Obligatory Disclaimer (Do you even read this anyway?): I don’t own Ranma or the game this fic is based on

I wanna take this opportunity to thank all of my readers for helping this fic reach over 13,000 hits! That's a record breaker for my fics! And I'm sorry that it's taking so long for me to put out chapters. I have no excuse.

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There was nothing but total silence, broken only by the persistant creak-creak of the caravan's wheels. Saffron said nothing, just observed quietly.

Ranma was sitting on the wagon floor with his elbows on his knees. Akane was hugging her legs close to her. Her forehead rested on her knees.

A year ago, Saffron would have made some sort of snide or cruel comment. Now, however, all he could bring himself to do was tap his talons quietly on a barrel. Even Jack Frost, the cute, bouncy little demon critter, was quiet. He knew enough when to speak or not.

"It's not your fault, you know."

Saffron spun his head 'round, looking for who had spoken. It was Kiima, who had not moved from her spot at the back of the wagon since Ranma and Akane had left and come back.

Ranma blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what I say, Ranma Saotome. The death of your friend's sister was not your fault."

Ranma shook his head. "But it was. I couldn't save her, Akane couldn't save her..."

Kiima interrupted. "That is still not your fault. It was the thing that was once Ryoga Hibiki that sacrificed her sister, not you. You tried to save her and just were not able to."

Akane lifted her head and glared fiercely at Kiima, allowing Ranma to see her face. She had been crying. "Oh, what would you know about losing someone? You're a high and mighty Phoenix, your people have been worshipped all your life, you haven't had to do a thing!"

Kiima raised a hand. "Please calm down, Akane Tendo. I only meant-"

Akane rose to her feet, crossed the wagon in two long strides, and slapped Kiima across the face. No mallet, just a quick smack to the face.

"You have no right to pity us! You and your master over there both tried to kill us! You dropped me into the one uncursed spring at Jusenkyo, just so you could have a human disguise! And now you think you can suddenly preach to me about saving lives?"

Ranma jumped to his feet. "Akane, she's a Phoenix, she could-"

Akane whirled, tears flowing freely now. "Are you on her side?! She thinks she can lecture us, she... she..."

Without warning she buried her face in Ranma's chest and sobbed freely. Ranma patted her softly on the back, quietly, whispering comforting words in her ear.

Kiima didn't say anything after that.

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Hikawa was in critical condition.

Hinako's poison had slowly been continuing t's mission to cut off his control of his body. His right arm could no longer move at all. It hurt to breath. Sweat constantly poured down his brow from his now-messy Widow's Peak. He couldn't tell whether he could control his urinary tract or not. He thought not.

He was in his private quarters. He had one finger on the play button of the recorder in front of him. His mind was processing all the possibilities of if he acted on what he had just heard.

Because, if what he had heard was true, then they had only one last shot at Creation.

Hikawa had made it a requirement among his troops to wear listening devices on their person if they were ever captured, so transmission could be sent and received.

That was why he had left that dead Oni behind when Ryoga had killed him. He wanted to be able to hear what was going on for the Musubians.

The door to his room hissed open. He didn't bother turning to look. Only one person knew the passcode required to get in.

Mousse strode toward his leader. "Commander Hikawa, the soldiers are getting anxious. Musubi's gaining ground, and Yosuga's on the move. We've had another large group of demons desert us."

Hikawa was quiet.

"Sir?" Mousse moved tentavely toward his leader.

Suddenly, Hikawa's arm thrust out. He grabbed Mousse by the collar and yanked him close to him with speed and strength that Mousse would have never expected from someone so physically messed-up ad Hikawa was.

"...diet..."

Mousse certainly hadn't been expecting his leader to tell him to go on a diet. "Beg pardon, sir?"

"The Diet Building, you insufferable twit. We have to get to the Diet Building."

Hikawa's walker machine clicked as it rose and headed toward the door. "Why the Diet Buidling, sir?"

Hikawa wouldn't have looked back if he could. "I'm off to instruct the troops. If you want to know why the Diet Building, listen to the machine under the table." With that, the door whooshed shut.

Mousse reached out and clicked play on the recorder. Scratchily, a voice Mousse recognized as Ryoga's emanated from the speakers.

"Through the Amala Network, she learned about all of the huge deposits of Magatsuhi in the Vortex World. The whole time she was with you, she never bothered to tell you about the one here, or the one under New Asakusa, or the one sealed in what's left of the Diet Building, or any of them."

Eyes wide, Mousse felt his arm dart out again. He rewound quickly and played again.

"-the one sealed in what's left of the Diet Building-"

Rewind.

"-the Diet Building-"

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Back at the caravan, Sarasvati stared off into the distance from her usual spot at the front of the wagon. There was a small dot standing atop a sand dune in the distance. The caravan had been heading toward it for five minutes.

As the wagon got closer, Sarasvati was able to make out the figure more clearly. It was small, a child or a short adult or demon. It was wrapped in a tattered, loose-fitting shawl that only allowed it's eyes to peer out.

The small thing raised its arm into the air, signalling the caravan.

Then it disappeared with a pop.

Sarasvati blinked.

"Keep it rolling."

with a little scream, Sarasvati darted to the side. The covered figure was now sittig right next to her on the seat, staring at her with a pair of deep golden eyes. How did he get next to me so fast?? Sarasvati thought. "Wh-what did you say?" she stammered.

"We said, keep the wagon rolling. We'll only be a minute. We just want to talk with a pair of your travelers. Which wagon are Ranma Saotome and Akane Tendo in?"

"Th-this one." Something the figure had said clicked in Sarasvati's head. "Wait a minute... did you say 'we'? Who else is with you."

"That's none of your concern. We are we." With that cryptic answer, the figure turned and disappeared through the canvas that separated the riders from the driver.

The sudden appearance of a short person wrapped in a shawl certainly scared the wagon's inhabitants. There hadn't been anyone else riding up front with Sarasvati. Kiima adopted a defensive stance. "Who are you? What is your business here?"

The figure raised an arm. "Peace, phoenix. I only have business with Ranma and Akane."

Ranme raised a trembling arm to point at the figure. "That voice... are you-"

The figure raised a hand and tore off it's loose shawl.

It was Hinako.

"Miss Hinako!" Akane grabbed her teacher n a hug, something that would have seemed strange Pre-Conception.

Hinako raised a hand. "My goddess Aradia is still with me as well." A small, blue, transparent butterfly appeared above her hand, flapping its wings slowly before disappearing.

Akane pulled back, seeming happy for the first time since Nabiki's death. "It's good to see you again, Miss Hinako."

Hinako smiled. "We're glad to see you too."

The smile faded from Akane's face. "We?"

Hinako smiled tiredly. "It's quite a strange experience, having a goddes share your body. I've starting referring to myself in the plural form without realizing it."

Suddenly, Hinako's face was covered by that beautiful butterfly symbol that had been there when Aradia controlled her at the Obelisk. "I can always leave, if you so desire, Hinako."

The design disappeared. "That's not what I meant, Aradia, and you know it. And could you please stop doing that? It's quite unnerving."

"Plus, it makes you look like you're talking to yourself." Ranma added.

"I know, I know. Anyway, I've been moving about the Vortex World with Aradia. I've still got a few allies in Shijima. They've helped me get a few safehouses. We've mostly just stayed on the move.

"But enough about that. This isn't a social visit. I've come to warn you two. I have bad news."

"What is it?"

"My contacts in Shijima have told me that Hikawa has learned of this caravan. And he's sending some demons this way. Why? I don't know."

Hearing that, Saffron stood, spread his wings, and flew out the back of the wagon. Hinako stared after him. "Where's he going?"

"He more or less leads this caravan. He's gone to tell the other demons."

Hinako nodded. "Makes sense. But that's not all."

"Of course. There's always more bad news, isn't there?"

Hinako shook her head grimly. "No. This isn't just bad. This is disasterous. The Yosuganites are marching on New Asakusa. They plan to slaughter every Manikin there."

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Outside Nerima Park, the home of the Fairy Kingdom, a pair of figures approached the gates. The light of Kagutsuchi shone brightly off of Kuno's newly reflective, metallic skin. Sakahagi stood beside him, idly twirling his kunai between his fingers.

"We thank you, Sakahagi, for telling us of New Asakusa's Magatsuhi supply. You are forever welcome in Yosuga, my friend."

Sakahagi glanced around lazily. "So why are we here?"

Kuno gestured at the Fairy Kingdom with an open palm. "We of Yosuga have kept close tabs on the various groups in the Vortex World. So far, the Fairy Kingdom is the only large group that has not bothered to align itself yet. We feel that they are a nuisance to the world as it is. Therefore, we have decided to dispose of them. Think of this as our gift to you."

Sakahagi's eyes grew wide as he stared at the front gates, mind realizing what was happening. "Y... Ya mean..."

"Yes, my friend. All yours."

Sakahagi grinned ferally under his scarf of skin. Kuno turned to go "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must lead the troops to New Asakusa while Ukyo is at the Mantra Building. Plus, I expect you would rather have this to yourself."

Sakakhagi leered evilly. "You guess right." He turned to the Kingdom's gates and shouted three words.

"IT'S FEEDIN' TIME!"

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In future chapters: The invasion of New Asakusa begins! The clash of two Reason Leaders! Shampoo reaches the center of the Labyrinth! And, the return of Pixie! All this and more, coming soon!