"Have you heard any word about your sister?" Sayuri asked as Akane walked into class the next day after wading through the morning boys.
"Dr. Tofu said she looks like she's going to be fine," Akane answered. "Whatever happened to her is winding down or something." Akane fixed Ranma with a suspicious glare as she said "whatever happened." The red-haired martial artist winced as he felt the look and heard the accusation.
"I feel so sorry for you, Akane," Yuka said in a sort of dreamy voice. "I mean the way you lost your mother and now..."
"Nabiki isn't dying!" Akane declared loudly. "This is some freak flu or something!" Yuka flinched back away from Akane.
"Akane, if it's epilepsy she'll be having these sort of seizures off and on all her life," Sayuri said.
"It can't be that," Akane said. "Dr. Tofu said it definitely wasn't epilepsy, and it's going away."
Nope, thought Ranma. Which is good, because I think the rest of her life could amount to a few hundred years. If we're all lucky that is.
"Well, I know just the way to ease off the stress," Yuka said. "A slumber party!" Sayuri and Akane looked at each other hesitantly at that.
"I'm not sure about that Yuka," Akane said. "I should be watching over Nabiki to make sure that noone," she glared at Ranma, "tries anything funny."
"And I have some studying to do," Sayuri added.
"Oh, come on," Yuka said. "You can do your studying at my house. And I'm sure Dr. Tofu won't let anything bad happen to your sister. I know that YOU can't possibly think anything bad about Dr. Tofu, can you?"
Akane flushed brightly, showing signs of infatuation that Ranma had thought he was imagining before when they brought in Nabiki. He filed the information away for later.
"I've got a new party game," Yuka said teasingly. "I'm certain all fourth of us are going to have a lot of fun."
"Ehh, what's this one?" Sayuri asked. "And who's the fourth?" That question caught Ranma's ear.
"Oh it's something called a ouiji board, it's some sort of way to contact the world beyond," Yuka said.
If Ranma had been in fox form, every hair on his back would have been raised. He'd never heard of wigi board before, but if it had to do with the spirit world, he already didn't like hearing about it in the current situation.
"Supposed to be very spooky and everything," Yuka finished.
"Okay, and who's the fourth," Akane asked. Yuka smiled and seemed about to answer when the teacher walked in.
"Saotome," the teacher said. "You look as if you'd seen a ghost. Is something wrong?" The girls about him giggled, though Akane frowned at him for easedropping.
"Couldn't sleep last night, teach," Ranma said. "Worrying about...stuff, you know?"
"Oh yes," the teacher said. "I hope she pulls through. Excellent....student, if somewhat...vicious at times."
"Nabiki?" Ranma asked. "I got the feeling she could get rather tenacious. Seems to run in the family actually."
"Tenacious," the teacher said. "That is a way to put it. Now everybody, open your books to page 13..."
Yuka broke off from her friends and strode happily towards the restroom, promising to meet them in the cafeteria. As she parted from them, not noticing the large spider skittering across the ceiling above her, her step became less happy and more doubtful.
Curiously enough she walked right by the bathroom and continued on out the rear entrance of the school. In a few moments she was off the grounds and furtively walking across the street.
The spider leaped from the wall and suddenly started flapping a set of white wings as Ranma sensed what was in the building and made a rush forward to try to stop the girl. He was too slow.
There walked through the door of the house, and Ranma stopped at the edge of the yard. Blocked by that same power that had kept him out of the Tendo dojo until...
Ranma's wing smacked his head, then he hastily returned to flapping until he found a windowsill to settle on. He couldn't go into homes without being invited, duh. All the stories said that about stuff. You always had to invite a spirit in for it to help or hurt you.
"Do you feel something?" a voice inside the building asked.
A demon's aura began approaching the window. Ranma dropped down below the sill, taking spider form again, and counting on the small size of his aura and body at the moment to hide him.
"Nothing, master," another said. Ranma recognized both voices and would have frowned if he had been in a humanoid form.
"Can't be too careful," the first said. "You did meet that fox yesterday."
"Hello, Kuno-sempai," Yuka's voice called out. "Tarou-sama....it's me...Yuka."
"We can hear you Yuka," a voice Ranma assumed to "Tarou-sama" said. "Go ahead and come in."
"Tarou-sama!" Yuka said happily. "It worked, they're coming...but," her voice turned hesitant. "Are you certain this is a good idea? If it doesn't work, they're going to hate me."
"After this night," Tarou-sama, Ranma could almost feel the smile. "Your Sayuri will be more than willing to return your feelings."
"And there's no way that Akane...?" Yuka started.
"She is already promised," Kuno insisted angrily.
"Come, come," Tarou-sama said. "I'm certain that none of us would feel opposed to sharing, if it came to that."
"I suppose," Kuno said. "That would be acceptable."
"And, uh, Tarou-sama," Yuka said nervously. "What did you want me to come right now for?"
"Because right now," Tarou-sama said. "We're going to go through the ritual you'll use tonight, and make sure you understand it properly."
"And no more weaklings after this," Kuno said in the ancient tongue. There was a sense of anger and Kuno continued in a meek manner. "Please master. After this Sayuri girl we shall have two non-fighters. The reluctance an enemy will have to harm an innocent soul is useful, but we shouldn't have too many that rely only on the power we provide to them."
"And just how many of the strong do you think we can trick into inviting us in?" Tarou-sama asked. "You do make a point, however. Perhaps some ambushes are in order."
"I...think that I'm ready," Yuka said faintly. "Tarou-sama."
Ranma dropped from the window sill and landed on all fours. The little red fox ran away from the building, unwilling to listen helplessly while that girl invited a demon into herself.
If he only knew one mortal willing to help, they could have snuck in and invited him. He thought so anyway, but as it was. He could do nothing. Except perhaps stop the other two girls from getting caught.
Now how to do that.
Well, Akane was easy, in one way. In another way, getting into a position to kiss Tendo Akane would be practically impossible. Plus, he really hoped that he could have avoided doing that so soon.
"I only have until Nabiki wakes up, or Dr. Tofu decides to compare notes with Kasumi anyway," Ranma muttered. "Why am I waiting."
Sayuri on the other hand. Sayuri didn't have the physical conditioning of any of the Tendo sisters.
While Nabiki and Kasumi didn't seem much, Ranma thought they'd probably do well in any conventional tournament. At the very least they were in top shape, far surpassing even most athletes as they lacked some of the habitual injuries of more dedicated athletes. Sayuri on the other hand was slightly above average.
The change wouldn't just "possibly kill" her, like it would one of those soccer girls for instance. It would tear her to pieces. So that left the question, how to keep her from joining the enemy, willing or no.
"Yuka certainly is taking an awful long time in the restrooms," Sayuri said, looking toward the school.
"Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" a voice asked.
"Why don't you go sit with the other..." Akane's voice cut off as she saw the person that was talking to her. Sayuri's jaw also dropped.
"It's him..." Akane whispered. "But our age."
"Go for it girl," Sayuri whispered back. "The guys always say the best way to get over someone..."
"...is to dump someone that looks just like them," Akane finished. "You WANT me to act like a boy, Sayuri?"
"Umm, if it's any trouble," the Tofu-Jr said pleasantly.
"No, no," Akane cut him off. "Go ahead and sit down. We were saving a seat for a friend, but." Akane looked around. "I think she found something else to do." The young man actually seemed to look pained at that.
"Is something wrong," Sayuri asked.
"I'm just worried about your friend," the young man said. "That's all."
"Well, don't," Sayuri said. "That's her over their." Akane looked toward Sayuri hopefully. "Why don't I go sit with her and keep her company. There's no room here for her anymore." Akane mouthed a thanks as the Tofu-Jr looked toward Sayuri.
"Are certain we can't make room?" he asked.
"That's fine," Sayuri said. She thought she saw just the tiniest amount of dislike leaking out of those eyes and directed toward Yuka. She frowned and took her lunch, cutting off Yuka. "Let's go sit somewhere else, Yuka. Akane is working on her Tofu fixation."
"Oh," Yuka said, with an odd tone of voice. She glanced in that direction and shrugged, not really paying attention to anything in the sea of people and souls. "Well, I suppose this is a chance for the two of us to get to know each other for tonight."
"Don't talk like that, Yuka," Sayuri said as they walked off. "You're giving me the creeps."
"Are you new in school?" Akane asked. The Tofu look alike blinked and looked up. "I mean, I've never seen you before."
"Yeah, I sort of started today," the boy said. "I'm Kanzai."
"I'm Akane," Akane answered. "Do you do martial arts?"
"Some," Kanzai answered. "I'm sort of looking at being a doctor though." Little red hearts began to appear in Akane's eyes, though for some reason this seemed to make the would-be doctor slightly green. Fortunately Akane didn't notice the guilty pallor.
"Say," Kanzai, said. "I'm uh...supposed to go to my music class next, would you know where that room is?"
"Sure," Akane said faintly, dreamily. "There's nobody there now though." Kanzai shrugged.
"Well, I couldn't be late then," Kanzai suggested as he finished his bento. Akane nodded vacantly. "Umm hello."
"Hiii," Akane said, then she blinked. "Ummm...I mean, yeah, that makes sense. Here, let me finish up, and I'll take you there right now."
"Does anybody know where Akane is?" the teacher asked as he scanned the classroom.
"I saw her showing some new kid around, I think," Sayuri said. "Did you see her Yuka?"
"I had my attention elsewhere," the girl said in a way that mostly sounded innocent, though still put Sayuri on edge somehow. "Ask her brother-in-law here."
Did she recognize me? Ranma wondered as he frowned. "Nah, I haven't seen her."
Those jerks, Yuka thought to herself. They had to just go and take her on their own. I could have worked some fun in before that pervert Kuno joined us. Well, there is still Sayuri-chan. Isn't that right Yuka-chan?
The last was directed to a pained and pitiful soul chained deep within her mind. Of course she had to be stuck with the one soul so far that wasn't willing to help the demons now that she knew what was going on.
The demon smiled at Ranma, who glared back. Sayuri looked back and forth between them and shivered.
"I have to assume that she has..." the teacher was interrupted as someone walked into the room and tentatively walked to the teacher to hand him a note. "Saotome, it seems you are excused from classes again."
"Err," Ranma said looking around. "Why is that?"
"They found Tendo Akane," the teacher said hesitantly. "I'm afraid she...has acquired the same condition as her sister." The dominant whisper was suddenly along the lines of "it has to run in the family," and "you know how their mother died."
Yuka, rather the demon in Yuka's body, meanwhile seemed to be enraged.
"WHAT!?!" she shouted. "What happened to her!"
"Calm down, Yuka," Sayuri said. "She'll get better, Nabiki is, and Nabiki isn't as strong as Akane."
"Of course," Yuka said, calming down dramatically. "Of course. I'm just...worried that's all."
Ranma refrained from smirking at the demon and revealing his involvement. Which isn't to say he didn't REALLY want to do it.
"I'll go get her to the Doctor's I guess," Ranma said glumly. That he didn't have to fake, he REALLY hated this method of getting "allies" that were probably going to want him dead more than the demons did.
"I think I could use that slumber party after all, Yuka," Sayuri said behind him, eliciting a wince from Ranma.
Ranma had NOT liked the reception he had received from the doctor as he brought in Akane. He had helped getting Akane in ice like they had with Nabiki, and then checked on her sister.
The only thing that probably kept the doctor from trying to exorcise him on the spot was the fact that Ranma had apparently been nowhere near Akane after morning classes. In fact, Ranma had to be told about the situation like anyone else, something that had been confirmed by calling the school.
Now all he had to worry about was Kasumi's reaction, and then he had to save a mortal girl from becoming a demonic servant of hell or whatever.
Ahhh...life was good.
"Akane is what?!!" Soun demanded. "Oh, my poor babies. Struck down in the prime of life." Genma narrowed his eyes and pulled Ranma to the side.
"Are you doing something her, Boy?" Genma demanded.
"What am I, nuts?" Ranma asked. Through it all Kasumi had been strangely silent, then she spoke.
"Ranma, could I please speak to you alone?" she asked quietly.
"Umm sure," Ranma said.
"Nothing funny, boy," Genma warned, Soun was to distraught to notice as Ranma and Kasumi parted the company had headed for her room.
The door closed behind him and Kasumi turned about, tears threatening to burst from her eyes.
"Are you responsible for this illness that is striking my sisters?!" Kasumi demanded.
Ranma took a breath and considered his situation. Looking about he sighed reluctantly and took another deep breath. Kasumi waited patiently hands gripped as she waited for an answer.
Ranma leaning forward to place a kiss on her lips that seemed to literally set her body afire was not the answer she was looking for.
"Sorry, 'bout this," Ranma whispered. "Please don't hate me when you wake up." He laid Kasumi back as her eyes started to close, and she started shaking.
He looked around desparately, he needed a plan. Suddenly an idea presented itself.
Genma and Soun were galavanized by the sound of crashes upstairs.
"Pop! Mr. Tendo!" Ranma shouted. "Get up here!"
The two old men were up in a flash, arriving in the room in time to see a strange young man throw something about the size of a human body out the window. The sight of Kasumi on the bed, shaking and unconscious did not help matters.
"How dare you attack my family!" Soun demanded launching forward.
The youth smirked evily before jumping out the window into the night. Soun and Genma followed him to the window and looked out but couldn't see him anywhere.
"Oww, damn it," Ranma said from below. "I see 'em Pop!" The young martial artist shouted before vanishing into the night, apparently after Kasumi's attacker. "Just take care of Kasumi!"
"Why, I'll tear that wretch limb from limb!" Soun declared. "I'll..."
"Easy, Tendo," Genma said. "Ranma has it handled, let's get your daughter to the doctor's." Soun regretfully agreed, nodding, though still looking angry.
"You're right, Genma," he said. "I let my passion blind me to the true necessity here."
Ranma bounced through the night, hoping that Genma and Soun wouldn't notice the lamp and some clothing was missing. And he still had to keep Sayuri from getting to that slumber party.
Ohh yeah...life was wonderful.
In case you're wondering "why" on some of these things.
Why 12? Because 13 was too hard to cast for when villain and hero sides are added together. There are 12 separate sub-races for Hengeyokai in the Oriental Adventures book, I'm not using all of them, obviously, since that doesn't list bat...and since I'm not sure what exactly a raccoon dog is, that might get replaced too...
As for other things....
Why the kiss? Because its toned down and generalized from real myth. Real myth (source Encylopedia Mythica) says that a fox spirit makes a woman into a foxwoman by possessing her, and that the spirit enters through the woman's breast.
I was already toning it down, but the first image of Ranma going after one of the guys settled it. Besides, mouth to mouth transferals of power are really more common anyway, and if someone wants a fic like THAT there is always "Ranma the Amorous Oversexed Nympho" by another fanfic author.
What are the demons? The demons are going to be a combination of Christian possessing entities and a few other myths, basically, they're my schtick, not legitimate myth. As for why Ranma is hesitant about taking them. He's not certain how to kill the spirit and he doesn't WANT to kill the body (even if they make a deal like he thinks Kuno did) and thus ITS spirit...and since he DOESN'T know about exorcisms and such...so its not so much that they're powerful as it is they're hard to deal with
Who's going to be what? Not telling, but most of the regular cast is tapped as heros, with one or two villains (we've seen Kuno already) and one or two one timers from the series as heros
What animals?
Well, Shampoo is a cat, Ranma is a fox, Mousse is a bat and the Tendos' animals are listed in Oriental Adventures...and that's all I'm saying.