Two sides of the same coin
By Michael Coll sc.powerup@angelfire.com
Hi all I was thinking of writing a sequel to my other story but another story came to mind hope you like it this is set before Ranma and Genma meet the tendos. I'm posting this on the spur of the moment kinda thing. All comments welcome
Start
Ranma walked through the night he was travelling through china with his old man and was bored.
"I still say we should have killed him" Said a voice in Ranma head it was feminine but had the undertones of malice in it.
"What ever else he is Ranko he is still our father" He said back
"Huh some father he's sold us countless times for his own gullet we would have been rid of him if you hadn't stopped me"
Ranma remembered that well he had fallen asleep and Ranko had taken over his body taking a knife from his backpack and almost killed Genma by slitting his throat if Ranma hadn't felt the thoughts from Ranko and woke.
"I agree but unlike you I think killing is wrong" He said
"bah Killing your enemies isn't wrong only the strong survive Ranma and were the strongest"
It was a mistake to assume Ranko had killed because always Ranma managed to stop her only just in a few cases. He didn't even know how she came to be all he knew was that she was with him ever since he was young he woke up and there she was it was nice to have a friend to play with anyway. He had one time told Genma of it and was promptly beaten for being weak for thinking he was a girl.
"Wonder where were going now" Ranma thought
"Probably he's going to sell us at a meat market again" Ranko said snidely
"No what did he say again Jugenkyo?"
"Jusenkyo Ranma" Ranko said sighing
"yeah some training ground and let me fight him ok" Ranma said meaning it
Ranko understood and moped in his mind sulking she replied
"fine whatever"
"Great lets get some sleep" Ranma said stretching
Ranko snarled, Ranma consciousness was unconscious at this moment and that meant Ranko was in charge
'What the hell happened' She thought angrily looking down she knew it was true she was a she not a he 'oh'
Ranmas mind surged back with fiery rage forcing Ranko down
'He dies!!!!!!' His mentally yelled And chased after Genma who also had changed into a panda
Ranma ran after Genma while Ranko looked out of his body
'hey whose that with the umbrella?' she thought she watched as Ranma knocked into him and sent the person with the umbrella hurtling to another pool
'fool' she thought and went back into Ranmas body
"So now you see" Said the guide to Ranma and Genma
Ranko laughed at Ranma in his mind
"Shut up Ranko"
"Oh Brother this is too much" Ranko laughed harder
"Dammit this makes me uncomfortable" He yelled at her but Ranko was oblivious
"A Guy with a girls mind a girls body and a mans body this is funny" She said calming down
"hey I saw some poor idiot fall into a pool by you"
"huh really damm I wonder what he fell into" Ranma thought back At this moment Genma came back holding a piglet which was bweeing angrily at him.
Ranma thought about it and spoke to Ranko
"Hey listen I'm going to look and see if I can find him you take over 'kay?"
Ranko shrugged
"Sure whatever" And Ranma left as Ranko surged forwards.
Ranma mentally clothes himself it was always the same when you became spirit no clothes sighing he concentrated and saw the auras of everybody in the room. Looking to the pig he felt something
"Oh kami I'm going to be eaten Oh shit Oh shit"
The pig mind kept saying
"Curse you Ranma Curse You this is all your fault I'll find you and haunt you!!!"
Ranma shot right back into his body barging Ranko out
"Hey watch it" She shouted
"Look" He said and picking up a kettle threw it over the piglet. The piglet morphed and Ryouga stood there Bandanna only.
"Ahrrggggh Hot!!" He said he looked around Genma the Guide and Ranma looked at him
"uh Where are my clothes?" He asked
***********************************************************************************
"You broke our Man to Man promise Ranma" Ryouga shouted wearing his spare clothes from his backpack as the others dried.
"Hey I waited three days for you" Ranma yelled
"Hey I waited too" Ranko said
"You could have waited one more day" Ryouga said
"Ryouga it was the just by your house how was I supposed to know that it would take you four days to reach it I thought you'd ran off" Ranma yelled back
"Well now we can settle this" Ryouga said getting into a fighting stance
"What in jusenkyo we've been cursed once and now you want us to be cursed again fight yourself theres no way I'm getting doused again"
Ranma said
"Oh so the mighty Ranma is just a scared girl"
"Take that back piggy" Ranma warned
"Ranma come we must be leaving" Genma said getting out of the guides hut
Ranma got more angry and Ranko surged forwards taking control although she liked to fight she too was uneasy over jusenkyo but Ryouga would need a little more persuasion.
"Listen to me" Ranko grabbed Ryougas headband and levelled him eye to eye Ryouga swore he could see something like skulls in Ranmas eyes.
" You heard the guide twice and your permanent you want to be a pig forever although I can't see the difference fine but don't include me in your game" Ranko said then stopped and thought for a sec
"But tell you what since it is partly our fault why not come with us that way we can spar whenever you need to get those aggressive feelings out" Ranko said Ranma started swearing saying he'd rather be dead then travel with that pig.
Ryouga was a lost for words travel with his mortal enemy never, but he was lonely he hadn't seen anyone in over two weeks and was feeling down.
"Fine on the condition that we will finish this duel ok?"
"Fine" Ranko said "Now come on"
Ryouga grumbling followed
Ranma watched as his father ate with disgust they didn't really ask but there were so hungry
So started eating, Ryouga was just as bad he was low on supplies and seemed to be like he was eating his last meal on Earth.
"uh Oh" Ranko said
"What is it" He asked looking at the angry women nearing him
"Don't know but I don't think they're happy"
"She says you took her food she just won and that was the prize," a women said
"Well if I beat her there's no problem then" Ranma said leaping onto the log
"Let me you never really hit girls please?????" Ranko said putting the adorable act on
"Fine no killing ok" Ranma said
Ranko felt the adrenaline in her muscles and watched the purple haired warrior approach
'No contest' She thought
Ranma spoke "Don't be too cocky"
Ranko moved like lightning and the warrior swung her weapon Ranko punched and the weapon shattered. The warrior was surpirsed and swung the matching weapon Ranko dodged it and got in to the warriors guard. Smiling she thought 'time to get to work'
Shampoo fell hard from the log hurt in many places she felt like she didn't have enough energy even to get up that red hared witch was unbelievable she moved with such speed and strength. Rising painfully on her legs she turned to face the red haired warrior. Ranko looked to shampoo a snide smirk on her face her eyes cruel Shampoo thought she saw something in her eyes but defiantly she came next to Ranko and kissed her cheek.
'What was that Ranma?' Ranko said puzzled she expected rage anger not a kiss
'give me a sec I'll see'
Ranma went into the girls mind and saw what it was
'that was the kiss of death lets get out of here' He yelled fighting Ranko for control
'Hey I can take her on' said Ranko
'Maybe but not with all her buddies around come on move' Ranma surged forwards and ran Ryouga and Genma following. Shampoo started to give chase but fell exhausted bruised and battered.
'I will find you red hared witch' Shampoo thought before falling unconscious.
"Why are we running?" Ryouga said keeping them in his line of sight as to not get lost
"That kiss was the kiss of death it means she now will find me and hunt me down and kill me" Ranma said
"They're not following we can stop running now" Genma said breathing hard
"So pop where are we going now?" Ranma asked
Ryouga lied down on the ground looking at the sky 'hmmm nice clouds' he thought as Ranma and Genma talked
"Hmmmm" Genma thought about it "Let me think about it"
"Fine" Ranma said
'like you can think' said Ranko
"Hey what's that" Ranma said squinting at the horizon someone was walking down nearing them he was carrying a staff and wore white robes.
He walked forwards and looked at Ranma
'Hey Ranma I don't like the way this guys looking at us' Said Ranko glowering slightly
'Ah so you are the one' Said a voice in Ranma head.
Ranma almost jumped out of his skin 'I'm going mad' He thought first Ranko now someone else
'No not mad but I have been looking for you for sometime' Said the voice
Ranma looked and saw it was coming from the old man
'Why me?' He asked puzzled
'You are special you have the gift of the mind' He replied
'You still haven't told me why you searched for me' Ranma said
'Who cares why he searched lets go' Said Ranko
The old man looked slightly shocked
'Theres two of you!' He said
'You only noticed' Said Ranko
The old man looking with aurasight saw the golden aura of Ranma and the dark grey aura of Ranko walking besides Ranma.
'I searched because I want to train you to use your powers with my help you could become a great esper' The old man said
Genma and Ryouga looked at them they were just standing there not saying anything
'Maybe there sizing each other up' Ryouga thought. Looking to the Old man he wondered why Ranma would try acting big against a man who looked to be older then Genma grandfather.
'Train me?' Ranma asked
'Yes in the arts of the mind and if you are strong enough maybe more' The old man replied
'How do I know you are for real' Ranko said
'Saerch my mind you will see I speak the truth'
Ranko shrugged and placed her hand on the mans head and searched his memories
'he speaks the truth Ranma but I still don't know'
'I'll think about it for now why don't you stay with us while I decide' Ranma said
'Ok you can call me Icarses' The old man said
Ranma nodded
"What was that about?" Ryouga asked Ranma
"He wants me to train under him" Ranma replied
"How do you know you never spoke a word!" Ryouga asked
"We spoke with our minds Ryouga it's a talent I guess you could say he wants me to train and develop that talent"
"And?" Ryouga asked
"I haven't decided yet" Ranma replied
'I'm deciding too Ranma its my body too' Ranko said
'Yeah sure' Ranma said
"Hmm maybe he'll let me come" Ryouga said
"Why would you want to come" Ranma asked surprised
"It sound interesting and its something I have never down before" He said
"That explains the vacant look in your eyes" Ranma said laughing
"Hey take that back" Ryouga got to his feet in a fighting stance
"Make me pork breath" Ranma also got into a fighting stance
"RANMA!!!!!!!!!!!!" Ryouga yelled and they started to fight
The old man sat with Genma while the two boys fought
"Are they your sons?" Icarses asked Genma
"No the one without the bandanna is my son the other is just a friend of his I think" Genma replied
"I'll be straight with you I want to train Ranma and " Looking at the fight with interest "Maybe the one with the bandanna too"
"They have no need of training I train them" Genma said
"I mean to train them in their minds Genma not in their body" Icarses replied
Genma sorted
"Ranma doesn't need to be trained anymore in the mind" Genma said
"He could be stronger Genma your son could be invinsible"
Genma thought about this
"Theres a catch isn't there?" he said
"Yes when I call Ranma would have to come no matter what else is happening at the time" Icarses said back
"What happens in this call"
"It is a call to arms and in this battle Ranma may not return"
"Then why should I allow you to train him if he will die"
"We all die Genma and I don't know when I will call it could be years from now but Ranma is important and has a lot of potential please allow me to train him"
"For how long?"
Icarses thought about this
"one week" 'to you anyway' Icarses said
'One week eh' "Ok you can train him however after this week send Ranma to this address in Nerima this is were I'll be" Genma said giving Icarses a piece of paper
"Thank you"
Turning back to the fight they watched Ranma dodge and block Ryougas attacks and watched Ryouga in turn block Ranmas strikes.
Icarses stood and called an end to the fight
"You boy what's your name"
"Ryouga Hibiki" Ryouga replied standing up
"Come Ryouga and Ranma, Genma has agreed for me to train you both" Icarses said and started walking Ranma and Ryouga following
Genma watched them he blinked and when he opened his eyes they were gone puzzled he shrugged and walked to a port to catch a ship to Nerima.
"Where are we?" Ranma asked one minute they were in china the next they seemed to be in a stone courtyard
"We have just crossed dimensions Ranma but have no fear I will send you back when your training is complete" Icarses said
Ranko floated above Ranma and started to look around
"So" Ranko said turning to Icarses "when do we leave to go back to the other dimension?"
"2 years from now" He replied
"2 years but I heard you say one week!" Ranma yelled
"Time runs differently here 2 years is 1 week in your dimension" Icarses said
Ryouga looked at the white building they were tall and voices could be heard inside he began to wonder why had he gone with Ranma he should of just left them after fighting Ranma but he hadn't. He heard about the two years and one week but he didn't really care he had never been among people who knew him at least not for very long at least here he might, if he didn't get lost he reasoned. Turning he went to join Ranma.
Ranma and Ryouga followed Icarses through a door which lead into a large hall were varies weapons hanged from the wall and table was laid with food and drink..
"Please be seated you must be hungry" Icarses said sitting down and reaching for a piece of roast chicken
Ranma and Ryouga promptly sat down and started eating, Icarses watched as they ate.
"Calm down the food isn't going anywhere" Icarses commentated as they gulped the food down.
Once they had finished eating about twenty people came in
"These will be your comrades." Icarses said
Ranma, Ranko and Ryouga looked over the 20 people they were from all nationalities but by far they were mainly Japanese or Chinese but they were mixed boys and girls. One girl kept glaring at Ranma she was dressed in blue with a white bow in her long brown hair. Ranma looked quizzically at her wondering why she was angry at him.
Ranko looked strangely at a boy who had completely white hair held in a ponytail and green eyes
"This is Ranma and Ryouga the spirit form girl is called Ranko"
Ranko smiled darkly to everyone
"These are my students" pointing to the girl who kept glaring at Ranma Icarses spoke
"Ukyo..." Was as far as he got when Ranma and Ranko leapt to their feet
"Ucchan!" They shouted the girl Ukyo shouted
"Don't call me that you jerk!"
Ranma looked dazed his friend was a girl.
"you- you're a girl!"
"Of course I am what did you think I was!"
"I-I thought you were a man"
Ukyo blinked, Icarses blinked they all blinked.
Ryouga started laughing
"Shudup its not funny" Ranma said
Ryouga continued laughing they were staying in the main dorm Ranma explained to Ukyo and Ukyo scanned his mind finding out he didn't know about the engagement or that she was a she.
Ukyo seemed depressed and went with the other girls after Ranma had been introduced to the all.
"Yes it is Ranma how could you have thought that she was a man" Ryouga laughed some more.
Ranma grumbled and looked over the dorm he and Ryouga were sharing with the other boys.
It was a nice room and it was a nice feeling that he had a real home Ryouga too seemed to like it. They each had a desk and a bed. Food was held in the hall were they ate all their meals. Something was bugging him though.
"Hey Ryouga" Ranma said
"Yeah"
"Can you do anything" Ranma hesitated "odd"
"Odd?"
"Yeah you know odd"
Ryouga thought about this
"Besides turning into a pig"
A boy walking by stumbled on hearing this
Ranma and Ryouga seemed not to notice
"No something else"
"I get lost a lot?" Ryouga said
"No something else"
"Can you at least tell me what I'm supposed to say"
Ranko wandered to Ryouga and placed her face bare inches towards Ryougas face
"Can you see me idiot."
Ryouga blinked a bit something was in front of him he felt it but his eyes kept telling him there wasn't anything there by not focussing on it.
Ranma concentrated and he felt himself free of his body
"Can you see us bacon breath?"
Ryouga saw Ranma close his eyes and stay still he felt something in the air he concentrated he felt something. Yes what is it words? Words? What words? Bacon breath? He opened his eyes and saw Ranma and Ranko.
He realised how close his face was to Rankos and leapt back.
Ranko started laughing. Ryouga looked and saw Ranma and Ranmas body to the right.
"How'd you do that?" Ryouga asked
"Close your eyes and concentrate on your mind feel it free of the body the releasing of chains" Came a voice and they saw Icarses next to Ranma in spirit form.
Ryouga did so and felt himself free of his body opening his eyes again he saw Ukyo come in through the wall followed by a girl called Isabel.
Isabel had dark hair and looked to be from Europe her eyes a piercing blue.
"hi guys" Isabel said smiling
Ranko smirked
"Hi Isabel" Ranko said back
"Look we were wondering if you would like to come with us for a while" Isabel said looking at Ranko
Ranko raised an eyebrow then shrugged
"sure why not I'll take the body Ok Ranma?" Turning to Ranma
Ranma paused
"Sure go ahead make some friends"
Ranko leapt into Ranmas body and took control.
"Ah that's better" Reaching for a cup of water on her bedside she splashed water on herself turning her into a girl.
Ukyo had seen this in Ranmas mind but no one else did
"Wha-Whats that" Isabel stammered
"It's a curse but for now this is my body" Ranko replied
"OK meet us in the courtyard 'kay?"
Ranko nodded and jumped of the bed
"Hey be careful Ranko" Ranma called out
"Sure thing bro" Ranko replied smiling at
"wait" Said Icarses said coming through the wall
Ranko turned and looked at Icarses
Ranma floated next to Ryouga who looked a bit disconcerted at being outside his body
"Its Ok Ryouga all you have to do is lie in your body and you'll be back in." Said Ranma
"Yes but first I have something to show you three" Icarses said looking to Ukyo and Isabell he told them to leave
Ranma watched Icarses glow a white ethereal light glowing around him.
"Come Ranma, Ranko, Ryouga I have to show you " Icarses said "Hold my hands"
Ranma held Icarses right hand while Ryouga held the left Ranko held Ranmas.
Ranmas vision blurred and swirled colours started to mix making him disorientated he thought he would start to retch but just as soon as it came the feeling left him.
Ranma looked out over the landscape it was desolate a black sky and the ground was stony there were no people and no vegetation of any kind visible to him.
Ryouga saw something that caught his eye a huge hulking beast with eyes blood red walked by him not even noticing him it was carrying something in his hand. Ranma blanched it was carrying a half eaten corpse.
Ranko watched it with glittering eyes
"This Ranma is the future of your world and many others" Icarses said appearing to his right
"Wha What was that?" Ryouga said
"That was a chaos beast a demon of the 4th level" Icarses said
"What did you mean by our future?" Ranma said
"I have pierced the mists of time to show you this Ranma this is what will happen to your world. Firstly there is a world were a people made a pact with the demons in hell to help them conquer the world. They succeeded... and sent the demons back to hell. All was fine until they found the secret of the great song. They found they could travel to other worlds to conquer they formed a great evil empire ever expanding finally they met extreme resistance and sought a demon lord who agreed to pledge his army to them on the condition that some of the worlds would be left for the demons, They agreed...The demons opened a gate with them and will invade your world, an army gathers to defeat them, no one survives the demon army and the Eross armies cannot be killed by conventional means. When the world falls the Eross leave and leave the demons to eat and drain the life from your world and once it is dead they open another gate and go into the next world."
"Why did you show us this?" Ryouga said
"The only way we can stop them is to fight"
"But you just said"
"Not by normal bullets Ranma, demons can take terrible punishment and still attack you. However wood and mystic weapons can hurt them more so."
"What kind of punishment can they take" Ryouga asked interested
The air shimmered and they saw a battle field a black hoard of demons rushed the army. The demons were variable some flew some travelled underground and some were enormous. They saw tanks and rifles shoot bullets into the advancing demon line. None of the demons even missed a step, wounds, which were caused, started to heal and in some others they just continued. Ranma look on in horrified fascination as a demon had its arm torn of as a tank shell hit it and keep on running. He saw the demons crash into the army like an angry wave and the slaughter was terrible some where even eaten alive. And he then saw an Eross Warrior he was dressed in a shining breastplate and helm of dark red charging with them his strength was seemingly enormous, Bullets bounced off him and he charged into their ranks his sword sliced people into pieces.
"This is just one battle over 10000 humans died for just 100 demons which were returned to the pit and 150 Eross Warriors. And not even the strongest demons marched or veteran warriors."
Ranma saw this to be true as the larger demons and the more ferocious looking stayed back dark eyes glittering as they saw the battle.
"The already have destroyed countless worlds since they came, they are deadly Ranma and know nothing except hunger, pain and torture it is there way they can only do this for they live off life itself once they are on a world they feed off the life and are invincible. But there are ways to kill them with magic and the powers of the mind a demon will falter and become a normal enemy." Icarses said
Ranma looked on the field at the battle
"They may be normal but they will still be deadly" He said to Icarses
Icarses nodded in affirmation
"But if we don't fight we die right?" Ranko said
"Yes" Was the simple answer
"You travelled in time if we fight do we die?" Ranma asked
Icarses wished he hadn't asked
"Ranma I can't tell your personal future yes a lot of those who you see will die but equally some will live events are changing this future. Every action that we do changes it, so yes in one future you will die in another you live I can't tell which will occur but one thing for certain is that the demons are coming, there in every future."
Ranma looked at the devastation caused by the demons
"And were going to stop this from happening just how many of us are there?" Ranma asked
Icarses sighed
"There are currently 1000 espers I have trained Ranma there are other people of my kind training espers but altogther we will be maybe 19 to 20 thousand against maybe 250 thousand demons."
Even Ranko was taken aback at this
"We'll be outnumbered by 13 to one they'll simply march over us." Ranko replied hotly although she didn't really care whether she lived or not but she wasn't going to die that easily
Icarses shook his head
"Not so Ranko we won't fight them here on this dimension we'll be fighting them here"
Icarses concentrated and the air shimmered again
Ranma lurched feeling sick as the colours swirled
There stood a large fortress it had been built between what seemed like two cliffs Ranma noticed the cliff walls were completely sheer and there were six straight walls each getting narrower as it reached the keep. From this height he could see beyond the keep was a major city it seemed to be the Middle Ages.
"What is this place?" Ryouga asked
"Its my world" Icarses said simply "It's the next world that will fall"
Icarses concentrated and time started to speed up to them they saw the demons arrive and the fortruss was destroyed after a few days the city quickly followed
"When will that happen?" Ranko asked
"I don't know as I said it varies what you saw was one future but from all my predictions the demons are going to attack here first then your world."
"How can you be sure?" Ryouga asked "While were here our world could be in danger"
"Good point Ryouga but you forget I will call you when they arrive where ever they arrive we will fight. Another thing time also runs differently here for every day in your world 4 days go by here world, that is why I will be able to contact you in time but now we must go and prepare for your training. Come on lets go holding out his hands"
Ranko looked at the demons then grabbed Ranmas hand
Ranma looked and saw himself still in spirit form he stifled a yawn he was tired a bone weary Ryouga too seemed the same only Ranko didn't seem tired he stood next to her.
"Rest if you want brother I won't kill anyone here" Ranko said to him
Ranma nodded and closing his eyes he swept back into his body's mind with Ranko his aura died down as he fell asleep leaving only Rankos aura outlined on his girl half's body.
Ranko felt Ranma in her mind sleeping like a baby, she finally sighed
"Tired too aren't you?" Ryouga said to her
Turning around so she could see him she glared at him
"No need for that I can see you're tired why don't you sleep too?" Ryouga asked
"My minds too busy to sleep Pig boy think about it in a few monthes or years we'll be in a war a real war!" Her eyes seemed to go feral at the name.
Ryouga shrank back slightly
"Yeah a war against demons gee aren't we lucky" He said depressed slightly a blue aura appearing around him
"Ahhhhhh is wittle piggy scared don't worry I'm here for you to hold your hand" Ranko taunted him
Now it was Ryougas turn to glare at her
"I'm not scared but didn't you see those things! They were monsters I will fight and die if necessary to protect everyone I love but hell they were scary!"
Ranko nodded but didn't say anything she wasn't scared of demons, she shrugged and walked to the window seeing the sun setting casting a red glow on the horizon and sea she liked the sight of it.
"Beautiful" Ryouga said next to her looking at the sun set
Ranko nodded turning she went to her bed crawling in she slept.
Ranma woke up and noticed he was is girl form he yawned and groaned felt how cold it was in the room it was mainly stone which didn't hold a lot of heat. He got dressed quickly and saw Ryouga had already dressed and had gone.
"Probably got lost" Ranma mumbled
Looking he saw the bathroom and stumbled into it. Just as he was about to undress Ukyo appeared in spirit form causing Ranma to almost leap out of his skin.
"Gah-what the hell" Trying to calm down he spoke normally "What is it"
"Icarses says that once you finish come downstairs to the hall for breakfast" Ukyo said
Ranma nodded and waited after a few seconds he looked at Ukyo annoyingly
"Well?" Ranma said
"Hmmm"" Ukyo replied
"Leave!" Ranma said
Laughing Ukyo went through the wall and left. Ranma grumbled and leapt into the shower feeling the water cascade over him relaxing him and turning him male.
Ranma looked into his closet his red and black clothes were dirty and he left them in the bathroom, seeing something that he liked he finally settled on a white T-shirt and black bottoms. Satisfied he went to find breakfast.
Ranma leapt down the stairs to the hall Ranko was still sleeping he could feel her in his mind contented, As he entered the hall he saw Ryouga and everyone else there Ryouga was eating toast with a coffee and some pancakes. Ranma stomach growled as he saw the food reminding him that he was starving Icarses waved to him at a chair on his right Ranma ran over and sat down seeing the food he started to eat. Everyone ate in relative silence there was the occasional conversation but it seemed no one was really at their best during morning. After a few minutes some left having finished eating. Ranma wondered what to do now Icarses was a little sketchy on the details
"Ranma" Icarses said
"Yes Icarses?" Ranma replied
"Your training will begin now take Ryouga and follow the others they will tell you what to do now"
"Ok Come'on Ryouga lets go"
Ryouga stopped shovelling food into his mouth and tried talking
"Don't talk with your mouthful Ryouga" Icarses said sipping his tea
Ryouga started swallowing then spoke
"I was just asking wheres Ranko shouldn't she be in training too?"
"Hmmm hes right wake Ranko up Ranma when you get there now go on" Icarses said
Ranma got up grabbing Ryouga's by his sleeve and ran out following the students
They entered a large building which looked like a dojo everyone arranged themselves into rows
Ranma saw Ukyo and Isabel and went up to them with Ryouga
"So what kinds training is this?" Ranma asked
Ukyo answered for him
"This is sword practice Ranma you pick a sword and practice till your proficient at it."
"So which sword have you got?" Ryouga asked
Ukyo smiled and concentrated a short sword appeared in her hand it had a sliver sheen on its blade and a black hilt with sliver pommel. Isabel spoke next
"When your proficient with a sword you then have to make your own" She said
"I don't know how to make a sword!" Ranma spoke
"You'll learn but its important that you make your sword" Isabel said
Ranma grumbled a bit but didn't speak anymore. Probing he woke Ranko up gently
'Ranko wake up' His mind said gently
'Huh?' Ranko yawned and stretched out
For Ukyo Ryouga and Isabel it was disconcerting to see Ranma's soul seeming to shimmer and split into Ranko.
'Why'd ya wake me up!' Ranko asked Ranma angrily
'Were going to start training now so you have to be here Ranko' Ranma replied to her
Ranko pouted at Ranma but remained silent
They all watched as a man about 22 years old stepped in front of them all.
"I see we have some new people so would they please step up and pick a sword. Oh and my name is Juno"
Ranma and Ryouga stepped forward and went to the sword rack. Looking Ranma picked a long sword, which looked similar to Ukyo's short sword. Ryouga picked up a heavy looking broadsword, which he held as if it was as light as a feather.
"OK now you'll keep these swords and they must be kept in good condition they must be sharp now let's begin. Wait Ranma I see Ranko Icarses told me about her so you will practice twice" Indicating with the cold water
For the proceeding hours Ranmas and Rankos arms felt almost useless the sword felt clumsy in their hands and the weight began to slow them down after the first hour. For Ryouga even his endurance began to lose after 2 hours of swinging that massive sword stabbing dummies and slashing he felt like his arms were going to drop off. Ukyo smirked at Ranma as sweat dripped off his head she had finished 2 hours back but Ranma had to practice more because of Ranko.
Finally it was over and he almost collapsed
"Go and eat something for your first time you both did very well you'll find your endurance will increase now" Juno said to them
"Everyone else Good! Your practise is starting to pay off! Most of you will be proficient at the end of the week!" Juno said to the group
Ranma and Ranko were exhausted and didn't think they would be able to eat however once food was placed in front of them they ate.
After lunch Ranmas arms were aching, as were Ryougas, Ukyo told them not to worry
"Next is mind practice so you won't have to worry you won't be using your body" Ukyo told them
Ranma looked as a man about 40 entered
"Ok all you new guys n gals listen my names William I'll be teaching you how to use your mind to heal once you get that down you'll learn how to read minds then telekinesis and if any of you are good enough maybe some magic. Now lets get down to work."
Ranma and Ranko both used spirit form Ukyo was right that their body wasn't going to be in use but she neglected to mention that trying to heal and move objects with your mind is about 100 times harder then using your body. By the time the study was called to an end Ranma felt weary in both body and mind.
"That's it for today folks keep practising and you'll find it gets easier every time!" William called after them
Ranma grumbled a bit and swore as he staggered back to his dorm determined to sleep for the remaining day. Ryouga staggered after him keeping him in his sights to prevent himself from getting lost.
When they arrived at their dorm they collapsed on their beds. Ukyo poked her head through the door she too seemed tired and weary obviously the day had taken its effect on her too.
"Hi Icarses said to give you this schedule your both suppose'd to keep to it" She said tossing the piece of paper at Ranma
"See ya I'm heading home for some sleep" Yawning Ukyo left
Ranma looked at the paper his arms felt like lead, he looked at Ryouga but the paper was nearer to him groaning he was about to get off when Ranko spoke
"Use telekinesis Ranma" She said to him
Ranma groaned more it was harder to move an object with his mind because if he used his body muscles did the work if he used his mind he had to use force itself to lift it.
"You have to practice Ranma" She said
Ranma grumbled and concentrated the paper lifted up although wobbled slightly as it flew to Ranmas hands.
"Ok here it says that we get 1 day a week to rest all the other days are swordsmanship till we pass all swords then we progress to specific weapons. Next day healing, telekinesis, telepathy and fly the mist progressing to magic for high pupils. Next day it is Tactics progressing to being a quartermaster ... What's a quartermaster?" He asked Ranko
"The people who take care of the food and stuff, the logistics of battle" She answered
"Ok then its Martial arts practice. Next day its Sorcery, And lastly it's the power of the mind... hmmm what's that?"
"Who knows come'on lets sleep I'm beat" Ranko said
Ranma nodded his head falling to the pillow; he was asleep in less than 10 seconds.
Ranma groaned as he dreamed, he ran through the black tunnels he was alone. He heard a cry and scream of a boy, he ran to find the boy there was yowling everywhere and glowing yellow eyes. A door suddenly was seen on the cave wall where the boy was screaming. He reached to open it but suddenly leapt back a dark figure was there holding a short sword. The figure had red hair that looked like spikes and was female its eyes were like that of a cat. Ranma tried to find Ranko in his mind but she wasn't there.
Ranma yelled and swung his sword at the figure, the figure didn't even move to block the sword Ranmas sword continued until it was about to slash across the throat of the figure.
"Why do you want me to kill you!" Ranma asked
"For me to move you must kill me" The figure replied
"I don't want to kill you I only want to save the child" Ranma replied
" To do so you must kill me," The figure said sadly
Ranma waked up his eyes snapping open looking for...for something. Seeing nothing he sighed and tried to find Ranko she was sleeping in his mind calm. Ranma looked out of his window it was still dark and his body ached especially his arms. He got out of bed and walked to the window he saw the flickers of light on the horizon as the sun started to come up.
'Another day the same nightmare....' He thought
Stretching he walked downstairs to see if he could find breakfast, sighting the table he saw the kitchen through a door and went though to find the fridge. After rummaging around for a few minutes Ranma came out with a milk bottle and a few slices of bread and butter. Settling down he sat on a chair at the table and began to think while eating.
'Am I right for this?' It was hard for Ranma to answer this because he didn't usually examine himself and was confident to do all things. But this was a something no one had ever done before
'Are you man enough?' This was even harder to answer he was brought up to be a manly man but how manly can you be when you have the body of a woman when cold water touches you.
All in all Ranma felt extremely depressed by the time Icarses came down the stairs.
"Ah I thought someone was up" He said as he sat next to Ranma "So why the sad face?"
Ranma looked at him
"I wonder about this battle and think am I right for it? I've never seen such creatures nor have I been in a battle like that. But I have no choice if I don't go the Earth is destroyed isn't it?"
Icarses merely nodded
"You've placed one hell of a responsibility on me you know"
"I know Ranma but there's no one else it could be, normal people won't stop them." He replied
"But why me? How'd I get this power?" Ranma asked
"Honestly? I don't know no one does but I'll take a look into you mind if you want to see when it manifested"
Ranma thought about it and shrugged
"why not"
Icarses concentrated and felt himself dragged into Ranmas mind he felt Ranko sleeping her presence now seemed peaceful. Then all of Ranmas life flew through his eyes. He looked horrified as he saw what Genma did to him and the birth of Ranko and the Talent.
'I can't tell him' He thought "I have no idea how you got the power Ranma it just decided to manifest itself into you as a chosen one at about 9 years of age" 'well at least that's partly the truth' Icarses said to Ranma
Ranma nodded he could see Icarses wasn't telling the whole truth but wasn't going to push the issue.
Ryouga came awake and 20mins after Ranma he still seemed tired but his stamina seemed to be keeping him up. Ryouga walked past Ranma who was lying in his bed staring at the ceiling and went to he bathroom.
"What are you doing Ranma?" Ryouga said washing his face
"Just thinking" Ranma said back
"Don't strain your brain" He said and started brushing his teeth
After 10 mins Ryouga came back in a towel around his shoulder he sat on his bed too.
"Good thoughts?" Ryouga asked
Ranma just shrugged "Don't know just thinking about how we all got here..."
Ryouga answered this one "well Ranma I know your father probably never told you but when a man and woman"
Ranma spoke again "Ryouga I'm not talking about that!"
"look Ranma does it matter? Where here now just let it lie" Ryouga said to him
"Don't like looking at your situations do you?" Ranma said
"Not really I just blame everything on you" Ryouga said with a grin "That usually works come-on we better get going"
End for now
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