When 2 Lives Cross Chapter Four

There is nothing more touching than a family reunion, especially if the family in question was that of immense proportions. It's a chance for kinsmen all around the world to rendezvous at a suitable location and time, to converse, catch up on old times, and realize why they had moved away from each other in the first place. While a rare occasion in many parts of the world today, it is nonetheless an extremely important part of life in Japan, more notably in the city known to many as Nerima; a city where a family often reconnoiters in the mornings for their special time together before a busy day is to start, the city where quaint ideals such as a father-son bond are more priceless than most anything else.

"I SAID it's MINE! You had one more than I did already!" Such was the life of one Ranma Saotome, whose entire being, if not being chased by beautiful scores of unintended fiancees and old bereaved enemies, was mainly concentrated around eating, eating, and more eating. Unfortunately, his father felt the same way.

Such important battles and the like often took place within or around the halls of the Anything Goes Martial Arts Dojo, home of one of the best, supposedly, fighters this side of Japan, as well as Ranma's legacy from his soon-to-be father-in-law, Soun Tendo. Or at least, his legacy as soon as he managed to chuck out the rest of the unwanted yet determined girls who demand that he be their husband instead of Soun's daughter Akane.

Though usually a pretty spot to rest, it was at the moment far from being one of the city's tourist landmarks. A scavenger hunt taken to the gardens brief hours ago had left the dojo with a sour taste of something amiss and heavily disturbed, especially in light of the broken greenery and strewn objects lying about. Soun himself had long since given up on actually salvaging the botany around him that held a greater chance of being salvaged, instead setting up his favorite playing board in anticipation of a new game, should the large hulking panda battling with Ranma for sustenance win his intended victory.

In spite of the dojo's current appearance however, the dojo itself housed more guests than it usually did. A chance encounter with a considerable party at the Juusenkyo Springs led to one thing and then to another, and before he knew it Soun had found himself sharing his house with four fighting youngsters, two of which now with the ability to change genders at the drop of cold water, result of an unfortunate accident at the very same springs; a strange young man with a pacifier constantly stuck to his mouth, claiming to be son of the the great god Enma-Daioh; a handful of young and extremely pretty women; and an old veteran woman who seemed to be their teacher and leader. Not including his own three unwed young daughters, two freeloading houseguests, and his own martial arts teacher with a penchant for stealing women's underwear. And then there was the problem of one Tatewaki Kuno, or rather, three Tatewaki Kunos. Ranma and Akane's classmate, he had fallen into the Spring of Drowned Twins. Twice. He knew that offering them his house for free was the honorable thing to do, given that Ranma had been responsible for kicking Hiei and Kuwabara into the Drowned Springs, but he had wished his wallet felt the same thing.

Not everyone, in the meantime, was watching the Saotome-Saotome food wars. Keiko, Kurama and Yukina were closely hovered about an unconscious Yuusuke, taking turns in fanning him and holding a cold compress at the back of his head. While all four would be considered beautiful women, only two of the four were actually female. With long red hair falling in locks around his face, and with wide green eyes Kurama looked naturally feminine enough to pass for a girl and make both genders swoon over him. Kuwabara had been a tall, lanky youth with features nowhere near handsome, but even Hiei had to grudgingly admit that in his female form, the carrot-haired ningen could go as far as turn heads.

Hiei hated begrudging the idiot this win, even though the latter didn't know it. Even more, she hated having something in common with the brash idiot. If Kuwabara hadn't been acting the fool, dancing atop poles of the Spring of Drowned Girl, he and Hiei wouldn't have these female bodies to begin with. Scowling, she glared down at his own hand, which was obviously those of a girl's. There were already enough girls around to give her enough competition for Kurama's attention, not to mention those three strange girls who had sent her gifts awhile back with no reason whatsoever......her hands moved down to finger the brooch beside her, then tossed it away in a pile somewhere at his back; he didn't really care to look where it landed.

Wait. Kurama's attention? Why the hell would he be fighting for THAT? Hiei's scowl deepened. His thoughts were blurry; what had so recently popped into his head was merely lightheaded suppositions, nothing more than an overindulgence in booze; glancing down he realized he had already emptied out half of the sake bottle's contents. He had finished his first bottle just minutes before. That was it, then. He was just angry at Kurama for being cold to him the last few days, and maybe a little at himself for not knowing the reason why. Kurama had barely spoken two words at him, since they had arrived back. No big deal. If Kurama didn't want to be his best friend anymore, than that suits fine with Hiei; his new best friend was right next to him, although even that was going to be discarded as soon as he bled it dry. He eyed his future ex-best friend; a jug of wine set in a corner nearby that had caught his eye a quarter into his sake. Overindulgence in booze, nothing more.

Hiei was not the only one with alcohol close at hand; most of the party were celebrating. A couple of days after their...accident....at the Juusenkyo Springs, Koenma had arrived on the Tendo's doorstep, informing the Reikai Tantei team of yet another crisis that seemed to be becoming a part of their everyday lives. This time, some crazed S-class demon is attempting to steal a crystal hidden by the gods somewhere within Nerima. Not just any ordinary crystal; if Koenma knew what he was talking about, it was the Dimensional Crystal, capable of warping world at a whim from its holder, to create or destroy lands at a single command.

But the danger was long since passed. The Dimensional Crystal had been recovered by, of all people, Akane, Shizuru, Yukina, Botan and Keiko, and was now safely tucked away in the cabinet within the Tendo hall, which Koenma would promptly seal in the Reikai vault the following morning. That is, if it would still be morning when the Prince of the Dead actually came around to waking up. Koenma was happily guzzling down loads of sake as if his life depended on it; amazingly enough, accomplishing the feat even with his trademark pacifier still nestled at the corner of his mouth.

Death had long been feared by many a human, and a considerable amount of demons as well. While being a quiet lure of immortal sleep and dreams beckoning, it has been embraced by few as a means of beginning another kind of life than that of their existence in the world, in a spiritual aspect. What is not known by many is that Death could be just like that ebony-clad woman within the pages of Sandman comics; Death could have a personality all on her own. Or at least, her Japanese version.

The definition of death now briefly defined, now the time for ways in which the manner of death to be achieved has to be placed under discussion. While there are many ways to die; some easy and unburdensome, others long and in agony; some more common-placed ways usually involve old age, killings, asphyxiation or innumerable hours watching Teletubbies. One of these is what is known as death by cooking. Many poisoners often started out this way; realizing that their home-cooked meals could literally choke a person to death, no matter how they try to 'perfect' their recipes, potions involving nightshades and lilies of the valley are simply an easy step away.

Plates laden with all sorts of delicacies from the four basic food groups littered the table of the Tendo Dojo, but no one thought enough to eat, especially when one discovers that it was Akane Tendo responsible for the cooking. A few blissfully ignorant had tried; it was only because of decades of hard training had Genkai managed to force her first and last bite down, retiring shortly for the night; Kuwabara had taken one mouthful, turned green and had been forced to flee to the confines of the bathroom; likewise Hiei, only she had latched onto her first bottle of rice wine as her means of salvation. Shizuru, about to take a bite herself, took one look at the reactions of the others and quite as calmly, emptied her plate into the nearest trash bin. As discreetly as she could, of course. Hosts were still hosts, after all.

Botan was having the time of her life. With another inflated giggle, she attacked the hordes of food in front of her, a bit surprised why no one else was touching it. While it tasted a little bit too bland here, a little overgarnished there, it could have been a quality of the cooking in this area. She would have to ask Akane-chan for her recipes before they had to leave. Between bites, she glanced around. It was mildly relieving to discover that the Tendos and Saotomes had been willing to aid them in their mission, though it would have sounded ludicrous to most everyone else. Botan had gotten to thinking that from the way those families acted among themselves, they were used to weird happenings. Come to think of it, most of the people in Nerima seemed to be used to weird happening that went about here. Her eyes sought out, flitting from face to fae, then sighed. The strange bandanna-wearing boy was nowhere to be seen ever since the search parties had gone back to the Dojo after finding the Crystal. Hiei and Kurama, who had been in the search party with the boy, didn't seem to recall where he went. Was it her imagination, or was there some sort of friction between the two?

And anyway, why should she be thinking about someone whose name she'd forgotten? Ryo, or Ryogen, or something like that; she hadn't been listening all that hard when he had given his name, party because she was too busy looking at him. But still, he was....cute. Extremely cute. Especially the fangs. She giggled. Botan, as a whole, didn't need sake to get drunk.

Okonomiyaki! Botan didn't know what okonomiyaki tasted like, having never eaten one before, but she had heard a lot of things about it from other people, and all of it were good. If no one was going to eat that as well - it didn't look like Hiei would - then she may as well try the first taste. Or two. Or three or four.

Kuno knew that for a fact; his love-addled gaze as he surveyed the dojo from its outskirts more than emphasized it. Curse the dark-haired thug who constantly hovered at his goddess' side, limiting him his access to professing his undying love to one so beautiful, from one just as smitten as he. Hell hath no fury when it boils down to Kuno and his beloved; nothing would bar him his way from his chosen.

Of course, perhaps slipping into the dojo's back door might smack a little on the dishonorable side; but Kuno thought it best first to devote the evening to his love. He would challenge the poor sod to a duel tomorrow; best give him this night to live and repent.

Kuwabara had always thought himself - well herself, given her current form - the best at what he can do: the world's greatest fighter, the world's greatest lover, the world's greatest warrior, the world's greatest whatever. And he believe it as well, even remembering as past opponents easily crunching him down under the sole of their boots. That was the old Kuwabara, determined yet inexperienced. This was a new Kuwabara, harder and stronger than any other before him. Kuwabara didn't realize however, what was the truly one thing that no one can match him in doing; the world's greatest drunk if he really wanted to.

She laughed at nothing in particular. She knew that this may be one of the best parties ever, even if she didn't remember much of anything else save that for the sake she cradled beside him during those hours. And Yukina-chan, of course. Yukina had been too busy tending to Urameshi that he didn't want to disturb her, so she contented himself with dividing her time between drinking wine and shooting admiring glances at her green-haired goddess from time to time. For some reason though, he found himself in one of the unoccupied rooms of the house, just laughing and singing to himself. She laughed again, and hiccupped. She decided she was dreaming now; a kaleidoscope of colors danced before her eyes, melding and slowly giving way to a pair of deep brown eyes.

"My love! I have risked fire and storms for naught but a glimpse of you, and I have already been rewarded a thousandfold!" The man whipped out something from his sleeve and offered it to her. "It would lift my heart up beyond ecstasy to hear the words I long to....hear." Apparently deciding that was an awkward phrase, the man rushed on. "Please accept and say you'll be mine for all time, my goddess of beauty!"

Kuwabara giggled. She was having all the weirdest sort of dreams today. First she had dreamt that she had fallen into a spring and turned into a woman, only reverting to her original male form by applying hot water on her; now this dream-hero was asking for her hand in marriage. Well, her three dream heroes, from her point of view. And she wasn't even technically female. Kuwabara tried blinking some more to see if that worked. It didn't.

She took another swig of sake. What was that again? Her mind was getting quite fuzzy; she was having a hard time remembering what was going on. Her eyes already half-closed, she could see a man offering her something. That was nice. Was he offering her some more sake? She would like that.

Ryouga was not in a good mood. It had taken him fourteen times to ask for directions and two hours to find his way back to the ten minute walk he had originally started to the Tendo Dojo. As he drew closer, Ryouga could make out that some sort of party was going on; everything was lighted and faint traces of food and wine were lingering in the air.

He brightened. Perhaps they had found the jewel, or whatever it was called, after all. Or at least, realized that it was some sort of joke and abandoned the search. Either way, he would finally see his Akane again. Already his heart lightened at the thought of Akane's smile, her cute little nose and the way her hair fell about her neck --

The blue-haired woman he had bumped into awhile back was glaring angrily down at him, hands on her hips. Something resembling an oar was tied around her back. Botan. That was her name, she said. "How dare you ever show your face around here, after what you've done!"

The girl looked uncertain. "Well.....I don't know either, but...." The glare returned. "You had to do something really bad, otherwise I wouldn't be mad at you right now!" She kicked the doorframe, which ricocheted back on Ryouga's head. "If I ever catch you doing.....that thing you did, you'll be very sorry!" With that, she marched back inside.

"He's...just weak, right?" It was no mean feat for anyone to see that Keiko was worried. Keiko usually did, when it involved Yuusuke. Yukina once thought that Keiko only herself to be the one to give Yuusuke his bruises and cuts, especially from the way they bicker about. It was nice to know that it was only a front that let the other know they cared.

Yukina rubbed her face, tiredly. She had done the best she could, trying to heal Yuusuke of the injuries he had taken in the ice cream shop fiasco, but even she knew that her healing did not include reviving memories. "I'm not entirely sure, Keiko. Physically, he's okay.....I think the bump on the head gave him amnesia." She turned to Kurama. "Give it a day or so for his memory to come back, except if Kurama has some plant medicine he could give.....Kurama?"

Yukina sighed. She never said or talked much with a lot of people; and many had underestimated her because of that. She had keen observation on what went on around her, and from what she had observed between Kurama, she knew what was ailing him. Or what was ailing Hiei too, for that matter, though he hid it better than the youko. "Kurama....would you like to talk about it?"

Yukina smiled back, but only faintly. When she had more time, she would get to the bottom of this problem. She liked Kurama, and she felt a close bond with Hiei for some reason she didn't know. Yuusuke was the main priority as of the moment; she couldn't bear seeing Keiko all broken up like this.

Advising Keiko to keep Yuusuke warm as he slept - the youth had blacked out again soon after waking - Yukina headed to the kitchen in search for some more compresses. En route however, something at the corner of her eye sparkled. Curious, she found a beautiful red jewel pin upon further investigation, and she gasped softly. This looked to be very valuable, yet it was tossed carelessly aside. She couldn't remember any her friends wearing this; so it must be either the Saotomes' or the Tendos'. She would ask them in the monring. For now.....

Ranma had won the shrimp fight with her father. With a loud chuckle, he shoved the rest of the tempura into his mouth and watched with barely concealed glee as the panda floundered about in the pool, splashing its arms wildly. The fate of those who tried to oppose him, even if the old man was family. Still chuckling, he headed back towards the main room. There was some sake waiting for him to guzzle down.

He stopped upon seeing Hiei, nearly passed out on the floor. Images of Hiei roasting Happosai with apparent ease flashed through his brain, and another grin broadened his face. He had been unsuccessful so far in trying to get Hiei to tell him her special fire technique when she was sober, so now he'll just have to try when she was drunk. Hopefully, Hiei's female alter ego would prove much more affable then her male.

A pair of binoculars stuck against a tree and trained down on the hubbub below may look ridiculous to the ordinary passerby had he chosen to glance up admist the tree branches, but not to Shampoo. She frowned, trying to adjust the lenses to get a better view? < What black cloak Hiei doing? Hiei no wear brooch, and Ranma still with her! > Her blood boiled. < How dare black cloak Hiei spoil Shampoo's plan! Where brooch now? >

Ukyou was faring no better as well, who was listening just outside with a glass of water between the wall and her ear. She frowned. She had seen her okonomiyaki package awhile ago, and its contents had already been eaten. Surely only Hiei could have eaten that, as it was her name labelled on the card. So why wasn't Hiei trying to kill Ranma yet? The ingredients she had worked into the okonomiyaki had to be taking effect by now.

And then she frowned. "Why is my beloved......running around the room with underwear on his head?"

The object of her affections were in fact, speeding about the room with a pair of boxers on his noggin, part of the silk draped over one eye. < This *better* be part of learning the technique... > Hiei merely watched, took another drink, and watched some more. She had no idea what her host was doing or why he was acting like an idiot (did she tell him to do that? She thought she did, but it was getting all blurry.) but whatever the reason, it was good entertainment.

An excellent fighter, it is said, must be ready at all costs and at all times, for there is as much chance of getting killed in a split-second by reflexive actions and instincts as much as being run over by a bus. It takes grueling hours to master the more intimate arts hidden by secret sects and master warriors, for knowledge learned has always been the edge over opponents and bordered upon the thin life that separated life and death. The proper tools, an accurate memory, a good layout of the place to be besieged, weaknesses of the opponent. And luck. Luck must never be underestimated, because even good plans can turn awry given several circumstances.

The figure all trussed up in black that sneaked into the Dojo had prepared all that and more. Two seconds after entering unnoticed, the figure realized that luck was all it was going to take. Guards and boobytraps had at the very least, been expected. This was the Dimensional Crystal after all; only fools would take it and imagine it safe unsurrounded by protection both physical and mystical; what moron would steal a device guaranteed to take and give life as they see fit, then leave it out in the open for others to take themselves?

And was careened into headfirst by a short unsightly man with beady eyes. The shadow had tried to lift his head up to look at the retreating figure so he would recognize him enough to kill him the next time they met; but the several other pairs of feet that chose to trod on his already aching head deprived him of that notion.

As the sounds receded into the distance, the figure quickly jumped up, slightly disoriented. A proper thing that he wore black and blended well into the darkening night; lest he would have been discovered and his master's plans foiled. Clearing his head of other bobwebs, he paused before several door and peered in. Many of the rooms were occupied but its residents fast asleep; from the smell in the air he supposed it was due to excess drinking. He found what he sought in the second to the last door. Felt, rather; the energies that simply oozed out of the Crystal was off the scale.

She could feel the strange ki of the intruder, even as she slowly opened the sliding door to her room and stepped out; could feel it the moment he had stepped into the house. Everyone seemed fast asleep; probably too drunk to fight. Well, she wasn't a fighting veteran for nothing. The ki she felt was generally weak, but she knew how these could be deceiving.

Koenma, who was lying closest to the room, blinked and turned his head this way and that, wondering where all the sudden blinding light was coming from. But by then, the light was already fading, and the room dark when he finally found the strength to turn his head. Shrugging noncommitantly, Koenma closed his eyes, and sleep came to him once more.