Private Bet #10
by Shade

Chapter III: Opening Moves....

previous parts can be found at; 
http://members.xoom.com/Ranma_Tenchi/main.html 

   Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 and affiliates are the 
   property of Rumiko Takahashi, Rifts and 
   Phase World are owned by Palladium. Other 
   references belong to their respective owners. 

Author's note: I fixed the big gaff I made and did some
adding and changing. This was actually too big for one post so
the next part will actually be linked to this.
Unforunately I also have a midterm and 2 papers to write so
1b will take awhile. Sorry :{

~~~~~~~~~ 
Part 1a: The roll of the dice..... 
~~~~~~~~~ 

Tsunami, Goddess of the Planet Jurai and the 
most powerful battleship in her Universe rested 
inside the safety of quantum space, hidden from 
the prying eyes that coveted her.  Her connection 
with Princess Sasami provided the powerful entity 
with all the outside information she needed without 
the need to reveal her presence. Lately Tsunami�s 
thoughts had been troubled, there was discord forming 
between her chosen champion and the current ruler of Jurai.
Although Tenchi bore no ill will toward the Emporer, the 
same could not be said of Azusa. Despite his wive�s best efforts
he seemed bound and determined to make the Masaki boy�s life
a living hell. Steps needed to be taken to put a stop to that.

This newest complication might make things even more difficult.
Now was the worst time for interdimensional meddling to occur. 
But who was responsible for it? It was unlikely Tokemi would try such
a risky gambit, her sister preferred to use her pawns much more 
calculatingly despite her role as a Goddess of Chaos. Washu could 
possibly attempt to summon one of her old allies but so far it seemed 
that the scientist remained unaware of her divine origin although she too
had selected her champion......

Champion......

Could this be....Tokemi�s chosen one?!!

If so, then this situation was more serious 
then any of them realized!

Tenchi wasn�t ready yet. Even the formidable powers of 
the girls would not be enough,  not against Tokemi�s champion 
if indeed as the Goddess feared it was. It made chillingly perfect sense to
dispatch both of their chosen before they could master their powers.
Something so logical that Tokemi would do it in a moment.

They would need help. A warning in Sasami�s dreams should 
be enough to alert the household while she arranged 
a few things elsewhere. 

Tsunami set her plan into action at once.

~~~~~~~~~
In the vast emptiness of deep space Minagi�s spaceship Hinase
patrolled in search of evildoers to steal from. Following in her 
sister Ryoko�s footsteps the cheerful swordswoman had chosen
the life of a space pirate, though she only only preyed on 
bad people. Minagi was a good friend of the Masaki Household,
her physical features were identical to Ryoko except for two old
sword scars, one on each cheek given to her by her father Yakage.
But her personality was more like Mihoshi�s, lighthearted and carefree.

A beeping from the main console caught her eye.

�Hmm?� 

{We�re near the Sol System!? I haven�t visited them 
for the longest time!}

�Hinase!�

�You called, Minagi?�

�Set course for Earth!�

�Yes ma�am!�

A faint reflection on the viewing screen 
that might have been a beautiful woman with 
turquoise hair smiled and vanished.
~~~~~~~~~

Nagi was not happy.
And for once it wasn�t Ryoko�s fault.
Well actually in a way it was partially Ryoko�s fault, 
if only she didn�t have that damn....

�Ciao!�

�For the last time NO!!!�

�Ciao!!!�

�Absolutely not!!! You don�t know where she�s been! 
You�ll probably catch a disease from that furball!�

�CIAO!!!� 

�How about a carrot instead?�

�Ciao!! Ciao!!!�

�You�re turning down a carrot!? Are you feeling alright?!�

�Ciao!! Ciiiaaaaooo!!!!�

�Stop that!�

The ship�s caterwauling continued unabated.
Nagi tried to harden her heart to Ken-ohki�s 
pleading, if she went to Earth she�d have to 
go after Ryoko again. Not that she�d ever 
admit it but in her hearts of hearts the bounty hunter
had developed a grudging respect for the one person 
who had ever escaped her time after time. An unoffical 
truce had finally developed between them, As long as Ryoko 
didn�t leave the Sol System Nagi left her alone with
that boy of hers. Part of the reason behind that 
was the current problem, their cabbit partners were in love 
with each other. If either owner killed or seriously wounded the other
the consquences could be....bad. Best to put as much space between
her and Ryoko as possible to avoid any unnecessary temptation.

�Ciiiiiiiaaaaaaaoooooo!!!�

But she couldn�t go like this. Day in and day out, the endless 
begging and wailing......

�All right!!! You win! We�ll go visit your girlfriend already!! 
Just...Stop that racket!!!�

�CIAO!�

Tsunami nodded her head as she faded away from
the top of the rapidly departing vessel. Sometimes a 
little push in the right direction was all that was needed.

Black Bishop takes White Rook.
~~~~~~~

Rei was not in a good mood. A visible dark aura of doom and 
destruction seemed to hang over her bent head.

Nervously Makoto and Ami snuck occasional 
worried glances at their friend. The recent nightly patrols 
had been hard on all of them. For weeks they�d been
keeping an eye on the city,  but aside from the rare mugger
or burgler their efforts had come up with zilch so far. 
There hadn�t even been any of the youma attacks that usually 
preluded the entrance of a new supervillain. Tempers were 
wearing thin from having to be at a constant state of readiness
even though they now only had two or three of the Senshi 
patrolling a night, Inners and Outers included. But Setsuna 
insisted that they keep on their guard, so they continued 
remaining on alert despite their mounting doubts about the accuracy of
her warning. Surely if whatever it was was so dangerous they would 
have seen some sign of it by now?

�Waaah! I can�t believe it! I actually woke up on time today!�

A pair of familar blonde meatballs bobbed into view as Usagi joined 
her friends with lunch in one hand and her schoolbag in the other. 

The part time Shinto priestess merely growled in reply.

�What�s with Rei?� Usagi asked, puzzled by this 
odd behavior, normally her friend was more vocal then that.
She missed the frantic waving and desperate shaking of heads as 
the others tried to warn her. Too late....

�I DIDN�T GET ANY SLEEP LAST NIGHT OKAY!!!�

Flames billowed forth from the Giant Demon Head Attack.

�WAAAAAHH!! She�s scary!!!� 

The others didn�t think any less of their leader for her panicked reaction
to Rei�s explosion. She DID look scary at the moment. Besides if they 
made any noise she might notice THEM instead of focusing on Usagi.
Okay, so it wasn�t a particularly noble choice. But they still weren�t about 
to try and interrupt her unless Rei tried something drastic.
~~~~~~~~

Rei Hino was normally a quiet, demure, peaceful maiden.
And anyone else that dared say otherwise quickly learned 
the error of their ways. She didn�t have a Black Belt in 
Karate for nothing!

But the visions that sometimes came to her, the ones that had more 
often then not had proven right and aided her and the other Senshi in their 
battles against Evil had been particularly bad the past night after she�d
finished 
her patrol. 

No sooner had she closed her eyes to get some rest then her mind was 
bombarded with scattered random images that didn�t make any 
sense to her at all.The surreal vividness of the few psychic 
fragments she�d received were so clear that even now she could remember 
practically every detail of the visions.
~~~~~~~~

The first dream had been the worst.

.....A Darkness where no light shown, cold as the grave 
and worst of all, totally devoid of all existance. No surface met 
her feet yet she did not fall. Too dark to see, too quiet to hear, 
no substance to touch. It was like being dead except she knew 
she was not for even death was this..this...Void...... 

Rei had screamed herself awake. It took her several minutes to calm 
down enough to lie back down.

 The second dream brought only more questions then it did answers.

.....Warmth, hidden from view yet comforting to the soul. A sense 
of purpose that brightened her surroundings to reveal a shining white
crystal about the size of a human heart. Not the Silver Imperium 
Crystal, it did not emit the sense of power she associated with it,
this was different somehow. A strength that was both less and more ran
through the very core of the dazzling object that seemed to burn with a 
pure inner flame of its own. But as she reached out to touch it.....

Try as she might she could remember no further what had 
happened until she awoke again.

The third vision had been frightening, fears long lost in the rebirth of the 
Senshi had been revived. 

......The green fires of envy and jealousy reaching out 
to consume the world and all within it. Among the faces of the 
dead had been her own, while a horrifyingly familiar laugh had 
roared triumphant.....

But it was the last one that had haunted her thoughts till dawn
had banished the ghostly phantoms.

......Loss, a high price paid.....A life for a life........Swirling drops of
twilight upon the clear canvas of the Heavens.....Two stallions standing 
over a Moonlit pond....one black and old, one in his prime and gray as 
the morning fog......One single tear had fallen, the silver droplet bright as 
the full moon as a burst of scarlet sprouted forth from the yonug horse�s 
chest.......

The same sequence had repeated over and over again throughout the 
night and into the earliest hours of morning.

By the time Rei had to get ready for school she was a wreck, the drain on 
her internal strength and sheer physical exhaustion leaving her with a serious
case of industrial strength Crankiness. 
~~~~~~~~~~

�GET BACK HERE MEATBALL HEAD!!!� 

�No way! Baggy Eyes are contagious!! Bieee!!!�

The Japanese Red Eye was presented.

�Grrrrr!!!�

A chase ensued between the two. 

With large sweatdrops behind their heads the other three
girls watched as their dear (but rather embarrassing at times like this)
friends vanished in a trail of dust.

�Ah....Should we try and stop them?�

Ami asked Minako and Makoto hesitatingly.

�Are you out of your mind!?�

They looked at her as if she�d grown a third eye and 
said they should join a convent. Not even Makoto, the 
strongest out of all the Senshi got in the Hino girl�s 
way when she was in one of her *moods*. 

�I guess that is a silly question.�

White Queen moves to block Black Pawn.
~~~~~~~~~
-Masaki Household

�Minagi!!�

A delighted Sasami enveloped the cyan-haired space pirate
with a enthusiastic hug. 

�You�re just in time for breakfast!�

�That�s great! Your meals are the best in the Universe, Sasami!�

�Ah, Welcome back Minagi.�

>From the open door in the stairway a familar crab haired 
figure stepped out.

�Miss Washu!�

�Ahem...that�s Little Washu.�

�AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!�

The loud male scream coming from upstairs indicated that 
Tenchi was now up, the explosion that came a split second later 
also meant that Aykea was now awake and not pleased to see how 
Lord Tenchi had been roused from his slumber.

The rest of the household was already digging in, they were 
getting used to it by now. Mihoshi waved hello to Minagi before 
getting another helping of pickles. Kiyone blinked and sweatdropped,
just what she needed to deal with, another Ryoko. Noboyuki smiled 
as he saw that another one of the pretty space ladies had returned,
maybe his son would finally choose one of them! An unlikely event
but still,  he kept hoping anyway. Washu sat herself down and dug into 
Sasami�s heavenly cooking, she amused herself by calculating the exact
moment when things should reach critical mass......

Right about.....now.

�Yaaaahh!!!� The heir apparent to the royal 
house of Jurai came flying down to make a spectacular 
crash landing at the base of the stairway followed by a 
few stray chips of wood that had once been the 
door to his room.

{I am such a Genius!}

�Good morning Tenchi! Breakfast is ready!�

�Morning Sasami.� Tenchi pried himself out of the floor 
and and then did a quick double take as he saw Ryoko
smiling in front of him.

Wait a second.....

�Oh! Minagi! You startled me for a second, I 
thought you were...�

Shouting from above interrupted him.

�Now you Royal Pain In the Butt, prepare to pay!!!� 

�Begone Demon Woman!�

Blaster fire and electrical forcefields clashed and 
resulted in yet another devaluation of property values.

Tenchi winced. Bad enough that they were fighting yet again, 
but why did they have to do it in the house!?

�Nice to see you again Tenchi. I just popped by for 
a little visit. Is that all right?�

�Sure, feel free to stay as long as you like.�

At least Minagi didn�t blow the house up......at least not since 
she�d tried to kill Ryoko and Tenchi. But almost everyone tried 
that at least once so he didn�t hold it against her.

{Mmmm...the fish seems especially tasty this morning.}

Tenchi realized that he was starving, being the unintended 
victim of multiple acts of random violence was hungry work.
He�d have to eat fast if he wanted to get to school on time.

�That�s the spirit my boy! You can never have too many 
pretty ladies around, why when I was your age...�

�Dad!!� 

�Mihoshi, can you take me to the market to pick up some 
chicken for tonight�s dinner?�

�Sure!� The eternally cheerful detective giggled,
of all the adults there only she and Noboyuki had 
a driver�s license. Since the architect had to work that 
left Mihoshi in charge of ground transportation.

A fact that gave her partner Kiyone the chills every 
time she thought about it. It flew in the face of all 
reason that the ditz of all people had managed to acquire
the one thing that she�d failed to pass the exam for. 

�I think I�ll go with you.� 

{...Just in case.}

�Yay!�

Black Knight takes White Bishop. 
~~~~~~~

Ranma Saotome awoke at the crack of dawn.

A glance to his right revealed that Genma 
would probably be sleeping for a while. The 
old man looked rather charred, apparently 
instead of doing the smart thing and letting go after 
the mazor had zapped him the first time Pops had
instead tried to smash the lock open.

Unfortunately the case�s built in defenses had reacted 
a bit more severely to that......

Well.....Genma was still breathing so it looked like no 
permanent damage had been done. The scorch marks would fade 
away eventually and it wasn�t like he needed all that smelly fur 
anyway.

{At least I�ll have some privacy this morning.} 
Ranma mused as he quietly slipped out of the guest room
and headed to the Dojo to unpack and train without interruption.

He had a feeling that he was going to need every minute of it.
~~~~~~~~~

Retina and palm scans passed.

With a small hiss of escaping air the pressure seals opened.

His time in space had taught him to appreciate the 
advantages of high tech, especially while traveling. 
When it came to keeping his personal belongings in one 
piece through even the roughest of conditions Advanced 
Micro-tech was the only way to go. This particular model of 
luggage was from Bushido Industries and cost a small 
fortune with the advanced security upgrades package.

Credits well spent since the cargo inside was 
priceless by any standards.

[It�s about time you got me out of that stuffy case!]

�Sorry!�

With the greatest of care Ranma removed Ishtar from
the fine white silk that covered the shining instrument of 
Light. As always the sheer unearthly beauty of the 
Greatest Rune Weapon�s lines took his breath away,
the Spulgorth were sadistic alien bastards but he had to 
admit that their preference in fine craftsmanship was 
unmatched. Only the foulest beings could take such a 
work of art and pervert it into such a damnable prison
for a living soul. 

He made a few practice swings, Ishtar seemed to fit 
his hand as if she were made for him. The only time Ranma
had felt something similar to this sense of rightness was when 
he summoned his Cosmic Weapon. It was a mystery that he�d
just accepted as being real enough. Besides, what did 
he have to complain about?

[Yes!] 

Pure unadultrated sensation filled the 
trapped psyche with sweet bliss.

Physical contact took the psychic bond between 
weapon and wielder to a whole new level.

While they could communicate with each other 
up to three miles apart, aside from advice and information
there was not much else that Ishtar could do when she was 
seperated from him.

But once Ranma had her in hand the two became as one.
As long as he held Ishtar the Goddess�s formidable 
defenses protected him and gave him access to some 
badly needed special abilities that helped balance out the 
Cosmoknight�s formidable fighting strength. In a sense 
Ishtar became a second set of eyes and ears that watched 
Ranma�s back. She felt what he felt, knew what he knew, 
and in return for this gift the imprisoned soul was able to get a taste, 
no matter how brief, of feeling. 

There was no greater reward for one doomed to 
exist in a eternal limbo.

When she had existed free of the captivity that now chained her the 
dusky divinity had been a patron of nature and healing, under her 
tutelage Ranma had discovered a new joy in creating life instead of 
destroying it. Though her powers were bound within the cursed core 
of the metaland crystal cage that held her entrapped like a fly in 
amber,  he could still carry on her work and did so willingly. 

Though Ranma didn�t use use her as often 
as she wanted him to, the weapon didn�t begrudge 
him for it.

She knew and understood his reasons, Rune Weapons 
were the most coveted magical artifacts in existance.
Wars had been fought and Empires crumbled over the 
possession of these legendary indestructible tools of 
power. Probably the one thing that was most responsible 
for the weapons� notoriety was the whispered ability of the
most powerful and corrupt blades. Soul Drinking, the weapon 
literally tearing out the helpless spirit of the victim and devouring
it, destroying them forever. The slightest scratch from such a 
Rune Weapon could prove lethal, all that was needed was a 
single drop of blood to be spilt and it would all be over.

Fortunately that was not one of Ishtar�s properties, such an 
abomination was completely against her nature. That hadn�t 
stopped the fools from across the Megaverse who�d tried to steal
her from Ranma though. But once bonded, only death could 
severe the link forged between them. No one else could use her,
not even those pure of heart, Ishtar was his alone. And woe to 
the one who tried to do otherwise!

�How do you feel?�

[Heavenly.] She gave a warm mental purr of contentment.

[By the way.....why the sudden change? Not that I�m complaining 
mind you.....but I thought the reason you kept me in there with the rest of
your
gear was to keep the presence of so much supernatural energy to a minimum?]

�Well, I sure as heck don�t want Pops to finding you and 
if those presences you detected are unfriendly it would be better 
to have you close by. Especially if they�re Psychic, I hate getting 
hit by Bio Manipulation. It�s a real pain, no pun intended.�

[I�m hurt, here I thought you missed little ol� me....]

�Well.....that too. But I can�t just carry an ancient glowing rune-covered 
weapon around in plain sight, you�ll have to stay in the sub-dimensional
pocket.�

[Hmph!]

{Look, I�m sorry. It�s the best I can do right now 
until I can think of something better.}

[You owe me another one Saotome.]

*Sigh* 

{Add it to my tab.}

[Don�t worry...I will.]

*Gulp* 
That did not bode well for him.

A brief distortion shivered through the air and Ranma�s hands 
were empty once more.

{Now for the rest of the stuff}

A small branch with five buds that 
radiated vitality was the next thing he
pulled out. 

Beside it was a small fortune in gems, during his last stop 
to Phase World Ranma had purchased a quantity of flawless
diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and pearls. Since Universal 
Credits had no value back home he�d needed something that 
he could trade for local money, it helped that the stuff was 
practically dirt cheap in an age where the rare precious metals 
and gemstones were either common or easily synthesized.
Even Ranma was unaware of the true value of his little stash,
the pile of glittering stones lying in the case were valuable 
enough to make Saotome one of the richest men on the planet.
He made a mental note to see a jeweler and get some of the smaller
gems appraised. 

{I think this is going to come in handy soon enough.}

Pocketing a few of the priceless jewels Ranma continued to 
rummage through several years worth of accumulated stuff
both magical and not. By the time Kasumi awoke and started 
to get the kitchen ready for breakfast his luggage was secured 
once more and the young martial artist had begun his morning 
katas.
~~~~~~~~~~

It was a quiet morning, the previous night�s rain left few traces
in the bright light of the new day. A light mist shrouded the Nermia
neighborhood and had draped the Tendo�s yard with a covering of dew,
 the diamond drops sparkling as the warm rays of the sun struck them.
 
It was this serene scene that the eldest daughter of the household enjoyed 
as she prepared her family�s morning meal. Kasumi had learned to find and 
enjoy the simple pleasures of life, they were all that she had now.

The notes of the local avians sounded sweetly as the rice cooked, vegetables 
were chopped, and leftovers warmed up. (1)

Looking out toward the Dojo as she fixed a steaming pot of green tea,
Kasumi noticed that the door was ajar. Everything was fine here so she 
could afford a few minutes away to see what was going on. Perhaps 
Ranma or his father had got up early to practice. 

She couldn�t resist checking the guest room on her way out.

A snoring well done Genma was its only occupant.

That meant.....
~~~~~~~

Front Kick.
Turn.
Open Tiger Palm Strike.
Step Forward..
Block.
Snap Kick.
Step Back.
High Punch.

A light sheen of sweat developed on his naked chest as Ranma put 
his body through a workout that made Marine boot camp seem like
a Hawaiian Vacation. He pressed his physical limits to their max 
in a graceful dance of strikes and parries that started with basic 
Kempo before flowing through dozens of other martial arts forms. 
Somehow the diverse moves that came faster and faster until his arms 
and legs started to blur had been woven together into a unique harmony 
that was as beautiful as it was effective. A slight change in stance to gain a
better base to strike from, the adjustment of an attack by a few 
centimeters, signs so subtle only a master would be able to 
spot the small characteristics that identified the Anything Goes Style. 

Relentlessly he continued to test himself, even though
the strain of keeping up such a grueling pace had now 
reached a point as to daunt even the healthiest human 
Ranma�s breathing still remained smooth and even.

One of the few useful things he�d learned from Genma during 
their training trip was that you couldn�t slack off if you were a 
true Martial Artist, it was an all or nothing proposition. For over an 
hour his kata went on, blows that could crush a tank like tinfoil 
hissed through the air and exotic styles long lost to this world 
were performed with a grandmaster�s ability.

At length even a CosmoKnight�s extraordinary stamina 
must succumb to fatigue. His Forge blessed body ached
all over, but it was a good pain. The fire in his muscles made 
him feel alive, a natural rush that cleansed the mind and body.

{I wonder what�s for breakfast?}

Ever since his transformation Ranma had been keeping
up his illusion of mortality. He ate, he slept and he trained.
Never did he allow himself to forget what it meant to be human.
As long as Ranma remembered to live, his power wouldn�t corrupt 
him as it had so many others before. 

Few beings had ever seen his true form and lived to tell about it, Ranma
had only summoned his armor in the past for real emergencies. Even then he
made sure that nothing ever linked him to the mysterious Knight that 
showed up every now and then. Evil-doers who had discovered the 
truth usually did so with their dying breath.The number of people that
 were aware of his deception could be counted on two hands 
with fingers to spare. Even most of the other Knights didn�t know that 
he was really one of them, especially given his penchant for using 
magical devices. As a rule CosmoKnights tended to rely chiefly on their 
natural powers, magic was usually avoided by them like the plague because 
it was one of their few vulnerabilities. As Ranma could have pointed out
though, 
he was still alive and lots of other CosmoKnights weren�t. 

A small gasp from the entrance of the Dojo caught his attention as 
the half naked young man started to wipe off the sweat from 
this morning�s training.

�Oh my!�

(clip to part 2)
~~~~~~~~~

More of Murphy's Military laws: 

The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions:
   a) when they're ready.
   b) when you're not.

Teamwork is essential; it gives the enemy other people to shoot at.

A Purple Heart just proves that were you 
smart enough to think of a plan, stupid 
enough to try it, and lucky enough to survive.

 -Mad Dog's Pallidium Humor Files 

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