|___/\/\___ | _(_@ @)_ | \__\/__/Yep, this was getting to be an old routine. Yet another dark, seedy, dimly lit street. What kind of grip does this weirdo have on you anyway? Checking your watch, you discover that the creep is late yet again, so you start checking under rocks and inside trash cans. "Greetings," you hear behind you. Turning around you see that once again you are confronted with dark shifty eyed figure standing out in the middle of the street, just underneath a loan, dim street light. "Once again we meet, and as usual, I, Code Name D, your loyal fan fiction smuggler, am armed with the latest installment of Curse of the Ghost Dance. Chapter 13 in fact, Revenge from the Shadows. "When last we left our valiant heroes, they had vanquished the evil Native American spirit known to than as the Black Raven. And at long last, everyone was allowed to relax and enjoy a piece serenity that was the Texas landscape around the small and tiny community of Dirt Hill. But does victory truly belong to The School of Any Thing Goes Marshall Arts and the Clearwater School of Anything Goes Indian Fighting? Or is this merely a temporary reprieve allowing the Black Raven opportunity to regrouped his energies?" Code Name D reaches into his blacks spy cloak, and pulled out yet another vanilla envelope. Suddenly here to battle cries from either direction. Without warning, Code Name D. is suddenly caught between the vengeful attacks of both Ukyou and Shampoo. "Hay!" Ukyou shouted, "What is this I hear about a love seen between Akane and Ranma!" "Shampoo never allow too violent girl to do such to Shampoo husband. If Akane dare, give her Chines Amazon Kiss of Death." "You have better explain your self, before I teach you another meaning of the word underground!" Ukyou said. "Ladies, ladies," Code Name D said as he dusted himself off from there previous attack, "I have already anticipated your protests. And I can assure you that the news of Ranma and Akane's love seen is completely inaccurate. Probably leaked out by my Spanish counter part." "Shampoo no believe shifty eyed spy!" "Yay, how do we know your not just lying to us?" Ukyou said. "I am more than prepared to prove it to you both," Code Name D said as he reached into his spy cloak with both hands and produced two more vanilla envelops, one in each hand. Crossing his arms, he then hands Ukyou and Shampoo a folder. The two of them instantly ripped into the folders, and begin speed reading the contents. But as they read on, there rage began to build in leaps and bounds until the two of them started to spout smoke and steam from there ears. Even as Code Name D looks on with a stupid grin on his face. "Gerrrr, Ranma has a love seen with Shampoo instead!!!!" Ukyou seethes. "Hiya, Shampoo no can stand Ranma with spatula girl. Hold, did Spatula girl just say love seen with Shampoo?" "You mean yours says that Ranma makes out with me?" Ukyou said. "Opps," Code Name D said as his grin suddenly vanished. He then disappeared like a shot leaving only a gap in the fog behind him. "Wait a minute!" Ukyou said, "He was trying to trick us!" "Shampoo get revenge, but where sneaky spy go?" "Moshi Moshi," a friendly Japanese copyright agent said as he stood next to a simple trash can. He then held up a sign that said "Ranma 1/2 and company are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. Do not be a pirate." He then turned the sign over. "Or this might happen to you," it said with a large arrow pointing downward to the trash can. Exactly on queue, the trash can lid lifted up just enough to reveal the beady eyes of Code Name D peeking out. "Uh ho," he said as the trash can lid gently closed. +-----------------------------------------------+ | Code Name D presents: | +-----------------------------------------------+ | Ranma 1/2 | | The Curse of the Ghost Dance | +-----------------------------------------------+ | Act XIII | | Revenge from the Shadows | +-----------------------------------------------+ Blackness. Darkness. Nothing. All alone in an absolute void of an endless night, Akane Tendo suddenly found herself standing in darkness, shivering against the cold and loneliness. All she knew here, was despair and emptiness, possessing only a vast hunger for something that she could not eat, a desperate need for something that she only wish to serve. She was not certain how she knew these things, other than she knew them as fact, and in ways that she could not argue against. For some reason she was not the Akane that she remembered, nor was her face the face the she would expect to see the mirror. Gone were her trappings of home, absent was the usual marking of her heritage. In their place, she somehow knew that she studied his black void of nothingness as a Native American would stand here. She wore only the primitives clothe and feathers that her perceptions of the people would usually ware in an ages long since become extinct. Nevertheless, her need, her want, her desire, was just as real as it had ever been. All this somehow made her emptiness even more pressing, more urgent here in this emptiness that she now inhabited. But she was completely alone, nothing to be seen, nothing to be heard, and nothing to be felt other than that which he could only wish to be filled. She remained in this void until something caught her eye. A minute splash of color, that was collecting underneath something. With fascination she watches the color slowly flow together into one point to form a young droplet that seems to be made up of liquid a rainbow. Slowly, the droplet became heavier until its weight eventually pulled it from its nursery, and it fell into a pool of invisible water, spreading ripples of rainbow colors in all directions. In the wake of the ripples something underneath the surface of the water was briefly illuminated. Akane bent down to closer examined the shadows that appeared beyond her own reflection on the surface of the water. What she saw there made her heart begin to beat the first time since entering into strange void. She suddenly drew in her first breath of life giving air, became acquainted with the first glimmering of hope, as she saw the means of her deliverance from her torment of emptiness and loneliness that seemed her to permeated this empty landscape. It was Ranma Saotome who was looking back at her from the other side the water. He was also dressed in Native American garb, nothing but a loin cloth across his midriff, and a few small lonely feathers adoring his black hair. His well-defined chest was completely exposed to her, an expression of his power and courage that also made him more beautiful and more masculine than anything she ever seen before. Directed by her longing, Akane carefully reached forward to the pool, even as Ranma reached back for her from his side. They were just on the verge touching, when something blocked their progress. An invisible barrier and somehow Akane knew was completely and totally immutable to. Her soul screamed in complete agony and despair and she realized that her most desperate needs and desires would be forever denied her. That in fact the vision of Ranma seemed so close, gazing back at her from the other side of a mere pool of water only served to torture her further. Serving only to aggravated her needs, and fuel her desire to an even more desperate level than anything mankind could ever care or hope to endure. Somehow Ranma's own passions were also to denied to him as he vainly reached out for her across the pool as far as the invisible barrier will allow him. In his hand, he held vestige of a female corn husk doll. Suddenly, a sense of dread fell over Akane has she watched Ranma reached for her across the pool. She knew the disaster would follow if Ranma let go of the doll. That they would be flung even further then they were now. Desperately Akane tried to shout warning to him. But the immutable barrier that prevented them from touching also prevented their voices from meeting, and her warning never reached Ranma's ear. With an undeniable horror, Akane watched his doll fell from Ranma's hand. And in turn, the doll let go of Ranma's form. In a brilliant splash of rainbow colors, the image of Ranma was scattered, like a reflection in a pool, as the female doll fell into it. When the water calmed once more, the only thing that was left, was Akane's reflection, a mirror of her own feelings being reflected back. Akane reached forward her hand, pressing herself against the barrier. But in her haste to embrace her ill-fated destiny, she accidentally let go of her own doll that she unknowingly held her hand. And as Ranma's image disappeared before her, so to now her own for disappeared before her very eyes as he passed into oblivion. The last thing that Akane heard was the sound of her own soul screeching agony from denied passion. < + + + > Akane suddenly bolted upright in her bed. She found herself strangely greeted by alien surroundings of the Darenger's guest room. It was a strange awakening, but not exactly unwelcome or an unpleasant one, considering the soul shattering dream that she just a few moments ago. And yet even now, that very dream was already fading from her memory. Already she could not recall what it was a disturbed or so greatly. All she heard was the crowing rooster outside, that which she had already mistaken for crying of her own soul as it endured some already forgotten torment from her dream. Nevertheless, it bothered her just the same. Akane suddenly heard a commotion taking place downstairs. "Hay, that's my coffee you're touching their, Akane heard the male voice of Tarry Clearwater shout from the floor underneath her. "I saw it first," Ranma's female voice said, "besides you don't think I am going to face the morning as a girl, do you?" "I don't care if you if you have to face the morning as a Tibetan yeti! You ain't touching my coffee and that is that," Tarry-kun said. Akane suddenly forgot all about her unsettling dream has her rage boiled over from Ranma's embarrassing actions in front of their generous hosts. "R A N M A ! ! !" Akane shouted at the top of her lungs, no doubt suddenly installing great fear into Ranma–chan's heart from the sound of her voice in an even the ceiling. < + + + >As it has probably done for eons, the crow of the rooster has greeted the sun rise. Why this is so is not clearly understood. ! But apparently, what is universal is the dislike of such birds reminding some of the waking hour. Some one apparently demonstrated this by throwing a miniature spatula at the fowl, and knocking it from its perch. "Stupid bird," Ukyou spat as she stumbled back onto the Darenger Ranch. Shampoo stumbled along; not two stepped behind her. "Is two nights without sleep. Shampoo to tired. Not sure want try faze two, take three?" "We won't have a chance. Our flight back to Tokyo leaves late this evening," Ukyou said, "So we are going to do any thing, it will have to be today." "No tell Shampoo, Spatula girl have second plan," Shampoo said, not bothering to hide the dread in her voice. "It's perfect. Tarry is going to take us on a sight seeing trip. One of the spots will be the public garden in Dallas. What better spot to trick Akane to fall hopelessly in love with one of the Darenger brothers," Ukyou said, "I've also been doing some research on this stuff that I've heard about called Spanish Fly. We give some of that to Akane, and she will be all over the first boy she sees. It can't fail I tell ya." "Is true? Hiya! Then Ranma love Shampoo, is so happy!" Ukyou tensed up in anger as Shampoo began to dance around. "Don't test me you purple haired bimbo!" Ukyou hissed. "Is why? Spatula girl not morning girl?" Shampoo taunted. "Listen buster, no one, and I do mean no one, is up at this hour." Ukyou hissed as readied her battle spatula. "Shampoo no spring chicken this morning!" Shampoo shouted as she pulled her bonbori from Jusenkyo space. "Morning lades." Suddenly, both Ukyou and Shampoo froze, as if they had just been greeted by an angel. Slowly, they turned to see the vary hansom Dusty Darenger approaching them. He was warring a similar light pink shirt that he had on yesterday, faded blue jeans, and a cowboy hat to keep the morning Texas sun from his eyes. In each hand, he held a bucket that looked to be full of feed of some kind. They stood perfectly still for a brief moment, the circles apparent under there eye's, there weapons ready to deal bodily harm to the other, but there eye's were still firmly fixed on Dusty's frame and face. Then, as if transformed by a miracle, the circles under their eye's just disappeared. Ukyou returned her battle specula to her back as Shampoo's bondori disappeared completely. Both girls lit up with a bright and smiling brightly. "Good morning to you too," Ukyou said with a slight bow. "Shampoo think good morning too," she said with a wide smile. "Hmm," Dusty said, "It's good to see that the two of you are up so early, and so chipper. Perhaps you would like to help me do some farm work. In would be most grateful." "Sure, shy not. It's the least that we can do," Ukyou said. "Shampoo help too." "Back off sister, I saw him first," Ukyou snapped. "Shampoo no think so, Spatula girl." < + + + > "And so there she was, captain of Dirt Hill's vary first, single A foot ball teem, just as proud as you please, in guy form too boot," Kelley Clearwater said. She then cast a knowing glare at her daughter, who was baring all this with her arms folded, and grumbling quietly to herself. In the mean time, every one from Japan sat around the dinning room table listened to Kelley's story with complete interest. "Now where was I," Kelley continued, "Oh yay, they had just lost the field to our arch rivals, Dry Gulch, when Tarry had a cup of coffee poured into her lap. Ha ha ha, you should have seen the look on her face." "Mother!" Tarry protested, "You don't see me telling embarrassing stories about you, do you?" "That's because your not my mother," Kelley said, "Any way, she began to scramble around to try and find cold water to splash herself with. But it's the middle of e of winter you know, and there ain't no one with any interest for a cold drink during a snow storm and all. So Marry Lou, saw all this from the Cheerleading squad, she came over and growfph!" Suddenly, every one saw Tarry, standing over her mother, with a dripping water pistol in her hand, standing over an albino grisly bare with a rather perplexed look on it's face. [What did you that for?] Kelley said with a sign. "You know mother, you talk so much that your gonna get your tongue sun burned," Tarry said. Kelley flipped over her sign. [Is that so?] Tarry was suddenly batted out of the dinning room by her mother's sign, and into the horse trough that was just outside the porch eve. A moment later and a male type-Tarry Clearwater stormed his way back inside, dripping wet, and seething mad as he confronted his mother. [Good to see your back...] Kelley-grizzly displayed. She then flipped her sign over, [. Son.] "That's it!" Kelley-kun said as he rolled up his sleeve. "Tarry," Redd unexpectedly said, "Do we have to go through this every day. In front of guests no less." "Hay, it's not like I am out to embarrass my mother here," Tarry-kun said. Redd then got up from the dinning room table, and confronted Tarry-kun at point blank range. "No, you're just out to embarrass me!" "I am not," Tarry-kun said, "Can I help if you are so easily embarrassed?" "Me!? Easily embarrassed?!" Redd said with shock, "Then I suppose that you attacking your mother is that fragile male ego coming foreword." "Male ego! Look who is talking, little Mr. Sissy. I wasn't the one who was playing dolls out in the woods yesterday," Tarry-kun returned. And on and on it continued for some time, until the argument began to lose interest in the observers. Cindy was the first to get up to address Kelley-grizzly. "Why don't we get started on those chores, Kelley. And leave these two love birds alone." Cindy said. "We are not love birds!" Redd protested, "Were fighting. [So you say.] Kelley-grizzly displayed, again, Kelley-grizzly flipped over her sign, [Right behind you, Cindy.] "Say Saotome, how about a game of Checkers?" Soun said. "Don't mind if I do, Tendo." "Alas, for shame, to have thus wasted away such a fine morning with mer sedimentary activities," Kuno waxed, "Come, mighty Ryouga Habiki, let us spar, and in so doing, celebrate life." "Hmm, that sounds like a good idea Kuno," Ryouga said as he followed Kuno out. Soon, the only people reaming in the dinning room, was Terry-kun and Redd, who were still fighting, and Ranma and Akane, who watched the display with total awe. "Tomboy," Redd said, with the argument finally degrading to childhood level name calling. "Clumsy," Tarry-kun said. "Guy." "Weakling." "Smelly BO Basted." Ranma and Akane tracked the argument, much as one would track a tennis mach. "Ha," Ranma finally said as he got up from the table, "Looks to me that there the last two to know the obvious, don't you think Akane?" "Huh?" Akane said, broken from her trance, "Ah, Ranma, where are you going?" "I'm going to take a quick shower," Ranma said, "You don't want any stinky male BO on the plane ride home, do you?" With that, Ranma interred into the living room, and then probably moving on to the guest bath room witch was out of sight from the dinning room. Leaving Akane alone to observe Tarry-kun and Redd's strange argument. And as time progressed, saw Akane becoming more, and more concerned. "Are we really that obvious?" she said to herself, honestly not knowing the answer, or understanding the implications. < + + + > If only one thing could ever be said about the American's was that they knew how to throw a victory party. And apparently, Texans was the king of throwing the big party. Ranma and the other's learned a new term, "Razing the roof," and partook of some horse back riding, some friendly sparing, Texas BBQ (consisting of a hole cow placed on a picket and slow roosted it over a roaring open fire)(Some how, Betsy was spared, and she still chewed her cud contently in her corner of the fence), square dancing, and an inoperative talent show. Akane and Ranma teamed together to reenact there Romeo and Juliet seen, but were soundly trounced with Tarry's one man, err, woman show, as she did her own take on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. Then everyone went outside to play a satisfying game of baseball (satisfying, as in that they whipped the American's buts). The defeat of the evil Black Crow was no small feat, and this fact was made clear at the end of the day when the Shaman stated that the Black Crew was a nemesis that had been pledging his family for generations. And that once and for all, was finally done away with. In graduated, he presented each of the guest from Japan a carving of their likeness, using Native American art stile. The fact that Goldoil was a hoax did put some cold water on the event. But Soun and Cindy had already pledged not to let the idea die completely without a fight. If nothing else, they would swap customs and artifacts to decorate their perspective dojo/gym. If any thing, it only made the party more important, since every would have too return in two days, or lose the tickets. The next morning saw every one up with the sun. Tarry, Marry Lou, The Cajun, Redd, and Bob proudly strolled out side, with a tin bugle tucked neatly under Bob's arm. "Chief Darenger Mechanic!" Tarry called out, "Sound the call to all tourists! Front and center!" Bob complied by blowing obscene collection of squawks and bleeps from a tin tube. Ranma and company instantly charged out from the Darenger house, and into the front yard. There were each warring the appropriately "tourist" cowboy outfits, and armed with cameras (Japanese cameras to be sure.), as well as there translation pendants. "All right every body!" Tarry said, "Are we ready to see the wonders of Texas!" "YES!!" every one shouted in perfect unison. "Then let's go! Tour guides front and center, forward, march," Tarry ordered. Ranma and co. then looked on, stunned, as the American's all fell into a column, and began to march across the yard to the bus. Tarry, warring a blue American Revolutionary War hat, The Cajun, playing Yankee Doodle Dandy on a flute, Marry Lou beating on a snare drum, as Bob limped along with an eye patch and a sling. One could even see the fire works going off over head as the natives made their way to the buss. "Say Ranchan? Are American's always so prideful?" Ukyou said. "Well, I suppose they do have a lot to be proud of," Soun said, "Why don't you kids go without us. Saotome and I have some things to discuss with out hosts about seeing if we can rescue some kind of joining between our dojo's." "Are you sure, pop?" Ranma said. "Sure, don't you worry about us. But you be sure to take plenty of pictures," Genma said. Every one final fell into a single file, and began to board the bus. But Ranma found himself last in line, and for good reason. "Hay, has any one seen Akane?" Ranma asked. "I think that she wanted some time alone, Ranchan." Ukyou said. "Leave too violent girl behind Ranma, Akane only spoil all fun," Shampoo said. "Ahh, you two go on ahead. I'll catch up." Ranma said. "No you wont," Tarry said. Ranma looked inside the bus, and realized who it was that was driving. All Ranma could do was offer a wounded smile. "I... think I will wait for the next one." Tarry only shrugged. "Suite yourself." With that Terry pulled hand to the front door of her mother's school bus closed, and with a sudden, violent, lurch, pulled out onto the dirt road that led away from the Darenger ranch. Even as Ranma looked on. The last thing that Ranma saw as the bus pulled line was sight of Ukyou and Shampoo pressing their faces forlornly in the rear bus window. He could almost see them crying and they watched him being left behind. < + + + > Akane didn't know why she was out here, or where she was going. All she knew for sure was that the had to get away. To get away from her emotions, from the feelings and thoughts that were confusing her so. Of course, she knew that it was a vain flight. If half a planet wasn't enough, what was a few dozen decimeters going to do? But the land was so green and alive. Odd to find such lush woods in the middle of the desert. The path that she took from the ranch eventually took her to a small stream that was surrounded on both sides by a woods that guarded yet still more trail that seemed to call to her, inviting her away. She did not resist. The trail lead her on a winding path around trees and over rocks, and even at times to cross over the stream in places. She had almost managed to push her melancholy away, when fate intruded once more. She came upon a large towering tree that was clearly older and larger than all the rest. Probably parent to most of the woods around her. And there, cut into the bark, much as she might expect to find at home, were two English words joined together with a plus sign. They could be names of any lovers who happened to chance upon the tree, just as they could have easily been Tarry's and Redd's names. Or for that mater, hers, and... Akane's mind froze. She hesitated for a moment, then continued on, hopping to put the strange discovery behind her. The stream continued on for some time, then eventually fed into a large pond that was quietly guarded by trees and a few shrubs. The air was littered with uncountable white fluffy cotton wood seeds that drifted on the breeze like snow, adding to the exotic color of the land, and further string these strange emotions that Akane had so desperately wished to have behind. Even though the pond was only as large as an Olympic sized swimming pool, there was still a small pier built at the far side. There, she discovered that the Shaman was fishing, quietly singing a soft tune in a hauntingly beautiful language that her pendent could not translate. Slowly, Akane made her way to the other side of the pond, and approached the pier. It was only then that The Shaman took notice of her, as he looked up from where he sat, holding his ever present staff that he was using as a fishing pole. "It is Akane Tendo, am I correct?" he said. "Yes. Ah, Mind if I join you?" Akane asked. "Please, I would be honored. Beef jerky?" "Ah, no thanks," Akane said as she sat down on the pier next to him, and watched his fishing. "Have you caught any thing?" she asked, making small talk. "Not vary likely," The Shaman said. He then razed his pole a bit, and Akane realized that it was just a rock tied to the end of a string. "No bait or hook," The Shaman confessed. "Than why?" Akane asked. "It allows me to think," The Shaman said, "I have a grate many things to consider. As I suspect that you do as well. I am an ear, if you wish to speak to just more than the wind." Akane then looked back out over the pond, then sighed. "Nothing that you would understand," Akane said. "I understand more than you might imagine. You must surely be wondering by now, just how similar that you and your Ranma, are to Tarry and Redd? If you would hear a piece of advice." With that, The Shaman put down his staff, and dug into his pouch that hung from his shoulder. He then produced a small and flat steel case with a tiny latch on it. He then handed it to her to examine. Akane took the case, and undid the latch to open it, then nearly gasped at what she discovered. She saw an old black and white photograph or a lovely young woman, about her age. She was clearly a Native American, Akane suspected of the same tribe as the Shaman was. There was also preserved a small lock of hair. The case was clearly designed to guard this against any and all threats. Akane then looked back at the Shaman, and saw him slump with sorrow. "We fell in love, when I was only a little younger than you are now, and I have suspected that she loved me as well. But we never told each other. I.. never had the courage to tell her how I really felt." "And you didn't tell her?" Akane said. "No. I did not," the Shaman said. "Where is she now? I'm sure that it's not to late," Akane said. The Shaman gave a long, and some what cryptic pause, then his head sank even further. Akane could almost see a tire in his eye. "She is dead," he finally said. Akane gasped. "She was killed in a flood. Her body was never found. The river took her home, and this, is all that remains of her. All that I have left. That, and my regrets." Akane paused, realizing the depth of what he had lost. "I am so sorry," Akane said, "I had no idea." "It is not your fault," The Shaman said as he took back the case, he then began to stare into those frozen eyes, "Not a day that goes by when I do not wish in vain for only have said three words to her. Of all the mistakes that I have made, this is the one I would undo. Just to tell her, before it was to late." "That's so sad," Akane said. "Akane?" Akane suddenly spun around to look at the woods. It was Ranma, looking for her. All of a sudden, her heart began to flutter strangely. A hand suddenly on her shoulder startled her, and she became flustered. It was the Shaman who broke Akane's trance by placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "I do not know if you have any true feelings for him. But soon, all to soon, weather it be tomorrow or six decades from now, it will be too late to tell him," the Shaman said. His words were almost a plea. Akane looked at the Shaman strangely, but saw the look in his eye that he was practically pleading with her, begging her, to let Ranma know, that witch she herself did not know. "Akane!" Ranma again called out. Once more, Akane's gaze was pulled toward the trail where she came from. But a final doubt occurred to her, and she turned back to the Shaman. "But what if... huh?" Akane stood up, and turned around, only to realize that The Shaman had disappeared without a trace. "Akane!" A third time, Akane looked to the trail, and watched in awe as Ranma emerged from the woods, and met her eyes. And all became silent, save for the birds that chirped in the trees, a the breeze that played in the leaves and among the drifting cotton wood seeds. < + + + > They must have been driving for several hours straight, and it was clear that everyone needed a break. So Tarry Clearwater decided to pull into the first rest stop that she encountered. Tarry had no more than opened the front bus doors when both the Saotome School of Anything Goes Marshal Arts and the Clearwater School of Anything Goes Indian Fighting tumbled out of the bus into a great big heap onto the parking lot. "Hay, my driving is not then bad. So you can just quit your wining, because I really don't care not care about your complaints," Tarry said. Suddenly, without warning Bob the mechanic had came up from behind and caved in the top of Tarry's head with his three foot long battle ranch. "How about the disgraceful way in which you treat this fine bus," Bob said, "I had seen Jack booted Nazi thugs with more compassion toward machinery then you! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SET IN THE DRIVERS SEAT OF THAT BUS!" Tarry's response was to promptly kick Bob out of the bus where he promptly collided with a "do not mess with Texas" sign at the edge of the parking lot. "So I had a little problem shifting some of the gears. It's an old bus, and things just don't work so smoothly on an old bus," Tarry said. Bob's response was to attack Tarry with renewed vigor. Tarry was nimble enough to avoid all but Bob's final swing, the impact of which sent Tarry flying through the air until she collided with a small stone obelisk that sat in the grassy section of the rest area. Bob's and dusted off his hands in satisfaction. "Why the government doesn't make such evil treatment machines a federal crime is beyond me," Bob said. "Hay every one," Ukyou suddenly said from behind Bob, "Take a look, it's an American Shrine. It must be dedicated for travelers or something." "Huh?" Bob said. "Aiyah, Shampoo want see shrine too." Ukyou, Shampoo, Kuno, and Ryouga quickly flocked to the rode side monument. "Can you read what it says, Ukyou?" Ryouga said. "It says 'This highway was adopted by' um, some person who I don't know," Ukyou said. "Indeed, what true love the natives hold for this great land to see fit to adopt it as one would adopt a lost child. Truly, I would never have imagined that such an atheist culture could be capable of such passion," Kuno said, "Quickly, we must immortalize this discover on film." Bob looked strangely at Marry Lou and Redd Darenger. "I am just as bemused as you are," Marry Lou said with a shrug. Just then, the Cajun pushed past the three of them, camera in hand. "Da Cajun got da cumra and su all go is the chease, ya!" the Cajun said cryptically. All four struck a pose in front of the moment, just as Tarry groggily rose up in front of them, only to have her sorry condition permanently frozen in time in the exact moment the flash went off. Tarry then stumbled around, temporarily blinded by the flash. "Shampoo wonder if boy/girl okay?" Tarry quickly snapped out of her gaze to confront Shampoo. "I am not a boy!" Tarry snapped. "Aiyah, Is sorry. No intend insult. You forgive Shampoo?" Tarry suddenly slumped over in exhaustion and surrender. "I need to go and wash my face," she sighed. With that, Tarry started to make her way to the women's rest room. Inside, she learned that the women's rest room was busy today. She actually had to wait in line for a sink. (It didn't help that some of the women were treating the sinks as if they were major make up removal/application stations.) Eventually, Tarry made her way to the sink. She turned on the hot water and gave it a few moments to let the cold water run throw. But when she put her hands under the water, she realized in horror that the water was still cold. To late, she already felt the gender change ripple throw her. Fanatically, Tarry-kun opened the hot water all the way, while closing the cold side, disparately trying to find hot water before "he" was discovered. Then he came to the realization that there wasn't any hot water to be had. Slowly, Tarry-kun turned his head to look at the small crowd of women who were all silently looking back at him. An innocent little girl, no older than six was the first one to brake the silence. "Mommy, what is a pervert doing in the girls bathroom?" < + + + > Ukyou, Ryouga, and Kuno were studding a large cast iron road map of Texas that had been mounted on the outer wall of the rest rooms. "And tell me fair Ukyou," Kuno said, "Can you surmise precisely where our current location would be in relation to this memorialized reference?" "Hmm, I think I can. Ah, there, this spot right here says 'you are here'," Ukyou said, "Or dose this spot say that?" "Oh well," Ryouga says, "how lost can you get in a state this size, right?" Suddenly, they heard a crowd of girls and women scream at the top of there lungs. A second later, they saw boy type Tarry burst out from the girls rest room. Closely on his heals, was a mob of gun and knife wheedling women. "Get him girls. Teach that guy a lesson!" "I am not a guy!" Tarry-kun protested as she sprinted around the restroom. Just then, a little old lady knelt down to one knee in front of Ukyou, and razed a fully automatic machine gun to her shoulder to fire off several carefully aimed shots. Only to rise back up to continue the preset when Tarry managed to run out of range. "Tell the others that I will catch up with them latter," Tarry-kun shouts from a growing distance. Meanwhile, Kuno, Ryouga, and Ukyou could only blink on in dismay. "You know Ryouga," Ukyou said, "This place can really be pretty scary at times." "Uh hu," Ryouga said. "What truly bazaar customs they seem to have," Kuno said plainly, "I would surmise that therapy must be a growth industry here." < + + + > Akane found herself completely lost in Ranma's eyes as he looked back at her from across the narrow expanse of the pond. Even as the cotton wood seeds drifted hypnotically in between them. She could feel the breeze play with the hem of her skirt, as it also tugged at the sleeves of Ranma's tunic. He was warring his traditional red Chinese outfit, and black slacks. And yet his piercing blue eye seemed to touch her face with the most gentle of caresses. Akane turned to face him. The breeze played about her blue flowered spring dress, and to toss about her short cut of hair. For several uncountable moments, they stood there, staring at each other from ether end of the pond. As if nether of them had the will or the courage to look away. As if all they could do was watch the cotton woods seeds fall between them. Half from longing for each other, and half, screaming from silent blissful prison of confusion, of there own creation. Akane suddenly hardened. She turned away, and sat back down at the pier in a huff. Ranma frowned, but was not deterred. Calmly, he approached her side of the pond, and sat down next to her. "Don't you think you need to get back to the others?" Akane said out of spite, "You don't want to miss the sight seeing trip with Shampoo and Ukyou, do you?" If her words stung him, he didn't show it. "They already left," Ranma said. "Huh?" Akane said, surprised some how, as she looked back at him, overlooking the pond. "I don't know. The though of sight seeing without you just... you know, didn't sound like it would be any fun." A silence again crossed between them, with Akane looking into Ranma's eyes as he turned towards her again. Then, strangely, her melancholy arrived again, this time with a force greater then she ever experiences before. Akane broke eye contact, and watched the cotton wood seats fall onto the pond, and become mired in the still water. For the first time in her life, she knew what it was that was bugging her. "How long do we have Ranma, before... before we end up like Tarry and Redd, before we start to argue again too. Hours? Minutes?" Akane then looked back up at Ranma. His mouth was half open, about to say something when Akane finished her thought. "Seconds?" Ranma clamped his mouth shut, choking down what he was about to say. Akane continued to plead with him. "Ranma, are we really the last to know? About us?" "What do you mean?" Ranma said. Akane sighed. "Haven't you noticed how dad and Mr. Saotome aren't trying to get us together any more? Or how desperate Shampoo has become, or depressed that Ukyou has become? Even Mousse isn't attacking you every day, claming that you're taking away his Shampoo. Is it that they can see, what we can't, that we're in..." Akane fell silent, suddenly realizing from her own words, her own guilt in the mater. "Come on Akane, there just jealous," Ranma said. "I know," Akane said, "Of us. I know that you love me Ranma." Ranma's reaction was certain. He scolded, and folded his arms before him as her glowered and the pond. "Is that so." "Uh hu, I felt it when you came to rescue me in that dream world. When we were finally reunited, I could see it in your eyes. Or the way you reacted to Prince Toma's pool when was falling towards it. How swiftly and certainly you always come to my rescue, even though I don't deserve it." Akane suddenly found herself choking back her own tires. All her failures coming to her in full force. "The bridal training that Kasumi tried, and failed, to teach me. The fact that I can't cook, or show tenderness that a girl... a woman, needs to show. I don't know any thing about how to look sexy for you Ranma, and it tares me up when I see you more alluring than I am, always bringing the boys out from now where and," Akane began to cry in earnest, no longer able to contain her feeling any more. She collapsed into Ranma's chest, and felt his strong arms close around her. "Akane," Ranma said. His voice even held a mocking tone. He then took her by the chin, and razed her eyes to meet his. "That's why I like you so much. Ukyou is already a better cook, and Shampoo is certainly sexier. But then she would probably walk around town nude if she thought that it would get my attention. And Kodachi is a trained debutante. But you... Akane, your a Martial Artist. You live, breathe, and eat it as I do. You're a strong woman Akane. How can any one possibly resist that?" Akane began to cry again. "Oh Ranma," she said. But instead of embracing her, Ranma let her go, and stood up from the pier. "That's why I'm not worthy for you. You deserve better." Ranma said. "What?" Akane said. She could quickly feel her anger and rejection take the place of her joy as quickly as her joy replaced her sorrow. "What are you talking about, Ranma?!" Ranma turned to face her, anger in his face as well. His fists were clenched and shacking by his sides. "Don't you know. Hasn't it been rubbed in your face enough by now?!" Without warning, Ranma jumped into the pond. A moment later, an all too familiar red head, pig tailed girl stood up from the shallow pool. "How can I love you!" the girl hissed, more angry with himself, than at Akane. "How is it that I can possibly stand to even string you along like I have, with this curse. Can you imagine, being Married to a girl, Akane!? Do you know what they will think! I should leave! I should leave right here and now! And never come back until I have found a cure, or die trying! I am a cowered to not have left you before. And I compound my own shame by not leaving you now Akane!" Ranma-chan's mezzo-soprano voice had a cutting like effect on her, gouging out gaping wounds into her sole. Ranma-chan then sat down in the shallow pond. She tried to fold her arms before her as she has done many times before, but finding her breasts frustratingly in the way this time. Within seconds, Ranma-chan had complete broken down, and was on her hands and knees, weeping uncontrollably. Akane sighed. Who could have possibly of known, that the wall between them was so real, so formidable. Every one else was right when they saw something between them. But they didn't understand. They just didn't understand. She couldn't understand. Akane stared at the crying red headed girl in the shallow pond. She was no longer certain if it was her girl form crying, or the man inside, hiding within the girl. Akane closed her fist. She didn't understand. But there was a way. There was one way to make it all work out. Akane stood up, determination filling her sole. Purpose pushing her along her true destiny. "Ranma, don't care about her curse. If you like me just the way I am, the I can like you just the way you are," Akane said. Ranma looked back her with found in her eyes. "I don't believe you," Ranma-chan said. "How can I prove it to you?" Akane said. Ranma-chan looked at Akane for a few minutes, and then looked at the pond she was standing as if in shame. Then Ranma-chan suddenly glanced at Akane, the grin yet determined looking around. "Kiss me." "What?" Akane recoiled momentarily. "Kiss me as a girl, and I will know for certain that you love me just as I am now," Ranma-chan said, "Otherwise, I will have to..." Ranma- chan suddenly fell silent. "But I have never even kiss as a boy. Why should I... should I...uhm..." Akane's mind was sent reeling. How dare Ranma test her like this. She now had to prove herself to him? "It's OK Akane. I don't expect you to be able to any more than I could expect myself to be able line kiss another guy," Ranma said, "We both know that I really am not a girl inside. But that this damn curse is complete, and neither of us can dismiss its hold over me." Once again, a dark, cold silence fell over the both of them. The cotton would seeds continue to drift in between them, falling like warm snow. But before, they fell between them as if they were a spell of enchantment. But suddenly the seeds seem to be part of an impenetrable barrier that would forever keep them apart. < + + + > < Kick – skip, skip, skip, skip > "Well, Tarry Clearwater, this is another fine mess that you of some how managed to get yourself into," he said to himself as she kicked another stray rock on down the highway. "It will take me weeks to walk back home if I can't bum a ride from someone." Suddenly, Tarry-kun turned around and saw an eighteen wheeled vehicle up the highway and rapidly closing in on his position. Boy type Tarry began to dance in the road way in order to attract the drivers attention. Much to his surprise the truck actually began to slowdown in order to stop at his location. Once the truck had finally came to complete stop Tarry approach the driver side door to address the driver, only to be greeted by a surprised expression was on the driver's face. "Oh, far a moment I thought your girl," the driver quickly said. Without any further warning driver stomped on the gas in the truck full-length leaving Tarry-kun still stranded on the road behind. At first Tarry-kun was stunned that the truck driver had left him behind. Then once he suddenly realized what the truck driver and said, and why he tore off like he did, Tarry became enraged. "I am a girl you moron. Come back here so I can take your butt!" Tarry-kun shouted with both hands held up to his face in order to amplified his voice. Of course, the driver did not head his threats, leaving Tarry- kun fume by himself in a vary unfeminine like manner. It took a few minutes for his anger to finally be checked. Upon which, Tarry-kun kicked another stray rock, and resumed his long march home. "This would probably be a lot easier if I was still a girl," Tarry-kun mumbled to himself under his breath. He walked along the road a bit further when he spotted the peak Cadillac quickly approaching his position. For a few moments Tarry's hopes were raised, until he realized who the occupants of the Cadillac were. Girls, young girls, lots of young, scantly clad girls. And when the Cadillac came to a halt just next him, all eight of those girls that were crammed into the Cadillac like sardines, and looking at him as if he was side of beef. Tarry swallowed nervously. "Hi big fellow," the driver said, "need a 'ride'?" "Oh my, perhaps I should ask him for a ride instead," one of the passenger said as she looked at him hungry. A second passenger like her lips seductive the hands she mentally and dressed him. "I'm going where ever he's going." "Need a ride back to haven? I think I can get you there." "Oh please," Tarry-kun said under his breath, even as the role his eye. But then again this was probably the only offer he was going to get. But he was tempted to keep on walking. Tarry-kun move to climb into the Cadillac and they practically climbed all over him, apparently preferring to ride on top him rather than just next to him. Eventually, the driver pulled back onto the road, even as Tarry began to complain bitterly about the girls advances towards him. "Hay! Don't touch me there!" Tarry-kun shouted as they road off into the distance, "I am not that kind of girl!" < + + + > Akane stared at Ranma-chan from across the two meters that separated them. It might as well have been the Earth itself. Was Ranma right? Was his curse really the thing keeping them apart? Was that the nature of their immutable barrier? Akane had to admit, the thought of kissing another girl, even, one who was really a guy inside, twisted her stomach into knots. With Akane's bluff being called, Ranma-chan turned away from here, and was about to leave. Akane was launched into a near panic at the thought of Ranma really leaving her, for good this time. They may still live together at home, but they would be forever separated by this dreadful emotional blockade. No! This couldn't be! Not when she was so close! "Ranma, wait!" Akane said as she charged after her. Ranma-chan didn't pay any attention, but Akane made her take notice of her by getting into Ranma-chan's way. "Okay Ranma, if that is what it will take to convince you, then that is what I will do. Ranma?" Akane said. For some reason, Ranma-chan was distracted buy something. "Ranma!!" "Quiet Akane. Something is out there," Ranma-chan said, "Can't you hear it?" She heard it. It was the faint, barely perceptible sound of some one kneeling on the forest litter that covered the woods serenading the pond. The Shaman? Ranma stood up from the pool, still bitten with grief and anger, but already, she was beginning to come out of it, as she looked around in a stunned fashion. Akane continued to scan the fog with all her senses, but other than the of feeling of doom that surrounded her, all she could see, was the trees behind the fog. It was clear to her that Ranma-chan was equally concerned, if not more so. Suddenly, Ranma-chan leapt from the pond, and landed at Akane's back, now in a full defensive posture. "Akane, did you hear that?" Ranma-chan said. "I yay, I heard it, but where did it come from. What was that?" "It was the sound of a riffle hammer being pulled back. I was hoping that you got a beat on it. Akane! Get behind me!" Ranma-chan said. "What is it Ranma?" Akane said, taking up a defensive posture as instructed. "Akane, I think some one is hunting us," Ranma-chan said. <+++> "Wow" Ryouga said as he looked out the bus window as the Texas countryside slowly rolled past him, "Every thing here is so vast. It must be hundreds of miles between towns. No wonder they have become so depended on cars. It would take me forever to get any where if I walked here." He continued to stair out at the countryside as it rolled past. He could almost see the old American pioneers, trudging slowly across the landscape in covered wagons, drawn only by horse or oxen. "Is you crazy?" Shampoo said, "No plan never work!" "Listen, the only way we are going to get those two separated, is it we act the moment we get back," Ukyou said, "And this is the only way to do it." "Shampoo no think so. Plan never work. Go with Shampoo plan is only way." "Listen you little haired hussy, they is no way that you are going to Ranma alone without me there to keep an eye on you," Ukyou said. "And who keep eye on Akane? Shampoo no do and let spatula girl have Ranma to self." Ukyou and Shampoo continued to quibble over what ever seam they were hatching, completely disturbing Ryouga's vision of the yesteryear. "Do you two mind?" Ryouga said, " I am trying to enjoy the scenery here!" Ukyou and Shampoo looked up at Ryouga with innocent eye's. "Shampoo no mind." "No Ryouga," Ukyou said, "you're not bothering us one bit." Their denial only made Ryouga's anger seethe. "That is not what I meant!" Ryouga shouted. "What pig boy so upset about?" Shampoo said. "Search me?" Ukyou said. "Hiya, Shampoo see something up road. Look like solder." Ukyou leaned over Shampoo in order to get a look out the window. "Hay," Ukyou said, "Those look like American Civil War Soldiers." "Ya'all know about the civil war?" Marry Lou said. "Of course. I did see Gone With the Wind over fifteen times," Ukyou said. "Would that be the subtitled, or the Japanese language version?" Ryouga said sarcastically, winning a stabbing glare from Ukyou. This started Shampoo giggling at Ukyou's expense. "Why bless my stars," Marry Lou said, "There are civil war soldiers out there. A division of Southerners to be precise. Hay Bob, why don't you pull this here bus over so we can get some pictures." "Hiya, is great idea," Shampoo said. Bob dutifully pulled the bus along side about 30 raged and dirty Texas soldiers with their rifles slung over their shoulders as they wearily marched along the side of the road. Marry Lou had dropped down her bus window to call out to them. "Hi you'all," she called out to them, "We have here some tourist from Japan, and I don't suppose you all wouldn't mind showing off just a little for there benefit, would you?" The lieutenant leading the troop smiled up at them. "Why, not at all lady. We can give you a down right good show," the lieutenant said, "Men, form up!" All thirty men formed up an assault line, facing the bus. "Ready!" Half of them knelt down to one knee, and all pulled out there powder and bullets to arm their weapons. "Aim!" <+++> "Will you stop that! That is privet you know!" Tarry-kun snapped, he really had his hands full trying to fend off one grope after another. Perhaps he would have been better off walking. "Come on honey, loosen up, we aren't going to bite." "Speak for your self, Ann." One girl said, "I don't know about you, but I am in the mood for a hot dog my self." "How about a knuckle sandwich instead you pervert!" Tarry-kun said. "Don't be such a square. Gee, you're like my father," a second girl said. "I know what you need hansom. You need a little bit of this to help you relax." With that, one girl produced a mostly empty bottle of tequila, and handed it to him. Tarry-kun was completely flabbergasted. "How the heck did you get this? You are all under age." "Man really are a square aren't you. Your about as hip as my old man," the driver said, "Hay Peggy, pass me that would you?" The girl who was warring a pink hoop skirt with a yellow poodle on it handed the tequila forward. "What the? Square? Hip? Great armadillos! You're from 50's or something!" Tarry-kun realized. "What of it!" the driver said as she took down another swig of tequila. There was a sudden burst in speed as the Cadillac tore rubber once more, rocketing at a reckless speed down the road. "Just sit back, and enjoy the ride. If you play your cards right, you can come and go at the same time." "I don't think so.. akch!" Tarry-kun tried to free himself, but the girls only tightened their grip, one grappled his neck in a sleeper hold with more strength than she had a right to command. The car began to swerve dangerously in the land, the speed, and the alcohol already taking its toll on the driver, as Tarry vainly tried to free himself. <+++> The two of them vainly searched the fog for the sniper, but he was well hidden. Akane could feel the air tighten; he was about to fire. Suddenly, a spire sliced throw the air, appearing from one end of the fog, and despairing into the other, just as there was a splitting loud crack of gun fire. Ranma screamed, and was throw by an unseen force. Akane gasped, as she spun around just in time to see Ranma-chan fall to the ground, blood spurting from his head. Every thing was suddenly moving in slow motion. There was a scream behind her. Turing, she saw a large, bearded man, warring a coon-skin cap, and a light brown hide jacket. There was a murderous rage in his eyes that was the color of fire. His right hand held the offending riffle, witch he was discarding to the ground. In its place was a knife that shined like silver blood, and he was running directly for her. Some one intercepted him; a second knife deflecting the course of the first before it could dive into Akane's chest. It was The Shaman, There free hands locked together into an iron grip, as there knifes flashed about each other with deadly furry, unable to withdraw or retreat. Their battle ranged into the pond, and across the shore. A test of brute strength and skill. There was an inhuman roar behind Akane, like the opening of the gates of hell itself. She turned once more to see a giant black beast charge at her, with hands full of claws, and a mouth fool or razor sharp teeth, each desperate to sink into Akane's flesh. She didn't even have time to scream. To be continued in Act 14: The Return of The Black Raven _____Closing Credits______________________________________ -->Insert theme to the Love Connection here!<------------- ---------------------------------------------------------- Story by: Douglas E. Kulp Editing by: Christopher S Martin Based on stuff by: Rumiko Takahashi Transportation and lodging by: Code Name D. Yes officer, it really can be difficult to tell the difference between domestic violence and romance at times. [ ___/\/\___ ]Code Name D. [ _(_@ @)_ ]code_name_d@my-deja.com [ \__\/__/ ]Read the rest at: http://www.tass.org/fanfic/ranma.curse-of-the-ghost-dance or read it at the Fan Fiction Underground. At: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Aurora/8484/ghost.html