"Akane, it's Dr. Tofu," Kasumi called. "He wants to talk to you."
"Be right there, Kasumi." Akane hurried down the stairs with Nabiki close behind her.
Akane grabbed the phone from Kasumi and held it to her ear. "Hello? Dr. Tofu?"
"Yes, Akane. I've found something that I think will interest you. If you want..."
"We'll be right over!" Akane slammed down the phone. "Come on, Nabiki. He found something."
"Great. Let's get Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum and go."
"Ranma, Kuno-sempai! We're going to Dr. Tofu's!" Akane yelled.
Ranma, who had been doing a little moonlight kata, heard her and broke his form. He headed for the door with Kuno following. "I really wish you'd stop following me and staring."
"Forgive me, but I find your plight fascinating."
"I bet. Are you sure it's not just what I turn into?"
"Indeed, that has considerable..." He coughed delicately. "Merits. Yet, to find that you are the cursee, not the curser, as I originally believed... I am intrigued."
"Yeah, fabulous. Now will you back off?" So Kuno wasn't trying to kill him, he was just there for the free show. Ranma considered Kuno only slightly lower on the pervert scale than Happosai.
"My company disturbs you? Then I shall stay close to Akane Tendo. Who can foretell her hour of need?" Kuno strode past Ranma and into the house.
Ranma scowled at Kuno's back. 'Flake,' he thought. 'Trying to cozy up to my fianc...' He ended that thought rather abruptly.
Akane greeted them excitedly with the news. "Dr. Tofu said he had some information and that we should go over right away."
"That's not what..."
"Who cares, Nabiki? Now is not the time to get nit-picky."
Nabiki arched an eyebrow towards her sister. "Well, if that isn't the pot and the kettle..."
"Your sister is right, Nabiki Tendo. There are more important things to concern ourselves with." He maintained his formality with her; forgiveness was seemingly hard to come by.
Nabiki did her best to ignore him. "Yeah, whatever. Let's just go." She decided things were definitely turning sour.
"I can't believe you're tired. You looked like you were ready to run a marathon on the way over here," Nabiki whispered to a yawning Akane.
The group was waiting for Dr. Tofu to get down a book.
"I can't tell you why this happened now," Tofu said with his back to the four teens. He turned around, a thick book in his hands. "From what I've read about your alternate ego, Akane, this is most unusual."
"That ain't the half of it," Ranma said.
Tofu sat down and placed the book on the desk in front of him. He began flipping through it. "The instances I've found with three-eyed beings have all indicated that they are immortal..."
"Just like she said," interrupted Ranma.
"Like she said, but not the way Akane is. She should be immortal, not 16 years old. That is, if I have the proper information." He pushed his glasses up. "The stories are a little hard to make out; they're conglomerations of Indian, Japanese, middle Eastern and Chinese myths and religions."
The four were listening with rapt attention... mostly. Akane looked like she was going to doze off any second.
"I believe this is what you've told me." He put his finger on a passage in the book. "The most telling information is the taking of a wu and the three eyes. I believe Akane is a sanjiyan."
He received blank stares. "This is going to be harder than I thought," he said to himself.
"Maybe I can explain better, Dr. Tofu." Akane suddenly had her aura, though it was very dim.
Ranma, Kuno and Nabiki all gave her a little more room as they realized it was not quite Akane.
"Tell us everything this time," Ranma said, trying not to sound angry.
"I will try, Ranma. I am a sanjiyan and I am immortal. I was born over 500 years ago. And you are correct, doctor. I should not be 16, nor born of human parents. It was my doing that I ended up here. Not a decision I am proud or happy of, but it was necessary."
"I told you of those that would seek me out. It is because of this that I remained hidden in, as, Akane Tendo. So draining was the spell I cast, I have spent the last 16 years regaining my power."
"I come originally from a region in Tibet known as Konron. I escaped to Japan and hid. Never did I truly expect to reawaken. And now, there are two options. Both will be difficult and dangerous."
"Two options? Two options for what?" Nabiki asked.
"Two options for my, and Akane Tendo's, chance to live life free from my pursuers."
"What are they? Whatever they are, we can do it!" Ranma was beginning to lose his grip on his feelings.
"If I become wholly human, there will be no reason for them to find me." She didn't add that they might take revenge for their trouble.
"And the other option?" Dr. Tofu asked.
"Destroy those that would capture me. Destroy Kaiyanwang." Her voice began to fade. "Don't let Benares find us..." She slumped in the chair as all signs of the sanjiyan disappeared.
Everyone sat stunned for a few moments. "Whoa," Ranma said. "Who's Kaiyanwang? And Benares? And what do they want with Aka... I mean Kamiko?"
"That I don't know, Ranma." Tofu had his eyes on the book before him. There were several passages that had caught his eye. "From a quick glance, I see several references to Kaiyanwang, and also to..." He looked closely, a frown settling on his face. "Someone else, but no one named Benares. That sounds like it might be South American."
He had completely lost Ranma and was more talking to himself than anyone.
"Um, Dr. Tofu?" Ranma asked. Akane was sleeping with her head on his shoulder. "Do you think it's OK to take Akane home now?"
"If she seemed fine the last time this happened, I don't see why not now." He smiled gently at Akane's sleeping form. "You can all go get some sleep; I'll do a little investigating. Be sure to tell Akane about this."
The three nodded.
"And Tatewaki, I'd like to give you an exam next time you're over here."
Kuno shuddered but nodded. "Of course, doctor."
Ranma gathered Akane into his arms and the group left.
"So, Nabiki, what do you think about what Kamiko said?" Ranma asked from atop the fence.
"I don't know. I mean, Dr. Tofu collaborated her story, I don't know how I could not believe it." She gave a sidelong glance to Kuno.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Ranma looked uncharacteristically thoughtful. "I wonder who Kaiyanwang is? And what he wants with Kamiko... Akane..."
They walked in silence for another minute or so.
"Hey, Kuno. What do you think will happen to you if Kamiko becomes human?"
"I can not say, Saotome." He wasn't sure he wanted to consider the possibilities.
"So what's it feel like to be immortal?" Ranma was feeling extra talkative and even Kuno would do as a conversation partner.
Kuno shrugged. He wasn't feeling talkative at all.
"Oh. Nabiki, you think that big monster will come back?"
"I hope not," she answered, frowning. That had been too close to a personal encounter for her. Monsters were just not her style.
"Where do you think Shampoo or Ryoga have been? I'm surprised they haven't showed up yet."
"I don't know, Ranma! Will you just shut up?"
"Geez, Nabiki. I was just wondering. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the vault this morning or something?"
"I was fine until you started playing 20 questions. Since when did you care so much about Akane, anyway?" That was guaranteed to shut him up.
Ranma blushed in the dark. "I'm just wondering when we're going to see a fight. I want to see how powerful these guys really are," he fibbed.
"Sure, Ranma. Even Kuno-chan knows better than that."
"Thank you for your utter lack of confidence in me, Nabiki Tendo. You flatter me beyond mere words."
Nabiki flushed. Kuno's use of sarcasm came unexpectedly, as well as the fact that he seemed offended by what she said. He really did take her that seriously. "Sorry," she said quietly.
"Whoa! Did I just hear what I thought I heard? Did you just apologize to Kuno?" Ranma asked in a humor-filled voice. He was walking a thin line between a joke and Nabiki's wrath.
"Screw you, Ranma! Why are you always such an insensitive asshole?" Nabiki yelled, then ran off into the darkness.
"What was all that about?"
"I do believe the past few days have taken a considerable toll on her; she is emotionally fragile."
"I guess so..."
They all returned to school the next day. The days they had missed previously were bad enough; they couldn't afford to miss any more. Things proceeded as normal until lunch.
"Hey, Nabiki! Mind if I..."
"Leave me alone."
Akane stopped short in her tracks. She was feeling chipper herself, but apparently, Nabiki didn't share the mood. "OK, if you're sure you..."
"Go!"
Akane gave Nabiki a worried glance then walked away. She started to sit under a tree when she saw Kuno away from everyone else, sitting against the wall. She could see the lunch Kasumi had made for him sitting, unopened, at his side. She walked over and sat across from him.
He looked up, looking a little sad, and smiled. "Why are you not with your friends or Saotome at this lunch time?"
"Ranma's been avoiding me, even though I've got his lunch. Kasumi will be disappointed if he doesn't eat it. And Nabiki nearly bit my head off." She opened her lunch and began eating. "All my friends only want to give me the third degree about what happened, and I just don't feel like talking about it."
"Understandable." No one had expressed any interest in where he had been. "I believe your sister is not as well as she would like others to think. She seems especially delicate."
"Yeah. I don't know why, but she's a lot more touchy than normal. I couldn't believe when she actually yelled at me."
"As she did last night, spouting curses at Saotome. I have never seen her so angered." Not even against him.
"I'd say getting back to the normal routine would help, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon."
Kuno nodded. It seemed that their lives might never return to normal. He picked up the lunch, opened it, and began to eat half-heartedly.
"Uh..."
Kuno looked up to see Akane swaying back and forth and looking rather woozy. She dropped her chopsticks and lunch to the ground, her food spilling all over.
"What is the matter? Are you ill?"
Akane groaned and said something incoherently. She started to fall over but Kuno caught her.
"Akane Tendo!" He shook her lightly. "Akane Tendo, you must awaken."
She did awaken, but it was not strictly Akane; Kuno could tell by the third eye. "Tatewaki Kuno, you desire information."
Kuno released her and moved back a little. "I... I suppose I do."
"Then ask. My time is limited."
"Why was I chosen? There are others who are better suited."
"As I said before, it was chance. Though Akane Tendo does hold a place for you as one she would not wish to see die."
"You know what goes on while you are..."
"Yes. Otherwise we would be in far more danger than we already are. I have abilities of enhanced sight and ki sensing that I use while I am regain my power to help me."
"Enhanced sight?"
"Yes. I can see the auras of everyone around me. That of Ranma Saotome is great; more than I've seen on any human in 500 years. Yours is not as great, but the potential is there."
"Who is Kaiyanwang? And Benares?"
"They are my enemies. They are the enemies of all sanjiyan. They are the enemies of this planet. They crave only power and world domination. Kaiyanwang laughed at the other sanjiyan for the peace they desired."
"But who..."
"Be alert. They are close. Their minions are ruthless." Once again, Kamiko's presence faded.
Akane started to fall over but Kuno was quick enough to catch her. He eyes fluttered before opening fully. She looked confusedly at Kuno. "Did I... Did she show..."
Kuno nodded. "She told me more of her nature and that of her pursuers."
"She did? What did she say about Kaiyanwang? What did she say about herself?"
"Very little, in truth. She observes while we can not see her presence. She said that Kaiyanwang and Benares are enemies of all and that they are close. We must stay alert."
Akane nodded, feeling a bit shaky still. She seperated herself from Kuno and looked at her spilled lunch. She cursed silently. Without lunch, she just wasn't any good the rest of the day. "Darn it. I guess I could eat Ranma's lunch. It would serve the baka right."
"You may have mine. I am not hungry."
"No, I couldn't. Kasumi made that for you..."
Kuno had stopped listening to Akane. He felt a prickle on the back of his neck, could feel the hair on his arms stand up. He had the distinct feeling that they were being watched, and not by friendly eyes.
"Hey, are you listening to me?"
"Hold, Akane Tendo. We are being watched by those of dubious intentions." He looked in all directions trying to see someone that might be watching them.
Akane followed suit. "Where? Do you see someone?"
"No, but I suggest we rejoin the rest of the student body."
Akane nodded and collected her spilled lunch. She and Kuno stood up, their eyes searching for anything out of the ordinary. They walked back slowly, each with their personal defenses up.
"Kuno-sempai, how do you know someone's watching us?" whispered Akane.
"I can feel it. It is like the breath from the grave across my skin. Can you not tell?"
Akane was about to say no when she noticed her arms. She hadn't paid any attention to the goosebumps because there had been a cool breeze. Well, there wasn't any breeze and the goosebumps were still there. "Let's hurry."
They blended into the crowd of milling students with no sign of who had been watching them, yet each of them still felt tense.
"Maybe you were wrong," Akane said to Kuno.
"I do not believe so. I still feel it, as if whoever it is, is standing over my shoulder."
Akane saw only people she recognized; not a strange face in the whole bunch. Instead, Nabiki came up to her. "Kuno thinks there's someone watching us," Akane whispered to her sister.
Nabiki didn't reply, she only stared at Akane.
Akane felt Kuno tense at her side. "It is closer, as if it is upon us," he said urgently.
"Kuno-sempai, I don't think there's anyone here, though." His manner was only making her more anxious. And with all the students around them, she was expecting a monster to lay waste to the entire bunch.
"As do I, but I can not deny the feeling of dread that surrounds me." He pulled out a bokken from nowhere. Apparently his supply had refreshed itself.
He knocked back a boy that was getting too close to Akane and glared at everyone around them. It was not what he had expected, to be attacked amongst a group of innocents... He growled. "Akane Tendo, I was mistaken. I think it would be best if we moved to a place where we may more freely defend ourselves. I do not think the cowards will hold simply because we are surrounded by our classmates." The warning was getting stronger, his every instinct telling him to run.
"Right." Akane began to push her way past several students, Kuno keeping very closely to her side. She couldn't shake the feeling that someone very close by meant to do her harm. 'Kamiko? Are you helping me?' she thought. She didn't expect an answer, but she had never had a feeling so strong.
They broke from the group of students, several giving them dirty looks.
"Still so close," Akane whispered.
Kuno nodded grimly. The cowards could not attack without showing themselves. And then they would taste his anger.
Akane turned and shrieked as she saw Nabiki standing right behind her, glaring. She looked really pissed.
"Nabiki, you have to get away. They're close. You don't want to get caught in a fight; you might get hurt."
"Oh, I don't think so," Nabiki said calmly. Her eyes glittered at the obviousness of Akane's fear. "You're just being paranoid. Relax. There's no one here that's going to attack you." Nabiki's voice was silky smooth.
"Quit playing around, Nabiki. This is not time for games. You could be in serious danger." Akane looked left and right, ignoring the strange looks she was getting from the students. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
"I'm in no danger at all. You, on the other hand, Akane... Or should I call you Kamiko?" Nabiki's eyes narrowed to slits and she grabbed Akane's forearm.