Chapter 7

 

"I am gratified for your offer to help me gain my bride," Zhu Liji glanced
at his visitor over his cup. "but I fail to understand why you would do such a
thing?"

"I find it very distressing that a man who had devoted so much of his life
to the betterment of his country should be denied what is rightfully his."

"You are kind to say so."

"Not at all," his visitor took a sip of tea. "That you should be so vexed
by outmoded customs and the fancies of an old woman who has outlived her time
is insupportable.

"But you must allow me to do you some small favor in return." Zhu urbanely
replied. Zhu's visitor took another small sip of his tea before responding with a few
short comments.

"And this is all you wish?" Zhu asked with unfeigned amazement. "Easily
done. But surely I can do something more for you?"

"Helping me with these arrangements is more than enough. That and knowing
that Shan Pu will be well cared for. She is like a spoiled and willful child.
The love and discipline of an older husband is just what she needs to assume
her rightful place in life." And when I rescue her in a few months, Mu Tsu
thought, she will be so grateful to me, and so afraid of you she will never
dare leave me. The thought of a docile and compliant Shan Pu was almost as
exciting as the thought of being a whole man again. Or rather, considering how
he had altered Cu Lon's magic, a great deal more than a man.

*************************************************

"Nabikichan! Could you get the door please? I have to give father his
medicine."

"OK Kasumi." Giving the TV one last glance, Nabiki wearily pushed herself to
her feet. She couldn't go on like this, none of them could. She almost envied
her father the escape of sedated sleep. Angrily she shook herself. NO! She was
depressed. Who wouldn't be. Her baby sister was dead. She could almost think
that now without crying inside. But she would get over it. In time, they all
would. Pasting on her 'company' face Nabiki opened the door to see two men in
business suits.

"May I help..." She thought she was having a heart attack when the stun-gun hit her with
seventy five thousand volts. And then she didn't think anything at all as
blackness claimed her.

"How long will she stay under?" Asked suit 1.

"Long enough," answered suit number two, withdrawing a needle from
Nabiki's arm. "Leave her here and let's get the other one. The sooner we
deliver them to the boy the better I'll like it."

*************************************************

Cu Lon was unhappy. Mu Tsu was gone. That wasn't tragic, in and of itself.
She could always hope he'd fallen under a train. However her medicine chest
had been tampered with. And very cleverly. He hadn't tried to get past the
lock, which was booby-trapped. Instead he'd he'd used steam to remove the
wooden pegs and come in from the bottom of the chest. And now some very
dangerous items were missing. . . Hurrying her pace toward the Tendou's Cu Lon
again cursed herself for underestimating Mu Tsu. She'd deliberately removed
some vital elements from the chest, telling Mu Tsu they would have to wait to
get more from the mainland. Obviously he'd found his own sources in China.

Three thousand years of Amazon tradition and several centuries of
experience had given Cu Lon a sensitivity to her surroundings that neither
Shan Pu or even Ranma could imagine. Even so she felt only the barest whisper
of another presence before a dark shape dropped in front of her.

"Nihao Akane," Cu Lon greeted her visitor with supreme irony. "Or do you
even remember human language?"
She considered the silent black cat for a moment. "I can cure you . . .for
a price. " The small cat stared unblinkingly at the ancient Amazon. "There is
nothing left of you, is there Tendou Akane? Just a small black cat with
troubling dreams of a life you can no longer comprehend . . .and those will
soon fade."

Cu Lon backed a few paces and watched as the cat slowly lowered it's ears
and tail. Satisfied neko-Akane was no threat Cu Lon went to pass by the cat.
Two centuries of paranoia drove her to cross on the far side of the street as
an automatic precaution. It was almost enough. Cu Lon whirled, her staff
coming around to block the howling black thunderbolt streaking toward her.
Twisting with a cats impossible grace neko-Akane avoided the staff and leapt
for Cu Lon's throat. Immediately Cu Lon dropped back a pace with her left leg,
simultaneously lowering her center. As her right hand came around in a
'swallow-fights-tiger' counter strike she felt the ground shift beneath her
feet.

Three hundred years of martial training assured that she lost her center
for an instant only. It was enough. A tearing pain in her right leg, so great
she cried out. Then she was falling as the leg gave way. She hit the ground,
something she hadn't done involuntarily in more than a century, and rolled
quickly away to put a wall at her back. Coming to a stop in a seated position
she could see a blood trail leading from her leg to where she had fallen. A
small black cat sat, sphinx like watching her.

"So, not entirely a beast," Cu Lon made a loop of cloth and pulled it
tightly around her leg. The flow of blood slowed to a trickle. "Very clever."
She waved a hand at the debris that had been used to cover a hole in the
ground. "A trap. So simple a child wouldn't be fooled." She gave a sour laugh.
"I am not sure what that says about me."

The silent cat remained motionless.

"There is no cure. I lied."

The cat lazily raised a paw to it's mouth and delicately licked off a drop of
blood.

"I surrender." Cu Lon gave a mirthless chuckle as the cat looked startled.
"You have won this battle, with skill and courage. I realize you would like to
watch me bleed to death. And much as I hate to deprive you of this treat you
may want to go home now."

The small cat tilted her head inquiringly.

"Mu Tsu is wandering the streets . . .with the contents of my medicine
chest."

A small feline yawn greeted this pronouncement.

"I believe he intends to duplicate the ceremony you are so familiar with.
Of course he needs a source of untainted chi . . .perhaps supplied by one or
two young women," Cu Lon chuckled as the cat vanished like smoke. A pity she
wouldn't be there to see Mu Tsu's face when he met neko- Akane. And they would
meet, of that Cu Lon was sure. She put that pleasant thought aside and
concentrated on not bleeding to death on a Nerima side street.

*************************************************

Shan Pu opened her eyes with a groan. She raised a hand to her aching head
only to be brought up short as she hit the end of her chain. Twisting her head
around she saw heavy leather cuffs around her wrists connected by short
lengths of heavy chain to eye-bolts set in the wall. The mirrored walls and
ceiling showed her ankles were similarly secured to the foot of the bed.
Closing her eyes she thought back . . .the last thing she remembered was
coming into the Tendou home with Ranma. They'd been arguing. Shan Pu trying to
keep him from rushing back to confront Cu Lon. She'd convinced onna-Ranma to
at least change back after getting splashed on the way there. Shan Pu hoped
that would give Ranma time to calm down a little.

The front door had been open . . .the room empty.

Then there had been someone at the door . . .a policeman. An accident he
said . . .Kasumi hurt . . .

Shan Pu took a deep breath against a sudden surge of nausea.

They'd followed the uniformed man outside . . . a brief sting from a
hidden needle. . .Shan Pu remembered feeling the fake policeman's ribs break
under her spear point strike . . .she'd gotten at least one more before the
drugs overwhelmed her. As she went down she saw onna-Ranma smash one
'policeman's' jaw even as another broke a night- stick over her head from
behind. They'd thrown her in the back of a car . . .she remembered seeing a
small black form streak around the corner of the house as they drove off . .
.then nothing else until a moment ago.

Shan Pu took a deep breath, wincing as bruised ribs protested, then let it
out slowly. Another deep breath, imagining a large golden ball of chi in the
air. Inhaling, the chi flowed inside, exhaling she pushed out all of her pain
and weakness. In a few moments her belly was filled to bursting with a molten
sunburst one more deep breath and she HEAVED. Air forced from her lungs with
an explosive crack and sweat tinged pink with blood burst out over her body
with her effort. The massive, reinforced bed-frame creaked but did not give.

Relaxing she fell slack in her chains, gasping for breath. It had been
worth a try. Now all she could do was wait. For an opportunity to escape from
her captors or from this life. Shan Pu examined her feelings and was pleased
to see she was not scared. Death was easy but Amazons, like women everywhere
were seldom granted an easy death in a male dominated world. It was important
to face whatever came with dignity and courage.

A brief scraping noise made her blood freeze. Shan Pu took one last
calming breath. She was staring at the door when a ceiling tile fell on her
head. Jerking her head back she looked up, just in time to see a small black
shape drop out of the ceiling .

Shan Pu stared slack jawed at the furry apparition.

"Where did you come from little one?"

"Mrrrrr?"

"Sorry. You Japanese cat, not understand Chinese. Shan Pu scratch ear but
she a little tied up right now." The cat gave her a disgusted look and padded
up past her head to where her wrists were secured. Reflected in the mirrored
wall Shan Pu could see the small cat bat experimentally at the lock, then
begin chewing at the leather cuff.

"Ayyyyy. Gooooood kitty." Shan Pu breathed softly.

"Shan Pu give bowl cream when get out." Hardly were the words out of her
mouth when the cat vanished like a shadow at noon time.

"Aaaa. No cream, Shan Pu give salmon..." The door opened and Shan Pu shut up
abruptly.

"Good afternoon. I'm glad to see you are awake."

"Huh, what you thinking steal Amazon woman?"

"Hardly stealing. You are my promised bride after all." Shan Pu glared at
Zhu Liji.

"Who promise? When Promise?"

"Many years ago," Zhu pulled his tie free and folded it neatly across the
back of a comfortably padded chair. "the Amazon province.

"Amazon Nation!"

Shan Pu's head rocked under the force of Zhu's back-handed blow.

"It is a pity you have gone unschooled for so long. Still," Zhu removed
his coat placed it alongside his tie. "You will learn never to contradict me,
in public or private." Reaching into his jacket he slipped a thick leather
case form an inside pocket. "As I was saying, many years ago the province of
Amazons found themselves in a little difficulty. Due to their improvidence
there was a famine."

"Maybe Peoples Republic no steal food, Amazon no go hungry."

"I believe I warned you about contradicting me." Zhu's voice was
conversational, as he opened the leather case. Light gleamed off an assortment
of surgical steel implements. Selecting a slender probe Zhu sat on the bed
next to Shan Pu. "There is no Amazon Nation. Only a group of pathetic
superstition ridden savages. Savages that promised the . . .ahh . . .fruits of
their labor in exchange for food." Zhu chuckled at his own wit."

"Liar. Amazon no trade children."

"I've told you about contradicting me. In any event I believe the pitiful
sounds their mongrel brats made crying for food may have helped motivate
them."Grasping Shan Pu's wrist in an iron grip he delicately placed the needle
tip of the probe just under her thumb-nail. "Your people are misguided
counter-revolutionaries." Slowly Zhu slid the needle into the quick. Other
than a minuscule flaring of her nostrils Shan Pu did not react. Frowning in
displeasure Zhu removed the probe. He frowned down at the crimson drops that
welled from her thumb and dropped silently onto the sheets.

"I can see that you have been poisoned by the superstitious attitudes
infesting that province." He pulled a slender blade from the case and examined
in with the air of a connoisseur.

"You no get away with this." Shan Pu said , experimentally. "Many people
know Shan Pu. They look. Find. You big trouble then."

Looking bored Zhu replaced the first blade and selected another, this one
curved ending in a sharp hook. "I could give you a telephone this minute and
it would do you no good. You are in the embassy of the Peoples Republic. And
the staff dislike 'Amazons' only a little less than they dislike the Japanese.
I must thank you, by the way, for providing such a delightful bonus. Such an
interesting hair color."

"Aaaaa." The involuntary reaction was startled from Shan Pu. "Ranma! What
you doing?"

"Ranma? What a name!" Zhu chuckled. "But what can one expect from such a
people. "Still, I expect she will provide a great deal of amusement for as
long as she lasts."

Shan Pu felt chilled at that pronouncement. This was bad enough for her.
Amazons were trained almost from birth to deal with what was considered to be
as inevitable as flood, fire or earthquake. How much worse would it be for a
proud young boy steeped in the culture of bushido. A movement in the periphery
of her vison made her turn slightly. Reflected in the mirror she could just
see the black tip of an angrily lashing tail. A wild thought came to her that
this was the spirit-cat, the remnants of her curse, that had been forced from
her body. That would explain why it had followed her, seemed so intelligent.
They were still linked, somehow. There might be a chance . . .

"Great grand mother know . . .and Mu Tsu know. They have friend in government. They not..."

"The old woman has out lived her time. She is living in the past. As for Mu Tsu . . .who do you think delivered
you into my hands? He arranged to distract the old woman. He told us where to
find you AND how to arrange your . . .visit with a minimum of fuss."

"You do something Kasumi?"

"The Japanese girls living in that house?" Zhu shrugged. "It was an
elegant plan. Mu Tsu wanted the two girls. Their removal also acted to
distract you and ease your removal."

"Mu Tsu family very strong. Uncle, cousin . . .big party member. He want
Shan Pu very much. Not like you hurt Shan Pu."

"Why do you insist on speaking Japanese . . .and so badly." Zhu replaced
the hooked blade and instead selected a spring-loaded clamp with barbed teeth
from his collection. "I think I will start with language lessons. I refuse to
be embarrassed by you in public."

Shan Pu hissed involuntarily as the clamp bit into the tender flesh in the
center of her left breast.

"As for Mu Tsu . . .I fear he is fated to be the victim of a tragic
accident. An accidental fire I believe." Another clamp fastened onto her right
breast. Zhu smiled slightly at her indrawn breath. A third clamp appeared and
Zhu's hand drifted toward the tender flesh between her legs.

"Shan Pu scream!" She gasped out. "Shan Pu scream, all people hear. All
people know what do."

"Scream all you wish. I rather enjoy it. And no one else will pay the
least attention."

"You mean, Shan Pu scream . . .no one care. No one come?"

"Just so." Zhu opened the cruel steel clamp, then paused as San Pu grinned
at him.

"Bui Bui."

This childish farewell was followed by a full throated scream that rocked
Zhu back. He had just time to see the spitting black fury erupt from under the
bed before it hit him in the face. Needle sharp claws fastened into his
temples and sharp ivory teeth ripped open his scalp. Pain stunned him into
immobility for a second. Long enough for the powerful hind legs to start
sprinting in place ripping great bloody chunks from Zhu's throat. His wet
burbling scream was lost in Shan Pu's full throated bellow. A moment later
even that pathetic cry was lost as powerful claws tore through his spinal
column like a lawn-mower cutting a garden hose.

Shan Pu watched as the cat nosed through Zhu's pockets. Anxious moments
later the cat appeared with a bunch of keys in her mouth. Hopping up on the
bed she dropped the keys in Shan Pu's hands. Hampered as she was it took over
five nerve-wracking minutes . . .minutes Shan Pu expected guards to burst
through the door . . .before she freed her right arm. Second's later Shan Pu
was riffling Zhu's pockets. He wasn't armed so Shan Pu selected the sturdiest
of the small knives from his bundle of 'toys'.

*************************************************

"Lu was bored. He was also faintly disgusted with this duty. When he'd
joined the military he'd thought he'd be protecting his country, safeguarding
the revolution. Not standing outside a play-room making sure a deputy minister
had enough privacy he winced as the screaming started. He should be used to it
by now. At least once a month, sometimes more if Zhu were . . .the screaming
stopped abruptly. Lu flinched at the thundering silence. This could be bad.
Zhu was always in an impossible mood if he broke his toys too soon. The door
opened a few minutes later. It was NOT deputy minister Zhu. Lu was stunned by
the naked goddess that stood before him. Large pert breasts peeked coyly from
behind a veil of long silken hair. An expanse of smooth tan skin, broken by an
adorable belly button drew his eyes down, down to a mysterious shadowed
triangle.

"You like?" The baby soft voice brought Lu's head up to find huge violet eyes, now
only inches from his own. He never saw her hands move.

*************************************************

"So stupid mans." Shan Pu pulled the slender blade from Lu's eye with a
wet sucking sound. "Amazon wait after battle play." Kneeling beside the
rapidly cooling body she quickly searched him for weapons. The pistol she
took, reluctantly because of the noise it would make. The Sikes- Fairburn
dagger she took with an exclamation of glee. She considered appropriating his
clothing as well but decided that a naked Amazon, even a naked Amazon with a
gun, would probably distract any guards she ran into; as she had this one.

"You do good job kitty. Shan Pu give you good home, salmon, tuna every . .
." She stopped as the cat dipped one paw into Lu's blood and made a stroke
across the floor. As San Pu watched the cat produced stroke after stroke,
dipping her paw into the pool of blood like a brush into an inkpot.
"Ayyyy." Shan Pu shivered in fear. This was her spirit cat . . .wasn't it?
She noticed the gold band circling it's neck. Involuntarily her eyes were
drawn to a similar bracelet around her wrist. Her eyes widened as she saw
cracks criss-crossing the formerly smooth surface. As she watched bits of gold
flaked off the band circling the cats neck. Finishing her kanji, the cat
looked up at Shan Pu expectantly.

"Shan Pu no read Japanese good, spirit kitty. Shan Pu not know… A picture
flashed in her mind's eye. She didn't have to read kanji to understand this.
All she had to do was remember the newspaper Nabiki had shoved in her face.
The scrawled writing on the walls. Written in blood.

"Akane?" Shan Pu whispered. "Akane . . .you is Akane?" The cat mewled
agreement, softly stropping its body around her legs.

"HOW! . . .how?" She repeated more softly. But she knew the answer. "Great
grand mother," The cat growled agreement.

"Mu Tsu. They do this. Cure Shan Pu. Curse Akane." Her eyes filled with
tears. "Not want this. Shan Pu never . . ."
Drawing a deep breath Shan Pu straightened her shoulders. "No time talk
now. Find Ranma. Find Kasumi maybe Nabiki too. Zhu say two girls." She thought
a moment. "Zhu say Mu Tsu want two girls. Say Mu Tsu die in fire. Find Ranma
first. Then ask . . .question. Ask guard many question." She pulled the knife
from it's sheath and examined the edge.

"Ask question until get answer like."

*************************************************

Finding Ranma wasn't as difficult as Shan Pu feared. They only had to
follow the sounds of screaming. Bare feet slapping against the tile floor Shan
Pu sprinted down the hall, neko-Akane at her heels. Banking off a wall like an
animate cue-ball Shan Pu managed a sharp left turn without breaking stride and
accelerated toward the sound of fighting. Another sharp turn left brought her
to a war zone.

"I'm a GUYYYYYYY!"

Shan Pu watched the petite red-head punctuate her savage war-cry with an
elbow strike to the gut of an enormous guard in the uniform of a Chinese
Commando. The grinning guard grunted slightly but didn't release his hold on
the nude girl. Several bodies littered the floor, testifying to the tiny girls
attempts to gain her freedom. She was hampered in this effort by short lengths
of chain linking her ankles. A slightly longer chain connected her wrists.
Despite this handicap the laughing guards were having a hard time subduing
her.

"Excuse me, that's my husband you're pawing."

Startled at the soft voice the biggest guard let go his hold and turned
around. His eyes almost crossed as he found himself looking down the muzzle of
a standard issue automatic pistol. Years of training caused a reflexive
dis-arm procedure; As his left hand slapped aside the pistol, his right hand
came down on top of Shan Pu's wrist, trapping it.

Unfortunately this left him without any hands to stop the dagger in her
other hand as it slammed through this throat, exiting the back of his head.
Stepping back a half pace Shan Pu twisted the blade slightly, letting the dead
guard slide cleanly off her blade. Immediately she turned to help Ranma but
freed of the hampering weight of the big man onna-Ranma was quickly disposing
of the remaining gurards.

"NO KILL!" Shan Pu shouted, as Ranma prepared to send one of the still
standing men to his ancestors. Adjusting his blow downward, the heavy length
of chain between Ranma's wrists smashed the mans shoulder instead of his
skull.

One guard, slightly removed from the rest reached, not for his gun but for
his radio. He was depressing the transmit button when a meat-grinder attached
itself to his arm, shredding tendons, bone and blood vessels in an attempt to
separate hand from arm. Screaming the guard frantically scrambled away from
the hell-beast, clutching his ruined arm to his chest.

"CAT! C c cc aaat!" Ranma trembled uncontrollably as he saw his worst
nightmare made flesh. The small cat, blood dripping from it's muzzle, took a
hesitant step forward. Ranma backed away, almost sobbing in terror.
Neko-Akane stopped dead, realizing in despair that Ranma was more afraid
of a cat than of the men who'd tried to rape her.

"NO!" Shan Pu slammed the last moving guard with a hasty elbow strike to
the belly and rushed to Ranma. "NO!, NOT CAT." Shan Pu wrenched Ranma's head
around, staring directly into her eyes. "You listen Ranma. NOT CAT. Is AKANE.
You hear Shan Pu? A-K-A-N-E. Akane not cat."

"Akane?" Ranma took a shuddering breath and Shan Pu watched the madness
drain from his eyes.

"Akane? Where . . ." Ranma tried to turn away and Shan Pu brutally jerked
him back.

"NO LOOK, BAKA!" Shan Pu shook him. "Listen. No cat. Is Akane LOOK like
cat. Is curse. Understand?
Akane. You look, you think Akane you no scared. OK? Akane. Akane here."

Trembling Ranma gave a jerky nod and slowly turned around. The small black
cat froze in the middle of grooming herself and shrank back; trying to look as
small and harmless as possible.

"Akane?" Ranma's faint whisper was almost inaudible.
"Mrrrrrooo." Neko-Akane looked hopefully at Ranma.

"Akane." Ranma looked into golden, cat-slitted eyes. A spark seemed to
jump between the two motionless figures and Ranma collapsed to the ground as
his legs gave way.

"Akane!"

The small cat leapt into his open arms. Ranma crushed neko-Akane to his
chest as her rumbling purr filled the air.

Shan Pu smiled mistily at the reunited couple then turned to a still
breathing guard. Two stiffened fingers rammed just below his sternum brought
the man awake and gasping.

"Hello," She greeted the battered man cheerfully. "You will please tell me
where are the two Japanese girls you kidnaped today."

"I don't know what …." He bit back a scream as Shan Pu casually snapped his
little finger.

"You have nine more fingers." She smiled brightly. "Or . . ." Fingers like
an iron claw clamped onto the nerve clusters around his jaw. "I'm sure you're
familiar with compliance holds. Painful, isn't it?" Shan Pu glanced around and
saw that at least three other guards were still breathing.

"Please tell me where you have taken the two girls."

"I . . .I don't know anything about any Japanese girls."

"I believe you." Shan Pu smiled gently.

The guards neck broke with an explosive crack and she let the body slide to
the floor with a thump.

"My name is Shan Pu." She knelt beside a white faced guard who had
regained consciousness in time to see his companion die. "YOU look like a well
informed person." She traced a line with the tip of her dagger from his throat
down to a point between his legs. "I wonder if you would mind answering a few
questions?"

*************************************************

"Shan Pu know where is Mu Tsu." She threw a shirt to Ranma who was
unlocking the last of his chains. "Ranma wear this."

Ranma shrugged into the shirt which covered his petite form like an
outsized tunic. Belting the waist with a neck-tie she stripped from one of the
recumbent figures onna- Ranma turned to Shan Pu.
"Howzit look?"

"Look fine." Shan Pu eyed the shirt which just barely restrained
onna-Ranma's impressive attributes. The hem of the shirt hung just low enough
for decency as long as Ranma didn't do any high-kicks. In that case, Shan Pu
thought wryly, Ranma would either get arrested or a marriage proposal.

Shan Pu wore a pair of trousers and jacket that were not too ill fitting,
stripped from a guard who had no further use for them. "Maybe we set new
fashion?"

Grasping one of the captured pistols in her hand Shan Pu handed another to
Ranma. They might need them to persuade someone to unlock a door. They'd drop
the weapons outside the embassy gate since they couldn't chance being caught
with them by a Japanese policeman. Besides, Shan Pu preferred a knife; they
were silent, never jammed and never ran out of ammunition.

"You want Shan Pu take Akane?" She was worried about how well Ranma would
continue to cope with neko- Akane.

"I've got her." Ranma clasped the black cat possessively to her chest.
Neko-Akane chirruped in agreement and bumped Ranma affectionately under the
chin. Nodding, Shan Pu took the lead as the odd trio made their way from their
underground prison.

*************************************************

Onna-Ranma stared at the building in disbelief. "Is That? "
"Yes." Shan Pu looked disgusted. "Is 'Love Hotel'."
"Are you sure you got the right address?"
Neko-Akane bleeped inquiringly from Ranma's shoulder. "This right place.
Make sense. Have privacy. No one look close at people go in-out." Shan Pu
watched the front door for a while. "Something wrong. No one coming or going.
Should have plenty business now."
"I bet he's got the whole building locked up. Maybe hostages?"
Shan Pu nodded. "Hostage or . . .maybe Mu Tsu have other use for many
people. Much power in chi maybe Mu Tsu try steal chi all people."
"What's that mean?" "Blood magic forbidden technique. Shan Pu only know
done long long time past. Evil person steal life, make strong. Steal three
life, strong like strongest man. Steal ten life, strong like lion. Steal
hundred life, strong like god."
"If the technique's that good, why hasn't he done it before? Why aren't a
LOT of people doin' it?"
"Is problem . . .much power in chi . . . power burn like flame. Three
life, burn like forge. Ten life, burn like forest. Steal ten life die strong
but die quick. Two day, maybe three then dead."
"What about a hundred lives?" Shan Pu chuckled grimly. "Steal hundred
life?" She drew her hands apart with a little poofing sound. "No have time
scream."
"Then why's duck-boy gonna' try it?" "Maybe this how great grand mother .
. .how . . ." helplessly Shan Pu pointed at neko-Akane. "This maybe how she
cure Shan Pu. Mu Tsu maybe do, get rid own curse. Shan Pu not know these
technique. Only elders know. Mu Tsu always sneaky boy. Mu Tsu maybe steal
technique. Try cure self."
"Do we need duck-boy to cure Akane?"
"No." Shan Pu didn't add that she didn't know if a cure was even
possible. "No need Mu Tsu for nothing."
"Then I'm gonna rip the little bastard a new ass-hole." Ranma cracked her
knuckles while neko-Akane growled in agreement.
*************************************************

Nabiki wrenched at her bindings again, then slumped against the dirty
floor in disgust. She looked at the white- plastic packing straps around her
knees and ankles. A similar set bound her arms behind her back at elbow and
wrists. Ryouga couldn't break these things. She needed a knife, something
sharp . . .or...
"Does any one smoke?" The quiet sobbing and occasional muttered cursing
continued unabated.
"HEY! Does anyone here smoke?" "I'm fresh out." Came a sarcastic voice
from behind her.
"Why don't you try the tobacco store down the street." Nabiki wriggled
around till she faced the opposite direction. Peering through the dimly lit
room, crowded with the bound forms of the staff and patrons of the
"Passionate Rose", she tried to pick out the voices owner. "Thanks for the
tip. I don't' want a cigarette, I want a lighter to burn through these plastic
things." There was a moments silence, punctuated by groaning and bumping
sounds. "No lighter" came another voice " but I've got . . . uhhh. . .some
matches."
Nabiki watched a shadow bump clumsily across the floor. "Allow me to
introduce my self; Hasegawa, Hasegawa, Benjiro." The short tubby man rolled to
a sitting position and bowed clumsily at the waist.
"Tendou Nabiki. You have very nice manners, Hasegawasan," Nabiki quirked
an eyebrow at the little man. "But if you don't really have some matches, I'm
going to kick you in the face."
Hasegawasan fumbled his bound hands into a side pocket and drew out a
crumpled pack of matches. "Just don't tell my wife. She thinks I've quit
smoking."
"You're tied up in the basement of a love hotel and you're worried about
your wife finding out that you still smoke?"
"Yoshike is very strict." Hasegawasan replied, paling at the thought of
his wife's displeasure.
"OK, Hasegawasan," Nabiki twisted around so her bound hands were toward
Hasegawa. "pile up some of this trash and set fire to it. I'm going to burn
these things off my arms." Hasegawa looked at the bits of paper and other
trash littering the basement floor. Shuffling and scooting he pushed together
a pile just behind Nabiki. After three tries he had a small fire burning.
"All right, Tendousan. The fire is burning, but..."
"Thanks. Now I can't see what I'm doing. And I don't have much feeling
left in my hands." She thrust her arms toward the fire she could feel, but not
see. "Tell me when I've got the plastic in the fire."
"Up and to the left . . .a little higher . . .that's it." Nabiki bit back
a scream as the fire licked at her hands. Clamping her jaw shut, her body
shuddered in agony as she fought to keep her hands in the flames.
*************************************************

Mu Tsu shuddered in exquisite agony at the power washed over him. The
young girl beneath him crumpled like an empty tin can as Mu Tsu drained the
last of her essence. Patting her withered face fondly he pushed the desiccated
husk to the floor. Stretching broadly he padded over the only other living
figure in the room. "Wake up . . .time to wake up now."
Mu Tsu patted her face gently. Huge brown eyes blinked confusedly up at
him. "You need to be awake for this part of the ceremony." Smiling, Mu Tsu
dipped two fingers into a silver jar, hand forged without using any iron. With
a mixture composed of long extinct plants and fat rendered from murdered
infants he delicately traced esoteric designs on the nude body bound to the
wooden cross.
*************************************************

Shan Pu pounded down the hall after Ranma. Both were sprinting after
neko-Akane who had taken off running as soon as they'd entered the building.
"Whe . . .where you . . .th . . .think Akane going?" Shan Pu gasped.
"H . . .ho . .how should I know? Hey, Akane . . . slow . . .slow down, ya
stu . . .stupid tomboy."
"May . . .maybe you talk ni . . .ice Akane listen better."
"Oh, shut up." Ranma watched neko-Akane ricochet off a wall, then bound
up another set of stairs. Gritting his teeth Ranma put on another burst of
speed, trying to keep of with his species challenged fiance. Ranma caught
neko-Akane at the top of the stairs and scooped her into his arms.
"Just WHAT do ya think you're doin'?" Ranma bopped her gently on the nose.
Neko-Akane growled urgently and struggled in Ranma's arms, carefully keeping
her claws sheathed. "Now look, you're gonna' get in ta trouble if ya just go
runnin' around like crazy. We gotta' plan .."
"No need plan." Shan Pu came up behind Ranma and pointed over his
shoulder. "Look there!" At the end of the corridor a steel gate blocked the
entrance to an alcove. Beyond the steel they could see...
"KASUMI!" Ranma and Shan Pu both cried at the same time.
Neko-Akane snarled a challenge.
"MU TSU! What you doing?"
"Shan Pu. I see it was a short honeymoon."
Mu Tsu gave a mocking little bow, unconcerned about his nudity and turned
back to Kasumi.
"You little bastard!" Ranma grabbed the steel gate in both hands. There
was a sharp crackling sound as Ranma was thrown back in a shower of sparks and
a stench of ozone.
"You might want to be careful," Mu Tsu said mock solicitously. "the mesh
is electrified."
Shan Pu ran to check on Ranma.
Neko-Akane planted herself in front of the gate and yowled in anger.
"Ah, Akanechan. I owe you a great dept of gratitude." Mu Tsu finished
tracing a design down Kasumi's thigh, then turned to face the angry cat.
"Actually I also owe Shan Pu and Zhu." He grinned at neko-Akane. "It appears
that you've already paid Zhu's dept. I look forward to repaying you in person,
Shan Pu."
"What stupid Mu Tsu talking? What Shan Pu ever do for stupid duck-boy?"
Mu Tsu's face darkened in anger and he took a step forward before bringing
himself under control. "In a few moments I will rid myself of this curse . .
.and I have you to thank. You see," Mu Tsu opened a small bronze casket and
began removing items. "I would never have learned the chi-transfer technique
had Zhu not wanted Shan Pu so badly. The old woman had stalled him for years
but his patience finally ran out, with a little prodding from me."
Mu Tsu grinned as he traced a pattern on the floor around Kasumi with a
silver dagger. "Of course, once I knew the technique I needed a source of
strong, clean chi." Finishing the pattern he replaced the dagger and removed
several candles the color of old blood. These he placed at the cardinal
points, lighting them one by one. "It's amazing how much power the Tendou
women have, even the nasty one. I suppose that explains the name . . .way of
heaven."
"MOUKO TAKABISHA!!!" The ki blast slammed into Mu Tsu like an express
train. "Gotcha, you little.."
"Ahhh, very refreshing." Mu Tsu straightened up, appearing re-energized.
"NO WAY! You gotta be hurt."
Onna-Ranma stared at Mu Tsu dumbfounded.
"How you do!" Shan Pu demanded.
Mu Tsu frowned. "Once we're married I'm going to have to do something
about that attitude."
"Shan Pu kill you first."
"I don't think so." Mu Tsu casually blasted Shan Pu into a wall with a
wave of his hand. A second wave sent Ranma slamming on top of her. Neko-Akane
howled in anger, back arched, ears flat against her skull.
"I've had enough of you, cat." Another chi blast blew a chunk out of the
floor, but neko-Akane twisted out of the way. Another shot blasted a wall, but
missed the rapidly moving cat. Cursing Mu Tsu sent wave after wave of lethal
energy at the spinning, twisting animal. He succeeded only in demonstrating
that power was useless if you couldn't hit your target.
Finally Mu Tsu stopped, glaring at the cat but apparently as strong as
when he began. "H . . .how you get so strong."
Shan Pu wiped blood from her face and struggled to her feet, aided by a
grim faced Ranma.
"Death-Tantra."
Shan Pu swayed on her feet. "NO! Is forbidden do this. Council will ..."
"Council will do nothing. I have power now. In the capitol MY family has
influence with the central government. And soon the council will be no more.
And I will rule 'The People'," Mu Tsu sneered the words. "as governor of a
province of the Peoples Republic."
"Never . . .Amazon never surrender. We die first."
Mu Tsu shrugged. "Fine. There are plenty of people. I'm sure it will be
no trouble to repopulate an empty province."
"Stupid duck-boy. You strong now. But dead soon. Blood magic burn you to
nothing."
"Really?" Mu Tsu seemed to swell, the air crackled with energy. He
pretended to check himself. "Nope, feel fine. Oh, and by the way," Mu Tsu
pulled the dagger back out of the bronze box. "I'm invulnerable now."
Shan Pu and Ranma watched in horror as Mu Tsu drove the dagger through
the palm of his hand. Blood welled around the blade, but while they watched
the wound healed as he removed the blade.
"No, no, no." Shan Pu cried in denial of what she'd seen.
"Yes, yes, yes." Mu Tsu mocked. "Combining blood magic with sex magic; yin
and yang, light and dark I can absorb all the essence I need for as long as I
need. With NO ill effects to me," he waved a hand toward crumpled heaps laying
in shadowed corners. "my . . .partners are not so fortunate."
Ranma looked sick as he realized what looked like heaps of dirty rags
were twisted crumpled bodies.
"Why you need Kasumi?" Shan Pu asked, trying to delay Mu Tsu. Buy time to
think of something, anything."
"My curse. It blocks access to the full power of the Death-Tantra. Cu
Lon's technique gave me the secret to access the power of Blood-Tantra. I'd
heard about it, read secret writings. But, until Chu Lon removed your curse I
didn't know the secret of chi-transfer. This is the secret of uniting Blood
rites with sex-magic. I draw in their chi, siphon off what I need, and return
the 'spiritual poisons' to them with tantric magic. A very neat exchange.
Unfortunately, to remove my curse I need a single pool of exceptionally strong
and pure chi . . .to assure that my chi is completely cleansed. You wouldn't
want your future husband stuck as a half-man, half-duck?" He looked at Shan
Pu, chuckling.
"Shan Pu like you stuck on point of sword!"
"Perhaps I shall give you your chance . . .a wedding present? Of course
I'll have to . . .punish you when you fail."
Mu Tsu turned, stepping between Kasumi's bound legs just as neko-Akane
launched herself between the bars of the grating with a scream of rage.
Snake-like, Mu Tsu turned to meet this attack and learned a very important
lesson; always put your pants on before fighting a cat. Twisting aside from Mu
Tsu chi enhanced hammer-fist strike neko-Akane slashed open the delicate
fleshy sack between his legs, like power saw through rotten fruit.
Blood fountained from between his legs as Mu Tsu flipped away, screaming.
Landing he reached for a hidden weapon . . .that wasn't there. The momentary
hesitation, as years of training in hidden weapons conflicted with his new
abilities, gave neko-Akane an opening. Coming off the floor like a ballistic
missile neko-Akane fastened herself to Mu Tsu's head and began trying to peel
his face from his skull. As the two fell to the floor in a screaming, bleeding
tangle there was a muffled whoomp that shook the building.
*************************************************
"GO! Go,go,go,go!" Nabiki screamed and shoved another person through the
window. She'd gotten almost everyone cut loose when the world blew up. The
hall had filled with flame and smoke and the few people remaining in the
basement had retreated back the way they'd come. Nabiki had found a small side
window and started shoving people through it to the outside. Lungs burning
Nabiki shoved the last person through the window, then tumbled after them into
blessedly cool outside air.
*************************************************
Onna-Ranma stared at the flames eating at the floor. Already dense black
smoke was swiftly reducing visibility to zero. They had seconds to escape, if
they still could. And Ranma wasn't leaving without Akane and Kasumi.
"Shan Pu, when I open the gate you get Kasumi and I'll grab Akane."
Shan Pu had time for one startled exclamation as Ranma grabbed the
electrified steel in both hands and heaved.
Onna-Ranma's mouth opened in a hoarse shriek of pain as the electric
current twisted her spine and the sleeves of her shirt burst into flame.
Horrified Shan Pu darted forward to pull Ranma free of the electrified gate
just as the steel tore free of the masonry in a shower of sparks and stone
chips. Pulling Ranma free of the gate Shan Pu ripped off the burning shirt.
Pressing two fingers against onna-Ranma's throat she was relieved to find a
pulse. Leaving Ranma for the moment Shan Pu dashed to the cross that held
Kasumi and sliced her bonds with a few swift strokes of her dagger. Slinging
Kasumi over her shoulder Shan Pu headed out of the burning room. Stooping, she
heaved onna-Ranma over her other shoulder.
"AKANE!"
Dimly through the thickening smoke she could see two figures still locked
together.
"AKANE!!! We leave now. AKANE!!!"
Orange flames burst through the floor, illuminated the room like the fires
of hell. Briefly Shan Pu saw Mu Tsu and neko-Akane outlined in fire. As she
watched the black cat raked Mu Tsu throat with her claws, tearing flesh and
the gold band that circled his neck. Blood fountained from the gaping wound,
soaking the small cat. A searing pain made Shan Pu gasp and she looked down to
see the gold band on her wrist flame briefly, then vanish in a spray of molten
gold. She looked back up to see Mu Tsu and neko- Akane rimmed in eldritch blue
flames just as the floor collapsed swallowing the two of them.
Shan Pu could feel the floor bubbling under her feet. She couldn't save
Akane. She probably couldn't even save herself, or Ranma and Kasumi. Pushing
aside the thought of burning to death Shan Pu dashed blindly through the thick
black smoke. Chest burning, a wave of black rolling over her eyes as she ran
out of oxygen she hit the end of the corridor at a full run and crashed into a
window. She was through the window and falling free before she realized what
she'd done. Twisting in mid-air she put her body between the ground and her
precious burdens just as she hit. There was a sudden burst of pain then
blackness claimed her.

*************************************************

"Shan Pu . . .Shan Pu . . ."
Dimly she heard a voice calling her. It was very annoying.. Also her head
hurt and her feet were cold. She was dead When you were dead you should at
least....
"SHAN PU!!! Dammit you stupid Amazon. Wake up."
"Oh, Is you Nabiki." Shan Pu opened her eyes a fraction, then closed them
again. Not dead then. If she were in heaven, Nabiki wouldn't be there. If she
were in hell, her feet wouldn't be cold.
"Shan Pu." Nabiki's voice was dangerously calm. "In about three second's
I'm going to shove an ice cube in a place a good Japanese girl shouldn't even
know exists if you don't open your eyes and tell me WHAT the HELL is GOING
ON!"
"Nabiki go away . . .stop bother . . . RANMA!" Shan Pu bolted upright, or
tried to as splints on her legs and one arm held her in place. "How Ranma do?
Kasumi OK?" Shan Pu struggled to sit upright.
"Ranma's fine, at least she's not as bad as you. Burns all over her hands
and arms. Three broken ribs. Cuts, bruises." Nabiki chuckled. "Except for that
weird stuff drawn all over her body, Kasumi doesn't have a mark on her."
Nabiki held up her own heavily bandaged hands and arms. "Looks like you got
the worst of it. The doctors say I should be OK in a couple of months."
Shan Pu sagged in relief, then tensed suddenly.
"Akane! Where Akane? Where Akane?"
Alarmed Nabiki pressed Shan Pu back down on the pad in the back of the
ambulance.
"Shan Pu, Akane's dead. Don't you remember? She died.."
"NO! No, Akane not dead. Not dead. Akane cat. Small black cat. She
fighting Mu Tsu in building. Fire come and...
"Ok," Nabiki said soothingly. "Akane's a cat. And she was fighting in the
building. Everything is going to be...

"NO!" Shan Pu griped Nabiki with her one good arm. "Shan Pu no crazy.
Akane curse by great grand mother, Mu Tsu. Make Akane cat. Akane write thing
on wall in blood. Akane alive. Akane CAT!!!" Panting with exertion Shan Pu let
her arm drop back on the pad.

Wide eyed Nabiki stared at Shan Pu a moment. Cursing she whirled and
dashed out of the ambulance, calling for police and firemen. Calling her
little sisters name.



*****************************************************************************