{Part 6- The things people and demons do...}

For the tenth time in as many minutes, Shampoo kicks another demon's face away as pokes its ugly face through the prison "bars", trying to get a better "look" at her. After being dragged off by herself to a solitary prison with twice as many ugly, oozing, dripping creatures in residence, Shampoo's been getting more exercise in five minutes here than five days in Tokyo.

Shampoo: "Shampoo say, no like ugly dripping green teeth! No like anyone! Shampoo ready to break teeth now!"

But the monsters around her just chortle, big and small alike. Every once in a while another ugly face flutters through the room before moving on. A crow demon, even a frog demon passes by, leaving wet spots behind it as it squelches through the room. Shampoo curls up on the floor and buries her face in her knees, silently sobbing.

Voice: "My..... poor girl. All alone here, are you?"

Shampoo looks up from her curled spot and sees a flash of silver. It belongs to a woman with silver hair. It reaches halfway down her back, a cascade of silver gleaming brilliantly in the poor light of the cave.

Shampoo: "Who silver-haired woman?"

The woman in question walks up Shampoo's side and sits cross-legged besides her. Shampoo's head turns to follow the woman, who returns a sympathetic look to Shampoo. She is wearing a baggy-sleeved long sleeved shirt wide open down the middle, exposing a lot of chest. Skin-hugging bell-bottomed pants follow, all curves and the like, and she doesn't look a day over 20. Shampoo blinks once to make sure she's not dreaming, then looks at the demons around her, all looking infinitely stronger than her. The woman seems to pick up her thoughts.

Woman: "Don't worry about me, girl. I could destroy any of these demons here with a thought."

Shampoo: "Then how come silver-haired woman get locked up?"

The woman giggles in amusement.

Woman: "I'm not locked up! In fact, I could just walk out here and nobody'd stop me. No, girl, I'm here to talk to you."

Shampoo stares. The woman sighs, and waves to the "bars" of Shampoo's prison. They shatter. None of the demons do anything to stop her. Shampoo 'O's her mouth, then nods, still suspicious of her motives but glad for some company.

Woman: "NOW do you believe me?"

Shampoo nods dumbly, her eyes wide in surprise. Then they slit again as she eyes the woman suspiciously.

Shampoo: "Why silver-haired demon woman want to talk with Shampoo?"

The woman looks offended and hurt, but smooths out her features again.

Woman: "Please, try to understand. I'm doing this for your own good. Besides, I've not had a good partner to gossip with in such a long time, it's making me go nuts!"

She flashes Shampoo an infectious smile, one Shampoo can't help but return. SHE knows how bad it is not to have someone to talk to for a while.

Shampoo: "Aiyah, Shampoo nothing to lose then....."

The woman smiles and nods approvingly.

Woman: "Well now, where shall we begin.....?"

-=-=-=-=-

Ranma: "W...w...what did..... WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!?"

Ranma is staring straight up at the spot which was cloaked in a spell a moment ago. Gritting his teeth, Ranma barely restrains himself from giving Sekki a Perfect ShiShi Hokoudan for fear of harming the girl above.

Sekki gently lowers the girl to the ground in her arms, in front of Ranma. Ranma is clenching his fists now, ignoring the blood streaming from cut palms.

Ranma: "Y....y...you..... monster! How could you.... could you DO this to her!?"

While Ranma trembles in rage, Sekki looks at him with a slightly bored indifference. She even yawns exaggeratedly as Ranma thinks of something to say.

Sekki : "And what was I to do anyway?"

Ranma glares at Sekki, then at the girl, and back to Sekki again. He smirks to himself as he calls up a retort to Sekki's face.

Ranma : "Afraid of something, Sekki? Maybe you made her because ya' not sure your own figure's good enough for ya, so ya gotta have someone else as ya security blanket? That it!? Because your chest's flat as a blanket and ya legs are 'bout as thick as a tree's?"

Ranma almost goes on to his next insult before he's stopped by Sekki though. One moment she's standing a few meters away from Ranma, arms folded. The next moment, she's staring him in the face, eyes glinting dangerously. She raises a fist dangerously. Ranma doesn't seem scared as he stares down at her, his own fists readying for a fight.

Sekki: "My, you are ungrateful, aren't you? I spent half my powers helping her and all you do is curse me!?"

Ranma trembles a little more before taking several deep breaths, trying to calm down. He succeeds partially, and watches the girl in front of him. She watches back, shyly, fearfully, from behind her main wings. The ones on her head are folded against her head in fear... shame? He looks glaringly back at Sekki for a second before covering his eyes with his hand and shaking his head, speaking sadly, lamentingly.

Ranma: "Jeezus, oh man. Ohmanohmanohman, how am I gonna explain this to Soun? How am I gonna live this down!?"

Girl: "P...please, Ranma. Don't get angry because of this....."

Ranma suddenly drops his hand and screams at the top of his lungs at the girl, leaning as far towards her as he can without falling over. Sekki steps aside very quickly to avoid bumping into Ranma, although being rammed by him is a more appropiate description now.

Ranma: "HOW CAN'T I? SEKKI JUST DID THIS TO YOU AND ALL YOU SAY IS, DON'T GET ANGRY!? WHAT KINDA UNFEELING JERK DO YA TAKE ME FOR, AKANE!?"

Akane begins to look extremely apologetic, and unfolds her fairly slender but long bat-wings. These are a dark bluish-black, matching her hair colour very well. Her version of the over-exposing 'swimsuit' is a light shade of night-blue, her translucent gloves pinkish red and reaching to her wrists. Her lower-body stockings are about the same colour, and her skin hugging 'boots' are also the same night-blue shade as her dress. Looking on the verge of tears, Akane pulls her wingtips and clutches them together, not looking into Ranma's eyes.

Akane: "I.... I'm sorry, Ranma. I didn't know this would happen, it.... just did."

Akane shakes her head sadly, head hung low. Ranma closes his eyes and sighs, then leans back and shakes his head.

Ranma: "Akane..... what in the world happened?"

Sekki sighs and glides off to a corner to let the two settle the issue. Sitting in a darkened corner of her cave, she sighs again, sadly as a twinge of guilt pulls at her stomach.

Sekki: <Six hundred years and I'm still an open book. I should've just let her die down there after Kuriimu cut her guts out. But, noooo, I HAD to let myself be swayed by MY greedy emotions and bring her back. But I don't think Ranma would've forgiven me too, and goodness, he's attractive!>

She watches the discussion between the two, at Akane in particular.

Sekki: <What made me do THAT anyway? I could've just lived with him alone.... could I?>

-=-=-=-=-

Shampoo: "What Lina telling Shampoo is, big white furball Kuriimu just want bride, and Shampoo become his because she strong? Like Amazon law?"

Lina: "Exactly. Actually, not only are you strong and attractive, I'd say your..... shape-changing abilities also suit his tastes."

Shampoo: "Aiyah! Shampoo no got abilities, got curse! No like curse!"

Lina looks surprised, then settles back into her original position, a gleam in her eyes.

Lina: "A curse? How interesting, do tell!"

Shampoo nods, and begins her tale all the way from the start with Lina, the silver-haired woman, listening intently.

Kuriimu comes in once in a while, but is shooed away by Lina without Shampoo even noticing Kurimuu's entrance in the first place.

-=-=-=-=-

Ranma: "Akane..... look, I don't know what to say now. You're telling me that.... that..... damned furball digged your guts out and Sekki saved you?"

Akane nods.

Akane: "Yes...."

Ranma looks past Akane's face and at the wings gracing her back. He points with a thumb, and Akane's eyes follow.

Ranma: "Right, and she did THIS in the process? Did you ask for this, Akane?"

Akane flinches, and shakes her head.

Akane: "I-"

Sekki: "What else could I do? It WAS my life-force I used to heal her after all. You can't expect it to be all perfect and without price. Besides, I think she looks rather pretty this way. Much fuller too, that transformation did help."

Ranma and Akane turn to see Sekki floating towards them again, her feet not quite touching the ground. A small contingent of bats surround her, flapping away, then disappearing off towards the ceiling, to be replaced by a few others. 
Sekki stops besides Ranma and Akane, gesturing her hand as if presenting Akane to him. She speaks to him as if presenting a diamond to a millionaire rich beyond avarice, her voice professional and smooth.

Sekki : "Look, she does look more.... mature now, right? Fuller figure, more beautiful eyes, smoother hair.... every guy's dream gal, and don't tell me she's not attractive, Handsome. She's a bargain!"

Akane stares at Sekki for a moment, eyebrow twitching, before she notices Ranma looking at her. He looks at Akane up and down with a critical eye, and Akane blushes at actually having her body wearing so..... little. She tries to cover up, but Sekki holds her hand down. After a few more minutes, Ranma huffs and flicks his hand in a sort of dismissive gesture.

Ranma: "Yeah, with that kind of flat chest and those tree trunk legs? Tell me about-"

*crush*

Ranma feels the all too familiar crush of something wooden and heavy on his head. In a way, it's comfortable. In another way, it still hurts. Akane grabs Ranma's collar and pulls him to her face, frustration showing in her face. Ranma gasps as his air supply is cut off again, and also because he can see something genuine in Akane's newly transformed eyes.

Ranma : <Sekki was right 'bout those eyes though....>
 

But as Ranma continues his observation, he notices that as Akane stares into his eyes, her own are watering sadly. She is taking shuddering breaths, deep and strong, and is trying to keep her face under control. Ranma blinks, his mind a blank. Finally, Akane speaks in a halting voice, voice tinged with pain even Ranma can feel, seconds before the mallet catches up with him and he shuts off.

Akane: "I.... Ranma, I nearly died.... heck, I DID... die, and all you can give me..... are insults!?"

Sekki sighs as Akane drops the already unconscious Ranma, and the two cross their arms, looking at Ranma. Sekki walks over to a sniffing Akane and puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

Sekki : "You alright, Akane-chan?"

Akane nods.

Sekki : "Don't worry about him. Men are like that, you know that."

Akane nods again, then calms down and wipes the tears from her face before looking at Ranma.

Akane : "Yeah, only too well...."

Sekki : "Don't worry about him. He'll wake up. Come on, sit down, I'm not going to wait for him standing up."

Shrugging, the two sit on the floor, crossing their legs as they do so. A few dull minutes of watching Ranma later, Sekki and Akane look at each other, then nod.

Sekki: "I just wished men used their brains sometimes."

Akane: "You bet."

The two look at Ranma again and keep waiting.

***

A few minutes later, when Ranma wakes up again, he sees Akane and Sekki sitting besides him, talking. Sitting up, he rubs the part of his head where Akane's mallet mashed his skull, trying to rub out the tiny Ryouga in his head performing multiple Bakusai-Tenketsu's on his skull.

Ranma: "Geez, Akane.... you've gotten a lot more forceful!"

Akane and Sekki turn their heads to Ranma when they hear his voice. Akane rests her head on a palm, flicking her own set of bat wings unconsciously. Ranma swallows uncomfortably at this..... Akane-succubus.

Akane: "Have I? Sorry 'bout that."

Ranma rubs his head a little more, then rubs his eyes as he remembers Sekki's words earlier on.

Ranma : "You know somethin', Akane?"

Akane : "What's that, Ranma?"

Ranma : "You really think Sekki's description of you was accurate?"

Sekki glares at Ranma, an icy wind suddenly blowing through the cavern.

Sekki : "For your information, boy, Akane's much more attractive than before, and I very much doubt men will be able to resist her for all that she's young."
 

After the initial chill of Sekki's voice and the total (and usual) missing of the hinted threat to his health and welfare, Ranma thinks back to all those times Kuno and the other guys at school were trying to date Akane despite her multiple beatings and turn-downs. He certainly remembers them not giving up even when they tried again and again, each time earning more than their fair share of bruises with her rejections. Ranma laughs mentally as he tries to find something in Akane that lured those guys to their daily bruisings. He can't.

Ranma: "Geez, Akane, sometimes I wonder what it is with you and men that make you so attractive. I-"

Suddenly, his mind's ten-minute-ago-warning-system tells him to come to a screeching halt before saying something stupid again, like maybe... "I certainly don't." He certainly doesn't notice Akane gearing up for another mallet attack.

Instead, he just sighs, shrugs and gets up, dusting himself off as he does so.

Ranma: "Look, back to the main point. We aren't going any good sitting here. Everyone's counting on us to rescue them, and we're just sitting here wasting time. I for one would rather be out there trying to find them now. Goodness knows what those demons are gonna do to oyajii when they find out he can change into a nice, large, juicy piece of panda steak...."

But before Akane or Sekki can stop him, Ranma goes walking off in one direction, seeking the exit. The two look at each other and run up besides him, keeping pace with him easily. Akane crosses her arms as she looks at Ranma, pouting. Ranma notices the two of them walking besides him, and stops for a second. He crosses his arms as well, and looks a little content with himself.

Ranma: "Well, glad to know the two of you are coming with me."

Akane walks right up in front of Ranma, forcing to look down and get a good view of her body in that.... 'swimsuit'.

Ranma: <You have to admit it though, she does look a *little* sexy..... aw man! I'm turning hentai!>

Akane: "Ranma, look around you. Even if the cave weren't so huge, you'd never find the exit."

Ranma looks around him. Except for a few sparse pieces of stone furniture, the entire cavern is shrouded in darkness.
Ranma scratches his head.

Ranma: "Oro? Then how did we get in?"

Akane sighs, and Sekki gives Akane a knowing look. She nods.

Akane: "Look. We can't get in from the sides, we didn't come in from the ground, so...."

Akane looks up, and Ranma follows. At the center of the cavern's ceiling is a large entrance, and several hundred bats are perched there. Ranma swallows hard.

Ranma: "Oh. How am I gonna get out from the top then?"

Sekki looks at Ranma, then to Akane. Ranma does NOT like the looks the two are giving him, all teeth and smiles.

Sekki: "He's all yours, honey."

Ranma starts stepping back worriedly, holding his hands out in front of him defensively, while he sweats uncontrollably.

Ranma: "M..m..ma.ma...matte! You aren't going to.... er..... carry me, are you?"

Akane smiles slyly and nods. Ranma can feel a bigsweat coming on as several hundred smaller beads of sweat form on his head, joining together. He grins stupidly and tries to step back further, but Akane already has his arm.

Ranma: "Akane.....W....w.... Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!"

And without another word, Akane just takes off towards the ceiling exit with Ranma in tow, still screaming. Sekki waves to the two of them as they disappear through the roof, three hundred bats flying out before them in a sort of honor-salute.

Sekki: "Good luck, Ranma, Akane! See you soon!"

When the two are gone, Sekki sighs and slumps her shoulders.

Sekki: <Alone again. Sometimes I just wished the spell on this island would break.> 



Author's notes : Hey hey hey! My first set of notes so far in this fic!
Ok, right.... I know for most of you, this has GOT to be WEIRD. Akane turning into some sort of succubus? Most of you probably know what one is after Capcom's Vampire Hunter came out..... even more of you guys probably learned what one was from the same source. So it looks like a cross-over, but what am I gonna do? Well..... I had this idea for Akane being stuck on the island and everything, so this was the best I could come up with. It ain't bad, is it? My fics just get weirder and weirder.....