Permanent part 15. Little boy lost.
Ryoga stood and stared at Ranma awaiting an answer. A small smile formed on his 
lips. 
"Ryoga, If you really want to stay you can, but I still think you should take 
some time off before you tie yourself down like this, you'll have to follow me 
around all the time again," said Ranma with a worried expression.
"Ranma stop it. Don't you see?" said Ryoga with his grin widening even more.
Ranma just looked at him oddly. "What?"
"The pill had the power to cure any curse, including a family one. I haven't 
gotten lost since I took it," said Ryoga as he practically beamed happiness.
Ranma just blinked, "That's great Mr.P," she said with a smile as she jabbed him 
in the arm lightly. She hadn't expected this to happen. This could make her life 
a lot easier, she was constantly keeping him from wandering off before. Often 
leading him around by the hand, most people just assumed they were dating. It 
made her very uncomfortable, besides she wasn't sure how long she could keep him 
around. It was a lot easier to keep a pig from getting lost. "Now you can get a 
job," said Ranma coolly.
Ryoga froze up.
Gosunkugi just sat on the chair they had given him and looked on as Kodachi 
blasted another fireball at a practice dummy. She was learning at an amazing 
rate, not that it was a good thing. He idly played with his chains and sighed as 
he was forced to clap by the ninja. They had allowed him a lot more comfort 
since he had become more helpful. He was correcting Kodachi occasionally and 
giving her small tips on spells, the corrections often got him a snide remark or 
a swipe from her ribbon; but she never really hurt him and usually listened. She 
had also seemed to forget about the demon summon spell as well. He had to play 
along until someone noticed he was missing and figured out where he was; That 
could be quite a while. "At least I'm not chained to the wall anymore." 
Kodachi glared at the smoldering remains of yet another practice dummy. She 
wiped her brow and frowned as she noticed the looks her 'teacher' was giving 
her. She wondered whether or not he would want to leave when she had no need of 
him any longer. "Perhaps I will keep him, one can always use another lackey, I 
feel Sasuke seems to enjoy working for my brother as of late, perhaps I should 
accept another servant," Gosunkugi seemed to notice her attention was on him and 
he turned away. She smiled, it seems it may be to my advantage to wear my 
gymnast uniform when I practice from now on. Currently she was dressed in her 
black school dress. She smiled as she turned back to find Sasuke setting up 
another dummy. "Perhaps you could have a little accident later, I won't have 
such insolence. My brother's servant indeed," she thought. The ninja looked at 
her nervously and backed away from the dummy. She smiled as she noticed 
Gosunkugi was staring again.
Sasuke was glaring as well, but at the prisoner. His honor had not yet been 
satisfied. He was beginning to see that he may not ever have the chance to face 
him again. If Kodachi decided to keep him around as it seemed, then she would 
not allow a battle between the two. He had to find a way to break them up. Anger 
her enough to dismiss him, but not so much as to kill him herself. A challenge 
indeed for one of his skills.
Ranma stood in the kitchen at the counter with her nose in one of her books 
again. Near by Akane stood over the stove. Ranma glanced over as Akane began to 
pour a large amount of sugar into the pot. She pointed her finger at her and a 
small bolt of electricity shot out zapping the would be chef.
Akane yelped in pain and surprise, she turned to glare at Ranma and frowned. 
"Wha'd ya do that for?" she cried.
"Read the labels Akane," said Ranma simply without looking up from her book.
Akane quietly looked at the sugar and blushed as she corrected herself. She was 
about to pour the salt in when she felt another shock.
"Wha?" she gasped.
"Measure," said Ranma without moving again.
"I didn't ask for your help ya know!" grumbled Akane.
"No, but your father did, besides, you need it," said Ranma lazily.
Akane growled and returned to her cooking. She would have a few words with him 
later.
Another shock came. "Now what?!"
"Akane, why are you putting that in curry?" asked Ranma.
Akane was holding a jar of Mayonnaise, a jar of peanut butter, and a jar of 
honey. "Well it seemed a little dull, so I thought I'd liven it up a little," 
said Akane cheerfully.
"Get it right first, then liven it up a little. Cooking is supposed to be a 
little dull," said Ranma with a frown.
Akane hung her head and returned the items to their places.
Soun looked on from the kitchen doorway with Kasumi and both his daughters.
"Electro shock therapy? Very clever," said Nabiki.
A shock came from the room and Akane gave another little yell.
"Watch the food Akane, you don't want to burn it," said Ranma's voice.
"I think it's a bit much," said Kasumi as she looked on with a worried 
expression. So far her kitchen was in much better shape than it usually was in 
when her sister was cooking, or trying to anyway.
Another zap, "Don't microwave raw eggs Akane."
"Don't worry sis, she's only using little shocks," said Nabiki.
"Please, save my Akane," sobbed Soun. "You've got to save her Ranma!"
About two hours later the family sat gravely around the table. Nabiki had to be 
headed off at the door three times before she finally gave in. Kasumi just sat 
and looked worried. Ryoga had no idea what was going on and sat cheerfully, Soun 
was crying as usual.
Akane emerged from the kitchen and a large column of smoke rose from the door. 
Every one relaxed as she came into view. 
The smoke was from her, all her hair was standing up strait and her clothes were 
smoldering. She had a large grin on her face and a tired looking Ranma walked 
behind her with her finger in a bandage. Akane proudly placed the curry pot on 
the table. 
"Eat up!" she chimed. Ryoga waited a moment while everyone stared at it in 
frozen fear.
"Well?!" growled Akane.
Soun started to cry again.
"I'll try it," said Ryoga as he glanced oddly at everyone around him, he was 
beginning to suspect that something was wrong. He quickly shoveled some of the 
food into his mouth and looked at everyone. "Aren't you guys hungry?" he asked 
with his mouth full.
Ranma had already started eating as well. The Tendos just looked at them in 
shock and cautiously took some of the food.
"Why Akane, this is good!" exclaimed Kasumi.
"You really think so?!" cried Akane excitedly.
"You saved my Akane!" cried Soun as he grabbed Ranma and pulled her into a tight 
embrace.
"Hardly, I wouldn't trust her on her own just yet Mr. Tendo," muttered Ranma as 
she rubbed at the bandage on her hand. "It'll take quite a while to get her good 
enough for that."
Akane smiled as everyone ate and no one complained for once. She turned to Ranma 
and blushed. "Thanks," she muttered quietly.
"No prob," said Ranma as she glared at Ryoga.
He was having a fit trying to keep the laughter in, Ranma had helped a girl 
learn how to cook?!
Ranma just glared at him and the rest of the evening passed peacefully.
Then next day was a Sunday, Ranma was sitting on the porch enjoying the morning. 
Her father was lazily playing Shogi with Soun again. She sighed and looked over 
at the wall. There were several small children sitting out side the gates to the 
Dojo. She smiled and walked over to a familiar scene, one that she never thought 
she'd see.
"That's where the witch lives," said the largest child. He grinned proudly and 
looked as if he was showing off his prized possession. The other children stood 
around and gaped in awe. There were about seven of them ranging from ten to 
about seven years old. Two of them were girls.
"There's no witch in there, it's just some stupid old dojo," said one of the 
older kids.
"Yea, my mom said there's no such thing as a witch," agreed one of the girls.
"Sure there is," said a new voice.
The children turned to see Ranma sitting on the wall watching with amused 
interest. She jumped down and assessed them, the oldest boy was drooling a bit 
and watching her chest. She frowned and ignored him, turning instead to the 
girl.
"What makes you think there isn't?" she asked her.
"Yea, there's always weird lights coming out of that room, and the man who lives 
here talks about a demon. My dad said he says he used to be tormented by one a 
long time ago," said a boy with his finger plugged up his nose.
"I don't know about a demon, but there is definitely magic in this house," said 
Ranma with her grin widening.
"Yea, the magic of a TV in the middle of the night. There's no witch in there," 
said the oldest boy, he was becoming indignant from being ignored.
"Well, that depends on how well you know Nabiki," said Ranma to herself with a 
chuckle. None of the kids seemed to notice.
"How do you know so much about witches?" asked one of the girls in a tone that 
said she didn't believe her.
"I just do, have you ever seen one?" answered Ranma.
"No," said most of the kids, the ones who didn't were obviously lying.
"What makes you so sure you haven't?" asked Ranma simply.
"Well they're old and really ugly, they have moles and cats and all kinds of 
creepy hair and ..." said the older boy as he ticked off his fingers at each new 
feature he made up.
"Well, I guess they couldn't be young and pretty and about five three with long 
red hair?" asked Ranma mischievously.
"Of course not!" answered one of the girls. "Witches are evil!"
"That's like saying old people are evil kid. Witches are dangerous, but not 
necessarily evil. There kind of like dogs, you shouldn't mess with one if you 
don't know for sure if it will bite you," said Ranma as she leaned against the 
wall.
"How do you know?" asked the eldest boy with a confident smirk, he seemed dead 
set on disproving her and impressing his friends. It probably wouldn't hurt if 
he impressed her while he was at it as well. 
"I've known a few in my time," she answered.
"Yea, right," snorted the boy as he looked unimpressed.
"Ranma! Time for lunch!" cried Kasumi from the other side of the wall.
"Coming!" answered Ranma, she turned and smiled at the children. 
"You live there?" asked one of the little boys in shock.
The other kids were shocked into silence as well.
"Sure I do," said Ranma.
"Then you know the witch?!" cried the youngest of the girls.
"Better than you think, ja!" said Ranma as she walked through the wall and 
smiled at the screams that came. The sound of running feet filled the streets 
and Ranma turned to see Kasumi glaring at her.
"That wasn't very nice Ranma," she chided.
"I'm sorry Kasumi, I just couldn't pass that up," said Ranma as she hung her 
head. 
"Just for that, no cookies for you after lunch!" scolded the older girl.
"What? No fair Kasumi!" cried Ranma in a panic.
Outside the gates to the dojo two of the kids sat staring at the house in 
shocked awe. One was a boy of about nine years old, the other was a girl of 
about seven. "There really is a witch, we have to see her." said the boy with a 
hard determined gaze.
"You heard what she said! I'm scared!" cried the little girl.
"But we haf'ta!" cried the boy. "If we don't, I don't want to think about what 
could happen!"
Tatewaki Kuno strolled down the halls of the Kuno mansion. He had just returned 
from his morning flight and had a towel draped around his shoulders. After a few 
moments of walking he passed near his sisters chambers. An explosion echoed from 
beneath him, not all that uncommon in the home really. What was unusual was the 
voices that followed, Kodachi never allowed anyone to see her work, not even 
Sasuke was permitted inside while she was experimenting with new drugs and 
chemicals.
"This cannot go unchecked," he said to himself as he removed the towel and snuck 
into the hall that lead to her private quarters.
The halls were long and dark wooden hallways like the ones you often see in old 
horror movies. This was exactly what Kodachi had been going for when she 
designed them, to unnerve intruders. There was a large labyrinth of identical 
hallways beneath the home. Not even Kuno knew his way around them completely. 
Fortunately her lab was near to the front, he had often visited it to call her 
to meals or otherwise fetch her. He had never seen the inside for more than an 
instant in the doorway. Sasuke spent a good deal of time in there with her when 
she was not creating new concoctions. He had mentioned that he never had really 
liked the place. Most of his duties in the lab were watering the various plants 
and herbs she grew. The lab itself was really a green house that was built onto 
the back of the home. It's roof was made of glass and poked out from the ground 
letting in sunlight.
He edged near to the wall pulled his wings tight against his back. The door was 
slightly ajar, another unusual occurrence. He peered into the room and frowned 
as he saw a boy tied to a chair inside.
"Why brother dear, who would have though you would sink so low as to spy on your 
sister? Is your pursuit of the Tendo girl going so poorly?" said a voice from 
behind him.
"Impossible! She could not have snuck by my eyes!" thought Kuno as he whirled 
around to face her.
She smiled at him as she held her arm up and formed a ball of light in them. 
"You have given me a lot of trouble lately brother dear, you should be more 
careful." 
"What? How?" stammered Kuno as he backed away from his sisters new found talent. 
He held his bukoten up defensively.
"Fool! Mere weapons cannot defeat me now brother!" she said with a smile as she 
pushed the ball of blue light and sent it flying at Kuno. He sidestepped it and 
it exsploded sending wood pieces in every direction. She stood between him and 
the exit and forced him back into the labyrinth of halls beneath the home. 
"Come brother, we can't have you telling people about my new hobby just yet. I 
only want to keep your silence for a while," said Kodachi as she carefully 
followed him. A shadow moved and she sent out an orange ball that vaporized a 
rat instantly. "Such vermin in the house of Kuno? Unthinkable," she commented.
Kuno stood with his weapon held up to his side as he waited for his sister. It 
seemed as though she had finally fallen off the deep end. If he was not careful 
now he could lose his life. In the back of his mind he wondered about the boy in 
the lab. He pushed it away quickly, there was nothing he could do until he 
escaped himself. 
"The blue thunder runs from no woman," he chided himself. He hardly thought of 
himself that way any longer, but it's purpose was still the same.
"Sister, you will not fight me honorably, You are a woman and I cannot strike 
you. Why do you persist in this?" he asked, he awaited her answer expecting her 
to call out her position to him as well.
"You know too much brother, I cannot allow you to leave these halls just yet. If 
you had not seen I would not have to hold you," came her answer. It sounded as 
if her voice echoed off the walls and floors. He could not place it, and she 
knew it.
"That was a trap sister. Do not try to say otherwise," said Kuno belligerently.
"Well it seems this young 'Ranma' girl has made you smarter as well," said 
Kodachi from all around him again. "Yes, it was a trap brother dear, but I only 
need you out of the way for a while, do you really think I would kill my own 
brother?"
Kuno frowned, he knew this was because he had not told her how he had acquired 
his wings. This was exactly why he had not said anything to her. Now she was 
trying to play off his once twisted sense of honor. "My mind is no longer so 
weak sister, I have freed myself from the lies. Join me!" he cried as he turned 
and slashed at he air behind him. He stopped when he realized that no one was 
there.
"Ho ho ho, Won't hit a woman will you? I do apologize but I am not there 
brother," said Kodachi, she was playing with his mind somehow. 
"Perhaps you should face me sister, this cowardess does not befit the house of 
Kuno!" cried the nervous boy. He gripped his bokuten tighter as he heard the 
footsteps all around him.
"Perhaps I already am," said Kodachi from directly behind him. Kuno spun around 
and jumped back. A ball of blue light shot from her hands impacted against the 
wall sending wood flying in every direction again. Kuno seemed to vanish into 
the shadows above her. Kodachi frowned and formed another of the light balls in 
her hands. She gazed around the ceiling and saw nothing. "My brother does not 
know such a spell," she muttered in confusion.
She walked around for a moment and cursed. She didn't see the figure move from 
behind one of the support beams on the ceiling and lower itself behind her with 
it's arms. It reached for her with it's clawed hand and Kodachi smiled.
"You don't really think I'd allow you to capture me in my own domain do you 
brother?" she said with a small chuckle.
Kuno growled as he reached for her, he grabbed her shoulder and screamed as 
bolts of energy passed through him and blasted his grip away. He collapsed on 
the ground and leaned against the wall clutching his burnt claw in agony.
"You see brother, you are not the only one who can become stronger," she said 
with a smirk that he could not see in the darkness, but still somehow knew was 
there. The light in the hallways was next to none and he realized that she could 
see better in them than he could. That could not be possible, she had to be 
using some sort of spell for it. His mind raced, and he regained his senses 
while she stood gloating over him. He quickly spread his wings and flapped them 
as hard as he could. The wind created shoved his sister back into the wall and 
she fell to the ground. Kuno jumped over her and ran back towards the front of 
the home, if he could escape the halls his sister would not follow. He could not 
fight well in such a cramped area and Kodachi knew it.
"Sasuke! capture him!" she cried to the rafters.
Kuno tensed up as the ninja landed in front of him and stood silently, he 
watched Kuno run by him and did nothing.
"What are you doing fool?!" screamed Kodachi in her rage.
"I am to protect the house of Kuno, that means I cannot harm you, or your 
brother," he said simply.
Kodachi screamed in anguish as she charged after Kuno. He ran out into the home 
and she stopped, with his wings she had no chance of catching him.
"Worm! How dare you disobey me?!" she screamed at the ninja and sent one of the 
blue balls of energy into his chest. Sasuke was blasted into the wall hard and 
he screamed. She shot two more before he could recover and kicked him in his 
side as he staggered form the hole in the wall she had created using his body. 
He gasped and coughed in an attempt to regain his breath. He strained as flashes 
of light filled his vision and a pain unlike any he had ever known burned at his 
torso. "Get up fool, you are very fortunate I still have need of you. If you 
ever disobey me again, I -will- kill you," she said coldly before she turned 
back into her lab.
The loss of her brother was unfortunate, but it was of no real consequence to 
her plans. That was just a personal bonus for her, she could always make up for 
it later after she had learned more and became strong enough to face him on open 
ground.
TBC....
C&C to Catbert25@juno.com
Things are speeding up, Kodachi is growing stronger and more dangerous.
What will Kuno do about it? Will Ranma find out? What will this do to Gosunkugi? 
What kind of job will Ryoga get? And what the hell is with those two kids? 
Quite a bit of foreshadowing in this one, I'm willing to bet you won't spot all 
of it, Sweeto!
Until next time, Ja!
Carrotglace@juno.com
 
 
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