[FFML] [XOver][R.5/Bleach][Dark][Lime?] Pale Horse Chapter Eight: A Heart In Pain

[Timothy Groves]

Disclaimer

Ranma 1/2 was created by Takahashi Rumiko, and anyone who doesn't
already know this won't understand this story anyway.  Bleach was
created by Tite Kubo;  you don't really need to have seen Bleach to
understand this fic, but just so you know, anything not Ranma related in
here was created by him.



- - -

"Shampoo is a creature of instinct at the best of times.  But right now,
only instinct remains.  The wall of her willpower is battered, and
slowly crumbling, and she will soon be a force to be reckoned with."
Happousai smiled evilly.  "And that power is under my control, for it
was I who unleashed the devil within her."

- - -

"Do you know what it's like, bein' hated like he hates me?"  Ranko shook
her head.  "Of course not.  It's worse than havin' a brother who hates
me."

- - -

"The last thing Shampoo said before leaving was, 'Obstacles are for
killing'.  I believe that she is hunting Akane."

- - -

Akane scowled, and brought up both hands.  A ball of purple energy
formed between them, and flashed to impact into Shampoo, knocking her
further back.

She glanced down at her hands.  "Did I just use a ki attack?"

- - -

Akane raised her hands, desperately trying to ward off the blast, but
her own attack fizzled weakly against the onslaught.  She was blown
backward, carving a furrow through the earth, her clothes catching fire.

"AKANE!!"

- - -



Tail Kinker Presents


Pale Horse


Chapter 8:  A Heart In Pain



"I will not be gone for long."  Masami had changed back into her
Shinigami uniform, and wore her zampakto belted at her waist, blade
down.  "Merely to requisition a Gigai, and to consult with Captain
Unohana of the Fourth Division as to a means to control your Hollow,
Akane."

Ranma nodded.  "We're gonna try to take on Shampoo while you are gone."

"Be cautious, Ranma," said Masami.  "Shampoo is not an opponent to take
lightly."

"You know her?"

"I sensed her, when we were seeking Mousse.  I fear that she is the most
dangerous opponent you will ever face."

She turned, and opened the dojo door, but rather than the Tendo yard, it
showed an Edo-style courtyard.  She stepped through and closed the door.

Ranma blinked.  "Akane...did you just see...?"

"A castle?"

"Yeah."  He stepped forward, and opened the door.

Kasumi lowered her hand.  "Oh, did you hear me coming?  Breakfast is
ready."



- - - - -



Shampoo dropped the box.  "Is not in here."

"Dammit..."  Happousai growled.  "I know the old bat has it."

"Maybe is back in village?"

"A device of this amount of magical power?"  He snorted.  "No, she'd
keep it with her at all times."

"Maybe is on her person.  She keep Phoenix Pill around neck."

Happousai glanced over at the bound Amazon leader.  "This could require
a strip search."  He shuddered.  "Shampoo, I leave that to you;  you
know the old ghoul's best hiding spots."

"If you tell me what you are looking for, I might just hand it over."
Cologne's voice was weak.

"Hm.  Never considered that option.  All right.

"I am looking for the Crumbling Orb."

Cologne shrugged.  "Never heard of it."

"Oh.  Carry on, Shampoo."

"I'm not lying to you!  Why would I?  I don't even know what this Orb
is!"

Happousai sighed, and seated himself on the floor.  "Since I can see
your aura, I might be able to discern the truth from you.

"The Crumbling Orb is an artifact of considerable power.  Its primary
ability is to cause the breakdown of a target's willpower.  His emotion
and instinct will fuse with his reason and intellect.

"Human beings exist in a state of balance between their insticts and
their reason.  Spiritual beings, such as myself and the lovely Shampoo
here, do not.  Because this wall exists, we can draw power from one side
or the other, but not both."

Cologne chuckled.  "So it's just a power grab for you.  What makes you
think I have it?"

"Because a student of mine once spoke with the inventor of the Crumbling
Orb.  He had sent it to China with a Shinigami called Shaolan.  She
drowned at Jushenkyou."

"Ah."  Cologne chuckled.  "So you think it went to Jushenkyou, and I
would have picked it up?"

"When I was there, there was no sign of its spiritual energy.  I would
have felt it."  Happousai lit his pipe, drew some smoke before
continuing.  "So someone removed it.  Your tribe guards Jushenkyou.  You
are the most powerful member of that tribe.  Ergo, you must have it."

"I hate to burst your bubble, but if you can sense its power, why keep
up this facade?  Surely you must realize that I don't have it?"

"I cannot sense it, this is true."  He sighed.  "And from your aura, I
can see that you might just be telling the truth.  I guess we can kill
you now."

"Are you certain that that is wise?"  Cologne glanced over at Shampoo.
"No matter what control you have over her, killing me in front of her,
or ordering her to kill me, may break it."

"You think so?"  He turned to Shampoo.  "Disrobe."

Shampoo smiled seductively, and began to undo her dress.  Happousai
turned back to the Matriarch.

"You see, the control I have over your granddaughter is both more subtle
and more powerful than you can imagine."

Shampoo dropped the silk dress at her feet, then unsnapped her bra.
Cologne gasped, as she saw the hole.  A perfect circle, just above her
left nipple, that ran clear through her body.  Daylight was visible
through the other side.  There was no blood, no damage;  it was not a
wound, merely an absence of flesh.

But the hole would have run directly through her heart.

"Shampoo is a creature of instinct at the best of times.  But right now,
only instinct remains.  The wall of her willpower is battered, and
slowly crumbling, and she will soon be a force to be reckoned with."
Happousai smiled evilly.  "And that power is under my control, for it
was I who unleashed the devil within her."

Shampoo stepped out of her panties, kicked them aside.  She knelt before
the old pervert and stretched seductively.  "Is what Master ordered?"

Happousai chuckled.  "Very nice, Shampoo."

For the first time in a very long lifetime, Cologne began to fear for
her life...and her soul.



- - - - -



"Ranko."  Akane laid a hand on the girl's arm.  "We need to talk."

"Sure, Akane."  Ranko leaned the glaive up against the wall.  "Whatcha
wanna talk about?"

"Ranma."

Ranko scowled at her.  "Did he put you up to this?"

"No."  Akane looked down.  "But I'm worried about him."

"Why?  He's gettin' what he always wanted.  I'm gonna be gone, as soon
as I get the faux body.  No more curse for him.  Finally, he can be a
'man among men'."  She practically spat the last three words.

"I thought that you wanted your independance!"  Akane's eyes were wide.

"Do you know what it's like, bein' hated like he hates me?"  Ranko shook
her head.  "Of course not.  It's worse than havin' a brother who hates
me.  We've been the same person for so long.  Seventeen years."

"He's only been cursed a year--"

"Where do you think I came from?  Huh?  Do you think I just came into
bein' when he fell into the spring?"  Ranko's eyes flashed.  "I've
always been part of him--until now."

She looked down.  "Since we used that technique, I've been becomin'
different.  I've been driftin' away, from him and from you."  She looked
back up, and Akane was startled to see tears in her eyes.  "It hurts a
lot, to leave you guys behind.  But it's gonna happen, no matter what I
want."

"So is this how it is?  We're going to end up hurting you, so you run
away?"  Akane crossed her arms in disgust.  "That sounds like your
father speaking."

"So?  Do you see a better way?"

The door slammed open, and Ranma stalked in, his eyes blazing.  Akane
whirled to face him, her hands flying up to her mouth.

"Akane, can't you leave well enough alone?"

The hurt was plain in her eyes.  "Ranma...I was trying to help--"

"I know.  I'm sorry."  He sighed, and turned to Ranko.  "Look, Ranko--"

"Don't call me that!"  She almost screamed the words.  Ranma blinked.

"Don't call me that, please."  Ranko was crying freely now.  "I'm not
Ranko any more.  I'm not Ranma anymore, either!"  She collapsed to the
floor, rubbing her eyes with her hands.

"Aw, geez..."  Ranma knelt before the Shinigami, placed his hands on her
shoulders.  "Look at me."

She looked up, her eyes red and puffy from the tears.

"Remember, we decided together that you were gettin' your own body.  I
asked Masami myself, remember?"

She nodded timidly.

"So don't go all girly on me just yet, okay?  We still gotta deal with
Shampoo."

"Okay."  She sniffed back the tears.  "Just...I don't wanna re-integrate
again.  I want my own body, and I don't want the pain of leaving you
again."

"No matter what happens, you don't gotta leave us."  Ranma smiled at
her.  "You're more than welcome to stay."

She shook her head.  "No, Ranma...I will need to leave."  She glanced
over at Akane, then back to him.  "You know full well the problems I'll
cause here."

The two of them stood.  Ranko turned, and picked up her zampakto.  She
glanced over her shoulder.

"Let's go.  I feel the need to kick some ass."



- - - - -



Only one light burned in the Nekohanten, in an upstairs room.  Ranko
leaped up to the window, and carefully peered in.

"It's the old ghoul.  She's been tied up."

Ranma nodded.  "Can you open the window?"

"Just need a bit more leverage..."  She adjusted her feet, then shoved
the window open with one hand.  "Got it!"  She slipped in.

Ranma turned to Akane.  "Only one way to get you up there."

She nodded.  Ranma picked her up, and tossed her to the window.  She
caught the frame, and Ranko pulled her in.  Ranma leaped up, alighting
on the windowsill like a bird.

"Son-in-law..."  Cologne smiled at him.  "I can't tell you how good it
is to see you right now."

"We'll have you free in just a moment, Granny."  He knelt, and paused.
"But before I do this...Ya gotta promise that you'll give up on me
marryin' Shampoo."

"I'm not precisely in a position to argue.  But I do ask one thing."

"What's that?"

"Please...try to avoid killing her."

Ranma blinked.  "Sure."  He grabbed the ropes and pulled.

Nothing happened.

"Damn...these are really strong!"

Ranko squinted.  "They're Hollow-infused.  You won't be able to break
them."  She readied the glaive.  "Step aside."

Ranma shuffled out of the way, and Ranko sliced the ropes with her
zampakto.  Cologne sat up, rubbing her arms.  "Son-in-law..."

Ranma raised a finger.

"Sorry.  Old habits."  Cologne sighed.  "Ranma.  Though I thank you for
freeing me, I fear that you may be too late to save Shampoo.  Happousai
has bound her with Hollow magic."  She glanced over at Ranko.  "I know
your kind."

"I guessed as much, seein' as how you can see me."

"The last thing Shampoo said before leaving was, 'Obstacles are for
killing'.  I believe that she is hunting Akane, but she may be headed
for the Tendo home."

Akane gasped.  "My sisters!"

"They may be safe from her.  It is most likely that she is nearby.
Following you."

Ranma stood.  "We need to get into the open.  Sorry, Akane, but you
gotta be live bait."

"I'd prefer the term, 'on point,'" muttered Akane.



- - - - -



They found Mousse near the restaurant.

His clothes were badly shredded, and every weapon normally concealed
within them lying broken around him.  His belly had been slit;  he was
using one hand to try to hold it shut.  The other hand was missing at
the wrist.

Ranko knelt by him, and touched the wound on his belly.  She drew on the
power of the zampakto, and felt the slash close under her hand.

"Someone find his hand."

"Over here."  Akane looked nauseous.  "How could she do this to him."

"Get it into some ice, fast.  Don't barf on it.  Ranma, call an
ambulance."  Ranko sighed.  "If they can get to him in time, they can
put the hand back on.  I can't;  it's still outside my power."

"Saotome..."

"Quiet, Mousse.  Don't strain yourself."  Ranko's eyes well.  "She must
be really far gone...Why the hell didn't we deal with her first?"

"Saotome.  Please."  Mousse grabbed her kimono with his remaining hand.
"Save her..."

"I intend to, Mousse."

"Amazing."  Cologne shook her head.  "She carves him up like a roast,
and still his only thought is of her."

"Makes you wonder why you kept after me, eh?"  Ranko stood.  "I've done
all I can.  We need to find Shampoo and stop her, before she really
loses control."

"Is already done."  Ranko turned, to see Shampoo.  She was naked, but
covered with fine hair, white save for fingers and feet, which were the
same shade of purple as the hair on her head.  Her ears had lengthened,
as had her canines, and her fingernails had grown longer and thicker. 

The most startling element of her transformation, however, was the pure
white jian leaning against her shoulder.

"That's no ordinary blade..."  Ranko's glaive slipped into the ready
position.  "Everyone!  Shampoo's got a zampakto!  Do -not- let it hit
you!"

"Shampoo surprised.  Master not tell her Ranko is Death Goddess."  She
smiled, revealing a mouthful of pointed teeth.  "Smell good;  wonder how
taste?"

"Koneko--purr!"  The glaive doubled in length, and the blade shimmered.

Shampoo leaped forward, swinging the sword.  Ranko parried, her blade
howling against the metal of the jian.  Shampoo whirled inside the
blade's reach, and lashed out savagely.  Her foot caught Ranko just
above the solar plexus, driving the breath from her and knocking her
back ten feet.  Shampoo leaped from the kick, twisting in air to land
directly behind Akane.

Without conscious thought, Akane lashed out with a back kick, but
Shampoo parried it with her off hand, then swung the sword at Akane's
head.  Akane dropped below the arc of the swing, and pivoted through a
foot sweep.  She connected solidly, knocking Shampoo's feet out from
under her.

Shampoo touched down on her off hand, propelled herself away from
Akane's followup axe-kick.  Ranko leaped into the air, the glaive
singing as it passed through the air, but Shampoo was already on the
move again.  Ranko cursed, parried the jian with Koneko's haft, then
brought the blunt end around and caught Shampoo across the temple.

Shampoo spat, cat-like, and slashed at her with her left-hand claws.
She caught Ranko across the face, carving four parallel furrows along
her cheek.  Ranko grabbed her wrist, executed a flawless knockback
throw, and was dismayed to see the cat girl land on her feet, almost as
though she'd planned to be thrown.

"Stupid Ranko.  Give Shampoo room to play."

-I guess she -was- plannin' to be thrown.-

Shampoo stood up straight, pointed the sword at Ranko. 

"Mouko Takabisha!"

The torrent of energy that blasted from the blade was far greater than
anything Ranma had ever achieved with this attack.  Ranko raised her
glaive, raising a defensive barrier almost on instinct, but it was not
enough.  Not nearly.

Her defenses crumbled, and she was blasted backward and through the
plate glass of the restaurant window.  The cat girl shouldered the
blade, and turned back to Akane.

"Akane turn now.  Obstacles is for killing."

Akane scowled, and stepped into a ready stance.  "Bring it, kitty."

Shampoo hissed, and lunged forward, leading with the blade.  Akane
snapped through a spin kick, knocking the sword off target, followed it
up with a jab at Shampoo's face.  Shampoo brought the blade back,
parrying with the quillons, then snapped it around, catching Akane
across the back and drawing.

Akane gasped, as the sword sliced her back painfully.  She snapped up a
knee, catching the Amazon square in the groin, then brought the foot
down in a stamp kick square on her knee.  Shampoo howled, then leapt
away.

Akane blinked.  -No way - she should have a broken pelvis and shattered
kneecap!-

"Akane get better."  Shampoo bared her fangs.  "Will not any more."

Akane scowled, and brought up both hands.  A ball of purple energy
formed between them, and flashed to impact into Shampoo, knocking her
further back.

She glanced down at her hands.  "Did I just use a ki attack?"

Ranko pulled herself out of the shattered restaurant, wincing at the
pain of a thousand small cuts.  Then gasped as she saw the turn that the
battle had taken.

Shampoo was on the defensive, dodging wildly as Akane fired blast after
blast at her.  "Oh, no..."

"Ranko."  Cologne was following the battle worriedly.  "If Akane keeps
up that level of output, she will very soon tire."

"Did she get hit?"  Ranko squinted.  "Yeah, across the back.
Damn...more Taint."

"Shampoo's energy reserves are much greater than Akane's, or even your
own."  Cologne looked up at her.  "If you are to defeat her, you will
need to bleed off more of that energy."

"Maybe I can try the Happo Five-Yen Satsu?"  Ranko shook her head.  "No,
you need an altered metabolism for that."

Cologne held up a packet.  "Use this."

"What is it?"

"Boxwood dust.  Hit her with this, and it will absorb some of her ki."

"Got it."  Ranko grabbed the packet, and leapt back towards the fray.

Shampoo saw her coming, and launched a Mouko Takabisha at Akane.

"Oh, hell--"

Akane raised her hands, desperately trying to ward off the blast, but
her own attack fizzled weakly against the onslaught.  She was blown
backward, carving a furrow through the earth, her clothes catching fire.

"AKANE!!"

Ranko hurled the packet with deadly accuracy.  It smashed into the cat
girl, exploding in a puff of dust.  The dust cloud boiled, burning off
as it absorbed her frightful battle aura, and Shampoo came flying out of
it, teeth bared and sword ready to strike.

Ranko swept the glaive, knocking the jian out of her grasp and straight
into the air.  Shampoo grabbed the haft of the polearm, riding the
backswing and turning it into another jump.  She touched down on a
nearby wall, and held out her hand.

Her zampakto fell straight into her open palm, and she snapped it back
to a ready position.

Ranko gulped.

Shampoo jumped down to the ground, glanced over to the frantic Akane.
"Violent girl not know to stop, drop and roll?"

"You are dead."  Ranko's face had turned ugly.  "Promise or no, I am
going to kill you."

"Hmph."  Shampoo glanced over at her.  "Shinigami yet to lay hand on
Shampoo.  Shampoo no fear."

"Koneko--purr!"  Again the glaive sang.  Ranko leveled it at the cat
girl, and stalked forward.

Shampoo chuckled, and moved forward.  No human could have seen her at
the speed she moved.  But Ranko was no longer human.

The blade of the glaive met the blade of the jian, and cut straight
through it.

Shampoo gasped, stared stupidly at the broken blade in her hand.

"Bad time to pause."

She pivoted, the glaive held in tight, and drove it straight into
Shampoo's chest.

"NO!"

The howl of anguish echoed throughout the street.  Ranko pulled the
glaive clear, and jumped away.

Shampoo collapsed backward to the ground, and a shadowy figure rose from
her body.  Long arms reached out, trying to hold itself into her, but to
no avail;  the form was already beginning to break up.  In seconds, it
was gone.



- - - - -



"He's badly beaten, but aside from the severed hand, in pretty good
shape overall."  The paramedic finished strapping Mousse into the
gurney.  "Get him in, and get him to Emergency post-haste."  He turned,
and walked over to the other casualty.

"How is she doing?"

"Whatever it was that stabbed her, it punctured her lung, damaged one
breast, but managed to avoid severing any arteries.  She's still
breathing, and her heart is still beating.  If she survives to reach
Shock-Trauma, she should make a full recovery."

"What the hell happened to these two?"

"Some kinda axe-murderer, maybe?"

"I dunno."  He knelt, brushed a lock of purple hair out of Shampoo's
eyes;  despite the horrific wound, the girl's face was peaceful, almost
serene.  "Completely naked, but only the one stab-mark.  No defensive
wounds.  CSU is gonna have a ball with this one."

 From a safe distance, the foursome watched the paramedics load the two
Amazons into the ambulance.

"She switched back as soon as I hit her...I think we can trust that we
destroyed her Hollow."  Ranko sighed.  "I just hope she's okay."

"Me, too."  Ranma looked down at his feet.

"Fat lot of use you were, Ranma!"  Akane cuffed the back of his head.
"Where the hell were you during the fight?"

"Akane."  Ranko glanced over.  "Don't be so hard on him.  Neko-ken,
remember?"

"Oh..."

"Well, that's all the cursed folk on the list, anyway."  Ranko glanced
towards the rising sun.  "Another day integrated for me.  Just one
more.  Then we got one last fight."

"Happousai?"

"Yeah."  Ranko sighed.  "And I got a bad feelin' that it's gonna go a
lot harder than this one."

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