This is just the beginning of the rough draft of chapter 2, and will be
continued later.  In this chapter, I am bringing in the gang and setting up
the rescue attempt.  I would like some comments on how I am handling the
characterizations and perhaps some suggestions on introducing them into the
plot.  Getting the personalities of the various people right is my main
worry right now, and how they are introduced will affect the way I think of
them later.  This story was intended to be mainly about the girls of Ranma
1/2, so I intend to gloss over the involvement of male characters.
	For instance, I am not yet sure how I want Shampoo to learn of the
situation, although I was thinking of having her learn about it by just
showing up at the Dojo with some food for Ranma.  Alternately, Cologne
could see the report on TV, but I assumed that because this is late evening
(i.e., close of business hours) that Cologne would be too busy running the
Nekohanten to watch TV.  
	A note about Kodachi:  Obviously, she has no idea that Ranma is the one
trapped in the bank.  She will be convinced to join in the rescue by Ukyou
later, because she has the most skill in sneaking around ambushing people
and Ukyou knows it.  That won't make Akane happy, but then it ain't a
perfect world, is it?
	C&C definately requested!



Chapter 2: 

------- 
    Nabiki Tendo sat at the dining room table drumming her fingers
impatiently. Ranma had run away from school after a fight with Akane, and
no one had seen him since then. Akane wasn't home yet, either, and Nabiki
was growing concerned. 

    <If that idiot forgot to deposit my money, he'll regret being born!> 

    To distract herself from her worries, she decided to turn on the
television set and watch the financial report on the evening news. As the
set warmed up and began showing the inevitable and seemingly endless run of
commercials, the sliding door to the yard scraped open and Akane walked in,
looking a little rumpled and dirty. 

    "Hi, Nabiki Onechan. Um, is Ranma home yet?" She said, staring at the
floor. 

    Nabiki was about to tell her "no", when her attention was diverted by
the television. 

    "Our top story tonight is a Hostage Crisis at the Nerima branch of
Mitsubishi Bank. Reports have it that over 50 people are being held at
gunpoint by men who have barricaded the building." 

    The television camera, using a telephoto lens, panned across the
exterior window of the bank, getting a clear picture of the masked men, who
were standing around a large group of seated people. As the camera scanned
the group, one image seemed to leap out at the girls: a girl with
distinctive red hair, supporting a woman who looked like she was unconscious. 

    "Oh, my God," cried Akane, "that's Ranma!" 

    At her horrified shout, Kasumi hurried into the room from the kitchen,
wiping her hands on a towel, as Genma and Soun leaned into the doorway from
the verandah. 

    Genma asked "What's this about Ranma?", and Akane pointed at the TV
screen as the camera panned back across the window again.  Ranma was easily
seen, still with her arm around the young, obviously pregnant woman. 

    "Oh, my!" said Kasumi, "why would Ranma have been at that bank?" 

    Nabiki, who had turned white as a sheet, said "Uh, that's my fault...
he was making a... deposit... for... me..." her face suddenly took on a
look of rage.  "Waitaminute!  That's MY bank those creeps are robbing!  If
those sons of bitches think they're gonna steal MY money..." she fell
silent, grinding her teeth 
together. 

    While she stared furiously at the TV,  the others listened quietly to
the news reporter interviewing a police representative. 

    "...so far, we have not received any information as to the identity of
the men holding the bank customers hostage.  We are proceeding on the
assumption that they entered the bank with the intention of robbing it, and
perhaps the customers as well, but were unprepared for the number of people
present.  There were an unusually large number of customers this close to
the bank's closing time, and gaining control of the situation may have
taken longer than the robbers were expecting.  We responded to the silent
alarm which must have been triggered by one of the bank employees within
ten minutes of its arrival at headquarters, and have moved decisively in
sealing off all possible escape routes from the building.  Our hostage
negotiation team is currently setting up communications with the building
telephone system, and will begin talking to the suspects sometime in the
next twenty minutes.  We are confidant that this incident will be brought
to a peaceful conclusion by morning." 

------- 
    In the Kuno residence, Sasuke was in the kitchen, where he was
preparing dinner for Tatewaki and Kodachi.  The Kuno family owned a large
color television, but it was rarely used, as Kuno did not believe
television had anything worthwhile to offer one of his class and status.
Sasuke contented himself with a small black and white set he could watch
while going about his tasks.  He was sparing occasional glances from his
cooking at a Samurai drama when the show was interrupted by a special news
broadcast.  After only a moment, he saw the same scene being watched at the
Tendo home, and immediately rushed into the main room of the home to turn
on the television there, calling for his master to come quickly and see
what was happening.  Kuno came into the room ready to rebuke his servant
for his interfering with his meditations, but when he saw what Sasuke was
pointing at, such thoughts fled his mind. 

    "What is this?!  The beautious Pig-tailed Girl held in durance vile by
common hoodlums?  This must not be permitted!  I, the Blue Thunder of
Furinken High School, shall see to her rescue at once!  Sasuke!  Ready the
car for instant departure!" 

    Before Sasuke could finish his submissive bow to Kuno and rise to his
feet, a small packet landed on the floor between them, bursting into a
cloud of fine dust.  Both men gasped in surprise... and a moment later sank
to the floor and began snoring loudly.  Looking on in satisfaction from the
doorway, Kodachi smiled to herself at the image on the television screen. 

    "That horrid red haired witch is trapped and will not be able to gain
her freedom before morning, eh?  I am sorry, Brother Dear, but I cannot
permit you to spoil such a perfect opportunity for me.  With her out of the
way, I shall go to my handsome Ranma-sama and win him for myself.  Without
her to interfere, tonight will be the night he admits his love for me!  OH
HOHOHOHOHO!" 

    Kodachi whisked her dress off, revealing her black leotard.  Springing
to an open window, she bounded up onto the walls surrounding the Kuno home,
and from there began racing across the rooftops towards the Tendo Dojo. 

------- 
    Ukyou Kounji  had no time for watching television in the evenings.  The
dinner crowd kept her far to busy for that, although she had a little
portable under the counter for times when business got slow.  She was
making three okonomiyaki at once while her patrons looked on in
appreciation when a girl she knew from school ran in breathlessly to tell
everyone about the news.  As everyone in the restaurant reacted with
various degrees of horror at the thought of men armed with guns being in
their town, Ukyou efficiently finished the okonomiyaki and dished them up.
After passing them to their owners, she reached under the counter and
pulled out the tv.  She plugged it in and tuned into a local news channel,
and all of her customers gathered around to see the report.  It took a
while for the camera to go back to a shot of the interior of the bank, but
when it did, Ukyou's heart sank within her.  She would recognize that face
in any crowd. 

    "Sorry, folks, but something important just came up.  Ucchan's is
closed now." 

    After boxing up the unfinished food for her customers to take with
them, she urged the last of them out of the restaurant and took down her
sign.  It took only minutes more for her to change out of her work clothes,
pick up her battle spatula, and lock the door behind her as she started off
to the Tendo Dojo. 

------- 
    Ryouga Hibiki hadn't watched television in months.  He was far too busy
trying to find his home to pay attention to such things generally, but as
he walked down yet another street in yet another town that was strange to
him, his eye was drawn to an electronics store display featuring several
sets that were all showing the same news report.  Seeing Ranma's face on
the screen, he paused to listen to the Police spokesman. 

    "...so far, we have not received any information as to the identity of
the men holding the bank customers hostage..." 

    No one could ever fault Ryouga's powers of observation.  He rarely
missed anything that was happening around him (and to Ranma's great
frustration, he seemed to be around at the most inconvenient times)
although his interpretation of what he saw usually lacked something.  This
time, however, he immediately grasped the situation correctly.  Ranma was
in danger.  Ranma could be hurt or killed.  He, Ryouga, could well be
cheated of his just revenge!  The thought was intolerable!  He stood for a
moment, arm out to his side holding a lamp post for support, as he
struggled to get his temper under control. 

    <Damn!  I don't even know how to get to that bank!  What do I do now?!> 

    Suddenly inspiration hit him.  Akane would know where the bank was
located!  A grim smile spread across his face. 

    <Yes!  I'll just go find Akane, and she can tell me where the bank is!
Then I can get to Ranma before those guys can do anything to him!> 

    That thought galvanized him, and leaving behind the lamp post, which
now had a handprint sunk into its surface, he bolted down the street on his
way to the Tendo Dojo. 

    Passing a sign that read "KYOTO - 50 km". 

------- 

Author's Note:  That's what I have so far, and it's sketchy at best.  Now
I'm fishing for ideas!
 
 
 
 
 


Larry W. Fontenot
Senior Technician
Earthlink Tech Support
http://home.earthlink.net/~lfontenot/