Faking It

Part 7b

By Philip Weigel

The Prologue is in the Disclaimer.

Note: This chapter was so long, I had to break it into two parts.

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Sheila, Nabiki, and Brianna walked into the room ten minutes after Theo and Kodachi had left. Ranma went over to his fiancée, noticing the tired look she had, and hugged her. "Hey, Shechan, how'd it go? We were just about to leave."

Sheila returned the hug. "It went okay, those two just wanted details and it wore me out emotionally."

Ranma glanced at Brianna and Nabiki with narrowed eyes but was smirking. He turned to Sheila and whispered so that only she could hear it. "Did you give them all the details?"

Sheila blushed and whispered back, "No, I kept some secrets." Ranma smiled and nodded.

Gar cleared his throat. "Please, can you lead all of us to the soccer field?" Ranma nodded and led everyone out the door. Brianna stayed behind to leave a note for her dad.

********

Meanwhile at the Kuno estate. . .

While Kodachi was getting her things packed. Theo was questioning Sasuke about the Wererats. "So you left the clan twenty-four years ago?" Theo then blinked, "That was just before the Werecheetah massacre."

Sasuke nodded, "Yes, I was spying on Elder Gothwrain and the oracle of the Wererats. I had suspicions that Gothwrain had gone insane because of his age." Sasuke shook his head. "When the oracle saw that the Wererats would be wiped out because of a Werecheetah, Gothwrain went ballistic. He placed a spell on the clans that made all Wererats afraid of Werecats, especially Werecheetahs."

Theo blinked, "Did you get hit with it?"

Sasuke nodded, "Yes I did. I'll tell you how I got it off of me in a moment. For awhile I had continued to follow Gothwrain when he approached a werewolf by the name of Brad, or Brandin or something."

"Brendan. Brendan the Betrayer, he was the Alpha of the werewolves at the time, until his daughter Jetta took it from him."

Sasuke blinked, and nodded his head, "That's about right I guess. Anyways, when I saw that I left the clan. I couldn't stand killing innocent people that had done nothing to us."

Theo blinked, "I see, but what do you know about Gothwrain? And how did you get that spell off of you?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I should've explained better. About three years after leaving the clan I came across this Animorph priest and he undid the spells on me."

Theo raised an eyebrow, "Animorph?"

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah, they're like Werefolk as in they have a human, hybrid, and full animal forms, but they don't have magic and silver weaknesses. Nor do they posses Werefolk enhancements." He then shrugged, "Basically, they're enhanced humans."

Theo nodded, "I see."

"As for Gothwrain." Sasuke frowned, "He's like Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, and Saddam Hussein combined."

Theo blinked and raised an eyebrow, "That bad?"

"No I underplayed it, he's worse. He controls nearly all Wererats with an iron glove. If you're not part of the clan, you’re an enemy, and all enemies must die. And unfortunately the Werecheetahs were marked as enemies. Too bad they're none left."

"Actually there is."

Sasuke looked at the mage, "There is?"

Theo nodded, "Yes, my adopted daughter Britanny Elin'Gia Diggers, her unborn child, my other daughter Brianna (although she's only half Werecheetah) and a young man by the name of Raphiel’Rey."

"There are three that survived the slaughter?"

Theo shook his head, "No, only one survived, Britanny. Brianna was born through a special situation and she doesn't like to talk about it. Raphiel is actually a super-complex golem that has all of a Werecheetah's abilities."

Sasuke blinked, "Wow, that's interesting." He then blinked again, "Wait, you said that Brianna was half Werecheetah."

Theo winced; he had forgotten how sensitive a Wererat's ears were, nearly as much as a Jagwere’s. "She's half Werecheetah and half human. Anyone who sees her and doesn't know her that well will think she's a Werecheetah. She has pointed ears, sharp teeth, similar to fangs and she had a stripe over her left eye, it's gone now."

Sasuke blinked, "Oh I see." He smiled fondly as a thought came to him, "I wonder how my daughter Moshia is doing? It's been awhile since I've seen her."

Theo blinked, "Is your full name Sasuke Riche?"

Sasuke nodded, "Yes. I took my wife's name when we married."

Theo groaned, "Britanny is not going to like this."

"Oh, why?"

Theo sighed, "Your daughter has been trying to kill mine for some time now."

Sasuke interrupted, "I bet Gothwrain put her up to it."

Theo nodded, "Probably. I just wish I knew where he was."

Sasuke hummed, "Well, he used to have an office in Hokkaido." He then shrugged, "At least he did when I worked for him. As well as a warehouse full of magical and silver weapons and artifacts."

Theo blinked and nodded. That was just the information that he needed. Even if the Wererats moved away, there would probably still be clues as to where Gothwrain could be.

Several hours later, sitting in the center of an open area of the Kuno Estate, Theo and Sasuke continued to talk... While sitting atop a large stack of luggage, and a few crates surrounding them.

"I thought Kodachi was only bring the essentials." Theo said, slightly sarcastically. He didn't really mind that Kodachi wanted to bring so much with her; he knew his magic could handle the teleportation of all the articles... He was just miffed because he thought this would take only a half hour to an hour at most, and they had already been here two hours.

Sasuke nodded his head. "She is. Her studies and experimentation in botanical science is VERY important to her. She doesn't want to lose ANY of her research."

Sighing lightly, Theo nodded his head. He could understand that, slightly. If his family had to move, he knew Gina wouldn't do anything short of uprooting her lab, as to make sure she had EVERYTHING with her. Deciding to change the topic, Theo asked, "What was she studying?"

"Let me think." Sasuke said. He mumbled to himself and held up a finger. "There were safer, non-toxic paralysis powders... Her all natural anti-venoms... There were her deadly poisons... There were her rare breeds and flower specimens... And her own man-made specimens..." Looking at Theo, Sasuke said, "Do you know Kodachi created a breed of blue roses?"

Sweat-dropping slightly, Theo said, "You don't say..." Letting out a sigh, Theo was beginning to regret giving the Kitsune a place to stay at his home. Hopefully the poisons she was carrying would infect none of his family.

Shifting and wringing his hands nervously, Sasuke asked out of the blue, "Dr. Diggers... Can I ask a personal request?"

Raising an eyebrow to that, Theo asked, "Oh? All right. What is it, Mr. Riche?"

"Sasuke, please." Sasuke said. Gathering his courage, Sasuke asked, "If it's all right, could you, some time, bring me down to the Castle of Shoes to visit my daughter. I haven't seen my Mo-mo since she was a little girl."

Looking at Sasuke's hopeful expression, Theo let out a drawn-out sigh. "All right, all right. However, I will be there to make sure that nothing goes wrong, and that the leprechauns will be willing to let you see her."

Sasuke jumped down from the crate he was sitting on and bowed on his hands and knees. "Oh, thank you! Thank you, Dr. Diggers! This means so much to me! I promise to make it up to you!"

Waving a hand, Theo said, "Relax, relax. It's all right. I can understand your need to see your daughter and make sure she's all right." Smiling slightly, Theo said, "I'm a father too, you know."

Nodding his head, Sasuke said, "Yes, Dr. Diggers."

As Theo and Sasuke chatted, Kodachi came back into view from behind a building. "Dr. Diggers. May I please have some assistance?"

"Oh?" Theo asked. "What is wrong?"

"Mr. Midorigame doesn't want to leave." Kodachi answered. "He seems very content with staying here, and I don't want to leave him at the mercy of my brother."

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Really now? It shouldn't be too hard to move a turtle..."

"Turtle?" Kodachi repeated. "Who said anything about Mr. Midorigame being a turtle?"

"But," Theo said, "I thought you had a turtle? I mean his name is 'Mr. Green Turtle'."

Kodachi shook her head. "Oh, that's just what I named him." She answered. "Mr. Midorigame is an American Alligator."

"A WHAT!?" Theo asked.

"An American Alligator." Kodachi answered.

"Oh no..." Theo said. "There is no way I am letting you bring an alligator into my home. Even I have my limits."

Kodachi whimpered. "B, but if I don't bring him with me... I just know my brother and father will do evil things to Midorigame! I can't leave him to such a fate! Oh please, PLEASE reconsider, Dr. Diggers."

Looking into Kodachi's misty eyes, Theo sighed. "My wife is going to have a bird, but... All right. Lead me to your pet."

"Oh, thank you!" Kodachi thanked. Smiling brightly, she said, "Follow me, please."

Seeing the Kitsune bounce toward the back, Theo sighed again. His wife was either going to kill him for bringing poisons and an alligator into his home... "Or she's going to be happy and incorporate them into her students' workout regime."

"If I may ask, Miss Kuno," Theo said politely. "Why are you researching how to make deadly poisons?"

"Oh I don't intend to use them on anyone," Kodachi said. "Half of them are accidents, I'm afraid. But poisons do have their uses."

"That being?" Theo asked.

"Antivenin research," Kodachi said. "Genetic research as well."

At this point they turned the corner and Midorigame came into view, Theo wondered if, perhaps the alligator were a product of such research. It was at least twice the size of any alligator he had seen to date.

Alligators did occasionally reach eighteen feet, but half of that was usually in the tail. This specimen's head alone had to measure six feet, never mind the body.

"This is Dr. Diggers, Midorigame," Kodachi said. "He's going to take us to our new home. And I'm sure you'll love it. It's in Georgia, right near where your kind are from."

The alligator roared in a defiant, petulant matter and then began to settle under the water.

"Oh!" Kodachi growled irritably. "Please come out of the pool and let the nice man teleport you to our new home? That means no cramped airplane trip!"

The alligator exhaled.

Theo was beginning to wonder why Kodachi had asked for the help.

"Humph!" Kodachi said crossly, folding her arms over her chest. "You can stay and become a trophy on my brother's wall. Is that what you want? To feed him on alligator steaks for Inari knows how long?"

"Do you actually understand the alligator, Miss Kuno?" Theo asked suddenly, have a suspicion of something.

"Well, not in such words, no," Kodachi said. "But I have raised him from almost a little bit of thing to what he is now. I know his moods and such."

"Is this just with Midorigame or with animals in general?" Theo asked.

"Animals in general," Kodachi said. "I always thought it had something to do with being an animal spirit. I never really thought of it actually. Is it important?"

"Is that Kodachi, Hikage or both of you talking?" Theo asked. In response to the blank, blinking look that followed he replied. "Or do you even know?"

"I switch about quite frequently, Dr. Diggers," Kodachi said. "The only time I can really tell myself from myself is when I'm sleeping. Now why are you curious about my abilities with animals?"

"Hold still a moment," Theo said. Kodachi nodded and proceeded to tighten up.

He brought his hands together and began to gather energy, his eyes glowing as he held his hands out toward Kodachi.

Seeing this the alligator rose and began to enter a charge.

"Stop!" Kodachi snapped quickly and angrily at the alligator. "Don't you harm my guest!"

The alligator growled for a moment but then subsided. And, through the event, Theo confirmed what he had guessed.

"Whether you stay on Earth or not, Miss Kuno," Theo said. "There are people on Jade I'll want you to talk to."

"Really?" Kodachi asked, curiously. "What for?"

"You bear an affinity for nature that lends itself toward two particular trades on Jade," Theo said. "That of the druid and the ranger."

"Come again?" Kodachi asked, confused as to what that meant.