The Power Play

By Richard Palmer

Part One: Clash of the Titans

The day was cold and very overcast. The dark and sinister feeling it gave off put Anvil in the right mood for what he was about to do. After spending weeks in his own private hell, enduring pain upon pain, tortures that made him wish for death, his revenge now would be all the more sweet. Few people had humbled the inner-city behemoth before, actually, as far as Anvil could remember this red headed Asian girl was the only one to defeat him not just once but twice. An effrontery like that he would normally let slide had not his first defeat been on his home turf. How was an American gang leader supposed to keep the respect of his crew when they had seen him get beaten up by a girl less than half his size. The big ox lumbered down the street, he knew that the red-head lived in this city now, It was only a matter of time before their paths crossed again.

All of the sudden from behind him he heard "What a haul! What a haul!" He turned just as an old masked man, carrying a sack of panties, leapt up on his head, and continued on down the street.

"That's it!" Anvil thought, "now that these people have seen me beat by a girl they think I'm a pushover, I'm gonna set the record straight…" He began to charge down the street after the old man "starting with him!"

Happosai felt a small tremor emanating from behind him and looked back to see the hulking eight foot frame of Anvil charging after him like a runaway freight train. "Hmmf." Happosai sniffed, he'd faced intimidating opponents before, this one would be no problem. He leapt over Anvil's charge and tapped Anvil on the back with his pipe. Anvil went sailing through a brick wall. "Some people, no matter how inexperienced, always think they have what it takes..." Happosai stopped as Anvil pushed the debris off of himself and got up, breaking a water pipe in the process. One plus to his weeks of torture when the whole ordeal was over he was tougher than ever, a speeding semi-trailer couldn't slow him down anymore. Another plus was his addiction was now nonexistent, He no longer needed the 'Beast' drug to feel no pain whatsoever. Anvil glared at Happosai with bright red eyes through tinted sunglasses. A sinister smile etched across his goatee sporting face. He remembered this funny little man from before, the old fool should have realized who he was dealing with. To Anvil's memory, the old goat tried to stop him with explosives to no avail, and here he was staring down the nearly unstoppable Anvil yet again. Off in an alley a hooded figure watched the confrontation between Happosai and this large man in black, waiting for an opportunity. Anvil threw a punch at the little man, who nimbly leapt up and out of harms way... until Anvil caught him with the other hand and drove him, neck deep, into the concrete. Anvil smiled wickedly as he pounded the old man several times in the head. He drew back his large steel toed boot, and prepared to finish the job.

"Stop!" shouted the hooded figure. Anvil looked over as this mysterious man steeped out into view. "Before you finish him off the old man owes me a favor."

Anvil pulled Happosai out of the concrete by his head. "This little wastoid? He ain't nothin! The bitch I'm after got three times his skill." Anvil said motioning to the unconscious old man, "What could a pathetic piece of trash like him give you?"

"A new name for starters." the mysterious man replied as he threw of his hood and cloak. The man stood in a blue vest, white fighting pants, and had a pair of pantyhose tied around his waistband. Had Happosai been awake he would've recognized Pantyhose Taro right then and there, but as it was, this fighter was unfamiliar to all onlookers.

"What? What kind o' name you got?" Anvil replied.

Taro gritted his teeth "Pantyhose."

"You kiddin' me! This dude named you Pantyhose and you go by that sign?" Anvil remarked. Taro threw a punch at Anvil, the giant American street-brawler never moved, the punch landed and didn't even phase him.

"You don't need this goat," Anvil said as he punted Happosai several yards away, "all you need is..."

"What are you doing?" Taro said as he watched Happosai land, come to, and continue down the street. "You have just made a big mistake, mister." As he grabbed the broken water pipe and redirected the flow of water at himself. As the transformation took place Anvil was trying to figure out exactly what was happening, even several seconds later, as the minotaur-like Taro waited for a reaction, Anvil was putting the full force of his mind to work.

Finally he said "Okay, are you Sigfreid or Roy?" Taro threw a full force punch that sent Anvil through another wall, Anvil got up, unphased, and charged at the large beast before him. Taro was knocked back, but he used the encounter to shoot ink into Anvil's face. Anvil was stunned by his sudden loss of sight and didn't see the blow that knocked him into a compact car across the street. Taro looked over at his opponent, the front end of the car was dented up like it had just been in a major wreck, any normal person would be unconscious at the very least. But this large man just stood up as though he had only tripped, he pulled off his tinted glasses and grabbed the front end of the car on both sides. Using his great, chemically altered strength, he picked up and threw the car like a discus. Taro ducked the automobile as it crashed through the side of a restaurant, surprising the hell out of the people inside.

"C'mon, Critter-man, Take me on if you think you tough enough!" Anvil roared as he pulled out one of his large knives with the knuckle grips, and with the other tore a lamppost out of the ground and threw it at Taro like a javelin. Taro dodged the lamppost and flew into the restaurant's back room. Anvil charged in after him. Taro had changed back into human form by the time Anvil got back there. "Fancy trick you pull back there," Anvil said as he walked toward Taro "Should take that show to Vegas."

"Or we could combine our talents and create a real show stopper." Taro replied.

"Huh?"

"You help me with my problem, and I'll help you with yours."

"Interestin' proposition there beast-man, Sound good to me." Anvil said as he put his knife away, "But we need to get you a gang sign, how's it gonna look, me callin' my partner after nylon?"

"Unfortunately, the only one allowed to rename me is the old man." Taro said.

"It ain't a name, it's a sign, s' like how Superman goes as Clark Kent," he shrugged. "What, you think my parents named me Anvil?"

"Mister, I like the way you think." Taro replied as they walked out of the restaurant. Several weeks past, no one had seen Anvil or Taro at all since their first scuffle, Ranma and Akane had heard a little bit about it from friends at school, but since neither Anvil or Taro had come for revenge no one thought anything of it.

Ben however had other things going on at this time. "Here, pervert, pervert, pervert." Benasato called, she was running down the street in her girl form, holding a double barrel shotgun with a bra tied to the end. Happosai had peeked in on Jennifer while she was changing, Benasato was determined to teach him a lesson.

Benasato walked down a street with a bunch of shops lined down it. He knew Happosai was around here somewhere, and no way was the letch going to pass up a bra right out in the open. Suddenly "Hello there, beautiful, I haven't seen you in a while." A nicely dressed young man walked up to her.

"Who the hell are you?" Benasato remarked.

The boy grabbed her gently by the shoulders, "Oh, come now, surely you remember me, Mikado Sanzenin?"

"You have two seconds to let go of me." Benasato said.

"Oh come on," Mikado said as he inched closer, "is that any way to treat an old friend?" Mikado stopped abruptly when he felt the barrel of the shotgun jam into his groin.

"The way I see it, Mikado, you can lose one old friend, or two old friends." Benasato smiled.

"How sweet!" came a voice from behind her and Happosai grabbed her from behind.

Benasato shrieked and the shotgun went off. Luckily for Mikado, Benasato had lowered it the second Happosai grabbed her, but Mikado stood there in complete and total shock.

"You dirty little son of a..." Benasato Began just before she heard a familiar, deep, guttural roar. Anvil's large frame stepped out from one of the alleyways. "Anvil?" Benasato stammered. While Benasato stood there planning her next move, Taro jump kicked her from the side.

"You!" Happosai said as Taro landed from his kick. Happosai was about to attack when Anvil pulled a couple of bras and panties from one of his pockets and whistled at Happosai like he was calling a dog. Happosai looked over at Anvil and instinctively leapt at the frilly garments. Anvil shot out his other hand and grabbed Happosai by the neck, his fingers clamping down like a vice.

"What the hell is going on here?" Benasato said as she got up.

"Like you really don't know," Taro said, "the big man here said he'd help me with my problem if I helped him with his."

"So what exactly is your problem with pervo over there," Benasato said going into a Mantis Kung-Fu stance "aside from the obvious."

"Don't play dumb, Ranma. You know the answer!" Taro said throwing a kick. Happosai was struggling frantically to get free, he began swiping at Anvil again and again with his pipe, as powerful as the blows may have been they didn't faze Anvil a bit.

"I know you're going to find this hard to believe," Benasato said throwing some fierce kicks, "but I ain't Ranma!"

"Hah, nice try, fem-boy," Taro laughed, "but you won't fool me that easily." With that Taro whipped out a pair of pantyhose with a rock stuffed down one of the legs, he swung it at Benasato, the nylon wrapped around her upper body and knocked her down.

"Look, Frankly I don't give a rat's ass about the perv' over there, But I'll take both you and Anvil down right now if I have to." Benasato smiled as she sat up, "Hell, Maybe I'll clean the old goat's clock to as an added bonus!"

Gasping for breath Happosai pulled out several fuse bombs and threw them at Anvil's head. The explosion knocked Anvil back a few feet, but when the dust cleared he just smiled through the burnt ash on his face.

"I think you know exactly what I want from the old man, and Anvil says he has the means to do it." Taro smiled "He said he's quite an expert on torture." Benasato's eyes widened, She knew exactly what Anvil was alluding to.

"Listen to me, you little moron, Anvil's techniques of torture are far to extreme. Whatever you're trying to get out of pervo, will be lost if you let Anvil at 'im."

"Oh come on, why should I believe you?" Smirked Taro.

Benasato glanced over at Happosai who had finally passed out. Benasato knew she didn't have time to settle this with words. She rolled onto her head and shot herself up at Taro in a classic Wu-Shu headstand kick, she knocked Taro down. Benasato then slipped herself out of the pantyhose that Taro had wrapped around her torso. She grabbed Taro by the collar, bashed him in the head with two quick head butts, then pulled him up and did a close range backflip kick and sent him flying. As she landed she pulled her headband down. Just then Anvil delivered a powerful kick and sent Benasato flying through the door of one of the shops. "I thought you'd be beyond a little double team, Anvil." Benasato said as she got up, her blindfold falling off, "Or do you think you can't take me on yourself?" Anvil rushed at Benasato, plowing through the remains of the door, and dropping Happosai at the same time. Benasato leapt up to avoid the attack. As she landed an empty bucket clattered against the pavement and Benasato looked over in that direction. Taro's large minotaur like form towered above her, with his wings outstretched, tentacles protruding from the back, and an eel instead of a tail. "This is getting to be very John Carpenter all of the sudden." Benasato remarked. Taro charged at Benasato.

Benasato leapt to avoid the attack, but as she did she was grabbed by the leg by Anvil, who swung her against the wall of the shop. Benasato struggled to break free as Anvil slammed her repeatedly into the floor and nearby walls. Finally he let go of her and she sailed out the door and into a restaurant across the street. Anvil began to advance again until he noticed Happosai begin to come to. He grabbed the old man in a choke hold and turned to Taro. "Let's jet, we finish the wench later." And the two of them headed down the street.

Benasato lay in the restaurant, barely conscious, struggling to keep her eyes open. Suddenly she heard a voice coming from outside the restaurant. "Ranma?" then she passed out.

"Hello?" Said Akane answering the phone back at the Dojo, "Oh, hi Dr. Tofu!... What, Ranma's been badly beaten?" She looked over into the dining room where Ranma was sitting watching TV. "Are you sure?"

After she hung up the phone she walked into the dining room.

"Who was that?" Ranma asked.

"Dr. Tofu," Akane answered, "apparently you were beaten unconscious."

"What?"

"Hello Akane." Said Dr. Tofu as she entered his office, then Ranma stepped inside, "Ranma? Then who's..." Dr. Tofu said motioning to the room that Ben was in.

"He's another guy with the same curse." Ranma answered.

They all walked into the room where Benasato was lying in a very awkward position. Benasato kept muttering "A...An...vil."

"She's, uh... he's been repeating that over and over and over again, but it doesn't make any sense." Dr. Tofu said as he snapped Ben's joints back into place, "The damage to his body isn't extensive enough to have been done with an anvil, or any large blunt object. It was definitely done by hand, all be it from a very strong person."

"Aaauuhh!" Benasato screamed as Dr. Tofu snapped her left shoulder back into its place. "No, Dr. Tofu, you don't understand," Akane said "this was done by a guy named Anvil."

"Who gives their kid a name like Anvil?" Dr. Tofu asked.

"S'a gang sign, man," Benasato said rubbing her shoulder, "Anvil's a gang leader from U.S."

Suddenly, from the front door, "Hello, Dr. Tofu?"

"Uh oh." Ranma muttered when he recognized the voice.

"K...Kasumi?" Dr. Tofu stammered, then he forced Benasato's left shoulder out of joint again.

"AAAAAAAAAAAUUUGGHH, what the hell was that for!?!" Benasato Shouted as she jumped up.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Dr. Tofu said as he got up, "let me set that back into place." Benasato Backed away holding her right arm up while her left arm lay limp at her side. Dr. Tofu walked past him and started to push on the arm of his plastic skeleton. "You really should eat more, you're nothing but skin and bone."

"Bone mostly." Ranma muttered as Kasumi giggled.

"I'm gonna leave now," Benasato said cautiously, "I'll leave you a check, just don't try anything else till I'm gone, Okay?" Benasato slipped out of the room her left Arm still hanging limply at her side.

Ranma and Akane followed her out. "So Anvil's back?" Ranma asked.

"Yeah, And he's got an accomplice." Benasato said wincing as she pushed on her left arm, "Scuse me a sec." She rammed her shoulder against the wall a couple of times before it popped back into place. She opened and closed her fist a few times before she continued. "Some dude who turned into a monster movie prop right in front of me."

"Pantyhose Taro?"

"What?" Benasato said, "That is the oddest gang sign I've ever heard."

"It's not a gang sign, It's his actual name." Ranma remarked.

"Okay, I don't wanna know how or why, I've got enough on my mind as is." Benasato interrupted. "This 'Pantyhose' guy said that he was going to help out with Anvil's problem since Anvil was taking care of the old man." Ranma and Akane looked startled, true Anvil was tough, but Happosai never seemed to be intimidated by anyone. How could Anvil convince Happosai to change Taro's name? "Frankly, we gotta stop the ball where it all started, We gotta get the old man back and we gotta beat Anvil off again before this 'Pantyhose' guy helps him figure out the whole curse deal."

"So what do we do exactly?" Ranma asked.

"We go back to your place."

"And?"

"Wait."

Ranma waited a few seconds "That's your plan? Go back to the Dojo and wait?"

"Who the frick do you think I am? General MacAurther? I do try to strategize but I'm afraid this time I'm stumped. The only idea I have is wait till they strike first, then try and beat 'em then. This Pantyhose guy thinks I'm you, so your place is the best option right now."

"I guess you have a point." Ranma muttered.

Part Two: Anvil's New Crew

"This the place?" Anvil questioned. He and Taro were standing outside a rundown old warehouse. Anvil had Happosai attached to a chain and encased in a cement block, and if that didn't keep him from escaping, the sedative he used on him would.

"That's the place, the most powerful small gang in this part of Tokyo, the Ebon Dragons Gang." Taro said, then he turned to Anvil, "Why do you want to talk to them?"

"Got to thinkin'," Anvil said, "The wench said it don't matter if I off her cause my old gang ain't here to see it." He shrugged, "So I get a new gang."

Inside a group of large kids were laughing as they were talking about some of the illicit activities they had been involved in over the past few days. All the sudden they heard a loud banging on the metal double doors over by the delivery area of the warehouse. They all walked over toward the doors wondering what was going on. all of the sudden the doors exploded from the doorway, and Anvil stood his arm still extended from the punch. "You the Ebon Dragons gang?" He said in his gruff, no nonsense voice. A few of the kids nodded. "Who in charge?"

"I am." said the largest kid with no fear in his voice.

"Not no more you ain't." Anvil said. The kid laughed, he looked around at the rest of the gang as he walked up to Anvil. Without hesitation, he threw a punch. Whatever technique the kid used, it was a good one, the punch jolted Anvil back about an inch. Anvil grinned at the kid like nothing had happened. The kid threw several more punches, and a few kicks, but none of them seemed to be taking any effect on Anvil. After a while the kid stopped to catch his breath. "You done?" Anvil chuckled. The kid threw one last punch, Anvil caught it with his right hand and threw the kid across the room.

The kid got up and turned to the rest of the kids in the gang, "Are you going to let this guy make fools of us? Let's get him!" All of the kids rushed at Anvil, a few of them wielding blunt weapons. Anvil knocked them aside like paper dolls, fending off every attack with ease. Taro just leaned back and watched the brawl. One of the kids leapt up on Anvil's back and tried to choke him with a chain, Anvil simply rammed the kid against, and then through a wall. Then he used the kids chain to knock aside two of the other gang members.

"Have your fun, big man," Muttered the gang's leader to himself as he got up from his last fall. He looked over at Anvil who was now standing near some barrels marked 'flammable'. The kid pulled out a small homemade bomb and tossed it in that direction, "Duck!" He yelled as the rest of the gang dove for cover. There was a large explosion. When the dust cleared, the gang leader looked up, Anvil was towering above him with a big grin on his face and his left arm ablaze in certain areas. He reached down and grabbed the kid, threw a few punches to his face and then kicked him out of the open doorway.

"You all now work for me." Anvil said as he turned to the remaining gang members "You part of the new gang called 'Anvil's Raiders'."

"Uh, Anvil?" Taro said, trying to cut in.

"Anyone don't like it they have to deal with me." Anvil continued.

"Anvil."

"I'm the head honcho now, Not Mr. Street Pizza there, so

ANVIL!" Taro yelled. Anvil turned to look at him. "Your arm's on fire." Taro remarked.

"Huh?" Anvil said, as the fire on his left arm grew bigger.

"Your arm is on fire!" Taro said pointing to his own arm, "You know, fire, burn, pain."

Anvil looked at his left arm, "Oh, damn." He muttered as he tried to snuff out the flames with his right hand. Taro walked over and smothered the flames with the cloak he was wearing. Some of the gang members looked at each other and gulped.

Ben had been waiting at the Dojo for two days for something to happen, Ben was beginning to wonder why Anvil hadn't shown up yet. Outside it was raining heavily, He got up from inside the front hall, grabbed an umbrella and headed out the door. He walked outside the front gate and looked around. No sign of Anvil, or anyone for that matter. Ben sighed, usually Anvil was so predictable. He started to head back inside when he heard some rustling over by the trash cans, he walked over and looked on the other side of the cans. A gray dog with black spots was trying to get on top of the cansbut couldn't quite make it.

"Oh, you poor dog." Ben said, You must be freezing." He patted his hand against his leg, "C'mon dog, C'mere." The dog looked at Ben and cocked his head then followed Ben inside the gate.

"I don't think this is getting us anywhere," Ranma said as Ben came back inside, he, Genma, and Soun were sitting in the dining room, "I thought you said Anvil would come right over here now that he has the old man?"

"Well, I thought so too. Hell I thought this Taro guy would have seen this as a perfect opportunity since it's been raining for the past couple of days."

Akane walked into the room and turned to look at the dog who was wandering around the room. "Where'd the dog come from?" she said.

"Oh, I found him outside in the rain," Ben said, "I couldn't just leave him out there."

"What's with the hat?" Ranma asked. Ben looked over at the dog, he hadn't noticed it before but the dog had a black Raiders cap hang off of one ear.

"Whoa, that's weird," Ben said "where does a dog get a Raiders cap in Japan?" The dog sneezed and walked into the next room.

"So what were you saying about Master Happosai?" Soun asked Ben.

"Well, as I started saying last night, the perv is totally screwed. Anvil was kind of big on torture methodology back in the ghetto."

"I'm sorry but I don't believe that there is anything that this Anvil can do to frighten the master." Genma said, "Lord knows we've tried to stop him several times."

"But you guys didn't specialize in dishing out agony." Ben looked at Genma and Soun "What's the first rule of torture?"

"Uh..." they both said in unison.

"Take away that which they desire most, something they can't live without."

"We've tried that before too, but the master always seems to be one step ahead of us." Soun sighed.

"You tried to stop his link to his perversions from the receiving end, not the source. Anvil relies on chemicals and drugs to get what he wants done, usually from another source." Ben said as he sat down "He once used a mixture on a guy that owed him money. The guy was an alcoholic, so the mixture was designed so that every time he got near alcohol he would get physically ill, then it would start to burn, next came epileptic seizures.

Anvil will try the same thing on Happosai, most likely using female pheromones as the trigger. He won't be able to touch panties or bras, let alone female bodies."

Soun and Genma's grins grew wider and wider as Ben continued "So what you're saying is he'll be cured of his perversions?" Soun said.

"In a sense." Ben replied as Soun and Genma started to cheer, "He'll be dead."

"What?" Ranma said.

"Yep, after a point the mixture is fatal." Ben said, "You can still cure the person affected by the mixture, but even then only until a certain point."

"So the freak'll get it no matter what we do." Ranma said.

"No we just have to get the drug, and then makin' the remedy will be easy."

"Oh, dear," Akane said, changing the subject "Kasumi's not back from the store yet, maybe I should cook dinner tonight."

"I wish there was an easy remedy for her cooking." Ranma muttered. Akane looked over at him and punched him out the back door. "Geeze, Akane, don't you think you're overreacting?" Ranma said, then she realized she was in the rain. "Dang it Akane, now I need to take a bath again."

She walked into the bathroom where the dog was, as soon as he saw her he began to growl.

"What's your problem?" Ranma said as she removed her clothes. She walked over to the bath and turned on the hot water. The dog continued to growl, then Ranma got into the bathtub and changed form. The dog stopped growling, cocked his head and looked around.

"I don't see why you have to be so hasty about helping the master," Genma said as Ben was getting ready to leave. He'd had enough of waiting, He decided it would be easier to find Anvil the same way as before, wonder around Nerima in his girl form. "I mean don't you think he deserves at least a little bit of this?"

"What kind of question is that? No one deserves a slow painful death, not even pervo! You talk like that you sound almost as remorseless as Anvil"

Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Akane got up to answer it. She opened the door expecting to see Kasumi, instead as the lightning crashed she saw the huge bestial form of Pantyhose Taro. He grabbed Akane as she screamed.

Ben rushed out after the beast, changing form as soon as he stepped outside. Taro was about to fly off when Benasato yelled, "Hey you Steven King reject, You too chicken to face me, that you got to take a hostage?"

Taro looked at Benasato and snorted. He then turned and charged at Benasato. Benasato pulled her blindfold down and went into a Kapoken stance. As Taro approached Benasato caught him across the face with a powerful open palm strike. Taro reeled back, confused. He didn't Remember Ranma studying Kapoken, how could he have pulled of the style so effectively?

The rain was starting to die down as Genma and Soun reached the door to see what was going on. "Akane!" Yelled Soun as he saw her unconscious under Taro's left arm.

Upstairs in the bathroom, Ranma jumped up when he heard Soun scream

"Akane? Oh no!" He grabbed his clothes and ran downstairs. The dog walked over to the bath and looked into the hot water, after a moment he jumped in.

Benasato was kicking madly at Taro with a Tae Kwon Do combo, Taro was blocking all the blows, but still being pushed back by the force. Ranma came out to join the fight. Taro broke concentration when he saw Ranma out of the corner of his eye, Benasato nailed him in the jaw. Taro fell, the jumped back up and swung at Benasato, who ducked in time. But the blow did hit Ranma, not hard enough to do much damage but it did knock him into a puddle.

"Damn it!" Ranma muttered as she got to her feet, "Not again!"

Genma tossed her a teapot. At this time, however, Taro did land a blow on Benasato who flew back into Ranma, the teapot crashed into both of them and hot water splashed everywhere. Ben and Ranma got up to see Taro as a human still in his fighting stance.

"C'mon, Holmes, what do you really got to gain from this?" Ben yelled.

"A new name for one!" Taro yelled as he threw a punch.

"How the hell did you get a name like Pantyhose anyway?" Ben said dodging the blows "You some kind of Chinese porno star?"

"Happosai gave it to me." Taro growled as he threw a kick. Ben back flipped away, and said "Oh man that's rough, I'm so sorry for you." He said as he shook his head with his face toward the ground. Then he looked up with a big grin on his face and added "PORNO PETE!"

Taro growled, but did not attack. The reason which became apparent when Anvil charged out the front door with a towel around his waist and crushed Ben against a wall "The dude's now by the sign 'Powerhouse' Taro! My second in command!" Anvil let go of Ben as he collapsed, half-conscious. "Let's jet," Anvil said, "She ain't here."

"She's right there!" Taro said pointing at Ranma.

"You blind, Holmes? That's a guy." Anvil said.

"He turns into the girl you're looking for," Taro stammered "Haven't you learned anything yet?" Anvil looked at Taro confused as Ranma charged. Anvil saw it in time to deliver a powerful backhand that sent Ranma through the front door and crashing through the wall behind it.

"So what we doing with this chick?" Anvil said motioning to Akane who was passed out on the ground.

"If we take her this red head will definitely come for her." Taro said "Trust me."

"You mean she like that? No wonder she wouldn't go out with the boys."

"HEY!!" Ranma and Ben said in unison as they got up.

Anvil looked over at them and said to Taro, "Get goin', I'll take care of things here." Taro stepped into one of the puddles from the rain, changed form, and flew off with Akane. Anvil raised his fists and calmly said "Step up."

Ben rushed at Anvil, as he did his mind raced, "Anvil, thinks he's got the edge in the strength department," He thought so he wont expect a powerful attack like the ones taught in the House of Richtenhielm school of martial arts." Ben drove back his fist as it began to glow with blue energy, then he thrust it straight into Anvil's gut and shouted "IRON KNUCKLE!"

Anvil shot back through the front gate as they all heard a loud thud as he hit the pavement then sloshing as he skidded through the water collected there. Ben rushed out to finish the job, but as he got there Anvil was nowhere to be seen. Instead there was the gray and black dog barking angrily before it ran off.

"What happened?" Ranma said as he ran out to join Ben.

"I'm not sure. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Anvil's been to Jusenkyou." Ben said, trying to put the pieces together in his mind.

Part Three: Back in the Ghetto

As Akane began to come to she saw a large blurred figure standing over her "All right, Babe, I ain't got no beef wit you, so don' worry you goin' to be fine." Akane recognized the voice as Anvil's, she tried to slap him, just before she realized her hands were tied. She blinked her eyes to get them focused. She looked around the dimly lit room, it was very spacious, she guessed right away that they were in a warehouse. She looked down at herself, she was sitting on an old mattress and had a blanket wrapped around her to protect her from the cold. She heard groaning over in a corner of the room. She looked over in that direction and saw Happosai in a very uncomfortable looking chair with a few of the gang members huddled around him.

"We're ready, A-man." one of them said.

Anvil turned to Akane and said, "Sit tight." He walked over to Happosai and smacked him across the face.

"Wha?.." Happosai started as he came to.

"Wake up runt. You and me got some talkin' to do."

"You!" Happosai yelled as he jumped up in the chair, but still being held down by the arm restraints.

"You, are about to be in a world o' pain, ol' man." Anvil said, "'Powerhouse' told me your weak spot, so I had this made special." He held up a vial of liquid. "You goin' to be begging to change Taro's name when it takes effect, which should be..." Anvil looked at his watch, "Right about now."

Happosai waited for something to happen, then he laughed, "Nice try, but I call your bluff!" Finally he broke free of the restraints. "You made a big mistake making me mad!"

Anvil just nodded and pulled out a bra, "Here, this yours?" he said as he tossed it to Happosai.

"How swee..." Happosai began as he leapt to catch the bra in mid-air, as he touched it he began to gag and choke. His face turned green and he dropped the bra. "What... what did you do to me?"

"I gave you a taste of hell, your hell." Anvil chuckled, "You made the mistake in messin with a pro, an inner-city Gangsta who's survived the worst." Two of the gang members grabbed the sniveling Happosai and dragged him over toward the open loading doors. "You got twenty four hours, goat, then there ain't nothin I can do to help you." Anvil said as he walked over to Happosai, "So think it over." He pulled back his right boot and kicked Happosai out of the warehouse. As Happosai landed Anvil raised his hand and shouted "Touchdown!" Some of the gang members gave him odd looks. Then he turned back to Akane. "Untie her, she ain't goin' do nothin I can't handle."

As she was untied Akane reached out and slapped Anvil. "You monster, what have you done to grandfather Happosai?"

"He be fine, It was a scare tactic." Anvil smiled.

"I've heard all about your scare tactics," She shouted back, "are you always so heartless, that you'll kill people as you see fit?!"

"What? Oh no, man, he ain't goin' to die," Anvil said, "At one time that's what that stuff woulda done, but my suppliers have improved this stuff. He goin' ta be in pain for a while, but that's it." Anvil relaxed and began to walk off, "I ain't as much a hard ass as I used to be, guess I been outta the ghetto too long. You want anything, cola or somthin?"

Hours later, Akane was still sitting in the same area of the warehouse. Anvil was treating her well, considering she was a prisoner. Granted she would've tried something in order to get out of there had Anvil not supplied the gang members with better weapons, including zipguns and molotov cocktails. Anvil himself was sitting back in a worn out recliner talking to one of the other gang members while a stereo nearby played rap music. Suddenly one of the gang members walked in and said, "Mister Anvil sir, there's someone here to see you."

"You know I ain't talkin' to nobody 'cept Taro or the red head."

"He says he knows you from the ghetto," the kid said, "said his brother was an Evens Street Raider."

"Well, damn," Anvil said as he got up, "send 'im in!" another gang member walked in with Ben. "Wassup homey,..." Anvil started, then he started to think. "Hey, wait a minute. You're one of the guys from this chick's house, how you find me?" Anvil said as a few of the gang members pulled out their zipguns.

"Well, yeah, I been here in Japan for a while, and yeah I happened to be over at this girl's house earlier tonight. But damn, holmes, Is this anyway to treat a fellow ghetto boy?"

"How I know you not just foolin' with me?" Anvil said.

"You remember 'Goodyear'? The big guy who could take any punch you threw at him?"

Anvil relaxed and nodded at the rest of the gang members. "Yeah, Goodyear. Me and that guy used to be tight. We was the toughest dudes back in those days. You gone from the ghetto long? I don't remember seein' you around there."

"I was lucky," Ben nodded, "got out early."

"Any sucka got out was lucky." Anvil muttered.

Ranma stood outside the warehouse in an alley waiting for Ben. Behind him cowering in the shadows were Genma and Soun. Ben had told them to wait until he had signaled them, he said he had a plan but he needed to assess the battlefield. Suddenly he felt a splash of cold water, she turned in the direction and Happosai leapt at her chest. "How swee..." He started to say, then he started to choke and gag. He fell to the ground and choked and gagged for a few more seconds.

"No fair! no fair! I can't even get close to Ranma anymore." He sobbed "How could he do this to me?"

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking Tendo?" Genma questioned Soun.

"I sure am Saotome." Soun answered. They began to beat on Happosai until a blade shot past their faces. They looked up and saw Matsusake standing on a nearby fence, dressed in a Black Ninjitsu outfit.

"I'm sorry boys but I have a certain... investment in Happy there, So he stays alive as long as I'm here." He said as he dropped down.

"And exactly why are you here?" Ranma asked.

"Ben made me an offer I couldn't refuse." Matsusake chuckled.

"So how much is he payin' you?" Ranma replied.

"Actually he's paying me next to nil," Matsusake replied, "but he reminded me of the stockpiles of stolen items the gangs keep on hand. Several costly items." Matsusake said as he pulled out a Bra and tossed it to Happosai, "Here, charge yourself up."

Happosai grabbed the Bra and then started to gag and choke again.

"So, Anvil's used the stuff on him all ready I take it." Matsusake said to Ranma.

"That inhuman monster," Happosai sobbed, "why didn't he kill me while he was at it, it would've been nicer. And what did he have planned for poor dear Akane?"

"What was that about Akane?" Ranma said suddenly interested in what the old man was saying.

"He had her all tied up, with big brutes with zipguns guarding her like he had plans for her." Happosai answered.

"Why that jerk," Ranma muttered. She started to head over to the warehouse.

"I'm sorry, my boy, but I can't let you lead the attack." Matsusake said as he leapt past Ranma, "Ben's paying me to take care of all the armed opposition, If I don't do that my paycheck might dwindle, Y'know?"

Inside Anvil continued to discuss with Ben about the Ghetto. Akane sat listening while she looked around, she knew Ben wouldn't have come alone. She looked up at the sky light and she thought she saw something drop down through it. then she heard a muffled sound from over in the corner. She turned to look and saw one of the Gang members unconscious being dragged out of sight as quickly as possible.

Suddenly Ranma burst in and knocked out two of the gang members with a single kick.

"What?" Anvil said as she approached, "She here all ready?" Anvil got up just as Ranma delivered a powerful kick to his Jaw. Several of the gang members raised their weapons. Anvil yelled "NO YOU DON'T, SHE MINE!!!" Anvil rolled over to a corner of the warehouse and waited for Ranma to follow. Ranma landed in front of Anvil, who was hiding in the shadows. "C'mon you wuss, fight me!"

"I be damn happy to." Anvil said as he grabbed a chain attached to a large iron ball. He leapt at Ranma swinging the ball and chain wildly. Ranma dodged the blows easily. The heavy iron ball collided with several of the building's supports as Anvil swung it at Ranma.

"Anvil, you idiot, this place is gonna collapse!" Ben shouted. Anvil swung the big sphere at Ranma one more time, Ranma ducked and hit him with a powerful uppercut. Anvil let go of the iron ball and it crashed through a support beam. Large concrete chunks began to fall from the ceiling. Several of the gang members ran out the nearest exit. Anvil and Ranma continued to duke it out throughout the commotion. Suddenly a large chunk fell down right towards Akane. Both Ben and Ranma noticed But only one of them had the chance to react. Ben rushed at Akane tackled her and rushed for the nearest window, which just happened to be behind Anvil. Ben rammed Anvil out through the window and they all tumbled onto the ground outside. Ranma followed them, as did Matsusake who was stuffing all the merchandise he could into a sack.

Everybody ran clear of the warehouse as it crumbled to the ground. As they all stopped Ben looked around to make sure everybody was all right. Ranma and Akane seemed fine but Anvil wasn't there, instead there was the same gray and black dog from before, growling at both him and Ranma. Ben looked down at herself and realized they must've splashed through a puddle when they landed.

"Anvil, you moron," came a voice off over in an alley. The figure stepped forward out of the shadows to reveal Pantyhose Taro holding a teakettle. "I told you, you have to watch what you're doing or stuff like this is going to happen."

Part Four: The A Man Becomes A Dog

Taro walked forward and splashed the dog with the hot water and threw him his spare clothes. Benasato looked at Anvil in disbelief, "Anvil, you're a... dog... now?"

Anvil looked up at Benasato and said, "Yeah, so what of it bitch."

Benasato quickly realized that she was a girl and snatched the teapot from Taro and splashed herself, then handed the rest of the hot water to Ranma. Anvil looked up at both Ben and Ranma still trying to comprehend what was going on. Finally he looked back at Taro and said, "More Sigfeid and Roys."

"Anvil, how dumb are you?" Ben said.

"Pretty dang dumb," Taro answered, "how the heck else do you think he fell into the spring of drowned dog?"

"Huh?" Ranma and Ben said in unison.

"We went to China in order to get prepared for our revenge," Taro began.

"Here sirs we come to training ground of cursed springs, Jusenkyou," the guide said.

"If you take some of the water from any of these springs," Taro said handing Anvil a bucket, "and then use it on the red head, your victory is assured."

Anvil smiled, although he didn't quite get what Taro was telling him. He walked over to the nearest spring and bent down to scoop some of the water out with the bucket. He stumbled and accidentally dropped the bucket. It floated over to the center of the pool. "Damn." He muttered and waded into the pool to retrieve the bucket.

"Sir what you doing?" the guide stammered. Taro shouted something similar as Anvil was dragged under by an unseen force. Then a gray and black dog emerged, still wearing Anvil's trademark Raiders cap, and with the inhumanly red eyes.

"Oh sir," said the guide, "you walk into Gouniichuan, there very tragic legend of dog who fall in that spring two thousand five hundred year ago. Now whoever fall in spring take body of dog. Why you do that? In all my years as guide here at Jusenkyou I never see person walk into spring on purpose."

"He just walked in?" Ranma interrupted.

"It gets worse than that," Taro went on, "he didn't seem to realize he was cursed, I tied to explain it to him several times but it didn't even seem to sink through. Even when he witnessed it himself he didn't understand. And the worst part was it never sunk through how the transformation worked! When we were walking back from China..."

"Damn it's hot..." Anvil said as they trudged through the forests back towards Japan. He pulled out a canteen and took a swig, then pulled off his cap and poured some water on his forehead.

"Damn it Anvil, I'm getting tired of explaining this to you." Taro shouted at the dog, "When you get wet you turn into a dog, Okay?" The dog cocked his head. "SO DON'T GET WET!!" Taro screamed.

"I'd say the guy was dumb as a post but I don't wanna insult any posts." Ben muttered.

"Okay," Taro said, pointing at Ranma, "there's your opponent, there's the one who dishonored you. go get him!"

Anvil looked at Ranma. "That's not her, he ain't a chick."

Taro threw his hands up in the air and groaned "How many times do I have to tell you, he changes form!" Taro grabbed a bucket of water and splashed it at Ranma. "Look!" he shouted.

Anvil got up as the familiar looking red head appeared before him. Suddenly Genma appeared and dowsed Ranma with some hot water from a teapot. Anvil looked around dumbfounded again.

"What are you waiting for?" Taro yelled.

"She not here any more." Anvil answered.

"Aaugh!" Taro screamed. He splashed Ranma again, and Ranma was changed back again by Genma.

Then he was splashed by Taro, then Genma, finally he dodged Taro's bucket of cold water and Genma was drenched. He held up a sign reading 'What did you do that for? I was only trying to help.'

"Enough of this!" Taro screamed as he threw several buckets of water at Ranma. Ben jumped in the way. "Ranma ain't the one who beat the ox here back in the ghetto it was me!" Benasato said as Genma handed her the tea kettle. Anvil watched as Benasato used the hot water to change back. He put his hand to his chin as Ben reverted back to male form.

"I think it's starting to sink in through the first few layers." Taro said.

Anvil smiled and snapped his fingers, "You the wench." He said pointing to Ben.

"Bingo," Taro said, "we have comprehension!" Anvil just stood there smiling and nodding. "So go on you moron," Taro yelled, "attack him!"

"I can't." Anvil replied.

"Why not?" Taro questioned.

"Cause he a fellow ghetto boy." Anvil answered.

"But he disgraced and dishonored you," Taro said, "beat him up! Beat them all up!"

"He from the same hood." Anvil said.

"Aaugh," Taro groaned again, "I give up, Ranma prepare yourself!" He grabbed another one of the buckets of water and dowsed himself.

"Reenter the B movie monster." Ben muttered. Taro snorted as he charged Ranma and Ben. Ben flipped out of the way, put on his blindfold, and went into a Tae Kwon Do stance. Ranma Prepared to take Taro out with another shooting star kick if he had to. Ben launched at Taro with a blindingly fast kick combo. Taro blocked the barrage of kicks until he could finally deliver a powerful backhanded blow. Ben attempted to dodge but wasn't fast enough, he was knocked several feet away. Ranma shot at Taro with the Shooting Star kick, Taro was knocked off his feet but he quickly recovered and charged at Ranma.

Off on the sidelines Anvil watched the whole battle while going things over in his head. "She made me look like a fool back in the ghetto," he thought, "but she was really a he, loss to a guy ain't that bad. Besides since I left I seen plenty of tough chicks, A chick beating a guy seems to happen all the time." He grumbled as he thought, clearly this was hard for him. "Girl beats guy in ghetto: Bad, Girl beats guy out of ghetto: normal. She humiliated me there, but here that would be normal." He put his hands on his head, struggling to keep his mind focused. "They all laughed at me, me, the biggest badass of the bunch, but here none woulda thought twice." Suddenly he stopped as he remembered Ben shoving him out of the window as the warehouse collapsed. "Crap, man," He said aloud, "he saved my life, I owe him."

Ben had landed from Taro's last attack, He didn't have time to get up as Taro closed in on him Taro raised both fists. Ben blocked hoping to roll out of the way before the next attack. But no attack came. Suddenly Ben realized why, as he jumped back up he removed his blindfold. Anvil had Taro in a full nelson, an astounding feat even for Anvil. Taro tried frantically to break free. Ranma leapt at Taro with a kick.

"NO DAMMIT!" Anvil yelled in his deep guttural voice as Ranma landed the kick, "Critter-boy here is mine!" Taro was finally able to grab Anvil and toss him over his head. Anvil landed and tumbled into a kneeled position. "You ready to finish our first fight?" Anvil grinned.

Taro snorted and charged. Anvil drew back his fist and Jabbed at Taro in the face just before he delivered a dash punch. Taro was knocked back several feet. Anvil rushed at Taro and stomped at where he had just landed, Taro moved out of the way But Anvil was ready and dropped on the beast with his full bulk, elbow extended. Anvil got up to deliver a second blow, but then Taro jumped up and swung at Anvil a few times, hitting Anvil in the face once and gut twice. Then Taro shot both fists at Anvil, Anvil Grabbed Taro's forearms and yanked on them so Taro's Head collided with Anvil's raised knee. Ranma and Akane were amazed, they had never seen anyone fight Taro in a brute strength battle and come out winning. Taro struck out with his bull horns gouging Anvil in the right shoulder. Anvil used the opportunity to drive back his right boot and nail Taro in the groin with the steel toe. Taro doubled over in pain.

"Hey wait a minute, isn't that a cheap shot?" Ranma said.

"Anvil's an inner-city street brawler, not a martial artist." Ben said, "In martial arts, you do have a certain honor to keep, Street brawling is truly anything goes." At this point Anvil had picked up Taro and threw him through a wall. Taro got up and shook himself free of the debris, He flew at Anvil and prepared to drive Anvil through a wall as well. Anvil removed his hat and pounded the incoming Taro with a forceful headbutt. Taro fell to the ground, struggling to remain conscious. Anvil pulled out one of his blades and prepared to finish the job.

"Anvil, NO!" Ben yelled. Anvil turned to look at him. "You obviously learned a lot since you left the ghetto, one of the things you should learn is you can win without offing your opponent."

Anvil looked at Ben, then at Taro, then back at Ben, then he looked at Taro and sniffed. "Ah you ain't worth it." He said as he put the knife away. Genma walked up with another kettle of hot water. "Thanks." Anvil said as he began to drink from it.

"Yo, Anvil!" Ben shouted, "Not for you, for 'Porno Pete'." Anvil looked confused and then realized what Ben was talking about. He poured the water onto Taro.

"AAUUGH! That water's boiling!" Taro screamed.

"Really?" Anvil said wiping his mouth. Matsusake walked up with Happosai.

"Don't think you've won just yet, The old man still has to give me a new name or he'll never be able to get near a woman again."

"He's got a point, freak," Ranma said, "I'd hurry up with a name before the whole thing becomes fatal."

"The stuff ain't fatal no more," Anvil said, "just keeps you in a lot o' Pain s' all."

"You had to tell him that didn't you?!" Taro glared at Anvil.

"Are you steppin, holmes? Cause if I can handle you as the big critter, I sure as hell can handle you now." Anvil said.

Happosai just sniffed over by Matsusake, "If I can't get near any of the girls again I don't wanna go on living. I'll give you a new name."

"Hey, wait a minute, isn't Anvil the one who had the cure in the first place?" Akane said.

"Yeah, so?" Ranma replied.

"So Anvil and Taro are obviously no longer a team so why doesn't Anvil just give him the antidote?"

Happosai grinned, "How about you keep your name, Pantyhose! Or how about I take Ben's suggestion and call you Porno Pete?"

"He is truly a master of evil isn't he Saotome?" Soun said to Genma. Genma held up a sign reading 'not a kind bone in his entire body'

"So how about it Anvil ol' pal," Happosai said walking up to the hulking figure, "Where's the antidote?"

"Oh, I left it in the warehouse," Anvil said as he began to walk over toward the wreckage, "let me go get it." then suddenly it hit Anvil that the warehouse had collapsed. "Uh..." He started, "Anyone got a shovel?"

"WHAT!?!" Happosai screamed, "IT'S UNDER THERE!?!," He began to sniffle again, "Then there's no hope, no reason to go on living."

Soun and Genma grinned. Then Matsusake fished a vial out of his jacket. "I was lucky to be able to grab this before I leapt out." He said, "If I'm not mistaken, It's the antidote, not the drug itself." Anvil nodded, Happosai grinned, and Soun and Genma slumped over very depressed.

"Thank you Mats!" Happosai said as he reached for the vial.

"Well," Matsusake said as he held the vial away, "if I gave this to you, as a friend, could you possibly do me a favor, as a friend?"

"What are friends for?" Happosai said happily thinking about how he could continue with his panty raids.

"Next time you 'go out on the town' could you pick a few things up for me, y'know a wallet here a purse there."

"Sensei!" Ben shouted.

"I'd be glad to!" Happosai said as Matsusake handed him the vial.

"Wait!" Taro said just before Happosai grabbed the antidote, "If you help Happosai give me a new name I can make it worth your while."

Matsusake held the Antidote away from Happosai "I'm listening."

"You seem to have grabbed a lot of the more expensive items from the warehouse," Taro said pointing to the sack, "but you seem to have missed the safe."

"Safe?"

"There was a safe in there where the gang kept all their stolen cash." Taro smiled, "If Anvil and I both dug through the rubble I'm sure we could find it."

"Well then my friend, looks like we'll have to give you a new name." Matsusake said as he put the vial away.

"But... Mats... I thought we were friends?"

"But don't you see, Happy, in the long run this works out better for us. The money will go to our trip to Vegas, with all the pretty girls, no restrictive laws, remember?" Matsusake smiled, "Think of it as a training exercise, just lay off the underwear until this whole thing is settled, which trust me will be no time at all."=20

"O... Okay I guess," Happosai grumbled, "if it's all better in the long run."

"I may not be the best friend a guy could ever have," Matsusake said as he walked toward Taro, "but I'm a damn good business man."

Taro looked up at Anvil, The big man didn't seem fatigued in any way. Even though he was wounded he showed no sign that it had effected him. "So do you want to start digging?" Taro said.

Anvil looked down at Taro, still very confused. This whole thing started with He and Taro on the same side, then he regained his honor through other means... saving Ben from Taro, he wasn't sure who he was supposed to see as an ally and who to see as a foe.

"It's Okay, big man," Ben said, "He's not the enemy now."

Anvil nodded and Taro grabbed a nearby bucket of water.

Part Five: the Art of the Deal

Happosai, Matsusake, Taro, Anvil, Ranma, Akane, Ben, and a man in a suit were sitting in the Dojo. Anvil and Taro had the safe with them, and Matsusake was talking with the man in the suit. Finally he turned to Taro. "Okay, just to make sure this is legal and completely acceptable, I hired a contract lawyer." He handed Taro a stack of papers of maybe about fifteen sheets. "Just sign on all the indicated lines and we'll be all set."

Taro thumbed through the contract. "What does this say exactly?" He said.

"Well basically, everyone here will come up with their ideas for a name, then the final decision will be made by Happosai here. If the name is satisfactory with you then you get the name, Happosai gets the antidote, and Matsusake get the safe."

Taro smiled and signed on the several marked lines on the contract. He handed the contract back to Matsusake who began to stuff it into his jacket.

"Hey wait a minute," Ben said, "doesn't he get a copy?"

"No, when he signed the third line on the ninth page he agreed not to get a copy." the lawyer said. Taro groaned.

"Okay lets get started." Matsusake said, "Who's got a name?"

Everyone was quiet for a moment before Anvil said "how 'bout 'Ed'?"

"Ed?" Ranma said.

What's wrong wit 'Ed'?" Anvil replied. Everyone was silent again

"How about 'Gaira'." Ben said.

"Gaira?" Akane said.

"What? What's the matter with Gaira?"

"Doesn't Gaira mean 'Corpus silk', kinda feminine, right?" Ranma answered.

"Okay, sorry, I'm not good with Japanese names." Ben said.

"How 'bout 'Ed'?" Anvil said again.

"Okay how about 'Craig'?" Ben suggested.

"Craig?" Taro said, nodding, "I like it. what does it mean?"

"Uh... It's American, our names don't mean anything." Ben said. Things went quiet again.

"What about 'Kyo'?" Ranma said.

"Kyo... meaning 'pride'?" Taro said.

"It's an idea." Ranma replied.

"How 'bout 'Ed'?" Anvil said again. Everyone was silent.

"' Ryuji'?" Akane suggested.

"Ryuji... Twin Dragons. It sounds okay." Taro said.

"How 'bout 'Ed'?" Anvil said again.

"Hey I got a good one, 'Zato'."

"Zato?.. fourth throne?" Taro said thinking it over "It sounds alright."

Ranma turned to Ben, "Zato, that's pretty good. where'd you come up with that?"

"The blind swordsman Zato Ichi, a character in a series of movies I really got to liking when I started taking my acting seriously."

"How 'bout 'Ed'?" Anvil said again.

"Okay old man we got some ideas here," Taro said to Happosai, "What about 'Ryuji' or 'Zato'?" everyone turned to Happosai... Happosai started to snore. Taro whacked him on the head, "Wake up!" he yelled.

"What!? Oh... um... How about 'Wonderbra' or 'Halter top'?" Happosai stammered.

"No way! I'd rather keep the name 'Pantyhose' than be called something like that!"

"You'd rather keep the name 'Pantyhose'?" Matsusake said. He turned to Happosai who shrugged. "Okay it's settled. Congratulations on your new name 'Pantyhose'." Matsusake said as he walked towards the safe.

"That's not what I meant!" Taro stammered.

Matsusake turned to the Lawyer, "Didn't he say that he'd rather be called 'Pantyhose'?"

The lawyer nodded, "It works for the contract."

"Well then," Matsusake said, "a deal's a deal."

"There's no deal." Taro said as he grabbed a bucket of water. He splashed himself and changed into his beastial form.

"How 'bout 'Ed'?" Anvil said again.

Matsusake yawned, "How typical of youth, If things don't work your way you try to prove your point with muscle." Taro snorted and threw a punch.

Matsusake dodged effortlessly and hit Taro with a blinding barrage of punches.

"Hey," Ranma yelled, "That's my move!"

"Not quite." Matsusake said as he finished. Taro crumpled to the floor, twitching in pain. "The punches are thrown and used a little differently. One, the thumb is used as the striking force," Matsusake said showing how he had his thumb extending from his fist, "And two, all the blows were aimed at specific pressure points. So you see my 'Pressure Point Barrage' maneuver is nothing like your 'Chestnut Fist'."

"Yeah," Ranma replied, "It's a much cheaper shot."

"Whatever, It worked didn't it?" Matsusake said as he walked over to the safe and split it open with a well aimed strike. "Ah, the sweet smell of profit." Matsusake sighed.

"What about me?" Happosai stammered.

"You? Oh yeah," Matsusake reached into his jacket, "knock yourself out." He threw the vial at the grinning Happosai.

"How 'bout 'Ed'?" Anvil said again.

As Taro walked out of the Dojo he turned back at Matsusake "We had a deal! I'll get even with you somehow!"

"You try it and I'll sue." Matsusake said as he puffed on his pipe. "I fulfilled my part of the bargain." Next to him the lawyer nodded.

Taro grumbled as he walked away, "I hate lawyers!" He said under his breath.

Ben groaned and then turned to Anvil, "So what're you gonna do now?"

"Hadn't really thought that far," Anvil said, "guess I'll find a job and a place to crash, see what happens."

"Tell you what," Ben said to Anvil, "I got a buddy who owns a nightclub here in town, they're always lookin' for a good bouncer. I think you'd be the best man for the job."

Anvil smiled, "Get some respect again, I like that."

"Well," Ranma thought, "looks like we won't have to worry about Anvil anymore. He's finally out of our hair."

Epilogue:

A few day's later Ben was eating dinner over at Ranma's. Anvil had called up earlier to say he'd be by to thank them all for helping him out. Both Ben and Ranma were relieved, one less brute to deal with was fine by them. Suddenly they heard Anvil walk through the front gate. "Hey, people," he said as he entered the room, "hope things are goin' Okay."

"Things are going fine, Anvil," Ben replied as he got up, "how about you?"

"Oh, things is goin great, Job's goin good, got an apartment," Anvil replied, "I even got a new girlfriend."

Ben started to say 'Who?' before Bubble burst into the room and threw herself around Ben saying, "Ben baby, how are you? Give me a hug you big lug!"

"Are you tryin' to steal my girl?" Anvil said a little shocked.

"No man, she's just like this! I'm sure you've noticed!" Ben said pushing Bubble off of him, "C'mon leggo!"

"I can't believe it man, everyone's trying to steal my girl." Anvil said cracking his knuckles.

"RANMA BABY!" Bubble screamed as she threw herself onto Ranma, "It's been such a long time, give Bubble a hug!"

Soun and Genma sighed as Anvil glared at Ranma, "Here we go again." Soun said as he went back to his paper. Genma, as a panda, just mumbled something and nodded in assent.

The End.

______________________________________________________________________

The Legal Stuff: Ranma and the characters therein are the property of Rumiko Takahashi and are used without permission. Most of the names used at the end were pulled out of various fighting games from SNK and are used without permission. Special thanks to Matthew Atanian for the name for, and permission to use, Spring of Drowned Dog, and to Gulrey for the 'contract negotiations' idea