Here's the prelim version of chapter four! C+C is always welcomed, public or private!
THE BET: A STUDY IN SCARLET PART FOUR
Original Bet Entry "A Study In Scarlet" by Gregg Sharp
Continued (with permission) by Dave Menard
(catthouse@lweb.net)
OBLIGATORY DISCLAIMER: I made them all up! I did! They're all
mine! Moo-hoo ha-ha!!!!
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?: Toltiir has entered into a side-bet
with a certain Spider-goddess. The rules? The usual. The goal?
The usual. Here's what's goin' on.
Akane Tendou's sixteen-year-old body is currently being
inhabited by a much older version of herself, due to a
mis-spoken magical wish. This older Akane spent several years
in a distant future where monsters and magic have re-emerged,
and man no longer rules the earth. As a result, she has gained
deadly fighting abilities and the mindset of a warrior woman
of that time.
Once in her sixteen-year-old counterpart's body, she set
out to win Ranma Saotome, whom she lost in her original
timeline due to the screwed up spell that landed her in the
far future in the first place. Unfortunately, she made a
serious miscalculation, and instead of impressing Ranma with
her skill, she scared the bejeezus out of him by using the
Black Rose Torture Fist, a move she learned in the future
which causes excruciating, mind-searing pain but does no
physical damage. As a result, this time around, Ranma opted
for the gentle Kasumi as his iinazuke, making the best of a
bad situation.
Akane resolved to win him back, this time with affection,
and attempted to seduce him that night in his bedroom. Before
she could get very far, however, they were interrupted, but
Akane promised (threatened?) to return the following night to
finish the job. Ranma, needless to say, was more than a little
freaked.
Accompanying Nabiki on the walk to Furinkan for his first
day of school, he met Hiroe Ogawa, one of Nabiki's friends,
and the two found that they get along famously. Hiroe isn't
even freaked by his aquatranssexualism. He also met Dr. Tofu
for the first time, and the two came to an understanding vis-
a-vis Kasumi. If Kasumi agrees to date Tofu, Ranma will
cheerfully step aside.
Warrior-Akane, anxious to remove Kasumi as an obstacle to
her destined union with Ranma, has tagged Tofu with the
Dwarven-Courage-Under-Fire touch, allowing him to deal with
Kasumi without falling victim to the sillies.
While disposing of the Horde 'o Hentai at school that
morning, Akane found herself face-to-face with Ranma, who had
stepped in to ensure no one was seriously hurt. Mistaking his
efforts for an attempt to rescue her, Akane glomps him in front
of the entire school, thus drawing Kunou's wrath down upon
Ranma's head.
Ranma fought Kunou, defeating him with the ease Akane
remembered. However, due to a typically freak Neriman rainstorm,
he was transformed into Ranma-chan in full view of the entire
school, including Kunou, causing the kendoist to believe that
Ranma is in fact a woman in drag, a Chinese Amazon to be precise.
(He'd seen a documentary about them last month on TV) He resolved
to prove himself worthy of his "Amazon Goddess", so that she
might know (in the biblical sense) the glory that is Tatewaki
Kunou.
Following Ranma-chan's initial defeat of Kunou, Hiroe and
Nabiki rushed to their friend's side, concerned. Akane flipped
out at seeing two girls try to hug "her" Ranma, and almost
demolished them both before Ranma stopped her, threatening (in a
moment of totally false bravado brought on by panic) to kill her
if she hurt his friends. Akane relented and left the school,
horrified at what she'd almost done.
Seeing no ther option due to the dramatic "unmasking" he'd
suffered earlier, Ranma decided to come clean with his classmates
and revealed his curse to them all. Two of his classmates,
Hiroshi Sumisu and Daisuke Tanaka, have taken an interest in
him/her already.
AND NOW, ON WITH THE SHOW!
***************************
Ranma hobbled down the hallway with the assistance of
Hiroshi and Daisuke, feeling slowly returning to his legs.
"Er, I gotta thank you guys for helpin' me out like this. I
feel like such a dork..."
Hiroshi smiled jovially.
"S'no problem, Saotome! Isn't that right Daisuke?"
"Yeah, yeah! No prob!" He glanced meaningfully at Hiroshi,
who nodded in return.
"Say, Saotome..."
"Yeah?"
"You're, uh, kinda heavy. Would you mind, uh... "
"Mind what?"
"Maybe, er... Changing back into a girl?"
"No way! I just got back to normal!"
"Aw, c'mon! Your girl-form is so inCREDIBLY-"
"Light! He means your girl-form is incredibly light, right
Daisuke?!" He cuffed his partner upside the head.
"Huh?" Daisuke said, confused. "Oh, RI-IGHT. Yeah. Really...
light."
Ranma blinked, thinking it over. These guys ARE kinda
weedy-lookin'. And I AM sorta dead weight right now... He noticed
with a little alarm the fact that the two boys were gleefully
wringing their hands in anticipation. On second thought..
"Naw, I don't think so guys. I'd hafta change back before we
get to the vice-principal's office anyway..."
He noted the look of disappointment that crossed their
faces. Yep. Definitely perverts. Speaking of perverts...
"Hey, you guys wouldn't happen to know why the heck those
guys were attacking Akane, wouldja? Not that I partic'larly care
'bout what happens to that psycho tomboy, y'understand..."
Daisuke and Hiroshi exchanged glances. Psycho tomboy?
"I guess you wouldn't have heard about it yet, Saotome..."
Daisuke said. "Kunou said that if anyone wanted to take Akane out
on a date, they had to beat her fair 'n square in combat."
"He calls fifty-to-one odds fair? Geez..." Ranma muttered.
"So what is he, Akane's boyfriend of somethin'?"
"Yeah, he WISHES!" Hiroshi laughed. "Hell, _I_ wish I was
her boyfriend. She is so-o hot..."
"Well, she's cute enough I guess..." Ranma said
contemplatively. "But she ain't right in the head, know what I
mean? Didja see the way she went after Nabiki and Hiroe? The
girl's a nutburger. Either that or she's just plain mean."
"Akane? She's about the nicest person I've ever met..."
Daisuke protested.
Hiroshi agreed."Yeah, unless you try to attack her, like the
hordesmen. Then it's 'POW-BANG-KABOOM!'"
"Nice?!" Ranma blurted. "We talkin' about the same Tendou
Akane?"
Daisuke nodded."Hey, maybe you just push her buttons,
Saotome..." Ranma flashed back to the previous evening, when he'd
received a late night visitor in his room. Push her buttons? SHE
wishes...
***********************************
Akane walked slowly along the bank of the canal, staring at
her reflection in the glassy waters. For a second, it seemed, the
reflected image of a young girl wavered, to be replaced with the
hard figure of a grown woman, tarnished steel armour glinting
weakly in the sunlight.
She missed that face, that body... She'd grown accustomed to
it over the centuries, and it had served her well, keeping her
alive in an alien world where she was virtually unique, an
atavism, a walking fossil of a vanished species. She had no idea
how she'd managed to stay alive so long, let alone never aging
physically past twenty-five or so. She assumed it had to do
somehow with the fact that she was a woman out of time. Even
Baron, wise as he was, had had no clue...
She'd been a warrior there, she'd built herself no small
amount of fame due to her exploits; The Ardrow had known her as
the Pale Lady, the Goblinkind had feared her as the Scarlet
Maiden. She'd run beneath the moon with the Wolfen packs and been
a HuntSister of the Rakasta clans. Sometimes a heroine, other
times a villainess, but one thing, she'd known, had remained
constant.
She was Akane, and Akane was many things. Sister, friend,
fighter, lover, enemy, slayer, defender, and once, long, long
ago, iinazuke to the bravest, most noble man she'd ever known.
Ranma Saotome. The memory of him had been what sustained her
through the long, dark years as first a prisoner then a disciple
of the Black Rose Assassins. For years, even decades, they'd
tried to break her, reshape her into their image. After a time,
she'd simply given in, performed her duties, made the sacrifices
demanded, all the while holding on to Ranma; he gave her hope
throught the night, allowed her to retain a small scrap of
herself amidst the evil all around her. The Black Rose hadn't
managed to kill her soulself, the one thing that she knew made
her Akane.
For after you peeled away all the layers of her self;
sister, lover, friend, slayer, iinazuke... At the heart of her
self was the knowledge that she was special, she was someone, she
was The One Ranma Loved.
A hoarse sob of pain issued from Akane's dry throat. The
Black Rose HAD killed her soul, after all. They'd reached back
across the millenia, across time, across space, and they'd killed
her, the instant she'd used their Fist on the joyful, confident
boy who had claimed her heart, and whose heart she in turn had
held. At that one horrible moment of faulty judgement, the
prideful strike of a foolish old woman, she'd died, irrevocably,
and there was no coming back...
A tear slid down her cheek and struck the glassy surface of
the waters, shattering the image of the woman warrior-born,
leaving only the face of a young girl, crying for the loss of a
love she feared she'd never know again...
********************************
Nabiki opened her textbook, following the teacher's
instructions by rote. She hated first period. English was a
perverse language, she'd decided, too many exceptions to too many
rules. Language of international business or no, she loathed it.
She glanced across the aisle at Hiroe. Such a schoolgirl...
There she was, reading aloud from the text like a good little
student. Nabiki sighed and began to read as well, the nonsense
syllables tripping off her tongue with difficulty. She was still
more than a little shaken up by Akane's behavior this morning; it
was so unlike her it was scary. Akane had always been the more
aggressive of the three Tendou sisters, but she hadn't lashed out
at any of her family since she was very young, before Mom died...
The recitation (and musing) was cut mercifully short by the
arrival of Kunou in uniform. he presented a note from the nurse
to the scowling teacher and took his seat amidst quiet titters
from the class. The word "baka" was imprinted into his forehead
in sloppily-written kanjii.
Nabiki turned to look at him as he took his usual seat
behind her. A smirk, quickly stifled, crossed her lips. Ah,
Kunou. Nothing like Tatewaki's idiocy to chase those blues away.
"Why dost thou stare at mine august visage, Nabiki Tendou?"
Nabiki wordlessly produced her compact and held the mirror
to Kunou's face. His eyes widened. A wordless, strangled gargle
escaped his lips.
"Looks like Ranma gotcha good, Kunou-baby."
Kunou stood up, striking a pose.
"Oh woe! Oh misery! My beloved Amazon Goddess scorns me! I
must convince her of my worthiness..."
A blackboard eraser stuck him between the eyes, snapping him
out of his dramatic monologue. A matching one bounced off
Nabiki's shoulder.
"Kunou! Tendou! Go stand in the hall!"
Thus it came to pass that Nabiki found herself, for the
first time in her scholastic career, on bucket duty. To make
matters worse, she was stuck listening to Kunou rant. After five
breathless minutes he turned to face his partner in punishment,
eyes wild.
"Nabiki Tendou! You seemed most familiar with my beloved
Ranma Saotome! Tell me, how may I prove my worthiness?"
Nabiki blinked once. Beloved Ranma? This is unexpected...
"Wow, Kunou, I had no idea you were gay..."
"Bah! The Blue Thunder is no lover of men! Surely a woman of
your obvious intelligence was not fooled by the lovely Ranma's
paltry disguise! She is a woman! A woman most fair!"
Oh, thought Nabiki. That.
"I assure you Kunou, Ranma is a guy."
"Stuff and nonsense, Nabiki Tendou. She is a fair flower of
China, here to gauge the worthiness of the Blue Thunder."
"China? Where do you GET this stuff, Kunou?"
His reply died on his lips as a trio of figures rounded the
corner. Hiroshi and Daisuke, two losers from Akane's class,
seemed to be carrying Ranma between them. Kunou immediately
charged the three boys like a french skunk, arms outstretched, a
bucket of water still splooshing merrily away in each hand.
"Ranma Saotome! I would date with you!!!!"
Ranma looked up with a horrified expression. Hiroshi and
Daisuke started, almost dropping Ranma to the floor at the sight
of the love-crazed fool rushing towards them.
"Huh? What are you TALKIN' about, you fruitcake?! I ain't
like that!" Kunou showed no signs of slowing. Ranma looked
around, seeking a means of defense. He essayed his legs, but they
were still too weak to support him. Stymied, he realized he'd
have to rely on the Saotome Secret Technique, and yelled at his
companions, "Run, you fools!"
Hiroshi and Daisuke complied, dragging the terrified
Ranma back down the hall as fast as they could carry him.
"Aha! My beloved dost seek to lead me on a lover's chase!
Very well, I accept!!!" Kunou pranced off down the hall after his
quarry, still swinging the buckets.
Nabiki stood shocked for a moment, staring after the strange
procession.
"Sorry, Ranma-baby. You're on your own this time..."
Hiroshi and Daisuke dragged their burden around the corner
as fast as their scrawny legs would carry them. Ranma's legs,
still numb, flopped uselessly in their wake, bouncing off the
fire door frames. Ranma spared a glace over his shoulder.
"I love you!! I would date with you!!!" Kunou continued to
gain on the trio, the water in his buckets splashing dangerously.
A wayward splash hit the floor centimeters from Ranma's flailing
legs.
"Oh, man!!! Faster, you fools, he ain't givin' up!!"
"Geez-" Hiroshi wheezed. "I can't keep this up much- gasp!
Longer..."
"Me... neither..." Daisuke panted.
Ranma cudgled his brain, trying to think of a way, ANY way,
to escape the love-crazed fool on his tail. With an almost
audible pop, an idea hit him square between the eyes.
"Alright! Let me go!"
Hiroshi and Daisuke complied, collapsing to the ground in
exhaustion. Ranma toppled forwards, only to catch himself at the
last minute on his hands. With a grunt, he lifted his numb lower
body off the floor into a handstand position, stomach muscles
straining to maintain verticality.
Huffing and puffing, he tore down the stairwell on his hands
at a remarkable speed, springing down to the ground level one
flight at at time, Kunou no more than two meters behind him.
As they hit the ground floor, Ranma spun on one palm,
cornering sharply and tearing off to the left. Kunou lunged
around the corner behind him, buckets flailing as he skidded on
the newly washed floor. Ranma looked up, only to see a gout of
water arc upwards in a graceful trajectory straight towards him.
He scurried backwards on his hands, narrowly dodging the
spray with a sigh of premature relief. Premature, since he failed
to take into account the slipperiness of the newly-wet floor as
his hands slipped, toppling him face-first into the puddle.
Kunou's eyes widened with glee as his Amazon Goddess
revealed herself.
"At last! You shed your pitiful disguise at stand revealed
before me!!! To me, my love!!!!"
He sprang forward, enveloping onna-Ranma in a full body
glomp, being sure to cop a good feel while he was at it.
"Aaauugh! Get offa me!!!!" Onna-Ranma flailed her arms,
sending blow after blow raining down apon Kunou's head.
"Never my lov-oouf!" Kunou exclaimed tearfully as several
punches hit home. He redoubled his squeezing. "For your blows are
mere love-taps to one such as I-Ergh!" Another strike connected.
Kunou continued woozily. "For the Blue Thunder has heard your cry
for his love, and he shall not disappoint thee!!!" He squeezed
Ranma again for good measure.
A red aura burst into being around Ranma's prone form, the
heat causing Kunou to loosen his grip somewhat. Ranma reached
behind and over her shoulders and took a firm grip on Kuno's
shirt. With a snarl, she tossed him halfway down the hallway into
a row of lockers.
Kunou crumpled to the floor, arms outstretched, several
bright purple bruises decorating his already-grafittied features.
He managed to gargle out a last endearment before slipping into
unconciousness. Ranma dragged herself over to the wall and began
to massage her legs.
"T-that guy is just... Scary!" Her legs were all pins and
needles as feeling returned to the recalcitrant limbs. Staggering
to her feet, she took off down the hallway, casting little
glances back over her shoulder to assure herself that the pervert
was indeed still unconcious.
***********************************
Kasumi felt her muscles relax as she moved through her kata,
her arms gliding gracefully through the air as she rocked back on
the balls of her feet. Tai Chi was so very soothing...
The groceries had been squared away, and Father was
installed in front of the shogi board across from Mr. Saotome.
She'd served them tea and a light snack, knowing the two would be
fine until late afternoon, then retired to the dojo, where she
began the intricate, dance-like Art that her mother had taught
within these very walls while she lived.
Kasumi had always preferred Tai Chi to the more violent arts
of her Father's school. Kimiko Tendou, nee Kimiko Masaki, was
also heir to her own family's school, though she'd never taught
Masaki style Kendo to anyone but Father. Soun had passed a little
of the Art on to Akane along with the Tendou Ryuu, but he'd only
had a rudimentiary grasp of the style himself.
A fine sweat broke out across Kasumi's skin as she completed
her kata, bowing to the Dojo shrine then picking up her towel and
gently mopping her brow. A quick shower to rinse off the grime,
to be followed by a nice long soak before her younger siblings
returned from school, and all would once again be right with the
world.
A soft sound, almost a sob reached her ears. Kasumi turned,
only to find Akane watching her, a strange, almost nostalgic look
on her face. Her eyes were slightly puffy, and it looked like
she'd been crying. Kasumi walked over, alarmed.
"Akane? Shouldn't you been in class?"
"I...kind of didn't go in, today..."
"Do you feel ill? What happened?" Kasumi sat down and took
her little sister's hand, drawing her down to sit alongside her.
"I'm not sure, exactly... I... Did something that I'm not
very proud of. I... Almost hurt somebody, today... A couple of
people, actually..."
"Oh my! Some of those boys who were bothering you? I'm sure
they deserved to be taught a lesson..."
"No, not them..."
A suspicion crossed Kasumi's mind. Hesistantly, she gave
voice to her fears.
"Was it Ranma?"
"No... Yes... Not really... Gods, I'm confused..."
Kasumi pulled her sister in to a hug, gently stroking her
hair. Inwardly, she was very worried. Akane had always been...
Well, a little rough and tumble. However, her recent behavior...
One of the books Tofu-Sensei had lent her mentioned several
stress-related illnesses and disorders that were really quite
common in this day and age. Perhaps all the unwanted attention
from the Horde at school...
"Akane... I've been meaning to ask you something. Yesterday,
when you were sparring in the Dojo with Ranma... Why did you do
that to her, er... him?"
Kasumi's question, along with the rest of the day's events,
opened the floodgates for Akane. She collapsed into Kasumi's
arms, the tears flowing freely, heaving sobs racking her body.
Kasumi was startled, but simply held her close and rocked her,
making soothing noises into Akane's hair.
"Shh, shhh. It's okay, Akane, it's okay..."
"No, it's not..." Akane sobbed into Kasumi's shoulder. "I
made a mistake... I wanted him to take me seriously, to show him
that I was strong, but it all blew up, Kasumi... Nothing's
happening like it's supposed to... You're engaged to Ranma, and
he HATES me, oneechan! A-and Nabiki's scared of me... It's all
gone horribly wrong..." The sobs came harder now, her tears
soaking through the shoulder of Kasumi's white gi. "I love him
Kasumi, and he HATES me... That's not how it's supposed to be!
I've lost him forever, and it's all my fault!!!"
"Akane, I don't understand..."
"No... No, of course not, you couldn't possibly..." Akane
pulled her head away from Kasumi's shoulder, struggling to regain
her dignity. "After all, you're only nineteen..." She
straightened herself out and stood. "I'm sorry to have troubled
you, oneechan. Forgive me."
"Akane..."
"Never mind. I'll just go lie down for a while, I think."
She walked off into the house, leaving a very worried Kasumi
behind her. Perhaps... Perhaps i'd best go have a word with Tofu-
sensei. He might be better able to understand what's wrong..."
**************************************
_/Aramar, the 7th Age of Man\_
They'd flown for several hours, stopping now and again on top of the odd rocky promontory to allow Akane to rub some feeling back into her cold-numbed limbs. Despite herself, she had begun to enjoy flying with the massive red-gold dragon.
"Baron? How much further do we have to go?"
*Not far, Akane-chan. The Western Magus' citadel is only a few hours away...*
"Okay... Baron? How long did you know... her? My counterpart?"
*Oh, a short time only. Perhaps a century, maybe two.*
Akane goggled. "A century?! B-but... This body, it's barely older than Kasumi! How..?" She looked down at the wiry, sinewy frame her counterpart had left behind. It was strong, almost bursting with barely restrained power. No wrinkles marred the sleek perfection of her skin, yet scars from old wounds crisscrossed her frame. Except for the scarring, and the short hair, it was the type of body she'd long fantasized about having, and it was hers! Well, sort-of... "Is it... magic? Am I... Is my counterpart some kind of sorceress?"
*Ha ha ha! No, no... I'm afraid your counterpart was not fond of magic at all! It was due to a misspoken spell that she ended up here in Aramar in the first place! No, she was no sorceress, child. She, too wondered why she never aged beyond young adulthood, but it was a mystery she never solved. I myself never realized it was unusual until she pointed it out, since I had never seen a hu-man before meeting your counterpart...*
"Are people really that rare here?"
*Oh, there are many peoples in Aramar, child. Just no other hu-mans. You are something of a curiosity, my dear. I had long believed that hu-mans were a myth, something to frighten young drakes into remaining in the nest at night... My own Dam would warn me that if I didn't behave, the hu-man knights would come and get me!*
"Well, where _I_ come from, it's dragons that are imaginary... I think."
*Well spoken, child. Dragons have existed since the beginning of time, and we shall be there when the universe ends, and will turn out the lights as we leave.*
"This Western Magus... Is he a dragon too?"
*No, of course not. Mages _use_ magic, dragons _are_ magic. The Magus is an Ardrow.*
"What's an _Ardrow_?"
*They are a people superficially similar to your own, but with dusky skin and pointed ears. I think they must be related to your race somehow, just as I am related to my chromatic brethren. Your counterpart knew many of his race, both as friends and foes.*
"And which was the Magus? Friend or foe?"
*Both, at different times.*
"Oh, terrific..." She sighed mournfully. "Well, I'm ready, Baron. Let's go."
*Very well, child. Climb aboard!"
They flew on westward, making but one more stop before the tall spire of the Magekeep came into view. The structure seemed as through it had been grown from the rock rather than hewn, the spiralling tours possessing an almost organic quality. The vast structure was perched high atop a pillar of weathered rock, the ground on which it rested lost in the mist. Akane swallowed hard as she looked down. She could barely see the tops of trees, some species of evergreen, poking through the thick pale fog.
As they approached, two winged forms detached themselves from the spires and flew towards them. Akane noted with shock that they resembled nothing so much as carrion birds with the heads of human women!
"Baron! What ARE those things?!"
*Harpies, child. Do not fear, we are well known to them.*
"Skraawk!" One of the harpies screeched, "Who comes?!"
"Two wayfarers, caw caw! Seeking the Magus!" The other squawked.
*Greetings, Pinfeather, Talongleam. You know us, do you not?* Baron sent telepathically.
"Awk!" Cawed Pinfeather, the one on the right. "The half-breed lizard and the Pale Lady! Do you come for battle?"
*Here's your part, Akane. Remember what I told you...* Baron sent along the private link. Akane nodded, swallowing hard.
"We come arms outstretched, holding only goodwill!"
The harpies laughed raucously. Talongleam shouted. "Begging favours from Our Lord again? Too rich, too rich! Go away! The Magus is indisposed, and will see no one!"
*Baron, what now?*
*They merely toy with us, child. Speak the words I taught you.*
"By blood and fire, we claim our debt owed! Do you dispute this?" Akane placed he hand on the pommel of her sword, hoping the harpies wouldn't notice the way her hand was shaking.
As it happened, the bird-women seemed to nod. "Aye, 'tis tryly spoken. Very well, descend to the keephouse, the Magus will see you presently! Scrawwk!"
The two creatures flapped away, descending in great circles to the largest of the towers, Baron following in their wake.
*Well done, Akane. For a moment, I thought you were my old friend returned to me...*
*I'll try to take that as a complement, Baron...*
They landed in a small (by dragonish standards, anyway) courtyard, and Akane climbed down from Baron's forepaw, rubbing and flapping her arms to restore circulation. She looked around, trying to seem nonchalant. Warm light flickered in samll windows, candles, she assumed. No movement came, though. No one looking curiously at the dragon and hu-man that had appeared on their doorstep. Perhaps the inhabitants of this place were used to such strange comings and goings...
After a long while of pacing, Akane saw a door open at the base of the large structure at the south end of the courtyard. She glanced worriedly up at Baron, but he merely nodded his great head and approximated a smile.
*Go on, child. I shall watch through your eyes...*
Akane nodded and gulped air, before walking through the door with what she hoped was a purposeful stride.
Akane's eyes went wide as she took in the interior of the vast room. Tapestries woven from cloth-of-gold adorned the walls, thick rich carpeting muffling her footsteps. The hall was lit by warmn torchlight, and a cheerful fire blazed in a vast hearth. The very brilliance, the _sumptuousness_ of the room took her breath away. Suddenly, she felt very out-of-place in her steel armor and rough leathers, even more akward than she had felt when she first appeared in her counterpart's body. This was the home of a prince, or an Emperor, she was sure!
In a shower of sparkling light, a tall firgure materialized in front of the fireplace. He wore deep purple robes, and golden plates accentuated the broadness of his shoulders. And his face was so... so _handsome_! Long white hair swept back in a widow's peak from his high forehead, hanging down beyond his shoulders. Golden eyes glinted in a face that could have been sculpted from purest obsidian by a master artisan. Long, delicately pointed ears jutted out at right angles to the planes of his face. A warm, pearlescent smile spread on his features as a took in Akane's appreciative stare.
"Akane! So nice to see you again!"
He moved towards her, not so much walking as _flowing_, and swept her up in his arms. She let out a startled squeak as he tilted her backwards, his face descending to her own.
"Now hey! Wait just a minute-"
Her protest was cut short by the press of warm, soft lips against her own...
*********************************
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
NEXT TIME: Will Tofu put the moves on Kasumi? Will Kunou molest Ranma? Will akane quit smooching the elf? Who knows? Tune in next time...
All C+C is gratefully received, either public or private, at catthouse@lweb.net or on the FFML!
Here Endeth The Lesson.
Spa Fon!
-------------------------------------------
Dave Menard
Keeper of Pink's Hammer of Vengeance
Knight of the Combat Fiancees
Member of the Space Pirates Guild
http://matrix.crosswinds.net/~ksna/
"I would not, could not kill the King... I would not poison Anything!"
--Green Eggs and Hamlet