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Unexpected
chapter 1
Disclamier: I don't own these charcters nor am I making any money from this.
Please do not sue me.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
Two women were racing through a forest. The one in the lead was wearing a
red t-shirt, black slacks with a red hood and cape. Her partner was wearing
a purple jumpsuit and appeared to be hovering slightly off the ground. Both
looked to be in their early teens.
The first woman turned to her partner, "Luna, how much farther to the
temple?". Luna
consulted a map before facing her partner, "Another 5 minutes and we should
be there, Gully. If I'm right the gate doesn't close for another 20
minutes". Gully smirked as she faced forward, "Plenty of time."
The two women continued on until an explosion followed by a scream split
the silence. Both slowed up, as the sounds of some great beast crashing
through the foliage grew louder. Gully quickly un-sheathed her sword as her
partner readied a fireball. A small figure popped out of the bushes ahead
landing hard on the ground. Gully looked to her friend then to what appeared
to be a small boy. The young boy made it to his feet but seemed to have
trouble walking. It was at this point a Drake crashed through the trees
ahead. The large creature scanned the area, its gaze finally alighting on
the young boy. A deep growl reverberated from its throat, and then it
charged the poor boy who became frozen with fear.Gully leapt forward,
bringing her sword to bear. The Drake twisted slightly as the blade bit into
its neck causing a small amount of blood to gush forth. The young woman
landed behind the creature and backed away. The Drake turned its now enraged
gaze on the young warrior. This was a mistake since it gave the spell caster
an easy target.
"Source of all souls which dwell in eternal and infinite. Everlasting flame
of blue, let the power hidden in my soul be called forth from the
Infinite...RA-TILT!"
The blue beam slammed into the monster engulfing it in a blue flame. The
Drake screamed in agony as its soul was torn to shreds. Then it collapsed to
the ground. Gully kicked the thing's remains a few times. Once satisfied it
was dead she joined her partner who was already tending to the boys wounds.
"He has a twisted ankle. It needs to be healed." Her friend nodded "Fine,
fine, just be quick about."
Luna ignored her friend as she set to work. Once the spell was under way
she took a good look at the boy. He appeared to be about ten. He was wearing
black pants and a red shirt of a kind she'd never seen before. His eyes were
deep blue and his hair was pulled back into a pigtail.
"So little boy, what's your name?" The kid fidgeted for a minute "Ranma."
he finally said. She smiled warmly "Well Ranma, what are you doing out in
this dangerous forest all by yourself." Ranma hung his head. "Some friends
dared me to after my brother warned us about this place."
Luna shook her head "That wasn't very bright." She stood up offering her
hand to Ranma. "Come on we'll take you home." Her partner looked at her in
shock "What are doing! We can't stop for some kid!" Luna sighed "We can't
leave him here and we can't take him into the temple with us. We'll just
have to take him home."
Gully rubbed her forehead "Luna, this temple has enough treasure to allow
us both to retire. Plus it has text on spells that have been lost to the
ages, and in twenty minutes the gate to it closes for another hundred years!
We can't miss this opportunity!!"
Luna stared at her friend "Do you want to leave him here?" Gully looked at
the small boy for a moment. Finally she threw her hands up in the air. "Fine
will take him to the village. Maybe if we run we can get there and back in
time." The two women took off back the way they'd come.
About 10 minutes later they spotted a purple haired man holding a staff
with a red orb in it racing towards them calling Ranma's name.
Ranma perked up when he saw him "Big brother!" he cried. The young man
stopped in front of them as he saw Ranma. "Oh thank you both for finding
him!" He took Ranma's hand from Luna and bowed "I can't thank you enough!!"
Luna was about to say something when Gully interrupted "That's okay, but we
really must be going." Gully grabbed her friend's arm and dragged her back
towards the temple A-ko style.
Ranma blinked the dust from their departure out of his eyes and looked up
at his 'big-brother'. "Xelloss why'd you ask me to do that? I mean why did
we have to stop them from reaching the temple."
Xelloss looked at the young boy and smiled while bring his finger to his
lips "Sora Wa Himitsu Desu!" Ranma sprouted a frown on his face "Can you at
least tell me why we do this to people?" Xelloss kept smiling but shook his
head in the negative.
Ranma sighed as Xelloss put a hand on his shoulder "There is a good reason
and when you're older I'll tell you more, I promise." Ranma looked up into
the older man's smiling face and couldn't help but smile also. "Say Ranma,
how bought we go for some ice cream. My treat?" The pig-tailed boy's face
brightened significantly "Sure! Let's go!" The two faded from sight.
------
5 years later.
The caverns began to collapse as Ranma grabbed the manuscript. Vaulting
over fallen rocks and dodging debris Ranma worked his way out. It was then
he heard a call for help. Backtracking a bit he found Sarah with her leg
pinned under a boulder. Acting quickly Ranma gathered his Ki and smashed the
rock, freeing the girl. Grabbing her up and holding her to him, he made for
the exit. He managed to leap through just as the roof came down. Everyone
else was already out side. Jiro the young priest rushed over and began to
heal the girl as Ranma layed her on the ground. Ranma briefly wondered if
her red face was caused by her injury.
After she checked out the rest of their little group closed in. "Well?"
Seth asked. Ranma handed him a book and he quickly flipped through it. After
a few minutes he became enraged and tossed the book on the ground "Is this a
JOKE!!" Everyone looked at him as he stomped off. Jiro picked up the book,
after turning a few pages he started to chuckle.
Later at a restaurant
The small party of five wore downcast looks, all except for Ranma who was
to busy stuffing his face to care.
After a moment Sarah spoke up, "So the ultimate technique it spoke of
wasn't magic, sword or martial arts, but...cooking. We spent six months
taking on all kinds of monsters for a friggin COOK BOOK!!" she waved her
hands angrily at the text sitting on the table.
Ranma took a moment from his eating to place his hand on her shoulder;
oddly he noted that her temperature rose somewhat. "Hey, at least it wasn't
an ultimate sowing technique." Everyone gave him a funny look.
Sarah giggled, "I guess it could've been worse." She took a deep breath and
looked at everyone. "So now what?" Ranma placed some money on the table and
stood "Now I have to be going." a collective "What!" escaped from the lips
of those present.
Ranma smiled sheepishly "Hey, the only reason I came along was to find an
ultimate martial arts technique in that book. Since the it doesn't have one,
I might as well be on my way."
Sarah looked downcast, "Are you sure you can't stay?"
Ranma nodded "Yeah my families probably a bit worried by now. I'd best get
back soon." Sarah smiled tightly at him "Take care then." Ranma smiled back
"You to. Take care of yourselves everyone." And amidst a chorus of goodbyes
Ranma left the restaurant. When the building was finally out of sight Ranma
smiled and faded from view.
Wolf Pack Island
Zelas took a long drag from her cigarette as she sat in her chair. Her boys
were currently out on mission and her home was fairly quite, peaceful in
other words boring. She put out the remainder of her cigarette. Pulled a
forth a new one and lit it. It was at this moment the door opened and Ranma
entered.
Zelas cocked her head to the side "Well?" Ranma smiled and pulled a book
from his shirt and handed it to her, "The real Book of Ultimate techniques".
Zelas took the book and idly thumbed through it as Ranma continued. "It has
a lot on casting ancient spells like 'Venom', 'Stryper', 'Megadeath' and
even 'Halloween'. Plus information on a safer way to caste the Giga Slave.
It also contains Powerful martial arts techniques, like a sword technique
called Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. A truly impressive collection." Zelas merely
nodded at Ranma's words. "Do you want me to burn it?" Zelas eyes never left
the book as she smiled. She then motioned for Ranma to take a seat.
After a few more minutes of flipping through the book she closed it and
handed it to him. He took it from her a confused look on his face. "I want
you to learn all the spells and techniques in that book." Her voice was
quite and even but left no room for questions. Ranma swallowed "Of course."
She sat back and took a drag from her cigarette. "Xelloss learned them
fairly fast, so it shouldn't take you much longer than him to learn."
She refrained from smiling as that glint came into his eyes. Ever since he
was little he'd insisted on learning everything Xelloss knew. That had
caused the boy quite a few headaches as The Trickster Priest liked to dangle
new spells enticingly in front of him and never tech him how to do it.
Instead the boy learned it on his own and was all the better for it.
She continued on "Now I don't want you to ever use the Giga Slave but try
to figure out how to do Laguna Blade from that information and if possible
improve upon it." Ranma nodded but then seemed to remember something. She
leaned forward "What is it?"
Ranma fidgeted then sighed, "I want some time to take care of some things
on my world." She looked at him quizzically "Why, I thought you saw what
would've happened it you'd stayed?" he smiled thinly "I know but something's
need to be done to insure certain people do not get away with what they have
done."
She sat back in her chair and gazed at him for a long time. Finally she
sighed, "All right, six months then I need you back here." Ranma smiled at
her "Thanks a lot!" he gave her a hug. Zelas rolled her eyes and seriously
considered waping him upside the head but decided to let it go, this time.
He pulled away and sat arose from her "So where's Xelloss?" Zelas got more
comfortable in her seat "On mission."
She cocked her head to the side "Seems he's about done." she commented
without emotion.
Ranma wondered what she was talking about then he felt it. A force of
unimaginable power had just entered the world. Zelas watched Ranma with an
amused smile. She'd forgotten he'd never had any contact with this being
before.
After it was over he spoke softly "T-that was.." Zelas nodded "Our boss,
the Lord of Nightmares, L-sama." Ranma swallowd hard as he tried to regain
his composure "But who channeled...?"
Zelas brought her finger up to her lips "Sora Wa..."
Ranma waved her off "Right, right, my fault for asking."
He stared out the window for a minute before smiling and turning around
"Inverse, Lina Inverse its gotta be her!" Zelas just looked at him. He
continued on "She successfully cast the Giga Slave and created Laguna Blade.
Only someone with a firm understanding like hers could channel L-sama.".
Zelas smiled "Very good Ranma. I can't say any more on the subject but you
are right." She stood and stretched a bit. "Remember, I'll expect you back
in six months no later." He nodded as she left. As the door closed he was
left to wonder about the woman who'd managed to channel L-sama.
****
Earth Jusenkyo
Genma Saotome was overjoyed to say the least. In an amazing turn of fortune
his son had returned from the dead. He was grateful; as he didn't know how
much longer he could lie convincingly to Nodoka. The note he'd received from
his child had tickets and a map to Jusenkyo where they would meet for the
first time in ten years.
"Oh happy day! My son returns to me and the schools will be joined!!"
Genma was about to do a little jig when a voice caught his attention "Pop?"
The fat martial artist turned to see a well filled out young man in a red
Chinese shirt, black pants and pig tail sitting on a blanket near a bunch of
springs. What truly caught his attention was the large spread of food layed
out before him..
Holding his hunger in check Genma grabbed the man into a bear hug "Son! Its
so good to see you after all these years!!" Ranma staggered a bit under the
man's sobs but managed to calm him down. "Please pop sit down and eat. We
have much to talk about." Never being one to refuse a free meal Genma dug
in. After couple of minutes he noticed Ranma hadn't eaten anything. He
shrugged, figuring more for him and went back to work on the food. Once
satisfied he looked to his son.
"So boy where've you been for the last 10 years? Training I hope."
Ranma smiled "You could say that. I also found out what you've been up to
for the last ten years."
Genma yawned before answering, not liking the tone of Ranma's voice "What
do you mean."
Ranma's smile turned nasty "I found out about the multiple engagements for
one thing." Genma suddenly felt very tired and dizzy. "But its okay pop, I
found a way to deal with the mess you made." Ranma's voice was ice cold.
Genma attempted to stand but fell back on his rear "Wh-what did you...?"
Ranma smiled without warmth "Oh just some sleep potion in the food. Enough
to knock you out for quite a while I suspect." Genma's vision swam and he
fell backwards. "More than enough time to see justice served." Darkness
covered Genma's vision.
Nerima Tendo Dojo
Soun griped the letter tightly as tears streamed down his face.
Dear Soun
By the time you read this I will be gone. I am sorry that I won't be able
to help you with the engagement but I do ask you go do all in your power to
see our two schools joined. By now you should've meet my son. He's taking
this pretty hard and may do some unusual things to cope. I ask you to help
him work through this tough time in his life. I wish you the best and charge
you and you alone with ensuring the future of anything goes. I wish you well
old friend.
Your Friend
Genma Saotome
Soun wiped the tears from his eyes and looked at the boy in front of him.
"You can meet my daughters later as for now you can have one of the guest
rooms. I'll take you there." Ranma bowed "Thank you sir." The pig-tailed
warrior followed the older man to his room.
Later that evening
Genma awoke with a pounding headache. After a few moments he noticed he
felt different. He became confused when he looked at himself and saw much
younger hands. That's when he looked into a mirror on the wall and screamed.
Staring back at him was the face of Ranma. A quick scan confirmed it was
Ranma's body.
"You know, you really ought to thank me." Genma whirled to see his son
leaning against the wall smirking. "I mean, I've given you back your youth,
sorta."
Genma growled, "What is the meaning of this? What have you done to me!?"
Ranma's smirk grew "I dunked you in a newly created spring 'spring of
Nearly drowned Ranma'. Then with a little magic I overwrote your base form
with that from spring of drowned girl."
Ranma quickly cast a water spell. Genma looked in the mirror, fingered the
results of the transformation, and screamed again.
Ranma laughed, "By the way Soun thinks your dead and that you are me.
You've all ready been engaged to his youngest, Akane." Ranma chuckled "She's
a tad violent so I suggest not upsetting her or you will feel her wrath."
Ranma waved a hand and Genma found himself unable to move.
Ranma continued on "Also, I put a spell on you. It will make sure you act
honorably or you'll receive some...negative reinforcement." Ranma smiled
nastily, "Your honor bound to marry a Tendo so I wouldn't try to go about
breaking it. Oh wait!" he began with mock surprise "You also have to marry
Ukyo Kuonji! Jeepers! How are you going to maintain honor if your supposed
to marry them both! What a dilemma"
The full effect of what Ranma had done was starting to become apparent to
the formally fat martial artist. He barely managed to croke out "What about
Nodoka."
Ranma feigned sadness. "A letter from her son will reach her. It will
inform her of her husbands death and information on how to find her son."
Ranma became thoughtful "I wonder if your female side will affect her
decision on if your manly or not." A small eep escaped Genma's lips. "Ah
well good luck pop. You're gonna need it."
At his words a swirling blue portal opened and he began to step through.
Genma tried on last gambit "I raised you..." Ranma whirled around and
backhanded him across the room Genma cowered under the young man's gaze.
"You didn't raise me and if you had it would've been only to fill your fat
belly. Be glad I'm going easy on you!" and with that he stepped through the
portal, which disappeared behind him. Genma fell to the floor sobbing.
To Be continued...
Author notes: Well, I believe that is enough for now. Next chapter will be
the real beginning to the story. For now it will mostly take place in the
universe of the Slayers, but don't expect it to stay that way. Ranma will at
least want to check up on his father every now and again and who knows what
could happen while he's there. It will be awhile before the next chapter
comes out though because I'm currently revising 3 other fics and working on
chapter two of warrior's redemption. However, I will work as quickly as I
can. Now I am sure some of you want to know why Ranma is willing working for
the Mazoku and if he himself is one or not. My answer: Sora Wa Himitsu Desu!