Twilights End

Twilights End CH 1

Ranma belongs to Takahashi and Anita and Company belong to Mrs. Hamilton. I wrote this as a source of entertainment and made no money from this at all. I also have no intention of making any in the future.

This story changes to first person rather than the third person, which was used in the prolog.

************

I know it has been a long night when I am still awake to see the sunrise; I hate the sunrise. The need for sleep clawed at my senses, so I climbed into bed hoping to beat the sun. I closed my eyes for what felt like a second when the shrill ring from my cell phone brought me back to reality. “Shit.” I cursed as I picked up my phone.

“Ranma.”

“I need you to come down to the station.”

“Dolph you have to be kidding me its…” I looked at the clock. “three fifteen in the morning.”

“I know, I just need you to come down and translate for these…” he paused, “guys we picked up.”

“You have translators.” I stated a bit harshly.

“Yes but the one we need is on vacation.” He seemed to ignore my tone or he just simply didn’t care. Great, just what I need: a boring translator job with no sleep. Yippee!

“Okay Dolph. I’ll be there in about a half an hour.” He hung up. I got up put on the exact same clothing I wore earlier. I slid into my black leather pants, knee high, black boots, and my black, micromesh shirt that molded to me like a second skin. Now that I was dressed I quickly brushed through my knee length, black hair. My hair was mostly black, but due to some interesting events with Asher it now had several streaks of bright red and golden blond mixed through out. I pushed my bangs out of my eyes, grabbed my black leather trench coat and left for the station. If they wanted my help this early I was going to look good and mean regardless of the circumstances.

The drive to the station in my red corvette was relatively quick and I got there in about fifteen minutes. My car got parked close to the entrance, which was a rarity and I was grateful for it. I got out, straightened my clothing and prepared myself for boredom before going in.

The station was a crowded mess even this early in the morning. I worked my way through the crowd doing my best not to bump into anyone, but I failed.

“Excuse me!” I apologized without even looking.

“No problem…” the person paused. “Son-in-law.” It couldn’t be, could it? I looked down and saw something unexpected. A piece of my past I thought I would never see again. Cologne… The Old Ghoul.

“Hello Cologne.” I said and gave a bow. I’ve grown a lot physically since I last saw her, so on her stick she only came up to my abdomen. I looked her over and noticed she had not changed at all. She was still a small woman of about three feet tall, still just as wrinkled; her white hair pulled back loosely. She wore her usual green Chinese robes and was as normal standing a top her staff. But what is two years in the span of her three hundred years of life. I wonder what three hundred years will feel like?

“You’ve certainly grown up child.”

“Thank you, but I am not a child.” I retort calmly.

“Right you are, but sometimes old habits are hard to break.” I knew she was lying, but with her it was pointless to press the issue.

“Why are you here?”

“I am here to get my Great granddaughter.”

“I mean: What are you doing here in St. Louis?”

“Nabiki had business here so we all came along for a bit of a vacation. I could ask the same of you?”

“I live here.” Please don’t let All of them be here? Please? Yeah right. “Follow me and I will see if I can get Shampoo out of here.” I took a step toward the desk and then turned back to cologne. “What is she doing in jail anyway?”

“We were all sight seeing downtown when Happi got loose. They couldn’t stop him. So when the police arrived everyone but, Kasumi, Tofu, Nabiki, your mother and I got arrested.”

“Wonderful.” I rolled my eyes. How an I going to get everyone out? “Where was everyone else while this was going on?”

“Tofu and Kasumi were having dinner while Nodoka, Nabiki and I watched the may lay. Currently your Mother and Nabiki are trying to post bail and Kasumi and Tofu are back at the hotel.” I wonder how long it will take for Nabiki to get thrown out for trying to bargain bail.

I walked up to the front desk with Cologne at my heals. I reached over and gently brought the girls hand to my lips. She was a small girl, about twenty-six with light brown hair and a delicate round face. She was petite and very adorable. A quick kiss was all it took for her to blush a deep crimson.

“Hey cutie.” I teased her. Her blush turned even darker at the comment.

“Why Ranma Sakai, you big flirt.” She giggled as she pulled away. “Dolph is waiting for you.”

“Thanks Lita honey.” I said and blew her a kiss. She then turned so red she glowed and then hid her face in her hands. In her embarrassment she failed to notice Cologne slip past with me.

“Cologne please don’t mention to anyone that you saw me.”

“Is there any particular reason that I shouldn’t?” She paused. “We’ve been searching for you for a long time.”

“I wish to tell them on my own terms.”

“Alright.” She agreed. I then hand over my card.

“Bring everyone here tonight. Just give your name at the door and they will let you in.”

“What is this place?” She asked looking at the card.

“A safe haven.” I hope inviting them there doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass. Maybe it won’t, maybe. Yeah Right. “Just hang back, okay.”

I walked over to Dolph’s desk, sat down on the edge and got right in his face. “Please show me the reason you got me up at three in the fucking morning? I whispered sweetly. He stood up and motioned for me to follow him. This section of the station was like any other. Rows of desks and a few officers unlucky enough to have to work this early were up and processing arrested persons. He led me through all that to the holding cells. We ended up at one of the rear interrogation rooms. I looked inside to see a large panda, a small black pig, a duck with glasses and a pink cat.

“So Dolph what’s with the zoo?” I joked. “Since when have you started picking up animals?”

“Don’t joke. They were apparently picked up as humans but were sent here when they arrived at the station like this.”

“I’ve never heard of any lycanthropic variations that altered your size that drastically.”

“Anita agrees with you. She thinks it may be a curse similar to yours.” I leaned back against the wall.

“That could very well be true, but what do you expect me to do about it. I’m not Dr. Dolittle. I can’t talk to animals.”

“Do you know how to change them back?”

“If it really is a curse the trigger could be anything. I’ve always been able to change at will, or at least I think I have according to my Swiss cheese memory.” I lied.

“Well that could be a problem.” Zerbrowski said as he walked up the hall. “Hiya hot stuff.”

“Shut up Zerbrowski, what would Katie think?” I replied dripping with sarcasm. “Seriously though, is there some linguistic reason for me being here?”

“Yeah. Turn around.” I did as he said and knew what I would see. I saw the idiot panda holding up a wooden sign pointing to it with the other paw. Man Pop. I had to force myself to stay neutral.

“What does the sign say?”

“Simple Zerbrowski, it says ‘ bring us hot water’.”

“Should we do it?” Zerbrowski asked Dolph.

“It might not be a bad idea.” I interrupted. I need them human so I can get out of here. “That might be there trigger.”

“Alright, but I want a few men in there to watch them.”

“It’s okay Dolph I’ll do it.” Why am I doing this? Why am I doing this? Oh Fuck! I walked down the hall to the break room. Smirking to myself I pour the water directly from the coffee maker into a small pitcher. I hope you enjoy this Pop. Dolph and Zerbrowski were waiting for me as I returned with the nice hot pitcher.

It’s not often I have to look up to someone, I’m six foot one; but Dolph has a few inches on me and looks as if he could be a pro wrestler. He is a very honest and by the book man and is the head of R.P.I.T. The jurisdiction of R.P.I.T is to cover all crime of the preternatural kind. They basically cover any and all weird shit that happens that normal cops don’t want to handle. Which makes me wonder whom Dolph pissed off to get saddled with this job, when he is such a good officer. He made the best of what he had and they were one of the most successful units in the country.

“Well here I go.”

“Be careful Sakai.” I waved him off.

“Why Zerbrowski I didn’t know you cared.” I joked.

He smirked, “You caught me, how about I take you out to breakfast?”

“Tempting.” My voice dripping with sarcasm, “But how about I do something about the Wild Kingdom.” Pointing to the room, I then leaned down to whisper in Zerbrowski’s ear. “But who says I’ll say no to something more next time.” He tensed up and Dolph laughed as I backed off. Zerbrowski was a tall guy, nowhere near as tall as Dolph but he had some size to him. He’s the kind of guy who was usually in your face about something, but was a good cop. He always seemed to dress like he was blindfolded and every tie seemed to be permanently stained. We had fun getting a reaction out of each other.

Zerbrowski finally relaxed and said, “Good one.”

I smiled at him and went through the door to do one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. I had to confront my old one.

As soon as I entered the room with the two units Dolph sent in with me all commotion stopped. The two men set down four blankets and then backed off to the side of the room. They had to be new in the unit they showed too much fear. They’ll either toughen up or crack. I sat down in the empty chair at the table and pushed the pitcher to the standing panda man. He eyed me over and as he did so I reclined, propping my feet up on the table, legs crossed at the ankles, and placed my hands behind my head. I felt the pandas power wash over me trying to get a feel, but I had all of my power hidden; he would find nothing.

“Hot water.” I said to him in Japanese pointing to the pitcher. The panda nodded, grabbed the pitcher and upturned some of the liquid over his head. The change was instantaneous. He went from a large fat panda to a large and equally fat bald man. The steam rising off his very red skin was a joy to see. It was very, very hot water. The fool deserved it. He nodded his thanks, grabbed one of the towels and wrapped it around his waist. Oyagi then went around the room pouring water over the different animals and handing them a blanket. The two rookie units just starred from their spot on the wall.

“Thank you ah…” he looked down at my police visitor badge. “Sakai-san.” He said in Japanese and then sat down.

“Your welcome…” I extend my hand; he took it aware of the American custom.

“Saotome, Genma Saotome.”

“Saotome-san.” I finished still in Japanese.

“Shampoo want to know if your hair real.”

“Hmn?” I looked over to her feigning confusion. She still had not learned Japanese.

“Your hair color, is real no?”

“Yes it is real.” She smiled.

“I like.”

“Thank you.” I accepted the compliment, but I still had to play ignorant. God I hate this. “But what did you mean by the shampoo remark?”

“No remark, that Shampoo name.” She retorted in her still very broken Japanese.

“Your name is Shampoo?” She nods. I then point to the longhaired one. “Who are you?”

“My name is Mousse.” He said and then pushed his glasses more firmly onto his face.

“And I am Ryoga.” I straightened myself in the chair and looked all four of them in the eyes. Not the purple haired Shampoo, raven haired Mousse, bandana clad Ryoga or my Pop the panda held any recognition in their eyes for me. None of them realized and I breathed an inward sigh of relief. I than folded my arms over my chest.

“Do any of you speak any other languages?”

“Shampoo and I also speak two dialects of Chinese.”

“Thank you Mousse, but that doesn’t help the officers find out what happened. And they can’t afford to keep me around.” That is a lie. They don’t pay much, but I want out of here now!

“I speak English.” Ryoga said in near perfect English.

“Well this is nice to know.” I said with a smirk. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! “All you have to do is tell the officers what happened and you will be let go.” Ryoga nods. He certainly has calmed down; I’ll have to ask him about it later. I switch back to Japanese.

“I must leave now. Before I came in here I heard there was some woman terrorizing the staff in the Bail office.” I said as I turned to leave. Shampoo and Mousse were snickering to themselves at my last comment. “Oh and I will see if I can get some officers to find your clothes.” The door closed firmly behind me after I left and Dolph was immediately in my face.

“Okay Dolph the kid with the bandana speaks English. His name is Ryoga and he said he will answer your questions.” He nodded in thanks and I began down the hall. “Oh and see if you can find there clothes.”

“Where are you going?” Zerbrowski asked.

“Home.” I answered and waved behind me. “Later Dolph. Later hot lips.” This time it was two rookies that laughed.

I made it to the bail office with absolutely no trouble at all. Once there I saw my Mother and Cologne trying to help the poor officer Nabiki was terrorizing. Striding up to the counter, I pushed in front of Nabiki interrupting the one sided conversation.

“Josh, Dolph said the people in interrogation room nine were to be released after some questioning.” That wasn’t exactly a lie, but it was close enough to the truth that it should help remove Nabiki.

“You are a miracle worker you know that Ran?” I had known Josh since I started working as a consultant to the police. He was a nice guy with short blond hair and blue eyes. He has been on the force for almost ten years and he still held a quality of innocents about him. I liked him for that. He was a person you could trust.

“Excuse me.” Nabiki butted in, speaking to Josh. She then tried to continue her line of questioning.

“Ma’am.” Josh interrupted her renewed rant. “Your friends were in room nine.”

“What?” She exclaimed confused.

“They will be released within the hour with no bail required.”

“Oh.” She said calming. Someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to face the person. It was my Mother.

“Yes Ma’am?” I asked acting as if I did not know her.

“Thank you.” She said giving a small bow. I bowed in return, but she stood up first. “You seen familiar have we met before?” Since when did my Mom know English? I guess I’ll find out later won’t I?

“Perhaps in another lifetime.” I responded and turned to leave.

“Hey Ran!”

“Yes Josh?” I commented to Josh behind me, waiting for him to speak.

“Tell Zerbrowski to come and see me.


“No problem.” He did not respond further as I waved behind me and left. On the way out I found Zerbrowski sulking at his desk.

“Hi Zerbrowski.” I said to him calmly, sitting on his desk. Reaching out I gently grabbed his chin forcing him to look at me.

“What?” He replied a bit sharply. I think I know why and he should know better.

“Josh said he needs you to see him.” He paled a bit and cringed as I released my hold on his chin. “Is there a reason he asked me to tell you?”

“We had a bet on whether you could or would help. I lost.” I just smiled. Poor fool.

“Later Zerbrowski.” My departure was quick and thankfully painless for me. It was time to head home and catch up on some much-needed shuteye.




* * * * * *

Okay people that was Chapter 1 of this fic. And I would like to know what you think. Criticism is always welcome but flames are ignored and fed to my new pet PUCHUU ^_^