Sonic

Returning back to their house, Emeral and Joe checked on Emily and Jeremy, who both where up sitting at the table in the kitchen.

"Glad to see you two are back up," said Emeral walking through the door.

"Is this your house?" asked Emily looking at Emeral.

"Yes it is, your father gave this house to us a while ago," she replied, "Seems he added two rooms to it just recently for you two."

Joe pulled out a chair for Emeral and helped her in before sitting himself down, "I have another question for you two," said Joe, "Do you know anything about the card slot that is on the barrier of your father's realm?"

Emily and Jeremy looked at each other, not sure how to answer the question. Finally Emily spoke up, "The card slots are for key cards that allows us in and out," she said.

"I see," said Joe, "So you two both have key cards then."

"Maybe we do," replied Jeremy a bit nervous, "But if we did, we couldn't give them to you."

"We understand," answered Emeral, "But you don't have to be afraid, we have no intention of stealing them from you. For one thing, it would be wrong." Emeral looked around, "And for another, we probably wouldn't even be able to reach the barrier before seeing the wrath of your father."

Emily and Jeremy looked at each other, not sure if they believed what Emeral said about it being wrong, but believing in the statement about their father's wrath. Just about this time, Emily's stomach began to growl, which made her blush.

Emeral gave a soft giggle and began to get up, "You must still be hungry, let me fix you something," she said walking over to the small fridge. "I suppose you are hungry as well Jeremy?"

Jeremy nodded, "I haven't ate anything for a while," he said.

Emeral opened the fridge and pulled out some ham and other accessories for making a sub, "Should take only a few minutes," she said placing the materials on the counter and opening the drawer taking out a knife. With a blink of an eye, Emeral began chopping the lettuce, spreading the ham, placing pickles, and adding a few more things to the sub. After 20 seconds, Emeral had two foot long subs and was placing them in front of Emily and Jeremy.

"Nice cooking skills," said Jeremy eyeing the food.

Joe smiled, "Don't worry, we aren't trying to poison you. You should have realized it by now that we are good people, so eat."

Hesitant, Emily picked up her sub and took a bite then smiled, "This is rather good," she said.

Jeremy, deciding that it would be suicide if they were to do anything to harm them, took a bite out of his sub. "This isn't half bad," he said chewing his bite.

"I'm glad you like it," said Emeral as she looked at the clock. "Joe and I need to go out for a while, please make your-self at home," she said vanishing in a blue glow.

Joe bowed farewell and followed Emeral as he vanished in a blue glow.

*At Kalshion and Katarina's camp site*

Kalshion and Katarina were sitting by their fire just watching the stars when their cat got up and began to watch an area in front of them.

"What' is it?" asked Katarina looking at the area.

Within moments, Emeral and Joe appeared where the cat was looking. Both looked around for a moment then walked over to Kalshion and Katarina.

"How are you two doing?" asked Emeral.

"It's going pretty well, though we haven't found the source of the aura we are sensing." answered Katarina. "What about you two?"

Emeral smiled, "Seems we have two visitors, who seem to be the children of MM," she responded.

"MM has children?" asked Kalshion in a bit of shock. "Does that mean more trouble?"

Joe laughed softly, "The only trouble they've caused is knocking Happosai out several times," he replied. "Despite their unique personalities, they seem like nice kids."

Emeral began to walk around, watching the stars and the moon, "It's a beautiful night," she said as the moonlight amplified the shine of her hair softly moving with the wind.

"Yea, it is," said Katarina looking back at the moon.

Just a short distance away, DS watched the four as they talked. "Children," he thought to himself, "Where those the two kids that I passed on the way up here?" DS turned to the direction of the town, "That young girl was able to sense me, and she had a strong dark aura about her," he thought smiling, "A nice attractive Dark Aura if I might add," thinking about the recent outburst of dark energy he felt earlier that day.

DS then looked back at Joe, "It would be nice to take advantage of that girl, but with that old bastard lurking around, it will be rather difficult." DS then smiled, "First things first, to obtain the power of the new 'improved' dragon aura," he said looking at Emerald's side where she was keeping the shards.

As Joe watched Emeral 'bathing' in the moonlight, a horrible dark feeling ran down his spine.

Emeral, feeling the chill in Joe looked at him, "You all right?" she asked.

DS smiled, "Soon my Yang, Soon we will meet each other again," he thought stepping back into the Shadows and vanishing.

Joe looked around then eyed the area where DS was standing, which got Kalshion's attention.

"That's the second time I've seen you look like that," said Kalshion, "What's going on?"

Joe kept eyeing the area, "I'm not sure," he responded, "I just hope it isn't what I think it is."

In a Dark Small room, a figure was busy nailing nails into a small doll.

"Curse you Ranma Saotome, Feel my wrath!" cried Hikaru Gosunkugi smashing another nail into a Voodoo doll that looked like Ranma.

Fortunately for Ranma, Hikaru's Voodooism rarely, if ever worked; but that was all about to change.

Finishing the last nail in his box, "Hmmm, better get some more nails," said Hikaru walking up to his cabinet and pulling out another box and placing it by the doll.

Opening the box, Hikaru reached his hand into it as he flipped the doll over, not realizing what he just pulled out of the box. With a battle cry, Hikaru placed what he thought was a nail over the back of the neck of the doll, and slammed the hammer on it. Within seconds, a quick bright blue glow covered the doll, then vanished.

"What was that?" asked Hikaru looking at the nail he just placed into the doll. "Wait, what is this?" he said looking at a light blue jewel shard now embedded into the doll.

Chapter 23
To Voodoo like no Voodooist has Voodooed before!
Barbies just became dangerous!

Ranma was sitting with Akane watching TV when he suddenly jerked with an empty look in his eyes.

"What's wrong Ranma?" asked Akane.

"I'm not sure, I just had a strange feeling come over me," he replied, "YOUCH!"

"Ranma?" called Akane watching Ranma grab his arm which was bleeding, "You're bleeding Ranma!"

Ranma looked at his arm, as Akane went to get the first aid kit. "This is too deep to be a bite from an insect," thought Ranma.

*Early Tuesday Morning...*

"Good Morning Akane," said Emeral as Akane walked into the classroom. Within moment Emeral noticed Akane was a bit worried, "What's wrong Akane? Wait, where's Ranma?"

"Ranma is at home, he's lost allot of blood," responded Akane.

"From what?" asked Joe joining the conversation with Tommy.

"I'm not sure," replied Akane, "But he started getting puncture marks around his arms which have bleed heavily."

"That's not right," answered Emeral in a concerned voice, "Did he come in contact with anything odd last night?"

"The only thing odd for him yesterday was thinking he was a woman," said Akane.

Just about this time Hikaru entered the class and began to look around for Ranma. Joe sensed Hikaru curiosity for Ranma's well being and decided to keep and eye on him. As Hikaru proceeded to his seat, he looked at Akane and smiled, which disturbed Akane a bit.

"What's with that guy?" asked Tommy.

Akane shook her head, "Some weirdo who is obsessed with me, and tries to hurt Ranma using Voodoo Dolls."

Joe raised an eyebrow from this, "Voodooism, sounds similar to what just happened to Ranma."

"No, it couldn't be," said Akane waving her hand up and down, "Gosunkugi-san has never been successful with Voodooism."

"Maybe, but what if he has received help, such as a shard of the aura?" said Emeral with a grin.

Akane's eyes opened at the thought; "Maybe you're right," looking at Hikaru.

*During Morning Break...*

"Hello Gosunkugi-san," said Akane walking up to Hikaru.

Hikaru jumped at the sight of Akane being nice to him, knocking his papers onto the floor and dropping his bag, which the Ranma VooDoo doll roled out, which he quickly placed back in, "Hello Miss Tendo," he said very nervous.

Akane eyed the bag, "Gosunkugi-san, do you know anything about Ranma's recent sickness?" she asked giving a look.

Hikaru began to sweat then shook his head, "No, I don't know a thing," he said.

Akane just eyed him, "If you say so," she said walking away to Joe and Emeral, "Well?"

"He's lying," said Emeral, "His thoughts of guilt were so strong, I could read it in a Coma."

Meanwhile, Hikaru just eyed his backpack, "So it worked?" he said to himself. Within moments he smiled and began to laugh to himself, "Finally, you are under my control Ranma," he said kicking his bag.

*At the house of "Weird"*

"Poor Ranma," said Kasumi rubbing a moist cloth on Ranma's head, as we lay there in his mat asleep.

Just as Kasumi removed the cloth, Ranma's eyes opened followed by him slamming into the wall.

"Ranma?" asked Kasumi, "You shouldn't be moving in this condition."

"I'm not trying to," said Ranma as he was bolted over into the window, falling into the pond.

*Back at school..*

"You're up Joe," said Emeral as she watched Hikaru kicking his bag.

Joe nodded and placed his hand in front of him, which the doll instantly appeared in his palm. "Here you go Emeral," he said smiling.

Emeral took the doll and looked around, "Ah, just was we thought," she said pulling out a jewel shard, which was glowing black, "Looks like this shard was exposed to plenty of evil," she said teleporting the doll back into the bag and placing the shard in her pocket.

"So will Ranma be ok now?" asked Akane a bit worried.

"Well, he lost allot of blood, so I recommend you have him eat this," said Joe pulling out an orange color fruit.

"What is that?" asked Tommy as Joe placed the fruit in Akane's hands.

"It's called a Passion Fruit," replied Joe, "They posses great healing powers."

Akane smiled and placed the fruit into her sack, "Thank you," she said.

Emeral and Joe just smiled, "You are very welcome," they said in unison.