All C&C welcome. (Unless you start insulting me and
say I should never write fanfiction again.) If you were
to write something like that... well... I could get
violent. But, other than that... I should be fine :)
----------------------
THE GAME
By: Angela Jewell
----------------------
Based on the trilogy, The Forbidden Game by L.J. Smith
Ranma 1/2 is the property and creation of Rumiko
Takahashi, and whoever else owns it. I'm not making any
money off of this so don't sue me. Besides, good luck if
you tried. I'm broke.
***
Volume 1:
Spellbound
***
Two people in one,
one happy one sad.
Two sides of me,
one mad and one glad.
There’s only one side
I try to let show;
my feelings inside
the others don’t know.
I’m two people in one-
As strange as that sounds,
the real me inside
No one has found.
-Unknown
***
Chapter 2
***
It was almost Eight-thirty when Akane finally neared her
street, and still she couldn't shake the feeling she was being
watched.
Not followed like last time.
This was different.
It was almost as if someone were out there watching
her every move and step. Secretly memorizing every little detail
of her body as she moved.
Ravenous eyes came to mind.
Hungry eyes that seemed to follow her wherever she went.
Which she knew was ridiculous.
She had glanced over her shoulder several times to make
sure no one was watching her and had been confronted with silence
and an empty street both times.
Akane shivered, a small reminder that she should have brought
a jacket. All the lighted houses she passed looked warm and inviting.
She was out in the chill dark.
Akane sneezed, pulling her thin sweater tighter against
her body.
Plus it was still raining.
The invisible eyes continued to watch her, sending shivers of
alarm down her spine.
Who knew what was out there?
"Come on Akane," she told herself softly. "There's nothing
there in the dark that isn't there in the light."
After she said it, she stopped in surprise. She had never really
thought about it before, but... she knew it wasn't true.
There were bad things out there. Bad things that she herself
had seen and confronted.
It was just a comfort to say it out loud. Saying something
out loud always made it seem more... well... true. Or... it at least
helped hold the darkness at bay.
Besides, there were things in the light.
Evil things.
Monsters. Demons. Curses.
They weren't just confined to darkness. They were all around.
Akane shook her head, trying to clear her mind of the direction
her thoughts were going. She didn't like to think about these kind of
things. It just showed how weird the world was becoming.
Everything use to be so certain. Like Black and White.
She just knew that up was up and down was down. She never
questioned it.
But now... she wasn't even certain of that anymore. With all the
new discoveries and research being performed, the world seemed to be in a
state of constant chaos. Ranma's arrival had shown her that. Sometimes...
it just felt like her world was crashing down all around her, dragging her
along with it. There never seemed to be anything to pull her back to
safety... no life line to grab a hold of to keep herself from drowning in
misery or ending it all.
Except Ranma.
He always helped pull her back. He had no idea how much a
compliment a smile or even a glance meant to her. It made her feel
important, like maybe she did mean something to him after all.
The rain continued to fall from the sky, the heavy drops
hitting the pavement, creating small puddles of water all around.
Akane glanced down at the box in her hands. Somewhere along the
way home she had started to have misgivings about the game. Everyone
always told her she was too impulsive... which of course she denied.
Now she had bought this-- this thing without even knowing exactly what was
inside!
Akane stopped dead in her tracks, a surprised look on her face. The
box in her arms had started thrumming slightly, as if charged with some
hidden power.
There is evil in the world, her mind seemed to whisper.
Don't be stupid, she reminded herself. It's just a box.
But those guys ran, something in the back of her mind reminded
her. They were scared.
Akane sighed in frustration. She wasn't sure what to do. The
thought of those guys being scared of some game was ridiculous!
Besides, maybe it wasn't even the game they were afraid of, maybe
they just saw something strange on the mural...
Oh well, no sense worrying about it now.
Besides, she argued. It wouldn't hurt to check the game out and
examine it thoroughly before playing it.
Akane shuddered. The box in her hands seemed to glow, as if in
response to her thoughts.
A stupid game shouldn't have that kind of an affect on a person.
Akane sighed in relief as she spotted the Tendo Dojo. She quickened
her pace, anxious to be home.
She only hoped Nabiki wouldn't be to mad at her for being late.
Akane entered the house, slipping her shoes onto the mat and her
feet into her slippers as she headed towards the kitchen. "I'm home." she
announced as she dumped her bag and the box on the small counter.
"Akane?! Thank goodness you're home!" Kasumi said happily, pulling
her younger sister into a tight hug. "We were all worried sick about you."
"Sorry, I made you worry, Kasumi." Akane apologized, pulling
away slightly from her older sister's embrace. "I got caught up in the
rain."
Kasumi released her sister, smiling happily as she wiped her wet
hands on the front of her apron. "It's alright Akane, at least you're home
now. Why don't you go and change into some dry clothes so you'll be
presentable for Ranma's party. Aren't parties wonderful?" she giggled.
"Yeah." Akane replied distracted. "Um... Kasumi? Where is everyone?
I mean it's so... um, well... quiet."
"Oh? Really?" Kasumi asked obliviously. "Well, Grandfather Happosai
took father and Uncle Saotome on a training trip. He thinks they're going
soft and need to re-energize." Kasumi paused, as if in deep thought. "I
think that's what he said. Yes. I'm sure that's it. Doesn't that sound like
fun?"
Akane laughed nervously. "Um, yeah Kasumi. Fun."
A loud angry voice erupted from behind her, causing her to jump
in alarm. "Where have you been?" Nabiki demanded, her voice even and
tight. "Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting? Most of the
guests have already left!"
Akane turned around to face her angry older sister. Shampoo,
Ukyo and Ranma were standing slightly behind her. "Sorry." Akane replied
sheepishly. "I guess I lost track of the time."
"You guess?" Nabiki replied, her voice low and dangerous. "Akane do
you have any idea how much money I lost tonight because of you?"
Akane's head began to spin.
She couldn't believe what she had just heard.
"WHAT?" Akane asked in disbelief, her eyes wide. "You're blaming ME
because YOU lost money?!"
Nabiki shrugged. "Well, it sure as hell isn't my fault."
Akane tried her hardest to control her anger. As much as she wanted
to, she couldn't mallet her own sister. Well... actually she could...
but she wouldn't. "Did it ever occur to you, that I might not care how much
money you would have ripped off our poor unsuspecting guests?" she demanded,
her face an expressionless mask.
"The world doesn't revolve around money Nabiki!" Akane shouted,
throwing her arms up in the air in exasperation. "GET A LIFE!"
"What? Like yours Akane?" she replied cynically. "No thanks. I'll
pass."
Akane glared at Nabiki's retreating form as she walked into the
living room, ending the conversation.
"Good riddance." she muttered when Nabiki finally vanished from
sight. "And I do have a life!"
"Yeah, sure you do." Ranma laughed. "Since when?"
"Shut up, Ranma." Akane snarled, hitting him with a near by lamp.
Ukyo observed Akane with a curious gaze. "Um, Akane. I don't
want to sound mean, but what did happened to you? You look awful."
Shampoo shrugged. "Akane always look that way."
"What did you just say?"
Akane held back her anger, letting out a frustrated growl behind
tight lips. She had come to expect this kind of outburst from Shampoo, but
that didn't make the sting of the insult any less damaging to her pride.
"Shampoo only speak truth."
Akane's eyes narrowed, anger rushing through her veins. "Why-- why
you--! How dare you--!"
Ranma moved forward, stepping between the two martial artists
before they could tear each other apart. The last thing he wanted was a
fight between his fiancée's on his birthday.
"Seriously Akane, did you run into some kinda trouble?" he asked
worriedly.
Akane's expression softened at the look of concern in Ranma's eyes.
"Well actually..." she began shyly.
"I mean, you look like a drowned rat." he laughed.
Akane's expression hardened, changing from happiness to anger in
mere seconds. "You idiot!" Akane screamed, malleting Ranma into the floor.
"And here I thought you were actually worried about me for once! I
guess I should've known better than to expect sympathy from you!"
"What's that suppose to mean?!" Ranma demanded, dragging
himself out of the hole in the ground. "Of course I was worried about you.
I asked if you were ok, didn't I?"
"No." Akane replied flatly.
"Oh... well I was gonna!"
Akane sighed in frustration. "Yeah, whatever Ranma. I'm going to go
and change into some dry clothes. Enjoy your party." she replied dryly,
running upstairs.
"How can I when there's a stupid violent maniac like you attending."
he muttered.
"I heard that." Akane yelled, her voice dripping venom as it drifted
down from upstairs.
"Good." Ranma yelled back. "You were suppose to."
He knew he didn't have a very good way of showing it, but he had
been worried about her. He was even about to go looking for her when she
had finally walked in, cold and wet.
Besides, it would have been a good way to escape his numerous
fiancées. They had all been unbearably forceful today so he couldn't wait
to get away from them.
It was bad enough having three young women fight over you, but
quite another when one of them was crazy, one was your best friend and one
was an amazon who wouldn't take no for an answer. It was even worst since he
knew none of them stood a chance. It was just... he didn't want to hurt
them.
Besides, he hated to admit it, but... having three beautiful women
fighting over him really boosted his ego. Not to mention helped remind him
just how much of a man he really was.
Luckily, Nabiki had been able to get rid of Kodachi and Kuno shortly
after the party had begun.
He wasn't sure how she had managed that... and he wasn't sure if
he wanted to know.
Mousse and Cologne had left fairly early, the old ghoul forcing
Mousse back to the restaurant so that Shampoo and Ranma could have
some time alone.
HA! Like he really wanted to spend any time alone with Shampoo.
Maybe if it were Aka-- someone else.
Of course Mousse had refused to leave Shampoo alone with an
'uncultured louse,' and had ended up going home as a duck.
Not to mention unconscious.
He understood why Mousse hated him. Really he did. But he couldn't
understand why Mousse continued to insist he was trying to steal Shampoo
away from him. I mean, how many times does a person have to say, 'I DON'T
love her' or 'I'm not TRYING to steal her away. You can HAVE her.' before
they take the hint, and leave you alone.
Maybe it's some Amazon thing...
"Hmm... what's this?" Ranma wondered, as he picked up the small
white box Akane had dropped on the table.
I wonder if it's a present for me...
Ranma began to shake the box, trying to get an idea of what was
inside.
"Now that violent tomboy here, husband open presents now, yes?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure." Ranma replied, as he carried the box into the
living room, and set it on the floor before him. He hoped Akane didn't get
too angry with him for opening the present before she got back. He couldn't
help it. He was really curious about what was inside.
Shampoo, Ukyo, Nabiki, and Kasumi gathered around, all of them
curious about what was in the box.
Akane was still upstairs getting changed, so the only other person
missing was Ryoga, and God only knew where he could be.
Ranma's wondering ceased, when a frustrated, hoarse yell of,
"WHERE ON EARTH AM I NOW?!" echoed throughout the room.
"Well... I guess Ryoga's here." Ranma replied, looking up from the
box.
"Gee." Nabiki replied dryly. "Do you think?"
T * * * G
Ryoga glanced around at his surroundings, uncertain about where he
was. He knew he should be use to it by now, but he still hated feeling
helpless and lost. He had been walking around for what seemed like forever
trying to get to the Tendo Dojo and Akane. He had no idea where he was
now...
Ryoga stiffened in surprise as he heard footsteps moving around
behind him. The steps were calculated and quiet, barely making a sound.
He could tell that whoever it was, was probably a martial artist,
and a sloppy one at that.
What kind of a moron initiates an attack and lets their opponent
hear them approaching? Ryoga shrugged and braced himself for the attack,
his hand closing tightly around the handle of his umbrella.
Who ever it was, was in for a big surprise. Nobody beats Ryoga
Hibiki.
Ryoga tightened his grip on his umbrella and quickly turned around,
ready to face his attacker.
"TAKE THI-- huh?"
Ryoga halted his umbrella in mid swing, recognizing the figure who
stood in front of him. "Ranma?!"
"Wow, Ryoga I'm impressed! You actually made it here on time for
once!" Ranma laughed, stepping before his rival.
Ryoga blinked. "Here?" he asked dumbly, placing his umbrella back
on his pack. "Uh... where is here?"
Ranma rolled his eyes as he began to walk back to the Tendo
Dojo, motioning for Ryoga to follow him. "You're in Nerima, you moron."
he replied.
"HEY! DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Ryoga yelled angrily, hitting Ranma
on the head with his fist.
"Hey!" Ranma complained, rubbing his head. "Whadya do THAT for?
You should be happy I didn't call you P-Chan!"
Ryoga ignored him as they stepped into the Tendo Dojo, glad to be
in a warm and dry place. It had started raining fifteen minutes ago and
just as quickly as the rain had begun it had stopped. Luckily, he
had managed to make it to Nerima without getting transformed.
The last thing he wanted was to be a pig on Ranma's birthday.
That would be the ultimate humiliation.
"Hi, Ryoga!" Kasumi said happily, meeting them at the door. "We're
so glad you could make it. Would you like some tea?"
Ryoga blushed, uncomfortable at all the attention he was
receiving from the people gathered around the room. "Uh, no thanks Kasumi.
I had some tea a couple days ago at Osaka. Thanks for inviting me to the
party by the way."
"Well... how could I not?" she giggled. "You and Ranma are such
good friends."
Nabiki, Ukyo, and Shampoo laughed at that statement.
"Yeah." Ranma agreed. "But we're nowhere as close as him and P-Chan
are. He just loves that cute little pig. Why, they're practically
inseparable." he laughed.
Ryoga glared angrily at Ranma, his battle aura flaring. "Shut up
Ranma!" he yelled angrily, throwing a small, square package directly at
Ranma's head.
Unfortunately for Ranma, the package just happened to hit its mark.
"Ouch!" Ranma complained, rubbing his head. "What'd you do THAT
for, Ryoga?"
Ryoga smiled. "I got you a gift... even if you don't deserve one."
he sneered.
"Gee, thanks pal." Ranma replied happily as he picked the package
up off the ground and began to tear it open. His expression quickly changed
to anger when he realized what it was.
It was a book.
But not just any book. The title was, Engagements for dummies.
"Gee, Ryoga." Ranma replied glancing angrily at the title. "You
shouldn't have."
"I know."
"No really..." Ranma replied through clenched teeth. "You shouldn't
have."
Ranma set the book on the counter, thoughts of showing it to
Akane entering his mind. Maybe the book would give her some tips on
how to be a good fiancée. She needed all the help she could get.
"Um, excuse me Kasumi but... do you know where Akane is?" Ryoga
asked shyly, glancing around the room.
"Oh. Well... she's upstairs getting changed right now." Kasumi
replied.
"Oh." Ryoga sighed, disappointment written all over his face.
He had really been looking forward to seeing Akane again. It seemed
like forever since he had last seen her beautiful, smiling face.
Oh Akane... Ryoga sighed.
Suddenly, images of Akari flashed through his mind, reminding him
of the girl he had waiting for him in the country.
He didn't know what to do. He was completely in love with Akane...
but he had strong feelings for Akari too. Oh, what to do! He never thought
he would be in the same situation as Kuno! Well, actually... his situation
wasn't quite as bad. One of his true loves wasn't really a boy... and the
two women he loved didn't hate him.
Akari had even said she loved him, and Akane... well... he was
afraid to tell her how he felt about her. He wasn't sure how she would
react when she found out he's really P-Chan. What if she told him she hated
him and never wanted to see him again? He didn't think he'd be able to
handle that. On the other hand, Akari knew about his curse, and loved and
accepted him all the more because of it.
Besides, as much as he hated to admit it, he realized Akane had
feelings for Ranma, how ever faint those feelings may appear to be.
He saw how she looked at him when she thought nobody was looking.
The far away, longing look she gave him, made his poor heart of glass
shatter into a million pieces.
It wasn't fair!
He wanted Akane to look at HIM that way.
What was it that was so great about Ranma in the first place? In his
opinion he was nothing but a rude, insensitive, conceited jerk!
Ryoga sighed in frustration. He was lost in more ways then one.
"Ranma-honey aren't you going to finish opening the box?" Ukyo
asked sweetly, curious about what the box held. Since it was from Akane she
knew it would be something Ranma hated.
Her gift on the other hand she knew he'd love. But she was going
to wait and give it to him later. Preferably when they're alone.
"Oh, yeah." Ranma replied, as he lifted the cover off the box and
threw it over his shoulder, not bothering to look where it landed.
"It's a game." Ranma deadpanned, confusion written all over his
face. "Why would Akane buy me a game? I hate games!"
"Maybe because it's not for you." Akane replied dryly, hitting
him on the head with her hand.
"Hey! Whadya do that for?" Ranma replied indignantly, rubbing the
spot on his head where Akane had hit him.
That was weird.
He hadn't even heard her sneak up behind him.
"Because the game's not for you, I got it for the party, so we'd
have something to do... but now I'm not so sure I-- Hey--! What are you
doing--?"
Ranma ignored her and began to lift out sheets of thick, glossy
tagboard, printed in colors so vibrant they glowed. Akane saw doors and
windows, a porch, a turret. Shingles.
"Oh! It's a dollhouse!" said Kasumi. "How cute!"
"Actually, it's a paper house." Nabiki declared, looking up from
the directions she had been reading. "You know... like you get in those
big flat books, and have to cut out."
Akane felt a wave of relaxation flow through her, and embarrassment.
She couldn't believe she had been worried about a game that turned out to
be some kids' toy.
"I'll go get the scissors." Nabiki replied, climbing to her feet.
Akane stared at her. "What? You're actually going to make it?"
"Sure, why not? There's nothing else to do." she shrugged. "Unless
you wanted to give Ranma your special birthday present now? Was
that it Akane?" she asked sweetly. "We can all leave if you want..."
"WHAT?" Akane yelled, jumping angrily to her feet. "What makes you
think I'd want to give that jerk anything?!"
"Yeah, really." Ranma replied, his face red with embarrassment.
"Why would I want something from that violent, uncute, tomboy in the first
place?"
"Look! There's even instructions for the game." Kasumi replied
obliviously, holding up the box cover. At a second glance, her smile
disappeared. "Oh my. They seem scary."
Shampoo's eyes lit up excitedly. Things had been pretty tame lately
in Nerima and she was starving for something dangerous and exciting to do.
"Shampoo want see." she replied, taking the proffered box from Kasumi's
hands.
Shampoo briefly glanced over the instructions. She wasn't too good
at reading Japanese but she could make out a few of the characters that
definitely made the game sound intriguing. "Wow! You no kidding! Game seem
scary!" Shampoo announced excitedly. "When we start?!"
"You've got to be kidding!" Akane shouted, throwing her hands up in
the air in frustration. "It's-- it's a paper house!"
She looked around for support.
"I think it's cute." Kasumi exclaimed.
Akane sighed in frustration.
She couldn't explain it, but she really didn't want to play the
game. There was just something... unnerving about it.
But Akane kept her doubts to herself.
She knew no one there would understand what she was feeling.
Besides, she was outvoted. Even Kasumi wanted to play the game... and it
was very hard to say no to Kasumi.
She didn't understand why she was so worried in the first place.
It's just a game she reminded herself.
"Oh, alright." Akane exclaimed defeated. "We'll play the stupid
game."
Nabiki smiled sweetly. "You do realize we would have played the
game whether you wanted to or not, don't you? I mean... since you didn't
get any other means of entertainment, we wouldn't have had anything else to
do."
They quickly put the model together as they ate, occasionally
getting grease on the tagboard. Nabiki supervised, while everyone else cut
out the different parts of the house, putting it together. Soon it was
transformed into a three story Victorian house. A removable roof and a
turret included. It really did look like a child's dollhouse.
Sheet after sheet had to be cut out to make all the chimneys and
cornices, balconies and eves... but no one got tired of working, and only
Ranma complained. Even Ukyo and Shampoo lent a helping hand, explaining to
Ryoga where everything should be placed.
"Look! There's even miniature furniture to place inside!" Ukyo
replied, picking up a small table and placing it on the ground floor. "You
see, this is the parlor, and here's a little parlor table. Gothic revival,
I think. My mother use to have one."
"Here's some kind of Oriental screen." Kasumi said. "I'll put it
by the table for the dolls to look at!"
"Dolls? There aren't any dolls," Akane said.
"Yes there are." Ukyo replied, grinning. "The dolls are us. It says
we each get a paper doll for a playing piece, which we have to draw our own
face on. Then, we move our pieces through the house and up to the turret at
the top. The first one there wins."
"Hey! You said it was scary!" Ranma objected.
"Ran-Chan, you never let me finish." Ukyo chastised. "It's a
haunted house. You run into a different nightmare in every room while
you're trying to get to the top of the turret. And you have to watch out for
the Shadow Man."
"The what?" Akane asked.
Ukyo sighed impatiently. "The Shadow Man. He's kinda like the
Sandman, except he brings nightmares. He's lurking around inside and if he
catches you-- well, just listen. 'He'll bring to life your darkest
fantasies and make you admit your most secret fears.' "
"All right!" said Ranma.
"Oh, my!" exclaimed Kasumi.
"Fantasies is like Ranma marrying Shampoo, yes?"
'Mystery,' Akane thought, ignoring Shampoo. Danger. Seduction. Fear.
Secrets revealed. Desires unveiled.
Temptation.
"What's wrong Akane?" Ranma asked, his face etched with worry. "You
look kinda pale."
Akane blushed with embarrassment. "It's nothing, really. I-- I just
don't know if I like this game, that's all." she shrugged.
"Well... if it's bothering you that much, we don't have to play
it." he shrugged. "I mean it's no big deal..."
"What do you mean it's no big deal?" Nabiki demanded, interrupting
Ranma in the middle of his sentence.
"Yeah!" Shampoo replied, crossing her arms across her chest in
defiance. "Just because Akane scared no mean she have to ruin fun for rest
of us!"
"Scared?!" Akane yelled, jumping to her feet. "Who says I'm
scared?!"
Shampoo smirked. "Akane no need say it. Is written all over face."
"Why you..."
"Cut it out you guys!" Ukyo yelled, pulling them away from each
other. "Do you wanna play or not?"
"Shampoo game, if Akane no afraid to."
"I never back down from a challenge." Akane sniffed. "Especially a
small one like this."
"Akane? could you go grab the crayons from the drawer, please?"
Kasumi asked sweetly, gesturing toward the small cabinet that stood a few
feet from where Akane was sitting. "We're going to have to do a lot of
drawing. Not just the paper dolls that are us, but also our worst
nightmare."
"Our worst nightmares? Why?"
Nabiki raised an eyebrow. "Gee, Akane. Haven't you been listening?"
she asked sweetly. "We've only been over it a hundred times."
Akane glared angrily at her older sister, the tone of her words
having been filled with sneering contempt. "Well, actually I haven't been
really paying attention. Would you like to explain it to me again, or do
I have to pay you?"
"No need." Ukyo spoke up, cutting off the impending argument
she was sure was coming. She wasn't going to let those two ruin Ranma's
birthday party. "We have to face a different nightmare in every room. So...
we each have to draw one on a slip of paper and place them in
different rooms through out the house. Then, when you get to a room, you
can flip the paper over and find out what that person's nightmare is."
Akane slowly climbed to her feet, opening the drawer in the cabinet
where the crayons were kept. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this." she
mumbled to herself as she grabbed the crayons and set them before the
assembled group.
"Thank you Akane." Kasumi smiled as she grabbed a brown crayon and a
paper doll.
Akane lifted a paper doll out of the box and carefully drew her
face on it, groaning in frustration at the hideous version of herself that
stared back at her.
Did she really look like that?
Sighing with defeat, she placed her doll on the floor and picked up
a rectangular piece of paper, and stopped helplessly.
It had just occurred to her. She was suppose to draw a nightmare!
And not just any nightmare, her worst nightmare.
But she couldn't!
The truth was, Akane had a nightmare. Her own, personal, private
nightmare, based on something that had happened long ago... except she
couldn't remember what it was. She could never remember what it was when
she woke up.
Something about her mother... and her grandfather's basement.
Her grandfather's basement had always been filled with the most
wonderful things. She vaguely remembered him showing her some of the things
there, although she had been too young to understand what they were at the
time. Until that night...
Something horrible had happened there one night.
Something so terrifying that she couldn't remember what it was...
or maybe... she didn't want to remember.
After a moment the flicker died, and Akane sighed in relief. The
only thing worse then not remembering was remembering. Although everyone
else had said differently at the time.
But what did they know?
Anyway... she certainly couldn't draw it.
Akane glanced around enviously, watching as all the others around
her sketched with excitement. She found her gaze shift towards Ranma who
looked up from his drawing at that same instant and caught her eye. He
smiled shyly, then turned, and went back to his drawing. But, not before he
crossed something out, and began drawing again with renewed vigor.
Akane sighed. Everyone had a nightmare except her. She knew that
Ranma was probably drawing cats, but she had no idea what everyone else's
nightmare could be. It had never occurred to her that Kasumi or Nabiki
might be afraid of something, and yet they were both drawing their own
secret nightmares, their faces more intense then usual. Completely unlike
Shampoo, Ryoga, and Ukyo. They were laughing and giggling about their
nightmares.
Shampoo and Ukyo's nightmares were probably of Ranma marrying
someone besides themselves.
Although she couldn't see the horror in that... well, not
really...
Akane looked down at her paper. All she had drawn so far was a
formless doodle around the edges; the middle was still completely blank.
"Come on, Akane." Nabiki said. "Aren't you finished yet?"
After an embarrassed moment with everyone's eyes on her, she turned
the paper over and handed it to Nabiki. She would have to explain it to
them later.
Nabiki shuffled all the slips of paper and placed them facedown in
various rooms on the upper floors. "Now we put our paper dolls in the
Parlor downstairs." she explained. "This is where we start. There should be
a pile of cards somewhere in the box that tell us what to do and where to
move. Could you get them for us Ryoga?"
Ryoga nodded as he dug around in the box for the cards. "Here they
are." he replied, handing the thick stack to Nabiki.
Kasumi placed all the little dolls on their plastic anchors and set
them in the parlor.
"Here is Shadow Man friends." Shampoo said as she handed two
figures to Nabiki. "Is Creeper and Lurker."
The Creeper was a giant snake and the Lurker a bristling wolf.
Their names were printed in blood red calligraphy.
"Charming." Nabiki said, snapping anchors on. "Anywhere in
particular I'm suppose to put them?"
"No." Ukyo replied. "The cards will tell us when we meet them."
"And here's the famous Shadow Man." Nabiki announced, holding the
paper doll up in front of the group, where everyone could see. "He can
shadow me anytime he wants. He's cute!"
Akane grabbed Nabiki's wrist. Staring in shock at the small paper
doll. For a moment she couldn't speak. Actually, she couldn't breathe.
It couldn't be-- but it was. There was no question about it. The
printed face that stared back at her was unmistakable.
"Akane? What's wrong?" Ranma asked concerned, leaning towards her.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
Akane shook her head slowly, her dark bangs and shoulder length
hair falling in front of her eyes. "I-- I know this boy." she replied, her
voice shaking. "He was the person who sold me this game."
And it was. It was the boy in black, the boy at the Games Galore
store. The boy with the shocking blue eyes.
***
End of Chapter 2
***
Authors Notes
____________
Questions? Comments? Flames?
Don't bother with the Flames though, I'll just ignore them.
I'm not very good with insults.
Now to give credit where credit is due: Thanks go to Rumiko
Takahashi, (for creating the Ranmaverse and all the wonderful characters in
it), and to L.J. Smith (for being one of my favorite authors and for
writing so many of her wonderful books!)
Sorry, there were so many mistakes in Chapter 1. I guess that's what
happens when you proof read your own story at 3 o'clock in the morning...
also, I'm not sure why the format was so screwed up, but hopefully it's
fixed now...
Chapter 3 is in its rough draft form, and will be out next.
Well... Chapter 3 does usually follow Chapter 2 doesn't it?
Hmm... maybe my next fic I'll write backwards... oh wait...
I'm already doing that in Turning back time...
Geesh! Its been so long, I've already forgotten! I think I'll work
on another Chapter for that... (There is a reason it's taking me so long...)
OK, well, I'll stop rambling now, bye!
Ja!
____________
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
"You don’t love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is
beautiful because you love her"
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
T * * * G
My email/ ICQ:
jewellangela@hotmail.com
gjewell@triton.net
26382915
Homepage:
http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/ranma/Game.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/ranma/index.html
T * * * G
CHAPTER 3