All right.  This stupid spy as asked to meet you  in
some vary wired places,  but in the middle of the New
York Marathon? 
	
	Speaking of the devil, a familiar black cloaked figure runes up
along side of you.
	
	"Pass the water "
	
	Once again, Code Name's cryptic fraise catches you by surprise, but
you decide to take a crack at it.
	"That flows under the bridge," you say.
	
	"No  I mean, pass the water."
	
	You shrug as you run a corner, then handle him your water bottle.
	
	"You will have to forgive me for this meeting place.  But I,  Code
Name D, your dutiful fan fic smuggler, am currently on the run, and
can't stop for fear that my competitors will catch me with this."
	
	He reaches into his black clack and produces a manila envelope
titles, Curse of the Ghost Dance.  Act 8: Sedge at Darenger Ranch.
	
	"As you may recall  Ranma and Tarry had foolishly charged into
the mists of an army of unstoppable soldiers, and were about to be
hacked to death.  Just as The Shaman had set into motion a plan
of escape.  Unfortunately, this still leaves Akane and Redd Darenger
in the clutches of the vile Black Raven.  And unknown to our heroes,
time is running out for Nabiki and Kasumi back in Nerima  with
a volcano about to blow up. "
	
	At that precise moment, you see another familiar face waiting at the
side lines.  It's the Japanese Copyright Agent.
	
	"Moshi moshi!" he shouts.
	
	"Ah yes,  that reminds me that Ranma is copyrighted by
RT.  And be sure.. to..  AHHH!"
	
	Suddenly, Code Name puts on a sudden burst in speed.  That's when
you see tow other figures pass you up in perused of Code Name.  One
warring a wide brimmed, jet black sombrero and black poncho, the
second warring a black shapo and those fluffy sleeved French shirts
that was also jet black.  Both were shouting angrily at Code Name in
Spanish and French.
	
	Apparently, competition Ranma fics is fierce after all.
	+----------------------------------------------+
	|            Code Name D presents:             |
	+----------------------------------------------+
	|                  Ranma 1/2                   |
	|        The Curse of the Ghost Dance          |
	+----------------------------------------------+
	|                  Act VIII                    |
	|           Sedge at Darenger Ranch            |
	+----------------------------------------------+
	|              By Douglas Kulp                 |
	|          Based on the characters and         |
	|     situations created by Rumiko Takahashi   |
	+----------------------------------------------+
	
	Over the Darenger Ranch, the sky had gone completely dark.  What was
once a small whip of a cloud in an otherwise cloudless sky, had grown
into an animus thunder head that bellowed and cracked with electrical
furry from deep within it's hidden mass.  Even the noon day sun was
over matched by the sky's still growing furry.
	
	Genma Saotome, and Soun Tendo peered out from ether side of the
upstairs window, over looking the front courtyard of the Darenger
Ranch.
	
	Discovered from forgotten corner of the house, Soun had found an old
white hard hat that displayed a stylized circular CD symbol for Civil
Defense.
	
	A blinding arc of lighting suddenly leapt out from the cloud, and
coursed across the full girth of the thunderhead, letting loose with
electrical furry, the dark landscape was suddenly illuminated with
blinding force.
	
	"Great heavens!", Soun said.
	
	The lighting had illuminated the full extent of the army of Spanish
Soldiers and Indian Warriors.  The sedge of the Darenger house was in
full force.
	
	"Saotome, there must be hundreds of them," Soun said
	
	"But where did they all come from, that's what I'd like to know,
Tendo.  They look ancient.  At least we still have electrical power."
	
	There was another blinding flash of lighting, quickly followed by
cracking thunder.  Then, the lights flickered out completely, leaving
Genma and Soun completely in the dark.  The lighting continued to
flash outside, sending eerie reflections off of each and every wall
of the house.
	
	"You just had to open your mouth, didn't you Saotome.", Soun said as
he glared hateful at his friend.  "One would have thought you learned
your lesson when you said that the translation pendants were now
completely reliable.  But no..."  He then returned his attention back
outside, and continued to count the strength surrounding them during
the brief flashes of lightning.
	
	"What I don't understand is, why aren't they attacking?",  Soun
said, "They have us out numbered twenty to one.  Why are they just
siting there?"
	
	"Ranma gave us the answer to that when he was here.  I don't know
why, but when he struck one of them in Akane's room, he actually
wounded him.  If we can fight them inside, we might have a chance.",
Genma said.
	
	"What's the mater with you Saotome!  My precious little girl is out
there, in the open.  Oh Akane, why didn't I listen to you when I had
the chance!"
	
	"Relax Tendo."
	
	"RELAX He says.  How can a father possibly relax when his progeny is
at the mercy of those... monsters."
	
	"Ranma's out there.", Genma said by way of an answer, "Let's face it
Tendo. Ranma and Akane may fight like cats and dogs, but when it
comes down to something like this..."  Genma then looked out the
window, just as another flash light up the ranch, and the growing
numbers of warriors,  "Ranma has yet to fail Akane.  Not even once.
He'll pull her through, even at the cost of his own life."
	
	Genma then looked out the window, and towards the horizon in a
courageous and hopeful manner.
	
	"Even now, he is probably setting his plans into motion.  He is
rallying the others, inciting them to battle."
	
	"That's good Saotome.  But I hope he hurries, because here they
come!" Soun said.
	
	Indeed, a wave of soldiers began to advance on the house.  And Genma
became as white as a sheet.
	
	"We.. we have to tell the Darengers." Genma said.
	
	It was at that moment that Soun grabbed Genma by his collar, and
began to violently shake him about.
	
	"Tell them what!  We... don't... speak... English!  What are we
going to do, play shards?"
	
	Suddenly, the door to there room was slammed open, sending both
Genma and Soun climbing up the walls, and having Soun's long hair
stand on end.  It was of course, Kelley Clearwater, but Soun and
Genma didn't know this at the time, because all they saw was Kelly
holding the flashlight up her nose.
	
	"/Come on fellas.  We have to scram, vamoose, make a getaway.  RUN
FOR IT!!!/", Kelly said.
	
	Genma and Soun quickly recognized her voice, and thus calmed down.
But they still didn't understand a single word that Kelly said.
Leaving Kelly panting in frustration, as both Genma and Soun blinked
in confusion.
	
	< + + + >
	
	Kelly scratched her head as she considered the situation.
	
	"Dag'nabit, they can't understand a single word I say.  Well Cindy,
I suppose that I will just have to use the universal language."
Kelley said.
	
	"What language is that?" Cindy said, who just happened to be
standing beside her, "Love, music, math?"
	
	Kelly stepped into the room, and grabbed Soun and Genma's ears, and
began to drag them out into the hallway.
	
	"Force!" Kelly said as she dragged the two Japanese guests behind
her.
	
	Cindy only shook her head in dismay.
	
	"It's a good thing you aren't an ambassador."
	
	"Why not!  I think I would make a great ambassador." Kelly said.
	
	"How can you even say that, considering the fact that it was you
that prompted Dry Gulch to declare war against Dirt Hill.  They sent
a tank against us Kelly.  A tank!"
	
	"A tank my foot.", Kelly said, reaching the stair way, "That was an
old pick up with aluminum siding and a shot gun duck taped to the
roll bar."
	
	"That was more than we had!" Cindy said, running after Kelly.
	
	< + + + >
	
	The day was beginning to become old, or at least that was how it
felt with the sun becoming more and more obscured by the thick and
growing thunder cloud that hung over the ranch.  The only light seem
to come from the constant lighting, illuminating the land like a
giant fluorescent lamp that flickered and wavered, adding to the
feeling of damning evil that permeated every one's mood.
	
	The Days events did not help maters much ether, leaving every one
just as defeated in spirit, as they were in earlier battle.
	
	For Ranma Saotome especially, his defeat took on a very personal
tone.  He had failed Akane, in the worst way imaginable.  And what
was worse, he was continuing to fail her by sitting still in place,
and not acting.
	
	To the north of the Ranch, stood a small outcropping of rugged
boulders that over looked the besieged main house and grounds that
made up the Darenger Ranch.  It was a defensible position that was
shrouded by shrubs, and a few trees.  A small campfire was built at
the foot of a small crevasse, one that was large enough to
accommodate every one reasonably well.  But the ranch was out of
view, leaving to luck that the Black Raven would not press his
advantage just yet.
	
	And there, Ranma tried to meditate on his situation.  He glared at
his so called friends, who were all gathered around.  There were all
taken in by the Shaman's logic that a direct fight would fail.  Even
though it was a convincing argument that Ranma had trouble
dismissing.  And yet, if he was to have a chance, he was going to
need every one's help.  So he played along.
	
	"Then it true.", Shampoo suddenly said, "We outmatched, no hope to
rescue Akane."
	
	"Hay, just what do you mean by that Shampoo," Ranma snapped, "Your
probably glad that they took her away.  One less fiancée in your way."
	
	"Hiya!  Shampoo no take insult while not standing!", she said,
razing to her feet and reading her bondori."
	
	"Alas, the fair Chinese Amazon as struck upon the kernel of the
undeniable troth.", Kuno waxed.  His face then became contorted with
rage as he continued, "The curs wheeled enough force for even I, the
Blue Thunder of Furenken High , to retreat not but once, but twice
over."
	
	"So they beat you, Kuno, that's hardly an achievement," Ranma said,
"I do that every day."
	
	"What was that Saotome, dare you to cast insult at Tatewaki Kuno?
You, of all fiends that set such foal manner of devilry upon the fair
Akane, shall answer to this outrage with blood!", Kuno raved, raising
his bokken in offensive gesture against Ranma, and taking up a stand
next to Shampoo.  
	"Kuno is right, Saotome!", Ryoga said, taking up a stance on the
other side of Shampoo, "Akane is suppose to be your fiancée, and
you've run away like a little girl.  How dare to claim to her love!
Ranma!  Prepare to die!!"
	
	"Hay!  Now wait just one minute," Ukyou suddenly said as she jumped
to Ranma's defense, "As I recall, we all ran away with our tails
tucked in between our legs."  She then pulled her battle spatula out
from her back, and readied it.  "It's not like any of you did any
better!"
	
	"Egad, woman!", Kuno said, "So you side with this beast against
chivalry!?"
	
	"Spatula girl go too far!  Shampoo teach you lessen now."
	
	"Bring it on Shampoo, honey!", Ukyo snapped.
	
	"SILENCE!!"
	
	Suddenly, every one stopped, and began looking around.  Ranma
quickly began to realized just how foolish they were all being.  At
each other's thoughts when pop and the others were besieged in the
main house.  And Akane was inducing who knows what.
	
	But what was down right spooky, was the fact that the Clearwater
school was apparently having the same argument.  Tarry Clearwater was
standing in a hostile manner, similar to his own.  Almost eager for
the brawl to start.  At her side, with his BBQ tongs and giant fork
in hand was the Cajun, who were both confronting Area, Bob, and Marry
Lou, who were standing in exactly the same positions as Ryoga, Kuno,
and Shampoo.
	
	It was almost like looking into some bizarrely distorted mirror.
But one that showed thing far more accurately than Ranma would have
liked to admit.
	
	There argument had gone unnoticed because they were all speaking
incoherently in English, sense the pendants had failed hours ago, and
the Shaman was still working to repair them.
	
	In between them, sitting just before the fire, was the Shaman, who
coldly regarded both parties.  He then gave an order without words,
and commanded them to return to there places by the fire.
	
	Every one did so.  As well as being kept silent because of there own
shame.
	
	With the dispute settled for the time being, the Shaman returned to
studying the pendants that he had suspended over the fire.  He
finally reached into a large bag that he had slung over his shoulder,
and produced some kind of ground up substance, and proceeded to
sprinkle it into the open fire.
	
	A bizarrely ordered smoke began to rise from the fire, and was
swirled around the pendants by the Shaman's careful and disciplined
hand.  He than began to chant, using a language that rang like music,
with a tone far sadder than any Ranma had heard before.
	
	Them the Shaman lowered his hands, and quieted his voice.  He
removed the pick from the fire, from which the pendants hung, and
handed it about the group.
	
	"Your power to speak with each other is now secure.", he  said
softly.
	
	"Well, that's one problem salved.", Ranma said, "What caused them to
fail in the first place?"
	
	The Shaman looked at Ranma briefly, just long enough to acknowledge
the question.
	
	"Your question will be difficult to answer.  But that answer my
yield much, once I have an opportunity to consider it." The Shaman
said.  With that, he stood up, and marched over to a line of shrubs
that have been concealing them thus far from the besieging army that
surrounded the main Darenger house.
	
	"However, we now have a more pressing mater to attend to."
	
	Tarry and Ranma joined him on either side.
	
	"What I want to know, is wether this Black Raven is bluffing to us
or not," Tarry said, "He doesn't really have to power to destroy the
world, dues he?"
	
	"If the Black Raven does not yet have the power to do as he threats,
he will soon." The Shaman said.
	
	"Then we have to stop him now." Ranma said.  With that, he suddenly
turned around to address his countrymen.  "We got to show this Black
Raven what it means to mess with us!"
	
	"What!?!?" The Shaman said.
	
	"Ranma's got the right idea.  Ain't nobody going to launch
Armageddon from the Darenger Ranch while Tarry Clearwater is in town!"
	
	"Right on Ranma-honey!" Ukyou said, drawing out her battle spatula.
	
	"Time to torque this nut down!" Bob shouted.
	
	"Shampoo with you Ranma!"
	
	The Cajun replied by putting his mouth to his hand as if it were a
bugle, and tooting out a charge anthem.
	
	"For the honor of Japan!!" Ryoga shouted
	
	"Area's duty as a Illegal American Immigrant, to Defend
Constitution!"
	
	"Wait," The Shaman shouted, "You must not.."
	
	"ATTTACK!" Ranma shouted.
	
	"CHARGE!!" Tarry shouted.
	
	As commanded, both schools quickly ran past the Shaman, and out into
the open, and with blasting lungs and a vast array of weaponry primed
and ready, charged directly into the line of zombie soldiers.
	
	The Shaman didn't turn around, and just sighed.
	
	"Indeed, all is lost. Huh?"  It was then that The Shaman saw that
both Marry Lou and Kuno had not joined the battle.
	
	Kuno only blinked in surprise, when suddenly he threw himself into a
fit of rage.
	
	"The irony cuts into thy soul.  To confront this fate, to hesitate
with such danger and threat abounds, and yet the vile twisted Saotome
charges valiantly into noble if not vain combat against impossible
odds."    
	
	           "I here ya hun." Marry Lou said. Then with a steal, she
produced her twin hatchets, "So why are we out here, when we ought to
be throwing out bonnets into the ring."
	
	"Indeed, let us join the fray," Kuno said
	
	"Stop!"
	
	Before Kuno and Marry Lou could charge out into battle, the Shaman
stepped in their way, and held up his staff to block their progress.
	
	"Have you both forgotten the invincibility of your foe.  Considering
that it is a wiser battle to fight when you can deliver harm?"
	
	"Is that so," Kuno said.  He then raised his bokken to the Shaman.
"Stand down heathen!  I have been routed twice before.  This day
shall not see one of the Tatewaki family flee a third time."
	
	"Heathen!" Marry Lou said, "You can not speak about my teacher like
that..."
	
	Suddenly, The Shaman silenced her before she could continue, then
approached Kuno.
	
	"Battle now is in vain.", The Shaman said.
	
	"So is retreat," Kuno said, "Twice attempted to flee with our lives,
to fight at a time an manner of our choosing.  And twice the enemy
has fallen upon us."
	
	"Would your 'honor' demand your suicide, when another way may exist?
Is it truly your way to die needlessly, when victory may yet still be
achieved?  Perhaps a more effective means of retreat is in order.
Marry Lou, the machine shed."
	
	Suddenly, Marry Lou's face lit up with understanding.
	
	"Why my stars, why didn't I think of that.  Mrs. Clearwater's School
Bus."
	
	"The bus?" Kuno said, he then placed his hands on his hips, and
throw his head back with a long laugh.
	
	"Or course, the bus.  While the fool Saotome has lead the others
into certain doom, I will be the key architect to rescue that whom
he, ite, ite, ite!"
	
	Before Kuno could act, Marry Lou had grabbed him by the ear, and
began to tow him towards the machine shed.
	
	"Quit yer yappin, and get them toes a'tappin.  We've got a place to
be."
	
	"Ite!  Let go of my auditory appendage!  You foul woman!" Kuno
protested as he was pulled away.
	
	The Shaman sighed, then shook his head before he turn his attention
back towards the ongoing battle.
	
	"Now I must keep the others alive long enough for rescuers to find
them."
	
	< + + + >
	
	Ranma and Tarry finally reached the first rank of soldiers, and tore
into them with unleashed fury.  But it was vary quickly becoming
clear that any thoughts of holding back would result in death.
	
	Then, before Ranma knew what happened, there was a lull in the
battle.  He backed up against Tarry, and found themselves completely
surrounded.
	
	"Tell me Ranma, are you suddenly recalling all those lessons about
charging in where angels fear to tread?"
	
	Ranma swallowed nervously.
	
	"I had a feeling you were going to say that."
	
	"DIE!!"
	
	Suddenly, the rest of both Schools charged into the fray.  Tarry and
Ranma burst from their defensive posture, and dove into the ranks of
soldiers with bloody results.
	
	"Make your way to the others!"  Ranma shouted.
	
	Ranma continued to leap and attack where ever possible.  Suddenly, a
bola came from out of nowhere, and rapped there way around his
ankles.  Before he could do any thing, he fell to the ground, looking
up just in time to see an Indian warrior coming down on him with a
spear.
	
	Suddenly, a bandana decapitated the warrior, just as Ryoga leaped
into his path.  At both of his flanks, were Shampoo and Ukyou.  Ryoga
let fly another bandana, and it severed Ranma's bonds, while Shampoo
and Ukyou set about securing a small perimeter.
	
	Ryoga then grabbed Ranma by his collar, and yanked him rudely to his
feet.
	
	"Ranma!  Now would be a good time to let us in on your plan!"
	
	"What plan?  Ah, we kind of got a little hasty when we charged."
Ranma said.
	
	"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO PLAN!!!" Ryoga, Shampoo, and Ukyou
shouted in unison.
	
	"Ranma!  The only reason we came after you is because we thought you
and Tarry had a plan!  You stupid perverted moron!"
	
	"Hay, who are you calling perverted, pork-but!!"
	
	Can't you two stop arguing for even a single minute!"  Ukyou
shouted, "Right now we have bigger squid to fry.
	
	It was then that a lull appeared in the battle, and every one from
the Saotome school collapse into a tight defensive ring.  With Ukyou,
Ranma, Ryoga, and Shampoo's back firmly pressed up against each
other.  They each looked out around them, and saw a virtual sea of
Spanish Soldiers and Indian Warriors sounding them, cutting off every
avenue of escape.  Barely a dozen meters to the north, Tarry
Clearwater and her crew faced a similar dilemma.
	
	"Like staying alive long enough to find a way out of this." Ukyou
added.
	
	"Shampoo say no choice, but run for life."
	
	"Oh no.  I ain't running from nothing!" Ranma shouted, "Just because
we are outnumbered one hundred to one, doesn't mean that I am backing
down."
	
	"It doesn't look as if we have much choice, Ranma," Ryoga said,
"There is no way to escape."
	
	Ranma collapsed his hands into fists, popping his knuckles.
	
	"Then we fight!" Ranma said, sending out a piercing glare at the
soldiers serounding him, as if he could cut them down, just by
looking at him.
	
	"We fight to the end.  ATTACK!!!!"
	
	< + + + >
	
	The Black Raven's right eye twitched, as he saw the students of both
schools charge headlong into his army.  Without fear, without
concern, or thought.
	
	It wasn't that they continued to oppose him that made him mad, as
much as his astonishment at their gull and stupidity.
	
	Or was it stupidity at all?  What if they knew?  No.  They didn't.
Virtually his whole army was here, leaving Redd and Akane relatively
unprotected.  If they knew, they would be trying to rescue them
again, as they nearly did before.  No, he had studied the Clearwater
School for too long to make such a mistake.  The Saotome school,
because of their similarities, could not be any more intelligent.
	
	Then again, the Saotome School came from a far place that he did not
truly understand.  Underestimating them was possible.  Miscalculation
was even likely.
	
	Upon an unspoken queue, the shadow of two men walked out of the fog,
and rived behind the Black Raven.  One was a Spanish, and the other
an Indian.  But there were no mere solders.
	
	The Indian was fully clothed, with heavy hide boots instead of bare
feet.  A pare of precession crafted bronze tomahawk were tied under
his belt.  And a few feathers were tied to thin and silver hair.
	
	The second ware a spectacular cotton and silk uniform, and was armed
with a steal saber that was held at the ready within its scabbard.  A
leathered gloved hand rested upon it's hilt, half to keep the
scabbard steady with his stride, and half to keep the blade ready to
be drawn at an instance notice.
	
	"Kill them!" The Black Raven commanded.
	
	< + + + >
	
	"Damn!  Why wont these jerks stay down!" Ukyou said as she batted
away yet another soldier.  Already, the whole was being filed by
another.
	
	Suddenly, she backed into something.  Spinning around, she
confronted Shampoo.
	
	"Hiya!  Shampoo thought Spatula girl with Ranma!"
	
	"Me!?  I thought YOU were covering his back?" Ukyou said.
	
	Simultaneously, they both turned around, and leveled another rank of
soldiers, before backing up to each other.
	
	"I can't believe I was stupid enough to follow Ranma into this
mess," Ukyou said.
	
	"Shampoo believe."
	
	"Watch it sister!" Ukyou snapped
	
	"Saotome School!"
	
	Both Shampoo and Ukyou turned in time to see the Shaman fighting his
way to them.
	
	"A plan of retreat is in action.  Fight your way to the main road,"
The Shaman ordered.
	
	"How.  There are just too many of them!  You chop one in half, and
the gets right back up!" Ukyou shouted, "If deadly force doesn't
work--"
	
	"Then do not use deadly force!" The Shaman said.
	
	"Huh?" Ukyou said.  Then a smile  appeared on her face.  "That's it.
If only I had my gas grill."
	
	Suddenly, Ukyou heard the sound of The Cajun, blowing a Calvary
Charge into a make believe horn.  Ukyou then recoiled defensively as
a number of logs were thrown in her direction.  But they came up
short, and instead, were pilled up at her feet.  A large black pot,
followed by a sphere  of water.
	
	The Cajun then approached it like a gunfighter, daring the pot to
draw first.  The Cajun broke the stalemate by producing his red flame
thrower, instantly setting the logs ablaze, and the water to boil.
	
	"All right!  Now we're cooking!" Ukyou shouted.
	
	"Ha ha ha ha!!!" The Cajun cried out, stepping up behind Ukyou, and
dawning his "Kiss the cook, even if he is ugly." apron.
	
	Ukyou then began pulling out a critical ingredient from the ether,
and throwing them into the pot, as did the Cajun, working together as
if they were one mind.
	
	It was then that Shampoo came up next to them.
	
	"What Spatula Girl and Bar-B-Q man think you doing, not fighting!
Stupid!  Shampoo fight for life! Ranma fight for life!  Spatula girl
boil water!"
	
	"Oh ye of little faith." Ukyou said.  With that, she reached into
the pot with her spatula, and pulled out what looked to be a small
tasty looking biscuit.
	"This, is a vary special recipe." Ukyou said, "Watch.  Cajun, would
you please?"
	
	The Cajun eagerly nodded, like a little kid that can hardly wait to
show off.  With a ring of metal, he produced his tongs and fork.  He
then stomped his foot down onto the foot of the nearest Spanish
Soldier, while at the same time, garbing his nose with his tongs, and
pulling it upwards.  He then pushed the soldier's jaw down with the
fork.
	
	The result, was that his mouth was wide open.
	
	Ukyou casually tossed the biscuit into the open mouth of the enemy,
where it promptly went down the gullet with a gulp.
	
	The soldier just stood there for a moment, before his face began to
turn a rather sickly shade of green.  He dropped his pike, and
promptly doubled over, clutching his stomach.  But the big thing was,
he wasn't getting back up.
	
	Shampoo blinked.
	
	"Shampoo not know how Spatula girl do that?"
	
	"It was a special recipe that Akane once shared with me.  Her own
creation." Ukyou said with unusual pride, "But the Cajun added his
own, special touch.  I think he called it a jalapino."
	
	Shampoo looked back to the soldier.  It looked as if he was in
increasing pain, and started to pant strangely.  His face then began
to change from green, to red, to an atomic colored yellow.
Eventually, the soldier began to weekly crawl on his stomach for the
nearest water hole, talking himself out of the battle.
	
	Shampoo then angrily got into Ukyou's face.
	
	"Use kitchen destroy cooking!  That too too cruel!"  Shampoo's glare
then melted into an evil smile, "Shampoo like."
	
	< + + + >
	
	Kuno and Marry Lou quickly approached the machine shed.  It was
little more than a large twenty foot tall half cylinder, with a large
door dominating the face.
	
	"I take it that you are studied in the arts of operating such large
and heavy machinery as a bus, I presume." Kuno offered.
	
	"Well now that you mention it, actually, no.  But I am always told
that I am a quick study.  And besides, how hard can it be to drive a
little old school bus?" Mary Lou offered.
	
	"Then quickly, open the egress so that we and our companions may
make good our escape from this foul trap that we find ourselves mired
in."
	
	"That ain't very gentlemanly of you, to let poor little frail me
pull on this big and heavy old door.  Certainly, you are far more
handsomely equipped for just a situation as this.  And I do declare,
far more able then little old me."
	
	Suddenly, their argument was interrupted by a loud roaring from
inside.
	
	
	
	< + + + >
	
	Without warring, a large yellow school bus rammed its way free of
the shed.  Behind the wheel, sat Kelly Clearwater, grinning like an
evil cab driver, eager to see her bumper plow over any hapless
pedestrian that might be in her path.
	
	Cindy Darenger stood next to her, gripping the dashboard for
balance, and looking at the path ahead of her with horrific concern.
	
	Kelly let out with a roaring laughter.
	
	"Yes sir'e bob.  Ain't no walking fog bank is going to get  the drop
on good old Kelley Clearwater. Right Cindy?  It was a good thing that
you folks had that escape tunnel from the house.
	
	"Grandfather was always concerned that a lynch mob might come and
burn down the house with the family still inside." Cindy said.
	
	"I can't imagine why that would be, such a peacefully place as Dirt
Hill." Kelly said sarcastically.  "Hold on to your hat's fellas.
Things are about to get a little bumpy," she said as she looked at
the four passenger.
	
	Dusty and Cash, sitting on one of the seats, defiantly looked a bit
ashen as they were well out of there eliminate.  Sitting next to
them, in a seat of there own, was Soun and Genma.
	
	"Come on, Tendo, what did she say?"
	
	"Be patient Saotome, I am looking throw the English to Japanese
phrase book just as fast as I can.  Ah, I found it.  It says, 'do not
let go of your hat' or 'please pass the salt'."
	
	Suddenly, a large bump throws Genma and Soun against the roof.  They
were promptly pulled back into there seat by gravity, landing upside
down, and leaving only there twitching feet in the air.
	
	"I don't think she said ether of those things, Tendo. "
	
	"What was your first clue, panda brain." Soun said.
	
	"Say Kelley, why is the meter show the engine running hot like
that?", Cindy said, pointing at gauge.
	
	"Well I'll be a bleached throw rug.  The engine is running hot.  But
the only thing that would do that, is if something was blocking the
radiator grate."
	
	It was at that moment that our view panes down to the radiator
grate, and we see both Kuno and Marry Lou plaster across the grating
like bugs against the windshield.
	
	< + + + >
	
	    	Ryoga and Ranma found him self cut off from the others, and
surrounded by uncountable soldiers, and warriors.  Weaponry of all
sorts rained down on them, and began to dangerously litter their
battle ground with razor sharp edges and other threats.
	
	Ranma recently made a desperate overland sprint from Dirt Hill to
the Darenger Ranch.  A run that left him far more exhausted that he
would care to admit, even to himself.
	
	Even Ryoga's seminally inexhaustible constitution began to tire.
	
	Already, there latest schema to escape seemed to have failed, and
once again, they Ranma found himself back up against the back of his
reluctant allay.
	
	"Well pig boy!" Ranma said, "Any other bright ideas?"
	
	"What do you mean, 'any more bright ideas!'  This is all your fault,
Ranma!" Ryoga said.  He suddenly turned around, and took Ranma by the
collar of his shirt, and shook him furiously, razing his fist in
peroration to strike.
	
	"Ranma!  I swear, if I die here, I'll kill you."
	
	"Go ahead and try, ham hide!" Ranma countered, raising his own fist
to meet Ryoga's.  "Wha.."
	
	Ryoga and Ranma suddenly froze, realizing that they had turned there
backs to the enemy, and had already moved in on them to take
advantage of it.  This was there first, and there last mistake.
	
	A rather large Spanish Soldier charged them, and plowed them over.
His heavy steal armored arm making the impact feel as if it was the
impact from a train.  Ranma and Ryoga were both knocked flat on their
backs.
	
	Ryoga shrieked helplessly as two Indian warriors stepped over them,
and razed their war hatchets high.
	
	There was nothing they could do, no where to run.
	
	"Looks like this is the end, Ryoga!"
	
	"Nice knowing you, Ranma!"
	
	The two warriors let out a battle cry, preparing to fall their axes.
	
	To be Continued...
	
	_________Closing Credits________________________________________
	-->Insert bad French music here.<-------------------------------
	----------------------------------------------------------------
	
	Finally, I have some room afterwards to say something. ( ^-^) Sorry
that the fight seen is taking so long.  I hope that the action will
keep things going until some answers to all the questions can be
conceived. (Hay, I am making this up as I go.)  And gosh darnit, I am
still not getting any C&C   The lot of a Fan fic writer I guess.
	
	Well, there is one bright spot.  This fic may not be a homeless fic
any more.  A brand new Ranma 1/2 (another one?) is being set up, and
the owner is looking for homeless fics to post (lucky me)  So hay, if
the hits suddenly start rolling in after I post this, I know you are
out there. (insert sound of crikits in the back ground) At least, I
hope your out there.
	
	Its called Project Ranma
	htt
p://bannervip.webjump.com/webjump/revenue_ad.asp?maincat=&subcats=R
	And tell Shampoo that Code Name D sent ya. (Oh, and tell her to post
my fic already.)
	
	Story by : Douglas E. Kulp
	Editing by : Veggitto of #fanfics of Dalnet
	Mega-thanks Veggitto  (Must be heck to put that on your 
	      tax forms.) 
	Based on stuff by : Rumiko Takahashi
	Transportation and lodging by : Code Name D.
	 "You know it's bad when you hafta edit someone's
	quip towards you..."  ^_^;;
	 ________________  +------------------------------------------+
	[   Code Name D  ] |Comments and critiques are welcome.       |
	[   ___/\/\___   ] |Flames and gripes are also welcome.       |
	[    _(_@ @)_    ] |Just use your pre-installed Download      |
	[   _\__\/__/_   ] |Editorial Listing of Elements To be       |
	[   \   () * /   ] |Enhanced.  Also known by it's acronym     |
	Beware  of the spy |as the DELETE key, to send it on it's way.|
	dougkulp@feist.com +------------------------------------------+
	or at    code_name_d@my-deja.com    Read the rest at:
	http://www.tass.org/fanfic/ranma.curse-of-the-ghost-dance

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