Permanent: What has gone on before... Ranma Saotome visited Jusenkyo with her father and fell into the pools changing her into a girl and her father into a panda. She discovered a short time later that there was no cure for the curse and she was stuck as a girl forever. Refusing to believe this she raided the Jusenkyo library and took all the books on magic and curses. She has since spent her time learning spells and searching for a cure to her condition, as well as training in her martial arts. She also picked up Mr.P, or Ryoga Hibiki, Over time she discovered that he also is the result of a Jusenkyo curse. She stumbled into the amazon village and ended up fighting Shampoo, after winning she is chased for several months all across China by the relentless girl and eventually defeated her by dropping her off a cliff. She returns to Japan and is adopted by the Tendo family after living on her own for several months. A few weeks later Ranma is attacked by a grief stricken Mousse who injures her badly while she protects her nearby friends. He flees after Ranma stabs out one of his eyes in a desperate maneuver. She is taken to Dr. Tofu's office and ends up healing herself on her own much to everyone's amazement, they discover that she is a sorceress. She tells them of Shampoo and her connection to Mousse. A few days later Ranma finally grows tired of Kuno's advances on her and Akane and places a spell on him that prevents him from seeing or hearing any lie, including the ones he creates himself. While on the other side of Japan three mysterious Amazon warriors arrive with uncertain objectives.... permanent part 7: The Hunt. Ranma rose from her bed and looked at her father. She snorted in silent disgust at the lazy beast he had become, in more ways than one. She kicked him awake because of his performance during practice that morning and walked to the bathroom to bathe and change for school. She stopped as Akane met her in the hall. "Good morning Ranma," she said still half asleep as she walked into the bath. Ranma smiled as she realized that Akane had been watching the 'secret practice' she had every morning with her father again. Ranma waited patiently for the bath and sighed as Akane emerged and she entered. "I'm going to have to accept this sooner or later, this is getting ridiculous, I'm gonna be late for school," she thought as she washed herself. She froze and looked in the mirror with a look of sheer terror in her eyes. A sad smile crossed her lips. "Another promise to you broken." she watched her reflection for a moment and stood from the furo. "Acceptance is not an option." she reminded herself. Mousse looked out the window and held his bag gently. He was aware that they were trying to find him, but he could not be found until his task was complete. The women had searched his resting-place and tracked him well, but not well enough. "They'll see how weak I am now Shampoo," he said into the bag in his hands with a small laugh. In the abandoned home the two girls looked at each other with mixed emotions. growled one of them, She had short cut dark green hair and a small scar on her cheek. she said coldly. said the other girl; she was taller and had long red hair that went past her waist. She was also carrying her spear in a much more relaxed position. "Heh, she can't even use one of those," noted Mousse mentally from his place in the shadows. The pair would not spot him, he knew they were young and relatively inexperienced hunters. The hag had chosen them for their skills in battle, and not for their tracking abilities. said the red head as she observed his living conditions. said Ko li. Kuno had wandered the streets of Nerima for some time now. He was dressed in normal clothes. A shirt and slacks, not all that unusual really. He had just discovered that he had been wearing his kendo uniform far too much. "I thought it made me look, regal," he thought a little smugly. "I suppose it does, if I wear it during a match." It had been a week since Ranma had cast his spell on him. Kuno had spent many boring hours watching blank televisions and trying to read his favorite books; only to find nothing there. "He has done this terrible thing to me, and yet I cannot bring myself to hate him. Why?" he asked himself many questions as he walked. "Perhaps because you needed it," came the mental reply. "Quite so," he replied curtly. Honesty was annoying, he hoped she would remove his curse soon. Ranma turned the corner and ran into Kuno, literally. The pair collided and Ranma was sent sprawling to the ground on her ass. He looked up to see Kuno looking dazed from the impact. The boy looked at Ranma and started to help him up freezing in terror as Ranma glared at him. "I could be like this forever if he's mad!" he thought in a panic. "Hello Kuno," Ranma said as he stood. His voice seemed strained. "I-I wish I could say I was sorry," he tried to apologize but the words seemed to die in his mouth. Ranma smiled. "You can fool. I said you couldn't hear or see lies. I didn't say you couldn't lie." "What?" said Kuno in shock. "You've behaved yourself pretty well, I guess I can remove the curse tomorrow afternoon," said Ranma looking thoughtful, more to annoy the boy than anything else. "Why tomorrow?" asked Kuno looking stunned. "Well, I'm not gonna do it here. I don't exactly want people around here to know about this; ya know?" replied Ranma with a small smile. "Besides it isn't going to feel good. I thought you might like to prepare for the shock. You'll probably be bed ridden for a few days afterwards," said Ranma as he turned away. "What?" said Kuno with a large sweat drop forming on his head. "Never mind, I forgot I couldn't tease you in that condition, I have to look up the spell Kuno," said Ranma with a frown. "That was not funny," said Kuno bitterly. "You weren't supposed to think so," said Ranma as she walked away. Cologne sat with the two amazon warriors at a small cafe. "Tell me what you have found," she inquired calmly. "We could not find Mousse," said Talcum bitterly. "Don't be so upset dear, I was not expecting you to, Mousse is a most skilled warrior and hunter. That you even returned alive is a great comfort to me," replied Cologne. Somehow Ko li did not feel any better. "We also discovered that he still has her," she said with a frown. "Shampoo deserved more respect than that," said Cologne with a heavy sigh. "Are you sure child?" she pressed. "We found...evidence," replied Talcum. "I see, he must be punished then," said Cologne with another resigned sigh. "Why are we doing this for her?" growled Talcum. "You know why," replied Cologne flatly. "But..." started Ko li. "No, it must be delivered, I can take my time and force her to take it from me, but she must receive it or it holds no power. I know that you wish revenge for your comrade but we must remember the consequences of your actions. If it is not delivered then the entire village will lose their trust. It may also bring their wrath upon us. After she receives it we can continue with our plans for Ranma," said Cologne with a bitter smile. Mousse began a hunt of his own. "Ranma you will suffer so at my hands, he laughed. "But not before you feel my torment." The laughter of the insane floated across the rooftops of Nerima for a long time that night. At the dojo Ranma walked out into the night. "Where are you going?" asked Akane as she chased after her friend. "I'm looking for him, he's been quiet for far to long and I doubt seriously that he has given up, said Ranma calmly. "It is something I must face." "But, why?" pleaded Akane. "Because her memory will haunt me until this is resolved, replied Ranma as she walked away into the darkness. The next morning Akane found Ranma sleeping soundly in her room. She put Mr. P on the floor and he scampered over to Ranma and looked her up and down. He had taken to sleeping with Akane and as a result became sort of her pet and confidant. Akane was spending allot of time with him and he seemed to enjoy her company. Akane felt this was strange for an animal. The person she spoke most often to him of was Ranma. She felt afraid of her, but she also liked her a great deal, it was strange really. Mr.P growled as he looked Ranma up and down and sat next to her. I was obvious she had been running around all night. "That jerk! If that Chinese guy shows up now He's dead!" thought the pig. "Damn you Ranma how can you be so stupid and smart at the same time?! Without you I can't survive like this!" thought Ryoga bitterly. He hated to remind himself that he needed Ranma around, but he was past denying it. A short time later Kuno arrived. "I have come as you requested," he said looking embarrassed as Ranma answered the door. "What's the matter? Afraid of getting help from a girl?" asked Ranma. "We both know my answer to that," snorted Kuno. "I kind of like having someone who knows for once," said Ranma with a smirk. The pair walked out into the dojo and sat together in the room. "Will you be removing my curse?" asked Kuno after a few minutes of sitting impatiently. "Kuno you don't even want to think about what could happen if I screw up," said Ranma coolly. Kuno growled and kept silent. Ranma began to chant and a white light began to form around Kuno. Just as it started to flare the worst possible thing happened. "Ranma Saotome prepare to die!" cried a voice from above. Kuno looked up with Ranma as Mousse jumped from the rafters and fell towards Ranma with a pair of clawed shoes. Ranma slid out of the way and Mousse landed creating a hole in the floor. He jumped out as Ranma kicked at him and smiled. "Well, Ranma it looks like I have you cornered," he said with a laugh. "Now die!" he yelled as he flung his weapons at the girl. Ranma was about to dodge when a brown blur shot in front of the chains. Kuno stood in front of Mousse with his bokuten drawn pieces of chain and scattered weapons littered the floor around him. "You will not harm him until my curse is removed," said Kuno defiantly. "Kuno back off you don't stand a chance," said Ranma calmly. "I will not spend my life like this," said Kuno holding up his arm to reveal a clawed hand. It was covered in scales and had a few dark feathers growing from the base of the elbow. "Mousse interrupted the spell," gasped Ranma. "No one will keep me from our revenge!" cried Mousse. "Our revenge?" asked Kuno. "My beautiful Shampoo," said Mousse in answer. "I had no choice she had to die, it was her or me," said Ranma angrily. Kuno looked at her in shock. "You killed her?" he gasped. "Heh, that she did, I will have my revenge for it!" cried Mousse as he pulled the bag off his back. He reached into it and grit his teeth in anger. "For this you die." TbC... Next time: Undoing past wrongs.... C@C appreciated Send to: Catbert25@aol.com "Oh shit! Someone else is out of alcohol!" -Fujisawa sensei Coming Up on Yahoo! Chat More... Tomb Raider! Join us for a webcast and live chat from the set of next summer's most anticipated film - Tomb Raider! It all takes place on Thursday, November 9th at 2:30pET/11:30aPT (8:30pGMT). It is your one chance for an exclusive sneak peek at the production from Pinewood Studios in London. Chat with the film's producer Lloyd Levin, stunt co-ordinator Simon Crane, production designer Kirk Petrucelli and more! Coming Up on Yahoo! Chat [Close] undefined [Close]