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Guardian's Soul
by Andrew Wilson
Chapter 7: Homecoming
"Wake up."
Ryoga vaguely heard the command though the blackness of sleep. For once in two years, his sleep was not plagued by nightmares. He desperately tried to hang onto that bliss.
The command was repeated, this time accompanied by a light slap.
"Back off," a female voice said, "I'll handle this."
Ryoga slipped into the land of dreams. This particular dream was of him and Pirotess. It was the last time they had been alone, with a kiss that nearly suffocated both of them.
Then he felt her teeth biting his tongue.
He snapped awake with a yelp. Pirotess had backed off a step, as far as she could in the cargo bay's cramped confines. She, Conner, and Emeralda wore grins. Ryoga also noticed Deedlit and Ranma strapped into their seats, still unconscious.
"I was going to poke you a bit," Emeralda said, fingers forming four slim blades, "but that works just as well."
"Now that you three have had your laugh," Ryoga yawned, "I'm going back to sleep."
"No," Pirotess said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "we need you awake. We don't know what will happen when we revive Ranma."
"What if Miang's still in there?"
"That's why we're waking Deedlit first. Emmy's already repaired the inhibitor."
Conner had moved over to Deedlit, and was gently shaking her shoulder. The elf's eye's fluttered open, a confused expression on her face.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Skirting the Southern edge of the Bermuda Triangle," Conner replied. "About another hour until we arrive."
"What about Ranma?"
"We were hoping you could answer that."
Deedlit closed her eyes for a moment, then shook her head. "There's too much turmoil for me to sense anything. All I can tell you is that he's there, but there could also be someone else in there with him."
"Not surprising," Ryoga commented. "There's already himself, the cat-fist, and I'm willing to bet that there are bit's of Parn still floating around. If Miang's in there, I think it would be a little too crowded."
"That's enough," Pirotess ignored Ryoga's comment and moved over to Ranma.
A quick search disarmed him, removing his staff, knives, bracers (filled with all sorts of goodies), and notebook (pen being mightier than the sword and all that). When she was finished, he was still far from harmless (it would take death to completely disarm him), but it was close enough.
"Pull out your weapons," Pirotess instructed.
Conner drew his sidearm, but Ryoga hesitate. "Why?" he asked.
"Because Miang might still be in there. We can't wait to get back to the base, because that might be what she wants. I can't get an aura reading when he's unconscious, something's messing it up. I need to you pull out that revolver, and point it at his head, because if Miang's in there we can't let her anywhere near Vulcan's Forge."
"We especially can't let her within two hundred klicks of Thrawn," Conner stated, "He's the best chance for stability, and peace this planet has. Miang would do anything to stop that."
"Alright," Ryoga groaned, drawing his pistol.
Pirotess poked the side of Ranma's neck with her knife. His eyes flew open, hand reaching up in reflex, only to be stopped by a magical force field. Pirotess quickly grabbed his head, and stared into his gray eyes.
"It's alright," she said, releasing him, "he's clean."
Ranma looked confused for a second, then laughed bitterly. "No, she's gone. She took what she wanted them left once my body became incompatible."
"'Got what she wanted?'" Deedlit asked. "What did she take?"
"The art," Ranma whispered. "She copied all my memories of training, every technique that pops taught me, and every move I've ever performed."
"That's bad," Ryoga understated.
"Not as bad as you think," Ranma explained. "Knowing how to do something isn't the same as being able to do it. It'll take her years to learn the basics."
"But she's immortal, she has those years and more."
Ranma smiled. It was not a nice smile, but the smile of a predator. "Not if we find her first."
*******
By the time the quartet of Veritechs landed at Vulcan's Forge, a security and medical detail was waiting (at Conner's request). It was also raining, much to Ryoga's discomfort (mental discomfort, physically he was fine since Pirotess carried him rather close to her... front). Once Ranma stepped out of the hatch, though, every gun within ten meters was pointed at her. The companions were dumbfounded until they noticed Ranma's hair. Because of the brief possession, her cursed form's hair color had changed.
Changed to Purple.
Ranma noticed this, and groaned as she held her hands away from her body.
*******
It took three hours before the various security forces were convinced that Ranma was not possessed. After a few muttered apologies, the companions were ushered to guest quarters on the base, the same ones they had on their previous visits.
By mutual consent, they all crammed into Conner's small apartment, since it was larger than the guestrooms. That wasn't saying much, though, since the apartment was little more than a bunk, table, some shelves, and a private head.
"What, no kitchen?" Ranma asked. Seeing no indications of any sort of snacks, he took on the bunk, beside Deedlit.
"There's no need to keep food when you don't have to eat," Conner replied, "especially since I'm only here for maybe three months in twelve."
Ranma shrugged, then turned to Drizzt. "So, what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"This," Drizzt stated, tossing a scroll case to Deedlit. "The Druids said you would be interested in that."
Deedlit's eyes widened as she read the scroll. "It's a cure!"
Ranma glanced at the sheet, and just as quickly looked toward Deedlit's face, unable to read the scroll.
"For your curses! We've been searching for it for two years and it just drops into our laps."
Ranma laughed, and hugged his wife. Ryoga's expression was a combination of joy and hope. The others were quickly expression their support. Before congratulations could be completed, though, Deedlit's face became pale.
"What's wrong?" Ranma asked.
"The components of the cure. It's a simple spell, but it requires a sample of the cause of the curse. We need the water from the cursed springs in order to be able to cure you."
The companions were speechless.
Ryoga broke the silence. "You mean, we have to go back to our home dimension?" Deedlit nodded. "Oh, shit."
"My thoughts exactly," Ranma mumbled.
"There are other reasons to go back," Drizzt said, producing a large ruby.
"Is that...?"
"Yes."
"Weren't you going to destroy that?" Deedlit asked.
"It would not allow itself to be destroyed," Drizzt explained. "We have to return it to the spirit's home, then crush it."
Neither Ranma nor Ryoga looked happy. "So not only do we have to go to our world," the latter stated, "we have to return to Nerima."
"That is correct."
"Bloody Hell," Ranma cursed. "I thought things would start calming down." Everybody glared at him. "Well, slightly, anyway."
The companions began to leave. Ranma and Deedlit stayed.
"No," Emeralda said once the other four had left, "we don't know why the hair color stayed purple once Miang's spirit left your body."
"That was quick," Ranma commented, taking a seat at the rooms only table, "I hadn't asked yet."
"You didn't need to," Conner explained, "I could see the question on your face since we came in here." Four glasses flew out of a nearby cabinet, followed by a bottle of scotch. The five items hovered above the table, rearranging themselves in the air, and slowly sank down to the metal surface.
"You never told us you were telekinetic," Ranma accused
"No," Conner replied, "I didn't. There are a great many secrets each of us have, I think it's time to come out with some of them." Slowly, he filled each glass halfway with the dark liquid. "I think it's time you heard the full story of Miang, not just the bits and pieces we've told you over the years. By the same token, Ranma, we're going to need the whole story about where we have to go for your cure. And Deedlit, after the battle, I recovered Ashram's sword, so I want the full story on that as well. We can fill the others in later, but the four of us have the most information, so we'd better get it out in the open now."
Both nodded. "What are the drinks for?" Deedlit asked.
Emeralda picked up her glass. "I don't think any of our stories will be easy, to tell or to hear. The drinks may help."
*******
The story swap lasted long into the night. Shortly after Emeralda finished her part, the scotch was gone. By the time Conner finished his story, a bottle of vodka was also drained (mostly by him, mumbling about wishing he could get drunk). Ranma's story took half a bottle of tequila, while Deedlit's was relatively calm.
It was a few hours before dawn when the group finally finished their tales. Though enough intoxicants had been downed to leave any six humans plastered, none of the participants were even slightly drunk (supernatural constitution in two cases, very non-human ones in the other cases).
Deedlit was asleep before she and Ranma could reach their room, so he ended up carrying her the rest of the way. Setting his wife down on their bed, Ranma's thoughts wandered over the upcoming journey. They were going back to a place that he never thought he'd see again. Many might think that he was feeling nostalgia, and looking forward to seeing his home again.
What he was feeling, though, was nothing close to that vision. Instead of nostalgia, he was feeling dread. He wasn't looking forward to going home, since that place wasn't home anymore. Home was anyplace that contained a certain blond sorceress.
Memories interacted with those thoughts, reinforcing his feelings of dread as he drifted off to sleep.
*******
Oddly enough, the two-day trip back to Psyscape was uneventful.
Well, uneventful if you don't count the three demons, half a dozen bounty hunters after their heads, twenty leftover Mechanoids, and a necromancer with a small hoard of zombies. But those things were normal and expected.
Since Drizzt had no reason to hide his piloting skills (having recorded, in full holo, Ranma's expression upon finding out), he and Conner took turns driving the small hovercraft loaned to them by Admiral Cortez.
Once they arrived at their residence (a vehicle garage and another set of sleeping quarters had been added in the past two years), Pirotess wasted no time. The hovercraft's engine had yet to cool when she began sketching the required sequence of runes to transport them to one of many places known as Earth.
"How are we going to arrive at the right place?" Deedlit asked.
"I haven't gotten that far," Pirotess replied.
"Why not lock onto something?" Ranma asked. "Like a space that's large enough for transportation, that's also close to a particular person or object."
Deedlit thought about it for a moment. "What about her?"
"Her?" asked a confused Pirotess. Comprehension quickly chased confusion away. "Oh, her."
"Who?" Ranma asked, not liking the situation.
They just smiled, causing him to like it even less.
*******
Clothing was another problem. Ranma found it a bit odd having to buy "retro" style clothing in order to not stand out in public. Style wasn't the problem. Safety was the problem, as was camouflage. He, Ryoga, Conner, and Catti-brie would be able to blend into the crowds (the former to a greater extent than the latter, especially where they were going), and even Emeralda's green hair would not be commented on too much. However, the three elves needed clothing that would conceal their... unique features.
Armored, black, hooded trench coats all around. That should be relatively inconspicuous. (1)
*******
"Remember the language transfer," Deedlit instructed. "Once we're there, your ability to speak and read Erendra will be replaced by your normal Japanese."(2)
Ranma puzzled over that for a moment. "I understand that when we return, the original will return, but is there a way to transfer back without losing the ability to speak Japanese?"
"It won't be a problem, this time," Pirotess explained. "It only occurred when you came over because none of us spoke a common language. Some jokers researching temporal physics called it the 'Dub Effect' for some reason."
"Are we ready?" Deedlit asked. Once receiving nods from all the companions, Pirotess proceeded with the ceremony.
The circle of gold set in marble began to glow. The diamond dust that made up the destination runes was consumed in a bright flash. The light appeared almost solid as it reformed, opening a swirling gateway in the middle of the circle.
"If there are any objections?" Pirotess asked, having to shout over the vortex's wind.
"Hell, no," Ranma shouted back, leaping into the portal.
Ryoga shrugged, then followed his friend through.
*******
It was a village, that much Ranma could tell at first glance. Something about it tugged at his memories. Many of the women, and a few of the men, walked with the grace of a trained warrior. Of course, that could be almost anywhere.
*Wait a minute,* Ranma thought. *Shouldn't that ratio be the other way around. This many women...*
*Uh, oh.*
The others landed behind him, and the portal closed quickly.
Ranma turned to Deedlit. "So that's the 'her' you were talking about."
Deedlit shrugged. "Well, who else do we know in this dimension."
"I should have known it was you," came a familiar voice from one of the huts.
The woman who stepped out of the hut was familiar as well. Her face was unlined, and her raven-black did not have even the slightest trace of gray. Even so, the companions knew she was older than any of them, with the exception of the two elven women (and the arguable exception of Emeralda).
Cologne chuckled as she walked over to the companion's drop-off site. She stopped in front of Ranma.
"You don't look so happy to see me, Ranma."
Ranma laughed. "I'm just a little surprised, old ghoul."
Cologne's staff quickly found it's familiar place on the back of Ranma's head. "Be careful, boy. Remember that I'm younger than your soulmate."
"Wife," Ranma corrected.
A single raised eyebrow was the only indication of her surprise. "I doubt you went through all this trouble just to spread some gossip. What can I do for you?"
The companions retired to Cologne's hut. Shortly after, several villagers nearby were treated to a surprised shout of "You want to do what?"
*******
Cologne's left eyebrow developed a sudden twitch as the companions described their plans.
"You want to return to the cursed springs of Jusenkyo," it was a statement, not a question. "Are you insane?"
"There are those who would say so," Ranma grinned.
"Why come here?"
"It was the only way to get anywhere near the place," Deedlit explained. "We needed a reference point to arrive in this dimension, otherwise the point of entry could have been anywhere. Sorry."
"There is nothing to apologize for," Cologne replied. "However, I must caution you against going near the cursed grounds. Unfortunately, I know you too well to think that you might heed my advice. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Just give us a map," Pirotess interacted, "and tell your warriors that the males here are not to be challenged."
"I don't know, some of the warriors are kinda cute," Conner said, earning a slap from Emeralda.
"I will do that," Cologne said between chuckles. "After all, I do not want to see the village become a crater."
Shortly after the companions had left, Cologne finally allowed herself to erupt in laughter. *In order to open a dimensional rift,* she told herself, *they would have to be at a powerful nexus point. And since they are heading for Nerima, they will have to use the same one I used to go to that world.*
Several hours later, she finally stopped laughing. *I will have to find my old scrying mirror. This is too much fun to pass up.*
*******
To say that the guide was surprised to see them would be an understatement. To say he had a heart attack when the companions knocked on the door of his shack would be a little more accurate. The shock of seeing Ranma was too much for the old man, so he fainted. Ranma had the others wait outside while he woke the man up.
When he woke up, his condition wasn't much better.
"How you still alive?" he asked, his Japanese just as bad as Ranma remembered. "Amazon give you kiss of death three year ago."
"We worked it out," Ranma replied, tossing a small bag to the guide. "I need your help."
The guide opened the bag, and could not speak for several minutes. The glittering light from a dozen diamonds was reflected into his eyes. "What do you need, Mr. Customer?"
Ranma smiled. The diamonds were a pittance compared to the wealth they had gathered over the last two years (and what Deedlit and Pirotess had gathered over the last few centuries). But they had little use for the wealth, and it was easily a hundred times what Genma had cheated the guide out of three years before.
"We need samples of water from two specific springs in the valley of Jusenkyo. Can you help us?"
"Which springs?"
"The spring of drowned little black pig, and the spring of drowned girl."
The guide looked even more surprised (if that was possible). "Not the spring of drowned man?"
"No," Ranma replied. "We have a cure, but we need the spring of the original curse. Besides, I doubt the man spring is even in the valley."
"Correct," the guide replied. "Location is lost. But I get you to spring you want. I promise, Mr. Customer."
Ranma gave his thanks as he left the man to prepare for the journey.
"How'd it go?" Deedlit asked.
"He'll guide us there. If memory serves, we've got about a three or four day hike ahead of us."
"How much?"
Ranma paused before answering Pirotess' question. "Twelve diamonds from that dragon we fought in last October. Nothing significant, and hardly the amount I'm planning on spending here."
Ryoga nodded. "Still planning that?"
"Of course," Ranma replied. "I can't undo all the mistakes that pops used me to make, but I also won't willingly screw over a friend."
*******
They were able to retrieve the water without much trouble (meaning no one else got cursed and none of the native warlords decided to take notice of them). It was almost a vacation for the companions. No monsters, demons, hostile forces (well, none that they would consider a threat), or bounty hunters.
Of course, they knew it couldn't last.
Using a magically augmented boat (no way this bunch could pass the customs checkpoints), they managed to sneak onto the Japanese mainland. Since they were in a more populated area, Deedlit enacted a language spell, making speech and comprehension easier. While she did that, Pirotess expended her energy keeping anyone passing by from taking too much of an interest in them.
*******
"What is the plan?" Drizzt asked once they reached the outskirts of Nerima.
"A few steps," Ranma explained, "only one of which has any set order. The most important step is getting somewhere close to the Kuno estate and crushing the gem."
"There's something we need to do first," Conner pointed out.
"What's that?"
"Our exit, we need to secure our way out."
"Leave that to me," Deedlit stated. "I'll find us the a nexus point in the area."
"Lead the way," Ryoga gestured to the streets.
*******
"Deed, are you sure that you know where your going?"
"We have to find the most powerful nexus in this area, or else the portal spell won't work. It should be right... about... there," she finally said, pointing to a strangely familiar house.
Ranma studied the house. It was somewhat large, two stories, with a wall that enclosed a large yard and a dojo. The sign above the door...
Uh-oh.
"What does that sign say?" Catti-brie asked.
"'Tendo Dojo. To challenge the owner in savage combat, use rear door,'" chorused Ranma and Ryoga, not even looking at the sign.
"Oh dear," Emeralda commented.
"Oh my," Catti-brie sighed.
"Oh no," Deedlit groaned.
"Ah hell," Conner summed up.
There was a pause.
"So," Ryoga asked, "how are we going to get to the nexus point?"
"Well," Ranma replied, "we could either sneak in later, which is risky. Or we could just knock on the door and ask, which might or might not work."
"We don't even know if anyone is here," Conner observed. "They might be on vacation or something."
"One way to find out," Ranma said. Throwing back the hood of his cloak, he swept Deedlit into his arms and kissed her.
"YOU!?" The familiar shout of disbelief and anger came from close proximity.
"Knew that would work," Ranma said, releasing a surprised Deedlit.
Now, dear readers, let us look into the mind of Akane Tendo. Two years before, she had lost two people she cared about. Unfortunately, in Ranma's case, jealousy (both in terms of fighting ability and looks when Ranma was female), frustration, and anger accompanied the affection. When she and Mousse began to date, many of their early conversations were about Ranma. Both used those conversations as a time to vent. In those conversations, Mousse realized that not only was Shampoo a bad choice for him, but that Ranma felt the same way. From that he was able to get over his anger and enjoy his time with Akane. She, on the other hand, used Mousse's venting as a reinforcement of her own anger. The affection felt for Ranma was quickly dissolved, and her anger was buried, since Ranma was gone. However, the anger was like a bomb, set to go off when the source of the anger, namely Ranma, returned.
"How dare you show your face around here," Akane screamed, approaching the group. Mousse was a short distance behind her, trying to stay out of the line of fire. Luckily, Mousse was wearing his glasses, so there wouldn't be any identity mistakes.
"Hey Mousse," Ranma said, ignoring Akane, "long time, no see."
"Likewise," was the mumbled reply.
"Don't ignore me you bastard!"
"Calm down before you get an ulcer, Akane," Ranma advised.
"Don't you try to tell me what to do! Why did you come back?"
"Long story," Deedlit said, "no time to explain. Can we borrow your dojo?"
Akane turned to Deedlit. "Who are you? And why are you hanging around *him*?"
Ranma sighed as a glaring contest began between the two. "No way I'm interrupting that."
"Why not?" Conner asked.
"Because," Ryoga explained, "he like's his head and hide where they are."
"She does have a point," Mousse observed, "why are you here?"
"Had to make a little stopover, get some ingredients for a possible cure. The dojo contains out best chance of getting out of this dimension."
That surprised Mousse. "A cure?"
"Yeah. Don't know if it'll work, though. How's everyone been doing?"
"Ask them yourself."
"What do you mean?"
Mousse simply pointed. Down the street, Ranma could see a familiar form approaching.
"Uh-oh," Ranma was able to say before being tackled by an energetic Amazon.
"Ranma came back for Shampoo! Shampoo so happy."
Ranma looked around. Deedlit had a smirk on her face, watching to see how he got out of this one. Akane had her typical look of rage. The others were shaking in silent laughter. Ranma looked to Ryoga, and nodded.
Shampoo heard a click just beside her right ear. Turning her head slowly, she was face to face with a very large gun barrel. Ryoga's face was cold, hard, and appeared ready to kill.
"Off," he said. Shampoo quickly scrambled off of Ranma, who immediately jumped to his feet.
"You haven't changed one bit," Akane accused. "Still hanging on to any hussy that offers-"
She didn't get any farther than that as Ranma picked her up and slammed her into the wall. "All the things you did to me, I can forgive. Neither of us acted very mature back then. But if you say anything like that about Deedlit again, you will be begging for death." Dropping her to the ground, he moved back towards his friends. "Grow up, you spoiled brat."
Akane accepted Mousse's help in standing up. She gave him a quick smile, then reached into the sleeve of his robe. Drawing a claymore, she gave a feral scream as she charged Ranma again.
A call came from within the house. "Akane!"
Akane stopped her charge, anger draining from her face, leaving embarrassment. Dropping the sword, she turned to the middle-aged woman standing in the doorway.
"What are you doing, young lady?"
A bit of defiance returned to her face. "Defending the honor of the dojo and my family."
The woman appeared skeptical. "Really? Against them," she waved her hand at the companions.
"No, Auntie Saotome, against him." With a snarl Akane pointed at Ranma.
Ranma, on the other hand, wasn't paying attention.
"Saotome?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Yes," the woman said. "I am Nodoka Saotome, last surviving member of the clan Saotome."
Ranma looked like his legs would give out. "I though you were dead," he mumbled, "Pops told me you were dead."
"What are you babbling about, young man. Who are you?"
"Ranma," he replied.
Anger was replaced by confusion, which was in turn replaced by disbelief, and finally joy. With a happy squeal, Nodoka embraced Ranma.
"I'm so happy you have returned. Akane has told me so much about you. I am so proud of you, my manly son."(3)
All Ranma could get out was "huh?"
"When I heard about the curse, I though that I would have to enact the promise. But from Akane's stories about you, I know that you have used it to prove your manliness. Though four women at once may be a little much for one man. Most would be satisfied with two."
"Wait a minute," Ranma interrupted. "What are you talking about?"
"The stories Akane has told me about you. Proving your strength though combat. Maintaining relations with multiple women. Using your cursed form to admire the female body. Such manliness."
Ranma broke the embrace, looking sick. "That's not how it was. I never would do that."
Nodoka's expression darkened. "Are you saying Akane exaggerated?"
"No! I'm saying she lied through her teeth."
Nodoka sighed. "I see we have much to discuss. Including the promise."
End Chapter 7.
Notes:
1: a. Ranma hasn't kept up with events since he left.
b. Relative to the normal appearance of the group.
2: This is a reference back to the original chapters of Warriors Path. Ranma and Ryoga, because of the chaos of their home universe, had their language skills change to the dominant language of the people around them. The word Erendra comes from the Guardians of the Flame novels, and means the human language (or "man mouth"), plus it sounds better than "Common."
3: With what I have read of Nodoka's view of manliness (one author described it as a brawler with the morals of Happosai and the brains of a chimp), I figure Akane's accusations (peeping, sneaking into her room, having three women hanging off of him, fighting at the drop of a hat, etc.) would be right up her alley. Of course, Viz hasn't gotten that far in their translations, so I don't have access to first hand information. And please don't mention the Ranmascan or whatever project. I know what and where it is, I just don't have the time now (especially with the new semester starting on Monday).