryu, Ukyo, and Ryoga followed just
behind them.

++++++++++++

 "You! You knew about this lake didn't you?" screamed Shampoo angrily as
she sloshed onto the shore of the small lake they had fallen into. The
forest was just above them, about three hundred feet straight up. "How
dare you scare me like that!"

 "We didn't know about the lake," said Ryu calmly as he helped Ukyo
stand. He and Ryoga had to help her swim due to her armor. She wore a
light chain mail over her shirt now. Her chest armor had been discarded
with her helmet though. She gazed back into the water for a moment and
turned back onto shore again.

 "Bah! I took a bath six months ago! I didn't need another one!" grumbled
Ryoga.

 Ranma was lying on her back resting while the others climbed onto the
tiny beach. "He's right. I had no idea this was here."

 "Then why did you jump?" snapped Shampoo.

 "Dying from falling hurts less than being eaten," answered Ryoga as he
poured the water out of his helmet and placed it back on his head.

 Ranma stood up and dusted some of the wet sand from her pants. "Come on,
we've got to get moving. It won't take them long to figure out what
happened to us."

 "We'll be lucky if we don't freeze to death after this! We're soaking
wet!" snarled Shampoo as she leveled her gaze on the redheaded elf.

 "Well, maybe you'd like it better back in the forest, Princess?" said
Ryu as he walked by her. 

 "We can't waste time building a fire right now. We've got to get the
hell out of here. We can worry about our comfort later on," said Ranma
calmly.

+++++++++++++++

 Deep within the caverns of the dwarven village. Something stirred
restlessly. A huge reptilian head rose from the ground in the darkness
and snarled. "I sense something... a presence I've not felt since..." The
sound of scales scraping against the rock was all that could be heard in
the pitch black caverns after that.

++++++++++

 Lime and Mint kneeled before Herb and bowed their heads deeply. "I see
she has been keeping you two busy. Keeping Lord Kuno away from her is
quite a task indeed." He gave them a passing glance as he lounged in his
favorite chair. It was a small throne that overlooked a huge model of the
imperial city. He had it built several years ago.

 "He is persistent," agreed Mint. 

 "Very well, go back now. Her activities are incredibly dull as of late.
I had hoped she would compete in the tournament again this year. I do
enjoy teasing her, as well as humiliating her utterly every year. It
seems she'll be off with the Emperor during the harvest this time though.
Such a pity."

 The two beast men bowed deeper and scurried away into the shadows.

 "Worried about Akane?" Nabiki appeared from behind the throne and
wrapped her arms around his neck.

 "Worried? Not really. I do like to know what she's doing though. She's a
tiny annoyance at times, but one that could grow dangerous very quickly
if I don't keep an eye on her."

 "So giving her your two lackeys is a tiny bit of worry?"

 Herb smiled at this and chuckled. "Don't pretend to be so naive. You and
I both know that this is as much to keep an eye on the Emperor while he's
away."

 "He does have one of us accompany him on almost all of his journeys.
Usually, it's Akane or myself. I think Kasumi bothers him slightly."

 "You will tell me what I want to know to benefit yourself in the long
run. Akane, on the other hand, does not like me very much I'm afraid." 

 "So it seems. She can be so jealous sometimes." Nabiki laughed coldly
for a moment.

 "What are you talking about? She's still angry over that little nick I
gave her two years ago." Herb drew a line across his cheek with his thumb
as he said this.

 "Herb. Your naivete astounds me at times. She is merely upset with you
because of me. That scar may have started her anger, but her hatred grows
more with each passing day we are together. That is how we will control
her when the time comes. Soon she will give into her rage, and then she
will belong to me."

 "You think she's angry because of us?" Herb chuckled at the thought.

 "No, there are a lot of reasons behind her anger. That is just the big
one."

 "Ah well. It does not matter," Herb stood from his seat and rested his
hands against the edges of the table that held the model. He gazed into
the diminutive expanse of the city and smirked. "What do you think?"

 "I don't know. How about a shopping district here?" Nabiki pointed to a
large church that sat on a hill to the right of the palace.

 "Trying to anger both of your sisters at once?"

 "Ha! Kasumi? She'll cry for about a week, but she'll eventually get over
it. There's no reason those with money should be forced to buy their
goods among the commoners."

 Herb gave a distasteful snort. "Sometimes I think you need me around
just to keep yourself from going too far. The church will stay. This can
go." He pointed to a large residential area.

+++++++++++++

 "Damn you Ranma! This is all your fault!" screamed Ryoga as he hacked
through a large tree with a single stroke. The giant pine groaned loudly
as it came crashing down into the large group of goblins behind them.
They were running desperately away once again, with the vicious little
imps right behind them, nipping at their heels.

 "My fault?" snapped the pigtailed girl.

 "Shut up and run!" screamed Ryu. One of the impish creatures landed on
his back and clawed at his face. He grabbed it by the back of the head
and tossed it away before it could bite down on his neck. 

 Shampoo floated past Ranma, she was facing behind them and using
levitation magic to flee. One of her battle maces was in her hand and she
screamed in rage as she sent a small orange ball of energy into the
swarming mass of goblins. Ten of them were vaporized as the magic spell
exploded the mass of bodies scattered for a moment before resuming the
chase again. The goblins were no more than three feet behind them once
again a few seconds later.

 "Turn right!" screamed Ranma as she pulled Ryoga and Ryu by their shirts
and forced them to follow.

 "Where are we going?" cried Ukyo as she staggered for a moment. Several
bites and claws barely missed her feet as she managed to keep up.

 "That tower!" screamed Ranma in reply. She was pointing to the tall
black structure that seemed to teeter precariously on the edge of a thin
cliff. It could be seen through the end of the forest a few hundred yards
ahead of them.

 "That's a wizards tower!" screamed Ukyo.

 "So what?" snapped Ryu as he ran next to her.

 "It's obvious that's where all of this trouble is coming from," said
Shampoo as she blasted ahead of them.

 "Gee, you think?" snapped Ryoga as he cut one of the goblins that had
managed to get in front of him in half. Without stopping he jumped over
the thing's body and burst out of the forest.

 The party rushed up the long path that led to the door of the tower. The
were about halfway to their destination when Ranma suddenly stopped cold.

 "Ranma?" cried Ryu in alarm as he slowed down slightly and looked back.
"Hey. Stop running!" 

 Shampoo was standing with a frown on her face. Ryu realized that Ranma
had stopped because he had noticed her standing there in front of them.

 "What's going on?" Ukyo slowly turned and gasped for breath.

 "The goblins. They've stopped," said Ryoga with a slight growl.

 "I've got a bad feeling about this," said Ranma as he glanced around.

 "What's the big deal?" said Ukyo. She was glad for the chance to rest.

 "Those goblins stopped chasing us for a reason. I think we're about to
find out what it is," said Ryu.

 "Indeed you are," said a new voice. The group spun around and saw a
figure dressed in black robes standing before them.

 "Who the hell are you?" snapped Ryoga.

 "My name is Hikaru Gosunkugi. I am a black sorcerer. I must say you have
done quite well to get this far." The wizard pulled back his hood to
reveal a sickly looking boy of about seventeen years in age.

 "Hey. I've heard of you!" said Ranma with a dumb look on her face.

 "R-really?" squeaked the boy. His face had changed from a scowl to one
of pure joy in a matter of seconds.

 Ryu nodded his head as the story came back to him. "Yes. You were kicked
out of the magic school in Horis. I believe the term was 'Worst base
magical power ever seen in a human'. You were the laughing stock of the
entire Sorcerer's Guild. It's said he couldn't even use the light spell.
No one knows why he even tried to be a wizard." 

 "That spell was hard!" snapped the boy angrily. "In any case, I've got
power to spare now." He chuckled to himself for a moment and looked
towards the sky. "This knight. Is she the one you are looking for?"

 "Who are you talking to?" said Ukyo as she realized that he was talking
about her.

 "You are the last survivor of the men who killed Tiamhat?" Gosunkugi's
grin widened even more.

 "Ranma, I don't like this," said Shampoo as she moved closer to the red
haired elf.

 "How dangerous could this guy be? I mean, look at him. He's got no
magical power, and he's a complete wimp," replied the girl lazily.

 "Let's just kill him and get this over with," snorted Ryu.

 Ukyo was completely silent during this conversation. She turned towards
the wizard and pointed her spear at him. "What if I am the one who killed
that hellish beast?"

 "I've got a friend who's just dying to meet you. Yumatano Orochi! I
summon thee!" He raised his hand into the sky and cackled madly.
Lightning slammed into the ground around him. He paused and looked at the
burn markings on the ground for a moment. After that, he screamed like a
girl and rushed back to his tower.

 Ukyo stood completely still. Her eye was twitching slightly and she
dropped her spear to the ground. "What the?"

 "I told you we didn't have anything to worry about," said Ranma as she
walked past her towards the tower. She stopped cold as the ground began
to shake beneath them.

 It seemed to burst from the ground all around them. Serpentine heads
that twisted in and out of one another as they rose higher and higher
into the sky for almost four hundred feet. Finally they stopped and
separated one by one. Each of them turned towards a different member of
the party and roared angrily.

 "What the hell is this? How many dragons are there?" cried Shampoo as
she backed away from the scene in shock.

 "Just one," said Ukyo with a stern look on her face. The silver blade of
her spear began to shine with a mystical, white power. "Yumatano Orochi,
the legendary eight headed general of Tiamhat."

 "Ranma! This is all your fault!" snapped Ryoga as he looked away from
the beast for a moment.

 "My fault? She's the one who killed his friend!" retorted the redhead as
she pointed at Ukyo.

 "We wouldn't be here if she wasn't your friend," said Ryu. "I really,
really hate playing hero, Ranma!"

 "Look out you idiots! Eyes front!" snapped Shampoo as she sent a small
spell into the ground at their feet. The three arguing men were thrown
apart as one of the serpent heads slammed head first into where they were
standing.

 "Men," grumbled Ukyo. She charged forward with her spear held over her
head.

 "What the hell are we supposed to do?" growled Ryoga as he jumped away
from one of the jets of flame the beast was breathing at them.

 "Kill the monster!" snapped Ryu as he jumped into the air and spread his
arms. "Demon God Assault Bomb!" He slashed his arms and kicked, sending
three vaccume blades into one of the scaly necks. The beast's head was
knocked to the side slightly, but otherwise undamaged. "Where the hell is
Ranma?"

 "Did that coward run away?" snarled Ryoga as he dodged another strike
and swat at one of the massive heads with his battle axe. To the dragon,
he was less than a mouthful.

 "I can't sense him!" said Shampoo as she looked up in horror. One of the
heads was looking down on the battle and not moving. Ukyo was being kept
busy by three of them, while the others merely had one of the beast's
heads to deal with each. "No! He couldn't have been..." She felt an
unfamiliar anger suddenly fill her.

 "Ryu! Raise your sword!" called Shampoo as she ran just ahead of the
thing's snapping jaws.

 "Why?" asked the boy as he did so. 

 A ball of blue light formed in her hands and she thrust forward. "Strike
now!"

 Ryu gave a battle cry as he slashed at the beast that had been trying to
sneak behind him. It roared in pain as the blade cut into the scales and
began to frost over. It reared back and the sword was ripped from Ryu's
hands, stuck in the beast's snout. He was sent rolling away across the
ground. "That's great! You've managed to piss it off!" he snapped as he
jumped to his feet again.

 "Ryoga!" said Shampoo. Ryu noticed that both she and the dwarf were
looking up at the sky. His gaze followed theirs and he saw what she had
meant. The head he had struck was not moving, and had turned a light blue
color for about the first ten feet of its neck.

 The dwarf grunted as he threw his war hammer. It sailed into the air
about two hundred feet up and slammed into the frozen dragon head. The
creature shattered like glass. All of the other beasts roared in pain for
a moment.

 Ryu smiled for a moment and cheered. "Yeah! That got him!" His smile
quickly fell away and he started to turn and run away. "Move it!" he
cried as he rushed into Ryoga and Shampoo. He managed to grab both of
them with his arms and pulled them away as the neck came crashing down
just behind them. At the last moment he rolled away and narrowly avoided
getting them crushed.

 Shampoo stood up and dusted herself off. "Of all the..."

"Look out! Ya blasted woman!" snapped Ryoga as he rolled onto his back.

 Shampoo turned and put her palm up. Two jets of flames slammed into the
ice wall she had created. It melted away just as the blasts subsided.

 "Damn! Now what? There are still six more!" said Ryu angrily.

 One of the heads let out a roar of pain and slowly sank to the ground. 

 "What the?" said Ryu as he glanced towards the center of the tangle of
necks. "Hey! I was wondering where he went!" He pointed towards Ranma.
She was standing with her sword driven deep into the fallen neck. After a
moment she faded away again as two of the remaining dragon heads slammed
into the ground where she had stood. Her sword was still stuck in place;
after the two monsters realized that they had missed they moved away and
slithered towards the group again. The sword seemed to vanish from the
neck after that.

 "We're in trouble. Unless you know a spell that can kill a dragon we're
in really big trouble," commented Ryu.

 Two heads moved on either side of them, blocking them in. "We're in
trouble then," confirmed Shampoo.

+++++++++++++++

 Ukyo Kuonji squared off against three of the beast's heads. She jumped
and dodged around blasts of fire and the snapping teeth of the monster
skillfully. Several slashes were apparent along the thing's necks from
the strikes of her spear. It still glowed with the mystical white light
along the blade. "Damn! I can't get in a good shot! They're too fast."

 She grunted as she came into contact with one of the necks and was
thrown to the ground roughly. She rolled away just as two of the heads
bit into the earth where she had landed. "Damn it! I'll kill you yet
monster!" A long scrape had appeared on her arm, several similar
scratches were apparent all over her body where she had come into contact
with the dragon's scales. 

 "Ucchan! Look out!" cried a familiar voice. The knight whirled around
just in time to see a massive set of jaws closing in on her. She was
saved as a blur slammed into her side knocking her out of the way.

 "Ranma?" muttered the knight as she stood up shakily. The redheaded elf
was standing in a combat stance just in front of her.

 "Ucchan. How the hell did you piss this thing off?" 

 "I helped kill his boss," replied the girl with a small smirk on his
face.

 "Great. We won't last much longer. We've only taken out two of these
things so far. Ryu and the others used their weapons up doing it. Now
what?" The elf girl started dragging her away just ahead of the serpent's
jaws.

 "Yumatano Orochi is a legendary eight headed dragon. "We need to find
the master head and destroy it."

 "Great! How the hell do we do that?" snapped Ranma as she pulled her
friend away. Ukyo noted that she was moving towards the rest of them and
two more heads. Shampoo was using a mixture of magic and her bonbori to
keep them at bay.

 "If I knew that I'd have done it!" snapped the knight in retort.

 "Tactical retreat?" said Ukyo with a little hope in her voice.

 "Retreat where? Back into those goblins?" retorted Ranma.

 "Shit. Ranma Honey! I don't want to die before you take my virginity!"

 The redhead fell flat on her face and took Ukyo with her. One of the
dragon heads passed over them just as it happened.

 "Can we not talk about this now?" said Ranma as she got up and started
running again.

 Ukyo stopped and ripped her hand away from Ranma's. She turned and faced
the two heads just behind them with a stern look on her face. "Damn it!
Can't you see we're busy now!?" She slashed the spear as they passed on
either side of her. This time they did not rise back into the air, but
fell to the ground dead. Ranma paled as she noticed that the two heads
were almost completely removed by the strikes.

 "Now, Ranchan. What were we just talking about?"

 "I, uhh... I dunno."

 Ryu and his group rushed up to them. "Great, now we're down to three
left."

 "Four," corrected Ukyo.

 "Huh?" sputtered Ryoga.

 "Yumatano Orochi is an eight headed dragon. There are only seven heads
right now," explained Ranma.

 "So where the hell is the rest of it? We're running out of options
fast!" said Shampoo.

 As if in answer the remains of the destroyed heads and the three living
ones slid back under the ground. A deep rumbling sound filled the air and
the party was thrown onto the ground roughly by the tremors.

 "Now what?" screamed Ryu.

 The ground in front of them burst out revealing a gigantic row of teeth.
Each tooth was as big as a man and the head it was attached too forced
them back to the edge of the forest by just it's huge size. It roared
angrily sending the whole group to their knees in pain. The mountain
shook violently from the sheer force of the sound.

 "Screw this!" snapped Ryoga as he started to turn away.

 "I'm with him," said Ryu as he stared in awe at the beast.

 Shampoo was too shocked to speak. She had never seen anything so large
before.

 Ranma was staring at Ukyo. The girl was standing with her pike held in
front of her. A white power seemed to surround her body. "Ranma. Please,
I just need a little time."

 The redhead stood up and glared at her for a moment. "How much?"

 "About a minute."

 "Done." With that, the redhead seemed to vanish in an instant.

 Ukyo closed her eyes, the aura surrounding her flared up, it was bright
enough to rival the sun. She grit her teeth as memories of her past
comrades filled her mind. They had died doing what she was asking of
Ranma. "Please, hang on Ranchan."

 "Are you out of your mind?" screamed Ryu as he stepped towards where his
partner had been. He fell silent and pulled Shampoo and Ryoga into the
forest with him. The elf girl refused to turn around and watched the
scene as he pulled her by her hand. Ryoga didn't need much help to run,
but Ryu shoved him along anyway, just to be sure he was moving in the
right direction. Not surprisingly, there were no goblins waiting for
them.

+++++++++

 Ranma seemed to appear in front of the beast several times. Each time
she slashed at it with her sword. She wasn't doing any real damage, but
it was enough to annoy the beast into attacking. Jets of flame struck
wherever she appeared just after she vanished again. The three remaining
smaller heads also attempted to attack. She smirked and vanished just as
two of them slammed into each other. "Hurry up Ucchan. I don't know how
long 'till this thing gets lucky." 

 Ukyo's eyes flew open suddenly. "It's time!" Her lance changed into a
beam of pure light in her hands, the power flared across the handle as
she rose it over her head and prepared to strike. "Eat this beast! King
Dragon Tooth!" She jumped twenty feet into the air threw it down at an
angle. It jumped like a lightning bolt towards her target. The dragon
opened its mouth to roar, but it never finished. Ranma appeared just in
front of the thing's eye with her sword slashing down at the pupil. In
mid strike she seemed to notice the beam of light that was heading
straight for her and gasped.

 "Ranchan! No!" screamed the knight as the projectile slammed home into
the beast's eye. Then, everything went white.

+++++++++++

 Ranma found herself in incredible pain. She was lying on the ground
covered in rubble and dirt. All that remained of the blast was a large
hole where the dragon had emerged to face them. She shook her head and
sat up. "What hit me?" Something slammed into her sending her back to the
ground. She tightened up instinctively, but relaxed when something soft
and warm met her lips. She felt a wetness on her cheeks as if she had
been crying. "Muh?"

 Ukyo broke her kiss and looked into her confused and disoriented love's
eyes. "Oh Ranchan. I thought I'd lost you." She sobbed and clung to his
neck even tighter.

 "What happened?" muttered the redhead.

 "You almost got skewered you dope," said Ryu as he appeared next to
Ukyo.

 Ranma sat up again and looked down. Her shirt had a large portion torn
away on her torso. There was also the beginning of a light burn that
covered almost half of her stomach. She looked up at her companions and
smiled. "Did we get it?"

 "Aye, that we did. The goblins are nowhere to be seen either," said
Ryoga. He and Shampoo were sitting on some of the rubble from the fight
nearby. Everyone looked beaten and dirty, but also relieved.

 "So, we saved Joketsuko. Funny, Ryu doesn't look too unhappy. He hates
this kind of stuff."

"Har, har," muttered the boy. "I just haven't had the chance to feel my
injuries yet. When I do, you can be sure I'll get you back for getting me
involved with this mess."

 "Whatever. Hey, aren't we forgetting something?" said Ranma suddenly.

 "I don't think so. The dragon is dead, and without him, the goblins will
disperse on their own."

 A high pitched laughter filled the air suddenly. Everyone turned to look
at the tower. Hikaru's image appeared in front of them with an evil grin
on his face. "You haven't beaten me yet! I shall rule all of Joketsuko
soon enough! You still have to get through my gauntlet of traps, and by
then I'll have summoned another powerful beast to do my bidding!
Bwahahahahahahahaa!"

 Ranma sighed as the image vanished. "Ryoga, you take care of this."

 "Aye lad. It'll be my pleasure," said the dwarf as he cracked his
knuckles and walked towards the cliff that held the dark tower.

 "When will these stupid wizards ever learn?" said the pigtailed girl.

 "What do you mean Ranchan?" asked Ukyo.

 Ryoga stopped just in front of the tower's doors. He thrust his hand
into the ground suddenly. "Bakusai Tenketsu!" The path exploded and the
tower slowly started to tilt backwards.

 "These idiots always build their fortresses on these skinny little
cliffs. I still don't know why."

 The group stood and watched the fortress topple over and fall into the
ground far below.

 "What was that you just did? I've never heard of that technique," said
Shampoo as she walked up to the dwarf.

 "Just a mining trick we dwarves use. It's actually kind of old, and most
dwarves don't use it anymore now that we have explosives." He shrugged
and started walking. "Come on, we can set up camp here."

 "Right. I'm starving," said Ranma as she jumped to her feet again.

 Ukyo looked like she wanted to say something to him, but fell silent at
the last moment.

 "Worry about it later," said Ryu as he grabbed her shoulder gently.
"Come on, we need to get cleaned up and rested. We've got a long day
ahead of us. Right?"

 "Yeah. Right." The girl smiled slightly and seemed to relax. "Thanks
Ryu."

 "Anytime," said the boy without turning to face her. 

+++++++++++

 The Emperor's aide frowned at Nabiki. "Who is that elf girl?"

 "I believe that is the one the wizards call 'Dragon Ghost'." replied the
girl carefully.

 "So, she is the famous thief? Interesting."

 "I suppose so." 

 The image vanished suddenly. The cloaked woman turned to face Nabiki.
"What happened?"

 "No one can get more than a moment's glance at the Dragon Ghost. How she
does it is one of her best kept secrets."

 "I see. Still, your plan failed."

 "Did it?" said Nabiki with a small twinkle in her eyes.

 "Yes it did."

 "I never told you what my plan was. I merely wanted to get rid of
another unwanted admirer for my little sister. Gosunkugi was becoming as
obsessive as Kuno."

 "And what you told me of the knights?"

 "Would have been a perk if Ukyo had not shown up so soon. Even I can't
foresee everything."

 "Congratulations then."

 "Thank you, I'll have those Knights out of the way soon enough. Your
orders were not forgotten."

 "Nabiki, see to it that you don't fail me again."

 The witch turned back to the mirror and scowled at her own reflection.
She had managed to save some face, but it was still obvious that Ranma
had ruined her plans. "If I didn't need you so badly, I'd destroy you for
that, boy. Your time will come soon enough though, once you've outlived
your usefulness that is." Her frown changed into a dark smile.



 TBC...

 Next time: Joketsuko.

 C&C to Carrotglace@juno.com


From: Ryoga P Hibiki <carrotglace@juno.com>
Subject: [Ranma][FanFic] The Dragon and The Ghost, Book 2

    The Dragon and The Ghost.

    Part 7

    Joketsuko.

    Ryoga smirked as he rose over a rocky patch along the side of the
mountain trail. "Aye, I knew it."

    "What have we got?" called Ryu from below him.

    "It's them! The dwarves!" cried Ryoga happily. "T'ain't much, but
they've survived."

    Ranma found himself smiling as he approached the dwarf. Just over
the hills were a large cluster of small tents. They were arranged in
rows along a tiny, snow covered valley nestled between the rocks.
Several campfires sent columns of smoke into the air. They had noticed
this in the distance, and decided to check it out. Now, the dwarves
could be seen bustling about in the makeshift streets. It was obvious
from the remains of the village that many of them had died, but there
were a few hundred tents below.

    "Looks like most of them made it," commented Shampoo.

    "Aye, we're a hardy lot we are!" boasted Ryoga as he started
walking towards the encampment.

    "I am relieved. It looks like the mountain elves helped them out a
bit. Those aren't dwarven tents, it almost fooled me," said Ukyo.

    "I just hope they have something to sell us. We need supplies, and
we don't have time to double back to that human town," said Ryu. He
spun on his heels and punched Ranma dead in his face. The pigtailed
boy landed on his back and clutched at his face. "That's for getting
us involved with this."

    Ranma growled as he stood up, but made no move to counter. It was
obvious that his eye was going to be sore for a few days or so.

    "I guess he meant what he said," said Shampoo with a dry look as
she passed Ranma.

    "He doesn't say much that he doesn't mean," commented the boy as
he followed. "He's right about one thing, I hope they have supplies.
We need warmer clothes. We could manage without them, but it's going
to get real cold as we get closer to Joketsuko. That city is almost a
mile up, there aren't many places colder in the world."

    "That's right. Our government is reliant on other countries. We
can't grow food of our own well. Most of our economy is from the trade
routes we run, and the mining operations we have. It's the center of
commerce on the continent."

    "We've visited a few times before," commented Ryu with a sly grin
appearing on his face.

    "Oh? Why is that?" said Ukyo obliviously.

    "Business," replied Ranma with a shrug.

    "You were a merchant?" asked Ukyo with an annoying innocence about
her.

    "Something like that," chuckled Ryu. He stopped his stride and
held his arm out.

    "Who goes there?" snapped a tense voice from in front of them.

    "Just travelers," said Ryoga as he approached one of the rocks.
Several dwarves appeared from behind it. They were carrying battle-
axes and spears.

    "Guards," said Ranma to Shampoo's questioning look.

    "Hoi! No goblins here. How'd ya manage to get past them monsters?"
said one of the dwarves cheerfully.

    "Hoi!" Ryoga raised his arm and gave the traditional greeting of
the mountain dwarves in reply. "What monsters? There are none."

    "Eh? What ya mean?" said one of the guards in confusion.

    "They're gone, for good," replied Ryoga happily.

    "If what you say is true, the elders will be most pleased," said
the same dwarf. The group realized that he was probably the leader.

    Ryu stepped forward. "You have any goods for sale in your camp? We
need supplies."

    The dwarf looked at him and nodded cheerfully. "O' course we do!
What kind of dwarves do you think we are?"

    Ryoga frowned at him. "What a silly question!"

    "You were wondering too as I recall," said Ranma.

    "Who asked you?" snapped Ryoga.

-------------

    "So, the mighty Good Fang has come and liberated us from the
Dragon and his evil goblin army?" A wizened old dwarf stood in front
of the group. They were inside a large tent sitting around a huge
campfire. The dwarf was probably at least a thousand years old from
the looks of him. His long white hair and beard spread out on the
floor around him. He didn't look like he'd keel over anytime soon
though, his build was strong, and he was far from feeble.

    "Aye. 'Twas the work of a dark sorcerer. I did away with him
nicely," said Ryoga proudly.

    "Hey, it ain't like you didn't have help runt," snapped Ranma. Ryu
was also clearly annoyed, but remained silent.

    "You have my gratitude, but I'm afraid we can't part with our
wares without compensation. We have a lot of work to do when we return
home, and our stores have been destroyed."

    "How like a dwarf, ungrateful little..." Shampoo began to mutter
under her breath.

    Ryu snorted in mild amusement. "I thought as much. Don't worry old
man, we have enough to pay for anything we need."

    "How much would that be?" pried the elder.

    "You think we're dumb enough to tell you?" said Ranma.

    "Aye, you're smart folk indeed. I had to try," the old man gave a
chuckle and lit a long ornate looking pipe. "What would you be
needin?"

    "Clothes, and some food wouldn't hurt either. That is, if you can
spare any," said Ukyo. Ranma and Ryu gave her a quick glance, but said
nothing.

    "I think we can scrounge something up for ya," said the old dwarf.


    The group nodded and stood up to leave the tent. Ryoga stayed
behind and smirked as they walked outside. "Elder, do me a favor. Kill
em, I don't want a single gold piece left in that braggart Ranma's
pocket when he leaves here."

    "Hmm, I can tell you've got good business sense. As of now, prices
within the village have just tripled."

    "Thank ye," Ryoga merrily giggled to himself as he rushed outside
to join his companions.

---------

    "Hey Ryoga," said Ranma as he met the dwarf outside of the tent
five minutes later. "What took you?"

    "Eh? That damn flap kept moving! Shut yer trap!"

    "Good, cause you're going to buy supplies here," said Ryu lazily
as he stood up from where he was sitting. Ukyo and Shampoo were with
him.

    "Eh?! Why should I?"

    "You don't want to curse us do you? You know the rules. If a dwarf
joins a group of travelers, the first supplies bought are bought by
him."

    "That's only among dwarves!" snapped the angry dwarf.

    "That's not true, every dwarf I've ever traveled with has done
it," said Ukyo. She was oblivious to the conversation up to that
point. "Something about 'good business and turn around'."

    Ryoga went pale. He knew it was true, if he didn't it could bring
misfortune to him and his business. That was the tradition. "Blast!
How could I forget about that?"

    "Hope you've got enough," said Ranma as he walked towards the
shopping center.

    Ryoga's eyes went wide and he turned to go back to the elder's
tent. Naturally, it wasn't the right way he had turned. Even if he
could find it, he wouldn't be able to change the old dwarf's mind.
That would be bad business. "Blast!" he screamed and fell to his
knees.

------------

    About two hours later, the whole group left the camp clothed in
heavy furs. Ranma and Ryu's traveling packs were also a bit bulkier
from supplies they had bought.

    "It should be about a day's walk along this trail," said Ukyo as
she pointed down the road.

    "That sounds about right. We're gonna have to spend the night in
the cold tonight. We'll get a room once we make it to Joketsuko."

    "No. You'll stay with me. I've got enough room in my home," said
Ukyo firmly.

    "Let's go then," said Ranma with a shrug.

-----------

    The group was clothed in heavy fur cloaks as they walked down the
snow-covered trail. Ranma was in the lead with his companions close
behind him. "Hold up."

    Everyone paused and looked at him. "What's going on Ranma?"

    "We've got company," said Ranma as a small group became visible
ahead of them. Several figures appeared in front of them.

    "Who goes there?" called one of them. They were tall, and armed
with spears and bows.

    "Mountain Elves," said Ryu lazily.

    "Looks like they're ready for a fight," commented Ryoga.

    Ranma nodded. "Just in case the goblins decided to push forward I
suppose."

    "Those dwarves would have told them. I wonder if anyone sent word
to Joketsuko besides myself?"

    "Probably," agreed Ranma. "Come on, let's greet them."

    "Three humans, an elf, and a dwarf," called one of the soldiers.
Those around him relaxed and moved towards the strangers.

    "What business do you have here?" said the lead elf. They were
dressed like Ranma and his group, clothed in heavy furs. Flashes of
armor could be seen under the heavy cloaks.

    "We're traveling to Joketsuko," said Ukyo.

    "Are you merchants?" said one of the men with a slightly hopeful
tone.

    "They should be a day or two behind us. We're just travelers,"
said Ryu.

    "I see. The goblins?"

    "Gone. They didn't last long after they lost their leader," said
Ranma cheerfully.

    "Yes. I am pleased to see they didn't make it this far," agreed
Shampoo.

    "That is good to know," said the lead elf. "Our supplies are
running low. A few merchants from Joketsuko have taken up with us
until the path is cleared."

    "It's clear now," said Ryu.

    "You'll forgive me if I see to that myself," said the elf.

    "Not very trusting are they?" snorted Ranma.

    "They have reason not to be," commented Shampoo. "They don't know
us. We could be spies."

    "You elves are such nervous folk," commented Ryoga.

    "Why didn't they just go back home? It's only a day's walk," said
Ukyo.

    "A merchant caravan is expensive to run, and difficult to keep up.
If they returned home, it could be weeks before they could set out
again," explained Ranma. "Most of the merchant families can't really
afford that."

    "I see," Shampoo nodded to herself.

    "Come on, we've got a way to go yet." Ranma started forward again.
"How much farther is Joketsuko?"

    "Half a day. You won't make it before night fall," said one of the
elves.

    "We're making good time then," said Ryu.

    "Why don't we stay here then?" said Shampoo as she glanced back at
the elven guards.

    "You heard them. They've got merchants staying with them. I doubt
if we could find a room, plus the fact that the village is a good way
up the mountain. These men are just guarding the trail."

    "Telling us they were low on supplies like that was just a polite
way of saying, 'Sorry, we can't take any more travelers,'" agreed Ryu.

    "I see. A pity, I've always been curious about the mountain
elves," said Shampoo as she spared another glance back.

    "If I hadn't lost my armor in that lake, we would have been
welcomed," grumbled Ukyo. There wasn't much heat to the statement
though.

++++++++++++

    The next day, sometime in the early afternoon, they finally
reached the final leg of their journey. Joketsuko could be seen a
short distance away on the top of a large mountain. The top portion of
the peak seemed to be cut away, leaving a large flat area in which the
city rested. The rooftops were covered in snow, but the gray stone
buildings could be seen poking over the protective wall that
surrounded the city. In the center, an old looking castle of medieval
design rose high above the walls. Several towers protruded from the
outer walls, and in the center, a much larger tower rose into the air
and seemed to scrape the clouds above with it's spires. Red flags
billowed in the wind atop each of the towers, and several others lined
the walls protecting the city.

    "Well, we've made it. I'd say we've got about four days before the
Emperor arrives," said Ryu calmly.

    "Plenty," said Ranma with a nod.

    "Come on. You can stay with me for a while," said Ukyo cheerfully.

    "Only for a few days. We've got to keep going. Time isn't quite as
important any more," said Ryu.

    Shampoo and Ryoga gave him quick glances, but said nothing.

    The knight's face fell slightly. "Oh. Promise that you'll come
back through and see me on your way back."

    "Uh, sure thing Ucchan," muttered Ranma. He felt terrible, but
forced a smile on his face.

    "That dope. He's a terrible liar," muttered Ryu under his breath.

--------

    Shampoo and Ryoga hung back with Ryu as they approached the gates
of the city. Ranma walked with Ukyo a good distance ahead of them.

    "Why did we lie to the knight?" said Shampoo.

    "Oh, we're just going to rob an important dignitary who's staying
at the castle. Not that she is sworn to protect it or anything, it's
just that we're mean," said the boy sarcastically. "Please help us rob
your queen! You'd be such a big help!" He glared at her. "Use your
head."

    "Oh. I hadn't thought about it that way," muttered the girl
dejectedly as a blush crept onto her face.

    They approached the massive gate that led into the town. Several
guards stood on either side, but they made no move to stop them. There
were many others passing through the gates. Traffic was understandably
slow though. There were other routes to the city, but the one they had
taken was the largest and most traveled trade route.

    "Where do you live?" said Ranma as he turned to Ukyo as they
passed into the city. The first area was the market. Hundreds of shops
and vendors lined the streets, a massive crowd bustled around as they
pushed their way through the streets.

    "Close to the castle. I can't room with most of the other knights,
because I'm a woman."

    "How did you manage that anyway?" said Ryu.

    Ukyo grinned. "Everyone thought I was a boy at first. I fought
around and had a few adventures when I was young. Eventually I came
here during a tournament and participated, I won easily and was
knighted by the queen about two years ago. After she knighted me, I
told her I was a girl. Luckily, she wasn't angry. I think she laughed
for three days from the looks on the guys' faces." Ukyo chuckled to
herself for a moment. "It didn't take long to teach them some respect
after that."

    Ranma smirked at this. "Figures. You're lucky she didn't kill you.
If it had been a king, he might have. Girls don't make very good
knights in most cases."

    "What's that supposed to mean?" snapped Shampoo as she grabbed him
by his collar and put her face up to his.

    "Look around dope. How many knights do you see shopping?" Ranma
indicated a large group of women near one of the stands. They were all
quite feminine, many of them portly, and a few frail looking younger
girls.

    "The Emperor's best knight is supposed to be a woman as well,"
said Ukyo with a slightly annoyed frown.

    "He said 'most women'," said Ryu as he pulled Shampoo's grip away.

    "Aye, even among dwarves, most women do not fight," agreed Ryoga.

    "I don't see a whole lot of men in this place who would cut it
either," snapped Ukyo as she indicated another group of richly dressed
men.

    "Nobles don't count. All of those jerks are weaklings," snapped
Ranma.

    "Including your father?" said Ukyo with her eyes narrowing, "and
mine?"

    Ryu, Shampoo, and Ryoga's jaws dropped like lead weights.

    "My father wasn't a noble," replied Ranma. "He died a poor man,
and we lived that way for as long as I can remember."

    "That's not true. Your father was a great man. He just didn't want
you growing up soft. Mine was the same way."

    "That's enough. I don't want to talk about this," snapped the
pigtailed boy as he turned and stalked away.

    "Hey! What the hell is she talking about?" cried Ryu as he chased
after his partner.

    "Ranma, is noble?" said Shampoo with a shocked look on her face.

    "That explains his attitude," grumbled Ryoga.

    "You... didn't know?" said Ukyo in confusion.

    Both of the others shook their heads.

    "Ranma's father was a duke of the former empire. He was killed
after the new emperor took the throne. No one is sure why, or how he
died. Most of the old nobility is still in place. He just vanished a
long time ago. Eventually, everyone stopped looking and assumed that
they had both been killed. You're here to see the Emperor aren't you?
I assumed that was why Ranma had come here. That would explain all the
secrecy."

    "No. We are not here to see him," said Shampoo. It wasn't really a
lie.

    "Oh, man. I guess he didn't want to tell you," muttered Ukyo. She
knew she had just screwed up.

    "Most interesting," commented Shampoo. She stared towards the
direction Ryu and Ranma had run.

-----------

    "Ranma! What the hell is going on?" said Ryu as he cornered his
partner in an alleyway.

    Ranma merely stood with his back turned and his head hung low.
"It's nothing. Just the past."

    "This is a pretty big nothing," snapped Ryu. "I can understand you
not wanting to tell me, what with our profession and all. I promise I
won't say anything. Come on, we've got work to do."

    Ranma smirked slightly and looked at Ryu. "Ryu. I can't ask you to
do this with me anymore. All my life, I've been looking for the man
who killed my father. I've got a feeling, that I'll find him this
time. That's why I took this job."

    "Is that the elf in you talking?" asked Ryu calmly.

    "No. It's a gut feeling," replied the pigtailed boy.

    "You think I'm going to back out of this now?" snapped Ryu
angrily. "You're just trying to get that reward all to yourself! Is
that any way to treat your partner?"

    Ranma whirled around angrily. He stopped his protest when he saw
the smirk on his partner's face.

    "We've all got our secrets Ranma, but I'm not leaving until I get
paid."

    "Fine. You jerk," replied the pigtailed boy as he walked out of
the alley brushing by Ryu.

    "Ranma."

    The boy paused and did not turn around.

    "If what you say is true, you'll get that bastard. I'll make sure
of that."

    "Come on," said the pigtailed boy.

    Ryu turned to follow and smirked. "Yamesenken. It destroyed my
life, but it also gave me a new one. I still hate you for that,
Saotome." His words were almost a whisper.

----------

    "So, this is the house of a knight?" Ranma was impressed. It was a
four-room home, with plenty of space. There was a kitchen, a living
room, and two bedrooms. It was a large cottage near the castle gates.

    "What can I say? The queen likes me," said Ukyo with a shrug. She
started a fire in the fireplace and turned to face them. "You three
can take that room. Me and Ranma will sleep in mine."

    Everyone looked at her for a moment.

    "How about, boys in one room girls in another? I don't want Ranma
forgetting his mission," said Ryu.

    "You still haven't told me what your mission is," said Ukyo as she
looked at them.

    "You aren't very good at keeping secrets," replied Ranma a little
bitterly.

    The girl reacted as if she had been slapped. "I'm sorry. I thought
that they knew about that. You seemed like you knew each other so well
when we were traveling."

    "The truth is, we've only known each other for about three weeks,"
said Shampoo.

    "Hey! I've been trying to kill him for four years!" snapped Ryoga.

    "Kill him?" said Ukyo as she turned to Ryoga in surprise.

    "He kinda got over that," whispered Ryu cheerfully to her.

    "Oh," said the girl uncomfortably. She turned towards the door.
"I've got to report in, I should be back in an hour or so. Make
yourselves at home." She walked out of the home and left them.

---------

    That night, Shampoo lay awake in Ukyo's room. Her hands were
behind her head as she stared at the ceiling.

    "Ranma, is noble? How strange." The more she thought about it, the
better it sounded. He didn't like weakness much, and his curse gave
him the life span of an elf. Whether or not he realized that, she
wasn't sure. "This knight is a good person. I am sorry we have to
betray her. It is for the greater good. Perhaps it is not all bad. She
and Ranma will be separated by our mission, and he is noble. He is
strong, and very honorable, more so than I had ever thought when I
first met him. I think he would have done this without payment if he
had known of it. All that, plus he appears to hate the nobility as
much as I do. Those pompous and arrogant fools and their meetings and
parties, it disgusts me. It is possible, that he could be the perfect
candidate, for my future husband." Her smile widened as she realized
this. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

---------

    Ukyo was awake as well. Her thoughts were quite different from
Shampoo's.

    "Something about all this bothers me." She sighed as she rolled
onto her side. "I hate thinking about it, I love Ranchan, but it's
been so long since we've been together. I don't really know him
anymore. He used to be so proud of who he was. Why would he keep it a
secret? Perhaps there is more to this than I imagine?" She forced her
eyes closed. "Maybe I'm just digging to deep into this? Ranchan, is...
well, he's Ranchan. He's got to have his own reasons. This mission
they claim to have, I don't know why, but I think that bothers me most
of all." Slowly she drifted off to sleep as well.

----------

    Ryu stood over the sleeping form of Ranma. He stared down at him
for a long time with a neutral look on his face. The boy shivered
under his sheets while he gazed at him.

    "Ranma. We've been together for a long time. The more I think
about it, the more this feeling of dread seems to overwhelm me. I
don't like this mission, I hate it. You know I hate being the hero.
Somehow, I know I have to finish this though. You're nothing but a
pain in my ass, you know that?" He smirked slightly and clenched his
fist at his side.

    His thoughts wandered again as he stood there. He had once hated
Ranma more than Ryoga ever had. The Saotome name was the downfall of
his own. Circumstance had brought them together, he knew why Ranma
never gave his last name. He had found out the hard way. Now, because
of that, his most hated enemy and sworn rival, was probably the best
friend he had ever had. The only one in fact.

    "I hate you," he muttered. He turned away and went to his own mat
before laying down for the night.

    Ranma shivered again under the sheets. The house was warm, and he
didn't seem to wake up. For some reason, he felt cold. Finally, he
sneezed three times and rolled over again.

        The Dragon and The Ghost

    Part 8

    The Terror of the Emperor's Staff.

    Akane walked behind the personal guard of the Emperor. She was
dressed in full armor; her helmet shielded her face from the strong
cold wind that blew across the city. She was riding on a giant black
steed with an armor plate on its face. At her side was a long pike
that held the Emperor's flag. Before them was a large castle that
rested in the center of the mountain city of Joketsuko. "So, this is
Joketsuko."

    "Yes Mistress," said Mint casually.

    "We have been here before, once or twice. Lord Herb has had a few
diplomatic missions here," agreed Lime.

    "That doesn't matter. Stay close, and keep your eyes open," her
words were not only directed at the pair of beast men, but the two
ranks of black clad knights that rode behind her.

    Herb smiled slightly as he glanced back at her and the knights.
"Well, it seems that bringing her was pointless."

    "Don't be so naive, she has other duties as well," commented the
cloaked woman who rode beside him, the Emperor's personal aid. The
monarch himself rode inside a large covered platform that was carried
by four large looking men. His shadow could be seen behind the sheer
silk curtain. His personal carriage waited just outside the city.

    "Ah, guard duty? How incredibly dull," replied the man.

    "As you say, I doubt if she'll be board on this trip."

    Guards poured out of the gates on either side of the imperial
convoy. They lined up along the sides of the great bridge that crossed
the large moat that surrounded the palace. The temperature was far too
cold to keep a water moat, but a black oily substance filled the
trench. It bubbled and steamed, sending an unpleasant odor into the
air.

    A regal looking figure walked out of the front gate with several
tall looking advisors surrounding her. Her face was pretty, but a
strange veil surrounded her face on either side, a long cape also
covered her body from view.

    "We are pleased to receive you here. Welcome to Joketsuko, our
hope is that you will find your stay pleasant," said the woman calmly.
She reached out with her hand, revealing three other arms hidden
beneath the cloak on one side.

    The Emperor's aide removed the hood off of her face. She had short
cut white hair, and an almost stunning beauty. "The Emperor hopes
these talks will proceed favorably."

    The regal looking woman bowed her head to Herb slightly. "It is
good to see you again, Lord Herb."

    "As it is you, Your Highness."

    "Come, let us go inside. The weather here is quite unpleasant at
this time of year." The woman turned and led them inside the gates.
The guards filed in just after the Emperor, just in front of Akane and
her ranks.

    "Come on," growled the girl.

+++++++++

    Inside the throne room, the Queen sat in her throne in front of
the visiting dignitaries. Her eight arms rested on armrests specially
made for her, one on each tier. Her veil had been removed as well,
revealing two other faces on each side of her head. One had a smile
upon it; the other was an angry scowl. "We will begin the talks
tomorrow. I know you must be tired from the long trek to our kingdom.
Rooms have been prepared, the Emperor has already been shown to his
room."

    "As you say. Highness, if I may be permitted," said Herb with a
pleasant smile crossing his features.

    "You may speak," said the woman flatly. She had not shown any
emotion since their arrival.

    "The Emperor wishes to see your dungeons, he is quite interested
in such things. If it is not too much trouble that is."

    "We shall arrange it this evening," said the woman.

    "Thank you," replied the man as he bowed low.

++++++++++

    Akane stood in front of the lavish doors that led to the guest
chambers. They were extraordinarily lavish; the kingdom was not a poor
one. Even the hallways had rolls of plush red carpets, they were
brightly lit with hanging chandeliers that lined the entire passage.
Various paintings and tapestries hung from the walls, and expensive
looking tables held bouquets of native mountain flowers in fine vases.


    Lime and Mint stood with her on either side, normally; she would
have her two best men with her. Since Herb had left them with her, she
figured she might as well make use of them. Even if they were just
there to spy on her. The Emperor seemed to like them more than the
silent knights as well. She had to admit, they were amusing at times.
They were also much better protection than her men. She hated to admit
that, but it was something she accepted.

    Herb approached them slowly and nodded a greeting. Akane had to
suppress a small growl, but bowed her head placidly to him and stood
aside.

    He paused in front of the doors and did not look at her. "Queen
Rouge has given us permission to see the dungeons. We will be leaving
now, your duties will begin there."

    Akane's face frowned beneath her helmet. "She is a fool then."

    "Perhaps, but I think she just doesn't know. Tonight the palace
will be ours. I left a special surprise for the knights as well. Your
sister cooked it up for me. She is quite skilled."

    "In more than spell casting I'll wager," grumbled Akane.

    "Come now. You know as well as I that I will make an honest woman
of her soon enough."

    "There's nothing you can do to make her honest," replied Akane
coldly.

    "True!" Herb laughed for a moment. "Come now, do try and be a
little civil, we will be related soon you know."

    "Civil is one thing I'll never be to you, Lord Herb," spat the
woman sharply.

    "As you wish, be prepared," said Herb with his face calming
suddenly.

    "I am ready to serve, as always," she replied with her head bowed
slightly.

    "Do try and behave yourselves in front of our ruler," said an
amused voice from behind them. They turned to see the Emperor's aide
beside them. Lime and Mint both stood rigidly and stared at the wall
in front of them. She was not wearing her cloak, and the skintight
body suit she wore didn't hide much from view.

+++++++++++

    The dungeon was cold and damp, water dripped from the ceiling from
long icicles that seemed to cover the stones overhead, a thin coat of
ice also covered most of the walls. As the tiny cloaked figure of the
Emperor stared into the cells that contained the whimpering criminals.
They were separated from them by a few rusted out bars of metal. There
was no torture equipment in the room, mostly because the temperature
alone was enough to deter most. They cowered before the group before
them, huddled close to each other for warmth. Even the strongest among
them shivered quietly, deathly afraid to speak. Akane's intimidating
black form lorded over them as she stared coldly into the bars. Herb
was slightly more friendly looking, but his powerful aura was not
something they took lightly.

    "The smell disgusts me," commented Akane. "You'd think they'd at
least hose them down on occasion."

    "They would freeze to death in a few hours if they did," said the
aide calmly.

    "We are not here to see that," said the young voice from behind
them. They parted and he stepped forward, the staff clanked against
the ground as the metal touched the stone floor. "It is time, don't
worry my friends, you'll be warm soon enough." He stared at the
prisoners for a moment and smirked. He was nothing but a boy, he
looked no more than twelve years old, but his eyes told of an age much
more than that. His long dark hair had streaks of red in it. On his
back were two black and red wings, like those of a bird. The staff in
his hands was glowing with a red energy; the metal shone brightly
illuminating the room around them. It was an ornate piece of metal,
made with a strange red metal. A large ring rested on the top.

    The boy tapped the ground with the staff and released it. The
thing was impaled on the ground from even the light blow and stood
upright. The red energy began to spread across the floor around them.
Slowly it crept across the floor towards the prisoners. The water
dripping from the ceiling and walls hissed as it came into contact
with the ground, and the bars of metal began to bend slightly under
the temperature. The prisoners began to wail in panic as the
superheated energy crawled towards them.

    Akane merely stared forward as they began to scream in pain. Her
armor was enchanted, and protected her from the effects of the energy.
Kiima, the Emperor's aide, was somehow immune, and Herb merely floated
just above it with his arms crossed and a dark smile on his lips.

    Emperor Saffron turned towards her and smiled, ignoring the
screaming men behind him as they slowly burned to death. Already, the
screams of others within the castle above had begun to start.

    "Guard the Kajakan well."

    "Yes my lord," she replied as she fell to her knees in front of
him.  She drew the huge broadsword from her side and planted it into
the ground in front of her. The black metal was unaffected by the red
power, it also had serrated edges that made it look even more
intimidating.

    "Come Herb, we have to go collect Queen Rouge, she will not be
harmed by my power," said the boy calmly.

    "I shall accompany you as well," said Kiima.

    "As you wish," said the boy with a small chuckle. He paused for a
moment. "What of the knights?"

    "They have been taken care of," commented Herb. "Akane's forces
should be cleaning up any who escaped our little surprise."

    "Excellent," said the boy as he started forward again.

++++++++++

    Ranma, Ryu, Shampoo, and Ryoga stood on the edge of the moat.
"Well, he's here," commented Ryu.

    "Yup," agreed Ranma cheerfully. "We'll try and figure out where
he's keeping the damn thing tonight. We'll go in after it tomorrow."

    "I'm not very comfortable with lying to Ukyo about this. I know
she wouldn't help us if we told her, but it just doesn't sit well with
me," said Shampoo. "I do understand why we couldn't thought."

    "How do you think I feel?" said Ranma calmly.

    They had left her home the day before, under the pretence of
continuing their voyage. Since that time they had been staying at a
small in on the other side of town. They had approached the castle
several times, observing the guards, trying to figure out the layout
of the huge building, and figuring out what the best way to enter was.
This was more dangerous than Ranma's usual jobs. They had to sneak
Shampoo in as well, that meant the Umisenken wouldn't be of much use.
Ryu's Yamesenken might come in handy though. They really had no idea
about how well the place would be guarded.

    Ryu looked uncomfortable for a moment. "Hey, does something feel
weird to you?"

    "Huh? What?" said Ranma in confusion.

    "He's right, something doesn't feel right," said Ryoga. "I hate
the stench of death this black slime emits.

    "Was it smoking before?" said Shampoo with an uncertain frown.

    "No, I don't think so. Does anyone else feel a little warm?" Ranma
glanced down at the ooze and frowned.

    The entire group stepped back; a slow moving orange glow began to
crawl its way up the side of the wall.

    "What the hell is that?" snapped Ranma as he jumped back.

    "The Kajakan," said Shampoo with an angry frown.

    "What?" snapped Ryu as he watched it crawl up the side of the
building in fascinated horror.

    "This is the power of the emperor's staff," said the girl calmly.

    "That's nuts!" snapped Ranma.

    "You of all people should know better than that," commented Ryoga.

    "I've stolen stuff that makes things super hot before, but an
entire castle?" said the boy as he watched. The guards on the wall
above had noticed the slowly creeping energy crawl towards them.
Occasionally, a few flames would jump out of the wall as the wind blew
by. Within moments he saw the men fall to the ground as screams of
pain floated down to them.

    "Gods! How are we supposed to get near that thing?" snarled Ryoga.

    "We don't, not while it's like this at least. Even the Kajakan
can't keep something like this too hot for long. It will be dangerous
though, the entire palace will be like the inside of a volcano."

    "No reason to change the plan then," said Ranma. "It should have
cooled enough for us to get through by tomorrow. Especially in this
weather."

    Ryoga spoke suddenly. "Ranma, the knights will be targeted."

    "I know," said the boy coolly.

    "You intend to do nothing?" said Shampoo in surprise.

    "What can I do? I'm a thief, not a knight. If I tried anything, it
would endanger our mission." The boy looked away from them for a
moment.

    "Ranma, she was your friend," said Ryu.

    "What's more important?" snapped the boy angrily as he whirled
around to face them. Tears streamed down his face. He calmed suddenly
and turned away again. "Ucchan would want me to stop this, for her.
The only way to do that, is to get that damn staff away from him."

    Shampoo looked worried for a moment. "He is right, misguided
perhaps, but correct. We can do more good by stopping the source."

    They turned away and left the castle for the next day.

++++++++

    Inside the barracks of the Knights of Bahamut, several men sat
around a large table with cards spread out among them. They were
dressed in uniforms, but their armor hung on the walls between the bed
racks where they slept. The scene was rather relaxed; a few weapons
hung from their sides. Several other men lay on the beds, or lounged
around with various instruments. They had just returned from a rather
uneventful mission. The goblins that had once held a grip on the trade
route had been dispersed before their arrival by one of their own.

    "So, she beat us again," muttered one of the men at the card
table.

    "Yes, she's getting worse," agreed another one of the men lazily.
"It's almost like we aren't needed anymore. That damn woman is too
good for our own good. We're getting fat and lazy just sitting here."

    "You're right, we're losing respect," commented the first man with
a tiny amount of anger.

    "Well, what can we do? We can't fault her for being as good, or as
lucky as she is. Any one of us would jump on the opportunity. I kind
of like having her around," said a third knight.

"Her cross dressing lackey came back today," commented one of the
nearby men.

    "They seem like a good couple. I wonder who wears the pants in
that home!" joked one of the men cheerfully.

    "She does," said a new voice. Everyone turned to see Konatsu
standing in the doorway lazily. He was wearing a plain looking dress
and had his sword strapped across his back.

    "Hey! Join us for some cards?" offered one of the men cheerfully.

    "Thanks, but no," replied the squire.

    Everyone in the room knew and respected him, if not openly. He
could have been a knight on his own. He had waved the honor several
times, siting that he did not want to leave his mistress's side.

    "Suit yourself," replied the man with a shrug. The feminine squire
wasn't much of a socialite. He preferred to keep to himself for the
most part. It wasn't all that unusual among them; most of the knights
who weren't sitting at the card table were like that.

    Konatsu walked by them silently and sat down on his bunk. He
leaned against the wall and sighed. Something had been bothering him
lately, a feeling of dread that he had not been able to put into
words. He knew what it was though. "Something evil approaches. I sense
that it is very near now, possibly even upon us all ready."

    "You worry too much. Who would be stupid enough to attack us
here?" scoffed one of the men.

    A red ring of energy formed on the floor where the man stood. He
screamed in pain as his body burst into flames and fell to the ground.
Within a few seconds all that remained was a smoking skeleton.

    The men were on their feet in an instant and reaching for their
weapons, scrambling to find their armor. It was far too late though. A
dark green mass of scales slowly rose from the glowing ring and hissed
at them.

    "What the hell is that?" screamed one of the men as it began to
uncoil itself.

    "Wyvern," snarled another knight nearby as he prepared himself.

    The creature was a gigantic winged lizard, not unlike a small
dragon. It's head scraped against the ceiling as it glanced around at
those in the room. A small jet of flames escaped its mouth as it began
to breathe. It's claws cut into the wooden floor and it slowly stalked
forward towards the men.

    "Get ready!" called out one of the knights.

    "Die monster!" screamed a man beside him as he charged forward.
The beast moved like lightening, it's neck snapped towards him and a
ball of fire struck him in the chest. The unfortunate knight screamed
in pain as he fell to the ground in flames.

    Konatsu was airborne in an instant. He flipped over the thing's
head and slashed at it. A shower of sparks flew into the air as his
sword cut into the scales on the thing's neck. He had managed to do
nothing more than scratch its hide for his efforts. He landed and
rolled away as the thing's tail snapped at him.

    "Get it!" cried one of the angry knights as he charged forward
with his compatriots. They swarmed forward towards the beast. It
roared angrily in reply and charged forward as well.

    Konatsu jumped up from the corner he had been standing in. Several
flashes of metal appeared in the sky and stuck in the hide of the
monster. Four throwing daggers that did nothing more than annoy the
creature. The wyvern ignored him and tore into the crowd of knights
with his teeth and claws. Blood sprayed into the air as they fell
around him. Parts of their bodies flew and rolled across the ground
leaving them screaming and injured or dead.

    "We need lady Ukyo," snapped Konatsu to the remaining knights.
Only five had survived so far. He rushed towards the doors and was
quickly followed. Once outside, another horrible surprise waited for
them.

    Around twenty black clad knights stood with weapons drawn.

    The lead knight stepped forward and snarled. "Kill them. Kill them
all."

+++++++++

    Ukyo Kuonji sat up in her bed. A cold sweat covered her body.
"What is this feeling?" She rolled upright and hung her legs off the
edge of the bed as she held her head. Her eyes were wide and terror
stricken. She slowly stood up and stared forward at her spear. The
blade was glowing with a white light. "Danger? Here? What's going on?"
She walked over to her new armor and frowned as she lifted it off of
its place on the wall.

++++++++++

    Nabiki Tendo laughed as she stared into the mirror once again and
watched the slaughter of the knights in an almost euphoric pleasure.
"Oh, how could they ever doubt me. Come my pet!" She waved her hand
over the image of the wyvern and smirked. A handful of the knights had
managed to make it outside, where Akane's troops waited for her. "You
have done well, return home now." She smiled as the thing returned
into the ring of flames that had spawned it. The image changed to a
view of the five knights fending off Akane's forces. "Oh sister dear,
we do work so well together. It's a pity you could not be there to see
it." She paused as something flashed for a moment in the image. "Hmm?
Could it be? Oh well, these few puny knights shall make no
difference."

++++++++

    Konatsu frowned as he stood with the two remaining knights. The
pair was young, and relatively inexperienced. They held their
broadswords ready on either side of him. The knights had them
completely surrounded. "We will die, as we should."

    "I've got no intentions of dying," snapped one of the men next to
him.

    "Yeah, but what can we do?" replied the other with a clearly
worried look on his face.

    "Cut a hole through the weakest point, and run. That is our only
chance for survival," replied Konatsu. He had also begun to see past
his anger, to the benefits of survival. After all, Lady Ukyo still
lived. Or so he hoped.

    "Well? Now what?" snapped the other knight.

    "What the hell is that?" said Konatsu as she noticed the glowing
orange form of the castle nearby.

    The lead black knight did not reply. "Take them."

    The forces around them charged and closed the trap around them.

    Out of the corner of his eye, Konatsu saw something move.

+++++++++++

    Ukyo Kuonji rushed across the rooftops of the city. It would take
no more than a few moments to reach the barracks. She jumped down from
the last roof and rushed into the large field the knights used for
practice. The silver helmet that covered her head hid her stern face,
and her long red cape billowed behind her as she charged around the
back of the building. She stopped cold at what she saw. Seven black
knights stood alone, they looked tired and battle worn. The bodies of
three of her fellow knights lay on the ground around them. An aura of
anger surrounded her as she stared at them hatefully.

    "What have you done here?"

    "Look, it's another one!" snapped one of them. The anger in his
voice was quickly abated when he saw her aura burning around them.

    "You'll all die!" screamed the angry Ukyo as she pointed her spear
at them. A ball of white energy began to form on the tip of the blade.
It was no larger than a golf ball.

    "Get her!" cried one of the men in a panic. It was far too late.
The last thing the men ever saw was a white light engulfing them.

    Ukyo fell to her knees and sobbed as the remains of their armor
clanked to the ground in front of her. She slowly rose to her feet and
began to search through the bodies. The three outside she could
recognize, but once inside she could not make out the remains of her
late friends. Those who were not burned beyond recognition, appeared
to be chewed and half eaten by some unknown monster. She staggered
outside of the building, out of the smell of burned and putrid flesh.
She lifted the visor on her helmet and became violently sick. She
staggered and leaned against the wall in an attempt to support
herself. She fell to her knees regardless and looked towards the black
knight's bodies. "There's a lot of them dead. I'm glad they all died
bravely." Her sorrow began to overwhelm them again. She stood up and
began to walk away. After a moment, she paused and looked at one of
the black knight's remains. It looked like the back of his armor had
been ripped off; there was nothing inside but a wet red mess with a
few bones protruding from the gore.

    "What could have done this?" she wondered for a moment.

++++++++++

    Ranma stood in the shadows and glared at the three men in front of
him angrily.

    "Who are you? What are you?" said one of the younger men.

    "I'm something you never saw," replied the pigtailed boy darkly.

    "Right, I am Hiroshi, this is Daisuke, and the girl here is
Konatsu," said the other man cheerfully. He made no move to approach
the shadowy figure though. "We are in your debt. Please tell us who,
or what you are? There will be questions."

    "So what. Stay away from the castle. You'll only get yourselves
killed," snapped Ranma as he turned away from them.

    Konatsu narrowed his eyes slightly. "You are not with the Emperor,
are you?" He recognized the voice from somewhere, but could not place
it.

    "Tell them, the Dragon Ghost has rescued you," replied the shadow
with a small chuckle as it vanished. "You'd best get out of town, take
the other knight with you. You'll all be killed if you stay here. We
will take care of the Emperor."

    "We?" said Daisuke in confusion.

    "Let's go. We're going to get Lady Ukyo," said Konatsu as he
whirled around and walked out of the alley.

    Hiroshi watched the shadows nervously. "The Dragon Ghost? That was
him? Man, what does a guy like that want here?"

    "It's not our concern at the moment. We have more important
matters," snapped the feminine man angrily.

    "Right," replied both knights as they followed after him.

++++++++++

    "You old softy, I knew you wouldn't leave her," said Ryu lazily as
he met Ranma on a rooftop near the scene.

    "Shut up. I don't want a word of this getting around. I did what I
could. Let's go."

    "My lips are sealed, for now," said the boy with a chuckle. "Come
on, the others are getting worried. I'll just tell them you went
looking for a whore or something."

    "You shut up!" snapped Ranma as he started to chase his partner
across the rooftops.

++++++++++

    The Dragon and the Ghost

    Part 9

    The Volcanic Castle

    Saffron smirked as he stared into the eyes of the Queen. Rouge
glared at him angrily from her chains as she was forced to her knees
with a rough shove. She turned her head and glared at Herb angrily. He
kept a tight grip on the chains behind her that bound all of her arms.
He placed his foot in the small of her back, forcing her down further.

    "So, the Queen has bowed before my demands," said the boy with a
vicious smirk. "I accept your surrender. Please sign over your country
to me."

    "I will never concede to you! My knights..."

    "Are dead. The Black Knights, nicely did away with them," finished
Herb with his smirk growing even wider.

    "Yes, Akane Tendo was an excellent replacement for her father. She
is quite strict, and has no tolerance for weakness," agreed Kiima.
"Their bodies will be put on display along the outer wall of the
palace."

    "No! It isn't true!" snarled the angry queen as she attempted to
stand.

    Herb forced her back to the ground and bent down next to her.
"Your Highness, surely a goddess would have chosen a much better place
than this to rule. Unless you like the cold for some odd reason, or
perhaps you just don't like heat. Or should I say, hot water?" His
words were a whisper. They did have the desired effect though. Rouge's
eyes went wide and she forced a gasp from her lips.

    "How did?"

    "That's none of your concern. Only that I do know, matters now."

    "Herb!" snapped Kiima.

    The man looked up at the frowning face of the Emperor and bowed.
"Apologies. I am merely trying to persuade her to cooperate. After
all, I do not dislike her. We have spent much time together, during my
diplomatic missions here."

    Saffron nodded and waved his hand. "Her cooperation is not really
needed. After all, the legion that follows us here will ensure our
victory. By tomorrow, the entire country will be well within my grasp.
She is yours Herb, do as you will with her."

    "Highness," replied the man with a low bow. He lifted the woman up
by her arms and carried her from the throne room.

++++++++

    Akane glared forward as she stood in front of the room containing
the Kajakan. After insuring that the door was the only entrance to the
dungeon, she had left the room. The Kajakan did not really need a
guard; its power was enough to destroy any thief that might dare touch
it. Apparently, Saffron thought she needed something to do.

    She growled slightly and glanced around. Lime and Mint were back
with their master at the moment, and she was bored. The steam that
rose from the ground created a sauna throughout the entire castle.
Occasionally, a blast of steam would jet through one of the walls. Her
armor kept her protected, thanks to her sister's enchantment, but it
was still damn uncomfortable.

    Saffron also left a few nasty surprises in the halls as well. That
meant she was going to stand here doing nothing for the rest of the
trip. Herb would come down on occasion and try to catch her sleeping,
or relaxing. Once again, her sister's anti sleep pills would keep her
vigilant. She hated owing the sorceress favors; she often took payment
in the most unusual ways. It irritated her to no end. Once, Nabiki had
made her wear a dress to the ball that followed the tournament where
she had beaten Saffron's best knights. That was when that moron Kuno
started to bother her.

    Nabiki actually seemed amused with this problem. The only reason
she hadn't gutted the poor fool already, was his nobility status. She
sighed and remained standing rigidly in front of the door.

++++++++++

    Outside the palace, a large crowd had gathered. Black knights
stood in front of the gates, guarding the entrance. While others
posted notices that the land was now a part of the Empire. Through the
gates around the city, more guards, soldiers, and knights arrived each
hour.

    "Well, that's the end of Joketsuko," muttered Ryu.

    "It's a shame, but now you see why our mission is so important. He
could easily do the same thing to any country. No one here knows how
he did it," said Shampoo.

    "I don't like being out in the open like this," grumbled Ryoga.

    "What did you want us to do? Hide ourselves in suspicious looking
cloaks, and cling to the shadows? They'd grab us for just looking like
that," snapped Ranma quietly.

    "Well, what should we do?" asked Shampoo.

    "Not sure, wait till nightfall at least," replied Ryu.

    "He's right, with this much protection, we won't be able to sneak
you in easily. We need this to go smoothly," agreed Ranma. "I'm not
sure if we can pull it off. They're bound to be watching that thing
with magic. If it was just me, I could probably pull it off."

    "It has to be me. If you tried to grab the Kajakan on your own,
you would be killed the instant you touched it," replied Shampoo
sharply.

    "You shouldn't be discussing such things in public," said a new
voice.

    Ranma seemed to vanish for a moment. He appeared behind the
cloaked man standing behind them and grabbed him by the neck. The rest
of the group surrounded the scene quietly and pushed towards an
alleyway nearby.

    Once hidden away from the eyes of the crowd Ranma backed against
the wall. He had a small knife pressed against the stranger's neck.
"You should learn to keep your mouth shut. I can help with that if
you'd like. After applying a little pressure, he relaxed his grip and
pushed the stranger away.

    She pulled back her hood and smiled lightly before she embraced
Ranma and kissed him. He stared in shock and dropped the knife as she
pulled away.

    "Ucchan? What the hell are you doing here? You've got to get out
of town! You'll be killed!"

    "Don't worry Ranchan, I'm not wearing a uniform right now. They'll
never know a cute girl like me is a knight. Right?" Ranma was sent to
his knees as he was promptly punched in the gut. "I'm glad you're here
Ranchan, but why are you here?" Her face had gone from a gentle smile,
to a full-blown scowl in a split second.

    "What do you think? You heard us talking," replied Ryu calmly.

    "As did anyone else within ten feet," replied the girl sharply.

    "These people don't care. They're too worried about what the
empire is going to do to them," replied Shampoo with a small shrug.

    "And if one of them decides to rat you out? Maybe to make sure
nothing happens to them?"

    "It won't matter. They don't know who we are," replied Ranma with
a shrug.

    "And who exactly are you?" snapped Ukyo.

    "That...is a secret," replied Ryu as he winked and wagged his
finger at her.

    "Gods! How stupid do you think I am?" snapped Ukyo. "This is why
you came here to begin with isn't it? To steal that staff?"

    "Well, kinda," said Ranma sheepishly.

    "And you didn't tell me? You lied to me?" Ukyo was furious.

    Ryu chuckled at this. "Oh, would you please help us steal from an
important guest of your queen, Miss Knight? I know you're not sworn to
protect her or anything, and you'd be a big help!"

    Ukyo frowned at him and looked away. "Okay, I see your point."

    "How many other knights have you found?" asked Ryoga as he pushed
up to her.

    "Huh? Only three. Konatsu, Hiroshi, and Daisuke. They're waiting
outside of town. I came in to see how bad things were," said Ukyo.

    "About as bad as they can get," noted Shampoo.

    "You don't know the half of it. All the other knights were killed.
I've gotten word that the other garrisons have been destroyed as well.
We three are the last." Ukyo looked near the point of tears as she
said this. "There's nothing we can do."

    "Then get out of town. Let us do our job," said Ranma firmly.

    "I can't do that. I've got to try. I'm coming with you," replied
the girl as she glared at him.

    "Absolutely not! You'll shine like a beacon inside that castle!
You're too tied down by all that magic," replied Ryu.

    "I'm going in anyway. I don't need my spear, or my armor to fight.
I did well enough before without it," snapped Ukyo firmly. "I'm doing
this with or without you."

    "Then you're doing it without us," said Ryu coldly.

    "I'll go with her then," said Ranma.

    "What?" snapped Shampoo. "I need you to get in there!"

    "No you don't. My technique will be useless. I can't hide the both
of us, Ryu would be better protection. You'll go after the Kajakan
with him, while Ukyo and I provide a distraction."

    "Hey! Why are we a diversion?" snapped the knight angrily.

    "Do you have a weapon?" asked Ranma as he ignored her ranting.

    Ukyo paused and lifted up her cloak. She was wearing plain looking
peasant clothes underneath it; a pair of pants and a shirt. At her
side, a short-sword hung from her belt.

    "Good enough. Get rid of that cloak," said Ranma as he pulled the
offending item from her neck and tossed it away.

    "Hey!"

    "Quit complainin will ya? You stick out like a sore thumb wearing
that thing."

    Shampoo smiled at this, and looked towards the dwarf. He glanced
up at her and shrugged his shoulders. "What?"

    "Perhaps Ryoga should accompany you two as well?" said the elf
calmly.

    "Hey, that ain't a bad idea," said Ryu.

    Ranma frowned and glared at them.

    "What the hell you talkin about?" snapped Ryoga. "I told you! He
ain't leavin my sight until I get paid! I was goin with him anyway!"

    "All right! Fine! Just, come on then," said the pigtailed boy as
he started walking away. "It'll be better if we prepare separately."

    Ryu stopped and clenched his fist. "Damn! Ranma wait!"

    "Huh? What is it?"

    "We both know the truth, I make too much noise. You go with
Shampoo. This is the one we don't want noticed."

    Ranma glanced at Ukyo and then back at Ryu.

    "I promise, I'll bring her back to you in once piece," said Ryu.
He rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air.

    "All right," agreed Ranma after a few seconds of silence. "You'd
better bring her back."

    "Ranchan?" muttered Ukyo.

    "Have I ever let you down?" said Kumon with a smirk.

    The two parties both started to walk away again. Ukyo broke away
and rushed up behind Ranma grabbing him in a rough hug.

    "Promise me Ranchan, promise you'll come back to me this time.
Don't lie again."

    "I promise," said the boy as he disappeared from her grasp
suddenly, leaving her standing alone in the shadows. Shampoo
disappeared with him, with a slightly surprised look on her face.

    "Come on! Quit wasting time!" snapped Ryoga grumpily. He paused
and blinked. "Ranma! You bastard! How dare you leave me behind!"

    "Shut up and come on!" snapped Ryu as he pulled the feisty dwarf
away by the back of his shirt. "Before one of those black knights
notices us standing around in the shadows like rats."

++++++++++

    "Man, I thought it'd take a lot longer for that noisy runt to
notice he'd been duped," commented Ranma as he glanced down at their
friends from the rooftops above them. He was holding Shampoo in his
arms.

    "Well, that was quite a surprise. Just wanted to get me alone?"
muttered Shampoo seductively as she hug from his neck. "By the way,
you can put me down now, but only if you want too." Ranma looked at
her and blinked as he set her down on the ground. "Aww, so soon?"

    "What's with you all of a sudden?" said the pigtailed boy as he
blushed and scratched the back of his head.

    "Ukyo was having so much fun teasing you. I was starting to feel
left out, that's all," said the elf girl as she put forth her cutest
face.

    "Yeah. Great. Could you stop now? You're creeping me out," said
Ranma nervously.

    "Oh don't be so serious. I thought you were the one with the sense
of humor," said the elf with a small giggle.

    "Yeah? Well, even I can only take so much of that crap. Here I
thought you were normal."

    "Hardly, normal is something I'm not allowed to be," grumbled
Shampoo with a slight frown appearing on her face.

    "Sensitive spot?" the pigtailed boy raised his eyebrow slightly
and smirked.

    "No. You just reminded me, that when this is over. I have to be a
princess again."

    "Not much fun eh? I don't miss palace life, I'll tell you that
much." Ranma started walking.

    "So, it is true?" muttered Shampoo, more to herself than Ranma.

    The boy snorted. "What of it? It doesn't matter anymore, it's all
in the past. I'll never go back to it, even if I could."

    "It matters to some people," commented Shampoo with a light smirk.
"Like snooty relatives, who insist on 'royal blood' being married into
the family," finished her mind.

    "Whatever. Shampoo, you know more about me than anyone alive. Keep
it that way, or you might not be," said the boy as he gave her a cold
stare.

    The elf girl smirked slightly. She could see the fear in the back
of his eyes, well hidden, but he did not want to hurt her. "Perhaps I
have grown on him?" she thought wryly.

    Ranma watched her in silence for a moment. She had the weirdest
smile on her face and didn't appear to be paying much attention. He
shrugged his shoulders and pulled the flask from his side. After a
moment, he was a young red-haired elf yet again. "Come on. We're
leaving."

+++++++++++++

    Ryu stepped into the darkened palace room carefully. Kajakan or
no, there was no time for them to set up any magic spells that could
watch the whole castle. Behind him Ryoga grunted and pulled himself up
the rope into the window.

    "Urgh! Couldn't you have picked a lower window?" he whispered
harshly.

    Ryu put his finger up to his lip and glared at him for a moment
before turning again to scan the room with his eyes.

    Ukyo appeared a moment later and dusted herself off as she landed
lightly on the floor. "Next time, I go first dwarf," she growled as
she waved her hand in front of her face.

    "Eeh?" said Ryoga as he looked at her for a moment. He waved his
hand and dismissed the comment. "Bah!"

+++++++++

    A few moments later they were moving from shadow to shadow in the
hallway. Ryu was trying his best to contain his anger. Ukyo was doing
relatively well, but Ryoga grunted dwarfishly every time he had run
across the hall.

    "These idiots are going to get me killed," he thought as he
glanced back at the pair. They weren't there. "What the? Where did? Oh
no. Ryoga."

++++++++++++++

    "Are you sure he went this way? I haven't seen him since he
disappeared," said Ukyo with a frown forming on her face. "Look, maybe
we should go back to the room and wait for him there?"

    "I know where we're goin damn it!" snapped the dwarf as he
strolled down the darkened hallway.

    Ukyo sighed and followed him. She didn't have much choice now.

    Ryoga jumped back and eeped in alarm as his foot hit one of the
large stones on the ground. A jet of steam erupted all around him
sending him jumping back howling in pain.

    The knight managed to grab him and shove a hand over his mouth
roughly. They both paused as the entire hallway seemed to jump ten
degrees in temperature in a split second.

    "What the hell was that?" said Ukyo quietly.

    Ryoga looked up at her and shrugged his shoulders. Only then did
he notice the orange glow that was starting to shine from behind her.
The pair slowly turned around and saw a large black lump sitting in
the shadows behind them.

    "I've got a bad feeling about this," said the knight as she backed
away from the mass with her sword drawn. It had started to move.

+++++++++++++

    "Ranma, where are we?" said Shampoo as she looked around the room
nervously.

    "We should be right above the dungeon," said the redhead as she
glanced around the room. They were in some sort of drainage system.
She didn't have the heart to tell Shampoo what it was for, but the
smell probably gave it away.

    "This is great! What the hell are we going to do stuck in a pipe?"
snapped the elf princess.

    Ranma smirked and tossed her hair as she turned to face her. "This
is going to be pretty messy. Stand back." Her hands became a blur and
a circular section of the pipe they were standing in started to fall
away. Ranma reached down and grabbed it as it fell, pulling it up with
a strained look on her face. She slid it back up through the hole, and
then placed it on the ground on the opposite side of the opening.

    Shampoo blinked and looked down at herself. Whatever that slime
was that lined the walls of the pipe, she was covered in it now.
"Ranma, what is this? Is it what I think it is?"

    "It's better if you don't know," replied the redhead as she jumped
down.

    Shampoo quickly followed, as she glanced around at her new
surroundings, she realized that they were in a hallway of some kind.
There was a thick haze of steam in the air, and the walls around them
occasionally turned slightly orange with the heat generated from the
Kajakan.

    "The Kajakan, where would he put it?" said Ranma as she looked to
her companion.

    "The most probable place would be the lowest point of the castle."

    "Then we go down," said Ranma as she pointed towards a staircase.

    "Hurry," agreed Shampoo. She had started to feel the heat through
the bottom of her shoes, a quick glance at Ranma revealed that she had
realized the same thing.

    The pair raced down the steps as fast as they could. Ranma pulled
ahead easily and slowed her pace slightly. A red glow became apparent
from the bottom of the stairs. "There it is!" he said to himself.

    Shampoo caught up with him about the time he entered the large
round room. There were several cells along the walls. Inside the bent
and warped bars were the skeletons of the former inmates. Even they
had a burnt look to them, as if touching them would reduce the remains
to nothing but dust.
    Standing in the center of the room was the Kajakan. The red aura
of power forced them to shield their faces in an attempt to push back
the heat.

    Ranma noticed a wisp of smoke directly in front of her face. She
looked down and saw that her shoes were beginning to smoke. "Hurry up
and grab that damn thing!"

    Shampoo had already stepped forward. She had a tranced look in her
eyes, and her hair was blowing as if pushed up by a magical wind. She
seemed to glide forward as she reached for the staff. The light of the
Kajakan seemed to almost swallow her up leaving only a blurry
silhouette behind.

    "Come on! Take it!" whispered Ranma as she rubbed her fingers
together in anticipation.

    Shampoo's had closed around the staff and hissed on contact,
sending a few tendrils of smoke into the air. Slowly, the metal began
to scrape the stone below as it was pulled away. Finally the young elf
girl released the Kajakan from the ground and held it high over her
head in the air. The red glow died down completely and left them in
total blackness.

+++++++++++++++

    Ryu Kumon was having a bad day. He was stuck in a castle full of
hostile soldiers, looking for two lost idiots. It was not his idea of
a good time. Apparently Ranma was doing all right. He knew this
because none of the men sleeping in the rooms that lined the hallway
had been awakened yet. If they were, he was basically screwed. He
frowned and slipped into a room where the door was opened slightly. It
was pitch black, with no windows to let in any light.

    "Who goes there?" said a small quiet voice.

    Ryu froze and slowly turned around. He grit his teeth and slowly
began to draw his sword. If he was fast enough, and lucky enough...

    "You are not Lord Herb?" the voice sounded hopeful, and feminine.

    Ryu replaced the blade as he saw who was speaking. It was a young
girl, sitting in what appeared to be a cage. "Who the hell?"

    "You've come to help me?" said the woman as she rushed up to the
bars.

    "Nope, sorry. You're out of luck," said Ryu. "Who are you anyway?"

    "Oh! You must help me! Lord Herb locked me away in here! I can't
stand it!"

    "Why should I?" said Ryu calmly.

    "If you don't, I'll scream," said the girl with tears starting to
form in her eyes. There wasn't much light in the room, so he couldn't
see her very well.

    "I'll bet I can shut you up before you do," replied Ryu as he
slowly pulled the sword out again.

    "Please! You can't just leave me here!" cried the girl
desperately.

    "Why not? You might be a trap. I've seen things that act like
young girls in order to get men to drop their guard. Many wizards like
to use them as traps. It'd be safer just to leave you where you are
and leave."

    "Please no!" cried the girl desperately.

    "Sorry," Ryu turned away and stalked back towards the door.

    "Please! I'll do anything!" cried the girl in desperation. It was
a little too loud for Ryu's liking.

    "She's gonna wake up the whole damn castle if I leave her here!
Shit!" He slowly turned back and drew his sword again.

    He could see the girl cringe back with fear in the shadows. He
hacked down and she squeaked in terror.

    "Damn, she would have died quietly too," grumbled the boy angrily.
"You'd better be rich, or at least cute." He said as he grabbed her
roughly by her arm and pulled her from the now opened cage. The heavy
lock that had held her was in two pieces on the floor.

+++++++++++

    Ranma's eyes adjusted to the darkness, then a small flash of light
nearly blinded her. She cringed back and shielded her eyes for a
moment. After she adjusted again she looked at the source. Shampoo had
drawn a small light dagger from her side and planted it in the ground.
She was holding her left hand gingerly, and it was obvious it was
pretty badly burned. At her feet was the Kajakan.

    "Pick that up will you? I can't carry it until I heal my hand."

    "Right, you're a real riot," muttered Ranma.

    "I'm serious. The Kajakan will not harm you now. Its power has
been sealed for now. Only the Emperor or a powerful wizard can use its
magic now. It is nothing more than an interesting weapon to us."

    "Great, so let's get out of here," said the redhead cheerfully.
"You can heal that after we're a safe distance away."

    "Right," agreed Shampoo as she pulled her dagger out of the
ground. Ranma frowned at the knife, but said nothing.

    "Well, it seems I've got rats in my cellar," said an amused
sounding voice from above them.

    Ranma and Shampoo stepped back as the black clad figure stalked
down the stairs with her sword drawn.

    "That armor," muttered Ranma with her eyes growing wide. "I know
that armor!"

    "I am Akane, leader of the Emperor's Black Knights. You will not
leave this dungeon alive." The menacing woman took up a combat stance
and Ranma narrowed his eyes.

    "I also know this style," she said out loud. "Anything Goes
Martial Arts."

    "How do you know that?" said Akane with an amused chuckle. "Has it
killed one of your friends, or perhaps a family member?"

    Ranma smirked. "No, it left about twenty of your men dead outside
the barracks of the Knights of Bahamut." She took up her own combat
stance and smiled as she stared into the black knight's eyes.

    Akane was speechless, her mind raced for an explanation and could
find none. "How can this be? It's not possible!"

    "You also wear the armor of the man who killed my father. I guess
I'll have to let you live, so I can find out who he really is,"
thought the redhead with a small frown.

    Shampoo picked up the Kajakan with her good hand and backed away
into the shadows. She would be of no use without her burnt hand in a
fight like this.    It would be best to try and leave before things
got out of hand. Ranma glanced at her and gave her a small nod in
approval. The redhead then turned her attention towards the black
knight, and did not waver again.

    +++++++++++=

    The Dragon and The Ghost.

    Part 10

    Escape from the Mountain Palace.

++++++++++

    Ryu Kumon paused in the shadows with his grip firmly on the young
girl's wrist. They had yet to move away from the shadows, and were
walking down the darkened hallways silently together.

    She pulled at him for a moment and gasped. "Wait! Where are we
going?"

    Ryu frowned and glanced back at her for a moment. He still hadn't
gotten a good look at her face. "Shut up and follow me. We'll leave
soon enough."

    She made an unpleasant grumble, but remained quiet otherwise as he
pulled at her arm.

    Ryu paused as a pale blue light appeared down the hallway. He
frowned and moved towards it slowly. "What is that?" It was a steady
light and did not flicker.

    "We shouldn't go any closer," warned the woman carefully.

    "Why not? Do you know what it is?" asked Ryu.

    "No, but I feel an evil presence." He could feel her pull away
from his grip slightly.

    "You aren't going anywhere without me kid. I still don't trust
you," he snapped as he pulled her behind him and moved in closer.

    She whimpered slightly and allowed herself to be pulled along.

    The light was coming from a slightly opened door at the end of the
hallway. It was large and ornately decorated carvings of men and women
floating on clouds. It appeared to be made of gold, but closer
inspection revealed it was only a painted heavy wood. Ryu pressed
himself against the wall and crept up slowly, his arm was pushed
across the woman's chest holding her down as he slowly approached the
doorway.

    "What the hell is this?" he whispered as he peered inside the
crack.

    It was an almost empty room; there was nothing but a large crystal
of some kind. There were no guards, and nothing that looked like a
trap of any kind. He slowly pushed at the door and entered carefully.
His eyes went wide with horror at what he found inside. The woman
pressed herself against his back and glanced around nervously.

    He turned to look at her in the light for a moment and pushed her
off of him gently. She was beautiful, long white hair flowed down her
back, and she was dressed in expensive looking clothes with a long
cape flowing down her back. His gaze shifted back at the massive
crystal in the center of the room.

    Inside was a young woman of about his age, with long black hair. A
look of pain was frozen on her face and she looked like she was trying
to escape her prison. "What the hell?" he muttered as he stared at her
for a moment.

    "Dark sorcery," muttered the woman with him carefully.

    "Is it that obvious?" he snapped back at her.

    "Done quite skillfully," muttered the woman with an odd look in
her eyes.

    The crystal seemed to sparkle as he moved around it, if not for
the richly dressed woman inside, it would have been quite beautiful.
"Why would it take this much to imprison one woman?" muttered Ryu as
he rubbed the surface of the crystal. Spells like this were familiar
to him; they were usually used to imprison powerful sorcerers. She
didn't even look like a minor witch.

    "We should go," pressed the woman urgently.

    "You're right," grumbled Ryu as he glanced at the woman one last
time. This was something he really didn't need to deal with. He paused
at the door and glanced back at her one more time. "Damn."

    "What is it?" said the woman nervously.

    "Look, on her neck," he said pointing towards something in her
grip.

    "What is it?" the woman looked towards the figure and saw an odd
looking necklace. "That's..."

    "I don't want you telling anyone of what we saw here," said Ryu as
he turned towards her with a frown on his face.

    "Why would I do that? Who would I tell?" said the woman as she
turned away from him.

    Ryu smirked at her. "Goodbye lady." He slowly drew his sword.

+++++++++++

    Ukyo stepped back with her sword in her hands, Ryoga growled and
stood his ground with his battle-axe in his hands.

    "What is it?" snapped the dwarf as he eyed the slowly uncoiling
mass of black in front of him. A hissing sound answered him and he had
to stop himself from taking a step back.

    "A serpent," replied Ukyo quietly. Her hands were shaking with
fear, but she forced herself to stand her ground. The rooms around
them were empty, but there was no where for them to run. The thing was
between them and the hallway. Only a window that led to the outside of
the castle and a vertical drop of about two thousand feet was behind
them.

    The moonlight shone in as the thing moved forward. It was still
hidden in the shadows, but the outline of its body could be seen
rising from the floor. It was easily a foot in diameter, and three
heads could be seen weaving back and fourth in the silhouette. It
reared itself up to its full height and almost reached the ceiling, a
long body vanished into the darkness behind it.

    "Great," grumbled Ryoga as he recognized the thing as it came into
the light that shone behind them. "It's a young hydra."

    The thing hissed menacingly. It looked almost like a giant three-
headed snake; each head had two large yellow eyes that glared at the
pair. The thing's heads looked almost bird like, with two long fangs
protruding from the top and bottom jaws of each mouth.

    "We can't run," said Ukyo nervously.

    "You know any fire magic?" snapped the dwarf as he swiped at it
with his axe. The thing jumped back and snapped at him angrily.

    "No. All the magic I ever needed was in my spear, and my armor,"
replied the girl as she moved up beside him and slashed with her
sword. It stayed just ahead of the blades and snapped at them angrily.

    "We're in trouble then," replied the dwarf as he glanced around.
There were no torches on the walls, not even unlit ones.

    "What do we do?" asked Ukyo carefully.

    "We've got to get by it," snarled the dwarf as he jumped and
hacked down on one of the heads. A long cut appeared on its neck and
blood splattered on the floor. The stone began to hiss angrily as the
blood boiled on the ground where it landed. A foul smelling vapor rose
from the ground where the liquid had fallen. "Don't get any of that on
ye," said the dwarf.

    "Poisonous?" said Ukyo with a small nod.

    "And venomous," confirmed Ryoga with a small nod.

    "Great," muttered the knight. She stepped forward and slashed at
the thing, forcing it back slightly. She was forced to jump back as
two of the heads countered back at her.

    Ryoga grit his teeth and snarled angrily. "Damn you Ranma! I can't
die like this! This is all your fault!"

    "Shut up and fight you jackass!" snapped the knight as she stepped
forward offensively again.

+++++++++++

    Akane stepped into the room with the two elves and smirked. "Well,
an elf who knows my style? How unusual. Tell me how you learned of it,
before I kill you."

    "Fat chance," replied the redhead as she tensed her body up in
anticipation.

    "I suppose I'll just have to beat it out of you then," snapped the
black knight in retort. She pulled the mask down from her helmet and
placed it over her face. It was as black as the rest of it. Even the
horn that protruded from the samurai helmet was made of black iron.

    "Not gold," muttered Ranma as she eyed her opponent carefully.

    "Pardon?" said Akane as she drew her sword.

    "You'll find out soon enough!" snapped Ranma as she rushed
forward.

    Akane gasped as the elf appeared in front of her face. "What?" She
sliced through the air with her massive blade, only to find the young
girl was gone. "So fast!"

    "You're going to tell me everything I want to know," said a voice
from the shadows. Akane found herself spinning in place as she
searched for her opponent.

    "What sort of demon are you?" she screamed in rage.

    "I'm no demon, I am a ghost of the past," said the voice
ominously.

    "Damn you! Coward! Show yourself! Fight me!"

    "If that's the way you want it," said Ranma as she appeared just
behind her. "I won't disappear again, but you'll wish I had."

    Akane swung her sword in a wide arc, only to find the elf had
skillfully jumped over the blade. She had only a fraction of a second
to brace herself as the elf's foot slammed into her mask.

    Ranma landed lightly on the still steaming ground and frowned as
she put her fists up. The black knight landed on her back roughly, her
sword flew from her hand and skittered across the stone wall, finally
coming to rest against the metal bars of the cells turned tombs. "Who
is the man who wears armor like yours, but with a golden mask?"

    "What?" grumbled Akane as she slowly staggered to her feet. "I've
never seen armor like that."

    "I don't believe you," said Ranma angrily.

    Akane stared the girl down and glanced over to her sword. She
looked back at the elf once again and began to tear her armor off of
her body. She threw the pieces against the wall, leaving only her
gauntlets and boots on. The clothing underneath was a black silk dogi.
She snarled and brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "Now, you'll
regret not dying quietly."

    Ranma snorted and put her fists up. "Come on then."

+++++++++++++

    "What?" snapped the girl as Ryu stalked up to her with his sword
drawn.

    "I thought as much. You're trying to find out if I'm here with
anyone else."

    The girl seemed to cringe in fear under his gaze. "I-I..."

    "Shut up," snarled the boy as he raised his blade over his head.

    "No!" screamed the girl as she thrust her hand forward. Ryu saw a
tiny light form there, and was then thrown against the far wall
roughly.

    He staggered to his feet and shook his head. The girl seemed to by
crying as she leaned against the wall. He frowned as he realized that
he was wrong. She was laughing.

    "I never was one for patience, guess I rushed things a bit," said
the woman as she faced him with a vicious smirk on her face. He put
her hand up towards him and Ryu screamed in pain as he was forced back
into the wall again. "I was hoping you'd lead me to your partner. I
have business to discuss with him, or should I say... her?"

    "Bitch! I knew I should have killed you in that cage!"

    "Fool, do you really think I would have allowed that?" retorted
the woman with her smile growing wider.

    Ryu staggered forward as the power let up and released him. "That
was a mistake," he growled, a trickle of blood ran down his chin and
he coughed. There was an imprint of his body in the wall behind him as
he staggered forward.

    "Perhaps," said the woman coldly.

    "Who are you?" snapped Ryu.

    "That would be telling. I do have some questions for you though, I
hope you'll answer honestly. This could get quite messy otherwise."

    Ryu staggered forward and leaned on the crystal in the center of
the room. He bent down and picked up his sword from the ground and
stood in a shaky offensive stance. "Fuck you."

    "Oh, let's be nice about this," replied the woman as she raised
her hand again.

    Ryu screamed in pain as energy crackled through his body. He fell
to his knees and fell to the ground face first.

    The woman smiled as she stepped back and lowered her hand again.
"Now, let's begin." Ryu looked up at her just in time to see her hand
thrust forward again. He was lifted from the ground and pressed
against the crystal with his back against it. He snarled angrily as he
felt every part of his body begin to buckle against the surface.

    "Damn you!" screamed the boy as he managed to lift his arms up and
point the sword forward. The woman smiled darkly, but it quickly faded
as the boy slowly turned the blade towards himself.

    "What is he?" she managed as she pushed him against the crystal
harder.

    Ryu smirked at her with a wild rage in his eyes. He had begun to
mutter something under his breath. "Dispel!" he cried out in triumph
as he stabbed downward.

    "No!" screamed the woman as the blade of the sword struck the
surface of the crystal.

    Lines of cracks began to appear along the surface. A bright light
started to shine from inside the prison enveloping the entire room.

    As the light cleared, Ryu stood in the center of the room with a
wide grin on his face. The woman trapped inside the crystal was lying
on the ground, still unconscious. The boy's sword was back in its
sheath and he looked like he was quite unharmed, despite what the
woman had done.

    "What?"

    "I've been playing weak, get it?" snapped Ryu as he glared at her.

    "Hmm, I wasn't expecting a thief to be a real fighter," said the
woman with a dark smile forming on her face. "I guess I don't have to
hold back anymore."

    Ryu's smile fell slightly at this, but he remained firm. "You
don't know what you're dealing with."

    "On the contrary, I know exactly what I'm dealing with," said the
woman sharply. "It is you, who doesn't realize what's happening."

    "Come on then!" snarled Ryu angrily as he put up his fists.

++++++++++++

    Ryoga jumped back and snarled angrily as the threw his cloak on
the ground. The fur had begun to melt away as on of the creature's
neck sprayed it's blood into the hall. Ukyo was pressed against the
wall near the window and growled as the dwarf appeared beside her.

    "What the hell were you thinking?" she snapped.

    "You shut up! That thing was gonna eat me!" he retorted. The
serpent had moved back and was hidden in the shadows once again. The
two remaining heads began to scream in pain as it writhed on the
ground for a moment.

    Another spray of blood appeared on the ground in front of the pair
and they edged back against the wall nervously.

    "Now what?" snapped Ukyo angrily.

    "We're no worse off than we were before!" snapped the dwarf.

    "We've got to get out of here!" cried Ukyo as the Hydra approached
again. This time, there were four heads glaring at them angrily.

"I don't want to die!" cried the dwarf in despair.

    "Shut up! We aren't going to die!" snapped Ukyo as she stepped
forward into the puddle of blood.

    "Yes we are, there's no way we can win," muttered the dwarf as he
let his axe touch the ground in front of them. "Ukyo, cut off all the
heads," he said suddenly.

    "What?" she screamed.

    "Just do it," he replied. He seemed to be struggling with
something.

    Ukyo looked at him, his eyes told everything. He just wanted it to
be over quickly.

    "We aren't going to survive if I do," she commented.

    "It doesn't matter. Just make sure this thing remembers us," he
replied quietly. Tears were running down his face as he said this.
"It's all over for us. I'm not so foolish as to think otherwise."

    Ukyo nodded at him and got and turned to glare at the beast. She
held her sword in front of her horizontally. One hand on the hilt, and
the other along the blade. "Come on you bastard! Eat this!" She rushed
forward suddenly. The hydra snapped at her and she rolled underneath
its strikes slashing at the base of the neck. Her sword went through
smoothly and a spray of the blood shot out towards her, she braced
herself for the horrible death and closed her eyes.

    "SHI SHI HOUKOU DAN!"

++++++++++++

    Ranma smirked as she punched the girl in the face, sending her
staggering back under the force of the blow.

    "Damn you!" muttered Akane angrily as she swung again and again,
putting everything she had into her assault. The red-haired girl
danced around the blows almost mockingly. "I will not fail!"

    "You already have, you were supposed to be guarding the Kajakan,
weren't you?" replied the elf in reply.

    "What?" snapped Akane as she realized something was wrong. She
stopped her attack and glanced around the room. "Where?" The other elf
was gone.

    "Boy, are you gonna get it now," said the elf girl mockingly.

    "I'll kill you!" screamed Akane in rage. She charged forward and
punched out at her opponent again. She missed and shattered the stone
wall behind the redhead.

    "Not today!" snapped the elf girl as she appeared behind her with
her knee in her neck. Akane slumped to the ground, out cold.

    "Damn! I still don't know who that damn armor belongs too! Wake
up!" cried the elf girl as she pulled the fallen knight up by her
collar and slapped her repeatedly across her face. "Shit!" she cried
in frustration.

    "Ranma! Leave her! It's time to go!" said Shampoo as she rushed
down the stairs with the Kajakan in her hand.

    "What the hell are you still doing here? Get out of the castle!"
snarled the redhead angrily. "You know the way!"

    "I won't leave you behind," insisted the violet haired elf as she
started back up the stairs again.

    "Damn it!" snarled Ranma in frustration as she glared down at the
black knight.

++++++++

    Ryu glared at the woman angrily. "Get out of my way."

    "You're not going anywhere, until I find out exactly what I want
to know!" replied the sorceress with a dark look in her eyes.

    "DON'T MOVE!" cried Ryu as he rushed towards her suddenly.

    "Bah! Pathetic!" snarled the woman as she shoved her hand forward
again and sent Ryu sprawling across the ground. The boy landed on top
of the girl who was trapped inside the crystal and she gave a small
whimpering cry.

    "Damn it," thought the boy as he glared at the woman who stood
between himself and freedom. He glanced down at the girl underneath
him and frowned.

    The woman had started to walk towards him with a dark smile on her
face. He stood up and lifted the dark haired girl up in his arms.
"Move!" screamed Ryu as he rushed forward.

The sorceress put her hand up again and thrust it towards the boy. Her
eyes went wide at what he did next. He pushed the girl up in front of
himself, using her as a shield. "What?"

    All of a sudden, Ryu was next to her, still holding the girl in
front of his body. The sorceress shifted her weight to dodge the
strike that came next, but it was too late. An impossibly powerful
blow struck her in the chest. She was thrown across the room and
slammed into the wall, causing a crater in the stone. She jerked
upright, holding her chest and attempted to get her breath back
desperately. Finally, she fell to her knees coughing violently. After
a moment she managed to regain control of herself.

    "He tried to tear my heart out with his bare hands! If I hadn't
moved in time..." Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around the room and
found him long gone. "Damn! I didn't count on him being so ruthless."
She stalked forward towards the hall and threw open the doors with a
powerful aura surrounding her body. "I will kill him!"

++++++++++++++

    Ukyo Kuonji stood without a shirt on and leaned against the wall
breathing harshly. The only thing covering her chest was the tight
bindings she used to hold her breast down. Her right arm was bandaged
as well, just below her shoulder. She glared at the dwarf angrily.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me you could do that?"

    "It's an old mining technique among dwarves. We used it to clear
away rubble from cave-ins and rockslides. It's very dangerous to use,
and you must have a sense of complete despair for it to work. If I had
even considered for a moment that I might use it to beat that monster,
it would not have worked." Ryoga was leaning over the body of the
hydra. He lifted a jar up in his hands and closed it carefully before
placing it in the bag that hung from his side. The four necks were
sealed shut by the heat from the shi shi houkou dan. The remains of
six heads lined the hallway where the battle had taken place.

    "Come on, let's get the hell out of here," snapped the woman
angrily as she moved towards an intersection of halls. There were
four, and they each went in a different direction.

    "Fine! Don't thank me then!" retorted the dwarf as he caught up.
"Eh? What's that noise?"

    Ukyo paused and glanced down the hall, she drew her sword once
again at the sound of distant explosions. "That's coming from inside
the castle!"

    "D'ya hear someone shouting?" said Ryoga as he cocked his head.

    "Ryu?" said Ukyo as she started to turn away and jog down the hall
opposite the one where the sounds were coming from.

    Ryu appeared from around a corner just behind her, he appeared to
be carrying someone on his back and was running down the hall with a
panicked look on his face.

    "Move it! She's pissed!" he screamed as he started to catch up.

    "What the hell did you do?" cried Ukyo angrily.

    The familiar clatter of soldiers rushing up behind them started to
fill the hallway behind her.

    She glanced back and saw men starting to fill the halls behind
her, all of them armed. She rushed up to Ryu and screamed angrily.
"What kind of thief are you? You woke up the whole damn castle!"

    "The noisy one!" retorted the boy as he pulled ahead of her.

    Ukyo blinked as she noticed the young girl draped over his back.
She had a somewhat worn look about her, and was dressed in the remains
of an expensive looking gown. She was also smoking slightly, as if she
had been blasted from behind several times.

    "I'll kill you!" screamed an angry feminine voice from behind
them. Ryoga glanced over his shoulder and saw a woman with long white
hair floating over the crowd of soldiers. Throwing blasts of energy
indiscriminately at anyone who got in front of her. Men were thrown
aside by the dozens as she shot her way down the hallway with an angry
snarl on her face.

    "What the hell did ya do?" he screamed as he rushed up to Ukyo and
Ryu as fast as he could.

    "There it is!" screamed Ryu as he pointed to the room where they
had entered the castle from. He rushed inside and put on two gloves
over his hands. The sounds of explosions grew ever closer and he
jumped out the widow grabbing the rope. "Don't just stand there!
Move!" he screamed at Ryoga and Ukyo.

+++++++++++++

Ranma glared at the stares Shampoo was giving her. "What the hell are
you doing?"

    "I'm taking her with me! She's got some questions to answer!"
retorted the redhead angrily as she shoved the elf girl aside and
carried the unconscious knight over her shoulder.

    "Are you out of your mind?" snapped Shampoo as she rushed up
beside her.

    "I'll get rid of her later. I have to know! I've come to far to
give up now. Besides, we don't have time to interrogate her here!"
snapped Ranma in retort as she pushed by.

    "You idiot!" retorted the elf angrily as she followed behind him.
"You'll get us all killed!"

    "I got that stupid staff for you didn't I? Quit complaining!"
replied the pigtailed elf as she jumped down into the tunnels that
would lead them outside.

++++++++++++

    The sorceress burst into the room and screamed in rage as she
blasted everything inside to dust. She floated around for a moment
looking through the burned remains for any signs of her prey. The
soldiers who survived the chase through the hallways, wisely chose to
search elsewhere.

    She glared around and frowned as she saw a glint of metal hanging
from the window. She rushed over and peered outside, only to find a
long empty rope hanging there. "Nooooooo!" she screamed in rage.

    Lime and Mint rushed into the room with panicked looks on their
faces. "Lord Herb! What is happening?"

    "Damn them! You two idiots get me some hot water! Right now!"
snapped the woman as she turned to face them.

    "Yessir!" the chimed nervously, before rushing away. They stumbled
over one another as they attempted to squeeze through the door at the
same time.

    "No one makes a fool out of me!" she snarled as she punched the
wall, creating another window. "Damn them!" She paused as a
realization came to her suddenly. She rushed out into the hallway and
grabbed two men who had been walking by in their search for the
intruders. "You two! Gather as many men as you can and go to the
dungeon! At once!"

    "Yes at once... Uh, who are you?" said one of the men nervously.

    "Shut up and do it or I'll burn you alive!" snapped the angry
woman. Her irises became two small slits as she glared at them.

    "Yes Ma'am! Right away!" agreed the other as he elbowed his
companion in the ribs.

    After they left, Herb smirked to herself. "Perhaps this is not the
disaster it seems to be. The Kajakan could be gone, if that is so..."
She chuckled darkly and turned towards her chambers.

+++++++++

    Nabiki Tendo stood in front of her mirror at the Imperial Palace.
She chuckled to herself and watched the scene unfold before her. "Yes,
soon it will be time for you to fulfill your destiny Herb darling. I
can't wait." A cold smile slowly crept onto her face as the image
faded away. "Soon, very soon indeed." Her laughter echoed through the
hallways of the palace long into the night.

+++++++++

    Soun sighed as he placed his teacup down on the small table next
to his personal throne. "There she goes again. I honestly wonder about
my daughter some times."

    His wife looked over at him coolly. "As do I. I wonder what could
have caused this?"

    He flashed a small glare at her and shook his head. "I'm tired."

    "I'll remember that tonight husband," said the woman as she turned
away from him.

    Kasumi appeared with another tray of tea and walked up to them.
"Oh my. Nabiki seems so cheerful lately." She began to serve her
parents tea full of blissful ignorance.

+++++++++

    Ryu smirked as he took off his gloves and watched his companions
blowing on their hands desperately. They had slid down the rope rather
quickly at his insistence. "Well, that's that. Let's get out of here
before they start combing the place for us." He stood up and started
to walk away.

    "Wait! What about her?" said Ukyo as she pointed towards the
unconscious girl. Ryu had left her lying on the ground.

    "Right. Bring her if you want," said the boy with a shrug.

    Ukyo sighed and lifted her up in her arms with a wince of pain.
Her hands would take a while to heal on their own. Luckily, she had
some healing magic in with her things back at the meeting place.

    "Do you think Ranma got away?" whispered the Knight timidly.

    "Only one way to find out," replied Ryu. "Come on, we'll wait at
the meeting place."

    Ukyo smirked slightly as she caught him taking quick glances at
the castle as they left.

    "When I get my hands on Ranma, I'll ring his neck for making me go
through all this!" snapped the dwarf angrily.

+++++++++++++

    The Dragon and The Ghost.

    Part 11

    Ryu's brave deed.

+++++++++++

    Ranma smiled as Ryu glared at her. They were standing in a field
just outside Joketsuko, away from the trade roads that entered the
city. It was late night, and the twin moons hung overhead giving the
reunited party its only light.

    "Have you lost your mind?" snapped Ryu as he stomped his feet
angrily. He glared at the black night for a moment and spun on his
heels away from the still smirking redhead.

    Akane was tied up with her hands behind her back, the last
remnants of her armor were still inside the drainage tunnel the two
elf girls had used to enter and exit the castle; leaving her clothed
in a black silk dogi, and a pair of leather boots.

    Ukyo stood nearby watching the scene in disgust. She was now
dressed in her armor again, and was applying healing herbs to her
hands. Ryoga was next to her doing the same thing. "This was a really
stupid move Ranchan."

    "I don't think so, she could be quite valuable to us later on. We
may need a bargaining chip along the way," commented Shampoo.

    "Herb won't bargain for my life. He doesn't like me. The Emperor
won't lose any sleep if I die in service to him either," said the
black knight coldly.

    "You aren't helping your case any," commented Ranma dryly. "I need
information from you. You aren't going anywhere until I get it."

    "I told you. I've never seen armor like you've described," replied
the woman curtly.

    "I don't believe you," snorted the redhead. "Besides, at least I
know who my little guest is."

    The dark haired girl had awoken a short time earlier. She was in
the same situation as Akane, but appeared to be taking it in stride.
She merely sat quietly and listened to the conversation.

    "We know she was a prisoner," said Ryu calmly. "That means she's
got no love for the Emperor at least."

    "I wouldn't count on that," said Ranma as she glanced at her
carefully.

    "That's why she's tied up," retorted Ryu. "Your little package is
a time bomb! She could alert any soldiers passing by, or even escape
and try to kill us."

    "She's unarmed. Plus, she's been hacking at those ropes, with that
rock she picked up, for an hour. You'd think she would have realized
they were enchanted by now," said Ranma as she leveled her gaze on her
prisoner.

    Akane glared at him angrily for a moment, before she dropped the
rock on the ground and tugged at her binds. They weren't weakened in
the slightest, and she knew it. "Damn."

    "I say we kill her," said Ryu firmly.

    "No. We may get some useful information out of her. Even if she
doesn't know of this armor," said the black haired girl as she glared
at the black knight in anger.

    "I was wondering when you'd speak up. I'm sorry, but we're going
to have to keep you tied up until we find out who you really are lady.
I don't trust you, the fact that you want to keep her alive isn't
helping you either," said Ryu as he turned to face her.

    "I can accept that," she said firmly.

    "I don't recognize her," said Ukyo as she walked around the girl.
"I don't spend much time inside the castle though."

    "Well, I doubt she's a servant the way they had her locked up,"
said Ryu with a small nod.

    "She don't look like a witch either," said Ryoga as he eyed the
girl as well.

    "I have no need of sorcery," replied the girl curtly.

    "Who are ye anyway?" said the dwarf as he walked up to her.

    "I am a member of the royal court," said the woman in reply. She
was being very diplomatic about the situation she was in.

    "She acts like it. She's scared out of her mind right now, but
she's calm; a diplomat maybe? Why lock her up though?" said Ranma.

    "Lady Ukyo. Was it you who rescued me?" said the girl as she
turned towards the knight. She seemed comforted by her presence.

    "No. He did," said the knight as she nodded towards Ryu.

    "I must thank you then." The girl bowed her head slightly to him.

    "I just needed a shield. That damn sorcerer was blasting at me
from behind," muttered the boy in embarrassment.

    Ryoga noted the tattered and burnt clothing she was wearing and
nodded, it seemed like something he'd do. Fortunately, neither Ukyo
nor the girl had overheard him.

    "High ranking noble at that," commented Ranma. "She's too refined
to just be a diplomat. She's acting like a high lady of the court or
something."

    "What would you know?" snarled Akane. "Spent a lot of time around
royals have you?"

    "That's my business lady. I'm starting to think killing you might
not be a bad idea," replied the elf girl lazily.

    "Do you have any idea about the situation you've put yourself in?"
snarled the black knight. "You have kidnapped the leader of the
Emperor's black knights. You'll be hunted down..."

    "Like dogs, to the Ends of the Earth!" finished Ranma mockingly.
"Yada, yada, yada, heard it all before. We're already hunted by every
military power and government on the continent. This isn't a problem
for us. Besides, I think they'll be more interested in finding this."
She held the staff up to the girl's face and smirked.

    "The Kajakan?" said the girl. "What would you want with that? It's
useless without the Emperor's power behind it!"

    "We don't want it," said Ryu with a shrug. "Someone hired us to
find it."

    "Who?" snapped the black knight.

    "That would be telling, wouldn't it Ryu?" said Ranma as she
glanced back at her partner.

    "Yup. Breach of contract and all that. People who hire thieves
don't want others to know who they are. That is why they hire us after
all," confirmed the boy with a nod.

    "Fine. Who are you anyway?" asked Akane as she looked away from
them.

    "Now that... is a secret," said the red-haired girl with a smirk
on her face as she winked at her and wagged her finger in the air.

    "Gods, not that guy again," muttered Ryu as he buried his face in
his hands. "I'll be glad if we never meet that jerk again as long as
we live."

    "He has uses," said Ranma lazily. "The question now is simple. Now
what?"

    "We take the Kajakan to safety, and get you paid," said Shampoo
with a small shrug.

    "What about you Ukyo?" said Ranma as he glanced at her.

    "I'm going with you. We should stop by and meet the other knights
tomorrow though."

    "You would leave at a time like this?" said the dark haired girl
in shock.

    "Can't think of a better time. The country is gone, the knights
are all dead, and I can do more good making sure this things stays out
of the Emperor's hands. Konatsu, Hiroshi, and Daisuke, can stay here
and try to build up a little resistance for a while if they want."

    "But... your knightly duties?" stammered the girl in shock.

    "Extend beyond protecting my home now. This is too important, and
even I can't fight off an army like this. We'd do better ensuring that
the Emperor is weakened, and wait for a better time to strike."

    "You... are right," said the girl with her head hanging slightly.

    "I imagine they killed the queen," said Ryu as he looked back
towards Joketsuko. "It'll be a long hard road if you want to resist."

    "She, is not dead," said the dark haired girl.

    "What?" said Ukyo with her eyes growing wide. "If that's true... I
really can't leave. I've got to go back!"

    "And get yourself killed?" said Ryoga as he squatted down and
began tightening the leather straps on the handle of his axe.

    "If there is any chance I can save my queen..." said the girl with
a slightly saddened glance back at Ranma.

    "I understand Ucchan," said the elf girl as she forced herself to
look away.

    "There is no need," said the dark haired girl with a heavy sigh.
"You have already saved her." She didn't want to tell them, but having
Ukyo going back to the palace was something she couldn't allow.
"You're looking at her right now."

    Everyone turned to face her, and simply stared.

    "Pardon?" said Ryoga after a long silence.

    "I am Queen Rouge," said the girl as she stood to her feet.

    "You don't look anything like her! She's got eight arms!" said
Ukyo angrily.

    "Sometimes I do, Lady Knight," replied the woman proudly as she
stared her down.

    "Oh, I get it. Some kind of transformation magic right?" said
Ranma with a smirk. "A nasty illusion to keep the yokels in check?"

    "Something like that," agreed Rouge calmly. "Having eight arms
puts a real strain on your back too. Once, my court masseuse had to
return home for a funeral. I was in a bad mood for a month."

    Ukyo blinked. "I...remember that."

    "Do you now?" said Rouge coyly.

    "Well..." muttered the knight in embarrassment.

    "We'd better get moving. I'd like to make it to a safe place
before sunrise," commented Ryu.

    "Right, it isn't going to take long for them to realize that we
aren't in the city," agreed Ukyo.

    "Aren't you going to cut me loose?" said Rouge in irritation.

    "Only after your story checks out, your majesty," said Ryu as he
started walking away.

    Ukyo looked at her apologetically. "If your story is true, please
forgive me." She bowed slightly and started to walk next to her.

    "All right, oh mighty dark one. Move it," said Ranma as she forced
Akane to her feet and kicked her rear.

    "You'll suffer for this humiliation," snapped Akane.

    "Bark more puppy. We may just have to put you down for being too
loud," said the cheerful elf girl as she forced her forward.

++++++++++

    "The Kajakan has been stolen?" said Saffron as he sat on the
throne in Joketsuko castle. He did not seem particularly worried.

    "Akane is gone as well. Perhaps she is a traitor?" said Herb
calmly as he kneeled before him.

    Kiima was standing beside the boy watching the scene unfold
quietly.

    "I doubt that. She's much too rigid and loyal. She has most likely
been kidnapped," commented the boy lazily.

    "As you say, she has still failed in her duty," pressed Herb
calmly.

    "If she returns without the staff, I shall put her to death," said
the boy.

    "As you say," muttered Herb placidly. He stood and started towards
the door. "It's a good thing I don't plan on allowing you to get your
hands on it again," he muttered quietly as he approached the doors.

    "Herb. One more thing," said the boy with a small smirk appearing
on his face.

    "Yes my Emperor?" He fell to his knees again and faced the boy.

    "Your failure did not go unnoticed either. Rouge is loose again,
that makes my position here dangerous." He turned his head slightly
and looked at the woman at his side. "Kiima, show him how we reward
such failures. Keep him alive though, he still has to retrieve my
staff."

    The woman's face grew into a sly looking smile. "Yes, of course."

    Herb stared at the ground as she approached. He did not move from
his knees, he merely growled quietly under his breath.

    Kiima stood over him and spread her wings wide. She held her hand
in front of her and a small orb of energy floated just above her palm.


++++++++++

    Nabiki Tendo watched in the mirror as Herb was punished. She shook
her head and smiled darkly. "Oh my, you really should have done better
darling." The man was quite strong, and did not utter even a whimper
as Kiima took out payment on him mercilessly. She watched intently,
fingering one of the candles that lit the room on each side of the
floating mirror.

    The wax trickled onto her finger, burning the delicate skin ever
so slightly as her eyes grew wide at the images playing out before
her. A slow blush crept onto her face and she gasped in pleasure at
his suffering. Her breath became short quick gasps as she wrapped her
hand around the length of the wax and moved it up and down
rhythmically, allowing the hot dripping liquid to fall onto her hands.

    "Herb darling, you really know how to show a girl a good time,"
said the sorceress with an evil chuckle that slowly grew into
laughter.

+++++++++

    Hiroshi and Daisuke stood beside Konatsu just outside of a small
cottage in a tiny village a few miles outside of Joketsuko.

    "Hey! You came back!" said Hiroshi cheerfully as he rushed up to
Ukyo.

    "The situation is dim," said Ukyo as she grabbed his arm in
greeting.

    "Who are these people?" said Daisuke as he approached the pair and
clutched her arm as well.

    "Thieves," replied Konatsu coldly as he walked up between the two
men.

    "Friends," corrected Ukyo as she gave him a small, disapproving
glance. "This woman claims to be the queen."

    "Doesn't look like her," commented Daisuke.

    Rouge glanced around at the surroundings and smiled wistfully.
Finally, she saw a small trough of water for horses, just outside the
home. "At last!" She started towards it, but was stopped cold by
Ranma's arm.

    "Oh, I get it now," said the elf girl calmly. "If you're thirsty,
there's water inside." She gave the woman a small wink and pulled at
her ropes leading her away.

    Akane growled darkly, and was shoved forward by Ryoga. The dwarf
had taken the duty of guarding her when it neared morning.

+++++++++++

    The sun was slowly rising into the sky when they all sat around
the table inside the small home. It was little more than a single
room, with a bed in the corner and a stove on the opposite side.
Despite that, it was rather cozy.

    Rouge stared at Ranma in confusion as he began to untie the knots
that bound her. "Well your highness, you should have said something
sooner."

    "What do you mean?" said Rouge in shock.

    Ryu was watching the scene in absolute disbelief. Ukyo was about
to say something and Ryoga was completely disinterested in the matter.
Focusing instead on cooking a small pot of stew for them.

    Shampoo glanced at Ranma with a small smirk on her face as she
seemed to understand as well.

    The pigtailed elf placed a cup of water on the table in front of
Rouge and smiled warmly. "Here you go."

    Rouge immediately took it in her hands and dumped it over her
head. She was transformed in an instant into the eight-armed goddess
once again. "It is a relief. You knew of this?" the calm looking of
the three heads turned towards Ranma and looked him up and down.

    "Just figured it out," replied the elf cheerfully.

    The knights were on their knees in an instant before their queen.
Akane's jaw dropped, along with Ryu's.

    "Jusenkyo," commented Ranma as she sat across from the woman and
crossed her arms lazily.

    "Get down! That's the queen!" snapped Konatsu bitterly.

    "Shut yer trap runt," snorted Ranma in reply.

    "Insolence!" snarled the feminine squire as he jumped to his feet
and began to unsheathe his blade. He was quickly quieted as Ryu stood
with his sword across the boy's neck before he could finish drawing.

    "We have more important things to discuss," said Ranma coolly.
"Like what you're going to do now."

    "I will take the Kajakan, and use its power to take back my home,"
said the goddess calmly.

    "No," replied Ranma with a shrug.

    "No?" said the queen with her eyebrow raising slightly.

    "I've been hired to deliver it, and I'm going to. Besides, what
makes you think it would do any good? He wasn't killed when he used it
was he?" said the redhead curtly.

    "This is not a request," said the goddess with her entire head
spinning to that of an angry scowl.

    "And I'm not your subject," retorted Ranma coolly.

    "No, but these knights are," said the goddess coldly.

    "Do you really think they can beat us?" said Ryu as he tapped
Konatsu on his shoulder with the blade. Hiroshi and Daisuke both
jumped up and pointed their swords at him.

    "Please remember, I know your weakness," said Ranma as she turned
her eyes towards the teakettle that was brewing on the stove.

    "Ranma," warned Ukyo as she hefted her spear upright.

    "Ukyo, I'm not flexible on this. I've never failed a job, and I'm
not going to start now. What happens to the Kajakan after it's
delivered isn't my concern, but until it is..." Ranma leveled a cold
glare at her.

    "And I don't get paid until he does," said Ryoga. He had not moved
away from the pot of stew yet.

    "Very well, I shall do without it," said Rouge as her face turned
again, back to the calm visage.

    "Good! I'm glad we've reached an agreement," said Ranma
cheerfully. "It's good to see you again by the way."

    "Yes, I had not expected it to be like this though," confirmed the
queen lazily.

    The four knights almost dropped their weapons in shock.

"How did that work out by the way?" asked Ryu as he put his sword away
casually.

    "I am still queen," replied the woman calmly.

    "That's contestable at the moment, but we've got other things to
worry about," commented Ranma as she glanced back at Akane.

    "Indeed. Will she be accompanying you?" said Rouge as she eyed the
black knight as well. Akane appeared to be sleeping against the wall.

    "She'll be a liability here. You'll have to kill her and stash the
body, or risk holding her prisoner. Once we escape from imperial
territory, we'll be safe enough with her in our hands," commented
Ranma lazily.

    "Quite so. I ask that you remove her then," said the queen.

    "Who is that anyway?" said Hiroshi.

    "Yeah, she's kind of cute," commented Daisuke.

    "Only until she wakes up, believe me," said Ranma with a sigh.
"I'll admit she ain't bad for an uncute tomboy though."

    Both knights looked at her and blushed heavily. Then towards Ukyo,
the two had been awfully friendly since they arrived.

    "You don't think?" whispered Daisuke.

    "I guess it makes sense," said Hiroshi with a small nod.

    "There goes our chances," muttered Daisuke sadly.

    "Damn," agreed Hiroshi. A small trickle of blood started to drip
out of both boys' noses.

    "You two don't need to know who she is," said Ukyo firmly as she
noticed them still looking towards Akane.

    "Yes, Ma'am," muttered the knights as they attempted to hide their
noses from her.

    "Ukyo will accompany you to your destination. As she said, there
is not much we can do here at the moment. After the Emperor leaves the
palace, I can take it back myself," said Rouge.

    "Your majesty?" muttered the four knights in confusion.

    "I am a goddess after all. Saffron is strong, as are his minions;
but once they leave the palace to the guards and return home, I shall
retake my castle. They will not attack again once I have done that."

    "She's right. Once the palace falls into your hands again, I doubt
Saffron will attempt to take it again for some time. He can't trick
you like he did this time," agreed Ryu.

    "It won't be easy raising an army here," commented Ranma.

    "My people have prospered under my rule, they are loyal if nothing
else. It will not be difficult," said the goddess proudly.

    "I meant that it won't be easy to do without the imperials
noticing," said the redhead.

    "She's right, you have a long hard road ahead of you. Not that I
don't like Ukyo, but it will be easier to rally them with a hero like
her around," said Shampoo.

    "I agree," said Konatsu.

    "She will go with them. As the elf said, the Kajakan's fate beyond
its delivery is not his concern," said the Queen as she leveled her
gaze on Ukyo. "I am not foolish enough to try and stop her mission. I
know what she is capable of if she so wishes. After all, I have used
her in the same capacity at times."

    The knight nodded her head in understanding as the silent order
was given.

    Shampoo frowned, there was nothing she could do at the moment
though. Ukyo would have to be dealt with later.

++++++++

    That night, while the others slept. Akane Tendo watched them from
her place in the corner. She was still bound and had no hope of
breaking the ropes, the enchantment was very powerful. Even if she
could, they had hidden the Kajakan away, and she knew what would
happen if she left without it.

    "Damn her! That elf..." she glared hatefully at Ranma's sleeping
form. Her eyes seemed to bore into the back of the girl's skull.

    That is, until Ranma faded away into nothing, right in front of
her. "What the?"

    A voice from the shadows spoke sleepily to her. "Quit glaring will
ya? It makes me uncomfortable when people watch me that way."

    Akane simply stared forward in terror as she at last understood
her situation. "Dragon Ghost! The most powerful thief alive!" She hung
her head as it began to sink in. "She had just been stolen by her, and
no one even knew what she really looked like. Nothing stolen by the
legendary thief had ever been recovered, unless she was hired to steal
it back herself.

    "Father. I will return, I swear it!" she thought angrily. After
all,  legends came to an end eventually.

+++++++++++

    Nabiki Tendo frowned as she stared into the mirror once again.
"Akane, where are you?" The girl was being hidden away from her
somehow. The magic in her armor was useless, because the girl had
taken it off, or had it removed by her kidnappers.

    She frowned and waved her hands in front of the mirror. She knew
her sister was doomed. The Kajakan had been taken away, it was destiny
in motion. She knew the black knight would not be able to recover it.
When she returned, she would be put to death.

    "Damn, I'm sorry sister. I can't change destiny, please forgive
me," her words actually sounded sincere, despite the small smirk on
her face. "I'll make them pay for damning my little sister that way."
She had to find her first though.

    Finally an image appeared in the mirror. A tiny cottage on the
Joketsuko countryside. Her smirk broke out into a grin and she passed
her hands over the floor. "Come fourth!"

    Four tiny men appeared before her, from a magical circle that
appeared on the ground. They were bald and held strange looking
weapons in their hands. One held a spear with a crescent moon shaped
blade; another had a giant pair of scissors in his hands; the last two
had small curved swords.

    "Go, make sure they suffer before you kill them," said the girl
coldly. "Make sure Akane dies a quick death though. She is my sister
after all."

    The creatures all grinned evil looking smiles that seemed to split
their faces in half. Rows of razor like metal teeth seemed to take up
half of their heads. They giggled insanely before vanishing into the
ground again.

    Nabiki changed the image to reveal her sister, still tied up and
sleeping against the wall. She kissed her fingers and placed them on
the girl's image. "Goodbye Akane, you shall be missed." Her smile
never wavered in the slightest.

++++++++++++

            The Dragon and The Ghost

    Part  12

     Forest of Shadows.

+++++++

Ranma walked along the path that led out of Joketsuko, she was still
in her cursed form and seemed strangely contemplative so far. They
were in a wooded area, not more than a few miles outside of the small
village where they had separated from Rouge and her Knights. Ukyo
walked behind her, with Ryu, Shampoo, and Ryoga following close behind
them.  Akane was tied up and being pulled by the dwarf from the rear.

    "So, your oh so faithful squire has been knighted," commented Ryu
as he walked up beside Ukyo. "Whatever will you do now?"

    "Har, har. You're a real riot you know that? It's about time
Konatsu took the plunge, he's been riding along with me too long,"
said the girl lazily.

    "I'm sure he'll do fine," agreed Shampoo cheerfully.

    Ranma rolled her eyes and glanced back at his friends for a
moment. Things had been going well, almost too well. The only thing
that even remotely worried her at the moment, was the cloud of doom
that seemed to hover over Akane's head. She had been brooding in
silence ever since they had left.

    "I'll finally get paid," said Ryoga cheerfully as he tugged on the
rope and forced Akane to move a little faster.

    "I do hate treating a lady like this," commented Ryu as he looked
back at her. "But we can't have you running back to your master and
spilling the beans about what's going on."

    "How long are we going to hold her anyway?" said Ukyo angrily.
"Lets just get it over with. Kill her and be done with it."

    Akane looked up at the girl and frowned even deeper than she
already was.

    "Not until I find out what I want to know," replied the pigtailed
girl lazily.

    "It's obvious she isn't going to talk," said Shampoo lazily. "I
hate to say it, but I agree with her. She's a liability at the
moment."

    "I have ways of finding out what I want to know, but I can't get
to them until we get back. After I'm finished, you can do what you
want with her," said the redhead coldly.

    "We won't make it out of the country," said Akane sullenly. "You
don't think the Emperor is going to let you walk away with his
precious staff, do you?"

    "My, you've certainly been in a bad mood," said Ryu with a small
chuckle. "Don't worry, we've got a ward on this thing. They can't
track it down, not even with magic." The boy pointed over his shoulder
to the long, wrapped bundle that hung off his back.

    "No, but they know I'm gone as well," said the black knight
coldly.

    Ryu rushed up to her and drew his sword, placing it over her neck.
"Maybe we should just kill you then?" He snarled.

    "If you're going to do it, get it over with. I've no desire to be
dragged around the countryside by the likes of you," said the girl
calmly as she met his gaze.

    "Ryu," snapped Ranma coolly. "Stop it."

    The boy slowly withdrew and replaced his blade.

    "She's right," said Ukyo with a small sigh.

    "So what? I know what I'm doing. The Black Knight here is hidden
from prying eyes," commented Ranma lazily.

    "What?" said Shampoo in shock. "I thought you couldn't..."

    "I can't hide us in close proximity, I can block out magical
searches over a group though," said the redhead calmly. "Someone was
sniffing around last night. They may have gotten a glimpse before I
noticed, but they can't find us now."

    "Oh," said Ukyo as she shrugged her shoulders and started walking
again.

    "Then why is something following us?" said Akane coolly.

    Ranma narrowed his eyes and glanced back at the path. It was
completely silent, only the rustle of the wind blowing through the
trees could be heard as everyone stopped and looked at the knight for
a moment.

    "She's just trying to scare us," commented Shampoo with a small
snort.

    "No, she's right," said Ranma coldly.

    "Eh? Whatcha mean?" grumbled Ryoga as he looked up at the
prisoner.

    "I haven't heard so much as a bird in a while," said the redhead.
"There are no insects chirping, no birds, no wild animals of any kind.
Something is wrong."

    Shampoo cursed under her breath, it was something she should have
noticed immediately. "She's right."

    "No noise either, I don't hear anything that sounds like a human,"
commented Ryu. "Soldiers would make quite a ruckus. This is something
else."

    "Another monster?" said Ukyo with a nervous glance towards Ryoga.
The group pulled into a tight circle, surrounding Akane on all sides.
The black knight looked at the forest around them and watched for any
movement.

    Ukyo jumped as she felt something grab her rear. "Ranchan! This
isn't the time for that!" snapped the knight with a huge blush.

    "Huh?" said the redhead as she turned towards the girl in
confusion. "What the heck did I do?"

    "You mean... you didn't just..." sputtered the girl in
embarrassment.

    "Well, look what fell into my little web!" said a voice from the
woods. "Such lovely humans! A cute little knight too!"

    "Who's there!?" snarled Ryoga as he stepped forward and held his
axe in front of him.

    "Just a wandering forest spirit, nothing to concern yourself
with," said the voice lazily. It sounded young, almost like that of a
child. "Tell me, what brings you into my forest?"

    "What is that?" snarled Ryu as he glanced around.

    "That, is what killed everything in these woods," said Ranma
coldly. She drew the Katana that hung over her shoulder and held it
offensively.

    "Ranchan... I've got a bad feeling about this," said Ukyo
nervously. She edged back slightly, shying away from the shadows that
seemed to reach for them from the trees.

    Ranma was about to reply, when the girl was lifted off the ground
and grabbed at something around her neck. Ukyo gasped and seemed to
fade away into nothing. The knight's spear fell into the dust, the
only indication that she had ever been there.

    "Ukyo!" cried the redhead as she reached for her companion. Her
fingers passed through the fading image and grasped nothing but air.

    "Shit!" screamed Ryu in rage. "What the hell is going on?"

    "Oh, don't worry about her. I like her, I think I'll keep her
around for a while!" A longing sigh resonated in the air around them.
"It must be love!"

    "You bastard! I'll tear your heart out!" snapped the pigtailed
girl bitterly as she glared into the woods.

    The voice seemed to ignore her. "You aren't very cute. In fact,
I'll bet I'm much cuter! What to do with you though? I guess I am
feeling a bit hungry."

    "It's a dryad! It has to be!" snapped Shampoo angrily.

    "A dryad? Are you nuts?" snapped Akane. "Dryads don't do things
like this!"

    "A poisoned one would," replied Ranma coolly. "We'll die if we
stand here. Come on!" She started to edge her way down the path
slowly.

    "A poisoned dryad?" muttered Akane as she walked with them. Forest
spirits were usually quite gentle, but if poisoned, or defiled by
black magic, they could become extremely lethal killers. "Why would
there be such a thing here?"

    "Sorcerers like to use them to keep their hideouts safe," said
Ranma as she moved away quickly with the rest of the group.

    "Can we kill it?" asked Ryoga as he struggled to keep up with the
party.

    "Yeah, but it ain't easy," muttered Ryu as he glanced around.

    Shampoo felt absolutely sick to her stomach. She hadn't been able
to speak since she learned what they were facing. Some of her closest
friends back at the palace had been such spirits. They were extremely
kind, and absolutely loved elves. The forest always flourished when
elves settled down. In order to create one such creature, all the
other dryads would have been sealed away. Otherwise, they would have
destroyed the monster out of mercy.

    "Shampoo. I can't find it," said Ranma as she rushed up beside
her.

    "What?" muttered the elf girl in reply.

    "I'm going to need your help. You've got to lead us to it," said
the redhead desperately. "Hurry!"

    Shampoo saw the pleading in her companion's eyes. Ukyo was in very
real danger.

    Ryu stopped cold in front of them. "Damn! Right back where we
started!" It seemed as if they had gone in a complete circle, despite
running full speed down the road that led out of the woods.

    "Now what?" snarled Akane bitterly.

    "We stand, and fight!" snarled Ryoga as he jumped forward and
hacked his axe downward. "Got ya!"

    "Oh, I don't know about that," said the pretty young girl who
stood before them suddenly. She seemed to melt into existence directly
in front of them. She had long brown hair, and a simple dress that
merely hung from her shoulders. "Tell me. What are you doing in my
forest?" She looked down at the dwarf and frowned. A long cut had
appeared at the base of her garment.

    "Give us back Ukyo, and we'll leave," said Ranma firmly.

    "No. I like her," said the figure with a shrug. "She'll stay with
me. I'll just kill you and be done with it."

    "Don't just stand there! Kill it!" snarled Akane angrily as she
struggled with her ropes.

    "Attacking that body won't do anything. It's not the real her,"
said Ranma coolly. "Shampoo?"

    "Yes. That way, about four hundred yards into the woods," said the
elf girl firmly as she pointed.

    "Eh? What ya mean?" snapped Ryoga.

    The dryad's face contorted into an angry scowl. "I was going to
have a little fun first, but I can't allow that now!" She raised her
hand and roots began to erupt from the ground all around them. Ryu and
Ryoga hacked at them and backed away, but Shampoo and Akane were
entangled easily by the forest.

    "No! Damn that beast!" snapped Ryoga.

    "Keep cutting!" snapped Ryu as he turned and put his back to the
dwarf. The tentacle like roots began to spring up from all around
them, wrapping their legs into place and holding them down. The two
men managed to keep their arms free and fought bravely against the
overwhelming odds. Unfortunately for the two women, they were slowly
being dragged into the ground.

    "Human fertilizer always taste the best," snarled the dryad
coolly. "Wait! Where is the other one?" she snapped angrily as she
threw her head from side to side in a desperate attempt to spot the
missing elf.

    "Damn! That coward ran away again!" snarled Ryoga as he lost his
axe finally.

    "You'd better hurry up partner," growled Ryu as the plants finally
took him from behind.

+++++++++++++

    Ranma appeared from the shadows surrounding the ugly, twisted
tree. She gasped as she saw Ukyo suspended from several branches in
the nude. Her armor was lying on the ground below her and she was
screaming in rage and terror. "Keep your claws to yourself you
monster!"

    "Ucchan!" cried the elf girl in alarm as she rushed forward and
swung the katana.

    "How did you get here?" snapped the dryad as it appeared in front
of her.

    Ranma staggered back and missed the branches that held her friend.
"Let her go! Now!"

    "I don't think so! I've grown rather fond of her," said the spirit
calmly. One of the branches that held Ukyo above brushed her cheek
gently, forcing the girl's head to turn. She shuddered in revulsion
and struggled against the branches even harder.

    "When I find out who made you, I'm going to cut them in half!"
snarled Ranma bitterly as she backed away with the katana held in
front of her.

    "Oh, you mean him?" The dryad waved her hand and the trees behind
her spread apart, revealing the remains of a decrepit cottage that had
a short, twisted tree growing from its center.  A skeleton could be
seen poking from the base of the trunk. It seemed to be partially
engulfed by the wood. "Don't worry, he was an unpleasant man. I got
tired of listening to him."

    "Damn," muttered Ranma under her breath.

    "Ranchan! Do something!" screamed Ukyo as she renewed her
struggles again.

    "Die damn you!" snarled the pigtailed elf as she charged forward.
The dryad smirked and spread her arms wide. The blade passed through
her cutting the dress she wore in half, but leaving her unscathed.

    The cloth fell away as she lowered her arms, revealing a young,
nude, boy.

    "Surprised?" said the thing as it looked up at Ukyo's shocked
face. "Now, where were we?" It turned to face Ranma, expecting the elf
to be staring at her in terror as well. Her face fell suddenly as she
noticed where the elf girl was standing.

    "Not really. You're not cuter than I am by the way," said Ranma as
she hacked the small, twisted, and ugly tree with the skeleton inside
of it in half with a single stroke of her katana.

    "Nooooo!" screamed the dryad in terror and pain. Her body fell in
half, cut across the torso, and vanished into thin air.

    Ranma smirked as she reached forward and put her palm against the
trunk that remained behind. "Burn," she said as it caught fire. Her
features changed into a scowl as she heard the spirit scream in pain
inside her head. "You won't be growing back either. I'll make sure of
that." She turned around and looked up at Ukyo, who was still
suspended in the air. The remains of the cottage began to burn as
well, forcing her to jump off the roof and onto the ground.

    "It took you long enough!" snapped the woman angrily. "Cut me down
damn it!"

    "Okay," said Ranma with a shrug.

    "And stop thinking those perverted thoughts! I can't believe you!
Any other time and I'd be overjoyed, but this?" snapped Ukyo as she
noticed the heavy blush on the elf's cheeks.

++++++++++++

    Ryu grumbled as he pulled himself out of the ground and removed
the last few roots from his shoulders. Most of them had released them
on their own, but a few still clung on desperately.

    After a few moments everyone but Akane was out of the ground. They
all stood around her simply watching.

    "Are you going to just stand there?" snapped the black knight in
irritation. She was stuck in the ground up to her neck.

    "Ranma's the only one who cares about you. He can pull you out,"
said Ryu with a small shrug.

    "You bastard! I'll get you for this!" snapped the enraged girl as
she struggled to move. She succeeded in little more than moving her
neck. She paused suddenly and looked up at them. "Hey. I can move my
feet."

    "Huh?" muttered Shampoo in surprise.

    "I said I can move my feet. There's some kind of cavern here,"
repeated the girl in irritation. "Ouch! It's really hot!" she snapped
suddenly.

    "What the hell?" muttered Ryu as he watched her struggle.

    Ranma walked up just then with Ukyo beside her. "Hey. What's going
on?"

    Ryu turned to him and shrugged. "You want her, you dig her up."

    "Oh thanks," muttered the girl as she kneeled down next to her
prisoner.

    "Hurry it up! Something is burning my feet!" snapped Akane
angrily.

    "We'll move on ahead, so you two love birds can have some private
time," said Ryu as he walked away.

    Shampoo and Ryoga looked at each other and shrugged their
shoulders before following.

    "I'll stay with you Ranchan," muttered Ukyo quietly.

    "That's all right. Go on and get rested up. These woods should be
fine now. The wizard is dead, and that dryad is gone for good," said
Ranma cheerfully.

    "What, is she your girlfriend or something?" muttered Akane as she
watched the girl leave. Ukyo kept giving them nervous glances.

    "What if she is?" snapped Ranma.

    "Nothing. I was just wondering, and keep your hands off those!"

    Ranma looked at her and stopped digging. She had just reached the
knight's breasts. "Look. I could just leave you here ya know."

    "All right fine! Just keep your perverted ways to yourself got
it?" snapped the black knight angrily.

    Ranma chuckled as she realized that Akane didn't know her little
secret.

    "Hurry it up will ya? It feels like my feet are on fire!" snapped
Akane in irritation.

    Ranma was about to reply, but her words turned into nothing but a
cry of surprise as the ground gave out beneath them, leaving only a
large hole that lead into nothing but darkness below.

+++++++

    "He should be back by now," commented Ryu as he stood up and
started walking towards the path again. The party had set up camp just
off the path a few hundred yards away from the spot where they had
nearly died.

    "It is taking a while," commented Shampoo.

    "We'll go check on them then. What could have happened?" said Ukyo
cheerfully as she stood up and followed after Ryu.

    It didn't take long for them to find the hole. "Damn," muttered
Ryu as he gazed into it. "I can't see the bottom."

    "It's that deep?" cried Ukyo in panic.

    "It's a cavern. Deep too," said Ryu. He pulled his face away and
wiped the sweat from his brow. "Real hot down there."

    "Why?" said Ukyo in confusion. "I hope he's all right!"

    "He can take care of himself," said Ryu firmly. "A little hole
like this isn't going to stop him."

    "We should go down after him," said Ukyo firmly.

    "I can't hear anything below," muttered Ryu with a slightly
worried look on his face.

    "We need light," said Ukyo as she pulled a small knife from her
belt. The blade started to glow as soon as she unsheathed it. She
reached down into the hole with it and frowned. "There's a slope? It
goes down a long way. Looks like some kind of tunnel."

    "Come on, we'll go get the others," said Ryu firmly. "Don't go
down there until I get back. We don't know what might be in that
hole."

    "Exactly!" replied Ukyo angrily as she started to climb into the
hole.

    Ryu grabbed her arm and shook his head. "Don't! If there's
something down there strong enough to kill him, he's already dead.
We'll go down together! Having a dwarf with us will help too."

    "Fine, I'll wait. You've got about two minutes, or I go down.
With, or without you," said Ukyo finally.

    Ryu nodded and ran back to get the others.

+++++++++++++

    "Shit! Where the hell are we?" snapped Ranma angrily as he stood
up and pushed his hair out of his eyes. "Great! I'm soaking wet!"

    "Some sort of natural hot spring?" commented Akane as she stood up
next to him. Her arms were still tied up by the rope. "Who the hell
are you?"

    Ranma frowned and groped around in the darkness for a moment.
"What the hell do you mean? We fell down that hole together!" snapped
the pigtailed boy bitterly.

    "I didn't fall down here with you. Is there someone else down here
with you too?" said the black knight in confusion. "Where's that elf
girl at?"

    "Elf girl?" Finally it dawned on him. "Oh shit."

    "Pardon?" said Akane she was getting frustrated and couldn't see
anything in the pitch black of the cavern.

    Ranma held out his palm and a small ball of light floated just
above it, illuminating the cave. "I'm the elf girl."

    Akane stared at him in shock for a moment and then frowned.
"Disguise magic? To keep people from knowing who you really are? How
clever." It was obvious sarcasm.

    "Yeah, something like that," muttered the boy as he looked up and
saw the sliding tunnel that they had entered through. "Well, we aren't
getting back that way. Hope the others figure out we're gone."

    "This place is big," said Akane as she looked around. They were
standing in ankle deep water, and a thick steam rose into the air
around them. The pain was minimal, the water was very hot, but not
scalding. The spring itself was rather small, it extended about twenty
feet into a much larger cavern that seemed to extend into infinity in
either direction.

    "You're right. I wonder if the wizard who poisoned that dryad made
this?"

    The thought made Akane uncomfortable. "I hope not," she muttered.
She paused and cocked her head. "What's that sound?"

    "Eh? What sound?" said Ranma as he glanced around. The only thing
he could here was the occasional drip from the ceiling. He froze and
waited for a moment, and heard it. It was almost like metal grinding
against metal.

    "You know..." started Akane.

    "Yeah, I know. Bad feeling right?" interrupted Ranma with a
worried look on his face. Akane nodded. "Yeah, me too. It might not be
a good idea to hang around here." He grabbed onto the ropes that bound
her arms and started to drag her towards the edge of the spring. The
ball of light followed just behind him, hanging in the air.

    Something moved, just off to his right side. "What the hell was
that?"

    "Did you see something?" said Akane with more than a little worry
in her voice.

    Ranma paused and noticed something sitting on one of the rocks.
"It's... a hot bun?"

    Akane looked over his shoulder and frowned. She turned her head
and nodded towards another boulder nearby. "There are two more."

    "And another one, just behind us," said Ranma as he noticed
another one of the strange pastries. "Maybe... it's some kind of
fungus?" he ventured.

    "Run, now," said Akane with a sudden chill running down her spine.

    "Huh?" said the boy. "What the hell are you talking about?"

    "Those aren't fungus," said the girl.

    "What the hell are they then?" snapped Ranma.

    One of the fungus slowly opened two black eyes and stared at them
silently for a long moment.

    "Niku, my sister's assassins," replied Akane in horror.

    "That's bad?" said Ranma as he raised his eyebrow at her. "You
should be happy."

    "If Nabiki sent them, she has no intention of rescuing me," said
Akane as she turned around, only to find herself staring at the other
three. All of them had their eyes open and were staring intently at
the pair. "Hurry! Run now!"

    Ranma started to jog by the one in front of them, giving it a wide
berth. It turned and watched him calmly, and then it seemed to grin at
him.

    "Oh shit," said the pigtailed boy as he broke out into a sprint,
dragging Akane behind him as he went.

    The thing's teeth were no less than six inches long, the whole
head couldn't have been more than twelve inches. They were long and
pointed, interlacing into each other along its jaws. The rows and rows
of incisors gleamed against the soft light, shining like metal. The
four things slowly stood up, revealing short bodies that held various
weapons in their hands. They worked their jaws slowly, opening and
closing them, creating a shrieking sound as the metal scraped
together. All of them giggled madly and bolted forward, moving at
insane speeds as they bounced off the walls of the cave in the
darkness.

    Akane looked back over her shoulder as she ran and gasped. The
things were gaining fast. "Hurry!" she screamed at Ranma.

    "Oh, man," muttered the boy as he stopped cold in front of her.

    Akane slammed into his back and fell on her butt. "Why did you
stop?" she screamed desperately.

    "Take a look," grumbled the boy as he pulled the katana off his
back and turned to face their pursuers.

    "No!" gasped Akane as she saw the gaping canyon that stretched out
across the length of the cavern.

    "I'm gonna cut you loose, behave yourself will ya?" said the boy
as he turned to face her.

    She looked at him and blinked. "You have my word as a knight. I
have no intention of dying this way."

    "Good, cause here they come!" cried Ranma as he sliced at the
ropes behind her back.

+++++++++++

    Nabiki Tendo smirked as she watched the mirror in anticipation. "I
wonder how they'll get out of this one?" she wondered out loud. "Oh
well, goodbye Akane." She leaned in and rubbed her sister's image with
her finger.

+++++++++++

    Soun Tendo sat with his wife, drinking tea quietly. He placed the
cup down gently and sighed. There wasn't much to do now that he'd
retired. There had been no word back from the Emperor yet either,
Nabiki hadn't been of much help regarding that. When he asked her, she
stated that she had something to do for the young Emperor, and
couldn't use her mirror to check up on things.

    That meant there was nothing to do but wait. He hated that.

    He turned to pick up the cup again and frowned. A long crack could
be seen along the side of the fine china. "An omen?" he wondered out
loud.

    "Is something wrong husband?" asked his wife.

    "Huh? Oh, it's nothing. Just jumping at shadows I suppose," he
muttered as he looked away from her for a moment.

    The Dragon and The Ghost

    Part 13

    Niku, and the Darkness Beyond.

+++++++++++

    Using a very long length of rope, Ryu Kumon lowered himself down
the dark hole, following behind his companions as they went down into
the darkness below in search of Ranma and his prisoner. They had no
idea what to expect really, the dark wizard who had once taken control
of the forest was long gone, but magic could live on for quite a long
time.

    Once they reached the bottom, they found themselves standing in
ankle deep water. Steam rose up all around them, giving the cave a
hazy fog that prevented them from seeing very far, even with the
magical light provided by Shampoo's elven magic.

    "They aren't here," said Ukyo with a small growl.

    "Maybe they just didn't want to stand in the water?" said Ryoga as
he glanced up at them. Everyone looked back at him and he shrugged his
shoulders. "Maybe not?"

    "Come on," muttered Ryu with a small sigh as he started to walk to
the edge of the spring. The walls of the cave rose high into the air
above them. "This place is big."

    "It is natural," commented Shampoo lazily. "I don't sense anything
unnatural about this place. Don't take that to mean it is safe
though."

    "Right, there are a lot of things that live in places like this,"
commented Ukyo with a small chill. It was in a place like this that
she had her final battle with the demon dragon Timaht. It was not a
pleasant memory for her

    "She's right, there's no dwarven settlements that go down this
deep. We mine deep, but live relatively close the surface," commented
Ryoga as he pulled his axe off of his back and glanced around
nervously. "There are reasons for that."

    "There was a battle here," commented Ukyo as she knelt down on the
ground and peered at the ground. These cuts in the floor were made by
bladed weapons of some kind." She indicated several tiny scratches in
the floor, they were small, and spaced pretty far apart. There were
also several scraps of metal lying around, scattered about the cavern
floor.

    "Look!" said Shampoo as she pointed at something lying on the
ground. It was at the edge of a large canyon within the cave.

    Ryu rushed over and picked up the remains of a rope lightly.
"These are that knight's binds, she's loose."

    "Great," muttered Ukyo angrily.

    "He let her go, these were cut," replied Ryu.

    "It could have been whatever made those marks on the ground,"
offered Shampoo lazily.

    "I doubt that, Ranma probably let her loose when things got to
hot. I would have done the same in his position," replied the boy with
a shrug.

    "Where are they though?" said Ryoga with an irritated snort.
"There's nowhere to run, besides going down that is."

    Ukyo gasped in horror. "No! You don't think they..." She peered
down the edge of the cliff carefully.

    "No, that's how they got across," said Ryu as he jerked his thumb
over his shoulder as he looked down with her for a moment.

+++++++++++

    "Great, I'm loose. Now what?" snapped Akane as she glared at the
rapidly approaching monsters. The canyon was behind them, ruling out
running away.

    "We kill them, and then figure out how the hell we're going to get
out of here," replied the pigtailed boy sharply as he charged forward,
matching the speed of the approaching Niku.

    "No! Wait!" cried the girl in alarm as she ran behind him.

    Ranma dove headfirst into the battle, slashing at the closest
monster and catching it across the chest easily. The thing cried out
in alarm and was thrown back against a nearby pillar of stone, made
from a stalactite that had met with a stalagmite over the centuries.
There were quite a few scattered around the cavern.

    He landed and spun around punching out with his feet and fist,
catching two more of the beasts as they attempted to pass by him. The
sailed away from him and he ducked under the spear of the remaining
Niku.

    "Damn! What the hell are these things made of?" he snarled as his
foot and fist exploded in pain. He glanced at the one who had passed
him and jumped forward towards Akane. "Look out!"

    The knight jumped back as the thing embedded its spear into the
ground where she had been standing, giggling madly. It opened its jaws
and snapped at her as she backed away. "Damn!" It was about to lunge
forward, when a shower of sparks flew from behind its head, sending it
flying away from her and into the far wall.

    "What?" she muttered as she picked up the discarded katana. She
almost dropped it, the thing weighed a ton. It was easily four times
heavier than her broadsword.

    Ranma landed near her and scowled. "Are you hurt?"

    "No," she muttered.

    "Good, give me back my sword," he said while looking over his
shoulder. There didn't appear to be any more of them.

    Akane looked at the blade, and then back at him. "He swings this
thing around one handed?" Reluctantly, she placed the hilt back into
his hand. She glanced up at his face as she did so, noticing that he
was watching her movements very carefully. A small frown crossed her
face as she realized that she never would have been able to use the
heavy weapon to attack him.

    As if in response to her thoughts, he twirled the sword around in
his hand effortlessly and placed it back in its scabbard on his back.

    Akane growled at him and frowned. "Why are you putting that away?
We have to get out of here, before they get their senses back!"

    "Huh?" muttered the boy in surprise. His cocky grin fell away as
he heard the distinctive sound of metal against metal again. "No way!"

    "My sister made them herself. She's quite proud of them, but
they're nothing more than metal golems really," said the girl through
her teeth.

    "More news tomboy, they aren't after me," said Ranma as he faced
the cave again. He could see she wasn't lying, the things were slowly
standing up from where they had landed. One of them was shaking its
head in a daze, while the others had already gotten back to normal.
They worked their jaws open and closed slowly as they regarded the
pair from a good distance away.

    "What do you mean?" snapped the knight angrily.

    "You saw that last one. He went right past me and straight for
you," said Ranma sharply. "We don't have anything that can kill a
golem either," he snapped to himself.

    "Then we're going to die," said Akane coldly. "I can think of a
lot of ways I'd rather go."

    "We ain't dead yet," said Ranma with a cocky grin.

    "Here they come," said Akane as she braced herself again.

    "Great," muttered Ranma as he looked around, hoping for some kind
of escape. Then, he found it. "Hey, think you can keep them busy for a
minute?"

    "What? Why?" snapped the knight.

    "Good," replied Ranma as he vanished from in front of her.

    "Coward!" screamed the girl in rage. She turned to face the things
as they converged on her, not seeming to care about him leaving. "So,
it's true," she thought as she rushed forward screaming angrily.

    Akane tore through them as best she could. She punched and kicked
at them relentlessly as they bounced around her, dodging their swipes
and slashes as best she could. Each blow she landed caused her limbs
to explode in pain, merely pushing the things back for a moment. They
jumped back onto their feet immediately and returned, seeming to not
even notice her attacks. "Just one, please. If only just one," she
muttered as the things converged on her again.

    "Thor's Hammer!" screamed the girl as she lashed out with her
final attack. A war hammer made out of pure energy appeared in her
right hand as she slashed down. The weapon connected with one of the
beasts and it screamed in pain, shaking violently on the end of her
attack. After a moment, it exploded, sending shards of metal in every
direction. Akane felt one of them dig deeply into her left arm and
screamed in pain. She fell to her knees, completely spent and simply
waited. The other three Niku formed a cautious circle around her and
simply stared.

    After about ten seconds, they realized that she no longer had the
strength to fight on. Their jaws worked in anticipation. They leapt
into the air and attempted to pile on top of her.

    "Look out!" cried Ranma as he appeared beside her suddenly and
pulled her away, rolling along the ground with her.

    The Niku landed in a dog pile and scattered like roaches in every
direction as a heavy groaning echoed through the cavern.

    Ranma jumped to his feet and then pulled Akane into his arms. "I
thought you said you could hold them!" he joked as he landed on top of
a falling pillar of stone from just beside the canyon.

    "Where the hell were you?" snapped the girl angrily, that was when
she realized what was happening.

    "Making a bridge!" said the pigtailed boy as he suddenly pushed
himself harder as the pillar began to near the ground on the other
side. One of the Niku bounced just behind them, rushing after them
across the surface of the rock.

    Then Ranma jumped into the air off the makeshift bridge and rolled
along the ground for a moment. He stopped and turned on the opposite
side of the canyon and watched as the stone pillar slammed into the
ground. It immediately shattered on impact, with the Niku still
standing on top of it. The thing let out a shrill cry as it plummeted
into the darkness below.

    "That's two," muttered Akane weakly.

    "You're hurt," said Ranma as he placed her on the ground and
stepped back.

    "No thanks to you," she snorted.

    "Hey! You said you could take them!" he replied sharply.

    "I said nothing of the kind!" snarled the girl. She promptly fell
back onto the ground. "Why didn't you just leave me? You could have
escaped."

    "Hey. You're my prisoner, remember? Besides, I never leave anyone
behind," replied the boy with his smug grin returning once again.

    "Honor among thieves?" said Akane sarcastically.

    "You're no thief," said the boy as he glanced back across the
canyon.

    "You've got that right! Honorless dog!" snarled the knight. She
slowly rose to her feet and glared at him.

    "Whatever, you're in no condition to fight right now," chuckled
the boy as he brushed off her sudden assertiveness.

    "I'll see you rotting in a cell yet," she replied darkly.

    "Aw man! I thought we'd be safe over here," said Ranma as his
attention was suddenly elsewhere.

    "What?" said the knight as she tried to look where his gaze was.
All she could see was darkness. Suddenly, she could see the remaining
two Niku. They were clinging to the ceiling of the cavern, and moving
directly towards them. "Damn!"

    "Come on!" snapped Ranma as he pulled on her arm and dragged her
further into the darkness.

++++++++++

    "We can't get across," grumbled Ryoga angrily. He simply glared
forward and kicked a stone into the pit. It bounced off the walls for
a bit before simply plummeting away into the shadows.

    "There is a way," said Shampoo.

    "No, he's right. We're wasting time here. It's best if we just go
back up and keep moving," said Ryu.

    "What? Are you out of your mind?" snapped Ukyo.

    "Ranma can take care of himself! This isn't the first time
something like this has happened to us. He'll catch up," said Ryu
firmly.

    "I won't leave him!" snarled the knight angrily.

    "He does know Ranma better than either of us," said Shampoo with a
small shrug. "Although, I'll admit, this rubs me the wrong way as
well. After all, it is a lot of money we're offering for his
services."

    "Hey! I never even wanted this job, damn it! He's the one dumb
enough to take it! He'll show up, it'll take more than a cave to stop
him," insisted the boy angrily.

    Ryoga frowned. "If he doesn't, I still get paid, right?"

    "I shall see that you are rewarded for your trouble," muttered
Shampoo in disgust.

    "Right. I'm with him then. I've hunted Ranma for a long time;
he'll get out of this. I've chased him across places much more
dangerous than this."

    "Oh? Like what?" snapped Ukyo.

    "Timaht's Cavern, while the beast was still livin by the way,
Roshaikes Marsh, The Dead Plains, The Black Forests of Hurant, The
Black Temple of Azule, Castle Anthrax, umm, let's see now..."

    "I get the point!" snapped Ukyo as she belted the dwarf over his
head with the handle of her spear.

    The dwarf rubbed his head in irritation and glared at her. "Ouch,"
he muttered under his breath.

    "You're sure he'll be all right?" muttered Ukyo with an uncertain
glance into the darkness.

    "Trust me," said Ryu calmly.

    "I hate this," she muttered under her breath. "I won't go."

    "Stay then. I've got a job to do, Ranma will be pissed if I screw
it up," said Ryu as he started to walk back towards the spring.

    "Ukyo, he's right. We must get this staff out of the country. We
can't allow it to fall into the Emperor's hands," said Shampoo gently.
"The sooner we escape, the better. We can't allow them to prepare for
us. We've already wasted too much time in this forest."

    "But...Ranma's alone, with that woman," said Ukyo with a sullen
frown.

    Shampoo found herself glancing into the darkness suddenly herself.
A small growl formed in her throat. "Indeed, perhaps it is better if
we did go after him?"

    "Quit flappin yer jaws! Let's go! If Ranma wants to have a little
fun, let em! She's his prisoner after all," snapped Ryoga as he glared
at them.

    "No! I won't allow it!" cried Ukyo in rage.

    "Indeed, we don't have time for such things," agreed Shampoo.

    Ryu appeared again and stood between them. "That idiot wouldn't
know what to do with a naked woman. Don't worry about that, they don't
even like each other remember?"

    "I suppose, but things can happen if a man and a woman are alone
in the darkness!" cried Ukyo.

    "Hmm, you're right," said Ryu as he took her arm and started to
lead her away.

    "Hey! How come I get stuck with the elf?" snapped Ryoga.

    Shampoo and Ukyo looked at each other and promptly decked both of
the men.

    "Honestly. I know my Ranchan would never act that way! What was I
thinking?" said Ukyo curtly.

    "Indeed, he seemed most honorable," agreed Shampoo. "Even if he is
a thief."

    They looked at one another again.

++++++++

    A half hour later, Ryu and Ryoga bodily pulled Shampoo and Ukyo
out from the hole and threw them on the ground just outside.

    "If he is having such a fun night, and I'll kill him if he is,
then there's nothing you can do about it now!" snapped Ryu. Both girls
looked at him angrily and then reluctantly nodded.

    "Come on! Let's just get the hell out of here!" snapped Ryoga as
he started walking, in the direction of Joketsuko.

    "This way!" snapped Ryu as he pulled the dwarf in the right
direction. He paused and noticed both women sneaking back towards the
entrance to the cave once again. "Damn it! I need that elf girl to get
paid, and Ranma will kill me if I let anything happen to his stupid
girlfriend!"

    Eventually, Ryu found himself dragging the two angry women behind
him by the back of their collars, Ryoga walked a short distance away,
out of arms reach of either of the girls, just behind.

    After a short time, the women calmed down a bit. Ukyo and Shampoo
were glaring at each other angrily.

    "So, the truth comes out! You were after my Ranchan weren't you?"
snapped the knight.

    "What if I was?" retorted the elf.

    "He's mine! Hands off!" said Ukyo bitterly.

    "Funny, I didn't see a ring on his finger," commented Shampoo.

    "There might as well be!" retorted Ukyo.

    "Ranma is mine!"

    "You're nothing but an annoyance! You should know how elves deal
with obstacles like you!"

    Ryu rubbed at his temples. "To hell with Ranma and the damn money!
I say we just kill them both!"

    Ryoga crossed his arms over his chest and frowned deeply. "Perhaps
we should have left them in the cave after all?"

++++++++++++++

    "Are they still following us?" said Ranma as he and Akane entered
a narrow tunnel somewhere in the cavern depths.

    "Of course they are, but I don't see them," said the knight as she
glanced around nervously.

    "We'll stop and rest here then," said Ranma coolly as he opened a
secret door inside the wall.

    "How did you...?" gasped Akane.

    "This is that old wizard's workshop. The cottage I found the dryad
at was just his house. There should be an exit near here," said Ranma
with a small shrug.

    "You've been here before?" said the knight in surprise.

    "No, but I do this for a living, remember?" Ranma walked inside
the small room and lit a torch with a small wave of his hand.

    Akane peered around in awe. There were hundreds of books and
potions lining the wall on old looking shelves, a large wooden table
with arcane symbols on it sat in the center of the room, and also
several wooden stools around it. The room had obviously not been used
for some time, a thick coat of dust covered everything.

    "Don't touch anything. This place is covered in traps," said Ranma
casually as he began to inspect his surroundings. "Not much of use to
us in here."

    Akane leaned against the wall and sat down on one of the stools
that wasn't at the table. Her eyes fell on an unusual painting on the
stones of the wall behind her. "What is that?"

    She was looking at a picture of a cup of some kind. It was golden
and had several jewels embedded on it around its center. Some sort of
light appeared to be coming out of the top, and was pouring on a
figure lying on the ground for some reason.

    "Huh? Oh, it's just the Grail of Bahamut," said Ranma he glanced
over his shoulder. He was busy looking at a row of books on the
opposite side of the room.

    "Are you sure?" muttered Akane. It was an old legend, and no known
pictures of the grail were left, it's existence was not much more than
a tale for bards as far as most were concerned.

    "Pretty sure," said Ranma without looking back at her as he lifted
one of the tomes into his hand. "Useless." He turned and smiled as he
finally found what he was looking for. He pulled a dusty looking box
out from under one of the shelves and laid it on top of the table.

    "What is that?" said Akane. "Something to kill those two
monsters?"

    "No, I checked around, but no books on golems. Sorry. This is just
some bandages and healing herbs for your arm," said the boy
cheerfully.

    "Oh," Akane looked at him in surprise for a moment and hung her
head. "I suppose it would be dumb to refuse, even though I hate your
guts. We may run into them again."

    "Think you can do that hammer thing again?" said the boy as he sat
down across from her and pulled her arm towards him gently.

    Akane winced in pain and grit her teeth, she had pulled out the
large metal piece long ago, but the wound was rather large and ugly
looking. A new surge of blood started to flow as he forced her to move
it again. "No. It is difficult to do, I wouldn't be able to do it
unless I was at full strength. Once a day is about all I can do."

    Ranma nodded as if he wasn't really paying attention. "Hmm, you
should have left the metal in there. It might have cut an artery or
something. You'd have bled to death if it had, long before we reached
here."

    "What do you care?" she snapped bitterly.

    "I need you alive," he said with a shrug. "Remember?"

    "Oh yes, the mythical 'golden mask'?" she said lazily as he
worked. She sucked in a quick breath as he applied the herbs to her
arm, the pain lasted only a moment though. He began to wrap the
bandage around the wound and merely nodded. "I've never seen armor
like that."

    "I'm starting to believe you. I don't think anyone has in about
ten years. It was the same as yours though, that's something."

    "Ten years?" said Akane with a slight look of surprise on her
face. "What did this armor do to you anyway?"

    "The man wearing it, hunted down and murdered my father," said
Ranma quietly.

    "Really? Was he as much of a jerk as you are?" snorted the girl
coldly.

    "No, he was an honorable man. The man who killed him was an old
friend of his; I heard some of what they said after they found him.
They were sent there to kill the both of us, but something happened
and they couldn't find me."

    "So, you ran away and hid like a coward while they killed him?"
snapped Akane darkly.

    "I was a child, and injured. I would have fought with him until my
dying breath if I could have, but I was knocked out. I woke up a few
times, but I never stayed awake long enough to help," said Ranma with
surprising calm. "I want to find that man, and show him what I think
of a knight who would hunt down an unarmed man and his child."

    "I... see," said Akane with a sudden surge of guilt, it didn't
last long though. "Is this why you are a thief? So you can avenge your
father?"

    "Actually yes, it's the best profession to be in if you want to
find somebody. I've grown strong over time, and learned to be the
best. When I find that man, I'll face him like a man."

    "Are you sure? You could face him like an elf. It would suit you
better," snapped the girl as she took her arm away from him finally.

    "You know, you've sure got a bad attitude you tomboy."

    "I suppose I should thank you for keeping me alive for your own
purposes?" snapped the knight.

    "No, but you've got a really nasty disposition. Even before I
kidnapped you, it's been bugging me ever since I met you. I wonder
what would turn someone who could be a relatively cute girl, into an
uncute brute like you?"

    "When we get out of this mess, I'll show you how much of a brute I
can be," said Akane coldly.

    "Ha! A slow chick like you doesn't stand a chance against me!"
replied the pigtailed boy smugly.

    Akane growled; her hand closed around something next to the stool
and she picked it up and slammed it down on the thief's head.

    Ranma was thrown to the floor roughly and looked up at the wooden
mallet that was now embedded in his skull. "That hurt you know."

    "Good. Maybe you'll learn to curb your tongue!" snapped Akane
bitterly as she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. Her
brow furrowed as she attempted to rest. "I'll actually be glad to get
back to that idiot, Kuno, after this jerk."

+++++++++++

    Nabiki Tendo frowned as someone entered her sanctuary rather
tastelessly. There was only one man bold enough, and stupid enough, to
do such a thing. "Don't you know how to knock, Kuno?"

    "You shall address me as 'Lord Kuno'!" roared the man angrily.

    "What do you want, Kuno?" she said ignoring his protest.

    "I have need of your services lowly witch!" snarled the man
arrogantly.

    "That will cost you," said Nabiki coldly.

    "I have the usual payment on hand," said the man as several
servants tossed three bags of gold at her feet and left as quickly as
they had entered.

    "Tell me what you need," she said with a sigh.

    "I wish to know the whereabouts of the lovely, Lady Akane! The
Emperor has returned, but I have not seen her within the palace!"

    Nabiki smiled evilly. It was far too perfect, too easy to be rid
of him for good. She had lost two of her Niku men so far, and had
doubts that the others would survive. Her sister would have to pay for
destroying her favorite toys, she had tried her best to give her a
quick and painless end, but how had the girl repaid her? Well, Akane
always was a bit of a brute anyway. She slowly turned and gazed
directly at the young lord coolly. "You have not heard the news? My
sister was abducted, taken with the Kajakan by those that raided the
castle in Joketsuko."

    "She has been...?" muttered the boy in shocked horror.

    "No doubt, they are ravaging her purity as we speak. I have not
been able to free her, despite my powerful magic! I was just about to
send for you!"

    "Witch! Why did you not do so sooner?" he snapped angrily. "I
shall save Lady Akane this very day! We shall be wed before we return,
so that none but I shall know of her shame. A noble and honorable
sacrifice upon myself for her sake indeed!"

    Nabiki snorted. If the idiot managed to save her in some sort of
miracle, everyone in the palace would know of her supposed shame. The
moron would boast about disguising it so honorably for years. "Indeed,
I have faith in your prowess. Go now, to the forest to the south of
Joketsuko. Akane shall appear there with her captors in three days."
There, that would ensure that Akane suffered a bit before her eventual
demise. She didn't want it to be too bad for her. After all, she was
her sister.

+++++++++++++

    "Lord Herb, what are your orders?" said Mint as he bowed before
his master placidly.

    "I want you two to find the Kajakan for me, and bring it back. If
you cannot, return here and tell me what you have learned," said the
man as he sat on his personal throne and scowled at them. His face was
covered in small cuts and bruises, Kiima had been less than merciful
in front of her master.

    "Yes, my lord!" said Lime firmly.

    "Listen carefully fools. If you retrieve the Kajakan, bring it to
me directly. No one else, not even Nabiki, or even the Emperor himself
must obtain it before me."

    "Lord Herb?" said Mint with a hint of worry in his voice.

    "Do not concern yourself. I shall return it to the Emperor." He
had a dark look in his eyes as he said this, and almost spat the words
at them.

    "Yes, of course. We understand," said Lime. He paused and looked
up at his master for a moment. "Master? Please forgive me."

    "What is it?" said the man calmly.

    "What of Lady Akane?"

    Herb looked at them for a moment and frowned. "Do not attempt to
rescue her, unless a clear opportunity presents itself. I want the
Kajakan first and foremost. Remember, if you fail, report to me
immediately," he said with a heavy sigh. "That should keep the idiots
happy," he thought to himself. He knew from Nabiki's magic that the
girl was as good as dead.

    "Yes, Lord Herb," replied the pair in unison.

    "Go, carry out my orders," said the man as he stood up and turned
away from them. When he turned back, they were gone.

++++++++++

    "I don't like it Mint, it's almost like he wants us to fail," said
Lime as he walked with his companion.

    "I agree, but I don't think we'll be punished if we can't get it,"
agreed Mint with a small sigh. "I sure hope we can save Lady Akane
though. I like her."

    "Yeah, we won't get to visit Mistress Kasumi as much either," said
Lime with a worried look on his face.

    "Hey!" said Mint with a sudden start.

    "What is it?" asked Lime as he glanced around nervously.

    "If we save her... do you think she'll let us see her titties?"

    "Hey! Great idea! We'll ask her after we save her!" said Mint
happily.

    "You two! Why are you still alive? Did you not die for your
mistress?" roared an angry sounding voice from behind them.

    "Huh?" said the pair as they turned to see Kuno pointing his sword
at them.

    "How dare you defile these halls with your presence after you
failed to protect Lady Akane!"

    "But, we're not Lady Akane's servants," said Mint.

    "Yeah, we work for Lord Herb," agreed Lime.

    "Silence! I shall have none of your excuses cowards! This very
day, I ride out to free your mistress from the bonds of her evil
captors!" exclaimed Kuno as he waved his sword in the air
dramatically.

    Lime and Mint had to back away to avoid being cut. They simply
stared at the scene and blinked.

    "Great!"

    "Yeah, see ya!"

    "Halt fiends! I shall allow you to accompany me, in order to
redeem yourselves from your cowardly ways! I have not forgotten your
many long years of loyal service to Lady Akane! Let it not be said
that I am not merciful!"

    "Service to Lord Herb," corrected Mint halfheartedly.

    "Oh, come on, we might as well go with him," grumbled Lime with a
disappointed look on his face.

    "I guess," said Mint with a similar expression.

    With that, the trio of fools wandered towards the palace stables.

++++++++++
        The Dragon and The Ghost

    Part 14

    Escape from Wizard's Cavern

++++++++++

    Ranma walked along the tunnel lazily, with Akane trailing just
behind him. Neither had spoken in a long time, they merely strolled
along through the darkness, searching for an exit to the maze.

    Finally, Akane spoke up. "I thought you said this exit would be
near to that place."

    "It is, but we don't know where it is, so it might take us a bit
longer to find it than someone who probably knew the way by heart,"
replied the pigtailed boy calmly. "We're probably pretty close, if you
haven't noticed, we've been moving in circles for a while now. The
cave doesn't go any further."

    "What?" said the black knight in shock.

    "I didn't figure you for the type who pays attention much,"
commented the boy calmly as he continued to walk.

    "This is..."

    "Bad? Yes I know. Those friends of yours must be getting close,"
said the boy lazily.

    "How can you be so calm? If they find us now, we'll die!" snarled
the girl as she forcefully turned him to face her.

    "Calm down. Getting all excited won't help us. Besides, I've
gotten out of worse scrapes than this one," said the boy with a small
shrug. The ball of light floating just above his head flickered for a
moment as Akane released him and stepped back.

    "Fine."

    "Good girl, come on now, we've got to find the way out now," said
the boy in a patronizing tone as he started forward again.

    After a short time, Akane piped up again. "What the hell are we
looking for anyway?"

    "Some kind of mark, small and unnatural looking. It could be a
chalk drawing, or some rocks set up in a slightly unusual manner, even
something as small as a scratch in the wall. You don't make a secret
door without marking it somehow; otherwise, you might not find it
yourself." He paused and glanced back at her again. "It'll probably be
above our field of vision, or close to the ground."

    "Oh," said the girl with a small frown. "Something like that?" she
pointed at a small white circle, long worn with time, near the ground
on the wall.

    Ranma blinked and looked at it for a moment. "Uh, yeah."

    "I noticed it about two hours ago, the last time we passed by
here," said the girl with a small growl.

    "You should have said something," replied the boy with a small
shrug.

    "Why you..."

    "Okay, now we have to figure out how he opened it," muttered the
boy as he forcefully pulled her hand away from the wall. She had
approached it and tried to feel the stone with her hand. "Don't touch
that wall."

    "What? Are you saying I can't open a stupid door?" snapped the
girl in anger.

    "You probably could, but not on that wall. The door is over here,"
replied the boy with a small smirk. He jerked his thumb over to the
opposite wall.

    "What?" said the girl dumbly.

    "You never mark the real spot where you put a secret door. That
mark is a trap," said Ranma cheerfully.

    The boy walked over to the opposite wall and looked it up and down
for a moment. "Hmmm..."

    "What are you waiting for?" snarled the knight.

    "Jeez you're impatient. Didn't anyone ever tell you? Never touch
anything when dealing with a wizard. Most magical traps are activated
by touch. It helps prevent them from going off in your face because
you forgot to turn off your light spell, or happen to sneeze at the
wrong time," replied the boy calmly. "Things that wouldn't normally be
dangerous are especially bad. Like walls and doors."

    "They didn't teach thievery when I was a squire," snapped Akane
curtly.

    "Too bad, it's useful," said Ranma with another shrug.

    "You seem to be taking this death trap rather casually," said the
girl as she turned away from him and crossed her arms over her chest.

    "I like my work," said Ranma cheerfully. He opened his palm and
extended his arm towards the wall, holding it a few inches above the
stone surface. "I wish we had some water, this is a lot easier as an
elf."

    Akane bit back her reply and simply watched him for a moment as he
concentrated on a particular portion of wall.

    "Here," said the boy as he pointed at a small area with his
finger. "Let's see now..." He casually picked up a loose stone from
the ground and tossed it into the wall. It passed right through.

    Akane gasped as she watched in awe. The sound of the stone
clattering across the ground filled the cavern for a moment. "What?"

    "It's just an illusion," said Ranma calmly. They both paused as
the sound of something large and metal crashing down echoed against
the walls. "Whoa, that's not good," commented the pigtailed boy with a
small frown.

    "What was that?" said Akane with a slight worry in her voice.

    "Trap," said the boy with yet another shrug. "Ready? We're going
in."

    "What?" said the girl in shock as he grabbed her by the arm. "Are
you crazy?"

    "No, normally I'd be a lot more careful, but that..." In answer to
his unfinished sentence, the familiar screech of metal against metal
sounded off in the distance of the cavern. "...that is our time
running out."

    Akane paled as he jerked her forward, and jumped into the
illusionary wall.

++++++++++

    Ryu frowned as he hid behind a large group of boulders, just above
the main road. "Great."

    "Now what?" said Shampoo calmly as she glanced down at the
seemingly endless rows of soldiers marching towards Joketsuko just
below them.

    Ukyo growled slightly as she forced herself not to watch the
invaders march into her country. Ryoga appeared to be taking a nap
next to her, resting his back against the rocks.

    Ryu shifted the long bundle across his back in agitation and
sighed. "Hell. We've got no choice, we're stuck here until they go
by."

    "We could just say we're merchants, or even just travelers,"
offered Shampoo lazily.

    "Are you nuts? We haven't got any goods! They'll search anyone
they come across. I'm sure every soldier in the imperial army knows
the Kajakan is gone," snapped Ukyo.

    "She's right. We can't take that chance," agreed Ryu. "Once we get
across the border, we should be relatively safe though."

    "How far is that?" said Ukyo impatiently.

    "About three more days walk," said Ryu calmly.

    "It didn't take us that long to get where we are now on the way
here," pointed out Shampoo.

    "We weren't worried about being seen, and could use the roads
then," said Ryu. "Three days, at least."


    "Great," muttered Ukyo sourly. "I never thought I'd be wishing to
be out of my own country so badly."

    "Wake up that fool will you?" snapped Ryu as he glanced at the
dwarf. The little man was starting to snore.

    Ukyo hit him on the head with the back of her gauntlet and he
snapped awake.

    "Eh? Wha?" He glared at her for a moment and frowned. "Wha'd ya do
that fer? You crazy cross dressing tin can!"

    "Shut the hell up jackass! You were making too much noise!"
retorted the girl angrily.

    "Both of you calm down! Before you get us all killed!" snapped
Ryu. He turned back towards the road again and frowned. Something had
caught his eye suddenly. "Well, what have we here?"

    "What's up?" said Shampoo as she glanced over his shoulder.

    "Somebody important," said the boy casually. "Oh horseback, riding
as if the ranks weren't there. It would take somebody pretty important
for the soldiers to ignore that."

    "Three of them," commented Ukyo as she glanced from behind her own
cover.

    "Hey! I know that guy!" whispered Ryoga angrily. "He's the jerk
who tried to double cross me an' Ranma! Dirty bastard!"

    Shampoo's eyes were on the pair riding just behind the lead man.
"Quiet! Nobody make a sound!" she snapped angrily.

    "Huh?" said Ukyo in surprise. "What's up?"

    "Beastmen," said Ryu with a slight growl.

++++++++++

    "I don't like this," commented Mint as he glanced around the area
nervously. "It feels like we're being watched."

    "Well, we're surrounded by soldiers," said Lime lazily. He didn't
look particularly worried at the moment, and merely followed behind
the proudly strutting Kuno.

    The noble was riding through the ranks of solders dressed in a
dark purple outfit made of velvet. A long red cape draped across his
shoulders with the Kuno family crest on it, showed who he was to all
around him. On top of his head was what appeared to be an oversized
hat with a huge feather sticking out of it on the top.  He turned to
look at his companions for a moment.

    "Surely you are catching a gaze that was meant for me. Some
nameless peasant hidden away in the rocks, as to bask in my untold
glory."

    "Now you're reaching," said Mint with a small frown. "This isn't a
nice feeling though."

    "Maybe Nabiki is checking up on things?" offered Lime.

    "It could be. I don't think she likes us much..." agreed Mint.

    "Don't worry about it," said Lime with a small shrug.

    "I suppose you're right," muttered Mint as he glanced up at an
alcove of rocks just above the road for a moment. He turned away and
followed his companions through the center of the ranks.

++++++++++++

    Ranma rushed forward into the wall and stopped cold as soon as
they passed through it. "I've got a bad feeling about this," commented
the boy under his breath as he slowly moved forward.

    "I can't see a thing," muttered Akane angrily as she forcefully
removed her arm from his grip and started to walk ahead of him. She
was stopped as Ranma barred his arm across her chest and glared at her
for a moment.

    "What is it now?" she snapped quietly.

    "Are you dense? You don't just wander off into the darkness!" he
chided and pushed her against the wall. With a small wave of his hand,
several torches lit along a long brick hallway in front of them. It
looked relatively new and extended for quite a ways into the distance.
Several large, flat, and square metal plates made up the ceiling along
the length hallway.

    "We have to hurry, those Niku will figure out what happened to us
rather quickly," snapped Akane.

    "Right," muttered Ranma as he slowly walked forward, extending his
hand behind him to keep Akane back.

    "I don't like this," he muttered as he glanced around cautiously.
He felt something crunch under his foot as he lightly stepped forward.
He gently moved back and looked down on the ground. There, lying in
the middle of the floor, were the remains of the rock. It was nothing
but a few shattered pieces resting in a fine white powder. "Oh shit."

    "What is it?" said Akane with an annoyed glare as she walked up
beside him.

    "Get back!" he cried as he grabbed her and rolled onto the ground,
he kept rolling as several large metal sections of the ceiling slammed
down behind him, one after another. Finally, they stopped just in
front of the entrance. He stood up shakily and dusted off his pants as
he glared at the hallway angrily as the trap slowly reset itself by
sliding back up into the ceiling. "I can't believe I fell for that,"
he muttered under his breath.

    "What the hell was that!?" cried Akane in panic.

    "I told you there'd be traps," snorted Ranma in irritation as he
glanced around. "There should be some sort of switch to turn it off
around here..."

    Akane snorted in disgust and reached up to one of the torches
along the wall. "It's obviously one of these torches..."

    "No! Don't!" cried the boy a little too late.

    "What is it?" snapped the knight as she walked towards him.

    He grabbed her arm and pulled her forward as the section of
ceiling just in front of the entrance came down. "Run for it!" snapped
the pigtailed boy as he began to move, pulling her arm as he went.

    Akane managed to barely keep up just in front of him and stopped
cold as he stopped moving suddenly and grabbed Akane's arm jolting her
back. One of the walls slammed down in front of her face, barely
missing her nose by a hair's width. She simply stood in silent horror,
gasping desperately for breath, as they found themselves enclosed on
both sides by the thick walls of metal. They hadn't even made it
halfway down the long hallway from what Ranma had seen before their
view was blocked suddenly.

    "Why did you stop?" muttered Akane with a slight fear in her
voice.

    "The ceiling here is made of stone, look," said the boy as he
pointed upwards. One of the torches still burned on the wall beside
them, the metal pillars left just enough room for them on either side,
but nowhere near enough room for them to get out.

    "Oh," muttered the girl nervously as she glanced around.

    "I thought I told you never to touch the obvious," muttered Ranma
as he glanced around at their situation.

    "Fine, I'll just stand there next time," snapped the girl in
irritation.

    "Good." He paused and frowned suddenly. "The trap isn't resetting
itself."

    "You mean we're stuck here?" said the knight with a slightly
frightened look in her eyes.

    "I didn't say that, it reset before. We must have triggered
something," said the boy as he fell to his hands and knees and
inspected the floor carefully. After a moment he stood up and sighed.
"Great, a pressure sensitive floor."

    "What can we do?" grumbled Akane angrily.

    "Turn around," said the boy with a smirk on his face.

    "Pardon?" said Akane with a slight edge in her voice.

    "Just do it. Trust me," replied the pigtailed boy with a sigh.

+++++++++

    "So, is it safe to move yet?" said Ukyo as she glanced over to Ryu
from behind the rocks.

    "No, but it's clear of soldiers," replied the boy as he stood up.

    "I wonder who that man was?" commented Shampoo as she glanced in
the direction the soldiers had traveled. "He didn't seem to be moving
with the soldiers."

    "Eh? That ass Kuno? He's just some minor noble in the kings
court," said Ryoga with a small wave of his hand. "Nothing to worry
about really."

    "A single man doesn't worry me, I just don't like the idea of
tangling with two beastmen," commented Ukyo.

    "Those two were definitely dangerous," agreed Shampoo.

    "I'm still not talking to you," groused Ukyo as she turned away
from the elf.

    "Let's hope that lasts a while," commented Ryu as he started
walking towards the path.

    "Aye," snorted Ryoga as he wandered off in a random direction.
Ukyo belted him over the head with the staff of her spear again.

    "Wench! Stop that!" snarled the dwarf as he whirled around.

    "This way midget!" said the girl with a frown.

    "I ain't a midget! I'm a dwarf damn you!"

    "Same difference," said Ukyo with a small shrug as she followed
after Ryu.

    Ryoga glared at her and clenched his fists. "Damn you! Ranma! This
is all your fault!"

    Shampoo blinked as she walked up next to him. "How did you come to
that, interesting, conclusion?"

    "Eh? She's his girlfriend after all," replied the dwarf as if she
should have known that already.

    "She isn't," snapped the elf as she turned away and followed after
the other two travelers.

    "Eh? Women are so damned confusing? What the hell is going on
here? I'll bet it's that damn Ranma's fault. I'll give him a good
beating when we find him again! Yup, that's exactly what he deserves."
The dwarf nodded to himself as he kept in step with the others.

+++++++++++

    Ranma and Akane had their backs pressed together, they slowly
walked up opposite walls inside the small enclosure.

    "How much longer?" gasped Akane with strain clearly on her face.

    "Until the floor resets, and the trap is reset," gasped the boy as
he simply stared at the torch between his legs.

    As if in answer to him, the sound of a pulley system of some kind
kicked in, and the metal slowly rose back into its place on the
ceiling. Ranma felt Akane starting to relax and frowned. "Hold it, not
until the trap is completely reset!"

    "I can't go much longer," she gasped.

    "Almost!" replied the boy through his own gasps.

    The knight grunted as she strained, slowly feeling her legs weaken
under the strain.

    "Now!" said Ranma as he pushed off the wall. Akane just let her
entire body relax, and they both landed on the hard ground roughly,
piled in a small heap. Each was gasping for breath and fumbling over
each other as they attempted to push apart. Finally, they untangled
their bodies and sat across from each other, panting.

    "So... now what?" said the knight with a small glare at him.

    "Hey!... Why are you mad?... It's your fault we're in this mess,"
replied the boy.

    "How...the hell is this...my fault?"

    "You fell down the hole..." replied Ranma.

    That was when something caught both their attentions. A familiar
sound, that they desperately wanted to forget.

    "Oh, man," muttered Ranma with a pained look on his face as he
staggered to his feet and pulled Akane up with him.

    Standing at the other end of the hall, were the two remaining
Niku.

    "No! I can't run!" lamented Akane as she turned and started to
move away.

    "Better hurry," said Ranma as he grabbed her arm and forced her to
move faster. She glanced at him for a moment and her eyes went wide as
she saw what was in his hand.

    "You didn't," she managed to gasp.

    "Less talking, more running," said Ranma as he threw the torch he
had pulled off of the wall to the ground. The hallway filled with the
familiar sound of metal slamming into the ground behind them.

    Akane screamed as the shrieking of the Niku grew louder as they
ran, along with the slamming of the metal into the stone floor. She
dared a look back and saw that both of the tiny assassins were just
ahead of the crushing metal, bouncing along the walls as they charged
fearlessly forward, gaining at an alarming rate.

    She turned and faced forward, the hallway ended just ahead. A
small doorway was open just in front of them. She glanced back again
and screamed as she felt Ranma jerk her arm forward again, just in
time to save her face from the snapping jaws of one of the Niku.

    Ranma forced himself to pull ahead as the Niku nipped at their
heels in a most literal sense. He frowned as Akane screamed again from
beside him, apparently she had seen the door in front of them slowly
closing shut from above. He put everything he had into sprinting all
out and dove pushing the girl just ahead of him just as the door
closed behind them. Then, there was darkness and the sound of the last
metal crusher slamming into the floor behind the thick stone door. At
that point, Akane finally stopped screaming, apparently not even aware
that she was until that point.

    Ranma sat up and sighed. "I should have kept the torch."

    "Do you really want to go back and get it?" snapped Akane angrily.

    "Boy, you sure are loud for a knight," commented the pigtailed boy
as he scratched the inside of his ear with his pinky.

    "Shut up!" replied the girl curtly.

    "Whatever, at least those things are finally dead," said Ranma
with a small shrug. A wasted gesture in the pitch-blackness.

    A faint light suddenly filled the room. Ranma paused and looked up
to see Akane holding a light enchanted dagger.

    "Hey, where did you get that?" he muttered dumbly.

    "The only place you didn't search," replied the girl curtly.

    Ranma made a sick looking face and simply turned to look at the
room. It was a large stone room, about a hundred yards long, and
twenty yards wide. It was also completely empty, with a single door on
the opposite wall.

    "Didn't work when you tried to cut those ropes with it?" said the
pigtailed boy with a cheerful look on his face again.

    "Shut up."

    "Hey, just askin."

    "Let's get out of here," commented Akane as she started to walk
forward.

    "Damn it tomboy! How many times am I going to say the same thing!"
snapped the boy as he grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her
forcibly back.

    She was simply staring forward with a look of shock on her face.
"I..."

    "You'd better start listening to me. That's twice you've almost
gotten yourself killed doing something stupid," said Ranma firmly.

    Akane merely nodded and touched her face. There was a long gash on
her right cheek, and another one across her throat, both were bleeding
quite freely. "What happened?"

    "You ran into this," said Ranma as he picked her knife up off the
floor where she had dropped it. He reached out carefully with the
blade extended, and seemed to tap at nothing in the air.

    Akane gasped as a single, shining, line of metal started to
vibrate in the light that the blade emitted, exactly where he had
struck.

    Ranma simply stared forward into the room and sighed. "There are
probably thousands of these, all across the room. We're going to be
here a while. Just follow me, and do exactly as I do."

    Akane found herself merely nodding as she stood back on her feet.

+++++++++++

    "When is it Akane Tendo is supposed to pass by this place?"
Tatewaki Kuno stood in the middle of a small field, just outside the
forest that Nabiki had told him about.

    "Another day or so," said Mint lazily.

    "This does not bode well. The Blue Thunder must have a bed under
his mighty back, to ensure that his prowess does not decrease in the
night, due to improper maintenance of his mighty form!"

    "Huh?" muttered Lime as he glanced back at the man in confusion.

    "I want you two to fetch me a proper bed," said the boy as he
rolled his eyes at them.

    "He's kidding right?" said Mint as he looked towards his
companion.

    "I sure hope so," commented Lime. "There's no way we could find a
bed, especially out here in the middle of nowhere."

    "What is this? Surely such a simple task is too much for such
feeble minds to comprehend!" roared the boy.

    "If it's so simple, you find one," replied Mint.

    Kuno stared at him and sputtered. "You think the Mighty Blue
Thunder would soil his hands with such common work?"

    "If you find a bed, we'll carry it for you, where ever you want to
put it," said Mint lazily.

    "Right," agreed Lime.

    Kuno glared at them for a moment. "Very well, perhaps this could
be a character building experience, such as the honored Lord Kuno has
said before." He looked over to them again, "I shall be merciful, and
allow you to bring me dinner instead."

    The two beastmen looked at one another and then back at him again.

    "You know... no one would ever know..." commented Lime.

    "Do you really think she'd let us get away with it?" pointed out
Mint.

    "Right. Darn witch," muttered Lime in irritation. "We might as
well do as he says then."

+++++++++++

    Ranma and Akane were almost to the door. It had taken them a half-
hour to reach the point they were at, and about twenty yards separated
them from the next chamber. There was no way to see what they would
find there, only pitch-blackness could be seen inside.

    Akane was covered in small cuts, and even Ranma had a few on him.
Neither looked particularly happy at the moment as they slowly made
their way towards the exit.

    "Almost," grumbled Ranma as he stepped over one of the wires
carefully. He slowly lowered his leg and watched as it touched the
floor before breathing a sigh of relief. "One step closer."

    "How comforting," deadpanned Akane as she performed the same
maneuver immediately after him, while he searched the next area for
the invisible wires with the knife cautiously.

    They both turned as a slow rumbling came from behind them. An
orange light slowly seemed to fill the room, shining on the wires
behind them giving a surreal spider web like effect. The ones in front
of them could still not be seen. However, that did nothing to
alleviate their worry, as a small figure stepped into the room,
brandishing a spear with a crescent shaped blade on the tip. It worked
its jaws slowly, filling the room with a high pitched shriek.

    "Damn," muttered Ranma as he turned and continued to search for
wires with a little more speed than before.

    "One of them survived?" gasped Akane as she moved up and grabbed
at his shoulder.

    "I know," said the boy in a strained voice as he worked
desperately.

    "Hurry up!" muttered the girl in alarm.

    "Don't worry, the wires will slow him down," said the pigtailed
boy as he stepped forward slowly.

    A new sound filled the room, a plinking noise, followed by a high
pitched whine that lasted only a second or so. Akane turned, and
frowned as she saw the tiny creature jumping through the web, pulling
wires along with it as it charged forward fearlessly.

    "Hurry!" she repeated in alarm.

    "I'm goin!" he snapped as he worked faster, earning another cut on
his arm for his impatience. He glanced back and saw the thing moving
towards them fast, there was no way they could make it. "Shit!"

    "Do something!" screamed the girl in his hear.

    "Quit yellin!" retorted the boy as the thing stopped just behind
them and snarled angrily. "Get down!"

    The Niku jumped, the sound of wires breaking filled the air around
them, the pair could feel the deadly thin strips of metal passing over
them at high speed, cutting into the stone floor around them and
whipping about viciously. Finally, the noise stopped.

    Ranma and Akane stood up and glanced down at the thing for a
moment as it stood between them and the doorway, grinning evilly.
Hundreds of the little wires were covering its body, small flecks of
metal were missing all over the thing's body. It giggled once, and
fell cleanly in half along its waist.

    "That's four," commented Ranma with a smirk as he stepped over it
and paused in front of the door, he reached in with the knife and
looked around. The walls were natural again, and it appeared to be a
tunnel of some sort, a tunnel with a light at the end.

    He turned back towards Akane and smiled as he handed the knife
back to her, holding it between his thumb and forefingers. "Here, you
can put this back now."

    The knight blushed suddenly and glared at him. "You'd like that
wouldn't you!"

    "Come on, let's get out of here," muttered the pigtailed boy
lazily as he started walking into the cavern.

    They started towards the light, but stopped as an insane giggling
filled the air from behind them.

    "No way," said Ranma as he slowly turned and saw the Niku's top
half smiling at them.

    "Run!" screamed Akane as she passed by him.

    The boy easily rushed by her, rushing towards the light, and the
strange roar that suddenly filled the air from somewhere. "Now what?"
muttered the boy as he glanced around for the source of the noise.

    Behind them, the Niku was snapping its jaws and running along the
floor with the remains of its hands. Somehow, it was even faster than
before as it relentlessly pursued them down the long tunnel.

    Just as he passed Akane, the world became very bright. He reached
out as he realized what was happening and grabbed her arm, feeling his
body shift suddenly. He felt his shoulder jerk violently as he grabbed
the wall of rock and hung with the girl in his grasp.

    Slowly, his vision cleared and he saw that he was inside a large
shadow, the air was soaking wet with a thick mist, and a deafening
roar seemed to pound at his ears from the giant waterfall that was
falling into a rocky alcove below, just over their heads.

    Ranma looked up and saw the Niku sail out of the tunnel like a
bullet, snapping its jaws at two target's that weren't there any
longer. It vanished into the waters and plummeted down onto the rocks
below to its death.

    "Got 'em," commented Ranma, who was now in his cursed form and
hanging off of the tunnel opening by one hand, with Akane gripping her
arm desperately. Slowly, she pulled herself up and managed to drag
Akane up to the wall, where she could get her own grip on the wall.
After a moment of simply clinging and trying to catch their breath,
the pair started to climb the slippery surface. Ranma nodded towards
the right of the cavern opening. Three feet from the hole, was the
beginning of a path that would lead them to the ground.

    Akane looked at him, and nodded her head slowly. Ranma didn't fail
to notice the flash of anger there.

    "So, it's time we settled this is it?" thought the elf girl to
herself as she climbed.

++++++++++++

    TBC...

    Evil. Yes I know. Oh well, till next time. Then we'll have Ranma
and Akane in a heart to heart discussion about the evils of stealing.
Yeah, right. Plus, Ryu and the others try and dodge the military,
while trying to escape the country.