[Episode 226208] [Episode 226208]"Eh?!" Momoe Marubeya gasped. "You mean to say that for the longest time, you were just this psychic databank of ninjutsu knowledge, but then one day…!"
"The part of you that belonged to Tariko's ancestors merged with a like databank held by this other family because the host of that one was dying," Kumiko Gekasawa added.
"And when the two parts of you merged together, you woke up," Tsuyoko Amamori finished.
The possessed Tariko nodded. "That is correct," she replied, her voice still touched with the haunting twang one would expect of someone being possessed by an entity like the thousand year-old sentient storehouse of martial arts knowledge both known and feared by the name Saikô Jinseijutsu, the Way of the Supreme Life.
The women around the living room table — who had been joined by the ten members of Ataru's Handmaidens after they had heard the thunderous shout of their possessed host from the living room some minutes before — took that in before nodding in understanding. Save for the Attendants — all of whom still looked at Tariko with considerable wariness — the emotions on everyone's faces ranged from curiosity on meeting such a being like this to awe that Tariko had been able to live her life (both as herself and as Ataru) sharing her very own MIND with a being that had been alive in every sense of the term for over two centuries, possessing knowledge dating back a millennium into history. "And ever since that time, all your hosts have vowed to find some way to allow you finally break free of their minds and live your own life, right?" Ranma added as she pointed at her possessed friend. "Including Tariko, right?"
A nod. "Also correct."
"How long have you been in Tariko?" Benten wondered. Both she and Oyuki were stunned to encounter what clearly could be seen as Earth's first true sapient and sentient artificial intelligence, created using means that would simply defy even the high technology of worlds like Zeiwan, home to their friend Chara, the master android-builder who had created the dozen replicas of Ataru Moroboshi at Lum's request for use if Ataru was needed to be seen at the same place Tariko happened to be.
"Ten years," the possessed teen replied. "I must confess, this has been the most unusual part of my existence since I first became sentient in 1808."
"How so, Negako-san?" Oyuki wondered.
A light smile touched Tariko's face on hearing the Neptunian address her by the name the steel angel known later as "Kurumi Ayanokôji" had chosen for her back in the 1920s (should the Saikô Jinseijutsu ever come to live in a woman's body, of course). "Unlike my other hosts, Ataru was never prepared either physically or mentally to be my host; the choice of him was done virtually at the spur of the moment. To that end, after I had adjusted myself inside his subconscious, I began seeking out ways of building the necessary ki energy required to eventually separate myself from him and ensure both of us would survive the experience. The gatherings were small until such time as Lum entered Ataru's life and he made his decision to become Tariko."
"So all the times Ataru went crazy with girl hunts and all that…" Shinobu breathed out. "Was actually provoked by you in the long term, right?!"
"In essence, you are correct, Shinobu. But remember this also: the adolescent years of one's life are often filled with a desire to push one's limits when it comes to one's life and one's standing in society as a whole. Many times did Ataru do what he did simply for the desire to do it since he had, over the years, acquired quite a distaste (if not total hatred) of many social and cultural conventions you all would see as 'normal,' yet he came to see as utterly irrelevant."
"I see," Momoe breathed out. "Well, it would make sense…"
"That's why we fell in love with him in the end, Momoe-chan," Kumiko reminded her.
A grin. "True, true!"
"Besides, Ataru-kun DID agree to be Negako-san's host," Masako Yamagata stated. "And he did vow that he would do whatever he could to see Negako-san live her own life." A shrug. "It's not his fault that things got screwed up along the way."
"Besides, Shinmi-sempai said she could get a bioroid body for Negako-san to use," Keiko Kinjô added. "If we do it tonight, Tariko-sempai can finally be free of Negako-san and settle down with Lum-sempai and Negako-san finally has control of her life."
"So where is this 'production line' you found, Sempai?" Eiko Maeda asked.
Suikô smirked. "It's in the mountains just north of Nippara in Okutama," she answered. "An old air raid shelter complex one of the observers discovered when he was exploring the city after they started coming here full time." A hum escaped her. "Last time I checked there — this was about a week ago — there were still three hundred bioroids in the complex." A smirk. "And only one guy watching over it."
"Two hundred and ninety-three. Shinmi, you need to sharpen your ki senses."
Eyes locked on Tariko/Negako. "So speaks the expert," Suikô said with a smirk.
"Some expert," Chôjô muttered to herself as she rubbed her forehead.
Giggles flooded the room. "Negako-sama is so awesome!" Izumi Kagabu breathed out.
"She is indeed the perfect warrior," Shiryû stated with an appreciative nod.
"Negako, show me."
The possessed Tariko held up her hand. Kyech touched it for a moment, and then both remained still as a strange glow encompassed them both. That faded soon enough, and then Kyech nodded. "I will get them and bring them here."
She vanished in a flash of light. "Hey! Wait, Kyech!" Ranma called out.
"Do not concern yourself at the suddenness of this action, Ranma. Kyech is capable of entering and leaving from the location without detection."
Eyes locked on Tariko, and then people nodded…just as the living room windows exploded inward, allowing a small, bald form in the robes of a Buddhist monk to race in, cane held high. "BEGONE, EVIL SPIRIT!" Cherry bellowed…
…just as a long pipe caught him in the tail of his robes, and then sent him flying out the window into the evening sky. "LEAVE HER ALONE, YOU STUPID IDIOT!" Happôsai screamed out as he landed on Ranma's head.
"It's Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate…!" Cherry wailed as he vanished into the clouds now somewhere over Shinjuku.
Seeing that the pesky monk was gone, Happôsai nodded. "Still got it."
And then he gasped as two arms grasped him off Ranma's head and allowed him to relax in Tariko's cleavage. "Again, you are my hero, Happy," Tariko/Negako stated with a very content smile as she allowed him to snuggle up against her.
Happôsai blink-blinked several times, and then he gulped as his face turned a very interesting shade of red. "Um, Ranma, my dear, is Negako-chan…?"
"A girl," Ranma finished, a smirk crossing her face.
Hearing that, the grandmaster of Musabetsu Kakutô-ryû blinked again, and then his eyes watered up before jets of tears began showering over everyone else. "SHE'S A GIRL! SHE'S A GIRL! SHE'S A GIRL! I'M THE LUCKIEST MAN IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
CLONK!
"JUST A GODDAMNED MINUTE HERE! WHO SAYS SHE'S YOURS, YOU SENILE OLD, LINGERIE-LOVING GOAT?! SHE'S MINE!" Suikô bellowed out as she glared Happôsai down.
The aged grandmaster instantly called up his battle aura. "OH, YEAH?!"
"YEAH!"
CLANG! Times two.
"Kindly take it outside, please!" Kuohu said after she bashed both of them out the shattered windows of the home with one sweep of the Frost Blood Blade.
As people moved to look outside just as Happôsai and Suikô began to fight it out on the front yard right in front of a wide-eyed Seuchsa, Benten began to laugh. "What's so funny?!" Shinobu demanded as she stared at the Fukunokami.
The biker girl pointed to Tariko. "She ain't even got her own body yet and already she's got people fightin' over her!" she blurted out before breaking down in guffaws.
Tariko's eyebrow twitched slightly. "I am unsure as to how to feel about this."
Eyes locked on her. "What do you mean, Negako-sama?" Reishi wondered.
"Should I feel complimented or insulted?"
Stunned silence fell for a moment, and then people broke out in laughter. That was soon interrupted by Kyech's voice from the direction of the stairs leading into the basement. "I have them here now. Negako, Hiromi, come with me, please."
Everyone stared at the Dragonspeaker, and then Hiromi perked. "Why both of us?"
"Because if Tariko's body should expire before you are protected, you will die."
Gulps echoed through the room. "That's a pretty good reason," Hakufu noted…
Meanwhile, outside…
"SO WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU WHEN SHE NEEDED YOU, FREAK?!"
"I WAS TRYING TO THROW OFF THE DAMNED CURSE HER 'MASTERS' FORCED ON ME! WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE, YOU UNDYING, RESURRECTED GHOST?!"
Huge ki bombs flew at Suikô, who instantly conjured black energy whips to rip them in half and make them explode in the air before they could get close to hurting her. Seuchsa had, smartly, ducked to the side of the house, getting clear of these two crazy Terrans as they tried to maul each other apart. He then perked on seeing a running woman in a white-and-red robe race at them, painted pieces of paper in her hand. "STOP, YOU EVIL CREATURES! YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO UNLESS THAT HORROR ON THIS CITY!" Sakura screamed as she wound up and let her ofuda fly.
Happôsai took his pipe and puffed deep before sending a spit of tobacco at one of the ofuda just as Suikô slashed out with a ki blast to burn the other one down. At that moment, Tsubame appeared at one corner of the Moroboshi property, his hands out as he forced his magic into a devastating attack. "STUPEFUS MAXIMA!"
Unfortunately for Seuchsa, he found himself the only one hit by the Maximum Stunner spell; Happôsai and Suikô had leapt well clear before Tsubame's magic would have hit them. And unfortunately for Sakura's fiancé, Seuchsa's pained squeals was enough to get someone else to join the fray. "HEY!" Kyekkyek bellowed as she lunged through the window, the Blood of the Viper's Heart appearing in her hand. "YOU HURT MY FRIEND, YOU LUNATIC MAGIC-JOCKEY! TAKE THIS!"
CLANG! One magic-user heading into the Heavens at two o'clock! By then, Sakura was being blasted hard by both Happôsai and Suikô. "MIND YOUR OWN DAMNED BUSINESS, YOU FAKE PRIEST!" the latter screamed as she caught the shrine maiden in an energy whip and sent her flying right towards the aged grandmaster.
"HAPPÔ-DAIKARIN!"
Sakura screamed as she disappeared into the sky. Once that was done, both Suikô and Happôsai nodded in grim satisfaction, and then they found themselves glaring at each other. As sparks flew between them, they tensed, ready to start anew.
"SEUCHSA!"
Both jolted, their eyes widening as they spun to see Kyekkyek run to Seuchsa's side, the teary-eyed Noukiite immediately kneeling beside him as she tried to shake him awake. Seeing how saddened the poor woman was, both Happôsai and Suikô immediately relaxed as they bounded over the fence to join her. "Now, now, now, dearie!" the old grandmaster said as he moved to comfort Kyekkyek while Suikô checked the dazed pig. "This is a tough old boy you've got here! And that was just a stunning spell that idiot magician used! He'll be alright soon enough! He just has to…!"
"AH-HAH!"
All three jolted, and then they spun around to see a massive group of boys standing beyond the front fence of the Moroboshi home, all of them aglow with outrage as they glared at the Noukiite free warrior, the wandering tôshi and the aged grandmaster of Musabetsu Kakutô-ryû. "I KNEW IT!" Megane — who else? — screamed as he pointed accusingly at them, his glasses glittering with wild rage. "I KNEW IT! AT LAST, ATARU'S EVIL PLOT IS FINALLY REVEALLED!"
Sweat drops appeared on the three "targets" of the would-be lynch mob. "EH?!"
Inside the house, downstairs…
"Oh, my…"
Everyone tensed as they stared at Tariko. "What is it, Negako-san?" Lum demanded.
"It appears that the leaders of your so-called 'stormtroopers' have decided to make an appearance," Tariko/Negako replied as she stared at the Oni. "Driven under the mistaken belief that Ataru gained the assistance of the Noukiites to hypnotise you into your 'perverted' relationship with Tariko as a way of breaking your heart."
"WHAT?!" Kuohu screamed out. "We would never do anything like that!"
"They do not care now, Kuohu. Given the fact that both Happy and Shinmi just struck down Sakura — whom most men Ataru's age also lust after — their rage has reached the point where no attempt by anyone to calm them down will succeed."
"Then I suppose we'll just have to calm them down!"
Eyes locked on Shimei as she reached into her pants pockets to draw out two sets of police handcuffs, both with very long chains connecting the bracelets. With a smirk, the tôshi from Nan'yô charged upstairs. Seeing that, Hakufu blinked before a grin crossed her face. "Why not?! I'm in the mood! C'mon, Un-chan!"
She raced off, followed by Shiryû and the majority of the Attendants. Chôjô remained still as she gazed worriedly at Hiromi, who was currently staring at the man-sized vertical tube, it now filled with an unmoving perfect replica of her reborn emperor in her current body. "My Empress…?" she gasped.
"Go, Yuzumi-san," Reishi ordered. She and Shinobu both stood protectively to either side of the former's reborn husband and the latter's friend. "Anata will be fine."
Chôjô nodded, and then sprinted upstairs. Kyech was currently examining another of the portable gestation units, which held a replacement body for Tariko. "Tariko's new body is ready," she said as she made a gesture with her hand.
The unmoving bioroid was gently phased out of the gestation tank and allowed to drift through the air before landing on one of the diagnostic beds that had been used by one of Ataru's android replicas. Two of them immediately moved with towels to dry off the greenish gestation fluid from the body before they pulled away. Immediately, the others crowded around the body, all gaping in disbelief at what they had just seen. "Is she really human?" Kumiko asked, her voice hushed with awe.
"She is. Save for additional psionic powers that no doubt are descent from the original bioroid factory's creators, whoever they are," Kuohu explained, and then she gasped. "Benten! Please don't touch her!" she called out.
The Fukunokami gasped as she yanked her hand away. "Why not?!"
"Her body is now primed to accept a soul within it," Tariko/Negako warned. "If anyone touches it at this time, you will find yourselves within that body."
Hearing that, Benten awked. "Okay! Keepin' my hands to myself!"
Laughter filled the room, and then the possessed Tariko approached the unmoving bioroid body. Once she is in range, she took up the bioroid's hands and shifted them onto her cheeks, allowing the palms to rest there as she closed her eyes and concentrated. Everyone then gasped on sensing a huge ki field form around the two, the more alert of the onlookers immediately sensing the shift of energy from Tariko into her new self. "My God!" Shinobu gasped. "It's like the fal-tor-pan in Star Trek!"
"Hiromi," Kyech then called out. "Your new body is ready."
The Dragonspeaker then allowed that new bioroid to emerge from gestation and lie on the diagnostic bed closest to the gestation unit. The two androids that had dried off Tariko's new body moved to do the same for Hiromi's as Reishi and Shinobu moved closer to it, Hiromi from the other side. "It's like looking at yourself," Reishi whispered.
"A much better and healthier version of myself," Hiromi stated.
The androids then got clear as Hiromi took the bioroid's hands and allowed them to rest on her cheeks. Instantly, her whole body glowed as it started to fade, making Shinobu scream as she immediately moved to grab her friend and pull her away. "HIROMI!"
"NO!" Kuohu yelled as Reishi grabbed Shinobu and pulled her back. "Pay it no mind, Shinobu! This would happen to someone with a magically-constructed body!"
As the twin beacons of energy nearly blinded everyone, people squinted their eyes as they turned away from that blinding radiance. "DARLING!" Lum screamed out.
Then, just as it had begun…
It stopped.
Silence fell over the room as people blinked to get their vision back in place, and then they turned to gaze on Tariko — who had now reverted back to Ataru, his body covered with a black ninjutsu-ka's gi, his skin still white and tiger-stripped — standing over her/his replacement body, whose eyes were now fluttering open as a cough escaped her. Another series of coughs echoed from the corner of the room as people turned to see only one Hiromi — the bioroid — now on her bed, Reishi reaching over with a blanket to cover her as Shinobu walked around the bed to pick up the reborn emperor's magatama earring, which had dropped to the floor once Hiromi's original Jusenkyô-based body had vanished. As she picked it up, she then gasped as the crystal shattered in her fingers, and then she backed off. "Oh, no…!"
"DO NOT BE CONCERNED OF SUCH THINGS, SHINOBU."
Eyes locked on the transformed Ataru. "What do you mean?!" Ranma demanded.
A light smile crossed his face. "HIROMI'S SOUL WAS COMPLETELY CONTAINED WITHIN THE MAGATAMA SHE HAS WORN SINCE THE DAY SEKIMI AND KÔNAMI GAVE IT TO ATARU AFTER THEIR FIRST INTIMATE LIAISON TOGETHER," Ataru/Negako replied. "NOW THAT HER SOUL HAS A TRUE AND LIVING BODY, NOT SUPPORTED BY MAGIC, TO INHABIT, THE MAGATAMA IS NO LONGER NEEDED. ANY OTHER TÔSHI BORN OF THE SOULS OF THE SÄNGUÓ WOULD EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING WERE THEY ALSO TO BECOME AVALONIANS. AS THEIR 'SPIRIT KIN' ON NOUKIIOS DID." He then moved over to touch Tariko's chest. "AND NOW…" he added as he manipulated several ki points along her sternum, and then moved over to do the same to Hiromi's body. "I BELIEVE THE ONES WHO LOVE YOU BOTH CAN EMBRACE YOU NOW."
Hearing that, Lum and Reishi screamed out as they brought their true loves into their arms. "What of you, Negako-san?" Oyuki then asked as people stared at him.
A smile crossed Ataru's face. "I WILL MAKE USE OF THIS OLD BODY ONE LAST TIME," he declared. "AND GIVE ATARU MOROBOSHI A FUNERAL THE VIKINGS OF OLD SCANDANAVIA WOULD ADMIRE WITH ENVY. KYECH, HAVE MY NEW BODY PREPARED. BRING IT TO THE TARÔZAKURA HILL AT THE SOUTH END OF TOMOBIKI WITHIN FIFTEEN MINUTES."
Kyech nodded. With that, he headed upstairs, walking at a deliberate pace as he moved to head outside and join the tôshi in fighting off Megane and his mob. The others watched him go, and then they turned to gaze on the remaining unfinished bioroid in its gestation tube. "So who gets to be Negako's twin?" Benten asked.
"It should be Tariko or Hiromi-san," Momoe then proposed.
"I have a better idea."
Everyone watched as Kyech walked over to Tariko's bed, calling up a small bit of ki to cut off some hair from the girl's head. "Hey…!" Tariko rasped. "Ask first."
The Dragonspeaker looked curiously at her, and then she turned to stare at Ranma. The redhead noted the look, and then she smirked. "Hell! Why not?"
Kyech took a sample of Ranma's hair before heading to the gestation tube and begin the process of turning the mannequin-like being within into something living…
Outside…
"WHY ARE YOU PEOPLE FIGHTING US?!"
Ki bombs exploded, scattering dozens of bruised, injured students as Happôsai, Suikô and Kyekkyek — joined now by Shimei, Shiryû, Hakufu and the Attendants — surged off the lawn of the Moroboshi home to beat them back. "BECAUSE YOU FOOLS DESERVE TO HAVE YOUR ASSES WHIPPED ALL OVER THE PLANET, THAT'S WHY!" Suikô screamed.
A screaming brawl broke out as those sixteen began to smash their way through the ranks of students, unleashing their skills as martial artists and warriors — backed up in ALL cases by YEARS of battle experience — to cut them down like sweeping farm harvesters mowing down fields of ripe wheat for the market. "STOP THEM!" Megane howled as he grabbed a garbage can and prepared to drop it on Kyekkyek. "STOP THEM! THEY'RE ALL CONSPIRING TO TAKE LUM-SAN AWAY FROM US! STOP THEM!"
"Oh, be quiet, you fool!" Happôsai snarled. "HAPPÔ-DAIKARIN!"
The explosions sent the Stormtroopers sprawling down the street — and almost made all of them bowl over a very surprised Kanna Hoshikuzu, who had just walked out from a side street in Ryûnosuke Fujinami's company. "HEY!" the tomboy yelled as she grabbed her lover and did a perfect triple-flip in the air to avoid stumbling over Megane. "Watch where the hell you're going, you four-eyed moron…!"
"RYÛNOSUKE-SAMA!"
Ryûnosuke awked, and then she cried out as slender yet very strong arms grabbed her by the waist and yanked her away from Kanna, which sent the former ballerina collapsing to the ground as Nagisa Shiowatari turned and moved to run away, his "fiancé" slung over his shoulder. "I'LL SAVE YOU FROM THIS HUSSY, RYÛNOSUKE-SAMA!"
"AH!" Kanna screamed out. "SOMEONE SAVE RYÛNOSUKE-KUN!"
"SHE'S MINE…!" Nagisa screamed back…
…just as the front door of the Moroboshi home exploded outward!
The fighting instantly stopped as people spun around to see what was now walking out of the house, and then many of the students who had come here at Megane's behest all screamed out in rage on seeing Ataru Moroboshi. That gave them the power to push past those who had been beating them up as they all lunged over the wall of the Moroboshi home just as the creature at the front door smiled, his hands glowing.
"SEISHIN SHURIKEN ARASHI!"
The howls of rage turned into a cacophony of painful screams as a storm of energy bolts — no different than a barrage of photon torpedoes launched from the starship Enterprise — lashed out to mow them down and knock them back, their assault on his person slammed back like Pickett's Charge was repulsed at the stone wall on Cemetery Ridge at Gettysburg almost a century-and-a-half before. As they collapsed to the ground, many screaming in agony as they felt for wherever the impacts of those balls of energy had slammed into them, Ataru tensed on hearing Kanna's scream for help. Looking over, he then shook his head. "THAT SIMPLY WILL NOT DO," he stated as he quickly bounded to the corner of the family property, and then with another jump, landing on the street close to where Megane and the Stormtroopers had been blasted down by Happôsai. As the four dazed boys turned to gaze in confusion at their possessed classmate, Ataru grinned a huntsman's smile as he took aim.
"SEISHIN-HASAI HI-KÔSEN!"
A green bolt of light, like the deadly Killing Curse of European magical societies or the planet-destroying superlaser of the Death Star, lashed out down the street to burn Nagisa at mid-back, exploding out his chest in a geyser of ghostly flesh and gore. As people watched in morbid horror, a croaked moan escaped him as his arms jerked, allowing Ryûnosuke to push herself free of his grasp and flip herself onto the street as Nagisa collapsed onto his face a couple of metres away, his moan turning into a pained scream as he tried to muster what strength he could to get back to his feet. As Kanna raced to her beloved's side, Ataru slowly approached Nagisa, his right hand glowing as he seemed to perform the motions of drawing a sword.
Seeing this from her position, Shiryû gasped. "Oh, my…!"
Shimei stared at her. "What?!"
The silver-haired tôshi grimaced. "The soulsword…"
"KONTÔ!"
Everyone gasped as the energy in Ataru's right hand exploded into a beautiful ôdachi of light, its edges aflame with power as he began to deliberately raise the deadly weapon over his head into a beheading position. Seeing that, Ryûnosuke gasped as she tried to get to her feet, Kanna moving to keep her down. "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING, ATARU?!"
He stopped, and then stared at her with that white face and those glowing eyes. "HE IS A GHOST, IS HE NOT?" Ataru/Negako asked. "AND HIS CONTINUED PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE INTERFERES IN THE RELATIONSHIP YOU WISH TO FORM WITH KANNA, DOES IT NOT?"
Ryûnosuke blinked, and then she slowly nodded. "Um…y-yeah…"
Ataru then seemed to smile. "THEN CONSIDER THIS A MERE EXORCISM."
With that, he spun around and took a giant swing of the energy blade, allowing it to rip through Nagisa's body at the waist from side to side. His gasps turned into an unholy shriek of pain as the possessed Ataru spun the soulsword around and cut height-wise, going from the crotch right through the head. Nagisa's screams were cut off at that very moment as the energy of the Great Sea Urchin that restored him to "life" was brutally shredded by the soulsword, allowing what was left of his "body" to disintegrate into sparks that seemed to drift into the heavens before vanishing. "Ryûnosuke…" a weak gasp escaped him before his head disappeared. "Why…?"
In a second, there was nothing more. Staring at that, Ryûnosuke blinked, and then she seemed to deflate as Kanna moved to hold her tight. Behind Ataru, the Stormtroopers were all aghast on seeing their classmate having just brutally KILLED and DISINTEGRATED someone with two sweeps of something akin to a lightsabre. And behind them, the other boys who had come at Megane's behest to free their precious Lum — those who were still conscious — were all trying to absorb what they had just seen with their own eyes, unable to make themselves believe that Ataru Moroboshi, the man who had plagued Tomobiki for so long and blocked all attempts at having Lum taken away from them, having just unleashed powers akin to the tôshi of the Seven Battle Schools or the Nerima Wrecking Crew to blast them down and brutally kill a GIRL! Standing amongst their fallen bodies, those the crowd had been fighting could only grimly nod. "He was merely a spirit who had not been allowed a place in the afterlife," Shiryû mused.
"Delaying the meeting with the Ch'uoeuk is always a foolish thing," Kyekkyek noted.
"Is that safe thing to learn?" Hakufu asked.
"What do you mean?" Shimei wondered.
"The soulsword?"
Shiryû shook her head. "No, Tsueko-san."
Hakufu perked. "Why not, Un-chan?"
The silver-haired tôshi "stared" at her. "To truly master the soulsword, Tsueko-san…is only meant for those who desire to be the master of life. And death."
Hearing that dark proclamation, the crowd around them all gulped in fear. By then, Happôsai and Suikô had headed over to join Ataru. "Soulsword exorcism," the former mused as he perched himself on the possessed teen's shoulder. "Works every time."
"BUT OF COURSE, HAPPY," Ataru/Negako noted as he gazed on the aged grandmaster, his haunting voice making Ryûnosuke, Kanna and the Stormtroopers gape in disbelief. "IN THE MEANTIME, MY FRIENDS, MY HOST GROWS WEARY OF HIS TIME IN THIS LIFE AND I HAVE LONG SINCE LOST PATIENCE WITH BEING TRAPPED IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SUBCONSCIOUS MIND. SHALL WE GIVE ATARU THE VIKING FUNERAL HE DESIRES?" His glowing eyes then turned up as they narrowed. "AND REMOVE SOME UNWANTED GUESTS FROM THIS WORLD?"
Happôsai and Suikô looked up themselves, both quick to sense what was now in low Earth orbit right over Tomobiki. "Oh, dear! Such rude people," the former mused.
"We better throw the trash out," the latter stated, and then she looked to the south before pointing. "And THERE'S where we can do it!" she declared.
Eyes locked on the Tarôzakura hill…
Inside the Moroboshi home…
"Slowly, Darling," Lum said as she and Ranma helped walk Tariko up the stairs.
"Damn…" the latter grunted as she tried to push her feet forward, her whole body a giant ache from head to toe as she slid her hand up the guardrail. "Hey, Ranma!"
"What is it?" Ranma asked as she stared at her friend.
"Next time some bodiless kami wants to possess me so she can get her own body, feel free to slap me upside the damned head!" Tariko spat out, and then she moaned as her toe caught on the stairs, nearly sending her, her wife and her friend face-first into wood.
The members of Ataru's Handmaidens, as well as Tariko's and Lum's other lovers, were at the top of the stairs. "That's it, Tariko-chan. You're doing it," Momoe urged as she and Kumiko knelt down at the top of the steps, their arms out as they readied themselves to lunge in and help if Tariko collapsed. "Just a few more steps."
"Dômo, Momoe," Tariko moaned. "What's going on outside…?"
Benten leaned over to look. "Kinda died down out there, I think."
"I'll make sure no one comes in uninvited," Oyuki vowed.
The Neptunian headed off. "Dômo, 'Yuki-chan," Tariko said as she took another step.
"Take it easy, Tariko," Shinobu urged from downstairs, she and Reishi both holding up an equally dazed Hiromi on their shoulders. "One step at a time."
Everyone then gasped on feeling the ground quake underneath them for a second. "What the fuck was THAT?!" Benten gasped as people around her cried out in fear.
"It's alright!" Tariko called out to calm them down. "It's okay!"
"Sempai, what's happening?" a tearful Eiko cried out.
"Negako-san's going after the mana node under the Tarôzakura hill," Lum reported. "It's the place where she had all the dark ki energy shifted to after getting it clear of Darling's body. If she taps into that right under the tree itself and causes a nice big geyser of energy to shoot into the air…"
"Kyech-san can slip in with Negako-san's new body, allow the soul-transfer to happen and to everyone else, it'll be as if Ataru-kun just killed himself to free a pretty girl from some sort of magical enslavement," Tsuyoko stated with a giggle.
"Will it work?" Izumi wondered.
"With the amount of idiots in this town, Izumi-chan?" Tariko asked. "Guaranteed!"
Laughter filled the house, and then people gasped as another quake hit…
The Tarôzakura hill…
"MOROBOSHI! HOW DARE YOU…?!"
CLANG!
Shûtarô Mendô gargled in shock before he collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolling into his head after being dropped by a handy sledgehammer welded by none other than his own sister. "My apologies, Onii-sama, but Moroboshi-sama wishes his death scene not to be interrupted," Ryôko stated with a knowing smile.
"Shihan-sama! How can we assist you in this matter?!" one of the Kuroko — save for Ryôko and Asuka Mizunokôji, not to mention the unconscious Shûtarô, there were no other Mendô or Mizunokôji personnel on the hill — asked as he bowed his head.
The possessed Ataru tried not to look annoyed at being addressed as "grandmaster." "HAPPY, SHINMI: WHEN I BEGIN THE KI DRAIN, I WILL NEED A RING OF EXPLOSIONS — AS POWERFUL AS YOU BOTH CAN CREATE — AROUND THE HILL CREST TO FOCUS THE ENERGY STRAIGHT UP," he stated as he pulled himself away from his friends. "THE REMAINDER OF YOU: EVACUATE THIS HILL AND GET AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE."
"Do as she says!" Ryôko screamed out.
"HAI!" the Kuroko chanted.
"Onê-sama, be careful!" Asuka stated.
"I WILL BE FINE, ASUKA. AND LADIES…"
The two lovers stared at him. "Live your lives free," Ataru said in his own voice.
Ryôko and Asuka perked, and then they smiled. "So we will, Ataru," the former said.
"Sayonara, Onii-sama," the latter said.
"EVERYONE, MOVE!" the chief Kuroko roared out.
Instantly people poured off the hill, the unconscious Shûtarô being carried by two of Ryôko's servants as they immediately looked for cover. On the hilltop, Happôsai and Suikô smirked as they both leapt to opposite sides of the Tarôzakura tree, their hands glowing with energy. "Okay, everyone! LET'S ROCK THIS JOINT!" Suikô whooped.
"Party on!" Happôsai howled with delight. "HAPPÔ-DAIKARIN!"
Explosions instantly began shooting flames of energy into the sky, masking the young Tarôzakura from outside view as Ataru placed himself right under the tree, his whole body glowing as he allowed the energy within him to link down to the huge mode of power deep within the Tarôzakura hill. A moment later, the ground around him shattered as geysers of power shot into the sky. Above his head, the Tarôzakura began to disintegrate as Ataru held out both his hands. "NOW, KYECH!"
A beacon of light allowed a beautiful girl with reddish-brown hair, resembling Ranma Saotome in female form but being a little taller and without the trademark pigtail, fell into his arms. "Very nice…" he whispered as he gazed into her beautiful face, and then he shifted the bioroid around to hug her tight.
"DAICHI…"
The bioroid's own eyes snapped open, both of her grey-blue orbs glowing.
"…-KI…"
The Tarôzakura fully vanished into the air as a geyser of energy began to erupt.
"…HI…"
Negako's old and new bodies both were screaming out the incantation.
"…-KANKETSUSEN"
And early evening in Tomobiki — for a moment — became brightest noon.
At the Moroboshi home…
"Whoa!" a strange male voice called out from nearby as everyone on the ground there averted their eyes from that blinding light as a bolt of pure energy raced high into the heavens over Tomobiki. "What the heck IS that, anyway?!"
Hakufu, Shimei and Shiryû turned to look. "Ah! It's Ryôga-kun!" the former whooped on recognising Ryôga Hibiki in his normal traveller's clothes and backpack (along with umbrella), and then she waved. "Hi, Ryôga-kun! What'cha doing here in Tomobiki?!"
He jolted. "Tomobiki?!" A moan then escaped him as he rubbed the back of his head. "Ah, man! I thought I was on the road to Akari-chan's place!"
A giggle escaped Shiryû. "Let your heart truly be the guide, Hibiki-san, and you will never go wrong," she said as she "glanced" towards him.
He then perked on hearing her, and then he chuckled as he walked over to join them. "Ah! Mago-san! Koeru-san! Sebone-san! What're you guys doing here?!"
"Aiding a sentient being in gaining her final freedom from a never-ending imprisonment for a crime she never committed," Shiryû said, and then she perked.
"Hey, Ryôga! What're you doing here?!"
"Ah, Ryôga-san! Don't tell me you got lost again!"
Ryôga blinked, and then he laughed as Lum and Ranma came out of the house, they followed by Benten and Oyuki. "Oh, hi, Ranma! Lum-san! Yeah, I guess I took a wrong turn at Albuquerque and wound up here instead of Akari-chan's place!" He reached into his backpack to draw out a bag of piping-hot food. "Managed to get to Chicago and got some of their hot dogs at a game between the Cubs and the Brewers over at Wrigley Field. I want to get them over to Akari's place before they get cold."
Lum and Ranma laughed as Benten and Oyuki both blinked. "Wait a sec' here!" the Fukunokami then declared. "Chicago's on the other side of the freakin' PLANET from this place! How the hell did you get from there to here so fast?!"
"Benten, one doesn't question Ryôga's ways of moving about," Ranma said with a laugh, and then she perked as she looked straight up. "What the hell…?"
"What?!" the others gasped before they looked up themselves.
"What is that?" Shimei wondered.
"Starship warp drives blowing up," Benten reported. "Looks like Negako must've sensed something up there…" Her voice then trailed off. "Oh, shit!"
"Niphentaxians!" Lum snarled.
"What do we do?" Ranma demanded.
"Do not concern yourselves anymore of them. They are gone."
Everyone blinked on hearing that voice, and then they turned as a beautiful girl walked up to them, currently accompanied by Happôsai (riding the right shoulder) and Suikô (holding the left hand). She was dressed in a black martial artist's gi with a black belt wrapped around her, it having the kanji 地 written in gold at the end of one part of the belt. Seeing that, everyone gasped on noting the close physical resemblance to both Ranma in girl-form (especially the hair and eyes) and Tariko (height and body shape). "Whoa!" Benten breathed out. "Lum, Tsueko, I think you're both really lucky!"
Both women perked. "What do you mean, Benten?" Lum asked.
"If Negako here looks like anything what a daughter of either Ranma or Tariko will look like in the future, you're gonna have to beat back the potential boyfriends with a goddamned portable anti-matter gun!" the Fukunokami said as she thumbed Negako.
Lum, Ranma and Hakufu blinked on hearing that, and then everyone broke out laughing. Negako gazed at them, and then she turned to Ryôga before she tapped him on the forehead. "Ryôga, proceed in that direction for twenty paces, and then you will arrive at Akari's home," she said as she pointed down the street. "You do not wish to allow the frankfurters you purchased in Chicago to get cold before you can enjoy them."
Ryôga blinked, and then he nodded. "Um, h-hai."
With that, he turned and headed off, disappearing after ten paces. Everyone watched him go, and then Ranma whistled. "Damn! THAT'S how he does that!"
"He is gaining more control over his abilities," Negako stated as we…
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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