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TENCHI 1/2 -- Dimensions in Peril
Chapter 4: Kodachi's Dream Magic - No Need For Slumber
Cologne surveyed the destruction as she hopped through the Tendos'
backyard. "Hmm... Looks like son-in-law's been using the Cat Fist
again." She dismounted her staff and stepped into the dining room.
"Hey, here's the lady who's offered us a place to stay the night,"
said Washu, looking up from the repair work. "Nice of you to stop by.
But what are you doing here?"
"I came to see my son-in-law," replied Cologne. "Where is he?"
"Ranma went with Ukyo and Ayeka to see Sasami," said Akane. "They're
all at Ucchan's."
"Oh dear..." moaned Cologne. "They could be in grave danger. I just
came from Ucchan's, and the demon was there."
"The demon?" asked Tenchi. "You don't mean the one that attacked
us?"
"I believe so," said Cologne. "It shot Happosai with a white beam
that made him vanish."
Akane blinked. "Happosai's gone?"
"We did it, Tendo!" shouted Genma.
"Indeed, Saotome," said Soun, clasping Genma's hands in his own
while tears ran down his face. "The old master's gone at long last.
He'll never trouble us again! We've really done it!"
"Excuse me," said Akane. "I don't recall YOU doing anything."
"Just let them celebrate, Akane," advised Nabiki. "The entire female
population of Tokyo is breathing a sigh of relief, so why can't they?"
"Well, I think you should all be ashamed of yourselves!" said
Kasumi. "No matter what we all may think of master Happosai, I still
think that what's happened to him is just awful!"
"Besides which," added Kiyone, "we're all losing focus on the key
issue here. The demon's definitely here, and it's definitely still
dangerous."
"Perhaps," said Cologne, "but despite its power, it seems to be very
weak."
"What makes you say that?" asked Akane.
"When it saw my battle aura, it retreated," replied Cologne. "I
could feel its power, and its power is far greater than mine, but it
cannot use all of that power for some reason."
"Probably the same reason I can't use my terminal," reasoned Washu.
"The laws of this universe are different. It will probably take the
demon a few days to acclimatize itself to the laws of this universe."
"It can do that?" asked Kiyone.
"Well, it is an interdimensional space-time anomaly," Washu pointed
out. "It can do things that ordinary four-dimensional beings like us
can't."
"I don't get it," said Mihoshi. "What's so different about this
universe?" Everyone turned around at the sound of a splash to see
Shampoo holding an empty bucket over a duck wearing glasses.
"Quack," fumed Mousse.
"Is understand now, stupid police woman?" asked Shampoo.
"No, I'm afraid I don't understand at all," said Mihoshi. "What
happened to that man with the glasses who was just here? And where did
that duck come from?"
"Just get back to work," growled Kiyone.
"Hey, is everyone forgetting something?" shouted Akane. "Ranma and
the others could be in trouble if the demon's waiting for them!"
"Relax," said Cologne, sipping a cup of tea. "My son-in-law is
perfectly powerful enough to handle the demon, especially if it's weak."
"Besides," added Washu, "it's entirely possible that Ayeka's Jurai
powers will still work in this universe. They're as much a part of her
as Tenchi's Lighthawk Sword is a part of him."
"Maybe I'd better go warn them, just in case," offered Kiyone.
"But Kiyone," protested Tenchi, "are you sure you want to put
yourself in more danger?"
Kiyone glanced at Mihoshi, who was still carefully studying the
duck. "I'm sure. In fact, I probably won't even bother to come back
here. I'll stay with the others at the Cat Cafe and keep watch. Mihoshi
will stay here and protect everyone."
"That's a good idea!" said Mihoshi. "Kiyone, you're so smart!"
"I'm really sorry, Tenchi," whispered Kiyone, "but my sanity is at
stake." She quickly darted out the door.
"Wait, Miss Kiyone!" shouted Mayuka. "I'm coming too! I'm staying
with you and Washu, remember?"
"Be good, Mayuka!" Tenchi shouted as Mayuka followed Kiyone out the
door.
"Do you think they'll be all right?" asked Akane.
"Of course," Washu assured her. "They'll be fine!"
Mousse quacked impatiently. "All right," groaned Cologne, pouring
the rest of her tea onto him.
Mihoshi jumped backward as Mousse returned to human form. "Oh my
gosh! That duck just turned into a man!"
"You mean... you finally get it?" asked Akane.
Mihoshi continued to stare at Mousse. "Oh wow! This is so amazing!
I've never met a real live magician before!" Everyone facefaulted. "Do
you saw women in half?"
"Sure," said Mousse, brandishing a saw. "Just hold still for a
minute..."
"Mousse!" shouted Akane. "Don't take advantage of her!"
"Go ahead, Mousse," urged Nabiki. "It'll be entertaining, at least."
"Nabiki!"
"Oh, of course I don't want him to do it now," Nabiki assured her
younger sister. "I haven't even had the chance to sell tickets yet.
We'll get Mousse a tuxedo, put Shampoo in a feathered dress, maybe write
up an entire act..."
"NABIKI!"
"OK, OK. I surrender." Nabiki turned her back to Akane and began to
search through a nearby pile of catalogs from the fancy dress shop three
blocks over.
*************************************************
"Hello, and welcome to Ucchan's," said Sasami as the bell rang once
again. Then she looked up. "Ayeka!" Sasami ran to hug her older sister.
"I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Sasami," said Ayeka. "But now we're together once
again."
"I just love family reunions," said Ukyo, wiping a tear from her
eye.
A customer waved his hand. "Can I get some service here?"
"Wait your turn, pal!" said Ranma. "This is a family moment!"
"I'll take care of it," said Ukyo quickly as she hastened to serve
the customer.
"Are you well, Sasami?" asked Ayeka once she had broken the embrace.
"Of course I am, Ayeka," replied Sasami. "Ukyo gave me a job here at
the restaurant, and the customers are really friendly to me."
"That's wonderful," said Ayeka. "I'm glad you're getting along. Have
you found a place to stay?"
"Well, Ukyo's letting me use the spare cot in her apartment
upstairs. Where are you staying, Ayeka?"
"I'm staying with Ranma at the Tendo Dojo. Perhaps tomorrow you
could come visit us."
"I think that can be arranged," said Ukyo. "So, Sasami, were there
any problems while I was gone?"
"Oh, there was a scary old man here a while ago," said Sasami. "He
grabbed my chest."
"That would be Happosai," said Ranma. "He's a pervert, but he won't
hurt you. Just give him a good whack on the head and he'll run off after
some other woman."
"That won't be a problem anymore," said Kiyone from the doorway.
"Kiyone!" shouted Sasami excitedly. "You're here too!"
"That's right," said Ayeka. "I was so excited to see you again, I
forgot to mention that the others are all here as well."
"Unfortunately, the demon also followed us," said Kiyone. "We have a
confirmed sighting. The demon sent Happosai to another dimension." All
of the women in the restaurant cheered loudly.
"My goodness," said Ayeka. "What shall we do?"
"Well," began Kiyone, "it won't be safe for Sasami to stay at
Ucchan's. Ranma, would you mind escorting Ayeka and Sasami back to the
Tendo Dojo?"
"Sure," said Ranma.
"Mihoshi will guard the Tendo residence, while I secure the Cat
Cafe. Everyone from our dimension is staying at one of those two
locations, except for Ryoko, who hasn't been seen since this afternoon.
In the event of an emergency, Princess Ayeka's Jurai powers should
protect you, along with Mihoshi's skill as a Galaxy Police officer."
"Mihoshi's skill?" asked Ayeka.
"Yeah, I know, it's not much to hope for. But you've still got your
Jurai powers, and Washu thinks it's pretty likely that Tenchi will be
able to summon the Lighthawk Sword if it comes to that."
"And I'll be there too," Ranma pointed out. "I'm no stranger to
fighting demons."
"Neither were we," said Ayeka. "What we're fighting is no ordinary
demon."
"Well, Ranma honey never backs down from a challenge," said Ukyo,
"and he never leaves anything half-finished. If he says he's going to
beat that demon, it's as good as beat."
"Hooray!" cheered Mayuka, who had just caught up. "Thank you,
Ranma!"
"No problem," said Ranma. "It's all part of my training. At least,
that's what my father would say, if he was here right now."
"Washu, Cologne, Shampoo, and Mousse will catch up with us once you
reach the dojo," said Kiyone. "Cologne's battle aura scared off the
demon earlier, so we think she'll be able to hold it off again."
"Really?" asked Ranma. "If the demon's scared of her, doesn't that
mean she can beat it?"
"Its not at full power yet," replied Kiyone. "It's still weak from
making the dimensional jump."
"Then we should be able to take advantage of that weakness!" said
Ayeka.
"We'll meet tomorrow at the Tendo Dojo to come up with a plan. We
have to beat it before it acclimates itself to this dimension."
"And don't worry," put in Ukyo. "You'll have the support of everyone
else as well. No one wants to have a demon running around Tokyo sending
people to other dimensions."
"Thanks, Ukyo," said Kiyone. "With all of us working together, I'm
sure we'll be able to beat that demon!"
"In the meantime, we should be getting along," said Ayeka. "It's
already getting dark."
"Goodbye, Miss Ukyo," said Sasami. "I'll see you tomorrow!" The two
sisters from Jurai left in Ranma's company and headed for the Tendo
dojo. From high above, a pair of glowing eyes watched them leave. The
watcher knew that they would lead the way to where Tenchi was.
*************************************************
"So, this is where Ranma lives?" asked Ryoko as she and Kodachi
hovered in the sky above the Tendo Dojo.
"That's right," replied Kodachi. "All we have to do is wait until
everyone's asleep, and Ranma will be mine at last!"
"I still don't get it," said Ryoko. "How will you get Ranma using my
powers?"
"It's quite simple. I'll use the power of suggestion. Everyone knows
that it's impossible to move through walls. So what will Ranma think
when he wakes up to see me descending through the ceiling?"
"That it's a dream?"
"Precisely. And naturally, when he thinks he's dreaming about me,
he'll know that I am to be his bride."
"Do you really think that will work?" asked Ryoko.
"Of course it will work!" snapped Kodachi.
"I wouldn't know," said Ryoko. "I don't dream."
"Hmmm..." The last window went dark. "It's time. Lower me through
the ceiling and keep yourself out of sight."
"Whatever you say," said Ryoko. She swooped down and phased Kodachi
through the ceiling, then stuck her own face through to watch.
"Ranma darling, wake up!" whispered Kodachi harshly.
"Hm?" Ranma stirred slightly, then opened his eyes to see Kodachi
slowly floating down from the ceiling. "What the... how did... how
are..." he stammered, then settled on "What the heck is going on here?"
"I've come to see you, Ranma sweetums," said Kodachi.
"This must be a dream," said Ranma, backing away from the spot where
Kodachi would land. He pinched himself. "Ow! This isn't a dream!"
"Of course it is," Kodachi assured him. "It's merely a very strong
dream. It must contain a message for you."
"That's just ridiculous," said Ranma.
"But darling!" protested Kodachi.
"That's enough!" shouted Ranma. Then, more quietly, he added, "If
this really is a dream, I'm going back to sleep until I wake up." He
curled up on his pallet.
Kodachi frowned as her feet came to rest on the floor - and
continued to descend. "Ranma darling," she began.
"I'm not listening," interrupted Ranma.
"Please, Ranma!" pleaded Kodachi. "Help me!"
"Would you just shut up already!" shouted Ranma, rolling over. When
he saw Kodachi up to her knees in the floorboards, he leapt into the air
and grabbed the ceiling. "What the heck? You're sinking!"
"Oh dear," said Ryoko to herself. "I must have forgotten to phase
her back into this dimension..."
"Ranma darling, you have to save me!"
"Uh uh, no way! I'm not touching that floor again!"
"The floor is perfectly safe for you, dear. The others aren't
affected, see?" She pointed to Tenchi and Genma, who still slept
peacefully. "This trap is for me and me alone. Is it because you so
despise me that in your dreams, you seek to harm me?" Turning away from
him, she fished an eyedropper out of her leotard and quickly faked a few
tears. "Ranma, how could you?"
"It's not like that!" protested Ranma.
"Then hurry, darling. Save me, and prove that you do not hate me."
Ranma dropped from the ceiling and landed lightly next to Kodachi.
He slipped his hands under her shoulders and pulled her up out of the
floor. "There. Happy?" He set her down, whereupon she instantly began to
sink again. Kodachi threw her arms around his shoulders and leapt up
into his arms.
"Hold me, darling! There is no place I can stand, so I must remain
in your embrace!" She sighed deeply. "Your arms are so strong, my love.
I know I am safe here."
"I really can't keep holding you like this, Kodachi," said Ranma.
"Oh, you're right!" agreed Kodachi. "Such intimate contact requires
a bit more... action." She grabbed the sides of Ranma's head and pulled
him down until his lips were within reach of hers.
"Hey, cut that out!" shouted Ranma.
The door opened. "Could you keep it down in here?" asked Akane. Her
eyes fell on the activity within the room. "What is SHE doing here?"
"It's not my fault, I swear!"
"Come, Ranma darling, don't deny your feelings," whispered Kodachi.
"You don't have to pretend for my sake, Ranma," said Akane. "I'll
just leave you two alone now." She backed out of the room and closed the
door.
"She's gonna be pissed in the morning," moaned Ranma.
"Then enjoy the night, darling," said Kodachi. "It's our night."
"No way! I plan to go back to sleep and forget you were ever here!"
He dropped her onto the floor. Kodachi grabbed at his legs as her own
vanished beneath the floorboards.
"Don't leave me, darling! Without your strong, manly touch, I cannot
survive the night!"
"Well, what do you want me to do?" asked Ranma. "Hold you all
night?" Kodachi's eyes sparkled. "Oh no... No! No way!"
"But darling..."
"No! I'm not gonna do it!"
Kodachi yanked hard on Ranma's legs, dragging him to a prone
position on his pallet. She quickly climbed on top of him. "Ranma,
please don't leave me to die," she pleaded.
Ranma sighed. "Fine. But I'm under the blanket, and you stay on top.
Got it?" He lifted the blanket to crawl under it. Just then, the door
opened again.
"By the way," shouted Akane, "if you're trying to make me jealous,
it won't -" She stopped abruptly. "Now she's getting in bed with you? I
can't believe you!"
"Akane, seriously, it's not what you think!" shouted Ranma.
"How stupid do you think I am? Really!" She slammed the door shut.
"Akane, wait!" shouted Ranma. As he turned to the door, Kodachi fell
off of him and onto the floor... and through the floor. She grabbed
Ranma's hand and pulled herself up until her head was just above the
floorboards.
"You really don't care about me, do you?" asked Kodachi, this time
not faking her tears.
"I told you, it's not like that," began Ranma.
"No, don't try to talk me out of it," said Kodachi, letting go of
Ranma's hand. "If you don't want me, I might as well just sink to my
death." The floorboards closed over her head and she was gone.
Ranma stared in shocked silence at the spot where Kodachi had
vanished. Then he glanced over at his father and Tenchi, who had slept
through the entire fiasco. "That was a weird dream." He rolled over and
fell immediately asleep.
*************************************************
Kodachi felt a pair of arms holding her, and a sense of solidity
gripped her. "So, how did it go?" asked Ryoko.
"I'm not dead?" asked Kodachi, opening her eyes. The walls of the
room were covered in women's underwear.
"Dead? What would make you think that? You just sank through the
ceiling, silly." Ryoko chuckled. "Ranma's room is on the second story,
remember?"
"Then what is this place? This can't be... Happosai's lair?" She
smiled. "The Panty Bandit of Nerima lives in the Tendo Dojo?"
"Well, come on," urged Ryoko. "Tell me what happened with Ranma!
Don't keep me in suspense!"
"You really want to know, don't you?" asked Kodachi. Ryoko nodded
eagerly. "Well, let's just say that he'll be thinking of me for quite a
long time to come."
"Wow, that's amazing! And to think, it worked even after I forgot to
make you solid again."
"You mean that was your doing?" Kodachi drew her ribbon and twirled
it threateningly. "You have the audacity to try to interfere with our
love? That is unforgivable!" She whipped the ribbon at Ryoko, who
disappeared and reappeared behind Kodachi.
"Sister, you picked the wrong demon to mess with." Ryoko placed her
hands on Kodachi's shoulders. "Boy, are you gonna be sorry."
"What are you doing?" asked Kodachi as her feet began to sink
through the floor. "You can't!" Ryoko just hummed as Kodachi descended
into the floor - of the first story. Kodachi screamed and screamed until
her mouth was covered, silencing her futile cries.
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BURNS: What is this? Some kind of force field around these vegetables!
HOMER: That's the sneeze guard. You have to lean under it to get food or
sneeze on stuff.
JOHNNY BRAVO: *sigh* The only woman I ever really loved... and she's
gone. I wonder if I'll ever get over - Hey! Nuggets!
JACKIE CHAN: Oh, sorry. I broke your spy camera! (pause) SPY CAMERA?!
My webpage: http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~katinamp