Nezumi
A Ranma 1/2 WOD Fusion by
Soul Survivor

Disclaimer:
Domo Arigato Takahashi-sama for your wonderous work in Ranma 1/2.  I would never presume to claim your work for mine own, I simply borrow from your genius to entertain those who would read mine.  Please do not send your legions of Rabid Attack Lawyers for I am a simple person and broke to boot.

Chapter One - Birthing Plague


Ranma ran.  Scurrying thru bushes as fast as his 4 feet could carry him, he could hear the hunters behind him, sniffing him out.  It would not be long.  Salvation before him, in the form of a tunnel, they would'nt be able to get him there!  Run faster, dive down, NO! it's blocked, dig, dig..  please, please.... stone. no way out.  Stand up, his body shifting to match his will, dagger in hand, he would sell his life dearly then, take as many as he could..  they are almost upun him, the betrayers, the killers, all teeth, claws and rage.  He'd show them rage!  A fast dart between the legs of the first, slash the groin and come up behind it, dagger driving into it's spine, turn, rage boiling in his blood to leap into the second one before it can adjust.  Razor incisors sinking into its throat.  Pain!, from the side a third one, its claws red with his blood, slash with the dagger, No! arm caught, bone breaking, its claws sinking into his throat..

With a scream, he shot up in bed, regretting it immediately, waves of pain crashing in his head as he collapsed back down.  Where was he?  The sharp smell of antiseptic and the pinch of an IV in his arm gave answer.  A hospital.... Why? A fight?  Memories of an argument, an argument with Akane... Then Ryoga, angry... nothing new there... a fight, yes, a fight.. a momentary mistiming and a blow getting thru...  into the garbage cans...  something coming out, something disturbed by his landing... a c.. ccca.. one of THEM.. landing on his chest... to much, last straw.. now this...

'so hot.. im on fire.. so dry..'  A hand to his forehead confirmed the fever, the aches and pains associated with illness, not injury  'sick? I never get sick!'  pride aside, it matched up, the bruises from his fight long since faded, he hurt.. pain in his head, soreness in his throat.. 'gotta get up...  gotta drink something, anything... so hot'  With a grunt of effort, he levered himself into sitting position again.. Fighting waves of nausea he stood and made his way to the door, drawn up short by the pain in his arm as the IV made itself known again.  With a snarl he jerked it out and continued.  Into the bathroom, water.. yes water would be nice.. drink.. voices, mutterings.. "Who's there?" turning a little to quickly for comfort he found that he was still alone.. turning the water off he yelped at the unexpected pain from his hand 'whaa?' a bandage there.. pull it off.. His hand was swollen, with a small wound, festering lightly in spite of the antibiotics.. 'where did that come from?

The infection, thats prolly what made me sick... yeah thats it, pops'll have a field day with this, a little wound like that laying me up...'  Visions of his fathers jibes and the extra training that would come from this dancing thru his head, Ranma made his way back to the bed.. -no, not here, go- Turning quickly, he scanned the room, looking for the voice "Whadaya mean not here?  Who's there?"  The rooms only other occupant, an old man on a respirator, had no answers for him. -go, find the others, out of here and they will find you-  "What others?  What the hell am I doing?  Im having a conversation with myself... thats it, the damn tomboy's hit me one to many time with that mallet, and I've lost it...  Look you, me, whatever.. I aint goin nowhere but back to bed.  You got that?"  Suiting actions to words, he made it about halfway before hunger cramps nearly drove him to his knees.

'well, maybe I'll see what I can scrounge up for eats first..  If im at Nerima General, then Ucchans is no more than 20 minutes from here, yeah..  she wont mind if I go over there...'  With that thought, he had the window open and was out and on his way, compleatly overlooking the fact that all he wore was a hospital gown.

It was a testament to his training and conditioning that he made it at all.  As it was, it was almost 2 hours before he arrived at the Ucchan, and the pre-dawn glow was making itself known.

"I was wondering when you would get here."

The voice from the shadows caught him off guard as he whipped around in a combat crouch to face it.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

A piece of the shadow broke away revealing a young woman dressed in dark clothing, she looked to be maybe a little older than Kasumi, raven hair bound in a simple tail down her back.  Moving slightly quieter than a ghost she aproched him.

"Mother has chosen well, you will make a fine warrior"

"Mother?"

"Yes, Mother Rat"

"What are you talking about?  Who or what is 'Mother Rat'?"

"She is the one who speaks to you, who tends you during the plague, filling your blood with memories of what once was, she is mother to us all, we the Nezumi are her children"

"Look lady, I dont have time for this, as interesting as your story is, Im hungry, sick, and my head is killing me.  So, not to be rude, but could you leave me be?"

"As you wish, young warrior, when you need my answers, ask your bretheren, they will find me, ask for Sakura Walks in Shadows, and I will come."  With that she slipped back into the shadows and was gone.

'Sheesh...  What a wierdo' Turning to knock at the door, the last of his strength failed him and he collapsed against it on the steps.

Ukyo was not a happy camper.  Between prices on supplies, slow business and Hinako-sensei's piles of homework, stress was mounting to an extreme.  Now added to that, Ranchan was in the hospital with an unknown disease. 'Leave it to Ranchan..  Couldnt get a cold or the flu or something normal.. Has to catch a bug noones ever heard of before.'  Her morning preparations were interrupted by something large impacting her door.  'what is it now!?'  "Tsubasa! If thats you Im gonna pound you into next week!"  Stomping over to the door she yanked it open only to have Ranma dressed in a hospital gown tumble in and lay there unmoving.

  +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For those of you unfamiliar with the World of Darkness, more will be revealed shortly, for those of you who are enlightened, Im sure you realize what is going on by now..

sammie.

Questions? Comments? C&C more than welcome, Flamage ignored.
E-mail me at:

simkin4@hotmail.com

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