All Ranma characters are property of Rumiko Takahashi, first published by Shogakugan in Japan
Confrontations and Expectations Pt 1
(A continuation of A Different Viewpoint)
Ranma froze in the middle of splashing a bucketful of hot water on herself. "What!?!" Ranma doused herself, changing back into a guy. "You can't be serious!"
Ryoga shook his head. "I'm afraid I am." Ryoga started to explain. "I was running some water into the tub waiting for it to get warm. You can't believe how hard it is to turn on a faucet as a pig! Anyway, then I heard a noise outside the bathroom and thought it was Kasumi coming in. I couldn't take the chance of getting splashed by hot water in front of her so I jumped out the window. By the time I managed to find the front door they had managed to get her outside and to the gate. I saw two men in black, wearing black masks and carrying her unconscious body into a silver car. I must have heard them going through the house looking for Kasumi. They must have grabbed her when I was trying to get back in. I chased them, I don't think they even noticed me. They got in the car and drove away before I could get there. You saw their car leaving."
Ranma got visibly angry. "You idiot! Couldn't you even protect Kasumi?" He turned away. "Damn it! We've got to do something!" Ranma ran out of the bathroom, heading for the living room, not caring if Ryoga followed or not. Genma and Soun were sitting on the porch discussing wedding plans.
Akane sat behind them quietly trying to get their attention. "Um dad? Mr. Saotome? There is a letter here. I believe it is addressed to Johnathon Dwire."
Ranma charged in and grabbed the letter, and started tearing it open. "Kasumi's been kidnapped! I bet this is the ransom note!"
Ranma looked it over quickly as everyone else turned to Ranma in shock. "What! Kasumi?" "My little girl?" "Are you sure Ranma?"
Ranma nodded vigorously while trying to read the letter. "Arrgh! I can't make it out! I think it's in English!" Mr. Tendo was starting to panic, screaming Kasumi's name. Genma looked doubtfully at Ranma and Akane grabbed the letter back.
She looked at it while talking. "How do you know Kasumi's been kidnapped? Who took her? Why?" Ranma withered under the interrogation, not knowing how to answer. Ryoga stood in the doorway behind him, listening in. Ranma couldn't tell how he knew without telling Ryoga's secret.
Ryoga was agonized with guilt. < It's my fault Kasumi was kidnapped! I have to act!> "He knows because I told him." Ryoga walked into the room. He had gotten to a stash of his clothing and dressed, although his hair was still damp. Everyone now looked at him in shock.
Akane approached him. "What do you mean Ryoga? Did you see the kidnappers?"
Ryoga nodded. "They took her away in a silver car."
Akane looked scared and angry. "The car we saw as we were coming here?"
Ryoga nodded once more. "Yes."
Akane looked furious now. "Those, those..." She sputtered, unable to speak coherently. "Ryoga, where were you? If you saw the car, why didn't you...?"
Ryoga interrupted. "Never mind that, that letter is probably the ransom note, we'd better call Dwire quick so he can translate it!"
Akane started for the phone then paused. "But..."
Ranma ran to the phone as well. "Ryoga's right! We've got to get Johnathon quickly."
Ranma dialed Johnathon's number and after a few rings Johnathon picked up. "Hello? What?... I'll be right over!" Johnathon ran right out the door, not even bothering to hang up the phone. He slammed the door shut as he went out but didn't slow down. Johnathon started to sprint as fast as he could go.
At the Tendo house Akane kept grilling Ryoga. "Where were you Ryoga? What happened?" Ryoga just hung his head in shame, unable to answer. Akane slowed down. "Did they knock you out? What happened Ryoga?"
Ryoga couldn't bring himself to lie to Akane. < But what can I tell her?> "I swear I'll get her back for you Akane! I swear it!" Ranma looked on, unsure what to do. He went back to the letter to try again to translate it, but could only make out a couple of words.
As he was doing so Nabiki walked in. "What's going on? Why is father crying about Kasumi?" Quickly Ranma filled her in on what had happened. Nabiki's eyebrows raised at his explanation that Ryoga had seen it, but let it go temporarily. "Ok, give me the letter." Ranma handed it to her and she began to read. "Come back to China. Come alone. Do not alert the authorities or we will kill her." Nabiki's voice got colder and more and more emotionless as she read. "It's signed, Cliopatra."
The shogi doors flew open and Johnathon came in wheezing. "Her!" He snarled. "I thought I had seen the last of her and her cult in China!"
"What's going on John-san?" Akane's voice was full of despair. Johnathon grabbed the note and read it quickly without answering, then read it again.
Johnathon leaned up against the wall, suddenly weak with anguish. "No." He said quietly. "No, this is all my fault."
Akane grabbed him by the front of his shirt, swinging him to face her. "What? Who has my sister? Tell me now!" She emphasized each sentence with a vigorous shake. Johnathon didn't resist at first, then he straightened up putting his hands on her arms.
"They are an ancient Egyptian cult, driven out of Egypt 3000 years ago for heretical practices. They migrated to China. I met them three months ago while searching for a cure." Johnathon pulled free of Akane's hands. "This is a long story and I'd better tell it all. First though, someone call Shampoo over here. She owes me a favor, and perhaps she can help."
Nabiki headed for the phone. "I'll do it, I'll ask for Cologne while I'm at it, maybe she knows something useful."
Nabiki made the call while Johnathon started to tell his story. "It all started a little more than three months ago in China..."
[Flashback]
Johnathon had been traveling in China for several months after his dip in the spring of drowned man. He had been looking for a cure to the curse. Johnathon had gone from city to city, village to village, following every lead he came across and even several rumors. It was one such rumor that had led him to the "Children of Osirus." He had heard rumors about a group of reclusive hermits living hidden up in the mountains. They were supposed to worship animal headed gods. The old man that had told Johnathon about it didn't remember much, but he had known where they were supposed to be. The old man had told Johnathon about them. They were supposed to know magic, which is how they kept from being found. Johnathon decided that they might know something that could help him so he set out at once in search.
[End Flashback]
Johnathon described his journey to find the Children of Osirus in great detail. "Just in case you need to know how to get there." He explained exactly how he had gotten to the tiny valley hidden high up in the mountains. Shampoo arrived during his explanation, Mousse in tow, and sat down to listen.
Johnathon looked around seriously at his audience. "In the end it wasn't me who found them. They found me. I had been searching futilely for several days and got caught in a sudden rainstorm. I changed form and kept going, looking for someplace to dry off so I could heat some water and change back. It had just stopped raining when I suddenly found myself confronted by several men in particular outfits. They carried spears and made it quite clear they wanted me to come along quietly. They escorted me into a hidden cul-de-sac and back into a small village.
Johnathon paused shaking his head. "It was incredible. At the back of the village an Egyptian style pyramid had been carved out of the mountainside. As I entered the village the villagers got a glimpse of me. They were amazed by my appearance, but not afraid. I tried speaking to them in English and Japanese, asking if anyone understood me. I was pleasantly surprised when someone answered me in English. That was when I first met Cliopatra."
He shrugged. "If only I had known what she was before... I learned that Cliopatra had studied in Egypt of all places, and had learned English there. She had made a study of egyptian history, and intended to convert her village to follow her personal version of their religion, using her gained knowledge. I didn't find out that part until later, and she had already put her plans in motion."
Johnathon continued his tale quietly, remembering. "Clio (as I came to call her) had spoken to the villagers. They bowed to me, to my dismay, but Clio convinced me to play along so as not to get speared. She was quite the con artist. She got me alone and got me to tell her my story. Clio promised me a cure to the curse, and had me believing her for some time. Too long it turns out. Clio used my appearance and her wits to become the leader of her own cult, The Children of Bast she called them. Bast was the Egyptian god of the cat and Clio used my arrival to convince her less educated people that my arrival was some sort of sign."
Johnathon sighed. "I was a fool, I played right into her hands. By the time I figured things out it was too late. She had her cult going and had taken over the village. I tried to leave, but several "bodyguards" with spears stopped me. I was forced to perform for Clio's ceremonies. I had enough of that very quickly. After a couple days of that I decided to put an end to it. During the morning "Ceremony" the next day I used a thermos to change to human right in front of the crowd. I had hidden it in my jacket and managed to do it before she could stop me. Unfortunately it didn't work. Clio knew about the true nature of my curse. I had told her before I figured out what she was really up to."
Johnathon sighed. "Clio managed to calm the crowd in moments, she even convinced them my transformation was her doing. As I couldn't speak the language there was little else I could do. Clio had me taken back to my room, a luxurious cell by any other name. When she came to see me she gloated. She would change me back herself the next day to prove her power, and I couldn't stop her. That night I determined to simply escape."
Johnathon took in the reactions of his listeners, shock, amazement, anger and rapt attention. He continued his tale. "I convince the guard that night to bring me some water, he didn't understand my words but pretending I was dying of thirst got the message across. When he brought the water he opened the door and set it down, covering any escape attempt with his spear. I simply poured the water over my head. He was startled enough by my change to drop his guard, I knocked him out and ran for it. I got out the front doors and just kept running. As a half cat I'm really fast, I got out of the village and ran for hours."
Johnathon paused. "I never saw anyone from that village again, until now." He sighed. "I hadn't told Cliopatra where I was from, so I figured she'd never find me. I guess she heard about the "cat demon" in Nerima and came here after me." Johnathon paused again for awhile in thought.
Soun's sobs could be clearly heard. "My baby, captured by cultists! Whaaa!"
Johnathon gazed around the room levelly. "I've got to do as they ask, or they will kill Kasumi. Unfortunately there is no guarantee that they will let her go afterwards. Odds are they will hold her hostage so I'll behave." He looked at the people gathered around him again. "I think I may have a plan to rescue her." Johnathon looked right at Shampoo. "They will kill Kasumi if I bring help, and I'm sure they would be able to tell if another person was with me, but if I had a hidden ally, one they wouldn't suspect..."
Shampoo got the idea almost at once. "You want Shampoo to come! If Shampoo hide as cat, they no suspect!"
Johnathon nodded. "Right, Shampoo, you don't have to do this, but..."
The purple haired Amazon shook her head. "Shampoo come! Shampoo owe debt of honor! Anyway, no is nice kidnap Kasumi!"
Johnathon smiled. "I thought you'd say that."
Mousse stepped forward. "If Shampoo is going, I too shall go. They will not suspect the duck flying overhead!"
Johnathon looked surprised and relived at the same time. "With three of us we have a real chance of pulling this off."
Ryoga coughed. "Four. I'm coming too." Ranma looked shocked.
Shampoo nodded. "Is good idea!"
Mousse agreed. "We could use the help." Everyone else looked confused.
"Ryoga, what are you talking about?" Akane asked in confusion. "How can you hide yourself?"
Nabiki's eyes narrowed. "Oh my god." She stepped up to him accusingly. "So that's why you could see Kasumi get kidnapped, but not be able to do anything. Why didn't I see this earlier?"
Ryoga looked away, then glanced at Akane. "I'm so sorry Akane. I was wrong to deceive you for so long..."
Nabiki shouted at Akane who still looked confused. "He's P-chan! Don't you get it? He's your stupid pet pig!"
Akane was looking at Ryoga who was frozen in shame. "It's... true? You, you animal!" Akane started to glow with a red light, she pulled a mallet from nowhere and stepped toward him. Ryoga made no move to defend himself and Akane brought up her mallet to flatten him.
Suddenly Johnathon got in the way. "Wait! Akane, we need his help, you can kill Ryoga later!" Akane stopped and turned away, shaking with the effort of controlling herself. Johnathon turned to Ryoga. "So, you're that black pig huh?" Ryoga nodded mutely. "Ok, you're coming too. With three "surprises" like Shampoo, Mousse and Ryoga, we will definitely have a fighting chance of saving her." He looked at Ranma. "Ranma, you, Akane, Genma and Soun will be our back up. You'll follow us, two days behind so you are not noticed. If we fail, it's your turn."
Johnathon looked thoughtful. "Also, if we succeed but have to run for it, we'll meet on the way out of the valley and you can support us."
Ranma nodded. "Right. Sounds like a good plan, I'll get Ukyo to come too.
Akane was staring at Ryoga. "Right now my sister comes first Ryoga, but after we get her back..." She left the threat unfinished but her tone left no doubt in anyone's mind her sincerity.
Johnathon broke the sudden silence. "Ok, we don't have much time. Ranma, Akane, go to my apartment and grab my backpack, my jacket, and everything in the bottom drawer of my chest of drawers. Shampoo, Mousse, pack very light, you too Ryoga. I'll probably have to carry all your stuff for the trip, and all of you as well. Nabiki, book passage on the first flight for inner China leaving, um, three hours from now. Here's my credit card, I trust you." < What am I doing?> "Genma, get me a sturdy cardboard box, um, six inches by one foot by one and a half feet. Buy one if you can't find one around here."
Akane looked at Johnathon quizzically. "What are you going to be doing?"
Johnathon didn't hesitate. "I'm going to go the the bank. Alright, get going, we well meet here in one hour."
Everyone split up on their respective tasks. Johnathon went to his bank and went to their safety deposit boxes. He went to the box he was renting and opened it. They were still inside, three metal thermoses, carefully labeled.
"Bargaining chips." The tall English instructor murmured to himself. "I never thought I'd use them." Quickly he returned and found everyone waiting for him. "Ok is everyone done?" He checked his pack and loaded up the side and back pockets. Genma had gotten a box of the appropriate size. Johnathon put it carefully into the main section of his pack. He got a knife out from the side pocket of his bag and cut a window in the box. "Well there you go, instant cat, pig, and duck carrier." Johnathon froze under Shampoo, Mousse and Ryoga's hostile stares. "Well, do you have a better idea?" Slowly they all shook their heads.
Shampoo shuddered. "Shampoo think this trip going to be claustrophobic."
Johnathon picked up his backpack and looked at Nabiki. "Nabiki, I've got to talk to you alone." He picked up a suitcase he had bought from the bank and went upstairs to Nabiki's room, following her.
Nabiki let him inside and shooed everyone else away, then closed the door behind her. "What is it Dwire-san?"
"This." Johnathon opened up the briefcase and Nabiki looked at the three thermoses inside carefully. One was labeled "Cat" one labeled "Woman" and one labeled "Man" Johnathon took the thermos labeled Cat and packed it into an empty side pocket in his pack. He then closed the suitcase and handed it to Nabiki. "This is plan C, if all else fails, I'll use that." Johnathon pointed to the pocket he had put the thermos labeled Cat into. "On Cliopatra. You'll have a bargaining chip then. I trust you'll put it to good use."
Nabiki looked at the briefcase then back at Johnathon. She nodded slowly, iron in her eyes.
Johnathon looked seriously at her. "Only you and I know about this, after Ranma and Company follow me, go somewhere safe. If we don't contact you in two weeks and three days, you can decide whether or not to act, and how. I'm leaving it to you." He took a map of China out. It had a route labeled in red. "Give this to Ranma and company in two days, not before, I'm counting on you."
Nabiki nodded again. "I will."
Johnathon walked to the door and opened it. Everyone scattered back. He looked annoyed then shrugged. "Oh well, I didn't say anything you could understand anyway." He led everyone back downstairs. "Ok, now I need two volunteers to help me fake out airport security."
Everyone looked startled. "What?!?"
Johnathon shrugged. "We don't have time to put a duck, cat, and pig through customs, and anyway we don't want Clio having any chance of finding out what we're up to. So, we are going to have to sneak them on board! Don't worry, I've got a plan."
A hour and a half later, Ranma Akane and Johnathon walked into the airport. Johnathon carried his pack and was wearing his normal black outfit and a black leather jacket. He looked relatively normal unless you knew that he didn't normally have a beer gut. He had Ryoga in pig form tied loosely to his stomach. Akane was wearing a baggy sweater and carrying Shampoo the same way. Ranma had on a large coat borrowed from Johnathon and was hiding Mousse. They passed through the metal detectors. (It had taken a half hour to convince Mousse not to bring any weapons.) Johnathon's pack passed through the x-ray machine uneventfully.
They all went to the lounge to wait for the plane. Each of them took a turn holding Johnathon's pack as they all stood facing the window. While the other two kept watch the one carrying the pack would carefully move their passenger into the backpack and the empty cardboard box inside. That done they waited till boarding. Johnathon went on board with his slightly heavier pack and Ranma and Akane watched the plane till it took off. As the plane took off they turned to go. They left quietly, wishing Johnathon and Company luck.
As they left the airport Akane turned to Ranma. "How is he getting past customs on the other end?"
Ranma shrugged. "He didn't say exactly, but he mentioned something about insurance in an envelope."
Akane was quiet for a few moments then spoke again. "I have one other question for you Ranma."
"What is it?" Ranma looked nervously at her.
"How long did you know about Ryoga and not tell me?" Akane sounded hurt and angry, and she had every right to be.
Ranma decided to try something new, and told her the unvarnished truth. "The very first night we saw P-chan, you wanted me to take him into the bath with me. Obviously it turned out to be Ryoga. I found out then that I had knocked him into the spring of drowned piglet while I was chasing father all around Jusenkyo after getting turned into a girl. It was my fault, so I swore an oath as a martial artist never to reveal his secret. I had no idea he would act as he did afterwards. I tried to stop him, but I was bound by my oath never to tell you, or anyone."
Akane was silent for a long time. "I'm angry about it Ranma, normally I would just hit you, but I realize your honor is very important to you. I guess I don't blame you, much." The surprise and relief Ranma felt was evident on his face. Akane looked annoyed for a moment and then laughed. "You idiot, sneaking into my room with a kettle, it's your own fault you dummy!" She laughed some more. "When I think of all the trouble you went through because of P-chan!" Akane broke into a giggle fit.
Ranma looked at her strangely. "Akane are you ok?"
She nodded cheerfully. "I am now. I was just thinking about what I am going to do to my little "P-chan" when this is all over."
Ranma nodded and grinned. "Can I help?"
Hours later aboard the plane Johnathon stood up and got his pack down and moved to a bathroom. He opened it and was greeted by three annoyed looking small animals. "We're landing in twenty minutes, we better get ready now." Johnathon tried to figure a way to smuggle all three animals in his coat. Finally he put Ryoga and Shampoo against his stomach. Mousse motioned for him to turn around. Johnathon did so and the duck jumped on to his back, wrapping his wings around Johnathon's sides and going as flat as possible.
Johnathon carefully put on his leather jacket and checked his reflection in the mirror. Not bad, not perfect but not bad either. It would probably work, as long as he didn't lean up against anything, or sit back in his seat. He went back to his seat and sat stiffly, carefully putting his seat belt on under his passengers. The plane landed and Johnathon patiently waited for most of the passengers to get off so as to lessen the chance of being bumped by one. Off the plane and into the customs line Johnathon walked with no trouble.
He was second to last in the customs line and looked mildly bored. The customs official checked his bag and found nothing out of order. His eyes rose slightly at the short chinese dress, (Shampoo had packed very lightly) but he said nothing. "Go ahead." He said in Japanese. Johnathon started past him when another customs official bumped the man who had checked his bags just as he was raising a cup to tea to drink. This jogged his elbow and the tea flew into Johnathon's chest.
Johnathon froze in shock, expecting his jacket to explode with three naked teenagers. He suddenly realized that the leather was waterproof. The customs official took Johnathon's shock for anger at the stain and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it apologizing profusely. Johnathon realized a second too late what he was going to do and the customs official wiped his jacket, then paused. He looked suspiciously at Johnathon.
Johnathon unzipped his jacket several inches and carefully pushed Shampoo up so the official could see the top of her head. At the same time he brought out an envelope out of his pocket.
Johnathon improvised on the fly. "Ah sir, this, (and that chinese dress) are presents for my girlfriend. This letter should explain everything." The man looked into the envelope and noticed a sheaf of Chinese currency. Johnathon continued speaking. "The stain is not that bad sir. To pay me back you could mail that letter for me?" Johnathon let Shampoo's head drop out of sight and zipped up his jacket.
The customs official nodded smoothly. "Why yes, I'd be happy to." He carefully put the envelope in his pocket and nodded again.
Johnathon nodded back and walked away. "Whew, that was a close one." He got outside the customs area and headed for the bathroom. He found an empty stall and let the three cursed martial artists climb back into his pack. He then walked out and left the airport, looking for a rental agency. Johnathon rented a jeep and drove off towards the city limits. He let Mousse, Shampoo, and Ryoga out after he had gotten going, but warned them to stay out of sight, just in case.
Johnathon drove till after dark and stopped at a roadside inn for the night. He smuggled the three cursed martial artists into his room and went right to sleep.
End of Confrontations and Expectations
Pt 1
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