Magical Interludes: December�s End
Fanfic by JK The Unknown

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Pertinent characters copyrighted by R. Takahashi, etc., etc., etc..  I 
have no money anyway.

What has gone before:  
Magic (based on scientific principals) has come into the world.  
There are �vortices� that pull power into them; Ranma is one of 
these.  While delirious, Ranma not only told Akane that he loved 
her, but he also brought in three girls that have identified him as 
their father.

It is Saturday, December 24th of Ranma and Akane's Sophomore 
year...
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Chapter One:  Lost Lives - Part II

The three teenaged girls kneel down to the unconscious Ranma, 
hesitantly touching the body.  J.D. and Dr. Tofu notice that Ranma 
is bleeding from several wounds, and move to help him.

Three Girls:  "It's not a dream."  (look up at everyone)  "Mother!"

Shampoo, Ukyou, and Nabiki are surprised when the three teenaged 
girls suddenly leap up and hug them.  J.D. and Dr. Tofu start to 
bandage Ranma's wounds.

J.D.:  (working on lower leg)  "This gash is pretty bad.  Take care of 
	the upper arms."

Dr. Tofu nods as J.D. closes his eyes.  The torn flesh in Ranma's leg 
pulls together and the wound starts to heal.  Dr. Tofu looks confused 
for a second, then smiles and starts to do the same to the wounds on 
the upper arms and chest.  Dr. Tofu and J.D. look tired when they're 
done.

J.D.:  (tired smile)  "Well.  Another healer."

Ranma's eyes snap open suddenly and he starts sweating and 
thrashing about.  Kasumi runs up and forces Ranma back on the 
ground.

Kasumi:  "Something still seems wrong.  His heart, I think..."
J.D.:  "This shouldn't be happening!"
Kasumi:  "His heart's gone arrhythmic."

Everyone looks scared at this.  Kasumi has already closed her eyes 
and seems to be in a trance.

Dr. Tofu:  "Can you help me?"
J.D.:  "I don't know what to do."
Dr. Tofu:  "We'll have to link minds and stabilize the heart."
J.D.:  "Let's try it, then."

Dr. Tofu and J.D. link hands with Kasumi.  In a half minute Ranma 
has calmed down and is breathing normally.  Kasumi and Dr. Tofu 
look drained.  J.D. looks like he's about to throw up.  Ranma sits up 
and looks dazedly around.

Ranma:  "What?  I'm in the yard?  How did I get here?"

J.D. flops onto his back in the snow.  Kasumi and Dr. Tofu crawl 
onto their knees, then shakingly stand up.

Three girls:  (running to and hugging Ranma)  "Daddy, you're 
	alive... you're all right!"
Ranma:  "Ooph!"
Akane:  "And what's all this about being their father?"
J.D.:  (getting up)  "I can explain it all tomorrow, if you let me stay 
	the night.  Right now I'm exhausted... and I'm sure Kasumi 
	and Ono feel the same way."

Kasumi and Dr. Tofu both nod at this, and everyone notices Kasumi 
has come up and is leaning on Dr. Tofu's shoulder.

Soun:  "Why don't you take Kasumi to her room, Dr. Tofu.  Then 
	the both of you can stay in the guest room tonight."
Dr. Tofu:  "Don't worry Mr. Tendo, I'll see that Kasumi gets to her 
	room."
J.D.:  "Are you sure that's all you'll see?"
Dr. Tofu:  (blushing)  "Patrick!"  (starts leading J.D. and Kasumi 
	upstairs as everyone stares after them)  "How did you know 
	about that?"
J.D.:  "You're forgetting that we linked minds.  I couldn't help but 
	pick it up when Kasumi joined us.  Don't worry, Mr. 
	Tendo, I won't let your perverted daughter seduce this good 
	man."
Kasumi:  (hits him)  "Patrick!  Stop that!"
J.D.:  "Ow, ow, ow!"

J.D. starts laughing as Kasumi hits him playfully, and they 
disappear up the stairs.  Everyone returns their attention to Ranma, 
who has managed to disengage the three teenaged girls from his 
body.  The three teenagers are confused when they realize that their 
'father' and 'mother' are no older than they are.  Nodoka takes the 
three of them into her arms and leads them into the Tendo living 
room, followed by everyone else.

Nodoka:  "Now, dears, you must realize that are different here than 
	from wherever you came from.  Why don't you start by 
	telling us who you are and about yourselves."
Three Girls:  "OK, 'ba-chan."
Nodoka:  "Why don't you start, dear."

Nodoka picks the girl who identified Shampoo as her mother.  The 
girl looks more like female Ranma than Shampoo, though she has 
purple hair in a pigtail, Shampoo's predatory eyes, and wears a 
(chinese) outfit not unlike that which Shampoo wore when she first 
met Ranma.  She is about Shampoo's height, though with female 
Ranma's build.

Ayuki:  "My name is Ayuki Saotome and I am sixteen years old.  
	My father is (looking at both) Ranma Saotome and my 
	mother is Shampoo from the Village of Amazons.  My 
	father married my mother after he defeated her in single 
	combat on a training trip that he took to China with my 
	grandfather.  As he was unattached, my father married my 
	mother as our laws required and my grandfather left for 
	Japan.  He and 'ba-chan visited once when I was seven.  
	Our family had been kicked out of the village at that 
	time..."
Shampoo:  "Kicked out?  Why kicked out?"
Ayuki:  (whose face turns very red)  "Um... well... at the time they 
	told me it was because they didn't want me to be raised in 
	the Amazon way, but I later found out it was for... violating 
	nighttime noise levels (everyone becomes embarrassed, 
	except for Shampoo, who looks at Ranma hungrily.  Akane 
	clutches his arm tighter).  I have a younger sister and 
	brother (looks like she's about to cry).  Three years ago, my 
	great-great-grandmother came and demanded I be turned 
	over to her for training.  My parents refused and challenged 
	her, and she killed them and took over our training."

Ayuki suddenly breaks into tears and runs over to Nodoka, who 
holds her until she stops crying, gently stroking her hair and 
whispering to her.  When Ayuki stops, she continues by saying that 
she was about to escape to find her grandparents in Japan.  Nodoka 
reassures the young girl, and indicates for the next girl to tell her 
story.  The second girl, who identified Nabiki as her mother, looks 
more like a cross between her parents than Ayuki does.  She's about 
the same height as male Ranma with Nabiki's build.  Her face is 
more reminiscent of Nabiki than Ranma's, though traces can be 
seen.  Red, waist-length hair falls freely around her face and down 
her back and she wears a pair of gold, wire-framed glasses.  Her 
dress is fashionable, moderately (and tastefully) expensive, though 
allowing for fast movement if necessary.

Keiko:  "My name is Keiko Saotome and I am also sixteen years old.  
	My parents (also looks at 'parents') are Ranma Saotome and 
	Nabiki Tendo Saotome.  My parents were engaged by my 
	two grandfathers and were married two years after they first 
	met.  I have one brother, ten years old, and four cousins by 
	my auntie Kasumi."
Akane:  "What about your auntie Akane?"
Keiko:  (uncomfortable)  "I have no auntie Akane, though I was told 
	that my grandmother died giving birth to a girl, who also 
	died.  I had a pretty normal childhood growing up in this 
	dojo, and though my parents weren't really close because 
	they were so different, I could tell that they loved each 
	other and us in their own way.  My parents (holding back 
	tears) were killed two years ago when a madwoman named 
	Kodachi Kuno poisoned their food when they went on a 
	second honeymoon."

Keiko also breaks down, but heads for Nabiki instead of Nodoka.  
Nabiki looks startled, but holds Keiko until she regains control of 
her tears.  Nodoka motions for the last girl to tell her story, and she 
also looks ready to burst into tears.  The last girl looks like Ukyou in 
build and height, though her face is more of a cross between male 
Ranma's and Ukyou's in terms of shape.  Her hair is black and cut 
shoulder-length, and she wears a bandoleer of "spatula-holders" 
across her body, as well as wrist guards like Ranma.  The rest of her 
garb is similar to Ukyou's.

Midori:  "My parents are also dead."

Midori runs over to Nodoka and hugs her. 

Nodoka:  "There, there.  It's OK, dear."
Midori:  (after regaining control)  "I am Midori Saotome, also 
	sixteen years old.  My father, Ranma, and my mother, 
	Ukyou Kuonji Saotome, met while my father was training 
	with my grandfather and they were engaged.   They ran out 
	on my mother, who eventually tracked them down ten years 
	later.  My grandfather tried to persuade her that my father 
	was already engaged to my stepmother, Akane Tendo 
	Saotome.  My parents fell in love on the way to the Tendo 
	dojo and the Tendo engagement was annulled.  My parents 
	became good friends with the Tendos, especially Akane, 
	after they moved to Nerima with my grandparents.  When I 
	was three, my mother died of pneumonia, and my 
	stepmother helped father and me deal with our loss.  They 
	were married after soon after that, and we moved to Kobe 
	because Nerima had too many memories for my father.  I 
	was training with my grandfather when the Kobe 
	earthquake hit, and we returned to find everything 
	destroyed and my father and stepmother killed.  (looks at 
	Akane)  I used to call my stepmother 'mums' because of the 
	chrysanthemums that she would place on my mother's 
	grave."
Nodoka:  "Its OK, dears.  You are family, and I'll take care of you 
	from now on."

Ayuki, Keiko, and Midori hug Nodoka.  Cologne looks very angry at 
this.

Cologne:  "Ayuki is an amazon and should come with me."
Ayuki:  "No!  I won't obey you ever again!"
Cologne:  "Come, child.  I was not the one that killed your parents."
Ayuki:  "I want to stay here with 'ba-chan."
Ranma:  "You aren't taking her anywhere, old ghoul!"

Ranma stands up and confronts Cologne.  Everyone starts to inch 
back at the power and antagonism growing between the two.  The 
three girls look at Ranma and stand behind him.  Akane also stands 
by Ranma and takes his hand in hers.

Cologne:  "Give up, son-in-law... you know you can't beat me... you 
	never have... give... up?"

Cologne suddenly stops as the Ayuki, Keiko, and Midori suddenly 
bend over, a deep growl coming from their throats.  They start to 
encircle Cologne, and Akane is startled when Ranma suddenly lets 
go of her hand and also bends over to growl at Cologne.  Ranma 
advances toward Cologne, who suddenly decides to surrender.  
Akane calls Ranma back and he comes to her, nuzzling on her leg.  
The three 'daughters' stop advancing and reassume their normal 
personalities.  Ranma takes a little longer to return to normal, 
embarrassing Akane in the meantime as he continues to rub against 
her while purring.

Nodoka thanks everyone for their concern, then asks them to leave 
so that the family can talk privately.  Faced with refusing Nodoka 
(and facing her sword), everyone decides to leave, though they all 
vow to return the next day.  As they leave, Shampoo asks Cologne 
why she backed down, and Cologne explains that she wasn't sure 
she would win against four trained cat-fist fighters.  Ukyou returns 
to her home above her shop, a little depressed at how Ranma and 
Akane were acting, while Ryoga just gets lost.  After Ranma returns 
to normal, Akane once again holds his hand.  Ranma looks at her a 
little strangely.

Ranma:  (whispering)  "Why are you acting so strange?"
Akane:  (whispering)  "What do you mean?"
Ranma:  (looking at their hands)  "Well..."
Akane:  "You mean you don't remember?"
Ranma:  "Of course I remember!  Um... what?"
Akane:  "You don't remember!"

Akane starts to cry and everyone looks at Ranma.  Ranma looks 
extremely uncomfortable and suddenly runs out of the room, 
dragging Akane with him.  They run upstairs and enter Akane's 
room, closing the door behind them.  Downstairs, Nodoka confronts 
Genma.

Nodoka:  "Now, you're going to tell me everything about this 
	engagement to Akane and what you've been up to since 
	your last letter."
Nabiki:  "Don't forget the engagements to Ukyou and Shampoo."

Genma gulps nervously.

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

Ranma:  "Now what happened?"
Akane:  "You said you loved me!"
Ranma:  "What?  When?"
Akane:  "When you were sick."
Ranma:  "I must have been sick."
Akane:  (getting mad)  "Ranma..."  (suddenly recovers)  "Ranma, do 
	you love me?"
Ranma:  "Umm... well..."
Akane:  "Please Ranma, if you love me, tell me... if not..."
Ranma:  "Akane, do you love me?"
Akane:  "Yes... yes, I do."
Ranma:  "I love you, Akane, but I was so afraid you didn't love me."
Akane:  "I was the same way... how much time have we wasted?"

Ranma takes Akane into his arms and hesitatingly kisses her.  They 
both feel awkward for awhile, then start to melt into the kiss.  They 
sit down on the bed, Akane against Ranma's chest and enfolded in 
his arm.  

Akane:  (snuggling)  "You know, tomorrow is Santa Day... what are 
	you going to get me?"
Ranma:  (startled)  "Is today the 24th?"
Akane:  "Mmm...hmm."
Ranma:  (suddenly stands up)  "I have to go out."
Akane:  (pulls him back down)  "It's OK, Ranma.  Just stay here and 
	hold me for awhile."

They kiss once more and fall back onto the bed, holding each other 
in their arms.  Soon they fall asleep, content with just being with 
each other.

*******************************************finis Chapter 1

Magical Note:  A "Static Air Shell" is an energy shell developed for 
use in flying.  Flying (or moving while levitating) at high speeds 
had three problems:  air resistance, friction, and breathing.  These 
problems were solved by forming an aerodynamic energy "shell" of 
static air around the body, which directed the airflow around it like a 
wing.  Of course, finding energy to actually fly or generate was 
another problem in itself.  In the above story, J.D. absorbed photons 
from the lightbulbs, though he could have also absorbed energy from 
ambient heat, fat stores, electrical outlets (if he had access to one), 
etc., etc., etc..

Second Magical Note:  Causing the shotgun to explode was done by 
blocking the barrel, causing the expanding gas to escape out the 
back end.  In the case above, J.D. caused the blockage by teleporting 
in mixture of cornstarch and water into the barrel and some kind of 
plug to make sure the mixture didn't escape.

[Author's Note:  J.D. was at the hostage scene because the assailant 
had exhibited magical power before the scene shown above.  Why 
J.D. didn't just teleport the assailant or the gun out will be discussed 
in a future magical note (probably after Chapter 2).]

Third Magical Note:  The ability to heal others was a relatively rare 
power.  One in one thousand people had any level of power.  One in 
one thousand of those had the ability to heal others.  This meant that 
there were only 5,000 people in the world (though there were more 
that could heal or accelerate healing in their own body) with that 
ability.  Healing was like any other power.  Lower level abilities, 
such as healing lacerations or setting broken bones, could be done by 
'feel', needing no specialized knowledge.  Higher level abilities (such 
as the heart stabilization, tissue regeneration, etc.) needed 
specialized knowledge (doctoral-level study) to even attempt safely 
(and even then the risk of a first-time 'operation' was almost 
unacceptable).

Abilities could be developed in two ways.  Initially, those with an 
'instinct' for magic were the only ones that could access it, though 
lack of knowledge of how they were accomplishing their effects 
would limit what could be done.  Later it was discovered that 
magical abilities could be stimulated through study or practice, 
which would explain how Ranma (and others able to do activities 
beyond what is normally accomplishable by normal men) acquired 
"magical" abilities before the general outbreak (or "The Chaos" as 
the December and the year of reconstruction that followed it would 
eventually be known).

An example:  Lightning bolts.  Some people would be able to cause 
lighting bolts to strike an opponent without knowing how they did it 
(it would be like a baseball player hitting a home run - he doesn't 
need to know physics).  However, a person who studied meteorology 
or physics might recognize this as creating an electrical charge, and 
attempt to perform this maneuver, though without guarantee of 
success (you can compute where the 'sweet spot' is on the bat, but 
that doesn't mean you'll hit the ball).  In practice, this wasn't the 
case because the body was protected by a "structural integrity field" 
(to use the Star Trek term), so typically a volume of air above the 
target was used.  The most dangerous people used bombs that were 
nothing more than charcoal, teleported to the target, and quantum-
stripped of all its electrons (of course, this had problems in the 
amount of power needed and being at a safe distance from the 
explosion caused  by the electromagnetic repulsion).

Next:  
Chapter 2:  Confrontations