* * * * * * * * *
Hawk awoke slowly, feeling very.good about himself, then his
memory booted up and felt something snuggle up to him. `Hmmm.and the
plot takes a flight south.', he thought to himself as he curled an arm
around
Ranko's sculptured frame.
Hawk put his other hand behind his head, propping it up, watching
Ranko-chan sleep peacefully, going deep into thought.
The subtle movement from Hawk's part was more than enough to stir
Ranko out of sleep. She stretched a little bit and looked up to Hawk's
inquisitive face and giggled a bit as she snuggled up to him.
Confused, "What's so funny?" he asked.
She giggled again, "It's the look on your face, ya dummy!", she
cheerfully said as she `beeped' his nose with her index finger.
He pulled a face to straighten his nose out, which elicited a gale of
laughter from Ranko. Hawk pulled a `smarmy' smile onto his face and started
tickling her ribs with flying fingers.
They traded tickles for many minutes.
Walking down the corridor, with a bit of bounce in his step, Ranma
came up to Ranko's door. `We're finally going home.' he thought happily,
trailing off as he heard a high pitched squeal come through the door, `Oh
Kami-sama.Not again.' He thought frightfully as he raised a fist to the door
to bust it down, then the door opened.
"I don't think that would be necessary Ranma.", it is Hawk, dressed
only in a bathrobe, Ranko's to be more precise.
Then Ranko appeared next to him, dressed in a frilly nightgown,
thankfully keeping her `assets' covered, "Yeah! What he said!" she stated
with
her thumb jerked toward Hawk.
Ranma's jaw hit the floor, frozen into the current position of almost
caving in the door.
Seeing his frozen, slack-jawed state, Hawk walked into the corridor
and waved his hand in front of Ranma's face.
No effect.
Tried clicking his fingers in front of his eyes and whistling.
No response from that either.
He gestured to Ranko to give it a try, almost with a bow.
As she moved to get passed him, he swung his hand in and gave a
squeeze to her left cheek, that gave him the squeak that he was looking for.
Ranko snatched his hand as it was leaving the `appropriated area' and
said, "Later." and she gestured to the now unfrozen Ranma.
Ranma , meanwhile, is still staring agape with only a strangled `Gah!'
coming out of his mouth and his finger is wavering between the both of them.
He finally managed to get control over his speech, "I don't wanna
know." he said shaking his head left to right, "I *really* don't wanna
know.Anyway, we are expected at the docks for his." pointing at Hawk,
".scheduled launch. And we were expected about 5 minutes ago."
That got the reaction he was hoping for, coupled with a pair of `OH
SHIT!', the pair darted back into the room with the door slamming shut in
Ranma's face.
A few minutes and a lot of muffled thumping around later, the door
opened again. Ranma was leaning against the wall with his hands behind his
head, drumming his foot, showing the fact that he is growing increasingly
impatient.
Then he saw Ranko, wearing her usual jeans and t-shirt. Then Hawk
strode out, done up in his patented `Mega-Man' armor [without the helmet,
that is taken up by the special helm he's wearing, the infamous rabbit ears
and
a hat-like brim over the forehead] and unbeknownst to Ranma, Ranko jumped
up onto Hawk's shoulders, he skipped a couple of times, then took off into
the
depths of the slightly darkened corridor with a trailing `Weeeeeeeeeeee!!!'
from a giddy Ranko.
Ranma shook his head and took off after them.
They arrived to the private docking bay of the Falcon in record time.
Down the corridor, they saw the ship, glistening in it's pristine
metallic-grey
paint job, a super modified prototype Mikado-class luxery yacht.
Rebuilt several times for even more incredible speed, firepower,
fighter and troops capacities, even a labratory area for studying and
rigging
new technologies.
The blasted thing even has a small manufacturing plant within it!
But the one thing that makes this ship even more distinct from the
others is its Dimensional Jump drive, a system that allows the ship and all
it
contains within to cross the dimensional planes and its Super-LORD class
Multiple-AI computer system, second only to the MegaLORD himself.
Hawk loved this ship greatly, it is his baby, since he helped design the
actual prototype.
Which this particular craft is, but he doesn't love as much as one
other person he can name.
Mai turned to the sound of Ranko laughter down the corridor, "It is
about time you got here!" she called out to him as he skidded to a halt.
They both grinned sheepishishly, "Well.we both kinda got tied up
after the party.." Hawk said while lowering Ranko down to the floor.
Mai arched an eyebrow at this but said nothing of it, `That is their
own business." she thought to herself, "OK.how about we get this trip over
with now?" she said, turning back to the crowd that came out of hiding from
around the bay.
Hawk looked up and started, "Gaah!!" was all he managed to get out
when he saw the crowd, mostly friends and colliges from this business.
Regaining his composure a bit, "I see that all of you are here to see
me off to last mission.for quite awhile." He added while stealinga glance at
Ranko, ellicting a quiet round of chuckles from the group that's around him.
"I would stay and continue this somewhat long winded speech here, "
more laughs from the crowd, "but I might as well get this mission done and
gone now, so I'll see you all later whenever I happen get back!"
The crowd dispersed and Hawk started towards the Falcon's hatch
when someone spun him around and latched onto him.
He jumped, "Bwah?" he croaked, he then looked down to see Ranko
is the one the latched onto him, "What is it.?" he couldn't say much more
with Ranko's lips pressed to his.
When she didn't let go after a moment Hawk decided to go with it
and wrapped his arms around her and held her off the floor, since she is
head
and shoulders shorter than him, coming about midway to his chest.
The wolf howls they heard forced them to disengage from their
moment embarassingly.
She eventually let go of him, "You'll be coming to my home
dimension soon, right?" he nodded, she then sniffed a little and wiped a
wandering tear her eye.
"I will be.you can count on that." he said as she pecked him on
the cheek and hugged him tight around the neck, then darted off to the
corridor.
"I'll miss you .Come back soon!!" she called back to him, waving.
Hawk waved back, "I'll miss you too!" when she left the docking
bay, "I will come back for you." he called out to her. "I just wish I could
bring you with me." he muttered to himself, turning back to his ship toward
the open hatch.
As soon he crossed the threshold of the door, he met with a pair of
hooting females, a third is furthur back with an impassive look on her face,
in
fact Hawk doesn't remember much expression formed on Rei's face, the
fourth seemingly not in the vicinity.
Hawk gave a bow to the two that are rooting for him, "Thank you!
Thank you very much!" he said as Elvis like as possible, pretty well
actually,
sounds almost like him.
The two on the forefront disolved into giggles then into laughter,
almost falling to the floor, if not for them holding onto the rails on the
walls,
but stopped completely as he pushed past them, with a downtrodden
expression on his face.
They heard him mutter something like, `Might as well get this done
and over with.'
They all looked to each other and shrugged.
The mid-sized female with long brown hair and red hair ornaments
turned to Hawk's retreating form, "What's with him?" Asuka asked the others,
"He was just fine a minute ago!"
The tallest one, Misato, just shrugged her shoulders, "He had to leave
the one he loves greatly behind..." said Rei, slightly shorter then Asuka,
with
sky-blue colored hair.
The other two nodded to her observation, soon smacking each others'
forehead for missing it completely, "But we still all have jobs to do right
now!" exclaimed Misato as she rezzed out.
The others nodded as well then de-rezzed.
Hawk arrived to the command center of the Falcon, a fairly barren
semi-circular room with readout screens all over the front of the room.
He looked over some of these and sat down in the chair that is in the
exact center of the room, "Misato?" her image rezzed in front of him.
"Hai, Admiral?" she's acting much more different now that it is
business as usual.
"Preflight check?" he asked her.
Misato nodded, "Hai."
Hawk turned back to the main window, "Open a channel to the
tower."
She nodded again, "Hai.Channel open." She said as the speakers
crackled a little to let themselves known.
"StarTower command, this is Admiral Hawk aboard the Falcon.
Requesting permission to depart from the private docking bays." He said in
his
most business like tone of voice.
A screen superimposed itself over the main window, depicting
lavender haired girl with a headset on her head, "Roger that, Admiral.One
Moment, Sir." trailing off to look at the screens about her and typing in a
few things into the computers, "You're all set to go, Admiral. You're
cleared
to depart." She flashed him a smile, "Have a safe trip, sir!" she said,
waving.
Hawk nodded and waved back, "Thank you , Leiutenent." Then the
screen disappeared. He leaned back into his chair, "Power up Main Engines!"
he called out to open air.
Outside, the aft section of the Falcon glowed a bright blue and the
engine intakes glowed a dim red. A dull roar could be heard as the massive
reactors charged to full output, turning into a very loud scream.
Hawk looked to the readouts, "Reactors to Power." Called Misato's
now disembodied voice.
Looking annoyed, "I can see that, Misato!" he grumbled as bit as he
lifted his face from the readout, turning back to the Main Window, "Open Bay
Doors." he called out.
The massive doors on the outside of the ship groaned to life as they
split apart to show the stars before them.
Hawk folded his hands in front of his face, elbows to the arm rests,
"Take us out, Rei." He called out, eyes closed.
An unemotional `Hai' answered him as the ship crawled out of the
dock.
Opening his eyes, "As soon as we are clear, take the engines to
SubLight power to the jump corodinates."
Another `Hai' answered him. He went back to his thoughts and
closed his eyes again.
The ship came out of a rather small docking bay in the uppermost
portion of the `Star-Tower', crowning achievement to Mai Nakajiima and her
AI super-computer, MegaLORD.
They both have designed the massive arcology tower, spanning
twelve square miles at the very base of the tower and reaching over 100
miles
into the sky, breaching the atmosphere itself.
As soon as the ship cleared the massive docking booms, its engines
belched a large plume of white-blue flame as it sped off to some point in
space
at sub-light speeds.
Hawk opened his eyes for the last time, "Viewer to aft angle."
A screen popped up in from the window showing the shrinking tower.
He sat there, watching the tower shrink away, lastly showing a massive
seashell-like shaped ship at the end of one of the 20 mile long docking
booms,
with a `MHI Leviathan' along its pristine hull.
Hawk shook his head rapidly, "Viewer off.Engage the Jump drive
when the computations come back."
He leaned forward in the chair, with his face buried in his hand,
trying to hide the tears brimming in his eyes.
Inwardly groaning, `How I wish I was allowed to bring you with me,
Ranko-chan.'
A lone tear wandered out of his eye and down his cheek.
A moment later, Hawk felt someone massaging his shoulders,
working the kinks out, with quite knowledgable and soft, but strong hands.
He groaned in pleasure as he leaned back into the chair,
"Hmmmm...Thank you, Misato." he trailed off as her hands traveled down
his chest and back up as she hugged him from behind, unknowingly nestled his
head between her ample breasts.
Hawk was about to say something about that, but Misato slapped her
hand over his mouth, "Don't worry.we know about the two of you." She said
into his ear.
As if to punctuate the point, Asuka, Rei, and Ritsuko rezzed around
him.
Asuka walked in front of the group, kneeling a little bit to his right
side, putting her hand onto his, "She's right..and we know about you being
depressed from being seperated from Ranko-san. Especially for this long this
time."
He relaxed a bit, now able to speak without Misato's hand on his
mouth, "Thanks for your concern guys.I'm touched.really." he paused
for a second, putting a smile on his face, "Though as much as I hate to
leave
such a comfortable cushion." he stopped as Misato looked down and quickly
released her grip on him and slapped him upside the back of his head,
"Eechi!"
she said, with a very visible flush to her.
The others couldn't help but laugh heartily, except Rei, "I think he is
in a better mood now." she said in her usual unemotional speech pattern,
gesturing to Hawk.
He chuckled himself, "That I am, Rei, that I am." Turning to the
still red Misato, "Thanks again, Misato.I _STILL_ don't know how you do
it.but you somehow managed to cheer me up."
Misato nodded to him, some of her redness disappearing.
Hawk turned back to the Main Window, "OK! Let kick this pig!!" he
called out, the others know that it is his way of ordering everyone to their
stations for the Dimensional Jump, everyone derezzed to do their
appropriated
duties.
The ship, now a few hundred thousand miles from the nearest
inhabited location, shimmered in the starlight for a few seconds and
vanished
completely from view with a radiating spacial distoration.
Ranko watched the Falcon speed off from one of the windows on the
Tower and soon disappear. Left hand to the glass, "Please hurry back." she
murmered to herself, one tear working itself loose from her eye, seen by her
own reflection in the window.
Then she felt a large hand place itself on her shoulder. She slowly
turned with a sniffle and looked up to see her brother Ranma, his eyes full
of
concern.
Kneeling down a bit to shorten the large height difference between
them, "Don't worry, Ranko-chan. He'll be back before you know it." he
pulled his `little' sister in for a hug, she sobbed for a moment into his
chest, "I
know you miss him." trailing off a moment, looking up at the chronometer,
"Damn! We have to get to our own shuttle.we are meeting our own family
again." He finished with a smile, "I know that you don't wanna miss the look
on Pop's face when he gets a load of us!" he finished, beaming.
She laughed a little, loosening her hug she looked up to him,
"Yeah." wiping her eyes, "Heh.at least there is one good thing that came
out of this." looking back out the window for a minute then started to walk
toward the door with Ranma following shortly thereafter.
[Author's Note: The world that Hawk traveled to will be written whenever I
manage to get around to it. It is tenatively titled: BubbleGum Rift..Gee can
you tell where it is gonna be located at? Hmmmm? ;)]
* * * * * * * * *
Sometime later in yet Another Dimension.
A new day has arrived at the Nerima Ward, all is quiet, far too quiet
since Ranma's departure about 2 monthes ago...All was disturbed by the roar
of a high-powered turbine-like engine...
Pulling off of a nearby freeway, a massive motorbike, no, more like
the American `Hogs' from the look of it, obviously heavily customised from
one glance at it, carring two riders.
Driving, an equally large human male, wearing dark glasses,
matching his own black hair, that is tied into a 3 foot long pigtail off of
the
base of the skull.
The passenger, much smaller than the one driving, no where near as
massively built, but still muscled proportionately, female wise, with
flaming
red hair and with a 4� foot french-braid off of the back of the head, also
wearing dark shades, but of the mirror variety.
The Buxom-RedHead leaned forward,"I still cannot believe that we
are finally meeting the others after all these years...Feels like that were
have
been gone for a millenium!!" she exclaimed just a little too much into her
partner's ear.
Wincing at the high vocal volume and close proximity, "Yeah, but
it'll be great to show that old lech what we are made of now, and I think
that
he'll be a `little' happy to see you too, Ranko-chan." he chuckled, before
she
could speak, they have reached their destination...
The Tendo Dojo.
The big-man chimes in, "And I hope that will meet Mom
today...haven't seen her in so long....I just don't care if she threatens
me...us..with suppuku...", he got cut off with an elbow to the ribs.
"Yeah, Yeah already...you told me about a thousand times since we
have gotten back!! Now, let's go in and reaquaint ourselves with our past
lives,
neh.neh?!?", said Ranko, with the `Cute-Factor' cranked 1000% over
normal.
A little stunned, he looked down to his one former self, and thought
of something. "Hey, how about you go in first...then myself...so that I
don't
scare the hell out of them with this..." trailing off as he gestered
himself, with
his overly large musculature bulging.
Nodding, "Agreed.plus the shock factor of myself should break
them in just nicely!", she giggled at the thought.
Taking a deep breath, "OK! let get this going already!!", she paused
as she saw her significant other duck around the wall, with his head peeking
around it.
Shrugging her shoulders, she banged on the heavy wooden doors.
They resounded throughout the neighborhood, but all is still asleep around
the
household except for the people contained within.
The doors creaked on their massive hinges, as a shapely young
woman in her early twenties steped out. "Hello?" she asked to nobody, but
then a small blur of red grasped her from the front, upon closer inspection,
it is
a person.
The woman's eyes widened as the redhead looked up, still hugging
Kasumi almost feircely,"R-R-Ranma?!?", she managed to croak as she fainted
dead away...
But all this didn't go unnoticed, Soun Tendo, peeked out the front
doorway of the house as he saw his eldest daughter collapse, he was about to
do the Soun Falls(tm), but stopped short as he lost his wind to a fierce
crushing
to his ribs.
Soun almost fell unconsious, but he saw who is holding him. "R-
Ranma!! You're back from your trip!!" an insanely happy look burst to his
face, "Now we can finally join the Family Dojos!!"
Now the father of said individual sticks his head out the door, where
his now face-falted jaw now rests, but recovers quickly a puts on a mad
demeanor.
With a sneaky grin, he pulls the Hot Water Kettle out of Kettle-
Space(tm).
Ranko stops the somewhat joyous reunion with Tendo, to turn around
to a face full of hot water.
"GAH!! Whatcha do that for Oya-Ji!!!" she exclaimed with an angry,
flaming red aura shimmering.
Genma pulled another facefault, "WAAAAHHH!! Now the Dojo's
cannot be joined!!" both Genma and Soun cried as they held each other.
"Pop...you are NOT going to start that bullshit again are you??", said
a very large man, who is carrying a limp Kasumi in his arms.
* * * * * * * * *
Akane awakes with a start. "Eh...", looking around with P-Chan
cuddled in her arms.
"Must those two fools crying again...", she trailed off as she leaned
up to the window with a yawn, wonderfully relaxed since Ranma left for his
trip.
Looking out the window, "Ahhh...a beautiful day...", trailing off
again as she stared at the man carrying Kasumi.
`Kami-Sama...he looks like....like...', she thought as she burst out of
the room, dropping a startled P-Chan with a curious `Bwee?'
Akane emerged to the doors at near sonic speed as she heard:
"Pop....you are NOT going to start that bullshit again are you?" in a deep
voice.
`Couldn't be...Ranma would never use that sort of language around
Mr. Saotome...but he almost looks like him...'
Then Akane looked over to Mr. Saotome, mouth agape as she
watched the redhead pickup Mr. Saotome with one arm, exclaimed, "We just
got home and you're already trying to marry him off again!!! How low can
you GO!!!" she yelled as she hefted him in to the wall with one arm.
Suceeding in making Genma go THROUGH the wall.
The man spots the shocked Akane, "OH! Hello, Akane...nice to see
you again..." he said as he put the now conscious Kasumi back down onto her
feet gently and scurried off.
He took off his sun-glasses, the unmistakable shade of blue now
showing themselves off once again, but something is different about them
now, much more experience and...age behind them now, something else that
shimmered behind them, like they have witnessed too many horrors.
But still have the arrogance that Akane reconized, and at a low level.
Like he matured much.
Holding his shades in one hand, he opens his arms in hopes of
receiving a welcoming hug.
He never got it...
"Ra-Ranma??? RANMA NO BAKA!!!", Akane yelled as she pulled
a long unused `Mallet-Sama' from its Dimension pocket and swung it at
Ranma.
But it doesn't connect.
Puzzled, she looks up through her tearing eyes to see that he is
holding the head of the massive hammer with one hand.
Ranma peeked around the edge of Mallet-Sama, "Nice to see you too,
Akane...And I see that you are still opposed to this arranged marriage bull,
neh?" he said sarcasticly.
He then proceded to rip the hammer out of her iron grip with the one
hand he caught it with, "And still jumping the gun before ANYONE gets a
chance to explain anything right?" he said dryly with a sly grin, then
tossed the
mallet aside.
"Glad to see that you haven't changed one bit...", he stopped as a fist
soared through the air and connecting to his skull with a resounding
*POW!!!*
Meanwhile, Ranma, didn't budge an inch as Akane's punch
connected, everyone winced, except Ranko, they then stood agape at the sight
before them.
"Heh.." Ranma said as he pulled her fist off of his face," I s'pose that
I deserve that for leaving you all so suddenly.",he then narrowed his eyes
in
a most threatening manner,".but I have better things to do then sit here and
argue with YOU right now. Ja." he said as he turned and walked away from
the stunned Akane.
She shook her head in hope to get the cobwebs out, "WAIT! Please
Wait..." she cried as she tried to stop from Ranma walking out again from
her
life.
He turned around,aura visibly flaring, "No! You wait! I have taken
your petty bickering for too damned long, Akane!...Accusing me of things
that
were not my fault...and then slamming me with that damned mallet of
yours....I was hoping to get back with little to no trouble since I *DID*
like
you...BUT NOOOOOOoooooooo....YOU, as usual, have to hit me for the
slightest thing...I will not have it anymore!", she was about to retort but
was
cut off by a slicing gester from Ranma, now in awe from the display of
backbone that he is showing to her, "I wanted to come back and maybe make
amends...maybe at least be FRIENDS, instead of just being iinazuke,"
pointing
a largish accusatory finger straight into her face, very close to her nose
,"but as
usual...you fly off the handle before I can _EXPLAIN_ anything to you..."
trailed off again, shaking his head in disgust, "Why do I even bother...You
never listen to me anyway..." he said as he walked out again.
Akane sank to the ground crying,"R-Ranma...Don't leave me again...I
don't think I can handle it again..." she managed to croak out before
another
wave of tears and sobs overcame her, dropping P-Chan when they wracked at
her relentlessly when she heard the massive gate slam shut.
P-chan was FURIOUS at what Ranma did to Akane, leaving for two
monthes without hardly a word, tearing her apart in the process. AND THEN
coming back...he lost his trail of thought as he scampered for the bathing
room, almost losing himself to his own line of RAGE...
* * * * * * * * *
Regaining his composure, Soun let loose the Demon Head at the
nearest Saotome "RAAAAANNNNNMMMMMAAAAAAAAAA!!!" he
shouted at the redhead, who just shook her head in disgust.
Looking up, her eyes shown with almost uncontollable mirth, "Is that
suppose to mean something? MY name is RanKO...Not Ranma." she
sarcasticly said with her arms crossed acrossed her chest, not in the least
afraid
of the hilarious sight that is before her.
That deflated the so-called Demon Head real quick, "Nani?" he
managed to get out before he was cut off.
"Look...SHE hit him first, Ranma did not do anything other than try
to be _NICE_ to her...and you ACTUALLY think that despite the treatment he
just recieved, that he should remain placid and tame like a little
rabbit???"
Soun cowered under the firery gaze, "Just so that you can have
YOUR FUCKING DOJOS JOINED?!?!?" the fire turning abolutely volcanic,
"At what COST HUH?!?" she spat out, poking Soun's chest...HARD.
He looked like he committed the worst crime in history,
"Um...Uh...Well..." Cut off again with another jab with the finger, but to
the
forehead, "YOU and POP better cut it off with that fiance crap or both
myself
and Ranma..." thrusting her thumb out toward the doors, "...will do
something
that both YOU and Pop will regret...AND I am NOT talking about a quick
beating EITHER!!", she paused for a second noticing the heavily sweating
individual, she blinked a couple of times and instantly changed demeanor.
Like changing gears in a car, "Well...now that is out of the way..."
she paused again to look around to find Kasumi going into the house, "How
about we forget this mess for awhile and get some breakfast...And talk about
what has happened to ourselves and around here." she stated with the
Cuteness
Factor cranked very high, with a very noticable bounce as she darted into
the
house.
All Soun could do was dumbly nod at the redhead.
* * * * * * * * *
Lying in wait in the shadows, a pure black clad ninja scratched his
chin, `Hmmmm.' he thought to himself, watching the fat man fly off into the
wall, "This bears more looking into." he whispered, making himself
comfortable in the darkness.
".Master Kuno will be pleased."
* * * * * * * * *
Walking along the streets with a slight frown, Nabiki again thought of
the great loss of income that happened when Ranma left.
She instantly brightened somewhat after thinking about Tatewaki
Kuno and the pictures she sold him. 'Even though they are the same ones I
have already sold him.' she almost shook her head disgustedly to herself
when a LARGE man stomped by, with an almost visible stormcloud over his
head.
Arching an eyebrow, she took notice of the massive ripped
musculature on him as he passed by.
Both shot up as she also noticed the 3 plus foot long _PIG-TAIL_
coming off of the back of his skull.
Something clicked in her mind, but brushed it off as superflueous.
Coming up to the main gate of the Tendo Dojo, Nabiki couldn't get
her eyes off of the massive, and very futuristic looking motorbike parked
nearby.
Curiousity egging her on, she walked over to it, she noted that the
engine, whatever it is, it didn't look like anything that she has ever seen
before,
that it is still quite warm.
What piqued her interest is the label: Harley Davison Road Thunder
2310.
THAT she knew that it is a fake, 'It has to be, I just know that they
don't make something like that.' she thought again, back to her product
quotes.
Looking closer, she saw a smaller label: Division of Wellington
Industries.
Shaking her head, 'Who would fake something like this?' she thought
incredulously as she walked away from the bike and pushed open the gates.
'Maybe I'm a little behind in updating my stock portfolio.' she thought to
herself, trying to reassure that she is not going crazy.
But somehow it never did.
* * * * * * * * *
Ranma trudged along the streets for what seems to be hours, for since
it is already noon, having parking the bike at a local parking garage for
safe
keeping.
He stopped before a lightpole. Letting loose a frustrated scream into
the air above him, shattering windows for several blocks around. And put his
fist _though_ the lightpole.
Succeeding in nearly shattering it on brute force alone.
Collapsing to his knees, trying to calm himself.
With controlled breathing, he gazed around at the sight around him.
Noticing that he is standing in front of "Ucchan's Okonamiyaki-Ya'
shop.
Getting up, was about to knock on the door.
The door flew open and he jumped out of the way of the infamous
`Mega-Spatula'.
Noting its weilder, "Ucchan!!" he cried out hurriedly.
Dumbfounded, Ukyo looked up to see this BIG man standing in front
of her yelling the one pet-name that she allowed only one person to say.
About to swing the `Mega-Spat' at the perp, he took off his shades.
She dropped the Mega-Spat at the sight she is seeing, she recognized
her childhood friend and iinazuke almost instantly, also recognizes that he
has
a very distinct difference in him as well.
She put her hands to her mouth wondering in such as his new
profound height and build, but less distinctly, the green and brown dragon
tattoo around his left eye.
`There must be a reason to hide such a tattoo..' she pondered as she
gazes at the staggering amount of detail contained within it.
Almost losing herself it, she shook her head, to see if this is a
dream,"R-RanChan..." Uukyo managed to get out from her own tears that are
threatening to overwhelm her as she she glomped him tightly.
Tears now flowing freely, "You're back!!!" she cried out.
Much to her surprise, he returned the hug, "Much better reception
than one other that I happen to know..." He grated out.
"I know about who you are talking about. I'd also expect that much
from her..." she trailed off as Ranma tightened his grip slightly, but
continued
anyway, "You wouldn't believe how happy she was when you left."
"Yeah...But Ucchan...I kinda need to ask favor from you...", cut off
again as her lips touched his, mostly to silence him.
But there is something else that is nagging him, can't make anything
of it, but it is very VERY familiar and GOOD about it, `I'll leave it to
another
time.'
She is as surprised at her own actions as he is.
Uukyo put her hand up to her lips and smiled, "Anything, Ranchan"
she managed to get out before she remembered to breathe again.
Raising an inquisitive eyebrow, "Good...Me and my sister..", cut off
yet again but by the very surprised Uukyo.
"SISTER?!?! I thought you were an only child?!?" Before she could
say anything more, a raised finger on Ranma's part to her lips ceased that.
"I'll explain later...but now can I finish please??" he said, dripping
with joking sarcasm.
She couldn't miss that, giggling, "OK, Ranchan."
Shaking his head, "Ok...Me and my sister need a place to stay untill
we can find a suitable apartment around here, not to mention jobs..." he
trailed
off as he crossed his arms and furrowed his brow.
Uukyou chimed in cheerfully,"Sure Ranchan, I can let you stay here
for as long as you need to..." she paused, thinking hard,"...but about the
jobs, I
am looking for only one person. Whom I need to help me run this place." she
said, gesturing her hand to the store.
Ranma nodded, "I believe Ranko can go for that...Hell...She might
even pick up the business here while she's at it!", letting loose an almost
guttural laugh, but before Ukyou can speak, "But I think I'll probably be
into
Construction or something like that...shouldn't be too hard...but for right
now,
I have things I have to finish first. So I'll probably see ya later
tonight..."
Another surprise of the night, Ranma clasped the side of Ukyou's
face and kissed her forehead. That left her speachless, "Ma-ta-ne, Ucchan."
Ranma said as he walked away, waving.
Coming out of her stupor when Ranma went far enough away, she
spun and squealed in sheer delight when she darted back into the restaurant.
* * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile at the Nekohanten...
Cologne heard the tailend of a powerful scream. It made her skin
crawl for the life of her.
It contained many times more power than even the infamous
Happosai, in fact, she cannot even imagine who or WHAT could have that
level of sheer power, `I hope that I do not make an enemy of whoever, or
whatever did that...', she was cut off from her reverie from a worried and
concerned look from Shampoo.
"What is it, Obaba?", the quiver in her voice is apparent.
Cologne quickly squelched a worried look, "Nothing child...go back
to work."she said as she waved off the young one. `She is handling her
husband's disappearence very well...' she cut off her thoughts as she felt
the
greater power getting _very_ close, it doesn't seem to be quite benovolent.
`Oh
Kami-sama...'
Somehow, Cologne felt that HE is getting a good kick out of seeing
her like this.
Ranma approached the Nekohanten, lost in his own thoughts.
Thinking of his brief, and very violent meeting with Akane. `I think
I'll *TRY* to talk to her again sometime...maybe when I find my own place,
and a job..." he trailed off as he spotted the sign to the Nekohanten when
he
looked up from the ground.
"I might as well say `Hi' while I'm here..." he mumbled to no one in
particular..
Watching the door from the Kitchen opening in the back of the
resteraunt. Cologne watched a powerfully built man lift the outer curtains
to
the shop, `Kami-sama..it couldn't be...' she thought, wide eyed.
Shampoo, noticing the wide-eyed expression on Obaba's face, looked
to were she was staring at...
Feeling the underlying tension on the rise. `Uh oh...great...just what I
need right now...', now feeling a little _playful_ for some reason or
another, `I
think I shall justify that a little before I reveal who I am.'
He looked at Shampoo through his shades and grinned like a lion who
just spotten his prey.
Shuddering under the predatory grin, she walked over to him, almost
unable to contain the fear that is threatening to overwelm her.
The lunch crowd was already overwelmed by his presence and high-
tailed it out of there.
Shampoo was just about to greet him but was cut off. "Well??"
Ranma said in his most fearful voice, "Are you going to seat me?" finishing
it
off with a tension to his arm, making the musculature ripple along it.
She gulped, "Right this way." she gestered the direction with her
hand. Ranma walked forward, and took the seat showed by the hostess.
Shampoo was about to dart back into the back when her arm is
grabbed. She was about to fight back, in her current fearful composure to
get
free when the man spoke, "Hello Shampoo." he said, much more reassuring
than it last be, while taking off his sun-glasses.
Her eyes widened as she saw the face underneath the shades. Almost
unmistakable smirk crossed Ranma's lips, "Ahh.I see that you recognize
me..." he was cut off when Shampoo glomped him...
Or at least attmpted to. She was stopped by the ghoul's cane. "There
is time for that later child."
The withered old woman turned to an almost seemingly disappointed
Ranma. Managing to stifle the slight smile coming to her face, "I see that
you
have returned from your `expedition', MukoDono, I was..." she stopped at the
faint glow emanating from Ranma's aura.
"OOOoooooOOOh No you Old Ghoul! I WILL not go for your tricks
again!" raising his voice to her, but coughed and regained his original
composure, "I just stopped by to say `Hello' and not get hoisted again
against
my freewill!", he rised to his full 6 foot 3 inch height, and leaned into
Cologne's face, failing to notice the tremor threatening to rack her,
"Either lay
off and play nice. Or one of the worst things even you can imagine with
befall
both to you and your village...Do we have a deal?" his voice is just
dripping
with the most malevolent rancor.
Cologne's eyes widened to the pronounced threat, then narrowed in
ancient defiance. She reluctently sighed in resignation, "Alright...Ranma,
you
win...", a sneer crossed her face,she muttered under her breath when he
leaned
back into his full height,"...For now"
Ranma was just turning to Shampoo when he actually heard what
Cologne had said. `Time to _REALLY_ freak her out now...' He queried his
Inner Strength [Ki,Chi, etc...However you want to call it. -KnightHawke] for
a
little mind power trickery, namely, telepathy.
He mentaly coughed and spoke, in a sense, in his deepest and most
ominous voice,'I HEARD THAT!' he said, directly into Cologne's mind,
making her jump all the way to the ceiling.
Ranma looked to Cologne with an Artic Wind for Voice and Eyes,
"My threat still stands firm you old ghoul, `cause I am NOT in the mood for
this crap." before she could even move, Ranma held her in the air by the
head of her cane, ".You try *ANYTHING* and I'll have YOUR head and
YOUR CLANS'!!"
With that final statement his eyes flared a deep emerald green fire,
empisizing that he can very well keep his promise.
Shampoo looked upon him and shivered, 'He madman.' she thought
breifly, but looking deeper into his eyes.
She saw someone who is very tired of constant conflict, but very
willing to make it end.permenently.
"Shampoo." Ranma said in his most reassuring voice, which still
startled Shampoo none-the-less, "You are safe from the laws while here.I am
dissolving the egagement with you."
He sighed and smiled, "Officially, thanks to the old ghoul here."
The fire that was present in his eyes while glaring at Cologne stopped any
retort that she had in her throat, he continuued on when he dropped her to
the
floor, "Same goes for all the engagements.I. just don't want to mess with
this type of crap right now." shugging his shoulders,"I just home from a
land
that could classify as hell itself."
Ranma was about to continue, "RANMA!! PREPARE TO DIE!!!"
rang through the air. Ranma groaned as he turned to the direction of where
the
challenge came from.
And saw something that he thought he'd shouldn't see, at least not for
awhile.
Hawk standing in the doorway, leaning against the jam, wearing
typical street clothes ,plus his unmistakeable `Rabbit-Ears' helm and
holding
Ryouga's shoulder, keeping him from moving.
He gestured for one moment and put his hand on the back of
Ryouga's head and he collapsed into a heap on the floor.
Cologne's eye's widened as she felt the power flow through this new
young man. She pogoed back into the kitchen to ponder the day's events...to
simmer to the outrage that Ranma has caused her.
Also to wonder about this other person that stepped in.he seemed
more adept at Ki manipulation than Ranma or even herself could ever HOPE
be.
Ranma stode up to his long time friend and clapped hands with him,
"You don't waste time, do you?" he said laughingly.
Hawk just shrugged, "Yeah.So whatcha doin' here?" he said,
gesturing the violet haired Amazon behind Ranma, giving him the look: `You
Sly Dog you!'
Ranma looked back to the again startled violet haired Amazon,
"Nothin' much.Just meeting past aquaintences and getting something to eat
during the mean time. Let's sit down man." he said as he walked to his
table.
Hawk looked around and whistled, "Nice place." then he eyed
Shampoo standing there and started, "Whoa! And the waitress." shaking his
hand in front of him and whistling, "Hot damn!.was she one of your.?" he
trailed off as he was treading on some very shaky and dangerous ground.
A scowl crunched Ranma's face, "*Was* is the appropriate word, but
all that is behind me now since I dissolved all the engagments." Sounding
quite a bit happier now.
Just remembering something, Hawk dug into his pocket and brought
out a smallish case, "That reminds me." putting the case in front of Ranma,
"Think she'll like it?"
Dumbfounded, wondering what he is talking about Ranma picked up
the case and opened it. His eyes bugged out at the contents.
An engagment ring, with a HUGE rectangular purple-ish diamond on
a slender band of white-gold, and a pair of platnium dragons, one encrusted
in
tiny rubies, while the other has emeralds, both are encircling the diamond,
heads touching to form a heart-like symbol on top, their tails wrapping
around
the white-gold band.
Ranma's jaw hit the table as he marveled in the detail work of the
dragons themselves. They seem almost alive, and the diamond seems to have a
faint glow eminating from it.
Meanwhile, Shampoo, wondering what could shock Ranma like that,
walked up behind him and saw the ring that he is holding.
She gasped and put her hand to he mouth, "Aiya! Ring most
beautiful." Words seem to fail her as she looked to the one that presented
it.
Hawk noticed the inquiring gaze and beamed a little, "For who it is
for.Only Ranma knows." He said mysteriously, looking over to Ranma,
"Now Ranma." he inquired, Ranma closed the case and looked up, "I want
this to be a surprise."
Ranma smiled and nodded in understanding as he gave the case back
to Hawk, "Be one _HELL_ of a surprise though!" he laughed.
Laughing along with him, Hawk dug into his pocket again and tossed
a similar case to Ranma, who fumbled a bit in surprise catching it.
Ranma opened it and found an exact copy of the ring contained in it
and quickly closed it again. Hoping that Shampoo didn't see it.
Hawk leaned closer and whispered, "That is for your lucky gal that
you find, think of it as an early wedding present from me to you, Sensei."
He
completed with a chuckle.
Ranma blinked and quickly dug the ring into his pocket.
Hawk looked around again, "Now where did that waitress go?" he
inquired to nothing but air, shrugging as he got up, "Well.if they serve all
their customers that way, then I guess we can always go to someplace
else.Any ideas?" he asked to Ranma as they walked out of the Nekohanten.
A bit down the street, Ranma clicked his fingers, "Yep.follow me!"
he called out when he took off down the sidestreet.
* * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, Ryoga groaned as he came to. Clasping his hand to his
head, "What the hell hit me?" he asked to no-one in particular.
He then looked at his current surroundings, and that Ranma is not
around, nor who laid him out without even hitting him.
Growling as he got up onto his feet, "RANMA! YOU COWARD!!
YOU RAN AWAY AGAIN!!", he yelled out has he ran off down the wrong
way down the street. "I will beat you yet!!" he grated out as he destroyed
wall
that untimely got into his way.
* * * * * * * * *
Pulling the amorous voilet-haired vixen into the kitchen, Cologne
finally let out the breath that she is holding.
Shampoo looked to the Clan Elder questioningly, "What going on,
great-granmother?"
Startled at the sound of her voice, mostly since Cologne was
watching the two young men chat amongst themselves and eventually leave.
"Nothing child." the old woman tried to sound strong, but looking
up to her great-granddaughter shown that Shampoo doesn't believe her.
Shifting her eyes back to the heap that is Ryouga on the floor, "Much
has happened to Muko-Dono." Shaking her head, she continued in Chinese,
"He has more power to him than even I can imagine, and I know that he can
carry out the threat." Cologne trailed off as a shiver went down her aging
spine.
Looking back to Shampoo, Cologne noticed the look of fear on her
face, "Do not worry child.We will find a way for Ranma to marry you."
Cologne patted her on the shoulder, "We just have to be more subtle in your
advances."
The ghoul pogo'ed away cackling of a new forming plan.
* * * * * * * * *