Draft version.

C&C is most welcome.

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 is the property of Rumiko Takahashi
and her publishers. I am merely using the characters for
the purpose of profit-free entertainment and make no claim
on them.

Vincent Seifert has kindly provided webspace for most of my
fanfics and links to the rest at the following address:

http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/seifertv/kagami/

You can contact me at: kagami@jeack.com.au

---

Thunder growled in frustrated hunger and impotence as
Shukumaru's kitsune-borne litter sped from the storm and
into the swirling snows above Nagano. Here, in the bitter
ice-bound peaks, was the realm of the ally she sought. The
litter touched down softly on the rocky slope, held steady
by the four kyubi-kitsune bearers despite the harsh wind.

"Come, Raiha. Shall we see if she is in the mood to play?"
Shukumaru asked, running her fingers through his warm blue
fur. The Thunderbeast was in the semblance of a normal-
sized wolf and he sank against the cushions to allow
Shukumaru a larger surface area to scratch.

Raiha grumbled his discontent in reply as her long fingers
soothed him. "The chill is bitter enough, Shukumaru. No
need to be funny, as well."

Shukumaru mock pouted at the demonwolf, before lifting the
filmy cover of the litter. She emerged to stand on the thin
layer of icy snow. What a dismal place, she thought,
staring at the surrounding mountaintop. It was entirely in
character though, for this realm belonged to the sister of
Yuki-Onna - the Ice Maiden, Kori-Otome, lived here.

"Shimoyake! Shimoyake!" Shukumaru called out the Ice
Maiden's given name, filling her lungs with sharp, cold
air. Her breath steamed in the frigid atmosphere. "Where is
your legendary hospitality to visitors, Kori-Otome?!"

A sudden blast of wintry wind heralded the arrival of the
Ice Maiden. Shukumaru had white hair and pale skin, but
Kori-Otome was bleached a near albino. She was tall, nearly
six feet in height, and waspishly thin. Only her face -
coldly beautiful with sharp, chiseled features - and her
white kimono, tied with a large azure bow, denoted her
feminine gender. She brushed back locks of light blue hair
and regarded the intruders with a bored expression. "Would
that be before or after I froze them to death, Shukumaru?"

"Well met, Shimoyake," Shukumaru said, completely unfazed
by the lack of welcome. "Are you going to let guests freeze
on your doorstep?"

"Come in if you must, Shukumaru. And your retainers as
well," Shimoyake added grudgingly. Raiha poked his nose out
of the litter at this bit of news, and the Ice Maiden
rested her gaze on the exposed and shivering snout for a
brief moment. "Oh, look. You brought along your flea-ridden
dog."

"Frigid bitch," growled the Thunderbeast in return.

Shimoyake ignored his sally, looking over to Shukumaru.
"Are you here to challenge me, Shukumaru?"

"Why yes, I believe I am."

The Ice Maiden laughed lightly and smiled in anticipation.
"Perhaps you'll give me more of a match this time. Or has
eighteen years of being locked away rusted your skills to
nothing?"

Shukumaru flexed her claws and returned a predatory grin.
"Oh, I'm certain my heart of ice will match yours this day,
Shimoyake. I have forgotten nothing. The past still lies
within me... and it strengthens me." Yes, Shukumaru thought
bleakly, eighteen years in that empty realm has made me
strong--

--Ranma, you know not what you have done to your mother.

---

An Awakening of Demons
A Ranma 1/2 Fanfic
By Kagami

Chapter 8b: The Red Game

'When men, gods, and demons play
The red game, perchance to slay,
Only death shall be sown and reaped
In light's glory or shadow's sway.'

 --"The Red Game"

---

Muketsu the Fleshless wore a semblance of humanity as he
strode through the front door of Zaisan Finance in Osaka.
It wasn't a terribly good semblance, quickly cast and
lacking in certain respects - the nose was too sharp and
the eyes overlarge - but it would serve. Zaisan was one of
the largest demon-controlled complexes on the side of the
Demon Lord of the South, and thus, it represented a prime
target to inflame the nervous tension that permeated the
region.

Osaka was an unsettled city. Located at the base of Honshu
island's curve, it stood poised between the Western and
Southern Thrones, and was currently claimed by both sides.
Traditionally, Osaka had been held by the West, but demons
serving Masakado, the Demon Lord of the South, had made
inroads into the city over the last century. It was a tense
situation; ripe for exploitation.

The service desk directed him to the offices of Shibo
Nobasu, one of the few Managing Directors for Zaisan with
an true understanding of the underlying forces at play in
the city. He was a human serving the Southern Throne, and
his death would move things along nicely for Shukumaru's
plans.

A young receptionist looked up from her computer screen as
he entered the outer office. Her hands paused in mid-
stroke, poised above the keyboard. "Yes? May I help you?"

"Certainly. I am Mikake Itsuwari. I'm here to see Nobasu-
san on a matter of mutual interest; I made an appointment
with him yesterday at the golf course." The name he gave
was real enough, an alias of a powerful demon serving the
Western Throne. It would not take long for the Demon Lord
of the South to piece together all the clues that directed
him westwards.

"Ah," the receptionist sounded a little worried. She rose
to bow apologetically. "I'm afraid the Director is still
out at lunch, Itsuwari-sama. But I'm sure he will return
shortly. Please take a seat."

Muketsu hid a small sigh. Bureaucrats! They were the same
in every century, sacrificing their integrity on the altar
of incompetence. He would bet anything that the Director
was off screwing his blond gaijin mistress along with
lunch. Well, Nobasu's lusts would keep him alive for a
little while longer yet.

He nodded his agreement to the receptionist and sat down
on one of the waiting seats. She responded to his
acquiescence with a slight smile of relief. Idly, he
wondered how her soul would taste. Transforming into a gaki
upon the death of his rapacious soul was more of a blessing
than a curse to Muketsu. Five centuries ago he had been a
mortal warlord, causing torrents of blood to flow, but
never fully satisfied. He had been hollow at his core,
seeking sustenance from the fear and pain of others. Death
had merely stripped the illusions of flesh from his
ravenous spirit.

Jigoku, the Empty Frozen Wastes of the Afterlife, had been
a horrid taste of eternal hunger - a proper punishment, the
Shinto priests would have said - but he had escaped that
torment and returned to the world of life and the living.
Here, he was able to feed for all eternity; aiding
Shukumaru was a small price to pay for that freedom,
especially after she had saved him from that Devil Hunter.

He whiled away the wait with a magazine until Nobasu
bustled in self-importantly half an hour later. The
Managing Director's florid face was still slightly red from
his lunchtime exertions, but he had an eager and
anticipatory look in his eyes. Nobasu's greed for profit
was the second most important vice in his life.

Smiling, Muketsu the Fleshless stood up to bow to the dead
man.

---

The Gokuraku-Cho, the Paradise Birds, were strong allies
of the Western realm. A flock of the birdmen wheeled
through the air above the lower reaches of the Hiei
Mountains. Feathered wings extended behind thin
outstretched arms as they swooped back and forth, riding
the rising warm air currents. One Gokuraku-Cho plummeted
down after a fleeing rabbit and his dreadfully sharp leg
talons sank into the flesh of the fugitive. The birdman
flapped furiously to rise into the winds once again,
bearing his prize and cawing his triumph.

Lord Niwatori clacked his beak in disdain as he witnessed
the kill. The Gokuraku-Cho had truly fallen over the
centuries if they considered mere rabbits to be their
rightful prey. Abruptly, he felt a lessening in his pride
at being chosen for this mission and he spat his disgust.
There was little glory to be won facing such weak foes.
Still, they might prove more able in battle than he
thought. He unlimbered his heavy bladed weapon from its
strapped position on his back.

The hawk-headed oni caressed the twin steel blades that
protruded from either end of the central hide-bound handle,
creating a deadly weapon nearly six feet in length and with
many uses. Niwatori called the killing blades Kazekiri, the
Windslicer. Strong and dexterous hands began to casually
turn Kazekiri over and over, until the steel hummed in a
blurring circle, singing a high-pitched hymn for death. He
brought his arms back above his head, then hurled forth the
spinning weapon.

Kazekiri shot forward like a demented disc, cutting
through the air toward its target. The birdman carrying the
rabbit never knew the moment of his demise. The Windslicer
cleaved his body into two parts which fell in a shower of
blood and gore. Niwatori caught hold of Kazekiri as the
spinning blade completed its arc and returned to his hands.
The hawk-headed oni lord screamed out his primal bloodlust
in a challenge to the surviving Gokuraku-Cho.

"Come and die for the glory of Niwatori!" he shouted as
the birdmen wheeled in shock and surprise. They lunged to
attack the revealed intruder in their domain. Their shrieks
of rage blended with his own laughter to produce a
cacophony of hideous sound. Kazekiri blurred and sang in
his hands as he launched the blade to smash his foes from
the sky again and again. Niwatori howled his joy as he slew
and slaughtered, until his mind and the land were both
awash with black blood.

---

The Eastern Court hushed as the Southern Ambassador padded
into the room. Many anticipatory eyes and ocular
pseudopodia followed his path to the front of the court
where Yami-no-Tsume awaited on the Eastern Throne. Whispers
of gathering conflict between the Western and Southern
Quarters had touched the ears of each and every one of the
demons present in the room. The Ambassador's request for an
audience looked likely to turn rumour into fact.

"Yami-no-Tsume-sama, I bear the lastest messages from
Masakado-sama," Heizen-To-no-Kamaitachi said brightly into
the silence of the court. The silver-furred sickle weasel
appeared entirely at ease, his tail-blade held still rather
than lashing about uncontrollably. It was a very unusual
demeanor for the demon whom many privately considered
completely insane, and likely the result of the importance
of his news.

"Go on," Yami-no-Tsume commanded imperiously from his
throne. The Thunderbeast Raiha sat by his side and stared
somberly at the Ambassador of the South. He had debated
long and seriously with the Demon Lord over the previous
night about the likely and unwelcome message from Masakado.
Shukumaru was also present, seated on her father's left.
Her eyes glittered with hate as the killer of Hikaru
resumed speaking.

"As you know, Lord, the sputtering conflict between the
Western and Southern realms has flared up once again. Their
petty ambushes and sneak attacks have been the cause of the
war's resumption; we but defend ourselves from the
minuscule threat posed by the West. However, it occurs to
Masakado-sama that a unified response from both the South
and our great allies, the East, should serve as a powerful
deterrent to the ambitions of the Western Throne. To that
end, Masakado-sama has instructed me to expedite the
forthcoming wedding between himself and Shukumaru-sama."
Heizen-To deeply bowed his vulpine head and shoulders in a
gesture of respect. "As my Lord's humble voice, I must
request Yami-no-Tsume-sama's advice on this matter."

"I see," said the Demon Lord of the East in a noncommittal
tone. He beckoned to the Old Woman, standing near the front
of the court, and the ancient crone slowly walked forward.
"What say you, Obaba?"

The Old Woman's face was grim and forbidding. "I fear the
omens are inauspicious at this time, Yami-no-Tsume-sama. I
would suggest a delay of six months. At that time, the
planet Mars will enter the constellation of the Dragon and
favour the match between East and South," the Obaba said,
before bowing low and retreating into the crowd of demons.

Yami-no-Tsume nodded solemnly. "As you have heard, Heizen-
To, it does not seem auspicious to hold the wedding so
early. Inform your master that six months hence is my
decision on the matter."

Heizen-To's jaws gaped slightly, revealing sharp fangs and
a flickering tongue. The kamaitachi's tail began to swish
slowly from side to side. "I understand Yami-no-Tsume-
sama's decision, and I am certain my Lord will also
understand the East's position. Masakado-sama remembers
both his allies and enemies well." He bowed for a final
time and backed away.

Shukumaru hid a small frown as other matters were raised
in the court. While the stay of marriage was welcome, it
also meant that her father was reconsidering his alliance
to the South. It was clear to everyone that Yami-no-Tsume
was with-holding his aid, allowing the South to sink or
swim on its own in the war against the West for the next
six months. Possibly it was a test, but more likely it had
to do with the Demon Lord's personal interest in the human
bitch he was seeing. She fought off a twinge of mental pain
evoked by the thought and considered the issue further.

The poorly concealed courtship had been ongoing for three
months, and it had become significant, judging from Yami-no-
Tsume's reversal of policy. That meant something momentous
had occurred; for all his faults, her father would not
alienate Masakado without good cause. Even a fat slug could
be dangerous, especially one with such a vindictive spirit.
Her reasoning led to a particularly unpalatable conclusion;
one that threatened to unleash the bitter hatred and anger
stored within the ice-walled temple in her mind.

It mattered not if her conclusion proved correct; she
still had to move quickly. If her father chose not to act,
then she had to force him to action. Her hidden frown
transformed itself into a bitter smile of anticipation.

It was time to begin the second part of her plan.

---

The small group of oni patrolling the nighttime border
near the unsettled West for the Eastern Throne never
recognized their  impending deaths. One moment they were
running and hunting for any signs of foreign interlopers,
and the next instance, two of their number stumbled and
fell. The brutish ogres bellowed their shock and anger as
they crashed to the ground. Others of the band quickly
stumbled to halt, and unwittingly achieved their own dooms.
Their momentary inaction allowed more skeletal claws to
rise from the ground and seize their ankles.

Yelling harsh and horrified cries, the oni attempted to
pry and bash the claws away, but even more erupted from the
earth to clutch at any exposed body part. The two fallen
ogres were already firmly held down by several dozen
skeletal limbs.

Lord Honeshi smiled in the distant darkness as he
witnessed the painful demise of the oni patrol as they were
slowly ripped to bloody chunks of flesh and bone. That they
belonged to the same realm as himself did not matter to the
Dancer of Bones. Only their lingering deaths mattered to
him. Ah, it was such a pleasure to work with Shukumaru, who
understood his needs and was more than willing to unleash
him.

Niwatori joined him on the small earthen mound. The hawk
lord's lip curled in mute disdain, but Honeshi ignored him.
The hawk-headed oni's presence was due to his earlier
victory over the Gokuraku-Cho and the prizes gathered from
that battle site. Two birdmen corpses were his burdens, one
dangling over each of his broad shoulders; their bodies
were being kept fresh through the application of a minor
seal. They were to be planted at the site once the band of
oni were dead, to provide evidence of an attack by the West.

Yami-no-Tsume would have little choice but to act and send
more demons to secure the border, even if he refused to
commit to retaliation. With luck, Raiha might be dispatched
to command the reinforcements on the Demon Lord's behalf,
providing a brief window of opportunity for Shukumaru's
rebellion. The weakened defences of Tokyo would never be
able to hold out, especially since the assault would erupt
from within. Honeshi would gain many involuntary converts
to the ranks of the dead and his eyes glittered in deadly
anticipation.

"A great feast awaits us, Niwatori," he crooned in
satisfaction, rubbing his thin, stick-like fingers together.

The hawk-headed oni nodded his agreement. In this respect,
the two demons were firmly united in their love of death.
"Indeed, Honeshi. Indeed."

---

Two old beings stood within the study in the private
apartments of Yami-no-Tsume. One was the Demon Lord of the
East himself, and the other, Raiha the Thunderbeast. The
Demon Lord was in his human guise as Makizoku Ansou and
appeared as a young and handsome man. This was an illusion;
five centuries ago, when Muketsu the Fleshless was a mere
mortal warlord, Yami-no-Tsume was already a powerful demon
serving the Eastern Throne. Raiha was even older; the
Thunderbeast having existed for nearly two thousand years.
The Demon Lord was speaking and his voice was not pleased.

"There is no choice, Raiha. We cannot become embroiled in
a war with the West at this time. That is what Masakado
desires. Give in to him, and we will be tightly bound into
the alliance." Yami-no-Tsume looked grim and troubled. "In
fact it would not surprise me to learn that the border
incident was one of his crafty ploys. It smacks of
treachery."

"There is always a choice, Yami-no-Tsume-sama. Sending me
away along with the reinforcements is most unwise. You
leave yourself defenceless," Raiha growled, concerned. He
padded to and fro, loping restlessly as he contemplated the
situation on the border. The loss of an entire border
patrol and the discovery of Gokuraku-Cho bodies at the site
disturbed him greatly.

"Do you question me, Raiha?"

"I am uneasy," admitted the Thunderbeast. "I believe you
seek to protect one close to you by keeping the problem to
the border, but that solution merely increases the
vulnerability here." He stamped his blue-furred paw on the
ground to emphasize his point, leaving charred and
blackened stains from the overflow of electrical charge.

Yami-no-Tsume closed his eyes briefly to consider Raiha's
remark. It struck very near to home, he admitted to
himself. However, a gut reaction did not necessarily mean
it was wrong. Reinforcing the border escalated the tension,
but also reduced the chance for all-out war. No one wanted
to fight on two fronts, given the option. That made it the
right decision. Yet Raiha was also correct about the
personal issues present. "No, I have made the correct
choice in this matter, but you're quite right about
weakening the defences here. I have a solution to that
problem though."

"Umibouzu may not be enough," Raiha warned.

"True, and his power is greatly weakened on land. I had
another in mind as well."

"Ah," said the Thunderbeast, grinning with vulpine
eagerness, "I have always wanted to meet her."

"Don't become too hopeful, Raiha. She will not be
interested in you." Yami-no-Tsume chuckled in amusement.
"'Frigid' coins her personality precisely."

"Lightning melts ice, my Lord. Be assured, sparks will fly
between us. Still, it is a nice solution." The Thunderbeast
mused further on the idea. "Why not invite her in secret
and keep her hidden in reserve? Umibouzu should suffice as
outward presence."

"A good idea. A very good idea indeed." Yami-no-Tsume
nodded in approval. The decision made, he smiled broadly as
he contemplated the very pleasant evening before him. His
eager smile briefly transformed him into the picture of a
young and anxious human male. "You know, Raiha, I believe
my Nodoka has something to tell me tonight."

"Hah!" The Thunderbeast snorted as best he could whilst in
wolf form. "You know already, do you not?"

"Of course. There are advantages to being a cat demon,
after all." The Demon Lord clasped his hands together,
conveying his inner delight. "But I would never dream of
spoiling her surprise."

---

"I am pregnant."

Nodoka Saotome's voice was rich with both fear and hope.
Her fear was obviously that the news would be unwelcome to
Ansou and her hope was for him to reciprocate her joy.
Stretching all her senses from behind her shield of
stealth, Shukumaru was just barely able to make out the
nuances to the conversation between Yami-no-Tsume and his
human bitch from her location on the roof of the opposite
house. The open window permitted her to see and hear with
near-perfect clarity.

The glow of new life pulsed vividly to Shukumaru's senses
as she looked upon Nodoka Saotome. The mortal woman showed
no exterior signs of her pregnancy, but any demon of power
would be able to detect her condition. Shukumaru ground her
teeth in annoyance and disgust.

"Really?" Makizoku Ansou's voice was the epitome of
surprise and happiness. He grabbed hold of her hands to
convey reassurance and kissed her warmly. The last remnants
of uncertainty fled from Nodoka's face and she became
radiant in her bliss. "Dear heart, you have truly made me a
happy man today. Will you complete my joy and marry me?"

"Oh, Maki-chan! Yes!" Nodoka hugged him fiercely, tears
streaming down her cheeks.

Shukumaru fought down her rising nausea as the sappiness
of the situation threatened to overwhelm her. Oh, Father,
how could you soil yourself so? she thought sardonically.
All for a half-breed offspring. How contemptible.

"Let me take care of the arrangements, Nodoka-chan," Ansou
said with a broad grin. "We shall have a wonderful ceremony
to celebrate our first child." Gently, he laid his hand on
her lower abdomen. "It is a boy, I'm sure of it."

Nodoka smiled back. "Perhaps, dear. What shall we call him?"

"Shu-- Uh, what do you think, Nodoka-chan?"

"Oh, I'm sure we'll think of something by then. Besides,
it might be a girl."

"No." His voice was low and fierce. "This child will be my
son and heir. I have no doubt." Ansou bent to kiss her again.

Celebrate while you can, Father. Shukumaru smiled
bitterly. After I kill you, I will destroy your human bitch
and my unborn half-brother. She would have preferred to
exterminate them in Yami-no-Tsume's presence, but she knew
better. Her father was too powerful to taunt in that
matter. No, his death had to be as quick as possible.

Soon, she promised herself. Very soon.

---

The oni sentry died silently as Muketsu the Fleshless
emerged from the shadows to stab his hand through the
demon's chest and rip out his heart. The body collapsed
like a puppet with its strings cut. Muketsu licked his
claws free of black blood.

The lower levels of the apartment complex serving as the
headquarters of the Demon Lord of the East were unnaturally
quiet with most of the inhabitants away on the Western
border. Only a few demons remained within to guard Yami-no-
Tsume, and now there was one less. Honeshi's undead and
Hiwai Oushi's group of lesser oni and kitsune were securing
the upper levels while Muketsu, Niwatori and the spider
demon brothers prowled the lower levels to clear the way
for Shukumaru.

The white-skinned demoness approached Muketsu and beckoned
him to follow her as she walked towards the large double
doors leading to the Eastern court. Jakuten and Niwatori
joined them as they reached the doors. Shukumaru smiled in
anticipation. Yami-no-Tsume had to be within the throne
room; they had searched every other location and he had not
retreated from the building.

A gesture with her hand flung the doors open, and
Shukumaru strode into the throne room, eager and confident.
Yami-no-Tsume sat on his throne, awaiting her arrival, face
grim and closed. For a moment, Shukumaru was struck by the
resemblance to her earlier audience after Hikaru had been
killed. At that time, her father had been in absolute
command, and she had been utterly powerless. Now, it was
she who was in control. A wave of exultation swept over her.

"Hello, Father."

"Shukumaru," Yami-no-Tsume acknowledged. "It was you,
after all."

"Yes, Father. You have neglected your realm in order to
chase after a human female. You have become unworthy to
rule over the Eastern Quarter. I hereby claim the Throne.
Will you surrender it to me?"

Yami-no-Tsume shook his head in regret. "You have much to
learn, Daughter. Your diversions were well-planned and
might have worked except for one thing."

"Oh?"

"I am still Yami-no-Tsume, the Claw of Darkness! My power
has grown over the centuries of my life. How will one such
as you defeat me?"

"True, Father," admitted Shukumaru. "But you now stand
alone! I, on the other hand, have bound strong allies to my
cause. Hikumo! Mizukumo! Attack now!"

A host of swarming ghosts appeared, wreathed in fiery
auras. They swooped down upon Yami-no-Tsume, spitting fire
and forcing him to leap away. He held up his left hand and
black bolts of darkness shot from his palm to strike down
the shrieking ghosts. Each bolt targeted a single flame
ghost and completely dissipated the spirit.

The fire spider, Hikumo, appeared in midair, bewailing
each loss. His brother, Mizukumo, appeared behind the
embattled Demon Lord and sank his fangs into his right leg.
Yami-no-Tsume jerked away with a cry of pain and blasted
the water spider with a lance of black flame, sending him
crashing into the throne room wall. The swarm of flame
ghosts pressed in on him, taking advantage of his
distraction to land a number of fiery blows.

Beads of sweat erupted on Yami-no-Tsume's forehead as
Mizukumo's virulent toxin spread through his system. It was
little more than a minor threat, but even those could
become deadly in this savage battle to the end. Shukumaru
pursed her lips in satisfaction. "Niwatori, you may proceed."

Lord Niwatori grinned in delight and began to spin his
massive blade, Kazekiri. The Windslicer blurred and hummed
its high-pitched call for blood. He snapped his arm back
and launched Kazekiri. "Now, Chikumo!" commanded Shukumaru.

The earth spider known as the Lurker of Dreams struck
directly at Yami-no-Tsume's mind. His power was greatly
lessened in this situation - a physical confrontation
rather than the insidious invasion of a dreaming mind - but
it sufficed to distract the Demon Lord for a critical
instant. Yami-no-Tsume's attempt to dodge the incoming
weapon came a moment too late. Kazekiri sliced through his
warding left arm, splashing a tremendous amount of black
blood into the air and half-severing the arm.

The Demon Lord grunted in pain, clutching at his wounded
arm and falling back. "Fools!" snapped Yami-no-Tsume.
"Ignorant fools! You disappoint me, Shukumaru. How can you
hope to control a realm when you understand nothing of its
nature?"

"Words won't save you now, Father," Shukumaru replied
clinically. Inwardly, she rejoiced; her plan was working -
her father might be able to overcome any one, two or even
three of the demons present, but not all of them together.

"Then you are indeed a fool, Daughter, and I will not
waste further time with you. Shimoyake! Answer me!"

A howling wind, bitterly cold, replied, and Shukumaru
gasped in sudden recognition. Before she could call out a
warning, the cold intensified, and a brilliant blue beam
lanced out of empty air to strike the hovering Hikumo. The
fire spider fell, instantly frozen; crystals of ice rapidly
forming into an icy sheet that covered his entire body. He
shattered into a thousand pieces as he struck the floor of
the throne room. The flame ghosts vanished with his death.

Niwatori wildly launched his recovered Windslicer at the
spot where the ray of frost had issued. Kazekiri spun out,
cleaving through the air... and struck nothing. A chill
laugh of disdain echoed through the room, mocking their
powerlessness. Shukumaru ground her teeth in dismay.
"Beware, it is Kori-Otome!"

"You see, Shukumaru? Your ignorance will be your death,"
Yami-no-Tsume chuckled. "You do not even command a single
Cardinal Servant. How can you ever hope to challenge me for
the Eastern Throne when I have defeated three of the
ancients and hold their power?"

Shukumaru snarled. "It is not over yet, Father! Niwatori!
Chikumo! Keep the Ice Maiden occupied!" She launched
herself towards her father, followed by Muketsu. The gaki
was closely tied to her spirit, having bound himself to
Shukumaru ever since she had saved him from the Devil
Hunter. She commanded his loyalty and obedience, and he
understood her plan instinctively. His damnation was nigh,
but he never hesitated.

They lunged forward almost as one, Muketsu taking the
lead. Yami-no-Tsume burned the air with black bolts, but
the gaki protected Shukumaru, screaming in torment as each
impact lessened his primal essence. A last flurry of the
twilight darts struck home, and Muketsu the Fleshless
wailed in eternal despair as the core of his being was
unraveled and his spirit was hurled from the realm of the
living and back into the Frozen Wastes of Jigoku. The dark
form of the gaki dissipated, revealing Shukumaru in the
final stages of her attack.

"Dokkasou!"

The Toxic Flower Claw struck her father in the upper
chest. Shukumaru unleashed all the venom stored in her
heart and all the hatred and fury locked in the icy temple
within her mind. The burning poison erupted forth to cover
the Demon Lord of the East. Yami-no-Tsume bellowed his pain
as her rage and wrath struck, burning and eating away at
him. Acrid vapours billowed up from sloughing skin and
putrefying flesh, and he fell to his knees, overcome by
soaring agony.

Shukumaru stepped forward, her anger flaring up and hope
surging wildly. "It's a shame I cannot kill this Nodoka
Saotome before your eyes, Father, but I promise you this: I
will seek out and destroy both her and your unborn son as
soon as you are dead."

Yami-no-Tsume's eyes cleared and he locked his own pain-
filled gaze onto Shukumaru's blazing eyes. "Take my life
then, but spare her."

Triumph filled Shukumaru's heart in that moment. She had
won, defeated her father despite his greater power. "No,"
she whispered in answer.

She reached out with one smoking claw--

--and the ice beam that struck her legs caught her by
complete surprise. Lower legs frozen, she tumbled over,
slamming into the floor. Shukumaru gasped for breath as the
impact emptied her lungs. She twisted around to see a young
blue-haired woman dressed in a white kimono walking towards
her: Kori-Otome, the Ice Maiden, had dealt with her
distractions. Niwatori was shattered refuse on the ground
behind her and there was no sign of the earth spider,
Chikumo.

Growling, she inched forward, dragging herself on her
elbows. Yami-no-Tsume watched her approach calmly. His dark
eyes filled with power, and Shukumaru knew she would never
reach him in time. Her father opened his mouth... and
shouted in anguish. He writhed in pain, clasping a hand to
his shoulder. She blinked in surprise, and saw the
scuttling white shape that was Mizukumo lurking behind Yami-
no-Tsume.

The Demon Lord slashed his right hand at the water spider,
and night-hued energy knives spun forth to sever three of
Mizukumo's legs. Black ichor spurted from the wounds.
Keening in distress, the spider demon fled, fading from
sight.

Yami-no-Tsume turned back to his rebellious daughter only
to find she was already too close. The Ice Maiden,
Shimoyake, had a hand outstretched, but could not use her
attacks for fear of striking him as well. Father and
daughter opened their mouths at the same time.

"Dokkasou!"

"Ankoku Shizumaru!"

Night covered Shukumaru's vision.

---

The darkness was absolute.

Not a single mote of light existed in the black isolation.
Shukumaru only located the walls to her prison by touch.
Her fingers eventually revealed that she was enclosed
within a sphere of utter night and emptiness. A perfect
void. For a long moment, she sat still and pondered the
total ruination of her plans. He defeated me! Me! She
shrieked her outrage and leapt up to hammer and claw at the
walls of nothingness.

All her attacks glanced off without leaving a single
scratch she could detect. Shukumaru forced herself to calm
and drew upon the well of bitterness within her heart.
"Dokkasou!"

She slammed her right hand against the wall, only to feel
it rebound without effect. Nothing. No venomous acid
erupted from her claws; the Toxic Flower Claw had utterly
failed. Despair touched her then; its inky fingers of gloom
dimming the last rays of hope in her spirit. "No! It wasn't
meant to end this way! I won! I won! Damn you, Father!"

Shukumaru cursed until her voice was hoarse with dryness.
"I had him at my mercy," she repeated numbly. She huddled
in the dying warmth of her wrath, using the brief flickers
of energy to pound and batter her fists on the wall until
they tore and bled. She welcomed the sensation of pain; it
meant she was still alive, and she clung to that thought as
if to life itself.

She crumpled to the ground and curled up, holding her
bleeding hands to her chest. Yami-no-Tsume had been gravely
wounded when he had used the sealing power granted by
Umibouzu. He might not have survived for long - in which
case, the seal would not last forever. Otherwise, she could
be imprisoned here for all eternity, and that thought was
too much to for Shukumaru to bear.

"Please die, Father," she whispered.

---

Eighteen Years Later....

The black seal shattered in perfect silence, revealing
Shukumaru's prone form. Jakuten started awake, blinking
rapidly and unable to fully believe what his senses were
telling him. Finally, he expelled his held breath with a
deep sigh. Eighteen years, that was how long he had waited
in this dank and dingy room, creeping forth only to steal
sustenance from vermin and stray animals or to seek recent
information about the status of the realm. He had kept
faith, and now he was rewarded for his loyalty.

His Mistress had survived her long imprisonment. Her eyes
were closed and she appeared to be merely sleeping.
Hesitantly, he hopped forward and held his hand before her
nose. She was breathing! he exulted silently. "Shukumaru-
sama! Shukumaru-sama!" he called out, hoping to break her
trance.

There was no response.

He frowned, suddenly slightly fearful. She had to be
alive... and sane, or as sane as power-hungry would-be
Demon Lords remained, anyway. He would be present on her
rise to rulership in the present, and know some measure of
power himself. A minor demon had few other available options.

"Shukumaru-sama! Please awaken!" Jakuten called once more.
Her eyelids fluttered, signaling her return to
consciousness. With a final flicker, they fully opened,
revealing naked black orbs that stared at the ceiling with
hesitant uncertainty. "Shukumaru-sama!" the small demon
servitor cried out in relief. "It is I, your faithful
servant, Jakuten!"

"Jakuten...." Her voice was soft and weak, like one reborn
from total isolation.

"Yes, Mistress! Welcome back to the world, Shukumaru-sama.
It has been a long time."

"How... long?"

"Eighteen years have past since your climactic battle with
Yami-no-Tsume."

"And... my father?"

"Dead, Shukumaru-sama. He did not long survive the battle,
but I fear he was able to pass on his power to the half-
human whelp before he died. The West and South have
contested inconclusively for many years; tensions are still
great between the two realms and neither have been able to
take advantage of our weakness."

"I see." Shukumaru closed her eyes briefly, absorbing the
news. "The bitch and her whelp... are still alive?"

"Yes, Shukumaru-sama. Both remain alive."

"Tell me... my enemy's name, Jakuten."

The demon servitor bowed low. "His name is Ranma Saotome,
Mistress."

"Ranma Saotome," Shukumaru repeated, and her voice
strengthened, consumed with the madness of eighteen years
in the night.

---

Author's Notes:

1) 'Nagano' - the Japanese city where the 1998 Winter
Olympics were held. Located in the central mountains of
Honshu.

2) 'Yuki-Onna' - literally translates as the 'Snow Woman';
an actual Japanese myth.

3) 'Kori-Otome' - literally translates as the 'Ice
Maiden'; Yuki-Onna's sister in this story and the Northern
Cardinal Servant for the Eastern Throne.

4) 'Shimoyake' - literally 'frostbite'.

5) 'Zaisan' - translates as 'assets, fortune, property'.

6) 'Shibo Nobasu' - roughly translates as 'to postpone
death'.

7) 'Mikake Itsuwari' - roughly translates as 'false
appearance'.

8) 'Jigoku' - the Japanese Hell; believed to have several
regions, but mostly cold and bleak.

9) 'Gokuraku-Cho' - literally 'Paradise Birds'; they
appear in Inu-Yasha.

10) 'Kazekiri' - translates as 'Windslicer' or 'Windcutter'.