***CHAPTER FIVE***
                        ***THE SECOND NIGHT***


     Detective Takada plopped down onto his couch.  Before him, resting
on his coffee table, was a thick manila folder.  Sighing, Takada reached
into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He gradually pulled
out a single cigarette and lit it up.  He sucked on the cigarette for a
few moments and sighed again.  Takada leaned forward and reached for the
folder.  He slowly opened the folder to examine its contents once again.


     It had been a very long night for him.  First it was Takei's pawn
shop.  Some crazy red headed woman busted right in and demanded that 
Takei tell her where she could find Skull and his gang.  After Takei
told her what she wanted to know, she blew the place up.  The worst part
was that he had a chance to arrest her right then and there, but he blew
it. 

     Not one hour later, the first body was found.  Takada reached and
picked up two pictures.  One was of Scar's body, with the knives
embedded in his chest.  The other was the picture of the bird drawn on
the brick wall.  Takada stared at the picture for a moment before he put
them down and picked up a police report.

     The report talked about the other building that was set on fire 
about an hour after Scar was found.  It was an empty garage that another
of Skull's gang had taken up residence in.  The report stated that the
fire was purposely set and that the remains were those of one Yutaka
Ootsuki, otherwise know as Specks.  Another bird symbol was found, this
time it done in broken glass pieces.  

     Takada put down the report and picked up another report.  This one
was about another murder.  Tests indicate that it happened shortly after
the second one.  A burnt male body was found on the Seito bridge along
with the remains of a motorcycle.  This one was almost written up as an
accident because it looks like the bike exploded on the rider. They
found the bird symbol, drawn in blood again, next to the body of the
rider.  After Takada found out that it was Patch's body, it didn't take
much to convinced them that it wasn't an accident.

     Three dead gang members, two burnt buildings and one crazy red 
headed woman somehow connected to them all.  Takada sighed yet again and
put out his cigarette.  Even after some sleep, he still couldn't
remember where he had seen that girl before.  It nagged at him, he knew
he'd seen her before.  Takada glanced at his watch and decided to head
off to the office early.  He gathered up the papers and pictures and
picked up the folder.  As he picked up the folder, a single photo
slipped out.  It glided slowly and fell to the ground with it's back up. 
Takada placed the folder back on the coffee table and reached down to
fetch the photo.  He grabbed the picture and turned it over.  It's a
picture of female Ranma that Nabiki had given to him.  As Takada stared
at the photo, it suddenly dawned on him.  


     "No.  It can't be."   Takada placed the picture down on the coffee
table and pulled out a black marker.  He applied the same black marks he
saw on the girl last night to the picture before him.  "Well I'll be
damned.  Saotome here would be a perfect twin for that psycho chick. 
The problem is that Saotome is dead, so that means that she definitely
couldn't have done it." Takada studied the picture some more.  "But the
resemblance is just too uncanny."  He frowned as he puzzled out the
problem before him.  He carefully placed the photo back in the folder
and stood up.

     "Two dead girls and now three of their four killers are found dead.
Each of those girls left grieving fiancees behind.  Did one of them
finally crack and go after the killers?"  Takada rubbed his jaw.   "It
couldn't be, the killer was a girl."  Takada suddenly remembered the
conversation he had with the Tendo's.  "That's right, Ranma was supposed
to really be a male who became a female.  Maybe one of his fiancees
decided to do it.  That still doesn't explain why the killer looks so
much like him or should I say, like her."  Takada rubbed his chin some
more and then smiled.  "Maybe Ranma came back to life and decided to
take revenge just like in the movies."  He laughed at this remark.  He
quickly stopped laughing and looked back at his watch.  "Enough of this,
time to go to work."  Takada grabbed the folder and fetched his jacket. 
"That is, after I make a few stops."

                              **********

     Ranma-chan's form was highlighted by the setting sun as she
practiced one of her katas with her eyes closed.  With fluid movements,
Ranma gracefully practiced while waiting for the sun to set.  The crow
watched from a nearby boulder as Ranma continued in perfect silence. 
Her jacket was hung on a tree branch.  The sunlight shone brightly
through the many holes in the black leather jacket.  The only sound
being made was by the babbling brook that ran only a few meters away.  

     Ranma had come to this section of Nerima park many times before to
escape the craziness around him.  Often it would be after he and Akane
had a fight.  Not wanting to go home to face her or his father, he would
come here.  It was located in a relatively vacant part of the park. 
Which meant he could come here and get his desired peace.  

     His desired peace was all he could want now and he was close to 
getting it.  Three of the men that killed Akane had been dealt with. 
All that was left was their leader and whoever hired them.  Ranma
stooped low and slowly continued on with the kata.  

     But who would stoop so low that they would resort to hiring someone
to kill Akane?  The information that Scar gave to him pointed out that
it was Akane they were after, not him.  They were told not to harm him
in any way.  Since he was in his girl form, they didn't know that it was
him.  Ranma guessed that their employer forgot to tell them about his
other form.  A wiry smile appeared on her face.  What fitting justice,
the men accidently kill the person that their employer was trying to get
for theirself.  It was morbid justice, but it was fitting justice.  Just
as fitting as the justice he was giving out now.

     Ranma finished her kata and bowed.  Ranma had decided to stay in
his cursed form.  Alive or undead, Ranma Saotome died on that fateful
night along with Akane.  Without Akane, even the afterlife wasn't worth
living.  If he was still alive after he finished his job, he wasn't
going to continue living in a dead body.  No, he would continue on in
his female form.  

     Ranma stood up straight and opened her eyes.  The sun was finally
starting to set.  Noting that it was almost time, Ranma walked over to
her jacket and reached into it's pocket.  She pulled out a large roll of
black electrical tape.  "Can't go around town with a shirt full of
holes."  With another smile, she pulled out a large strip of tape.  "It
just isn't lady like."  Ranma took the tape and began wrapping it around
herself.  The crow watched on as Ranma covered her torso with the black
tape.  When she finished, she tossed the tape to the ground and put on
the hole filled jacket.  She turned around and looked at her feathered
companion.  "Let's go."

                              **********

     The sun set as Ukyo waved goodbye to her customers as they left her
shop.  It had been another rough day for her, both mentally and
physically.  The day had started off thinking about Ranma, and it threw
her whole day off.  She moved from behind the grill and briskly cleaned
the now empty tables.  She whistled a tune as she cleaned.  Her door
suddenly chimed as a customer entered her shop.  She stopped cleaning
and turned to greet her guest.

     "Welcome..."  She stopped when she recognized who it was.  "What do
you want now detective?"

     Detective Takada smiled.  "Can't I come in to eat?  Last time I 
checked, this place was a restaurant, or did that change?"

     Ukyo moved back to her spot behind the grill.  "What would you
like?"  

     Takada walked up and took a seat near the grill.  "Give me the same
thing I had last time."  Ukyo nodded and started on his order.  "So,
Miss Kuonji..."

     "Ukyo."

     "Okay.  So Ukyo, where were you last night?"

     Without looking up from the grill. "I was at a shop owners' meeting
last night."

     "I know."

     "So why did you ask?"

     "I was told that you were a little late in getting there."  

     "I fell asleep and didn't wake up in time."

     "I'm sure."

     Ukyo finished the order and handed it to the detective.  "Just what
are getting at!"

     Takada took the order from her and placed it down.  "Torao Arai, 
Yutaka Ootsuki, Yuzo Ikeguchi and Nagateru Katau, do you recognize any
of those names?"

     "No!  Am I supposed to?"

     "Those are the names of the four men that supposedly killed your
two friends."

     "So why tell me!"

     Takada picks up his chopsticks.  "Three of those four men died last
night.  The last one, Nagateru Katau, was still alive last time I
checked."

     "So!  Is that supposed to be a bad thing!?!"

     Between bites, "As long as it's against the law, yes it is."

     "I still don't see how this concerns me!"

     Takada stopped eating and placed his chopsticks down.  "I happened
to catch a glimpse of the killer.  If I didn't know better, I would say
that it was that fiancee of yours."

     Ukyo was taken aback.  "What do you mean by that?"

     "Don't give me that look.  I went to the Tendo household and was 
told all about his curse and engagements to several women.  No need to
play ignorant about his true form with me now."  Takada leaned forward
and placed his hands together.  "So Ukyo, why were you late to your
meeting last night?"

     "As I said before, I overslept!"

     Without breaking his gaze, "So what about Ranma?"

     "What about him?"

     "Have you seen him recently?"

     Ukyo reached over her grill and grabbed the detective.  "How can
you say such thing!  Ranma's dead!  How on earth could I have possibly
seen him!"

     Takada gently grabbed Ukyo's hands and pryed them from his jacket. 
After he got loose, he sat back down.  "I just happened to be in the
neighborhood of your Ranma's graveyard and decided to pay my respects." 
He fold his arms.  "Boy was I shocked at what I found."

     "What do you mean by that?"

     "Ranma's grave, it was empty."

     Ukyo was taken aback again.  "Empty....."

     "Yes, empty."

     "But I was at the funeral.  I saw him in the casket.  I saw them 
bury it!"

     "Well it's empty now."

     "You're lying!"

     "Am I?"

     Ukyo turned her grill off.  "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to ask
you to leave now."

     "Why?"

     "I'm closing up for the night!" 

     "Isn't it a little early for that?"

     "JUST GET OUT!"

     "Ok, ok."  Takada stood up and Ukyo escorted him out of the shop. 
After he left, Ukyo locked the door behind him and removed the open
sign. Takada reached into the fold of his jacket and pulled out a
cigarette.  "Well if Ranma is really alive, she didn't know."  He lit
the cigarette.  "Let's see if I can find Skull before whoever she is
finds him."

     Takada put the lighter back in his jacket before he disappeared
into the night.

                              **********

     Skull leaned back in his chair and watched the barmaid scurry away. 
Skull cursed to himself.  They were all late tonight.  Normally, Patch
was the late one, not Scar and Specks.  Damn it, what was taking them so
long?  Skull glanced down at his watch and cursed some more.  The
barmaid returned with his beer on a tray.  Before she could hand it to
him, Skull lashed out and snatched it from her.  Noting his mood, the
waitress quickly left without seeing if he needed anything else. 

     Skull downed the bottle of alcohol in a matter of seconds. 
Angrily, he took the now empty bottle and tossed it at the wall.  The
bottle shattered when it hit the wall.  

     "What's the matter Skull?  Why so angry?"  Asked an unfamiliar 
voice.  

     Skull looked across the table and noticed that he had company.  Her
red hair and white face paint gave her an eerie look.  "What the hell
are you supposed to be!"

     "I'll give you three guesses."

     "I don't know, a mime from hell."

     "I don't think so.  I personally hate mimes."

     "Doesn't everybody.  Look, I don't have time to play games with
you.  I'm waiting on three late associates of mine."

     "I really don't think that they're going to make it, if you ask
me."

     "And why wouldn't they make it?"

     "Because I killed them."

     This information didn't break Skull's current mood.  "Killed them
you say."

     "Yes.  First Scar, then Specks and shortly after that I killed 
Patch."  Ranma pointed directly at Skull.  "Now I'm after you.  I'll go
easy on you if you'll tell me who hired you to kill those girls in
Nerima park."  

     Skull smiled.  "Just out of curiosity, what happens if I don't want
to tell you?"

     Ranma returned his smile.  "Then I'll be forced to do unpleasant 
things to you until you do tell me."

     "Then I'm afraid you're going to have to do it the hard way.  I 
really don't feel like telling you at the moment."

     "Well, then, the hard way it is."  

     "Before you start," Skull stood up, "Let's make this more sporting,
shall we?"  Skull turned his head and pointed at Ranma.  "FIFTY THOUSAND
YEN TO THE PERSON THAT KILLS THIS WOMAN!"  He yelled above the noise of
the bar.

     Everyone in the bar heard, despite all of the noise.  Promptly,
they drew their guns and aimed at Ranma.  Ranma stood up, spread her
arms out and gave a laugh that Kodachi Kuno would be proud of.  Bullet
after bullet struck Ranma, but she just stood there laughing as she
absorbed the damage.  When the last person ran out of rounds, they stood
there, staring open jawed at Ranma.  

     "IS THAT THE BEST YOU ALL CAN DO!!!"  Cried out Ranma hysterically. 
"HERE, LET ME SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT!!!"  Ranma reached and grabbed the
table before him and tossed it at the gaping crowd.  

     One of the patrons reloaded his gun and prepared to fire it at 
Ranma.  Ranma spotted him and hit the gun in his hand.  The gun went off
and shot the man in his leg.  He fell to the ground grasping his leg. 
Another man approached Ranma from the rear.  Ranma sensed this and
jabbed his arm backwards, shattering the man's nose with her elbow. 
Someone else prepared to fire at Ranma, but she grabbed some poor fool
and used him as a human shield.  After the man absorbed the shots, Ranma
dropped him and attacked the man with the gun.  With a few swift kicks,
she easily took him out.  A woman snuck up behind Ranma and stabbed her
in the back with a switchblade.  Ranma immediately turned around and
punched her in the stomach, causing her to double over.  Ranma grabbed
her hair and slammed her face-first into the wooden floor.

     The others slowly started to back away from devil like woman. 
Ranma stood back up and removed the knife from her back.  She took the
knife and waved it at them.  "Ok, who feels lucky?"  One man nodded to
several others, and they dove together towards Ranma.  Ranma caught the
first one in the shoulder with the switchblade before she lost her grip
on it.  Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Skull leaving the bar. 
"Enough with the playing around!"  Ranma knocked the men away and
charged the group.  "Time to take off the kid gloves!  KACHU TENSHIN
AMAGURI-KEN!"  Ranma delivered blow after blow to the seemingly endless
hoard of bar patrons.  Ranma finished her attack but she didn't get them
all.  

     Thinking that she was now tired, the remainder charged all at once. 
Ranma ducked the attack and dove out of the way.  She rushed across the
bar and picked up a chair.  To their surprise, Ranma took the chair and
smashed the large front window.  The cool night air flooded into the
bar.  Again the hoard rushed Ranma.  Ranma took a stance and drew on the
cool air in the bar.  As they descended upon Ranma, they spotted a small
glowing ball.  "HIRYU SHOTEN-HA!"  Ranma cried out.  Suddenly, a large
whirlwind appeared around Ranma and engulfed the last of the attackers. 
The wind grabbed the attackers and slammed them into the ceiling of the
building with bone jarring force.  When the wind died down, they crashed
to the floor.  Panting, Ranma looked around the bar and noted that she
was the only one left standing.  Carefully, the bartender and barmaids
looked up and over the counter.  Spotting Ranma, they ducked back
underneath.  

     "You won't get away from me that easily Skull!"  Ranma raced out of
the bar.

                              **********

     Ukyo stopped hesitantly at the entrance of the cemetery.   She took
a quick look around before she hopped the gate.  With her keen skills,
she easily made it over and landed on the other side.  She started to
walk deeper into the cemetery.  After taking a few steps, she stopped.

     (Girl what are you doing!)  Screamed her instincts.  (It's late at
night and you're in a cemetery!  Just what do you hope to accomplish!)

     She stood there, lost in her thoughts.  (Ranma's dead!  When are
you going to accept it!)  A single tear formed.  (That detective was
just saying Ranma's grave was empty to rile you.)  With a sniffle, she
wiped the tear away and turned around.  (But what if he was telling the
truth?)  She turned her head to side and bit her lip.  (Since I'm here,
I might as well check.  If it's alright, then I'll pay my respects.  If
it's not, then......)  Another tear replaced the one she just wiped
away.  (Then I'll do what's right.  I owe him that.)  Ukyo turned back
around and walked off to Ranma's grave.

                              **********

     Detective Takada leaned back in his car seat and yawned.  He raised
his arm and looked at his watch.  He watched Skull enter the bar over
two hours ago and she still hadn't arrived yet.  He put down his arm and
picked up his binoculars.  Word had it that Skull and his boys met here
when they had a job.  He managed to keep it quiet that Patch and the
others had died so as not tip Skull off.  If Skull knew that someone was
after him and his gang, Skull would promptly go into hiding.  If he did,
the chance that the girl would get to him before he could would
increase.  Takada got lucky and spotted Skull on his way to the bar, and
had been following him ever since.  For the last two hours, he'd been
across the street watching the patrons enter.  So far, no crazy woman. 
Takada put down the binoculars and reached into the folds of his jacket. 


     Unexpectedly, multiple gunshots were heard from the bar.  Takada 
grabbed his radio and immediately called it in.  One gun toting bad guy
he could handle, not a whole bar full!  When he finished, he pulled out
his revolver and exited his car.  Several people quickly exited the bar
as he approached it.  Another patron left the bar.  Takada instantly
recognized him.  It was Skull.  Takada raised his revolver.  "Police,
Freeze Skull!"  

     Skull stopped and raised his hands.  

     "Turn around!"

     With his arms still raised, Skull turned.  "Look pig, I ain't got
time to fool with you!  I got some crazy chick after me and she wants 
blood!  My blood!"  

     "Well that's too...."  A chair flew through the bar's window and 
slammed right into Takada.  

     Skull lowered his arms.  "Later!"  He turned and ran for all he was
worth.  

     Takada groaned as he stood back up.  He raised his hand to block
out the bright light radiating from the bar.  The light died down and
another familiar figure ran out of the bar.  

     "You won't get away from me that easily Skull!"  Cried out Ranma.

     Again, Takada raised his gun.  "Police, freeze!"  

     Ranma turned and looked at the detective.  The look of pure anger
and hatred on her face sent chills down Takada's spine.  "I didn't
listen to you the first time!  So what makes you think I'll listen to
you now!"

     "If you even breathe wrong, I will fire." 

     Ranma snorted and started to walk off. 

     "I'm warning you!  I will fire!"

     "So!  Go ahead and fire already!"

     "I warned you!"  Takada pulled the trigger and his revolver went 
off.  The bullet struck Ranma, but she continued walking like nothing
had happened.  Takada lowered his revolver.  (I shot her clean in the
torso.  She should have dropped to the ground.)  He watched as Ranma
headed off into the same direction Skull had.  He reholstered his
revolver and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.  (I need a cigarette.)

                              **********

     Dark clouds gathered in the cool night sky.  Skull didn't know
that, though.  He was too busy running for his life.  He rounded a
corner and ran into a trash can.  The can fell over, but Skull continued
running.  He ran down the street for a block before ducking into a handy
alley.  He stuck his head out of the alley and looked up and down the
street.  The only living thing he saw was a black bird perched on the
streetlight.  With a smirk, he ducked back into the alley.  (That girl
will never find me now.)  He started to laugh.

     "What's so funny Skull?"  Asked the one voice he never wanted to 
hear again.

     Skull slowly turned around and gazed upon the female from the bar. 
Many holes now filled her shirt and jacket.  If it wasn't for the black
tape she used earlier, they would have fallen off.  "How in hell did you
find me!" 

     "That's my little secret."  Ranma smiled sinisterly at Skull.  "So,
are you willing to talk now?"

     "Why should I?"  

     "If you won't tell me, then you die slowly and painfully.  If you
do tell me, it will be quick and painless."


     "Oh, joy.  If you don't mind, I'll take choice number three." 
Skull reached into his back pocket and drew his knife.  "If you're
wondering, choice three is that I don't tell you and I kick your sweet
ass."

     "We'll see who does the dying."

     "Die damn you!"  Skull swung his knife.  Ranma didn't move and
Skull struck her directly in the stomach.  Ranma grabbed his wrist and
snapped it.  Skull let go of his knife and grabbed his broken wrist with
his good hand.  Skull looked up and watched as Ranma removed the knife
from her stomach.  To his horror, he watched as her wound healed back to
normal.  "This ain't happening man.  No way this is happening!"  He
turned around and ran deeper into the alley.

     "There's no place for you to hide Skull!"  Yelled Ranma.

     While running down the alley, Skull spotted a door.  With his good
hand, he tried to open it, but it was locked.  He turned his head and
noticed that Ranma was getting closer.  He stepped back and slammed into
the door with his shoulder.  The wooden door creeked, but didn't give. 
Again and again, he slammed into it.  Just as Ranma got to him, the door
finally gave.  Skull rushed inside and slammed the door behind him. 
With his borrowed time, he glanced around and spotted another door down
the hallway.  He raced down the hallway and entered the door.  A
stairway went up.  Ranma smashed the door and entered the building. 
Skull quickly decided that going upstairs was better than facing Ranma. 
To his disbelief, the stairs took him directly to the roof.  

     "Oh damn!  This is not good."  Something struck him from the rear,
and he stumbled forward.  Skull turned around and faced Ranma.

     "What's the matter Skull.  Is your wrist bothering you?  Here, I'll
make you forget all about it."  Ranma flashed him the same blade from
earlier and stabbed him in his upper right leg.  Skull crashed to the
ground, clutching his wounded leg.  "See, didn't that make you forget
about your wrist?"  

     Skull looked up from the ground.  "L.l.l..look!  Can't we cut a 
deal?!  How about I tell you who hired me and you just beat me up real
bad!  How about that?"

     Ranma grabbed Skull by his shirt and lifted him off his feet. 
"TELL ME!"

     Skull was now sweating profusely.  "Look, it happened like this. 
Me and the boys were in Nerima checking out the area.  We got hungry and
decided to stop in one of the shops.  Patch caused a scene and the lady
at the shop kicked his butt and threw him out, literally.  She told us
unless we wanted the same, we all had to leave.  Scar, being the idiot
he is, wouldn't leave.  She repeated the same thing to him.  Me and
Specks decided to play it safe and left."

     "What does this have to do with what I want to know!"

     "Hold on!  I'm getting there!  Anyway, we decided to return later
that night and repay her for what she did.  She was expecting us and
kicked all of our butts.  While the others were out cold, she approached
me and said she wanted to make a deal."

     "What kind of deal?"

     "She told me that she wanted us to interrupt someone's date and
kill the girl.  She promised a big pay off if we did.  I agreed to do
the job.  She did tell us one thing though.  She told us not in any way
to harm the guy she would be with.  When we got there, we found the girl
with another girl.  We killed both of them to be safe."

     "Give me a name!"

     "I never got her name."

     "Describe her!"

     "Well, she had this accent and seemed to own the place.  Oh yes,
she had this club like weapon that she hit us with."

     (Knows martial arts, accent, owned the place, and a club like 
weapon.)  Ranma relaxed his grip.  "Ukyo....."

     Noting Ranma's distracted look.  Skull grabbed the handle of his 
knife with his good hand.  Forgetting about his pain, he yanked on the 
knife and pulled it out of his leg.  He swung the blade, but Ranma
caught it.  Skull gritted his teeth as he head butted Ranma.  Ranma
stumbled backwards.  Skull shook off Ranma's loosened grip and attacked
again.  This time, his knife contacted with Ranma's throat.  Ranma
grabbed the knife with one hand and lashed out with her other.  She
managed to clip Skull in his jaw.  Ranma pulled out the knife and tossed
it over the ledge.

     "Bad move Skull."  Ranma approached him.

                              **********

     Takada stopped his car and got out.  He glanced around the deserted
street.  Frustrated, he spit out his cigarette and stomped on it.  (Damn
it!  I lost her!)  He had been following her ever since she left the
bar.  Takada knew that she had a partner, it was obvious.  Who that
partner was, was another question all together.  He followed the girl
until she climbed up a fire escape and disappeared onto the rooftops.  
He heard a noise down in this direction and decided to check it out. 
Takada was about to enter his car when he heard another noise above him. 
He looked up in time to catch Skull doing a terrible swan dive off the
roof.  The car's windows shattered as Skull landed head first onto it's
roof.  

     After staring at Skull for a moment, he looked back up at the roof. 
He spotted the girl looking back down at him.  "Are you happy now?!" 
Yells Takada.  "That's the last one!"

     "He's the last of the gang but not the last of the killers."  Ranma
turned and left.  

     Takada looked back at Skull and noticed that he was still moving. 
"Hold on.  I'll get an ambulance."  Takada reached for his radio.  

     "No... time...."  Skull meekly reached out and touched his
shoulder.  "Got.. to... tell..."  He started to cough up blood.  

     "Tell me what!"  Skull mouthed something, but Takada couldn't hear
him.  He leaned in closer to listen.  Skull whispered something into his
ear.  Skull took one last deep breath and then died.  Takada took a step
back.  "I see."

                        ***END CHAPTER FIVE***