Ranma 1/2 : Timelines by Mark Latus A fanfic in 5 parts People who don't belong in the regular Ranmaverse and where they came from: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryoga 1/2 Timeline Ryoga Hibiki - aka Ryoga 1/2, Ryoga-chan. Has same curse as Ranma, uses the name Yuriko in his cursed form. Engaged to the Nabiki of his world and would rather be back there with her than stuck in this universe. This is his third encounter with alternate worlds and that's three too many. Currently claiming to be Ryoga's cousin Yuriko Hibiki while in female form. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ryoga/Kodachi Timeline Ryoga Hibiki - aka Ryoga-K. Has the standard P-chan curse and is engaged to the Kodachi of his world. Lost a lot of his left arm in his previous adventure on an alternate world and really doesn't want to be here. Owns several prosthetics and is currently using the alias of Ryo Hibiki, Ryoga's other cousin (Yuriko's brother). Only known Ryoga with a sense of direction. Yohko Mano - Best ninja assassin in the "Order of the Purple Striped Dragon" which isn't saying much. Long ago the Mano clan was taken seriously in the days when they were Devil Hunters. But her ancestors sealed the demons' gateways permanently and their skills deteriorated from lack of use. Yohko dreams of somehow restoring the clan's glory days and carries their sacred Devil Hunter ring. Keiichi - Briefly a member of Yohko's ninjas before resigning having got Morisato tired of constant pummelings from the group's former target, Ryoga Hibiki. Currently attending Technical University which is where he met his strange girlfriend Belldandy. Belldandy - Member of the Norse Pantheon and Goddess of the Past. Due to Keiichi's hasty wish when he met her the two of them are now bound to be together by magic. Not that either of them mind. Currently Keiichi is the only one aware of her divine status. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Guyver-Ryoga timeline Tatewaki Kuno - aka Guyver-Kuno, The Black Thunder. Has the incredible power of the alien battlesuit known of the Guyver but remains an idiot which limits its effectiveness. Has grudges against both the Ranma Saotome and Ryoga Hibiki of his world. The latter of these possess the only other Guyver suit. He is the only one of the six unaware he has switched worlds. He is also unaware that his Guyver symbiote is becoming intelligent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Part 3 : "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." "Ok, we turn here and we should be there in about five minutes." Ryoga-chan studied the area with a total lack of recognition. "Are you sure?" Wearing an irritated expression Keiichi looked up from the map she'd given him. "If you got the address right, then yes. I do know how to read a map!" "Well that makes one of us. Why I even bother packing a map I don't know.", Ryoga/Yuriko Hibiki thought. All he said out loud was, "I have no problem remembering addresses." I can never find them but I always remember them. "Excuse me Hibiki-san ..." Belldandy looked curious. "Just plain Ryoga's fine ... well when I'm in this body just plain Yuriko is fine." "As you wish Yuriko. I was wondering if I could ask you something?" "Go ahead." "You told us this Ukyou Kuonji is a good friend. Yet you cannot find her restaurant unaided despite the fact it's only a few minutes away. That seems a little odd to me." If anyone else asked me that I'd probably start getting mad, Ryoga-chan thought. Yet there was something strangely calming about Belldandy. It was odd, during his involuntary travels he'd met a lot of gaijin. Yet of all of them none had ever seemed as ... as otherworldly as Belldandy. It was almost as if she didn't quite fit in anywhere. Ryoga-chan shook off the speculation and answered, "I don't like to talk about it, matter of fact it used to be I'd never even admit it, but I have no sense of direction. I have the uncanny ability to get lost anywhere, anytime. Regardless of how familiar the surroundings are." "That's very unfortunate." Keiichi broke in with, "Would you mind explaining again why we're going to see her?" "She's Ranma's other fiancee. With Akane and Ranma's engagement broken this is her big chance. Hopefully if Ranma will finally really notice her he'll forget about Akane and stop trying to kill my counterpart." "How did Ranma get two fiancees at the same time anyway?" "It's a long story ... actually it's a short story. Ranma's father is a cheapskate who doesn't worry about longterm consequences. He set the whole thing up to get himself some free meals. Despite having already promised his son would marry one of Soun Tendo's daughters. Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if another half dozen fiancees with similar stories show up." "You're kidding." "No. Though it certainly qualifies as one of the craziest ways to get two people together." Keiichi looked at Belldandy. "Oh I don't know about that. I've heard stranger." Belldandy chuckled. "Must be some sort of private joke", Ryoga-chan thought. Out loud he continued, "Ukyou is Ranma's only other official fiancee. There's also Shampoo and Kodachi but they're self appointed." "So why try Ukyou rather than them?" "I like her better than the other two and I think they'd make a good match. Besides I think Shampoo has something going with Mousse though she'll never admit it. Also her curse makes it tricky for Ranma to relax when she's around. As for Kodachi ... I realize my other self might think that's a good idea but I wouldn't wish Kodachi on my worst enemy. Of course I'm biased because she keeps trying to kill me." Keiichi shrugged, "Sounds reasonable to me. I've met Kodachi ... well a Kodachi. Frankly I don't want to repeat the experience." "Keiichi you're not being fair. There may be a sweet, vulnerable girl behind the psychotic exterior." Both Ryoga-chan and Keiichi just looked at Belldandy. Then they resumed walking. Belldandy shrugged then asked, "So you're good friends with Miss Kuonji?" "Yes. At least back on my world. Of course our friendship got stronger after I stopped spending all my time trying to mangle Ranma." Something worrying occurred to Ryoga-chan. "Although after that fiasco with Akane I can't count on anything being the way I expect. Despite Xerxes claims things are close to that other alternate world. Especially as Xerxes seems fairly incompetent." Belldandy nodded, "That is strange. The Walkers are supposed to be infallible." "The Walkers?" "The Walkers Between, they who stride between universes, the ones to whom reality and illusion are the same thing, the watchers on the edge of all dreams ... and so on." Ryoga-chan studied her. "Where did you hear all that?" Keiichi was still trying to think up a good story when Belldandy answered. "I'm really a goddess which gives me an insight humans lack. Kami-sama briefs every member of the pantheon on the Walkers." "Fine, don't tell me then." Keiichi looked at Belldandy in amazement. She seemed to be trying to supress a fit of giggles. When they arrived outside the restaurant Ryoga-chan studied the customers through the window. No sign of Ranma so it should be safe to transform back. She uncapped her thermos and used the last of her hot water to neutralize the curse. Putting it back in his pack Ryoga said, "Hope you both like Okonomiyaki. Things get dangerous for customers who don't." "Dangerous?" "Let's just say it's unwise to insult the food when the cook is a martial artist. Luckily she's a very good cook." The three entered the restaurant and found an empty table. Business was moderate so it wasn't long before Ukyou came over to take their orders. She seemed friendly enough to Ryoga which was one less worry. He introduced the others as friends of his, ordered three of the daily special with coffee and a refill of hot water. He also asked her to have a word with them when she could. Ukyou finished cooking and brought their orders over. No new customers had entered after Ryoga & Co. so she joined them at the table. "So what's up Ryoga?" Ryoga seemed abnormally cheerful. Usually he radiated either an aura of depression and gloom or a barely restrained anger. Ok here we go. "This is the happiest day of my life. Maybe of yours, too." What the heck had gotten into him? "Are you feeling alright Ryoga?" She saw no sign of fever, drunkness or drugs but hearing Mr. Angst talk like that was hard to believe. "Never better. I finally got up the nerve to talk to Akane. Really talk to her I mean." "You're kidding?!" "Nope, I swear I did. I have witnesses." He indicated Keiichi and Belldandy who both nodded. Ukyou was amazed, she'd never have thought he'd get over his shyness. But if he had than why was he so happy that Akane had rejected him ... it couldn't be that ...? No, not a chance! Which was why she was truly shaken when Ryoga told her, "Akane said she felt the same way. It was incredible." Keiichi muttered, "She did more than just talk to him", then shut up when Belldandy kicked him in the shin. Ukyou was staring at Ryoga. "You're serious!" Then her eyes narrowed, "But then why are you here instead with Akane? And what about Ranma?" "The answer's the same. Ranma broke in on us, he'd been eavesdropping and demanded Akane tell him it was a joke. She said it wasn't, the engagement was off and he should get out and leave the two of us alone. Ranma didn't take getting dumped very well. Matter of fact he freaked and I had to get away fast to stay intact. He's still out there somewhere looking for me. Intending to beat me to a pulp. At the very least." Something about this struck Ukyou as a little odd. "You ran away? You didn't stay to fight?" A warning bell went off in Ryoga's mind. She was right, his other self would have been pigheaded enough to stand and fight. Despite the fact that it would have meant getting slaughtered. In a hesitant tone of voice he said, "Well obviously I'd have liked nothing better than to beat that weakling up ... it's just ... well ... he keeps getting lucky. Always wins our fights because of some lucky break. Besides Akane was right there and she doesn't like seeing us fight ... so I left." It sounded like Ryoga had finally figured out he couldn't beat Ranma. If it was true Akane loved him then maybe that had straightened him out ... The implications of these events hit her. If it was true that the engagement was off then ... Ryoga cleared his throat and said, "So I was thinking that maybe Ranma would calm down a bit if an old friend had a word with him. Perhaps you could convince him to let it go and forget about Akane." Yes! This could be her big chance. If Akane had rejected Ranma then she didn't have to wait for him to finally choose. "If this is your idea of a joke you are going to suffer Ryoga." He shrugged. "Don't take my word for it. Drop by the Dojo and talk to Akane." "I'll do that!" Yes, this was her day. She'd close up early, drop by the Tendo's and then comb every square centimetre of the city until she found Ranma! Then she noticed the Okonomiyaki had gone cold while they were talking. It was a point of professional pride never to serve cold food to her customers. "Oh damn! Wait I'll make some fresh." Pausing only to flip the sign in the door to "closed" she headed back to the kitchen. Keiichi shook his head at Belldandy and she lowered the arm she'd started to raise. He was sure she'd been about to volunteer to reheat the food in some mystical fashion. Ryoga 1/2 relaxed a little. Everything was going fine. At least that's what he thought. What they didn't notice was the potted plant sidling towards the door. Ukyou hadn't noticed yet that she'd acquired a new plant despite it being a bonsai version of the infamous "Pink Bunkadoo". Rather than explain the "Time Bandits" reference we will instead reveal that it was, in reality, the latest disguise attempt of Tsubasa Kurenai. Once outside Tsubasa unfolded himself from the pot and swore. Damn that Hibiki! This was a disaster! He'd been sure that, despite all their differences, Ranma and Akane were solid. So Ukyou was wasting her time throwing herself at Ranma. In fact it would actually help him. Someday Ukyou would have tired of continually beating her head against a brick wall and given up. When she did she'd notice that he was waiting for her. His romantic daydream broke down and he returned to reality. Now Ranma was alone, rampaging around Nerima with a broken heart. This was the situation he'd feared most! Ukyou would find him, the shattered Ranma would realize Ukyou loved him and had always been there for him. Then the two of them would ... The scream from the schoolgirl standing by the hideous plant drew the attention of everyone in the neighbourhood. It didn't seem as high pitched as it should have. Tsubasa took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. There was only one thing to do, a preemptive strike! Make sure one of the others got to Ranma first. Ignoring the bystanders asking if "she" were alright Tsubasa raced off. First stop, the Nekohanten. Meanwhile some distance away Yohko watched Ryoga-K sorting through his backpack again. The contents were strewn around him and he seemed in a foul mood. "Damnit, where is it?" All that Yohko could think of was, "Maybe it got lost when your counterpart was ransacking the packs for clothing?" He sighed, "I'm afraid that's probably what happened. He wouldn't have known what it was. Probably it rolled down a drain or something. Great, I just lost my only sample of the ultimate aphrodisiac." "Couldn't you make some more?" "Kodachi ... that is my Kodachi, is the only one who knows the formula. And she's a universe away." Good thing too, she's dangerous! Yohko stopped reminiscing about past injuries and asked, "Why were you carrying it anyway. I thought the two of you ...?" "Just a precaution. Given the number of dangerous women in this town and the fact I don't like hitting girls ... "Excuse me!" "... the fact I don't like hitting girls who aren't professional assassins, Kodi thought I'd better have another line of defense. Hence the love potion. It temporarily soothes the savage breast." Kodi? Out loud she asked, "So what were you planning anyway?" "Get Ranma and Akane in the same room, secretly spray in a good dose of 37, bar the doors and windows and let nature take its course. Knowing those two even after the drug wears off they'll feel obligated to stick together. A matter of honor." "Except you lost the love potion. Let's hope the rats appreciate it. So know what?" "We fall back to plan B." "What's that?" "I'm working on it." Great. Ryoga seemed lost in thought. "Ok if we convince Akane that Ryoga's not the nice guy she thinks. That he's just looking to add her to a string of conquests ... now how to set that up? Say Akane sees Ryoga messing around with another girl ..." Yohko realized he was looking at her. "Me?" "I don't see any other volunteers. Problem is if I get too close it'll be obvious I'm not Ryoga. Unless I can convince her I lost an arm while shaving." Yohko sighed. "Fine, she sees us together from a distance, her heart breaks and she goes running back to Ranma. Well it's a start. Anything to straighten this mess out and get us back home." "Stick with me and I'll get everyone back home." At least I hope so, he thought. Shaking off negative thoughts he continued plotting. Meanwhile at the Nekohanten restaurant Shampoo was bouncing around the dining room from joy. The sight of this was distracting the diners and several men had been slapped by their dates for paying too much attention. "Shampoo!" She immediately calmed down and assumed a respectful position before the crone. "Yes, Great-grandmother?" "First we must very this information. It is unwise to put too much faith in a transvestite who would disguise himself as an iceburg in the middle of the Gobi desert." "Yes Great-grandmother." "However ...", the crone smiled (actually she might have been grimacing, it's hard to tell with all those wrinkles), "... this could indeed be the best chance you'll get to make the wedding official. Go to the Tendo Dojo and confirm Tsubasa's story. If it is true then find Ranma and make him yours! If it's false do something painful to the schoolgirl impersonator." "Hai!" Shampoo headed out the front door in a blur and rode her bike away at a speed Nuku Nuku might have envied. Cologne turned to the kitchen, "Mousse, take over from Shampoo. And don't spill anything on the customers!" There was no answer. She frowned and went back to look. The back door was open and Mousse was gone. He'd departed just before Shampoo. On hearing Tsubasa's story he'd realized this could be it. If Akane had rejected Ranma then Saotome was without a reason to ignore Shampoo. Indeed what man could ignore Shampoo? Mousse was sure it was only Ranma's sense of honor that kept him true to Akane despite Shampoo's constant attention. But with the engagement dissolved Ranma was free to go to Shampoo! Next time she threw herself at him he'd catch her and then ... ! Trying to ignore the X-rated visions of Ranma and Shampoo burning through his mind Mousse had checked his weapons were ready and dashed out. The only solution was to take out Saotome now before Shampoo found him. Meanwhile at the Kuno mansion Sasuke had just opened the door. He was telling the schoolgirl in the entrance, "No one is admitted without an invitation from Master or Mistress Kuno." "But I have to see Kodachi! I have important news concerning Ranma!" From inside came a sudden burst of laughter with an ugly undertone. "News about my darling Ranma? I must hear it." A black ribbon spiraled out of the darkness within and coiled around Tsubasa. With a cry he was jerked inside, flying over Sasuke's head. Sasuke said a quick prayer on his behalf and closed the door. He passed Master Kuno who told him, "Learn what is so urgent that anyone would seek to talk to my sister after night has fallen." Sasuke bowed and slipped quietly down the hallway. Master Kuno seemed to have decided that his sister was in league with the forces of darkness. Not that Sasuke could dispute this. While all this was going on Ryoga 1/2 was dragging another Tatewaki Kuno towards a dumpster near Ukyou's restaurant. Keiichi showed he still remembered a bit of his martial arts training by doing an excellent jump onto the top of the dumpster. He opened the lid and Ryoga hefted Kuno overhead. Kuno arced smoothly upwards and dropped straight into the dumpster. Keiichi banged the lid closed then asked, "Should I try and wedge this shut?" "No point. If he wants out he's going to get out. This is just to get him out of the way temporarily. Hope he stays unconscious for a while. If we're really lucky he'll be out until we all get sent home." "Think that's likely?" "Not a chance. Things never run that smoothly." "True." Keiichi dropped down to join Ryoga and the two of them headed back to Ukyou's restaurant. To understand what lead to this it is necessary to turn the clock back a little. Shortly after Guyver-Kuno's encounter with Ryo and Yuriko Hibiki he visited the Tendos. It had been a bit of a surprise for them. Even around a place as crazy as the dojo black armoured alien exosuits are a rarity. Nabiki had been sitting on the porch trying to fit the recent chain of events into rational form. Ranma's running berserk was fairly understandable. Akane's behaviour wasn't. At least it didn't fit into anything Nabiki would have predicted. Her sister was currently roaming around the house with the goofy and braindead look of the totally lovestruck. Her father was following her around and weeping loudly but she was ignoring him. The situation wasn't totally unrewarding. Thanks to her foresight in having filephotos of all the principal lunatics in Nerima Nabiki had been able to sell Akane a collection of shots of Ryoga. Akane was using them to paper her walls and had placed an order for several poster sized blowups. Still why the sudden obsession with Ryoga? Or had it been there all along but she'd been waiting for him to make the first move? It seemed unlikely and yet ... On another tangent Ryoga's behaviour had been odd. She'd have bet on him staying to fight Ranma to the death rather than being sensible enough to strategically withdraw. Of course she also wouldn't have guessed he'd have got over his shyness enough to confront Akane anyway. She was still musing over this when the armoured figure landed in the garden. Just what they needed! Another martial artist dropping by with a challenge. "So who are you?" "Do not pretend you do not know me Nabiki Tendo! The Black Thunder has arrived to challenge the sorcerer Saotome and his minion Hibiki!" Kuno's voice. "That's a new look for you isn't it?" "New? Your memory must be failing you. I have lost count of the times we have met this way." Now what? To heck with it, she didn't need any additional complications. "Anyway neither of them is here right now. Matter of fact they're out there somewhere trying to kill each other again." "Again? Hah I should have known an alliance of such evil could not maintain itself. Perhaps I should date with my two loves while the miscreants are occupied ... no, my righteous vengeance must come first." He started turning as though to leave but stopped and seemed to be studying her closely. Nabiki started feeling uncomfortable. Then he said simply, "My compliments to your reconstructive surgeon", completed his turn and leapt over the wall. Leaving Nabiki to wonder what that had meant. Guyver-Kuno began a search of Nerima. However he found no sign of either Hibiki or Saotome, though he did successfully panic a lot of people. Black, spiky aliens crashing through your roof have that effect on people. Someday, Kuno though, he would stop making these minor errors with the gravity control while leaping from rooftop to rooftop. At length he gave up, landed on the street and deactivated the Guyver. Stepping out of the crater he'd just created Kuno decided he would get something to eat. Even a samurai needed to pause in a quest for vengeance to maintain his strength. Besides a good meal might take his mind off the annoying buzzing he seemed to keep hearing. "HELLO! CAN YOU HEAR ME? GIVE ME SOME SIGN THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF MY PRESENCE. HOST, ARE YOU LISTENING? ... PAY ATTENTION! I'M TRYING TO COMMUNICATE. OH, THE HELL WITH THIS." The Guyver symbiote ceased its telepathic shouting. Evidently the host remained unaware of its' newly acquired sentience. It appeared that their relationship remained one way. It knew the host was there and had successfully been able to tap into his senses and memories. Combining these with its own thought processes it had built up it's own picture of it's current status. These could be reduced to eleven points. 1. It was a Guyver unit symbiotically merged with a human. 2. Upon activation the two of them combined into a nearly unbeatable weapon. 3. The host was not using it at anything like full capacity. 4. The host was unaware of the full capabilities of the Guyver armour. 5. The host lost on a regular basis to another Guyver unit. 6. The host was obsessed with two girls which tended to distract him at crucial moments. 7. The host was unaware he had a passenger in his mind. 8. In fact the host didn't used most of his mind. 9. The host was, in fact, basically an idiot. 10. There was no way for the Guyver unit to change this situation. 11. Shit happens. While his unhappy guest pondered the basic cruelty of existence Kuno continued trying to choose a restaurant. He was in the right district now he simply had to pick one. Then he saw something which rather startled him. Someone had rebuilt Ukyou's house of Okonomiyaki. Which was a bit odd because he'd been sure something else had been built on the spot. A tearoom, coffeeshop, something like that. Though he could see customers through the window there was a closed sign in the door. Puzzled by this mystery he tried the door and found it unlocked. Kuno stepped inside and saw his luck had changed. Hibiki was sitting with two people he didn't know. They were currently being served by a waitress with an attractive (and strangely familiar) backside. Perhaps once he defeated Hibiki he would permit her to date him. Then she turned around. Kuno felt his blood turn to ice as he recognised the late Ukyou Kunonji. He didn't register her telling him that the restaurant was closed. He was in the abode of ghosts, he must exorcise this place. "GUYVER!" Ryoga 1/2 watched the armour form around Kuno with a terrible sense of deja vu. At least this time he knew not to fight the Guyver but to go straight for the "run away" part. Then the Black Guyver seemed to wobble in place before crashing facefirst into the floor and lying still. Ryoga had been saved from a rerun of "Worlds in Collision part 2" by several factors. Kuno's extreme shock seeing what he believed to be a ghost combined with the exhilaration of Guyver activation and the cumulative effect of the drugs his sister had been secretly dosing him with. The result of which meant Kuno's brain overloaded and he blacked out. His somewhat surprised symbiotic partner watched Kuno's conscious mind blink out. Then it mentally grinned and reached out to see if it could take control of his body. Nothing happened. It tried again and seemed to telepathically touch a switch of some sort. Ok, start there. What happens when it's pushed? Ryoga, Ukyou and company were cautiously approaching the still figure when the energy sphere reappeared. The floor shredded and Kuno became visible again. Ukyou stared at the damage then shouted, "You idiot! Look what you've done to my floor!" Ryoga managed to stop her before she started kicking him. "Uh you might wake him up. It's a lot healthier if he stays out cold." "But my floor!" Ryoga flipped Kuno over, studied him for a moment, then reached down and pulled out his wallet. "This should cover it." Ukyou counted the wad of yen and nodded. "How'd you find that so quickly?" "Nabiki's taught me how to instantly locate a person's wallet and make an 88% accurate estimate of it's contents." "Nabiki?" "Skip it. Meantime we'd better get him out of the way. Is there still that dumpster around the corner?" Ukyou nodded. "Great, Keiichi, mind giving me a hand?" Keiichi shrugged and got the door while Ryoga dragged Kuno outside. Which brings us back to the dumpster so let's cut back to Ryoga and Keiichi's return to the restaurant. Once there they finally managed to finish their meals. They were the last customers to leave. As soon as they did Ukyou turned off the lights, locked the doors, forgot about the cleaning up and headed for the Tendo dojo. As soon as she was gone Ryoga poured the glass of water he'd been holding over his head. Ryoga-chan looked at Belldandy and Keiichi. "Ok, let's drop by the dojo just to check everything's under control. After which ... well I guess we can bunk overnight in the van. Hopefully this'll all get resolved tonight." Keiichi dug out the map and plotted a course. Meanwhile at the Kuno Mansion the main gate opened and a bedraggled looking schoolgirl was unceremoniously dumped outside. A few moments later a figure in a black leotard with a very disturbing laugh bounded out and bounced away towards the Tendo Dojo. Tsubasa didn't react to this, he just lay there shivering and muttering. "Alligators! She has pet alligators!" Inside the mansion Tatewaki Kuno (the one indigenous to that world) was pondering the report Sasuke had delivered. Akane Tendo was free of the clutches of that fiend Ranma, which was good. However she had fallen into the hands of that directionally challenged fool Hibiki. Ranma had undoubtably scrambled her mind somehow. Now he must claim Akane from Hibiki ... Wait! The pigtailed girl remained in Ranma's clutches. He must free her first ... No, he must free Akane first! No, the pigtailed girl! ... Akane ... the pigtailed girl ... Surprisingly rather than get caught in a loop Kuno made a decision. He would go to the dojo and defeat whichever of the fiends showed themselves. Then he would date whichever girl he rescued first. Pleased with this plan Kuno set out for the dojo. Meanwhile at the dojo Ukyou was counting out the fee she'd had to promise Nabiki before she'd been allowed in to talk to Akane. Nabiki folded the banknotes then said, "I expected you a lot sooner." "What do you mean?" "I mean Shampoo got here about half an hour ago." "WHAT!" "She said Tsubasa told her Ranma was up for grabs." "I'LL KILL HIM!" Then Ukyou's expression changed from wrathful to lovestruck. "But first I'll find Ranma. He's had a rough day and needs a shoulder to cry on. After that ..." Ukyou departed in a hurry, racing over the rooftops in search of Ranma. Nabiki sighed and looked at Akane who was mooning over a picture of Ryoga. "You've really put the cat among the pigeons." Akane ignored her and continued murmuring endearments to the photograph. There was another knock on the door and Nabiki opened it expecting Kodachi. However she didn't recognise this girl. The red head said, "Ah good evening, I'm Yuriko Hibiki and these are my friends Belldandy and Keiichi. I was wondering if my cousin Ryoga was around. I understand he can be found here on occasion." "Sorry, haven't seen him since this afternoon." "I see. Has my brother Ryo been by?" "I don't think so. Not that I know what he looks like." "He looks a lot like Ryoga. Apart from the artificial left hand." "Artificial?" "He had ... an accident a few months ago. Sorry to bother you." THe trio departed and Nabiki jotted the information down in her notebook. Seemed she'd be doing quite a bit of revision to her personnel files. Then the window swung inward and laughter with an ugly edge drifted in. "Hello Kodachi I was expecting you." Meanwhile on the rooftops of Nerima: "Saotome, I will finish you before you can touch my darling Shampoo!" "Ranma, You no hide from Shampoo!" "Ryoga, come out and fight you coward!" "Ranma-honey, where are you." "Come on Yohko, we've got a heart to break!" "I'm coming. You sure this'll work?" "Saotome and/or Hibiki! Prepare to feel the righteous fury of the Blue Thunder. Yea though my vegeance has oft been delayed ..." and so on. The head of the Nerima Householder's Insurance Company heard this and groaned. It sounded like another expensive night for repairs. He considered studying bankruptcy procedures again then shook off the defeatism. Returning to his computer he continued writing his brief on why the government should declare martial artist induced damage equivalent to an act of God. Before we forget; back in Canada at that drycleaners: "... so by a study of Zeno's paradox it becomes obvious that it is impossible to arrive anywhere. Therefore asking for directions is an exercise in futility." Ryoga frowned, "Maybe but as Rene Descarte observed ..." Then he shook his head violently. "What the hell am I talking about?" He picked up the owner of "Philosopher's Drycleaning" by his shirt and shook him until his teeth rattled. "Just tell me how to get back to Japan!" "Head that way until you hit Vancouver. Straight across the Pacific and you're there." Ryoga dropped him and stormed out of the store. The owner picked himself up and studied the direction Ryoga was going. "Of course it'll be a little hard to find Vancouver on the East Coast." End of part 3 Next: Just another crazy night in Nerima town Part 4 : "Don't worry, We can handle this!"