Hello,
I am sending this on behalf of another person, PLEASE send all
responses to Dani yanega@mindspring.com .I will forward any
FFML traffic...
Currently I have 22 chapters, but will post 5 every few weeks.
Kevin D. Hammel (for Dani Yanega)
Ranma 1/2:
Ranma No More
(working title, but not happy with. I will take suggestions)
Alternate History
By: Dani Yanega
yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address)
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Ranma 1/2 nor am I
making any money from this.
I would like to thank all of you who sent me c&c on my FanFic, but I
would especially like to give my humble thanks to Kevin Hammel, for
his patience with me and helping me get my FanFic on the FFML.
Please contact me if you wish to use any part of this story. I
would love it.
Now be kind on the c&c, this is my first FanFic, although I do write
other types of stories. I am giving a fair warning I tend to
protect my main characters way too much, but I will endeavor not to
do that here. Be forewarned this is NON CANNON and if the Tendos
even show up do not expect Akane to be Ranma's fianc�e. Be advised
that all my knowledge of Ranma 1/2 comes from the wonderful FanFics
I have read over the years. I have never seen any of the Ranma
Animes although I have seen Sailor Moon and Dragonball Z (American
version), I would prefer to read the FanFics and completely ignore
the Animes.
Legend:
[ ] Thought
_ _ Spoken Emphasized Word
< > Spoken foreign language (mostly Chinese)
" " Spoken dialogs
Chapter One
Two figures stand on a cliff over looking a mist-covered valley.
The beauty of the valley is lost on them, as they look at the
hundreds of springs of varying sizes and shapes. Each of the pools
contains bamboo poles of differing heights and numbers, depending on
their size. There is a lush, dense forest circling the valley on
three sides, leaving the cliff as the fourth side.
"Geez, pop this don't look like a dangerous training ground. Are
you sure you read it right?"
Asks the boy as he glares at his father from the corner of his eyes,
his father straightens and standing a little taller responds to his
son.
"Insolent boy, I know what I am doing, just because it doesn't look
dangerous doesn't mean it isn't."
The man stands with his arms crossed over his massive chest looking
out over the valley with a stony glare; the young boy shrugs his
shoulders and rolls his eyes. Both men are wearing dingy white gi.
The older man is tall and over weight, but toned with years of
fighting and training. There is, however, the start of a paunch. He
wears a white bandana over his head that is tied in place with
another one; there is also a pair of wire rim glasses perched on his
nose. He looks to be in his early forties.
The boy is about sixteen, with raven black hair tied into a short
pigtail, with eyes as blue and fathomless as the ocean. He stands
about five feet ten inches. With a an average build, but watching
him you can see that he stands like a fighter, and has the power to
back it up.
As they head down into the valley a rustling can be heard in the
bushes behind them but the men didn't seem to notice. A pair of
dark brown eyes glow with the fire of anger as they watch the men
leave.
[I got you now Saotome; revenge will soon be mine.]
The rustling slowly moves to follow the two men. Then suddenly it
starts to move away from the direction they had gone. From the area
of the rustling an angry shout can be heard.
"WHERE IN HELL AM I NOW!"
The two men enter the valley; off to one side they notice an old
hut. When they reach the edge of the springs, they drop their packs
and make ready to do battle. As they jump on top of the poles, an
old Chinese man dressed in a gray uniform comes out of the run down
hut.
"Mr. Customers, please to wait!"
Shouts the guide as he comes running up, panting heavily and waving
his arms in a warning gesture.
"Ok, Ranma my boy lets see what you got!"
Can be heard from the older man as he and his son start fighting,
Ranma responds with a condescending,
"More than you can handle oyji."
The two fighters leap from pole to pole, with graceful, fluid
motions. While shouting taunts at the other. The old guide tries
to get the fighters attention and shouts another warning but it is
cut off, the guide winces, when...
"Oh, please Mr. Customers is very dangerous must not fight at
Jusenkyo, must stop before fall in..."
It is too late, though, as Genma using a spin kick, hits his son in
his solar plexus and sends him flying breathlessly.
\*/*\*/
Into the valley comes a young man about sixteen and very muscular.
He has black hair with deep brown eyes that are full of rage, hate
and depression. He is about as tall as Ranma and is wearing a
yellow and black dotted bandana that is tied around his head. He is
also wearing a yellow shirt, with brown pants, which have leather
ties crisscrossing the lower half of his legs and soft sole leather
boots. He carries a huge backpack with a red umbrella on top. He
enters the valley and sees the two men fighting. He focuses on the
younger one, and growls, as he narrows his eyes.
"Now I will get my revenge, Saotome!"
He reaches up, taking hold of the umbrella he withdraws it, and
starts forward until he sees the other boy fall into one of the
springs. His eyes go wide at what he sees and hears next.
The guide shakes his head sadly, then sighs deeply as he goes over
to the pool in which Ranma is just emerging.
\*/*\*/
Ranma hits the water with a loud splash, he feels his body tingle
and begin to shift its shape. When he breaks the surface of the
pool, she hears the guide speaking,
"Oh, so sorry Sir, Mr. Customer fall into Spring of Drowned Girl,
very tragic story of girl who drowned 1500 years ago. Now whoever
fall in spring take body of girl."
Hearing this, she looks down and opens the top of her gi. Her mind
goes numb, as she no longer sees a toned muscular chest, but instead
there is now a pair of very well endowed breasts. She reaches a
hand down to feel between her legs finding that, what should have
been there isn't. Ranma's eyes stare blankly ahead. She does not
move as the numbness slowly settles on the rest of her body.
Genma stares, unmoving from shock, at his _manly son_, watching as
Ranma slowly and mechanically climbs out of the spring. She turns
her back on her father and the guide. It is then that she notices
the other boy frozen in mid stride with a look of horror on his
face. Ranma looks at him with fear, horror, and disbelief emanating
from her eyes. The other boy slowly backs away from the springs.
\*/*\*/
Ryoga keeps the beautiful red-haired girl in his sights as he backs
away from the pain, horror, fear, and depression he sees play across
her face. He can't believe what his eyes are telling him, his
mortal enemy has just been changed into a girl. This breaks through
his anger, his hate and makes him realize if he stays there he will
be cursed too.
He watches as the father's shock turns to disgust and loathing, as
the man walks up behind Ranma, then punches the back of her head,
knocking her to the ground. She struggles to get to a kneeling
position, while clasping her head.
"Stop acting like a weak girl, boy, take this like a man. You must
make sacrifices for the Art!"
Genma snorts with disgust as he towers over the struggling girl.
Ryoga snarls in anger as he starts forward umbrella at the ready, to
beat some sense into the unfeeling man when something strange starts
to happen to Ranma. She begins to scream and clutch her head as if
she is in great pain. She leans forward putting her forehead to the
ground. Ryoga watches in shock as Genma draws his leg back and
kicks his screaming child in the stomach, lifting her off the ground
a few feet. She lands on her side, still holding her head and
curling into the fetal position, while silently screaming. Ryoga
gasps and his eyes widen when, Genma with a look of pure loathing,
leans down and grabs the girl by her bright red pigtail. He jerks
hard on her hair trying to haul her to her feet. Ryoga did not
think he could get any angrier with the man, when a great red aura
flares up round the pained girl. It explodes into existence
knocking the guide to the ground just inches from one of the
springs. Genma was not so lucky he takes the brunt of the fiery
blast and is knocked smoking, backward and into one of the pools.
When he emerges water is dripping off his seven-foot tall black and
white fur covered body. The guide stands up shaking his head and
tsks.
"Oh, sir you fall into Spring of Drowned Giant Panda, very tragic
story of panda who drown in spring 2000 years ago."
Ryoga's eyes go even wider. As a Panda emerges from the small pond,
he turns and runs from the valley of Jusenkyo, hoping he never sees
it again.
\*/*\*/
Ranma watches the boy go, through her mind's confused haze she
finally recognizes the fleeing boy. It was her friend from junior
high Ryoga Hibiki, what she didn't understand was why and how he got
to China.
As she slowly gets to her feet, Ranma notices that the screaming
voice in her mind has subsided to a quiet whimper. It feels like
her mind was shredded into tiny pieces then put into a blender on
puree. She turns to face the guide and panda. The guide has
retrieved some hot water and pours it on the panda that returns him
to human form. He then tries to do the same to Ranma but she stops
him, as the guide explains.
"See sirs hot water turn you back, so sorry cold water make you
change again. So sorry again can not use Jusenkyo to cure curse,
once cursed by springs, no other springs work."
Genma takes a step back from his child as he sees the ice cold stare
of hatred looking back at him. His eyes widen in fear as he
realizes, it is not his son's eyes alone that look back at him but
the eyes of a stranger, mixed in with his son. Ranma slowly
advances towards her father.
"You have hurt him for the last time, as of this moment on to you he
does not exist."
She says with deadly calm. Genma goes into shock. That does not
sound like his son, then what Ranma is saying registers, and his
eyes go even wider as he sputters out...
"B..but you are my heir what a..about the joining of the schools,
you m..must fulfill the agreement, you c.can't do this!"
Ranma-chan raises an eyebrow at the new information.
"Joining the schools? Fulfill the agreement? What agreement?"
Realizing he said too much Genma tries to divert Ranma's attention.
"What has happen to you son you're suppose to be a man not this
_weak_ little girl."
He finishes crossing his arms and glaring at his 'daughter'. Genma
smiles inwardly, as he knows what buttons to push to get Ranma away
from a subject or revelation he doesn't want him to have.
Ranma-chan looks at her father then smiles a smile that contains so
much feral anger that Genma backs up a couple of steps, being
reminded of what happened with the Neko-Ken training. He is not
paying attention and starts to topple into another spring. Waving
his arms, he just begins to catch his balance, when Ranma jumps at
him. She grabs her father by the throat and pulls him down to face
her. Which is a real feat for a girl of five feet two inches,
considering Genma's bulk. Ranma's voice snarls, out some words
quietly to herself as she stares into her father's eyes. Genma
gulps as he sees his son's eyes start to glow with a lavender fire,
then he screams as he feels his mind is being torn apart. Ranma
suddenly drops Genma and backs away. As a combination of great
emotional pain and disgust fills her eyes. She narrows her eyes as
she growls out her response to Genma.
"There will be no joining of the Anything Goes Martial Arts Schools,
or a fulfilling of an agreement of two _drunken_ fools. As of now
you have no son _you_ have killed him. Ranma's part of the pledge
you made to his mother has been fulfilled. You will fill all the
other pledges you have made for he _will not_."
With that Ranma spits at the ground in front of her father turns and
heads off into the mountains.
"Sirs please to be careful you heading to Musk territory is very
dangerous for female persons"
Ranma's eyes flare with angry fire, she says nothing nods at his
warning but continues in that direction. As the guide turns back to
the now standing Genma. Genma grabs a hand full of the guide's his
shirt and screams into his face.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SON!"
The guide looks at him with pity and shakes his head.
"I no know Mr. Customer this never happen to victim of Drowned Girl
Spring before."
"Is there someone who _would_ know? I need to get my son back."
Genma shivers as he remembers the look of hatred his son leveled at
him. The guide pries Genma's hand from the front of his shirt.
"It seems son no want back with you."
States the guide flatly, while trying to brush out the wrinkles in
Genma put in his top.
"But elders at Joketsuzoku village of Amazons may know."
"Take me there."
Says Genma with a look of distraction as he watches where his child
had left, heading toward the mountains. The guide leads Genma in
the opposite direction his son has taken.
In the bushes all this plays out before the eyes of the eternally
lost boy. He watches Genma and the guide leave Jusenkyo, Ryoga
comes out from the bushes and stares in the direction the guide took
Genma, and he too spit in the direction of Genma. He then starts
after the boy turned girl, making sure to keep the springs to his
left and staying as far from them as possible.
Chapter Two
The guide and Genma are lead into the Amazon village by one of the
guards. As Genma looks around, he sees a tournament is in progress.
A young purple hair girl of sixteen is fighting a mammoth of a woman
twice her age. The girl carries two mace type weapons; she feints
with one giving her the opening she needs to knock the woman off the
log. Then Genma spots a banquet table laden with dozens of
different foods. His mouth starts to salivate, as he runs straight
for the food, just as his hand reaches for a large roast duck a
gnarled staff comes down hard on his wrist.
"OOOwwww!"
Screams the overgrown martial artist rubbing his throbbing wrist, he
looks around for his attacker.
<"Who are you and what are you doing here?">
Asks a two foot high old woman. She is wearing a long green robe,
her eyes are as black and cold as onyx. She has long white hair
that pools on the ground at her feet. She then jumps to the top of
the walking stick to look Genma direct in the eyes.
\*/*\*/
Genma turns to face the voice and sees a woman, at least he thinks
it's a woman perched on top a five-foot long cane. Her age, he
could not guess, but a walking mummy comes to mind. The guide runs
up to the ancient woman fear and anger showing on his face.
<"Elder, I am sorry, I brought him here. I did not know he would be
so rude.">
The Elder glares at Genma, who shrinks away slightly from her.
<"Why did you bring him here, Ta Nge.">
Genma looks lost while his head moves back and forth between the
guide and old woman as they talk.
<"He and his son were just cursed at Jusenkyo, but something went
wrong with the boy, Elder Ku Lon.">
Ku Lon looks intrigued, and waves to the guard that lead the men
there, while still eyeing the fat martial artist with undisguised
disgust and suspicion.
<"Come you can tell me what happen. Guard, escort _this_ to the
guesthouse feed him and keep him _contained_.">
She finishes, pointing at Genma. The guard motions Genma to follow,
he looks nervously at the guard then to the guide. Ku Lon rolls her
eyes as Ta Nge talks with Genma.
"Is ok Mr. Customer they take you get food, and allow you rest here.
I talk with Elder Ku Lon about problem with other Mr. Customer."
He finishes pointing to Ku Lon. Genma finally getting into an area
he is comfortable with 'chauvinism', he stares hard at the old woman
balancing on the staff, regarding Genma as nothing more then dirt
beneath her staff.
"Cologne? How can these _weak women_ help my boy?"
His disgust at having to ask a woman for help is evident on his face
and in the tone of his voice, Ta Nge looks horror stricken at his
reply. Genma's eyes widen as the old woman disappears in a flurry
of motion, he then cowers as he feels her staff come down hard on
his head. He then feels points on his legs being touched. He
collapses in a heap, as he loses the use of his legs. He looks up
to see Ku Lon balancing on her staff, glaring down at him.
"We know more about Jusenkyo than anyone living, so show respect
when addressing us, _male_."
Ku Lon angrily spits at him, waving the guard to take him away. Ta
Nge watches as Genma is dragged away by the collar of his gi, by the
guard.
Ku Lon leads the guide to her home. As they settle in, her great
granddaughter joins them with a tray of tea. She is the young
winner of the tournament. The girl has long flowing purple hair
going down to the small of her back, with two little ponytails on
each side of her head. She stands about 5'8", and is very shapely.
She is wearing a silk Chinese pantsuit with matching slippers, pink
in color.
<"Now please, Ta Nge, tell me what happen.">
Ku Lon said handing Ta Nge a cup of tea. He slowly takes a sip of
tea, gathering his thoughts. He looks sadly up at the old woman and
her granddaughter.
<"It is as it always is Elder, they did not listen.">
Shaking his head, Ta Nge sighs deeply and drinks a little more of
the relaxing brew.
<"They fought over the springs.">
She states, nodding her head, the guide sips his tea and nods in
return. Her granddaughter rolls her eyes at the stupidity of males.
<"It is what happened after the young Mr. Customer came out of the
spring that brings us here.">
He took another sip of tea. Ku Lon and her granddaughter look on
expectantly waiting for Ta Nge to continue. When she could contain
her curiosity no longer.
<"Which spring did he fall into to?">
Asks the purple hair girl, excitedly, Ku Lon glares at her, while
Ta Nge just looks at her over the rim of his teacup.
<"Granddaughter you are here to learn not interrupt.">
The young girl hangs her head in shame.
<"Sorry Great Grandmother, I just want to help.">
Reaching over and patting the young girls arm.
<"I know child, I know, please go on Ta Nge. Xian Pu is just
excited, she won the tournament today.">
Ku Lon finishes smiling proudly at Xian Pu. The guide nods
congratulations at her, as she beams back at him full of pride.
/*\*/*\
Ryoga chases after his gender-shifting enemy. He sees her in the
distance and tries to keep her in his sights. He knows that if he
loses sight of her he will be lost. She stops at the base of a
mountain and is about to start her climb when Ryoga calls to her.
As he gets nearer her location, he is gasping for air.
"Saotome, wait! You owe me!"
Ranma turns to face her one time friend her eyes glowing again the
fiery lavender. Ryoga stops dead, breathing heavily, fear in his
heart. Ranma walks toward him, when she is but inches from him she
gently lays her small delicate hand upon his shoulder. Ryoga tries
to scream but he has no voice as his brain is sifted through. His
memories flashing through his mind, memories he needed to remember,
memories he never wanted to have. Just as soon as it starts, it
ends. Ryoga falls to his knees. Ranma leans down and whispers in
his ear.
"He is not your enemy Ryoga, he waited for you for three days. He
would have waited forever, because he didn't want to leave his
friend, when he has none. Go from here Ryoga it is a dangerous
place."
Ranma turns and starts her climb. Ryoga blinks and rises shakily
to his feet, he watches as Ranma disappears up the mountain, by
jumping from ledge to ledge like a gazelle. He stumbles to the base
of the mountain and starts up after the red head. He moves quickly
to keep up with her, as she climbs rapidly, it is getting harder to
keep her in sight. Ryoga pants while he speeds up his ascent.
They climb for hours, finally, when dusk arrives, they reach a
plateau large enough to camp on for the night. As Ryoga crawls onto
the ledge he looks back down the mountain all he can see is the mist
of the valley. Still panting he looks around the small plateau he
sees Ranma building a fire. Setting a pot of water to boil, she
digs through her backpack and pulls out a couple of instant ramen
packets. Ryoga sits down next to the fire, and searches through his
backpack and pulls out some freeze-dried meat, to add to the ramen.
The plateau is small with a few scattering of bushes and trees.
Coming from a crack in the side of the mountain is a small fountain
of running water.
When the ramen finishes cooking Ranma dishes out some for Ryoga and
herself. They eat quietly for awhile, until Ranma breaks the uneasy
silence.
"Why did you follow me Ryoga, I won't fight you if that is why your
here, you can go ahead and kill me now, I am dead anyway."
Ryoga looks at the red head, first with guilt, then confusion while
shaking his head no.
"Then why? What is happening doesn't concern you, and staying in
this area any longer will increase your chance to receive a curse?"
Ryoga slowly chews the food still in his mouth, his mind in turmoil.
Ranma watches him as he sorts through his thoughts.
[Why _did_ I follow her? Why _didn't_ I just leave after what
happen?]
Ryoga swallows and then looks into the crystal blue eyes of Ranma
Saotome with determination as he tells her.
"You said it at the base of the mountain Ranma, we're friends and
your in trouble, I want to help, I need to help. What happen back
there at...at..."
"Jusenkyo."
"Yeah, Jusenkyo."
Ranma sighs she could sense the change in Ryoga's emotions from the
rage and hatred he felt when he entered Jusenkyo, to confusion at
the base of this mountain to uneasy friendship in front of the
campfire. Something she had not been able to do before Jusenkyo.
What has happened to her?
"Why do you need to climb this mountain?"
Ryoga's question breaks into Ranma's thoughts.
"I don't know exactly, but I need to get to a plateau higher up."
"Why won't you change back, I saw the guide offer you a way to
become male again?"
"I..I'm not sure, but I have this feeling, my knowledge of where I
need to go is stronger in this form. I also sense if I go where
this feeling leads me, I will find answers and help. So I am
going."
Ranma finishes with a shrug, as Ryoga watches her small elfin face
for any signs of deceit.
"As for what happened I don't know for sure. When the old man
knocked me into the spring..."
Ranma shudders in remembrance. As Ryoga wonders how it must feel to
suddenly change from what you know to the unknown. Ranma sighs and
continues her explanation.
"I could feel my body shift and tingle with the change. I went into
shock, growing up I had it drummed into me to be a '_Man above Men_'
and now I was a girl. When I crawled out I couldn't look at the old
man. I knew there would be disappointment on his face. That was
when I began to feel this pain in the back of my mind. I was being
successful in keeping it down until the old man punched me."
Ranma looks blankly out to the horizon the setting sun casting a
rainbow of color across the sky. Ryoga watches his companion, then
clears his throat, bringing Ranma out of his deep contemplation.
"Sorry, when he hit me and started spouting his usual speech of
girls being weak, something exploded in my mind. It was like a
screaming banshee, tearing through my mind, ripping it apart as if
looking for something. It sifted through all my memories, making me
live through them again. That is how I recognized you, I wouldn't
have if it weren't for that happening. Then I felt the old fool
kick me, what ever was in my head got so angry it exploded. The
rest is kinda hazy like a dream, until I got here."
Ranma takes a deep breath, then a small bite of her ramen, Ryoga
watches her sadly.
"That must have been when the red aura formed around you, and
knocked your dad into the Spring of Drowned Panda."
Muses Ryoga. Ranma looks up at Ryoga with some confusion.
"Red aura? Spring of Drowned Panda?"
"Yeah it formed around you just after your old man kicked you. It
knocked the guide off his feet. He almost fell into a spring, and
it threw your dad into the panda spring."
Ranma thought for a minute, then her eyes got wide. As fear and
remembrance slowly creeps across her face, then she gasps...
"I remember a woman's voice in my head, she called me great
grandson, and said I was safe now. Then I got off the ground,
but..."
She pauses and gulps, then stares horror stricken at the lost boy.
"But Ryoga it wasn't me, it wasn't me that told pop all that about
not being his son anymore and when I read his mind like I did yours
it was her, from the spring. She is the one leading me up the
mountain, but _who_ is she?"
Ranma asks with confusion, fear, and anger passing across her pale
face, but not expecting an answer. Ryoga feeling pity for the small
girl decides a change of subject might be the best tactic at this
point.
"Ranma why don't we start getting ready for bed. If you want to
reach the top tomorrow we will need to get up early."
He hopes this will distract the changed boy away from the myriad of
emotions that he sees building in her. She pauses and Ryoga
breathes a sigh of relief as he watches her calm. She whispers...
"Alright."
Ryoga sets up his two-man tent and offers half of it to Ranma. She
isn't sure at first, but decides to go ahead and share the tent.
Since it is cold at that altitude, they are staying fully clothed
for additional heat. Ranma takes her sleeping bag and spreads it
out in the tent. She and Ryoga then crawl into the tent to settle
into sleep, after the day's events Ranma begins to fall asleep
quickly. As she starts to dose she looks at Ryoga,
"Thanks, man."
She then rolls over and goes to sleep. Ryoga lays there for a few
minutes wondering what was happening. He came seeking revenge and
now was in a tentative friendship with his mortal nemesis. His
exhaustion from the climb starts to over take him and he is soon
asleep.
If he had stayed awake a few minutes longer, he would have seen the
red glow forming around Ranma.
Inside Ranma's subconscious, a lot is going on. Ranma in male form
looks around the blackness of his mind. He can hear the yowling of
the Neko-ken he keeps locked away, he looks frantically around
fearful it has escaped.
"The Neko-ken is still locked up where you put him Great Grandson."
Ranma spins around to face where the voice is coming from taking a
ready stance, out of the darkness steps his female form. Wearing a
loving smile, she walks up to Ranma and places her hand gently on
his cheek.
"You make me proud of my line grandson although I can not say the
same of your father. At least he is _not_ of my blood."
Ranma stares at his female body standing before him, his eyes wide
with confusion and wonder.
"Who are you? What do you want of me?"
She smiles at him then sits and offers the space next to her for him
to join her. When he sits down, she begins.
"Well the fact that I am here tells me you are my descendant, and
with way too many greats to count. So I will either call you
grandson or great grandson."
She smiles sweetly as shock appears on his face.
"But wh..wh..who are you?"
"I was once called Ra Koh, 1500 years ago I was a member of
Joketsuzoku a tribe of Chinese Amazons, I was the village
sorceress."
Ranma looks at her skeptically. She laughs, her laughter is like a
soft lullaby. She sighs as she shakes her head.
"You do not believe I am a sorceress, while you carry a gender
changing curse?"
She asks while raising an eyebrow. Ranma looks a little sheepish at
her.
"Sorry."
"Sorry, _what_?"
She responds with a curt tone, Ranma's head snaps up looking at the
cute red head in front of him. Her arms crossed over her chest and
her eyes narrow menacingly at him.
"S.S.Sorry Great Grandmother?"
She nods and smiles at him, and Ranma sighs with relief.
"I drowned in that spring 1500 years ago. I was near Jusenkyo
gathering some herbs for a healing potion, for one of the village
healers. When I was attacked by the Musk. There was a small
advance guard of twenty or so. They told me they planned on using
me to create a drowned girl spring so they would be able to always
have wives."
Ra Koh shudders with the memory.
"I fought but there were too many, I always felt my magic would be
enough, it should have been enough, but it wasn't. If I was better
at my martial arts, I might have survived."
The tears start to roll down her cheeks and Ranma never being taught
how to handle girls, but hating when they cry reaches over taking
hold of his great grandmother in a loving embrace until she takes
control again.
"Thank you, grandson."
She says as she pulls away from him wiping her eyes. Ranma keeps
her in a loose embrace, he likes how it feels to give comfort, and
to have someone let him.
"Grandmother, if I am descended from you how did my family end up in
Japan?"
"I am not sure but I believe after my death your great grandfather
who was of Japanese decent may have taken our children and went back
home."
Ra Koh got a sad wistful look on her face. Ranma watches her as he
gently caresses her back while tightening his hug a little.
"I never got to see my children grow up, I had them when I was quite
young. Back then we were married by age thirteen. I had triplets,
girls when I was fourteen. They were beautiful with coppery red
hear and beautiful blue eyes much like yours."
She sighs heavily as a single tear rolls down her cheek. Ranma
reaches up and gently wipes it a way. As he quietly asks her.
"What was his clan name, grandmother?"
She looks at him confused for a moment then nods in understanding.
"You are no longer Saotome Ranma, but you are now Takashi Ranma."
Ranma thought for a moment then smiles and looks at his grandmother.
"Takashi Ranma, I like it!"
He exclaims as his grandmother smiles back.
"Uh, umm grandmother how come you're here now? I mean how come your
spirit didn't enter the others that must have fallen in your pool?"
"Well..."
She takes a deep breath to gather her thoughts, Ranma is still
embracing her. It is as if he lets go she will disappear and he
does not want that to happen.
"I think it is because you are of my blood and when you fell into
the pool I was set free, and joined with you."
She then looks sadly at her grandson. Ranma does something he would
never have done before Jusenkyo, he notices the change in his
grandmother, and becomes apprehensive.
"What is it grandmother?"
"Ranma we can not stay like this, of two minds we will go insane if
we do."
Ranma pulls away slightly and looks at her fear clearly showing in
his eyes.
"Wh..what should we do."
"We need to merge our souls. Now don't look so frightened, since
this is your body you will still be the dominant personality, I will
be the enhancement."
She smirks at his confusion.
"Enhancement? What do you mean?"
"Well I am sure you have noticed a change in your speech and
attitude, already. Haven't you?"
Ranma thought about it for a second, remembering small changes in
his behavior since he fell into the Nyanniichuan.
"Yeah, I have."
"Well that's me, when we merge I will bring my magic, martial arts,
knowledge and good manners, but mostly I will change your archaic
attitude towards women, this will help you to become the well
rounded individual you would have been if you stayed with your
mother."
Ranma thought about it, then looks at his grandmother. Then looks a
little sadly.
"What do I bring?"
"Well, skill in the Art for one, knowledge of this world today not
to mention the two bodies you now have."
"But I don't want to be cursed! Mom will kill me if I turn into a
girl."
Ranma looks at her with fear, and shudders as he thinks about the
promise toto commit seppuku. Ra Koh snorts.
"I wouldn't believe everything in his mind although she might be
upset, if she does try to force you to commit seppuku then we will
stop her and make her see reason, else you are a Takashi now, so the
pledge has been fulfilled."
Ranma sighs deeply, as Ra Koh pats his shoulder tenderly.
"When do we merge and how?"
"Well I think now would be best, this way you can turn back to your
male form and still find my laboratory."
Ranma looks up at his grandmother.
"Laboratory?"
"Yes where I work on my spells, study scrolls of martial arts
techniques, there is one I learned which will come in handy since we
need to carry all my spell books, scrolls and equipment back with
us."
"HUH!?!?!"
She smiles at his look of dread, then pats his hand.
"Don't worry grandson you will be fine."
He looks at her sadly for a moment then lowers his head.
"Grandmother is there another way other then merging?"
She looks at him disappointingly.
"Why?"
He could hear the hurt in her voice and looks up at her.
"I..I don't want to lose you, it is like I have a friend with me all
the time now, I..sounds selfish, don't it?"
She smiles sadly at her lonely great grandchild.
"Don't worry Ranma, we can still have these little visits. While we
are awake we will be one person, if you wish to talk like this just
meditate and we will be able to talk."
Ranma smiles broadly at her.
"What do I have to do?"
She stands and takes his hand, he stands as well. She grasps both
hands in hers intertwining their fingers. Then she summons her
energies both her Ki and magical energies. Ranma watches as first a
blue aura surrounds his grandmother then it changes to purple as a
red one mixes with it. Ranma calls up his battle aura as if by
instinct. He is then surrounded by a bright blue aura. As they
stare into each other's eyes the auras start to merge as they blend.
Where they touch the purple becomes a darker purplish blue until,
finally, the purplish blue light surrounded them both. They can
hear the Neko-Ken howling in fear and anger. Ranma shudders at the
memories of the Cat Fist training. His grandmother's grasp tightens
giving him the strength to ignore those memories. The light around
them becomes darker and darker until it was almost as black as their
surroundings. Suddenly the dark purple light shatters leaving only
Ranma standing alone, glowing a medium purple color. He falls to
the ground in his mind unconscious.
In the tent the red glow around Ranma-chan follows along with the
change in color until it finally rests at the medium purple, then
fades completely. Ryoga never woke up.
/*\*/*\
The next morning Ryoga wakes to the sound of fists punching wood.
He gets out of the tent and looks around, a little way from the
campsite he sees Ranma-chan practicing, she is punching a tree trunk
until the tree snaps in half. She then starts her kata. She is
poetry in motion, fluid and graceful, yet powerful and unyielding.
He gasps when she leaps into the air thirty feet and just hangs
suspended kicking and punching an imaginary opponent. Then she
lands gently, not even disturbing the loose dirt on the ground. As
she finishes her kata she opens her eyes, Ryoga gasps even louder,
where once had been crystal ocean blue eyes are now eyes the color
of crystal amethyst. Ranma hears the gasp and turns to face her
friend with a warm smile.
"Good morning Ryoga, there is some ramen on the fire help yourself.
We need to get going as soon as you finish."
She then sits in the middle of the clearing and starts to meditate.
Her aura springs to life surrounding her in the now purple color.
Ryoga eats the ramen and watches, as Ranma's aura fades just after
it appears. Then Ranma starts pulling things out of thin air.
Rocks, sticks, and branches, when she looks satisfied she stands up
and starts collecting her belongings. Ryoga watches with his mouth
agape, while her things disappear into thin air.
"Are you done, I am going to leave you if you don't finish soon."
This snaps Ryoga out of his stupor, he did not want to be left on
the mountain alone. He downs the rest of his ramen and washes out
the bowl then starts packing his backpack and taking down his tent.
Ranma douses the fire and makes sure no embers were left alight. As
she stands something sparkling catches her eye she walks over to it
and finds a white crystal with streaks of red, blue, yellow, green,
orange, and purple running through it. It is the size of a goose's
egg, she feels she should know what it is but couldn't put a finger
on it. She decides to check her books when they get to her lab.
She pockets the stone in her new dimensional space smiling ruefully.
She was going to like having a dimensional storage space. She
continues to look around in case there was anything else that might
be interesting. There was nothing, but she did pick up several
large pieces of flint plus a couple of smooth oval stones for
strikers and places them in her storage dimension as well. She then
returns to Ryoga who was just putting his pack on.
"Well, let's go, we should be there by this evening if we move fast
and don't stop for a rest."
Ryoga looks at her then up the mountain with dread.
Chapter Three
<"That is what happened Elder.">
Finishes Ta Nge, as he takes a sip of his now cold tea.
<"Are you sure about what you have seen the child do to her
father?">
Ta Nge nods as he sips his tea; Xian Pu looks on in surprise.
<"Yes, I am. Then she told him her male side was dead and that she
was no longer his child and spat at his feet. The funny thing is,
and I don't think the father noticed, she talked about her male half
as if he was _not_ her.">
Ku Lon raises an eyebrow, while her granddaughter stares at him with
confusion.
<"What do you mean?">
<"Well, she said something to the effect 'I will not let you hurt
him any more, he is dead to you.' And something about 'You will
fulfill the promises for he will not.' That is not exactly what she
said but it is close and that is how she referred to her male
side.">
Ku Lon rubbed her chin in thoughtful contemplation. Ta Nge poured
himself another cup of tea, then waited for Ku Lon to speak. Xian
Pu sat in contemplation of what the guide just told them.
<"Now that is fascinating, and her eyes glowed lavender, when she
held him by the throat?">
Again he nods while taking a sip of tea.
<"Wait here, please Ta Nge.">
The old woman disappears into the inner sanctum of the house. Both
Ta Nge and Xian Pu could here her use some ancient Chinese curses
and a loud crash was heard. Xian Pu got up to go check on her when
she reappears carrying a tome that was bigger then her. She waves
her great granddaughter off. Xian Pu recognizes the book, it is the
Tome of Amazon Ancestry, Ku Lon's family had the honor of being in
charge of keeping it updated, updates were always made in the
presence of the counsel.
<"What is it grandmother?">
<"Something Ta Nge said about the girl sounds familiar.">
Ku Lon lays the book on the table and starts flipping through the
pages, stopping every now and then. Both Xian Pu and Ta Nge stand
behind her eager to learn what is happening. Ku Lon stops about
midway through the tome and reads nodding her head, then closing the
book she faces her granddaughter and the guide with a smile liken to
that of the cat that ate the canary.
<"Well, well, if I am correct this young child is of Amazon descent
which means either that _pig_ of a father is an Amazon or the
child's mother.">
Xian Pu gasps, Ta Nge nearly drops his teacup in surprise.
<"_NOT_ him grandmother he is so..so..">
Xian Pu shudders at the thought of Genma being a blood Amazon. Ku
Lon pats her granddaughter's arm then turns to the guide.
<"Thank you Ta Nge but this is now Amazon business, a hunting party
will be at Jusenkyo shortly to follow the path the child took,
please prepare for us.">
Ta Nge nods his head and leaves, followed by Ku Lon and Xian Pu.
Ku Lon stands in front of the counsel chambers, ringing the counsel
summoning bell. She and Xian Pu wait for the counsel to arrive
when, all members of the counsel are present she relays what the
Jusenkyo guide had told her. She then tells them what she found in
the Amazon Ancestry Tome, plus what she suspects has happen to the
boy. However, she can not verify it without the child. The counsel
wants more information from the father before they will believe what
Ku Lon has surmised. Genma is then brought in front of the counsel.
He is brought before the counsel. He is nervously, looking for any
escape.
"Genma, it is Genma is it not?"
Ku Lon asks, Genma in fluent Japanese. Genma nods, as beads of
sweat trickle down the side of his face.
"May I ask if the clan Takashi is part of your heritage?"
Genma recognizes that name, but not from his family. He begins to
get suspicious, but answers the question as he feels it would do no
harm.
"Ah, no, the Takashi clan is that of my wife."
Genma notices that all twelve of the old women of the counsel let
out a collective sigh of relief.
"Why do you want to know about my wife's family?"
"We are just clarifying some information we have found. We are
assembling a hunting party to look for your son. The guide has
given me a description of him in both states. It would be faster
for us if you remain here Pa Fum and Ro Gae will look to your needs.
We will bring your child here to you."
Genma likes this idea. He will get free food a comfortable bed and
the Amazons will do all the work of bringing his wayward child back
to him.
"Ah, Cologne, is there a cure for the curses?"
"No, there is no known cure for a Jusenkyo curse."
Genma's shoulders sag slightly. Ku Lon waves the guards to take
Genma back to his room.
<"Well, then this Ranma is an Amazon and a descendant of Ra Koh.">
Remarks an elder that was just as old looking as Ku Lon.
<"Which means that if the true secret of Jusenkyo is to be believed
the boy has awaken her spirit from the pool. Which means the magic
we lost when the Musk took her can now be returned to us.">
Came a comment from one that was not quite as old.
<"Yes, but, what if the child refuses to stay in the village. He is
an Amazon and has all rights especially since he is of her blood and
possibly has her soul which now makes him her only heir.">
Ku Lon nods, sadly.
<"well we might be able to get Ranma to stay for a couple of years
by teaching him the Amazon Techniques then while we teach him, he
can teach us Ra Koh's magic. If he decides to return to Japan we
can help set him up in his own home and Dojo.">
<"_WHY_ would we do that? We don't want him teaching Amazon
secrets.">
Ku Lon raises a calming hand.
<"He won't. We tell him he can teach only Amazon secrets to
Amazons, including his magic. Remember he is a martial artist in
his own right. This way we can use his home as a safe house when we
send our sisters out into the world for knowledge or for a
retrieval.">
Several of the counsel nod at this.
<"What if he refuses? You know we can not battle the power of Ra
Koh's magic. We lost that part of our heritage when the Musk killed
her.">
Ku Lon thought for a moment, nodding sagely.
<"We can only hope that Ra Koh's loyalty to the Amazons will at
least keep him here long enough.">
They all nod.
<"Now, I feel that I and Xian Pu should go search for him since we
are also descended from Ra Koh. That connection may be very
useful.">
One old woman rose, and proclaimed.
<"I to will go and will bring my great granddaughter Li Si.">
A regal looking elder stands. She looks to be older then even Ku
Lon.
<"Agreed, but take two more guards with you. You are heading into
Musk territory.">
Ku Lon and the elder Mas Cra agree. They leave the counsel chambers
after selecting an Amazon named Jas Mia and the other guard was the
woman Xian Pu beat in the tournament Dou El. With their party
complete and provisions gathered, they all head toward Jusenkyo.
Genma watches from the window of the guesthouse were he is staying,
smiling while stuffing his face with food.
/*\*/*\
The Amazons arrive at Jusenkyo, late in the afternoon. The guide is
standing outside his hut waiting for them. Ku Lon pogoes up to the
guide balancing on top of her cane, behind her the other elder Mas
Cra follows also balancing on her staff.
<"So Ta Nge which way did the boy go?">
Ta Nge leads the Amazons to the path that the young martial artist
took when he left Jusenkyo as a she. Xian Pu and Li Si check the
path for a few yards then they return to the elders and guide.
<"The one we seek may have gone this way, but it is hard tell,
someone or something was following him.">
Li Si tells the elders. The guide turns to the elders, with a look
of understanding and explains.
<"Ah, yes, I remember now, another came to Jusenkyo. He did not get
cursed but saw what happened. Maybe he followed Mr. Customer?">
Ku Lon nods, as she rubs her chin in contemplation.
<"well at least he left us a well-defined trail to follow.">
The six Amazons bid goodbye to the guide as they head down the path.
By the time the sun sets the Amazons are setting up camp at the base
of the mountain that Ranma and Ryoga were camping on.
<"Look elder!">
One of the Amazon guards points up the side of the mountain, the
others look up to see a fire. They then notice the fire was more
then half way up the mountain.
<"They must be very strong and agile to get that high up the
mountain so quickly!">
Gasps Xian Pu, the others nod their agreement.
<"Come let us get to sleep, we will need to climb a great deal to
catch them.">
After eating the Amazons went to sleep but not before posting guards
and setting up a rotation for guard duty.
/*\*/*\
As the sun rises, two figures can be seen half way up the mountain
climbing to the next and final level. At the base of the mountain
four young Amazons and two elders start their ascent, the younger
Amazons are in awe at the fact the two diminutive elders are pogoing
up the side of the mountain like a pair of mountain goats.
<"Come young ones, can't you keep up with your elders?">
Goads Mas Cra, as she shouts down at the three young girls and
thirty something woman. Ku Lon stands a short way up from Mas Cra
giggling.
<"Now, Mas Cra, it isn't nice to tease the young ones.">
Mas Cra mock glares at her. She starts laughing heartily.
<"Well, it is fun, yes, but it isn't nice.">
Both elders start laughing and continue up the mountain. The climb
is uneventful. As the sun starts to set the six Amazons reach the
plateau that Ranma and Ryoga camped at the night before.
<"Let's set up camp we will begin again at first light.">
Ku Lon orders, and the Amazons set up their camp making use of the
now dry fire pit the two climbers had used the previous night.
\*/*\*/
Ranma and Ryoga reach their final destination, a plateau almost at
the top of the mountain. They have two hours before the sunsets, as
they step onto the final ledge. Ranma walks toward a solid granite
wall. Ryoga watches as she raises her arms and mumbles some words
Ryoga can not hear or understand even if he could. She starts to
glow with her new purple aura. Suddenly a cave entrance appears and
Ranma walks in, Ryoga gapes then when Ranma disappears into the
cave, Ryoga runs to catch up. Just as he enters the cave the
opening closes up again.
"What is this place Ranma?"
Ryoga asks as he reaches out to touch where the entrance use to be,
quickly pulling his hand back as if burned, when he touched solid
stone.
"Ra Koh's laboratory."
"Ra Koh who is that?"
"She is the spirit that merged with me after I picked her up from
falling into the Spring of Drowned Girl."
"Well you can tell me all about it over dinner."
Ryoga says as he looks around the dark cave. Suddenly the cave is
suffused with a light purple glow. Ryoga turns to see Ranma glowing
purple and lighting the way to some torches. Ryoga goes over and
lights one torch then takes it to light the others.
"What about fresh air to keep them lit?"
Ranma points to the ceiling. Ryoga looks up and sees tunnels only
big enough for a field mouse around the upper level of the cave.
"Those small tunnels are opened at the other end, fresh air is
constantly coming into the cave, which is also why this place is so
cold."
Ranma points out, after Ryoga finishes lighting the rest of the
torches Ranma's glow disappears. Ryoga looks around the cave it is
quite large and has several alcoves. Two of the alcoves were made
up as bedchambers.
"Have many guests?"
Ryoga asks pointing to the extra bedchamber. Ranma laughs that
musical laughter. Then a sad smile appears on her gentle face.
"My great grandmother would bring her children hear once in a
while."
"The spirit was your ancestor?"
Ryoga asks in awe, Ranma nods her head.
"Yeah, she was."
Ranma shrugs. In four of the five alcoves are shelves with books
and jars of herbs, and items Ryoga assumes to be magical. In the
fifth are about two dozen-cubby holes, each filled to exploding with
scrolls. Ranma heads to a large desk where a large book is laying
she sits down and gently touches the tome.
"Well 1500 years were not kind to my books."
"Can you cast a spell or something to make them ok again?"
Ryoga asks as he looks over her shoulder at the dusty old book.
"It's possible, but I don't know one."
"So what are you going to do."
"I guess rewrite the ones that I can still read."
Ranma sighs and rubs her amethyst eyes.
"Let's have something to eat then I will secure them to take with me
and rewrite them later."
Over dinner Ranma told Ryoga what had happened the night before,
while he slept. Ryoga's eye widened in surprise. He told Ryoga how
he now has all of Ra Koh's memories and knowledge in magic and
martial arts, he just needs to practice to gain the skill.
"Can you teach me?"
Ryoga asks eagerly. Ranma shakes her head sadly.
"I wish I could but my memories about the Amazons say no, if I do it
could get you killed, the Amazons are very protective of their
secrets. Now if you were to become an Amazon then maybe."
"How could I do that?"
"Well I am not sure a lot of Great Grandmothers memories are still
fuzzy but I am sure it will clear up soon then I will let you know."
They finish the rest of the meal in silence. When they are done
Ranma takes some of the hot water and returns to his male form.
After which Ranma starts preparing the items in the cave for
transport. There were several trunks of animal skins and pouches.
He used the skins to wrap up the books and scrolls. There were
thirty books in all and some look even older then 1500. The scrolls
Ranma lost count on their number. As Ranma finishes wrapping the
books he stacks them on the desk and piles the scrolls back in the
cubbyholes they came from, and on the rapidly emptying shelves.
Ryoga watches from his bed, in one of the alcoves as Ranma packs up
everything. Yawning while he stretches, he asks.
"Are you going to go back to the village, Ranma?"
"Probably not, they wouldn't believe me about the spirit and I don't
feel like facing the outsider laws in either form."
Ryoga looks at him confused. Ranma sighs then stands to face the
lost boy.
"Amazons follow many laws it is what keeps their society
functioning, even though they have no basis in modern society,
outside the village. Two of these laws are the outsider laws. If
an outsider female beats an Amazon in combat then the Amazon gives
the Kiss of Death. She must then hunt down the female and kill
her."
Ryoga looks horror stricken, as Ranma continues with his
explanation.
"If an outsider male beats an Amazon then she must give _him_ the
Kiss of Marriage, and must marry him whether he wants to or not."
Ryoga's eyes get even wider with that, and he whistles in disbelief.
"Well I am glad you told me, if I come across them I will be sure
not to fight _any_ of them."
Ranma chuckles while shaking his head.
"Sorry man, but it don't work like that."
"Huh?"
"If the Amazons think you would make a good catch _they_ will
challenge you to the match."
Ryoga's shoulders slump in defeat. Trying to change the subject
Ryoga asks a question.
"Ranma why did Ra Koh curse your dad?"
Ranma sighs,
"it's a long story, and I would prefer to talk about it later ok?"
Ryoga nods as he sees the anger flash in his friends amethyst eyes.
As Ryoga watches Ranma collect all the books and paraphernalia and
either wrap it in a skin or put it in one of the many pouches. He
slowly succumbs to the day's exertion from the climb and he falls
asleep. Ranma notices and walks over and covers the eternally lost
boy with the blanket that was on his bed. Several hours after that
Ranma had finished packing everything. He then goes to the other
bed and falls into a fitful sleep of night terrors.
Chapter Four
The Amazons begin to settle in for the night on the same plateau
Ryoga and Ranma vacated that morning. While the elder Mas Cra
starts a fire in the same fire pit used by the previous occupants,
they discuss the guard rotation for the night. They do not notice,
however, that they are being watched. On a precipice up a little
higher and about twenty yards to the left of them, is an advance
guard of soldiers, watching them. They have already sent a runner
back to Musk headquarters to see if they should capture, kill, or
follow the women. The soldier also carries information about the
red hair girl and her companion. Informing headquarters that they
went higher up the mountain but got out of sight before their
destination could be determined.
\*/*\*/
As the sun is peeking over the horizon, the Amazons start preparing
for the next leg of their climb. While in a cave some ways up, a
young pig-tailed boy is using a new technique he learned at the
merging of his soul with that of his great grandmother. He is
'hiding' 30 tomes, over 500 scrolls, and about 150 plus bags of
herbs, gems, magical items, gold coins and potions.
[At least I will have money to start a new life when I return to
Japan.]
When he finishes all that was left were the torches and furniture.
Ryoga just watches with amazement as his companion was able to hide
a small mountain of stuff without showing any signs of it causing
any problems for him. Ryoga then catches site of something flashing
in the torch light in Ranma's hands.
Around Ranma's neck was a silver locket he had found in the top
drawer of his desk. He opens it to reveal the profiles of four very
special people. The profiles are hand carved ivory, and then placed
on a background of abalone. To Ranma the four people were
ancestors, to Ra Koh they were those whom she loved dearly. Ranma
wore the locket under his shirt next to his heart on a sturdy
leather cord.
\*/*\*/
The Amazons start the next leg of their climb, still unknown to
them, the Musk soldiers are tailing them. Their orders were brought
back to them along with a General of the Musk army. Four Amazon
warriors and two Elders would give the Musk great power over the
Amazons in their battles with them. If they capture the other two,
well, the girl would be a wife for a soldier and her male companion
would just need a dip in the Nyanniichuan. The soldiers stay about
30 feet lower then the Amazons as they follow them up the mountain
being sure to keep them in site. The General has sent one soldier
ahead of the party to keep a closer watch on their prize.
\*/*\*/
Ranma and Ryoga decide to stay one more night in the cave before
heading to the coast and going back to Japan. When Ra Koh read
Genma's mind she gleaned all the information about Ranma's mother
from it and Ranma decided to go home to her. He decided to look for
a cave there to setup another laboratory to continue with his magic.
Ranma sparred with Ryoga, although he refused to teach Ryoga any
known Amazon techniques he did teach him some of the basic Anything
Goes style. While Ranma taught Ryoga, Ryoga taught Ranma some of
his Chi techniques. He showed him, the Shi Shi Houkou Dan, but did
not release it in such a small area. Ranma could not manifest the
depression needed to feed this attack so he set about to find out
which was his stronger emotion. After many tries and with the help
of Ryoga, Ranma found that his confidence was the strongest, this
enabled him to create the Moko Takabisha, and although still not
perfected, it is something to work on.
\*/*\*/
After supper Ranma sits in the middle of the cave and starts
meditating as his breathing calms and his heart rate slows he begins
glowing his now standard purple color. Ryoga watches from his
alcove, as Ranma goes into a trance to talk to his great
grandmother. After a few minutes Ryoga gets bored and settles in to
sleep. He could not believe the turn of events, he came to Jusenkyo
to exact revenge on Ranma Saotome, and instead he watches the
martial artist receive a curse and abuse by his father's hand. He
saw him leave and in following found a friend he had missed. There
is much more to the cursed boy if the nightmares Ranma had last
night were any indication. Ryoga decides to make it his business to
be the one thing the lonely boy did not have, a friend. Maybe
together they can ease each other's lonely existence.
\*/*\*/
Ranma walks out of the blackness that was his mind and sits to wait
for his grandmother. As he sits, he looks at the locket he now
wares. He can see the resemblance, between himself and the four
faces in the locket. He gently rubs his fingers over the smooth
ivory surface, as if by touching it he could absorb who they were
and what they were like.
"They were a wonderful family. I hope Hiroshi was able to find
someone else to love him and my children."
Ranma looks up and sees his grandmother standing over him looking at
the locket, tears rolling down her face. Ranma could see she was
trying to stem the flow, but they kept coming. He stands and wraps
his great grandmother into a warm embrace. He holds onto his
grandmother until she cries out her tears of grief for her lost
family.
\*/*\*/
After some time Ra Koh quiets down and pulls away from her grandson.
"Thank you grandson, it is nice to see you are not your father's
son."
Ranma's brow knits in distaste.
"And I hope I never am again!"
Ra Koh reaches up to pat the boys shoulder. As they settle down to
talk, Ranma puts the locket way.
"Well grandson, have you been practicing your Amazon Wa Shu
fighting?"
"Yes, grandmother I have, and I have been working with some of the
special techniques as well. But some are hard to practice in a
cave. I will work on those on our way back to Japan."
Ra Koh looks at her grandson sadly, although before his melding with
Ra Koh Ranma would never have noticed the change in her expression,
he did notice now.
"You want to visit the village don't you?"
She nods and sighs heavily, eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"But it won't be safe for you or your friend with the Amazon laws.
I also believe your father is there. That is where the guide would
have taken him since you did not act normally after being cursed."
Ranma thought for a moment, then his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"We can go if you want, I can stop my old man if he gets in the
way."
Ranma smiles demonically at the thought. Ra Koh was about to
comment when she starts glowing in her now bright purple aura.
Ranma jumps to a fighting stance fearing the Neko-Ken has escaped.
"What is it grandmother?"
"There are Amazons near by on this plateau and they are under attack
and... _oh no_, two are my descendants!"
Ra Koh gets ready to break the link to run and help her family, but
Ranma stops her showing the positive side of the merging.
"Wait, grandmother, we will help them but is there a different way
out of here?"
His grandmother looks at him quizzically, then understands they need
to show up from elsewhere so that if they need to hide they could do
it without revealing the cave to the Musk. She nods then Ranma
wakes. He jumps up and wakes Ryoga, he gives him a quick run down
as to what is going on. Then has him follow him to the second exit
near the ceiling of the cave.
\*/*\*/
The Amazons are just settling in for the night, after reaching the
ledge where Ra Koh's hidden Lab is located. They were deciding
guard rotation for the night, when suddenly Ku Lon and Mas Cra
stiffened, then in a blur of movement they were standing about five
feet away from where they were sitting, two darts embedded into the
ground where they had been. The other Amazons were up and their
weapons drawn as their attackers made their presence known. Twelve
Musk soldiers came out of the darkness with weapons drawn for the
attack. The four Amazon warriors charged to meet them. The General
kept back two of the guards to try and bring down the Amazon elders
with drugged darts. He knew no one in the Musk Dynasty could fight
the centuries old warriors and win. He gave the order to start
firing repeatedly at the elders in the hopes to try and overwhelm
the old women. There was a double cry of <"KACHUU TENSHIN
AMIGURIKEN">, and the darts begin to disappear in mid air only to
land at the elders' feet.
The General was just about the give the command to start another
volley when he hears his men scream in pain. He turns and sees them
clutching bloody hands, on the ground next to each man were a yellow
and black spotted bandana each covered in blood. The General looks
around, for the attacker. He then hears an Amazon war cry that has
not been heard for nearly 1500 years.
\*/*\*/
Ranma and Ryoga climb to the top of the cave using small niches cut
into the rock. When they reach the top they find a small crawl
space. They enter the space and crawl for about a dozen feet when
they come to a dead end. Ranma starts glowing and the solid rock
face disappears. As Ranma crawls out he crawls right into a puddle
of ice cold water, to which he becomes a she.
"Damn!"
She mutters as she stands up. Ryoga comes out next, looks at the
changed boy and just shakes his head. Ranma quickly closes the exit
up again. They continue to the edge of the small plateau they are
on and look over the edge.
They see about twelve soldiers rushing the young girls in the group.
What looks to be the leader and two others were trying to turn the
two old women with them into pincushions. They hear the old women
shout <"KACHUU TENSHIN AMIGURIKEN">. Ranma smirks at the awe
plastered on Ryoga's face at the speed the women's hands move they
look almost invisible. Although Ranma knew of the technique and its
speed this is the first time she'd seen it. Ranma taps Ryoga on the
shoulder and breaks the spell.
She points at the two guards with the blowguns. Ryoga nods and
removes two bandanas from his head still leaving one left. He spins
them on his fingers until they start to glow very lightly and
stiffen to razor sharp steel. He then lets them fly, they went
straight to their intended targets. The cloth shurikens cut deep
gashes into one of the hands of each of the soldiers causing them to
cry out in pain as they clutch their injured hands. The General
turns to see his men injured and two bloody bandanas on the ground.
As he starts looking around for the attacker, he hears the war cry
of an angry Amazon, but could not locate her. Until...
\*/*\*/
After Ryoga let loose the bandanas and they did their job Ranma
stands and jumps from the plateau she is on she does a flip then
aims an extended foot at the unsuspecting General, letting off a
loud <"AAAALALALALALALALA">. Everyone stops and looks around at the
cry then the Musk soldiers see a red and purple blur hit their
General and knock him flying into the distance toward...
[_Uh oh_!]
...Jusenkyo, Ranma shrugs her shoulders. The two matriarchs smile
an 'IT OULDN'T HAPPEN TO A NICER GUY' smile. The two soldiers that
were with the General came out of their shock to lung at the pretty
red head. It would have been easy to overpower her, since she was
concentrating on the other twelve soldiers; it should have been easy
they thought as they lost consciousness from being hit with a steel
reinforced red bamboo umbrella.
Ryoga and Ranma then jump into battle with the last dozen soldiers,
fighting with the already exhausted Amazons. The Elders decide to
stay back and watch the skill of the two young martial artists. Ku
Lon and Mas Cra smile as they note a few Amazon moves mixed in with
the red heads normal style. They watch as the newcomers jump, kick
and punch many of the soldiers, but being Musk they are a lot
tougher then most. They got the drop on the General and the other
two which allowed them to defeat them so readily.
The matriarchs then notice the boy and girl were surrounded by eight
of the soldiers while the other four kept the other Amazons busy.
They were back to back in ready stances, talking to each other the
Amazon elders straining to hear what was being said and just barely
making it out over the fighting.
"Well, Ranma, do you think your ready to use your new attack?"
"I had better _be_."
Ra Koh's influence had eased a lot of Ranma's cockiness and pride to
more respectable levels.
"Ok, then let's do it."
The Matriarchs' eyes go wide as they see the couple start to glow
with great power. The girl purple and the boy greenish yellow, then
they hear the twin shouts...
"SHI SHI HOUKOU DAN!"
"MOKO TAKABISHA!"
They each got a guard, knocking them over the edge of the plateau.
Ranma felt the drain of the attack and fell to one knee this was the
first time she actually used her chi blast, and had not built up a
resistance to its draining effects.
The remaining Musk decided to take advantage of this by rushing the
tired girl. It was then that the last six collapsed to the ground
soon to follow were the four fighting the younger Amazons. Ryoga
helps Ranma regain her footing and they look at the fallen soldiers,
each one had a dart protruding from their necks. They look to the
Amazon Elders who just stand there looking innocent. Then they hear
the call of one of the other warriors. They look to see the three
younger warriors unconscious on the ground and the fourth about
ready to collapse. The four of them rush to the aid of the fallen
women. Ranma directs they each pick up a fallen woman and she helps
lead the almost conscious one to the rock facing of the plateau.
Mas Cra was about to start shouting when Ranma again glows purple
and the rock disappears. Mas Cra's words die on her lips as her jaw
drops in surprise. They all enter and Ranma closes the wall behind
them.
She and Ryoga lead them to the alcoves and deposit two Amazons per
bed. Then the elders start examining the wounded women. They had
lost a bit of blood but not enough to be life threatening. The
elders start pressing shiatsu points to stem the flow of the blood.
They also press the pressure points to speed in healing and increase
the regeneration of chi. The last one they used on Ranma as well.
As the four wounded women sleep the others sit down for a long
needed talk.
Chapter Five
Ranma adds more wood to the fire in the cooking alcove and places a
kettle of water over it to heat, for tea. She sits next to her
friend and watches the elder women closely. Ku Lon was the first to
speak.
"Am I addressing Ranma Saotome or Ra Koh?"
Ranma face shows surprise she quickly suppresses it, but not fast
enough that both elders did not catch it. She looks at Ryoga from
the corner of her eyes and he nods to her to go ahead. She looks
back at them and responds.
"I am neither and both."
Each of the women raises an eyebrow at the young girl as she rises
to serve them tea. Taking what is left of the hot water she debates
if she should pour it over herself and revert to her male form. She
decides not to at this time although she is sure they know she is
cursed. The memories of her great grandmother tell her, that she
will have better luck dealing with the Amazons as a female then as a
male.
"As of now Saotome Ranma is dead. I am Takashi Ranma now, I have
merged my soul with that of my great grandmother's and we are one
person."
The elders nod as they sip their tea.
"Now who are you I know you are Amazons, Grandmother told me so."
They look at Ranma questionably. Ranma sighs and explains
"For the most part we are one person, but..."
The loneliness can be seen reflected in the young girl's eyes.
"When I need to speak with her, I go into a deep meditation and
inside my mind we are two separate people."
The matriarchs look slightly surprised. In all of their 300 hundred
plus years and the history they have of Jusenkyo, this has never
happened.
"Did Ra Koh say how this happened to you child?"
Ku Lon asks the girl sympathetically.
"Well, I asked her and she thinks it is because I am her
descendant."
"That makes sense, you would have her genes which could wake her
spirit."
Ryoga listens and watches the old women; he did not trust them very
much. Then he pops up and asks them a question of his own.
"Why are you here? Why are you looking for Ranma?"
Mas Cra looks a Ryoga as if he was nothing more than a bug to be
squashed. Only two things stopped her from doing that, one was Ku
Lon's hand on her shoulder, the other was a bright purple aura that
just flared around an angry looking Ranma.
"Ryoga is my _friend_. He _will_ be treated with respect."
Ranma's voice was as cold as ice. She knows from her melding with
Ra Koh, how some of the women warriors feel about men, and knew it
probably held true even today.
While Ranma works on cooling down, Ku Lon looks around the cave
noticing the empty trunks and shelves. She also notices that items
use to be on those shelves and were recently removed. However,
before she could ask about it, Ranma asked her a question.
"Which of you are descended from Ra Koh? She told me two of you
were her descendants."
Ku Lon smiles at the red head.
"I am, child."
Ku Lon answers, with a proud smile.
"As is the purple hair girl over there, she is my great
granddaughter, Xian Pu."
She finishes pointing to the alcove which holds Xian Pu and Li Si.
Ranma nods then asks another question.
"From which child are you descended?"
"We are the direct descendants of Ra Koh's youngest Mai Toh."
"What happened to her family after she died?"
"You ask a lot of questions for a male _boy_!"
Mas Cra snarls at the cursed boy. Ranma looks at her with eyes
filled with longing and depression. Mas Cra gasps at the pain she
sees there, she hangs her head in shame. She realizes that,
although they've merged their souls. Ra Koh has pushed her
dominance forward. In order learn what happened to her family.
Ku Lon sighs as she pats Mas Cra's hand and continues.
"According to the Amazon records, her husband took his three
daughters to Japan after Ra Koh's death. He raised them there, and
he never remarried."
A tear trickled down Ranma's cheek.
"After they were grown the eldest daughter Ti Lum and the youngest,
Mai Toh returned to the village after traveling for several years.
Bringing to the village much needed knowledge and new techniques,
with them came their husbands."
Through the tears, a smile crosses Ranma's face.
"I am sorry though, Ti Lum died from a malady she had picked up in
her travels and had never given birth."
More tears flowed from Ranma as she sat stone-faced.
"What of Ter Si?"
"She stayed in Japan which is probably who you are descended from."
Ranma nods then stares into space while tears continue to flow for
Ra Koh's family. Finally the tears stop and Ranma stares at the
Elders
"What do you want? Why are you here?"
Ku Lon was surprised at the abrupt change of topic, she then
realized she was now talking the Ranma's spirit. It seems he either
reasserted his dominance or Ra Koh did not want to talk anymore. Ku
Lon took a deep breath before continuing.
"Actually, your father was brought to the village by the guide. We
came to find you for him."
"Well, you have found me, but getting me back to him isn't going to
be easy."
Snarls Ranma, as both he and Ryoga start to glow.
Mas Cra held up her hands in a placating manor.
"Do not worry boy, we have no intentions of forcing you back with
your father, but why do you now refuse to be with him after...what,
ten years, I think he said?"
Ranma sighs and could feel the strength his great grandmother was
giving him to encourage him to tell his story, after all Ku Lon was
family.
"It's a long story and a lot of it is not pretty."
Both Mas Cra and Ku Lon nod, Ryoga just looks at her questioningly.
Ryoga then places his hand on her shoulder as a gesture of support;
Ranma smiles her thanks to her friend.
"Ranma, you are an _Amazon_ by birth and even more so by the merging
of your spirit and Ra Koh's. You are also my _family_. I can
legally take you from your father here until you are of legal age to
return to Japan."
Ranma thought about it, she then shrugged her small shoulders and
told her story.
"When I was five my father took me from my mother to begin training
me in the Art, but his Art also included thievery, lying, cheating,
and dishonor. When I was old enough to understand this I refused to
do that stuff anymore. Now remember, some of the things I learned,
I got from searching his memories..."
Ranma talked for hours, he told of Ukyo and how he thought _she_ was
a boy and how Genma agreed to let Ukyo and him marry then Genma
stole her dowry and abandoned her. Genma never planned on going
through with the marriage because he had agreed to merge the Schools
of Anything Goes with marriage to one of the daughters of his friend
Soun Tendo. Ku Lon raised an eyebrow at the name of Ranma's school,
but said nothing. He told of the Neko-Ken training, both Ranma and
Ryoga scooted back from the Elders as their battle auras flared.
Ryoga asked what was so bad about the training in a powerful
technique. Ranma explained the training to him.
/*\*/*\
The wounded Amazons slowly began to return to consciousness. They
heard the voices of their elders talking in a strange language.
Xian Pu and Dou El could understand much of what was being said so
they translated Ranma's story for their bed partners. All four
became both angry and ill at Ranma's description of the Neko-Ken
training and they thought of tortures for a certain panda-man.
/*\*/*\
"When I was six, just after he abandoned Ukyo, he trained me in the
Neko-Ken. You first dig a pit, and fill it with hundreds of
c.c.cats. Then you let them starve for a few days to a week. At
that time, you take the trainee and wrap them in fish sausages. The
next step is to throw them into the pit with the c.c.cats. Then
cover the pit, leaving the trainee and c.c.cats in darkness. Well
since I didn't learn it the first time, oyji kept throwing me in
every day for several days. Then, when he found I had developed a
fear of c.c.cats, he threw me in many more times to get me over my
fear. Being six, I couldn't count how many times he through me in
but, I know it was a lot."
Ryoga turned green and it was not just from the fact his greenish
yellow aura was now glowing brightly around him. He cracked his
knuckles as he quietly pledged to himself.
"I will kill that bastard when I see him again!"
Ku Lon raised an eyebrow, at Ryoga's whispered promise, then looks
at her great nephew, and asks her.
"Great Nephew did you learn the technique."
Ranma nods. Ku Lon sighs sadly.
"You are indeed strong if you can keep the madness at bay."
She finishes, shaking her head sadly.
"Well, great grandmother is helping me with that now."
Ranma offers. Ryoga looks lost and Ranma tells him the downside of
the Neko-Ken. Ryoga's face goes pale with horror.
"As I mentioned before, after the training I now have a deadly fear
of c.c.cats. I can sense them and they sense me. Hell, they'll even
seek me out. If I can not get away from the c.c.cat, my mind will
shut down. I am told I become a cat, but I have no memory of it."
Ku Lon nods and continues for Ranma.
"That is correct great nephew, your strength, speed and agility
increases, plus you get ki claws that can rip through steel. The
only problem is you are no longer human. You will kill anyone your
primal instincts perceive as a threat. I am sure your father found
that out the first time you went Neko. You _probably_ attacked
him."
Ranma nods with an evil grin on her face. Ranma then continued with
what else she had learned from her father's mind. She told of the
other engagements for food, her visit to Junior High where she met
Ryoga and the stupid bread feud, and missed duel. Which was the
reason Ryoga was at the Cursed Springs. Her coming to China, up to
the time of receiving the curse. Finally, she told them of the
promise her father tricked her into signing at five years old.
About how she and her father will commit Seppuku if she _wasn't_ a
man above men.
To say the Amazons were livid was an understatement. Ku Lon and Mas
Cra were thinking of tortures for Genma Saotome; Xian Pu, Li Si and
the other two warriors were wondering how nice a panda rug would
look in their homes. They were about to continue their conversation
when Ranma holds up a hand.
"It is getting late, we should get some sleep. There should be room
for the two of you with the girls; Ryoga and I will use our sleeping
bags."
The Elders nod and retire to the sleeping alcoves. As Ranma and
Ryoga set up their sleeping bags, Ryoga asks her a question.
"Ranma, those nightmares you have they're about the Neko-Ken
training aren't they?"
"Yeah, they are. They'll be gone when the stress goes away. Don't
worry about it."
When they finish setting up their sleeping bags, they lay down and
go to sleep.
The matriarchs lay in their beds, neither sleeping. They were
thinking of what they just learned, and both fear that, if the
father was correct, Ranma's mother will kill him if he returns to
Japan. Normally they would not care, after all he is just a male,
but now he is a male with the spirit of a female Amazon in him, one
that is a sorceress and an ancestor. Finally, they were all able to
drop off to sleep as exhaustion from the battle finally claims them.
About three hours into everyone's sleep, the Amazons are awaken by a
female voice screaming
"NNNNOOOOO, Poppa I don't wanna learn it no more, please, I want
momma. NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO! AAAAAAAAAAAA, MAKE 'EM STOP POPPA, PLEASE,
AAAAAAAAA"
Ryoga was at his friend's side talking calmly to her. Ku Lon
appears next to the screaming girl, sadness and anger showing on her
face. She reaches down and presses a few spots on Ranma's body.
Ranma instantly quiets down and goes into a deep dreamless sleep.
"_What did you do to her?_ "
Ryoga growls, angrily and begins glowing. Putting up a calming
hand, Ku Lon answers him.
"I just pressed a few shiatsu points, the child will sleep quietly
for the rest of the night. Does this happen every night?"
"It has been since we left Jusenkyo, but she says as soon as she
isn't in as much stress, they will stop."
Ku Lon nods; there was another mark on the revenge against Genma
list. Ku Lon returns to bed, she watches as Ryoga watches over his
friend for a while then sees him go back to bed. She soon succumbs
to her tiredness.