Curses on the thunder and lightning and rain that makes the network
go down.. (and the power go out when I'm in the basement with no emergency
lights)  C&C welcomed and invited..  All previous parts available on my
web page or by mail (but I'd really prefer NOT to mail all 12 parts out
if you can possibly avoid it).


			Twisted Destiny 13

{characters and certain concepts not owned by me.. don't steal them}


As they walked through the lobby, the clerk smiled greasily at them.  
"So how was your night, kid?"

Kuno threw the key at the man and bounced it off his nose.  "Thank you 
for your hospitality," Kuno said, a sneer punctuating his sarcastic 
tone.  Then they stepped out into the morning's light.

Neither spoke of the previous night.  Better to let sleeping dogs lie, 
after all.  There was more distance between them, though.  Akane was 
afraid what might happen if she were to lose consciousness, and even 
though she it wasn't Kuno's fault entirely, she couldn't bring herself 
to trust him completely.  "The airport?" she asked, looking down the 
street.

Kuno nodded to her and began walking.  More than anything, he didn't 
trust himself.  Nor did he trust Kamiko.  Akane had every right to be 
wary of him and keep her distance.  Kamiko had already proven what she 
could do if she was so motivated and he wasn't sure if he'd be able to 
stop himself the next time.  When the feeling had hit him, it was like 
a flower caught under a tidal wave.  It was a dangerously impulsive 
urge that took control of him, a thing born of sickness that he was 
powerless to fight against.  Or so he had thought.

With the forbidden fruit in front of him, offered to him, ripe for the 
taking, he had turned away.  He didn't regret it at all.  When he had 
kissed her, he could tell immediately that it wasn't Akane.  He wasn't 
quite sure how, but it was all wrong.  It probably had something to do 
with the fact that she didn't hit him when he did it.

"You think we'll see those guys on motorcycles?" Akane asked suddenly.

Kuno looked at her and blinked.  "What?"

"The guys on motorcycles.  Do you think we'll see them again?"

"Oh.  Most likely.  I don't believe they would give up so easily."  He 
didn't want to have to hide in another hotel room with her and he 
didn't want to have to sleep in another chair.

"Do you think they'll follow us to Japan?"  Akane was nearly positive 
they would, but maybe Kuno had a brighter outlook.

"Most definitely.  They have come this far and have waited this long.  
I do not think a simple body of water will stop them."

"I was hoping you wouldn't say that."

"I wish it were not the truth.  I am afraid that returning home is a 
mistake.  Will not our families be thrust into danger as they were 
before?  Even Saotome was powerless."  He left it unspoken, but 
understood, that Ranma was the best fighter he knew of anywhere.

Akane sighed.  Their families would be in danger, but what else could 
they do?  "Yeah, but I don't know what to do with the statue then.  Do 
you?"

Kuno shook his head.  "I am afraid I do not.  While I do not like our 
limited options, we are forced to choose one.  And though it is 
dangerous, I believe we must return home as well."  He was dreading 
facing another monster like the first one.

Akane nodded in agreement, but didn't say anything more.

***

They had walked the streets for half an hour without incident, but it 
was then that trouble started.  Appearing out of nowhere were the 
motorcycles, racing straight at them.  Akane yelped as one whizzed by 
her, the rider's arm outstretched as if to grab her.  Four of the six 
were circling Kuno, keeping close together, almost tire to tire.  Each 
one of them was holding a length of chain or a pipe.

With Kuno and Akane adequately separated, the two other riders made 
repeated attempts at scooping up Akane.  Fortunately, they were 
clumsier than she and couldn't get hold of her.  Akane yelled 
defiantly and kicked out at one bike as it passed.  As she had hoped, 
the bike spilled over, sliding into a heap of trash.

With only one attacker to deal with, she set herself, ready to do the 
same thing again.  The motorcycle sat back about 15 feet, idling.  
Then the rider gunned the engine and flew at her.  Akane had 
underestimated the speed of the bikes and sidestepped clumsily, her 
plan bungled.

She tripped over the curb and was hit in the back as the rider 
returned with amazing speed.  She grunted and fell face first to the 
sidewalk.  She shook her head and got to her hands and knees, her bag 
flung off to the side.  She could feel the blood oozing from the 
scrape on her chin as she tried to stand.

Kuno was doing a passable job of holding off the cyclists that seemed 
bent on beating him into submission.  He blocked the pipe blows as 
best he could with his arms, but the chains were getting at him.  One 
lashed out and struck him in the face, leaving a monstrous gash over 
one eye, blinding it with blood.

He held out one arm as he stumbled from the force of the blow, half-
blinded, and didn't notice the other chain wrap around his wrist until 
his arm was jerked and he was spun around.  He was pulled behind the 
motorcycle as it took off, the rider holding on to the chain with 
inhuman strength.

Kuno lost his footing as the cycle picked up speed, and was dragged 
along the sidewalk.  He was forcibly introduced to a lightpost and 
clung to it blindly.  The chain snapped and he thought his arm was 
about to be ripped from its socket, but instead, the rider was yanked 
from the bike.

Kuno shook his head, his ears ringing from the impact with the post, 
and stood up.  He removed the chain from his wrist and stumbled toward 
Akane, ignoring the other motorcycles and the fallen rider.  There was 
the roaring of an engine and a pipe struck him in the back; it was his 
nightmare come true.

He dropped to the ground, feeling something broken in his back, and 
began to crawl towards Akane.  He could see she was getting up too 
slowly and would soon be grabbed.  "Akane Tendo!  Flee!"  His words 
were too late though, and Akane was hoisted up by one black-clad 
kidnapper.  She was so stunned, she didn't even struggle.

"Aka..."  Kuno didn't even get a chance to finish calling her name as 
he was struck with a pipe.  The air was driven from his lungs as a 
pipe smashed into his ribs.  He never stopped crawling to Akane, and 
when both shoulder blades were splintered, he lay on the ground, 
squirming.

Anything to reach her.  "Akane," he managed to say in a raspy voice, 
and held his hand out.  Just like in his dream, only this time, he had 
to save her.  A pipe crashed across his shoulder, snapping his collar 
bone like a twig.

Akane had finally recovered, but by that time, she was well secured.  
She struggled as hard as she could, but her arms and legs were 
restrained by some force; she just didn't have any leverage.  She 
looked back at Kuno, who was immobilized, the way he had his hand out.  
Then a pipe fell across his head and caved in his skull.  Akane 
managed to scream, her voice blending in with the whining of the 
engine.

She did everything in her power to dump the bike, anything to give her 
an opportunity to escape, but to no avail.  The bike sped down the 
street with her firmly rooted to it behind the rider.  She could see 
Kuno face down on the sidewalk in a puddle of blood as the others got 
on their bikes and began to follow.

The group of motorcycles, all keeping close together, turned a corner 
down an alley and began to slow.  The alley itself ended at a tall 
brick wall, and standing against that wall was a man.  But it wasn't 
simply a man, he was evil.  The bikes stopped in front of the man and 
all the riders dismounted.  Akane was lifted from the motorcycle and 
left to stand in front of the man.

"Well," he said, smiling at her.  "It looks like we've finally found 
you.  And no wu to save you this time."  He stepped up to Akane and 
looked down at her.  "Not so confident now, are you?"

Akane could only look at him in fear.  He towered over her, close to 
six and a half feet tall with blood red eyes.  He had the character on 
his forehead, just like Kuno, but he didn't attempt to hide it.  She 
swallowed hard as he brought his hand up to her face.

"Don't be afraid, little girl.  We'll let you live... for now."

***

Kuno got to his feet and felt his head.  It was of the proper shape 
and didn't hurt at all.  Good thing for small favors since that's all 
he had.  Very small, as he looked down the street where Akane had been 
taken and started to get sick to his stomach.

He looked around and gathered their things before running down the 
street as fast as he could.  If she died, then that was that, but he 
had to try.  He ran faster.

***

Akane found her voice as he was about to touch her.  "Benares," she 
whispered, somewhat in awe.

He smiled in satisfaction.  "I'm glad you know me.  I won't feel so 
guilty about this then."  His eyes glinted with humor, the only 
indication that he had made a joke and his hand began to glow blue.

Akane was about to start yelling and screaming to try to get someone 
to notice her when something got her attention.  It was a rumbling, 
like something, some structure falling.  Apparently, the others heard 
it too, as they began milling around nervously.

Benares glared at his henchmen.  "I thought you took care of that 
boy?"

The rider that had snatched Akane nodded.  The others started to 
gather around Benares, the rumbling and subsequent noises making them 
wary.

"Then what was that noise?"

More rumbling, closer than before.

The leader shrugged but backed away from Akane and moved more behind 
Benares.  He was concerned that it was her doing; she was a sanjiyan 
after all.

Benares snorted.  "Cowering fools."  His hand glowed a brighter blue.

"bakusai tenketsu"

Akane's ears perked up as best she could make them.  Could she have 
really heard that?  "Ryoga?" she said aloud.

"Ryoga?  Is that your so-called guardian?" Benares asked, looking 
around a bit.

Akane shook her head then called out again.  "Ryoga?"

"Bakusai Tenketsu"

This time, the vibrations could be felt and a small cloud of dust was 
visible, rising into the sky.

The bikers were all behind Benares now, unable to do anything against 
the unseen enemy.

"Ryoga!" Akane shouted right in Benares' face.

Benares took two steps back from her outburst.  He could feel the 
surge in power, concerned the sanjiyan would appear unexpectedly.

"BAKUSAI TENKETSU!"

The wall behind Benares and the bikers exploded, toppling down on 
them.  Before they could react, the entire thing was on top of them 
and there was a thick cloud of dust in the air.  Akane heard a 
familiar voice, coughing a bit.

"Now where am I?"

"Ryoga!  Hurry!"  Akane suddenly found herself able to move, her 
magical restraints released.

"Akane?  I must be dreaming."

Akane saw Ryoga's outline in the cloud and rushed forward to grab his 
arm.  "Come on, Ryoga!  We have to go!"  She pulled him from the dust 
cloud, tripping over bricks.

Ryoga had just figured out who grabbed his arm.  "Akane?  What are 
you..."

"No time.  Just run."  She ran back towards the street, Ryoga keeping 
up behind her.

"Akane, what are you doing here?  Where is here?"

"Hong Kong.  We've got to find Kuno."  She started down the street 
towards the spot Kuno's body had been left.

"Kuno?  Why are you in Hong Kong?  Where's Ranma?"  Too many 
questions, not enough answers for Ryoga to handle.

"Long story.  Ranma's back home.  Just help me look for Kuno."  She 
was darting among other pedestrians, looking behind her every so 
often.

"Oh, OK."  'How did I end up in Hong Kong?  Why is Akane here?  Oh, 
Akane.'

Akane kept running, covered in dust, the people around her faceless 
obstacles.  "Kuno-sempai!" she called.  She knew he was close by, knew 
he was looking for her.  "Sempai!"

"Akane Tendo!  Where are you?"

She heard his voice but couldn't see him, so she continued to run.  
"Sempai!  Right here!"  She pushed through a group that might have 
been tourists.  "Sem... oof!"

She ran straight into Kuno, who caught her in his somewhat full 
embrace.  "You are safe!"  He looked in her eyes, tears threatening to 
fall from his own.  He crushed her to him.  "I thought for certain you 
would be harmed!"

"Urg... Sempai, I am being harmed," she said against his chest.  "I 
can't breathe."

Kuno released her suddenly, his hands on her shoulders.  "I am sorry.  
But you are safe!  How can it be?"

Akane took a couple deep breaths.  "Yeah.  Ryoga came by at the 
perfect time."  She jerked her thumb back to Ryoga, who was glaring 
jealously at Kuno.

Ryoga heard the thankful tone of Akane's voice and gave a sheepish 
grin.  "Aww...  It was only an accident."  He laughed nervously.

"Never the less, Hibiki, both of us owe you our lives."  Kuno gave 
Ryoga a curt bow.  "But now we must leave this area as quickly as 
possible."

"Where though?" Akane asked.  "Should we go back to the airport?  Or 
do you think that's too dangerous?"  She took her bag from Kuno.

"I am not sure.  And even though I am loathe to put family members in 
jeopardy, I believe we must head to familiar surroundings.  I believe 
the airport is our most viable option."

"OK, but this time I want to take a cab.  I don't want to be out on 
the street any longer than I have to."

"Agreed."  Somehow, Kuno managed to flag down a cab and all three of 
them were on their way to the airport.

"What happened while I was incapacitated?" Kuno asked Akane in the 
back of the cab.  He was feeling guilty, but he had done as much as 
possible.  He thought he did quite well considering the odds.

"Benares was there," she said quietly, as if saying his name too 
loudly would make him appear.  "I don't know what he wanted, but... 
but..."  Akane's voice was starting to waver.

"Do not speak of it if it is too painful.  We know that he is a 
villain and that is all that is necessary."

Ryoga was keeping quiet through the exchange, having no clue as to 
what Akane and Kuno were talking about.  But he was sitting next to 
Akane, their legs touching.  He was happy.

Akane nodded and took a deep breath.  "He's a wu."

There was no reaction from Kuno except for his clenched jaw.  "I 
suspected as much.  Powerful, no doubt.  He will be trouble.  Possibly 
more than Kaiyanwang himself."

"Um, who's Kaiyanwang?" Ryoga asked.  "You say I saved your lives, but 
from who?  I didn't see anyone."  And why had Akane and Kuno seemed 
so... affectionate?

"Oh, geez, Ryoga.  I don't even know where to start.  It's such a long 
story."  Akane just didn't want to have to relive all the horrible 
experiences.

"I shall explain," Kuno said to Akane.  He then turned his attention 
to Ryoga.  "There is a... person who wishes to see Akane dead.  I have 
been chosen to protect her.  We must either destroy this man, 
Kaiyanwang, or use a statue to save us... her."

Ryoga nodded but he still had many questions.

"We have the statue."  He hefted one of the bags.  "And now we are 
returning to Japan with it to discover its secrets.  Hopefully."

"Oh."  Ryoga could tell there was a lot Kuno wasn't saying, but if he 
didn't want to explain, there was no way to force him.  "So you're 
going to fly back.  Why wouldn't that be safe?"

"Well..."  Akane looked uncomfortable.  "We think Kaiyanwang is really 
powerful.  With magic, you know?  And he has lots of people working 
for him."

"So you think he might be able to get you on the plane and you'll have 
nowhere to run.  I understand that."

"Yes.  There's so much we haven't told you, but can you just trust 
us?"  Akane looked at Ryoga, her eyes large and pleading.

Ryoga swallowed, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks.  "Of course, 
Akane.  Why would I have any reason not to trust you?"

"Thank you, Ryoga."  She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Ryoga's cheeks turned all red and he looked down at his hands.  "I... 
uh... gah..."  Rational thought left him and a series of fantasies 
played out on his head, with him protecting Akane and experiencing her 
thanks... over and over.  Sometimes Ryoga just didn't think so well.

Akane relaxed in the cab, closing her eyes.  Her back was hurting 
where she had been hit and her chin was bothering her.  She figured 
she was pretty frightening looking, but with Ryoga and Kuno with her, 
who would say anything?  She leaned her head on Kuno's shoulder and 
pulled the staff from her bag.  She moved her hands up and down the 
warm wood of it.

When she relaxed and let her hands rest on the staff, she could almost 
hear it hum, feel it vibrate and emit a comforting warmth.  It made 
her want to grab a pillow and just doze off.

Kuno felt somewhat satisfied when Akane put her head on his shoulder, 
but also a bit depressed.  It was convenience and no more for her; it 
was not done out of affection.  He watched her hands grip the staff 
and felt a pleasant sensation in his shoulder.  It was kind of warm, 
like a deep massage and seemed to spread throughout his entire body.

He yawned hugely once and blinked slowly.  A nap was sounding very 
good even though he had slept well the previous night.  "Hi..."  He 
tried to speak through another yawn.  "Hibiki, please wake us when we 
arrive at the airport."  He yawned again and leaned his head against 
the window.

Ryoga watched the two sleep.  There was most definitely something more 
going on than what they had told him.  He would have to remember to 
ask some more questions later on.  He saw Akane cuddle up to Kuno in 
her sleep.  Definitely more questions.

***

They arrived at the airport safely, nothing suspicious along the way 
happening.  Of course, Akane and Kuno had no idea because they were 
both still sound asleep.

Ryoga had no idea where at the airport they were supposed to be so he 
stopped the cab driver at a convenient spot.  Then came the task of 
waking his two fellow passengers.

First, he gently shook Akane's shoulder.  "Akane, we're here.  You 
have to wake up," he said quietly.

Akane's response was to mumble something unintelligible, then strike 
out with her fist.  Ryoga's face was the not so lucky recipient.  Then 
Akane resettled in her seat and was deep asleep again.

Ryoga looked at her, his eyes a bit wide, with his hand over the spot 
she had just belted.  It felt just like the first time she had hit 
him, when her hair had been sliced accidentally.  Only this time, she 
was asleep; Ryoga felt a little sorry for Ranma.

He reached over, avoiding Akane, and shook Kuno.  "We're at the 
airport."

Kuno's eyes opened immediately and he sat up, almost tossing Akane off 
his shoulder.  He looked out the window, verifying that they were at 
the airport, then at Akane.  "Akane, you must awaken.  We have 
arrived."

Akane's eyes opened a moment later.  She looked around sleepily.  "The 
airport?" she asked.

Kuno nodded.

Akane looked at Ryoga.  "Oh, Ryoga.  What happened to your face?" she 
asked worriedly.

-o-o-o-o-o-

-- 
Lara

o------------------------------------------------------------------o
| Danger!  Thrills!  Guns!  What more could a gamer want than Tomb |
| Raider?  In it, you play hacker dream date Lara Croft (packs     |
| heat, back flips, has improbable breasts), as she leaps, swims,  |
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| derring-do.  You go, girl!                                       | 
|       --- Newsweek                                               |
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