Shikabane Hime one half

ch1

ISDH

Ukyo was scrubbing her grill. cleaning it for the night.

It cracked. from corner to corner.

She grabbed her 'Weapon' and ran for the Tendo Dojo.

Something bad was happening, when something bad happened, the best place to be was the Tendo Dojo.

the konochi was two steps behind her. he had to lock the door.

121

Nabiki had just finished the books for the next three months. oh she would be tinkering, but the basic budget was laid out.

her Abacus popped, beads flying everywhere.

“damn, damn, damn”

Something big either just happened or was about to.

She grabbed her camera and 3 rolls of film, (some things just look better on film.) and headed for the main room.

121

Kasumi and Soun were sipping tea together, looking out at the yard. the Koi was jumping in the pond. (wonders what can brighten a fish's day when it has not been attacked by pandas and youth?) Genma was in panda mode, sleeping off a large lunch of bamboo.

The tea pot, popped and was sheared in twain. Nodoka looked up from polishing her sword. Nabiki thudded in swinging her camera about, looking through the view finder in all directions at once.

A blur caused everyone to swivel towards the backyard, Nabiki's camera whirring as it collected anything in its path. a slightly sweaty chef and a perfectly dressed 'female' in a kimono had landed gently in the grassy area between Soun and the Koi pond.

"Ukyo, " Kasumi trilled from her seat, "would the two of you join us for tea?"

Ukyo looked about, a bit twitchy, but Konsou dimpled cutely and shuffled over to the older girl. "We would love some tea. " Spotting the broken tea pot, "but perhaps some lemonade would be better, given that it is such a humid day out. "

There was a flash of dark energy from the Dojo...

12321

“Listen closely, for what I tell you now is Forbidden. It is the Shadowstep. You have mastered the Shadowfold, in ways that scare and confuse my sisters. They have declared that if you were to learn of the ’step, that you were to die, as would the one who told you.” She looked about, a shrew scared of her own shadow, “I tell you now, for if we are found, as we are, we are just as dead, and all that Ranma has done and lost will be for nothing.”

He grew clam, he knew that he was not going to like what he heard, but that if there was a chance, no matter how small, of saving Xian Pu, then he was hers.

As he listened, he understood, he understood more then she was telling him. From what he could do with the ’fold, he could do with the ’step...

He snapped a chain out, dragging her in close, closed his eyes, and picturing in his mind; the haven of his rival, embraced the Shadow...

121

The Chain grabbing her was a bit of a surprise, but the jump took her breath away.

as they lay on the floor gasping for breath, “Fool! I meant for you to ‘step miles, cutting our journey from weeks to days. Now where are we?” She looked about, her brow easing from scowl to disbelief ...

when the door to the dojo slid open and a flashing camera lead the charge of the Tendo-key.

She turned back to the ‘blind man, “Baka!!! Look what you have done!!!” before feinting in a deep rest.

12321

There was a flash of dark energy from the Dojo...

Nabiki was off and running, her camera was ready for anything...

Soun was on his toes, there was something going down, and as Ranma was not here, it was his duty as ‘Man of the House’ to protect his ‘baby girls’

Genma was waddling into the fray, His secondary meal ticket, I mean his good friend, was heading into unknown trouble and would need help or at least a friend to cheer him on.

Nodoka trailed along, as the only truly armed member of the family, it was her responsibility that no harm came to the girls...

Ukyo exchanged looks with Konsou and Kasumi, and smiled. “Ko-chan, can you do something with my hair, I want to look nice, now that Ranma has returned.’

121

After finishing the roll of film, Nabiki looked about as she changed rolls. “Is She going to be okay?” she asked, thrusting her chin at the old woman on the floor.

Moose grunted, and pulled a third arm from his robes...Soun, frowning, grabbed the wrist and pulled.

Out tumbled Ranma.

a very pale Ranma.

Nabiki having caught Ranma being pulled from the Robes on film, turned to Nodoka, “Auntie, go call Tofu. Tell him Ranma has returned, and then move Kasumi to the Kitchen. We need the Doctor focused.“ She turned to look at the fathers, “Daddy, go wait for him at the front gate. You too Uncle.“

once the ‘Adults’ were out of the room, she rolled the elder on to her back, made sure of her breathing, and then turned to the china man. “Anything you want to tell me now, when it won’t cost you?”

“Not until the Elder tells me to, too much at risk, her life and mine.’ his voice was soft. “I can tell you Ranma won, this round, but it cost him.“ he lay on his back, one draped over his eyes. “I rest until either Ranma or the Elder calls for me.”

121

it was ten minutes before Tofu arrived, but it felt like seventy-five. When the doctor arrived, he looked everyone over. When he was finished, he turned to Nabiki. “Okay, Ranma is depleted. anything other then sleep and eating could kill him. Moose is heavily drained, but a few days rest should see him up and about. As for granny noodle...Hello Kasumi, what brings you here?”

Nabiki, as a child, was into the martial arts. The first thing you learn is to fall. At the name of her sister, she dove out of reach of the good doctor, rolling to her feet behind Genma.

"Oh, Tofu. We need to talk. Stop the kitchen on your way out." She set a tray next to the door carrying 6 tumblers and a pitcher of lemonade. then left.

"More of the same, I would think" The Elder rolled over to her back, "I would bonk you, if i had the strength." She grinned, "at least it was 'granny noodle; rather then 'old ghoul'"

"where is Akane?" Soun asked peering about