More Anijza, C&C is appreciated.
 

                           Ranma 1/2
                              Anijza
                            Part Two:
                    'In Hell as In Forever'
 
                      Nicholas Stone

                       The Rescue
       
The expanse of Hell held the nine newcomers breathless for a long while.
They stared out across the barren wasteland trying to come to grips that
they were really there.  A long rumble rolled through the grey clouds
further dampening their moods.
       "So do we just start walking until we come across something?"
asked Ukyo.
       No one answered her; another rumble rolling across the sky.
       "If Ranma is here, I'm going to find him," Akane finally said.
       Nabiki looked over at her.  "And I assume you have a direction or
map of his whereabouts?"
       "No," answered Akane.  She gazed sadly at the ground biting her
lower lip not sure what they were to do next.
       "Why don't we try and find some one here who can tell us where
Anijza lives?" Konatsu suggested.
       "Ok, great!" exclaimed Ukyo.  In frustration she threw up her
hands pacing in a tight circle.  "We really didn't think this part out
carefully, did we?"
       "You want to give up on him?" said Mousse, drawing a dark glare
from her.
       "No!  But we are technically lost right now without any clue
where Ranma is!"
       "Surely we can find a city or something that would help us on our
way?" said Tatewaki.
       Shampoo laughed.  "In Hell, silly snobby-man.  This is not place
to be asking creeps how to find demon-girl."
       "Well I say let's all go back and see if Cologne has an answer
for us," Nabiki said.
       It was worthwhile suggestion, but that meant going back without
knowing for sure that they could return again.  Akane was not about to
risk losing their one good opportunity.
       "We have got to stay and figure out how to find Anijza on our
own," she told them.
       "And do what?" exclaimed Ukyo.  "We're standing butt naked in the
middle of Hell, lost not knowing where to begin and you say stay here
and figure it out on our own?  Akane think about this for a second."
       She did, but not about how find Anijza, but more about the
present state of their attire or lack there of.  Jaws slowly dropped,
eyes cutting from side to side as the nine finally realized that they
were all naked.  Akane grimaced and slowly crossed her arms across her
body.
       "Great," said Kodachi, "I'm exposed in all my glory, and my
beloved Ranma is not around to see it."
       "This is a silly time to be thinking of such things, Kodachi!"
snapped Tatewaki.
       "OH I don't know," said Nabiki, her eyes roving up and down his
body.  "Mm-Hmm... Tatewaki I didn't know you had a mole on your-."
       Tatewaki quickly turned away from her.  "Enough freebies for you,
Nabiki."
       Mousse, standing cationic staring at Shampoo, finally pulled his
eyes away from her.  "W-w-well I-I-I d-d-don't think a-a-anyone else
here in H-H-Hell will b-eee better dressed."
       "It is Hell," said Konatsu.
       The shock passed and Akane lower her arms.  Ryoga stood
motionless; nothing but an occasional blink to tell that he still
existed.
       "Ryoga?" she said, giving him a curious look.
       "Uh, don't mind me Akane.  Normally I'd have bled to death about
now, but strangely enough I'm not really bothered by this."
       Akane smiled and leaned close.  "Maybe it's because we're dead?"
she said.
       "...Yeah, that could be it."
       Ryoga turned and scanned the distant horizon.  "That way," he
said to them point out.  "That looks like a good direction to go."
       "What makes you say that?" asked Ukyo.
       "Good a direction as any," he replied with a smile.
       Ukyo gazed out in the direction he was pointing at.  She shrugged
and started walking.
       "OW, OOO, OOO, OW, OW!" she cried out, hopping around.
       "What's wrong, Ukyo?" asked Akane.
       She stopped, shifting from foot to foot, grimacing in pain.
"These rocks are sharp!"
       "Ah, I wanna go home!" whined Nabiki.
       "Too late to try that, Nabiki," said Akane.  She drew in a breath
and stepped gingerly out onto the rock terrain.  The soles of her feet
were normally tough from all of her martial arts training, but here they
were tender and the sharp edges easily pricked her skin.  She winced but
kept on moving.
       "Tatewaki, carry me!" pleaded Nabiki as the others followed.
       "Not on your life, Nabiki.  I am not a pack mule for your use."
       "I'll triple my usual picture delivery for the month."
       "Eight by Ten's on glossy paper?"
       "Deal!"
       "Hop aboard."
       Mousse could only stare in wonder as Nabiki hopped onto
Tatewaki's back.  "Ah, ah, mistake, mistake!" he heard him say.
       "We have a deal, Mister Kuno!  Now keep moving!"
       He scratched his head then curiosity caught him.  Taking a quick
peek back up the open tunnel, Mousse thought he saw light at the far
end.  He squeezed his eyes tight then looked again.  It was light, and
it also appeared to be the very same room they all had come from only
there were several inert forms lying on the floor.
       "Mousse?"  Shampoo's voice called to him.  He turned.
       "You better come or we leave you behind."
       "Okay, okay, but I think this pathway is-."
       When Mousse looked back, the pathway and corridor were gone.
       "Path is what?" asked Shampoo.
       "Nothing.  My imagination I guess."
       He gave the area one last look then hurried to join his friends.
 
* * * * *
 
       Anijza's new prison dungeon went well beyond the capability of
keeping its new prisoners secure and constrained.  It was a large round
pit with a small ledge running along the upper rim where a door set in
the wall.  Hot bubbling tar steamed and belched around the sides
searching for any small crack or crevasse to seep through.  A small
round wooden platform floated at the very center, and on it perched
Ranma and Ranko.
       Both were bound tightly in chains, positioned on their knees
facing each other, foreheads pressed together.  As the tar ebbed and
swayed, only by their combined efforts were the two able to keep from
being flipped into the dark pitch.  It took all of their concentration
and this effectively kept them from thinking of ways to escape.
       Ranma turned his eyes up at Ranko.  "For someone who claims to
love me, this is a hell of a way to be showing it."
       "Do you blame her?" replied Ranko, looking at him.  "Nothing but
trouble that's all you have been since you've arrived here."
       "What?  Whose side are you on?"
       "I'm on yours, stupid," snapped Ranko.  "You think I'm enjoying
our predicament right now?"
       Ranma barred his teeth ready to tear into his alter ego.  He
relaxed thinking about what she said.  The platform ebbed up; Ranma and
Ranko pressing their foreheads harder together as they strained to keep
their balance.  When it leveled, they let out relieved sighs and looked
at each other again.
       "This is really becoming a pain in my ass," said Ranma.
       Ranko giggled, humored by his comment.  "One good thing about all
this though."
       "What's that?"
       "No barrel of feathers waiting for us anywhere."
       The furrowing of his brows renewed her laughs.
       "You have an odd sense of humor, Ranko," Ranma said.
       "Just trying to keep our spirits up."  Ranko cut her eyes to one
side an odd expression coming to her face.  "Ranma... aren't you worried
about Akane?"
       Ranma flinched surprised by Ranko's question.  "Akane?  Why of
course I'm worried about her.  She's all I've been thinking about."
       "Then why are you giving Anijza so much trouble?"
       "Huh?"
       "Think about it.  Your physical body is dead, gone, burnt into
ashes."
       "Meaning?"
       "You can't go back, so why fight Anijza?"
       Ranma could not believe what Ranko just said.  His jaw drooped
slightly and then he blinked trying to clear his mind.  "Anijza put you
up to this, didn't she?"
       Pressing her body forwards, Ranko scowled angrily at him.  "No,
you idiot!  Don't you see?  Akane is not going to give up on you!"
       "But she saw me die, Ranko."
       "And you think that will stop her?"
       Ranma hesitated.  "Yes, what other choice does she have?"
       Ranko eased back, arching a brow.  "You think so?  Remember
Sentaro Daimuji?  You know the one who was trying to find a bride to
avoid marrying a monkey?"
       "Uh, yeah?"
       "Akane tracked us down with only a ceremonial stir stick as a
lead."
       "So?"
       "So he says... and what about that Frenchman;
Picolet-whachamcallhim?"
       "Oh yeah, Rubbermouth."
       Ranko had to stop and allow her laughter to pass before
continuing on.  "Is kind' a true isn't it?  Anyway, both she and Soun
worked their way into his staff just to find us."
       "So what are you getting at, Ranko?"
       "Ranma, Akane will come here!"
       Her outburst upset their precarious balance and they frantically
fought to maintain it, settling the platform once more.  As the rocking
subsided, Ranko muttered a short prayer thanking the gods for their
continuing luck.
       "You really think she'll come here?" asked Ranma.
       Ranko looked up.  "Ranma, you seem to forget about the one trait
all of the Tendos' have."
       "What's that?"
       "Persistence and Akane's is so large and long you could wrap it
around the equator several times."
       It was true and Ranma knew it.  Akane never could admit defeat
and the animosity between her and Anijza probably stoked her flames of
determination into a fevered pitch.  Finding him surely would became the
only thought in her mind.
       "So, so what do you think I should do?" he said.
       "Give in to Anijza."
       Ranma's entire body jerked as he pulled back.  "Give up to
Anijza!" he shouted.  Their platform started rocking again, Ranko
frantically looking from side to side.
       "Ranma-."
       "No way, Ranko!  No way am I going to surrender myself to that
bitch!"
       "Ranma, Ranma, calm down!"
       But he was enraged now, jerking against the chains.
       "Anijza is my sworn enemy and I can not, I will not give in to
her!"
       "Ranma, stop you're going to tip us over!" cried Ranko.
       Ranma broke from his rants realizing that he had upset their
delicate balance.  He felt himself falling back and fought to keep
himself upright.
       "Ranko!... (grrrrr)... do-some-thing!" he said between strained
grunts.
       The bubbling tar seemed to sense their impending doom.  The
blurps and rolls picked up, bubbles popped around them splattering the
two with hot bits and drops.  Ranko suddenly leaned out to one side as
far as the chains would allow, acting as a counterweight praying it
would be enough to allow Ranma time to draw himself back up.  A burst
splattered the backside of her neck and she let out a cry but continued
to hold herself out.
       "Ranma!" Ranko pleaded.
       Ranma slowly began to pull himself upright.  The weight shifted,
Ranko feeling it ebb and as he moved she drew herself back in until
finally the balance returned to normal.  One last pull and they came
back simultaneously, foreheads slamming painfully together.  A few
finally burst of tar splattered their bodies then everything settled
down once more.
       Ranko moaned as pain coursed around her head.  When it passed,
she looked up at Ranma.  "Don't... do that again," she told him.
       "Believe me, I won't," he answered.
       Again they were silent then Ranma gave Ranko a nudge.
       "What good does giving in to Anijza do?"
       "Well, if you become her consort, then you can go back and tell
Akane not to come after you."
       "And that's going to stop her?"
       Ranko smirked.  "You have not even seen Anijza at her worst,
Ranma Saotome.  Akane coming here will put her at Anijza's mercies.
They are like oil and water and I don't have to describe what harm will
befall Akane."
       The seriousness in her eyes told Ranma that Ranko meant what she
said.  He tried to make more sense out of it, asking how his alter ego
knew so much.
       "Believe me, I know," came Ranko's answer.
       "But how?"
       "It's not important."  Ranko averted her eyes, gazing down at the
tar speckled platform.  "Heh.  At one time she wasn't like this."
       "Who?" asked Ranma.
       "Anijza, silly."
       "Speaking from facts I assume?"
       Ranko's head snapped up.  For a moment Ranma thought he saw anger
in her eyes then it faded away, replaced by a forlorn look of pity.  She
leaned closer and kissed him lightly on one cheek.
       "It's not important," she said again.
       "Yes it is!  Ranko-."
       She kissed him again.  "No it's not," she whispered.  "Don't
worry about it.  You need to be thinking about Akane and how to stop her
from coming here, okay?"
       Ranma paused before finally nodding.
       "Good.  Now I'm tired.  Think I'll take a nap.  Hold me up?"
       The weight of Ranko's body pressed against his left shoulder, her
head resting against his.  Soon she was fast asleep snoring lightly
leaving Ranma to ponder her proposal...
 
* * * * *
 
       The trek across the barren wasteland left many scars and cuts on
the eight walking figures traveling towards who knows where.  Topping it
all off, the dry air sapped the moisture from their mouths and now
hunger began tugging at their stomachs.  Still, they staggered on
surprisingly exhausted after such a short time.
       Akane forced her legs to move, her mind filled with nothing but
thoughts about Ranma.  She would go through much more to find him, and
it would be a cold day here before allowing Anijza to win.
       "Akane," Ukyo called from behind in a haggard voice.  She looked
a mess, hair askew about her shoulders, a wound running up her right arm
where she had fallen.  The rest of the group looked pretty much the
same, all except for Nabiki still perched high on Tatewaki's shoulders.
       "Akane," Ukyo called again.  Braving the sharp stones beneath her
feet, Akane stopped, waiting for Ukyo to catch up with her.  The girl
slumped tiredly into her arms.
       "Ukyo, Ukyo, speak to me," Akane said, patting her cheek.
       "We should go back," said Ukyo.
       "What?"
       The rest of the group also stopped and stood fitfully around
them.
       "Stop?" said Akane.  "We can't stop."
       "We don't know if we're headed in the right direction, Akane.
Look at us.  We're slowly being ground into hamburger meat."
       "Oh don't mention food right now," said Ryoga holding he stomach.
"I'm starving."
       Akane noticed the downtrodden expressions on their faces.  "We
can't give up, guys!  Ranma needs us, don't you see?"
       "Akane, I admire your determination," said Konatsu, "but this is
getting us nowhere."
       "We are in Hell though," Tatewaki suddenly said in Akane's
defense.  "This is what happens here."
       "Good point, Kuno-baby," Nabiki added from her perch.  "Besides,
Cologne didn't tell us how to get back on our own anyway.  For that
matter she did not tell us how to get back at all."
       "If that wasn't the nail in the coffin!" exclaimed Mousse,
realizing that she was right.  "Only you, Nabiki.  Why didn't you say
that while the portal was open?"
       "All of you decided to press on, remember.  I figured Akane would
know how."
       "Well I don't, so now we have to endure," said Akane.
       "At least let's find someplace to rest and get off these damn
sharp rocks!" Kodachi said.
       "There's a rise over there," Nabiki said pointing off to the left
ahead.
       Everyone could see the rise she was talking about pictures of
relief from their torturous agony in their minds.  A short trek and they
arrived at the base, but what they encountered only increased their
suffering.
       "Augh!  Slivers!  I've got slivers in my hands!" cried Ukyo as
she lay on the rough hewing surface of rock.
       "These sides are sharp," Konatsu observed.  "Better be careful
when you climb up on them."
       "No way am I climbing up on that!" Mousse said.  "Standing on the
ground is much better than being sliced into confetti."
       "Shampoo agree with Mousse.  No want to be cut anymore."
       Ukyo cried out again pulling another shard of rock from her hand.
"My feet are torn up; my arms are lacerated; now I've got bits of rocks
on my hands and in my ass... I HATE HELL!"
       "It's not supposed to be the Riviera," Nabiki said.  "You can...
expect to... be-."
       Her gaze turned towards something out of their view.  The sound
of drums carried suddenly through the air, beating together with a
rhythm that sounded oddly familiar.  They listened, concentrating on the
beat.
       "Hey, isn't that the beat Gosunkugi was playing before we came
here?" Ryoga said to them.
       Akane looked up at Nabiki finding her sister staring mesmerized
off in the unseen distance.  "Nabiki, what is it?"
       From her vantage point atop Tatewaki's shoulders, Nabiki held a
clear view over the rocky rise at the terrain beyond.  She could see a
road winding along a narrow valley, and on that road a procession moved.
       "Looks like some kind of parade," she answered.  "I can't really
make out many details.  They're still a ways away."
       There was no real safe way for Akane to see over the top.  She
jumped hoping to catch a glimpse but was unsuccessful and landed painful
back down on the ground.
       "Don't hurt yourself anymore than you are now," Ryoga told her.
Taking his queue from Tatewaki, Ryoga linked his fingers together
stooping enough for Akane to place her foot on them.  He hefted her up
onto his shoulders and Akane took a good look at the procession coming
their way.
       At the head of the procession walked a mass of robed and hooded
figures, each carrying tall staffs with large globes of flickering
yellow-orange flames on top lighting the way for an immense moving
pedestal made out of what appeared to be black marble.  On top of this
was a wrought iron throne that towered high into the air and in it sat a
being Akane could only relate to as the Devil himself.
       He was of muscular build, broad shouldered with skin the color of
blood. Sinewy muscles rippled his massive limbs when he moved, and as
they drew closer Akane could make out more of his facial features.  His
jaw was square, lips thin and black.  There seemed to be a perpetual
grin on this demons face, and she saw that his white teeth were pointed
and sharp.  Burning yellow eyes surveyed the road, thick dark brows
arched high and a pair of black horns grew out to either side of his
forehead.  When his head started panning over in their direction, Akane
immediately dropped down off of Ryoga's shoulders, pulling Nabiki down
with her.
       "Ow, hey, OW!" her sister cried as she hopped around on the rocky
surface.
       "Stop your bitching, Nabiki," said Akane.
       "So what Akane see?" asked Shampoo.
       "Something big and evil is passing by," she answered.  "It almost
saw us."
       "That would not be good," said Konatsu.
       "Yeah, but I think we need to get into his procession if we're
going to find Ranma."
       "Into his... procession?" questioned Ukyo.
       "Yes.  Don't you guys see?  That beat is the same one Hikaru
played for us.  I find it more than just a coincidence, don't you?"
       "Okay," said Mousse.  "How do we do such a thing?"
       Akane thought, unsure how they were going to pull off such a
stunt.  The first thing to do was get down to that road without being
detected.
       "Kodachi, think you and Konatsu can run ahead and find a way down
into that road?"
       "Me?  Why Me?" protested Kodachi.
       "Because you and he are more agile and smaller that the rest of
us and have a better chance of not being seen."
       "I'd like a second opinion on that."
       "Will you stop thinking about yourself," Konatsu said, pulling
Kodachi along by an arm.
       "But I am a Kuno!  Bother!  Brother-dear, tell them!"
       Tatewaki just grinned.  "Do be careful, sister," he replied.
       As they trundled off, Nabiki, now cradled in Tatewaki's arms,
called to her sister.  "Akane, that monster on the chair has to be
someone powerful to have so many people slaving for him."
       "Monster?  What Monster?" asked Ukyo.
       "You'll see here soon," answered Akane.  "What does that matter
too us Nabiki?"
       "Do you really think we can sneak into his little pageant without
him or any of his sublings noticing?"
       "We can try."
       Enraged by the lack of faith, Akane braved the sharp rocky side
of the rise and made her way up to the top.  Lying down, Akane peered up
over the edge at the passing procession again.  Most of the lead portion
had passed, and she could now see how the pedestal was being moved
along.  A mass of unfortunate souls pushed it along, moans of pain and
despair carrying up into the air.  As one would fall, another replaced
them from a mass snaking back up the road shuffling along behind it.
The spent soul was pulled aside by more hooded figures who then cast it
beneath the grinding wheels greasing its many joints and axils.
       Akane turned her head away unable to bear the sight of such
misery.  Ryoga and Ukyo joined her and surveyed the columns passing by.
       "Damn," growled Ryoga.  "I imagined Hell would be harsh, but
this."  He shook his head.
       "I know one thing.  When we get back I'm going to be so good, by
the time I die they're going to be calling me Saint Ukyo."
       Ryoga looked over the procession again.  "I have an idea," he
suddenly said to them.  "See those hoods?"  The girls nodded.  "We need
to become them."
       "Right, and how do we get to do that?" asked Ukyo.
       "By becoming the fodder," he replied.
       "And get ground up?"
       "No, no, I see what he's getting at," Akane said.  "We join the
victims, and when one of those hood-guys gets close, we waylay'em until
everyone is concealed."
       Ukyo thought about the plan.  "We still have to get into that
crowd unnoticed," she finally said.
       "Yeah, but like Akane said, we have to try," answered Ryoga.
       "What about what's in those hoods and robes?  Can we take them?"
       Ryoga could only shrug.
       "Let's run with it," said Akane.  "Hopefully, Kodachi and Konatsu
have found a way down for us."
       The three gave the procession one last look and then made their
way back down to inform the others of their plan...
 
* * * * *
 
       In Anijza's palace, the distant sounds of drums set the fortress
alive with activity.  Her staff and servants immediately knew that the
neigh hour had finally arrived, scampering around to prepare for the
arrival of the Master and feast to follow.
       As for Anijza, she strode through the halls, issuing last minute
orders, pressing everyone to hurry up.  Things must be perfect for
tonight she would have a new consort, and maybe even a lasting partner
if things turned out well.
       She left pleased by the progress, returning to her chambers to
prepare for the ritual and meeting with her Master.  As she entered,
Anijza threw off her red cloak and stopped, spreading her arms wide to
allow suddenly appearing attendants to rush out carry her garments and
jewelry.
       "Tonight, Ranma, tonight, you become mine!" she said as they
worked, "I will take you, I will make you feel the warmth of my love, my
desires so long aching for your touch!"
       A dark look crossed her face and she broke from amidst her
servants, striding half-naked out onto the balcony.  Her shoulders
heaved with anticipation; fingers gripped the stone railing, fingernails
grating its rough surface.
       "And then, Ranma Saotome, I will drive Akane Tendo from your
mind... permanently."
       Anijza tipped her head back letting out a laugh that carried high
into the dark grey skies.
 
* * * * *
 
       A narrow gap was found by Konatsu, close enough to the road that
several of the hooded figures herding the lost souls along were pulled
in and overpowered by the nine members of the rescue team.  With all of
them now fully clothed, it was decided that the best way to avoid
capture was to split up and blend in as best they could.
       The robe Akane wore was heavy and reeked something fierce to the
point of choking, but she pressed on following the procession as it
moved on down the road.  She kept her head low, avoiding any direct
contact with other hoods, occasionally cracking the whip in her hand
harmlessly above the heads of the wailing people.  Suddenly, one of the
overseers carrying a large torch turned and made its way back towards
her.  She tensed trying not to appear nervous, but the hooded figure
stopped directly in her path.  Akane swallowed nervously, and then the
hood held out the torch with one hand, extending his other gesturing for
the whip.
       Ah, a trade, she thought.  Without a word she took the torch,
turning the whip over.  The hooded figure moved on and she continued
walking, not sure why or what that was for.  Maybe it was time to
rotate, she mused hurrying to fill its spot.
       Meanwhile, Mousse too had graduated to torch bearing status,
walking along on the other side of the moving pedestal.  He chanced a
curious look up at the being towering above, and paused.  The smile on
its face seemed to have grown broader and it stopped looking around now
staring straight ahead.  This was not feeling right, and then a hand
pulled on the sleeve of his left arm.
       "Mousse," whispered a voice from another hooded person walking
next to him.  He recognized it immediately as Ukyo's.
       "Ukyo, don't do that," he whispered to her.
       "Sorry.  Hey, we seemed to be picking up our pace."
       "Yeah I noticed too.  We must be getting close to our
destination."
       "Good. Seen any of the others?"
       "No.  Say Ukyo, I'm not liking this at all."
       "Tell me about it.  This robe I'm in had something wet and very
sticky in it.  I'm too afraid to stop and see what it is."
       "That's not what I'm talking about.  This was too easy."
       "What was too easy?"
       "All of this!  We overpower a bunch of creeps who are caretakers
of Hell, slip into this gruesome parade without alerting their friends?
Something is wrong, and I think we're going to be on the receiving end
of whatever comes next."
       "Will you stop worrying?"  Ukyo's head rose up scanning the road
ahead.  "Uh-oh, looks like we've arrived," she said.  "I better drop
back to my spot before I'm missed.  See'ya inside."
       She disappeared as Mousse looked on down the road.  An immense
fortress lay on the horizon amidst some kind of reeking marshland.
Hopefully, somewhere inside was Ranma, and hopefully they would be able
to rescue him and escape without any trouble.
       "We're in Hell... right," he muttered to himself.  "We'll be
lucky we aren't flailed alive..."
 
* * * * * 
 
       Up in one of the battlements, Anijza and Kendral watch the
procession of her master near the fortress.  She could barely hide her
excitement, the energy literally crackling about her body.  Anijza was
ready for the final ceremony that would give her Ranma's soul, and
fulfill the debt she must pay.
       In a short smoky-gray sheer toga, Anijza's resplendent body drew
the lust into to Kendral's chest.  The spiked high-heeled sandals she
wore accented her long supple legs; a wide belt of jointed bone tight
around her waist enhanced the curves of her body.  Anijza's hair was
pulled back and tied into a long ponytail wrapped crisscrossed by black
cords made from reptilian skin, jeweled blades hanging from the ends.
She was the perfect image of beauty, rare an event in Hell, and now she
was about to be wed to another unlucky soul much to Kendral's ire.
       "Anijza," he said, "Shall I have the gates opened?"
       "Open them wide, Kendral," she replied, "throw all of the doors
leading to the throne room wide and allow the Master no delay in his
arrival."
       Anijza leaned out across one of the stone blocks letting out a
seductive purr.  She felt Kendral's eyes burning along her body, sensed
his frustration enjoying how she tormented him.  Stretching further,
Anijza cut her eyes back at him.
       "Yes, Kendral, you may hunger for my body as is your right," she
said to him.  Kendral stood immobile, unable to speak.  She chuckled,
pulling herself up and turned to face him.
       "Tonight, I will satisfy my yearnings with my new consort, there
is no need to fear."
       "I do not fear that, milady," replied Kendral.
         Anijza arched a brow at his comment.  Drawing a sly smile she
walked up to him running her eyes up and down before speaking.
       "Don't think I have not figured out who it was that sent that
lone guard down to Ranma's cell, my dear sweet, pitiful past love."  
       Kendral started, knowing that his attempt to disrupt Anijza's
plan had been discovered.
       "Don't worry, though," continued Anijza, "I have not decided your
fate, yet.  However; since it turned out for the better, I might just
forget you ever tried such a thing."
       Kendral dropped to one knee.  "Forgive my impertinence, milady.
I was-."
       "Jealous?  Yes, Kendral, I understand your feelings."  She
regarded him then turned heading for the steps leading down into the
fortress.  "Come!  We must go and greet the Master."
 
* * * * *
 
       Entering the throne room, Anijza went directly over to where
Ranma and Ranko had been positioned.  They were chained spread eagle
side by side on racks mounted against the wall, displayed like crown
jewels for all to see.  Anijza stood admiring Ranma, now clad in a
silken white shirt and black pants; Ranko wrapped in a tight green tunic
from her chest to her thighs, both cleaned up and ready for the grand
appearance of her master.
       She clasped her hands together.  "Ranma, the Master is here!"
       "So?" replied Ranma with an angry scowl.
       "So now we will be together forever.  Are you not excited?"
       "Are you kidding?  I'm still tied up, I'm still being held
against my will, and you expect me to be excited about spending eternity
decaying into a walking zombie?"
       He could see Anijza's shoulders slump down.  "Well... it will be
of a longer duration, Ranma-darling."  She reached out placing a hand on
his leg.  "Oh but we will have great fun together during that time, my
love!"
       "Forget it, Anijza.  There is only one woman I wish to be with."
       Fury lit Anijza's eyes, her fingers starting to morph slowly into
talons.  They stopped and she turned away.
       "I must not allow that... 'Toad'... to ruin my day," said Anijza.
"You will forget her, Ranma.  I promise."
       She left them taking her place at the foot of the steps of the
dais to await the arrival of her master.
       Soon the sounds of drumming echoed down the corridor, and then in
the distance torch lights could be seen come down the long passageway.
Anijza and her followers went to their knees as the massive pedestal
carrying the demonic being finally entered.  Ranma and Ranko drew in
breaths stunned and awed by his appearance.  The drumming filled the
throne room, his hooded minions filling in around the sides as the
pedestal stopped short of where Anijza bowed low.
       In amidst the demon's entourage, Akane followed the line of
torchbearers as they assembled.  They stopped and Akane dared to take a
look around.  She could not get a clear view, but then barely above them
on the far wall hung Ranma and much to her surprise, Ranko.
       Ranma, she whispered.  Nervously Akane bit on her bottom lip,
wanting to drop this torch and rush to his aid.  She knew that would be
foolish, but in their current situation might call for such a drastic
measure.
       The demon's escorts finished assembling and stood in silence as
their lord sat gazing down upon Anijza.
       "Little One," he said in a deep voice.  "It is so good to see you
again."
       "I am honored by your presence, Master," replied Anijza.  Hearing
Anijza's voice made Akane sneer with contempt, barely able to hold
herself back.
       The demon stood up from his throne stepping down onto the floor.
The crack of a whip and teams of souls strained to heave the platform of
the throne up, carrying it step by painful step up onto the dais.  The
demon stared down at Anijza then said, "You may rise, my faithful one."
       She stood up beaming with joy, ready for the ceremony to begin.
"Master, you will be pleased with what I have to offer you," she said.
       In the crowd, Tatewaki, Konatsu, and Ukyo stood in the foremost
ranks, glaring at Anijza.
       "Do we strike now?" whispered Tatewaki.
       "Not yet," replied Konatsu.
       "We'd be lucky to get near her before getting jumped," added
Ukyo.  Taking a look around, she spied Mousse and Shampoo at the other
end, Ryoga and Kodachi not far from where Ranko hung, but no sign of
Akane or Nabiki.
       "Is that the pig-tailed girl I see there?" said Tatewaki.
       "Looks like it," she answered.
       "That bitch.  She kidnapped one of my beloveds as well!  She will
rue this day she dared to cross 'Blue Thunder'."
       "Rein it in, Kuno," Ukyo said.  "Let's let Akane make the first
move and go from there."
       In the meantime, Anijza escorted her master over to Ranma.  He
stood looking him over letting out several hums and nodding slightly.
       "Yes, Yes, Anijza.  A fine offering you have provided for me."
       "He will be the finest of my consorts, Master."
       "I believe that to be true."  The demon looked over at Ranko, and
she let out a shrill scream turning her head away.  He reached out
taking Ranko firmly by her chin and turned her head back towards him.
       "And what is this?" asked the demon.
       Anijza timidly gazed down at the floor.  "She is... she is a
special offering I would like to give for a favor, Master."
       "Oh?  You wish to take out a second mortgage is that it?"
       He laughed, a response Anijza found rather odd.
       Stepping back, the demon gave the two prisoners one last look
then strode up the steps and flopped back down into his throne.  As the
cries and wails of crushed souls subsided, the demon sat back and gazed
out across the crowd.
       "Anijza, you have done very well," he said.
       "Yes, Master, and I am ready to-."
       The demon held up a hand cutting her off.  "Are you telling me
everything about this, Anijza?"
       Anijza looked perplexed unsure as to what her master was
referring to.  "I do not understand, Master."
       "There have been no, complications?  No, uhm, no wrong doing on
your part, hm?"
       "I had a few difficulties acquiring Ranma, but I overcame them
like I have said."  Anijza took a few steps closer to the dais.
"Master, are you displeased with me?"
       "By all means no, my little one.  However; you still have a few
problems to address."
       That did not sound good, thought Nabiki standing square in the
middle of the gathered entourage. 
       Confusion covered Anijza's face.  "Problems, Master.  I-I-I do
not know what you mean?"
       "Well, for starters the intruders who have insinuated themselves
into my procession."
       "He know about us!" exclaimed Shampoo.
       "Knew this was too easy, I knew it!" added Mousse.
       Anijza spun looking frantically around at the crowd.  "Where!
Guards!  Where are these intruders?"
       The demon laughed.  "No need to panic, Anijza.  Allow me."
       With a snap of his fingers, the rescue party was suddenly
stripped of their garments.  Akane dropped to her knees dazed by the
action and when she looked up she found herself staring at an
encroaching ring of hooded figures.
       "Ryoga, Kodachi?" said Ranma, shocked at his two friends
appearance below.
       "Hey, Ranma," said Ryoga, "came to rescue you, but it doesn't
look like that's going to happen now."
       Kodachi turned.  "Gaze upon me, Ranma!" she cried, baring herself
for him to see.
       "Ah, I've been blinded!" joked Ranko.
       There was no humor in Anijza as she stood staring aghast at Ukyo,
Konatsu and Tatewaki.  "You!" she seethed, pointing a finger at them.
       "Guess this means its time for action?" said Konatsu to Ukyo.
       "You bet.  Let's get her!"
       They barely began to move when another snap of the fingers made
them all disappear for a second, reappearing moments later in a
translucent high above the crowd.  It was confining and they squirmed
struggling to break out of their new prison.
       "Hey, get this big foot out of my face!"
       "Whoever's hand that is down there better stop wiggling those
fingers!"
       "Augh!  I never thought I'd be saying this to you, Shampoo, but
could you get this big tit of yours out of my eye!"
       As the globe was lowered, Ranma watched helplessly as his friends
fought to break out.  "See!" Ranko said to him, "I told you she'd come!"
       Anijza stood staring at the one person she hoped never to see
again.  Akane lay pressed up against the side of the globe unable to
move an inch.  Her eyes panned over at Anijza and they glared hotly at
one another.
       "Akane!" Anijza said, boiling with rage.  She balled her fist and
stalked towards the globe.  "You little TOAD!  You dare come into my
realms?"  One of Anijza's fists burst into flames and she held it up
high.  "This time I will kill you!"
       Akane stared in mute horror as the demonic girl moved closer...




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