Process of Elimination -- Chapter Fourteen -- Part One
Disclaimer: The primary colors in this story are from Takahashi, Viz
(Ranma 1/2), Pioneer (Tenchi Muyo!), and Kitty Films, Naoko Takeuchi
(Sailor Moon).
Additional tinting provided by: Takada Yuuzou, and Kodansha (3x3 Eyes),
Takada Yuuzou, and A.D.Vision (Bannou Bunka Nekomusume Nuku-Nuku), and
of course, Tatsuya Egawa (Goldenboy). The easel is mine. That's all.
Archival notes: Do not archive.
Notes: Diverges from Ranma after volume 24, continuation for OAV 2 in the
Tenchi universe (well, one of them). Nuku Nuku is from the OAVs, not TV.
Sailor Moon occurs, well, at some point in the series, but it's
something of an alt anyway. 3x3 Eyes diverges before OAV2. This fic uses
the bizarrely vague 'Pick One!' scenario. Enjoy.
-----------------------------
"What is done is done, and cannot be undone. It is the belief of myself
and the people that I represent that our choice was the wisest one we
could have made. Deferring to Saffron in these matters is a rule, and
one that we always follow. When he recovers, so too will we be ready to
return. Until then, we are a people who value our privacy. Goodbye."
Kiima, 'Phoenix People' representative -- Interview with G.N.N. on August
8th, Old Terran Year 1999.
Kintaro studied the girl in his viewscreen, glancing for a moment at the
relayed data from the other GP craft on the reaver's trajectories.
Flipping a switch, he raised the channel security, so that no others
could listen in. "Yep," he said, nodding. "Kohito's fine, according to
Maintainer Shiname."
"Are you sure?" the girl asked anxiously.
Kintaro smirked. "He's just resting -- but try not to tell anyone. This
information is classified, until the investigation is over." Turning his
attention back to the monitor that showed the reaver's trajectories, he
raised an eyebrow as the three objects disappeared, whatever force that
had caused them to vanish also disrupting communications for a moment.
"... understand," the girl said, nodding as the static cleared. "I won't
tell anyone but Washuu-sensei. Is that okay?"
"Um, I sure hope so," Kintaro said, grinning. "Thanks for your help with
the reavers."
"And thank you for the help of the Galaxy Police," Ami said, bowing her
head slightly. "Are more ships going to be coming soon? Washuu-sensei
said she wanted to know about that, if there are."
"I'm not sure," Kintaro admitted, scratching the back of his head
nervously. "If I find out more, I'll tell you, though."
"Thank you. Thank you very much," the girl said again, bowing her head
before the connection terminated.
Kintaro sighed, and tapped a finger against Yukinojo's console. "Hey," he
said, as the computer's 'face' emerged. "I'm going to check outside the
ship for anything that's damaged."
"Understood," the computer returned. "I will monitor for incoming
messages through Shizu-oh."
***
After the last of the Home Fleet passed through the Gate, Tenchi allowed
it to shut, nearly sagging with relief. The Tenchi-ken had been gripped
tightly enough to leave indentations in his palm, and he knew -- this
time -- how much of the power that had gone into the attempt was his,
and how much had been Tsunami's. And far too little of the power that
had gone into it was his own.
Ryouko and Ayeka watched closely, not rushing to his side, lest he appear
weak before the court. He recovered himself, standing up straight, and
glanced out the viewports at Jurai, the Home Fleet and all of the Galaxy
Police transports surrounding the Throne to every side.
Turning his back to the screens, Tenchi strode to the massive seat
beneath the Throne, and carefully lowered himself into it. "Proceed to
Jurai," he said tiredly. Gripping the Tenchi-ken tightly, he asked the
tree to open a communication link with the leader of the Galaxy Police
convoy.
She seemed moderately surprised to see him, and saluted smartly. "Sir?"
she asked. "Do you require anything of me?"
"I just wanted to thank you," he explained, offering a weak smile.
"Without your help, this matter would have likely been much worse. So,
again, thank you."
The woman nodded her head, smiling. "Always a pleasure to help--"
Tenchi reeled suddenly, the connection between the Tenchi-ken and the
Throne coming violently active, buzzing an angry warning into the back
of his head. He stood up straight, wincing, as more communication links
activated in the air surrounding the Galaxy Policewoman's image.
All of them regarded Tenchi with apprehension, and the Court slowly
increased the volume of its questioning murmurs. Tenchi wobbled on his
feet, one hand gripping the arm of the seat, trying to sort out the
message he was receiving from the Throne. "The reavers on Earth... have
destroyed the orbital platform," he said slowly.
Each of the nineteen Juraian captains of Home Fleet vessels bowed their
heads. "According to what Shizu-oh has relayed to the Throne," Tenchi
said quietly. "Those remaining on Earth are in substantially more danger
than we thought."
"What can we do?" Yohito asked, shaking his head, his distress visible
across the communication link. "That's a seven day journey, at best. Can
you open another Gate, Tenchi-sama?"
"No," Ayeka answered flatly, before Tenchi could open his mouth. "Another
Gate cannot be risked at this time."
"There is, however, another possibility," Karau interjected, stepping
away from the Court. "Your Eminence, if I could speak alone with you for
a moment?"
Tenchi frowned at Karau, then directed his gaze to Yohito. "You want to
go back to Earth?" he asked.
Yohito nodded quickly. "I wish to honor my brother."
Turning his attention back to Karau, Tenchi asked, "Would you be opposed
to Yohito's involvement in this meeting?"
Karau pursed his lips thoughtfully studying the captain, then shook his
head in negation. "I do not find it objectionable, Your Eminence."
Yohito bowed his head. "I will take care of my passengers, Masaki-sama,
and then join you, if you find this acceptable."
Tired, and upset at the limits on his powers and control, Tenchi merely
nodded. "Make it so," he said, rubbing at the bridge of his nose as he
settled back into his seat.
***
Away from the Court, and attended -- as always -- by Ayeka and Ryouko,
Tenchi sat at the head of the table in one of the Throne's smaller
meeting rooms. Yohito and Karau sat at opposite sides of the table,
regarding him levelly.
Ayeka broke the uncomfortable silence. "Karau-san... what is it that you
believe that you can provide that could make a difference, here?" she
asked carefully.
Karau frowned, glancing at Yohito, and offered, "Perhaps you're familiar
with the hyperspace bypasses that rumor says the Laruma have access to?"
Ryouko snorted, rolling her eyes. "That's just a myth -- there's no such
thing," she grumbled.
Yohito, however, allowed some of the tense worry to drain from his face,
and turned to regard Karau curiously. "You're saying there's a way to
get there faster?" he asked skeptically.
Karau hedged uncomfortably. "This is a secret of the Laruma, and of
Ginraii, and I would not have it shared lightly," he warned.
"What do you want?" Tenchi asked, frowning.
Karau made his face neutral, and explained, "From you, nothing,
Tenchi-sama, but from Yohito-san, I would ask merely that he respect
Ginraii, and not share the secret I divulge, and to allow my brother to
help in your investigation."
"You have my word of honor as a member of the Tatsuki clan," Yohito
replied instantly.
A smile played about Karau's lips, and he ducked his head in a nod. "Very
well, Yohito-san, though I do not know that you will enjoy what the
process requires of you."
"What is it?" Ryouko asked, intrigued. "There are no usable hyperspace
bypasses. I would know -- I asked Washuu -- living things can't survive
in them for more than a few minutes."
"You are correct," Karau said, nodding at the woman. "The Ouke-no-ki, as
Tsunami has told us, draw their energy from subspace, however, which
limits how that power can be used in hyperspace. And, Tsunami has told
us that when an Ouke-no-ki is not powerful enough to form a Light Hawk
Wing on its own, it may pool its power with the power of other
Ouke-no-ki to create them."
"Yes," Yohito said, frowning. "I know this."
"But did you know that the Ouke-no-ki can enter subspace?" Karau asked
turning his attention back to Yohito.
"Why would they want to? It's larger than realspace," Yohito objected.
"How can you possibly go farther in less time in subspace than you can
in hyperspace?"
"By pooling energy. Ginraii uses this ability only when we have to,
because the influx of power can harm Ouke-no-ki if one is not careful.
But if you were to find my brother, he could take you to the Ginraii
fleet that's headed towards Earth. If you join with that fleet, your own
Saryu-oh and Genoh's Vidarr would be able to push them through subspace
to Earth in less than a day -- you would only lose the time it took to
meet up with their ships, and they're far slower than yours."
Ryouko blinked, clearly impressed. "Washuu would love to study that," she
said, nodding. "I guess you use the Light Hawk Wings as subspace sails,
and ride the current? What do you do if it's not going where you want it
to go?"
"We ask Tsunami," Karau explained, grinning. "If the cause is just, she
listens, and the currents change to suit her desires."
"I'll do it," Yohito said, nodding. "We'll get more ships to Earth,
sooner, and I'll be able to investigate my younger brother's accident.
Is this acceptable, Your Eminence?"
"I don't see why not," Tenchi allowed, shaking his head. "I wish I could
just create a Gateway, but Tsunami said that it would be unhealthy for
me to try again. If this works, then I won't have to. Very well then,
Yohito. I trust you."
"Thank you," the captain said, rising from his seat and bowing deeply to
Tenchi. "By your leave."
"As you will it," the boy dismissed.
***
Sighing in frustration as Herb slipped -- again -- Ranma caught the other
girl, and growled, "Okay, Herb, this is getting ridiculous. There's at
least one hundred meters with no ledges above us, and the moss is so
slippery I don't think I could have handled it if I couldn't levitate."
"What would you suggest, then?" Herb asked carefully, trying to twist
about enough to see Ranma from her awkward position.
Ranma set Herb on a ledge, and shook her head and sighed. "Climb onto my
back, and we'll just go up slow enough we don't make your Phoenix People
angry. It's going to be dark soon, and I don't know how well you can see
without light."
"You make a solid point," Herb said wearily. "I do not understand how you
can climb so far, and not be tired."
"It's just as easy for me to fall up as it is to fall down," Ranma said
indifferently. "Levitation is part of me, now."
Herb said nothing for a moment, then nodded, and climbed onto Ranma's
back. The girl began to drift upward, sighing once more. Herb stared
resolutely at the wall of the mountain before them -- no handholds were
visible, as Ranma had said.
Ranma was able to control her curse, somehow. Herb had studied long and
hard, and while she knew of the cure easily enough, she did not know how
to control the curse while she still possessed it. "So," Ranma asked
quietly. "Why are you still cursed?"
"The last time I went to Jusenkyou, the pools were dry. When I returned
again, they had flooded. Mint and Lime were sent to wait there until the
pools returned to normal, and then inform me so that I could cure
myself," Herb offered.
Ranma snorted, shaking her head, and muttered, "They must have forgotten,
or taken their time getting there -- the springs looked pretty normal
when I was there yesterday."
"I told them to tell me when the springs changed," Herb muttered, anger
entering her voice. "They must have returned to normal before Lime and
Mint arrived."
"Oh, and then, they didn't see the change," Ranma said, nodding slightly.
"I guess that explains that. I can take you there for the cure,
sometime, if you need it."
Herb made a pleased noise. "I would be in your debt," she said. "I had
spent my time in the Musk library trying to find a way to control a
curse that one could not readily cure, but to no avail. Tell me, Ranma,
how is it that you control your own curse?"
Ranma froze, stiffening enough that Herb could feel it from her position.
"Ah, if you do not wish to speak of it, I will not press," she offered
hurriedly.
Shaking her head, Ranma relaxed slightly, and increased their upward pace
slightly. "No, that's not quite it.... It's that I'm not really cursed,
anymore. I mean... like you said, I ain't entirely human anymore."
"You do carry the blood of demons?" Herb asked quietly. She did not want
to upset Ranma, but her curiosity needed to be satisfied.
"Masu aren't demons," Ranma said indifferently. "They're... they're from
space, or something. I asked Washuu about it, once, and she explained
that Masu are, um, living anti-matter, or something like that. I didn't
understand much of what she said."
"The woman is very wise," Herb observed. "I do not entirely understand,
but would guess that she speaks of the cessation of all things. That
would indeed be the blood of demons." Ranma stiffened again, more slowly
this time. Carefully choosing her words, Herb added, "It speaks well for
your spirit that you do not allow the destructive tendencies to control
you, and instead use that power to protect."
Ranma relaxed, then tried to turn, and look Herb in the eye. "Is that
what it's like for you, being part dragon?" she asked.
"Similar," Herb said, nodding. "I can only guess, for I do not know what
it is to live without the influence of my heritage, but I sometimes know
that were I not to have the blood I did, I would act differently."
"So it makes you do things differently, that you wouldn't otherwise do,"
Ranma mused, straightening out to face the cliff wall again. "I guess I
sometimes get that," she said.
"What urges do you resist?" Herb asked, intrigued.
"I don't know," Ranma confessed. "Mostly I just want to protect Washuu,
and Tsunami," she said, somewhat evasively.
Herb nodded, accepting that answer. There was likely more to it, but she
would not be the one to provoke Ranma further. Instead she leant back
slightly, looking upward. "The mountain grows more difficult," she
observed, what few ledges were still visible in the waning light were
only centimeters wide, if that.
"I get the feeling that your friends chose this mountain for a reason,"
Ranma grumped. "It's not supposed to be climbed."
"Then perhaps the truth of the matter is that flight is the only way,"
Herb muttered. "Then I would have been played for a fool by my own--"
She broke off, sighing. "It is not important. We draw near the peak."
Ranma nodded, accelerating slightly. "If this doesn't make them happy, I
don't know what will," she surmised. "I see a platform or something, up
there. Let's stop at that last ledge, and climb the last few meters, okay?"
"Agreed," Herb said, shivering slightly. Ranma came to a halt, turning to
allow Herb to climb off.
That near the peak, the nearly vertical mountain walls gave way to a
curved rocky slope, a few fissures in the stone granting solid purchase,
as Herb hopped away. Ranma adjusted her sword's position on her sash
slightly before leaping onto the wall next to Herb. She smiled at Herb,
then jerked her head upward in a nod. Moving together, the pair launched
themselves upwards, scrabbling for a moment on a bit of loose shale
before the edge of the platform, but arriving atop the level area only a
half heartbeat apart.
The platform itself was cobbled, all of the stones rounded and raised.
There were no rails, and though the majority of the cobbles were gray,
the outer border of the area was lined in green, yellow stones weaving
subtle patterns through the entire length. Easily two hundred meters
across, the center of the courtyard was cobbled in red and yellow -- no,
not yellow stones, Herb realized. Gold. The red and gold stones were
lain in the pattern of a phoenix, the points of the lowest seven pinions
gold, each set with a single sparkling ruby the size of Herb's thumb.
The lone visible eye of the creature was a jewel the size of one of her
fists in her current form.
Both Ranma and Herb stared at the mosaic for a moment before Herb forced
down her awe at the display enough to look upward. Standing above the
head of the phoenix in the stone, and flanked by a number of winged
warriors, was the god of the Phoenix People. His robes were an
immaculate red with gold trim, his ruby-bright sun-golden eyes fixed on
Herb and Ranma. A pair of massive feathered wings rustled behind him,
the arc of the folded appendages rising over his shoulders, while the
outer edges jutted out at his sides. Borne in each of hands was a pair
of short staves, one topped with a ring, and one with a crescent-shaped
blade.
"Congratulations," he said, his voice carrying across the distance as
though he were standing only centimeters away. Herb winced, and did her
best to stand proud, while Ranma allowed her jaw to drop slightly,
impressed with the display. "We did not expect that any could surmount
our peak, but you have." He frowned, studying Herb closely. "Of course.
We see now that you are of the dragon."
The god's mouth twitched upwards in a small smile. "You are, at best, a
pale imitation of us, Musk." His eyes wandered across Herb's damp white
robes and golden armor for a heartbeat before they locked onto her own
eyes. "But you amuse us, and for that, you will not be destroyed." His
eyes flicked over to Ranma, and in a slightly less amused voice, he
said, "Though you are not known to us, and are incidental."
Turning his attention back to Herb, the god concluded, "Speak then your
name, Musk, and any one request that you have."
Ranma frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "He's going to want to
do it the hard way," she hissed to Herb. "Why do they always want to do
it the hard way?"
***
After replacing the robe he had lost to a reaver in the battle, Mousse
wandered about the Amazon encampment, one slow footstep before the
other. A thin stream of water ran from his bangs, dripping across the
lenses of his glasses. The ground beneath his feet squelched softly, mud
not strewn with hay or gravel to lend it some resistance to being
churned into a sticky mess.
Raising his eyes, and ignoring the water on his glasses, he peered about
the village. The village he had grown up in. With Shampoo.
It was a far cry from the way he remembered it, though, with all the
children gone. The women standing about were more tense, offering him
only a terse nod instead of the tradition of asking after his mother.
His mother, who had vanished with the children that had been evacuated.
He tried not to dwell on that, turning his thoughts instead to the girl
who he had given his heart to, so long ago.
She, of course, had vanished a few days before Ranma had supposedly left,
and though Mousse knew the reason, it still shocked him that Ranma had
managed to do it. Ranma seemed to have a near aversion to touching
girls, some days, and yet he had frozen Shampoo with the shiatsu spots
he had learned from Cologne. That wasn't nearly as impressive as the
fact that he had managed to get her -- as a cat, the form which
terrified Ranma so -- into Akane's suitcase without the girl actually
knowing that it had even been done. In Ranma's desperation, he had saved
three girls. All Mousse had ever managed to do with his desperation was
make Shampoo angry.
Stopping beneath the eaves of a hut near the center of the village,
Mousse spied the blurry form of a few girls sitting beneath a large
awning, talking quietly. He leant against the wall of the lodging,
raising his hands and inspected them closely. The words were nothing new
to him, but Ranma _had_ actually cared enough about Shampoo to see that
she was safe. Mousse wondered if he ever could have made his hands
release Shampoo, the way Ranma had.
The other part of that saying, if Mousse remembered it correctly, was
that if he couldn't let her go, then... then he didn't really ever love
her at all. "Shit," he swore softly, pushing himself away from the hut,
and wandering back through the outer edges of the village again.
That was an even less welcome thought, despite the reality of the situation.
The evidence was there, as little as he wanted to acknowledge it. He
wandered aimlessly, feet finding purchase in the mud, his thoughts
slipping far more easily. "Why?" he mumbled to himself. "Why do I figure
this out _now_?"
A wall entered his field of vision, distorted by the water across his
lenses. Blinking he raised his head, and glanced toward the door in the
wall nearest him. A heavy wind blew at that moment, pushing a sudden
load of water off of the roof onto him.
Cold water. Of course, it did nothing to him... not anymore. But he
didn't want to think about it regardless. Sighing, he stepped into the
door, shaking his head to dislodge some of the moisture. "Hello?" he
asked, removing his glasses to clean and dry them with a handkerchief
kept within his robes. "Anyone here?"
A soft mumble answered him, too faint for even his hearing -- heightened
through years of training to compensate his weak vision -- to completely
make out. Hurriedly putting his glasses on, he squinted at the source of
the noise, asking, "Did someone say something?"
Peering about the darkened room revealed a pair of forms -- one resting
on a cot, apparently asleep, the other sitting on a chair, slumped over
and asleep. Both of them were familiar to him -- the sleeping blonde in
the chair was Haruka, and the girl on the cot... was Minako.
"Oh," he said quietly, scratching his head nervously.
And that made him wonder further. What was it about Minako, anyway?
***
The darkness of the neighboring healer's hut was oddly comforting, Ryu's
steady breathing letting Makoto know that he still lived. The depth of
his wound -- and his final words before he fell unconscious -- worried
her endlessly. But Usagi and the other young woman were able to seal the
bloody gash and purge whatever the reaver had left inside him.
Now he slept, as he had since his wounds had been mended, only a few
hours ago. But his color was better, and Makoto knew he was going to be
okay. More importantly, she remembered his final words, and all that
they had suggested.
Climbing from the wooden chair, she sat on the floor near his cot,
sighing quietly, and leant against it, resting her head on his
slumbering chest. "Ryu-chan," she murmured tiredly. "You're going to be
okay, and I'm going to be with you forever."
In the other cot across the room, as Makoto began to doze off, she
thought she heard something from Ryouga's cot, but when she roused
herself to peer at him, he was still, breathing the long slow breaths of
the sleeping. Sighing softly, she leant against Ryu again, and allowed
herself to fall asleep.
***
"So, Amatera Omiki was Serenity," Usagi murmured quietly.
Tsunami nodded in confirmation, smiling pleasantly at the blonde, and the
dark-haired Hotaru. "So you're saying that you're the goddess of the
people who we're supposed to have come from?" the smaller girl asked
curiously.
"From my people, yes," Tsunami said slowly. "But do not think that I am
trying to tell you that you must follow me. Amatera broke from Jurai,
but I hold her and her kin no ill will."
"Hmm," Usagi mused. "Mamo-chan said that we needed to worry about what
happens next -- I guess since there's not going to be a Crystal Tokyo
like we wanted, we need to ask you, right? Yosho-san said that we were
rebels, after all...."
"But you are declared rebels because of Amatera's actions -- and, I
admit, a failing on my own part. Had I been there...." Sighing, the
young woman rubbed at her temples. "Suffice to say that I was not paying
as close attention as I should have, but I've no great love of politics.
I can, however, order that Jurai accept you and forgive what they may
perceive as past transgressions."
"So you can fix it?" Hotaru asked, folding her hands in her lap.
"I certainly hope so," Tsunami said, ducking her head slightly. "I do not
think that those who fight here should be punished for what good deeds
they do."
"I don't think so either," Usagi said, shaking her head. "But talking
about things like this makes my head hurt."
Tsunami giggled quietly. "Very well," she said, smiling. "What would you
prefer to talk about?"
Usagi looked distant for a minute. "It's been a long time since I've had
a really good meal," she admitted. "I don't like the stuff that the
soldiers gave us."
"Well, perhaps something can be done, then," Tsunami suggested. "I
believe that I know my way about a kitchen well enough, if someone would
be willing to let me use it."
"Can you show me how you cook?" Hotaru asked hesitantly. "I want to learn
how to for...." She trailed off, blushing slightly. "Well, I want to
learn how to cook, too."
Tsunami smiled widely, nodding at Hotaru. "I can certainly try!" she said
happily.
***
In the dark void somewhere beneath Tokimi's hall, Serenity, once Amatera
Omiki, moved about. There were places where her the distance between the
realms ran thin, and though she was not allowed to cross over, sometimes
certain influences could be exerted.
Her form was the same form she'd worn when Tokimi had stripped the flesh
from her, and declared her to be the first of those she wished to
elevate. The dream, then, shared between the two of them, was to create
a perfect world with the powers of Tokimi that Tsunami and Jurai had
denied them.
But Tsunami had not meant to deny them, Omiki knew, at least now.
"Higurashi," she whispered, calling the threads of memory that Tokimi
had bound to that realm up carefully, and examining them. Like fine
shimmering cords of silver, they spun a web before her, brief images
flashing in the panes. All of the dreams, Tokimi had stolen from him.
Other memories, too, were sealed with.
An oppressive darkness, deeper pitch than even the immutable void
surrounding her, and the sensation of fear, and panicked breathing.
Omiki pushed that memory away carefully. "What horrors must be endured?"
she wondered aloud. "And why would she seal this away, and not another?"
Surely it would be to the goddess's advantage to rob Ranma of something
else -- perhaps his memories of how to fight, not something like a dark
fear of cats. What reason could she want to take that away, and leave so
much with him?
"Perhaps," she mused quietly, studying the web, "it is that if he is
reminded of something that is sealed, then the seal will break?"
And that made sense, but... but for the fact that it meant that his fear
of the small creatures in the pit would be easily returned to him, and
then the seal would be sundered. She narrowed her eyes, looking more
closely. While she was no longer mortal, there were still limits to her
comprehension, and she expected that Tokimi's exceeded her own.
The pain of another dream, and in the center of the web, the crux that it
all hinged upon... the fire-haired woman that Tokimi claimed was her
sister. Beyond that, Tokimi's insistence that a promise be forged
between them. "Perhaps, then," she whispered.
Slowly, it began to become clearer to her. The goddess, being complex as
she was, was still simple on some levels after all -- or at least enough
so, so that Omiki could unravel the plan behind the web. Tokimi wanted
Ranma to bring her sister to Tokimi.
That was the core of it. Tokimi wished to bend Ranma's will to coerce him
into bringing Tokimi's fire-haired sister to call. But she would not let
him remember it until he had her cooperation.
The why of that eluded her for a moment, before becoming painfully
obvious. "Of course," she breathed. "This one, the fire-haired woman...
Ranma's memories name her Washuu. If Ranma knows that Tokimi wishes to
capture her, then he can protect her in the waking world. That is what
he must know!"
Plan firmly in mind, Omiki banished the web of memories, and sank down as
close to the waking world as her form could allow her to reach. She
could ill afford to contact Washuu or Ranma -- Tokimi would watch them
closely. Tsunami's own limitations wouldn't allow her to remember all
that happened between the worlds. But there was still another, not one
of her own, which Tokimi would also watch, one that she _could_
influence, setting events into motion.
What was the name of Ranma's grandmother? Cologne, of course. She could
be used, as little as she might be aware of it, even with Omiki's slowly
waning power.
***
"What is your boon?"
Herb shuffled nervously, eyeing Ranma with frank disapproval. She cleared
her throat quietly, and bowed low to the ground, speaking without
rising. "Most noble and honorable lord of the Phoenix People, my name is
Herb, of the Musk tribe. Blood of the Imperial Black Dragon flows
through my veins, passed down from the founding of our tribe."
"We know this," the god said irritably. "Your ancestor was known to us.
He believed himself great, and challenged us to combat. While he did not
win, neither was he destroyed, and for this reason my grudging respect
is given. Make your point."
"You respect strength?" Herb asked, rising to stand again.
"Indeed."
Herb smiled softly. "Then you know that I am strong, and despite my
strength the one at my side has bested me in combat twice." The god
raised an eyebrow, studying Ranma closely. Herb breathed a quiet sigh of
relief, and thought it best not to mention the times that she had
defeated Ranma before the meeting at mount Horai. "Are you also aware of
the fiends that eat away at the very Earth itself?"
"I am," the god said, glowering. "The defilers concern us, and because I
must attend to them, I wish you to finish this quickly."
Herb blinked, not expecting the shift from the royal 'we' to the singular
form. "Ah, of course. They are a concern to us as well. My brother in
arms, Higurashi Ranma," he paused, indicating the redhead, who nodded
gruffly, "has traveled far and wide, scouring the globe for allies
worthy of helping in this cause."
"Oh?" the god said, folding his arms across his chest. "And now, for some
reason, you believe that your strength is enough to warrant our
attention, and thusly, our aid?"
"It is our hope, yes," Herb said quickly, motioning Ranma to be quiet
before the other girl could speak. "We would be willing to give you
something in exchange, of course."
"Think you that we would need to bargain with you?" he said disdainfully.
"And here it comes," Ranma snapped. "This is where you tell me how
bad-ass you are, and it degenerates into a slugfest -- which I'll win,
of course -- before you agree to help. If you aren't too keen on
reasoning, violence suits me just fine. Get Herb some hot water, and
I'll take you on one-on-one."
The god stared at Ranma in shock, the members of his court gasping for
breath and drawing away. "You think yourself a fighter?" he asked Ranma
quietly.
"Damn straight," Ranma said, walking forward two steps, and removing her
sheath from the sash of her red robes. "I've killed more reavers than I
can count, and I've watched friends and people I care about die. I'm not
going to watch anymore of them leave because some winged pretty-boy
thinks he's too good to help me and work with the rest of the defenders
that have already learned better."
"You... aggravate us," the god announced, one eyebrow ticking wildly.
Herb took several steps away from Ranma, silently gathering her ki to
herself in preparation for the battle Ranma seemed ready to invoke. "But
at the same time, one who can defeat even the weakened spawn of an
insignificant dragon in this tired world is intriguing. Tell me,
'Ranma', what blood flows through your veins?"
"Masu, youkai, human," Ranma said, shaking her head and shrugging. "What
does it matter?" Her sword rattled against its sheath as she threw it to
the ground, smiling grimly. "You'll help us once we kick your ass, right?"
The god glowered, striding forward menacingly. "Your annoyance outweighs
my interest," he declared. "My holy cleansing fires will unmake you."
"Let's do this," Ranma said quietly.
***
Outside of Mihoshi's ship, Kintaro sat astride an opened engine casing,
and checked through an interface to monitor for damages. The handheld
unit chirped acknowledgement that a maintenance cycle was complete, and
Kintaro shook his head, disengaging the plug and transferring it to
another console.
Mihoshi, finally having completed her report to her superiors, leant
against Shizu-oh, recovering her breath and considering her partner. He
was so studious, and at the same time, so relaxed. She found herself
smiling while watching him work on the ship.
Shiname was inside the ship itself, tending Kohito, and using what power
Shizu-oh had to spare to heal him. That left Mihoshi alone with Kintaro,
which also gave her a little bit of time to think about things.
"Kintaro?" she asked quietly.
The boy suddenly stiffened, and raised his head, though he was staring
into one of Shizu-oh's external displays. Mihoshi straightened from her
position, and stepped forward, frowning. "Kintaro? Is something going on?"
She stepped forward a few steps, watching Kintaro stare at the viewscreen
showing the Earth. "...small one," he whispered, the sound just barely
reaching Mihoshi.
"Kintaro?" she asked again? "What's going on?"
Shaking his head suddenly, and giving her an embarrassed laugh, Kintaro
apologized, "Sorry! Was just thinking of, uh, a cousin of mine. Nothing
important. Anyway, I think I'm just about done--" He broke off, slipping
off of the rounded engine casing, and scrabbling wildly at the lip of
the opened panel to catch himself.
Mihoshi giggled at the sight, Kintaro dangling from one corner of the
engine casing, his feet only a meter or so above the ground. "Er...
whoops," he said, laughing quietly. The lessened gravity aided him as he
scrambled back atop the ship. "I'm just about finished here, Mihoshi.
Once I close it up, we should be ready and able to move if we have to."
"That's good," Mihoshi said happily. "We'll just stay here until it's
time to go, though. How is your cousin, anyway?"
"Er... behaving himself, I hope," Kintaro offered, finishing up his
examination of the engine. "We'll see."
***
The girl in the red robes was tensed for battle, hands raised and
prepared to move anywhere, body dancing lightly on her feet. Saffron had
known a great many people who considered themselves 'strong' in his
lives, and the girl did not rank as high as many he had known, but there
was something... something there.
Something that unnerved him greatly. The touch of magic, of course, hung
on both of the girls before him. On the Musk girl, he suspected
Jusenkyou, though the sense of Dragon was strong, too. But Ranma....
Something in her aura defied his understanding. She had called herself
'Masu', among other things, and it rang more true than anything else the
girl had said.
"A moment," he said quietly. "We would know what you were before we
destroy you."
Ranma rolled her eyes despairingly. "I'm Higurashi Ranma." That also rang
true, and Saffron could sense that the girl told no lie. "A defender of
the Earth." That, too rang true, but something.... Something there rang
deeper.
"Who do you serve?" Saffron asked suspiciously.
Ranma blinked, taken aback. "I don't serve anyone, I just look out for
people who are important to me."
"Yes," Saffron said distantly, feeling the echoes through Ranma's aura.
"A woman with hair of fire, and another... the color of the living sea.
Who are these people?"
"You know Washuu and Tsunami?" Ranma asked, surprised, and loosing her
offensive stance.
At the paired names, a flash of recognition slammed through Saffron,
staggering him to his knees, wings flaring wide as his hands slapped
against the cobbles of the courtyard. The twin staves of the Gekkaja and
the Kinjakan clattered noisily just outside of his reach. The eyes of
the women named by Ranma surged through Saffron's mind, memories more
ancient than any he could name to mortals flaring brightly. "In the
beginning," he said hoarsely, "there was placed a guardian for this
world. He is departed now, and I see why."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ranma snapped irritably. "Are we
going to fight, or not?"
Another touch surged through Saffron's mind, staggering him again, and he
gasped for breath. He could feel the cold moisture of the stones beneath
him, and was painfully aware of the eyes on him from his alarmed court.
"We will not battle," Saffron stated flatly. "I will ally myself with
those you represent."
"Why?" Ranma asked, trading a thoroughly confused glance with Herb.
"Yes," Herb questioned, "what brings about this sudden change of heart?"
"Those older than I demand that it be so," Saffron said, rising to his
feet. "There are those that even I fear offending, and for them, my aid
is yours. I may not call you friend yet, but in the name of this Earth,
I will call you ally."
Ranma shifted, blurring and expanding slightly, female form giving way to
a much more masculine form. "I'm not going to complain," Ranma said,
bowing to Saffron. "I guess we didn't get along so hot from the start,
so let's try again. I'm Higurashi Ranma."
"It is most unique to have met you," Saffron said, nodding politely in
return to Ranma's own bow. "My name is Saffron." Smiling slightly, he
offered, "I would know what you know of our enemies, that we could
better combat them... ally."
***
Washuu rubbed at her temples, not entirely certain what Cologne had meant
by her suggestion that Ranma might be in trouble, but displeased
nonetheless. "Well, one way or another it looks like you want something
to repulse water from your fighters, and the battle is going to take
place at Jusenkyou, right?"
Cologne and Norris glanced at one another, then nodded in tandem. "That's
right," the elder said quietly. "Do you think we have any reprieve from
the reavers?"
"For the rest of tonight, probably," Washuu said, shaking her head.
"They've lost a full third of their forces, and one nest. The fact that
they built it as close to the village as they did suggests that they
have more, however."
Norris mumbled rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "We probably shouldn't stay
in a single place for too long," he said finally, shaking his head. "One
way or another, they're likelier to find their way here the longer we
wait. That beacon keeps them here instead of wandering around wherever
there might be innocents, but we need to do what we can to keep them
from finding our base of operations, right?"
"True enough," Cologne acquiesced, apparently dismissing what had been
troubling her previously. "We only need to last two days. Do you think
we should leave the village tomorrow, then?"
"Yes," Norris assessed. "Then we can use the time we have to plan a
round-about route to Jusenkyou -- if we run across them while moving,
they won't know where we're headed, even if they can tell which way
we're moving, right?" He turned to Washuu for confirmation.
"It sounds reasonable to me," she assessed, "but their abilities seem to
grow by leaps and bounds, so it would be best not to assume."
"And even better to not stay in one place for too long," he insisted.
"I'll agree to that," Washuu said, nodding. "But for all that, it would
seem that this meeting is over, wouldn't it?"
Norris, Cologne, and the assembled elders nodded their agreement, and
began to rise from their chairs. "Then we should be sure that we rest
well tonight, so that we can manage the next day and a half. Agreed?"
"Agreed," came the response, from all present.
"Well," Washuu mused to herself, "that takes care of that. Now where is
Ranma?"
***
After one of Saffron's servants had fetched Herb the hot water that Ranma
had requested, the three stood about loosely, the western sky aflame
with the light of the setting sun. Saffron's servants were completely
silent, unable to understand what was going on, and even Herb seemed
reluctant to speak overmuch, confused by the unreality of the situation.
Coughing slightly, Ranma prompted, "What do you know about the reavers,
Saffron?"
"The defilers live beneath the Earth, it is said," he replied distantly.
Shaking his head, his sun-golden eyes fixed on Ranma, focusing intently.
"They consume everything, and no power that the People's Republic of
China can muster can halt them."
"That's right," Ranma said, frowning in consternation. "There's more to
it -- they can slide through solid objects, and their blood is acid...
but how do you know about China?"
"They came looking for me," Saffron said, scowling darkly. "My servants
questioned those who came too near."
"Okay, I guess," Ranma mumbled. "Anyway, Herb thinks that you've got what
it takes to drop reavers, and since Washuu says that they have fast
breeding cycles, we're likely to need to see just how well you can do
that. What can you do?"
Saffron smirked, tucking his twin staves into his sash, and raising his
arms over his head, palms upward. "The fire of the Phoenix People is
mine to command," he said quietly. From above his fingertips, streaming
upward faintly, a thin plume of fire shot several meters into the air.
"Is that all?" Ranma asked skeptically.
His smile slipping, Saffron growled, "That was the least of my powers --
watch, Ranma, and grow wise."
The thin stream of fire flared suddenly, widening and roaring outward,
shedding light atop the entire mountain as a column of raw, living flame
show upwards in a massive cone. Racing on and consuming the lowest edge
of a trailing cloud, the fire raged hotly. Ranma stared upward,
dubiously impressed as Saffron allowed the fires to vanish.
"That's nice, but fire doesn't do much to them," Ranma warned, still
looking at the sky. "Is that all?"
"My servants and I can do more, I assure you," Saffron grumbled. "Where
does your power lie?"
Ranma snorted, retrieving his sword. "I fight," he said blandly,
summoning a blade of blue energy to his hands. "I use the soul of ice to
freeze the reavers when I can."
"Then the gekkaja will be of some use," Saffron mused, removing the
crescent-tipped staff from his sash. "Very well. When do we begin fighting?"
Ranma opened his mouth to respond, but fell silent as the gem at his ear
suddenly came to life, Tsunami's concerned voice asking, "Ranma? Where
are you? Are you okay?"
Sighing, Ranma raised one hand to Saffron, allowing the bar of energy to
dissipate, and touched the gem with his other. "I'm fine, Tsunami, that
fire was our new ally. I guess me and Herb are about underneath that
fire, right now. Can you tell Washuu and Cologne we'll be back soon?"
"Very well, Ranma-san. Do take care," Tsunami said, the sound feeling as
though she were whispering into his ear. He shivered slightly at an
imagined breath of air against the side of his head, and glanced around
nervously.
"Anyway," he continued dropping his hands to his sides, "for what that's
worth, we should get to the village. How many people do you have here,
Saffron?"
Saffron shook his head, glancing at the assembled Phoenix People behind
him. "How strong are we?" he asked.
"We are five hundred and twelve strong," one of the female Phoenix People
assessed quietly. "Lord Saffron, why do you agree to help these people?
Do we truly need their strength?"
Herb glowered darkly, muttering beneath his breath, and Ranma spared him
a glance before turning to pay attention to Saffron again. "My judgment
is not to be questioned," Saffron snapped. "Powers greater than you can
imagine have staked their claims in this combat, and the one my loyalty
lies with backs this boy. Let that be the end of this, Kiima."
"What are you talking about?" Ranma asked, scratching his head. "Who
'backs' me?"
Kiima's eyes went wide, and she backed away in alarm, while the rest of
the assembled Phoenix People gasped in shock. Even Saffron stiffened in
surprise, slowly turning back to face Ranma. "You know our tongue?" he
asked quietly.
Belatedly realizing that his hand was still touching the jewel on his
ear, Ranma shrugged, lowering it. "I didn't even notice you were
speaking another language," he admitted nervously, the words repeating
through the gem in a strangely foreign tongue.
"What language is that?" Herb asked, obviously unsettled by the discussion.
"Enochian," Saffron muttered, switching from his own tongue back to
Japanese. "The language of my people. It is of no import -- when do we
battle?"
"Probably tomorrow," Ranma said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Almost certainly the day after, but we don't know for sure. Of all your
people, how many will fight with us?"
Saffron glanced at Kiima, who hesitantly offered, "One hundred and fifty
of us stand battle-ready... Ranma-san."
"That's not too bad, I guess," Ranma agreed, nodding. "Okay, Saffron,
you're going to want to get your people to Australia if they're not
going to fight -- I can ask Washuu to set up her Gate to get them there
faster, if you want, but I think it would be best for everyone if we all
stick together."
"Very well," Saffron grumbled. "If you are in the Joketsuzoku village,
then we know where you can be found, and we will be there within a few
hours."
"Sounds good to me," Ranma said, uncrossing his arms and tapping on the
gem at his ear again. "Washuu? Are you there?"
Voice slightly irritable, the scientist responded, "Yes, Ranma, I'm here.
Why aren't you back yet?"
"Working out some details with Saffron," he said defensively, while
everyone else -- unable to hear Washuu's voice -- shifted about
uncomfortably. "He wants a way to get some of his people to Australia,
where they'll be safe, but he's got one-hundred and fifty people who
will stay to help us out."
"Oh?" Washuu's voice shifted abruptly, annoyance giving way to hope.
"Well, that's not so bad, then. The Gate is already calibrated for
Australia, all I'll need to do this time around is assemble it -- it
will be ready in a few minutes."
"Great," Ranma enthused, nodding at Herb and Saffron. "Me and Herb should
be back pretty quick -- Saffron wants a few hours to get his people
ready before he comes to the village."
"That's fine, Ranma. I've got something planned for you when you get
back." There was a pause, as a sudden chill ran up his spine. "And I
intend to talk to you about running off to fight with people who can
blow up mountains, too."
"We didn't blow up a mountain this time!" Ranma protested. "Saffron was
just... uh... showing me a fraction of his... um... true power...." He
stared, blinking for a moment, then quickly asked, "Uh, that's not much
better, is it?"
"I'll see you shortly," Washuu said quietly.
Dropping his hand, Ranma quickly relayed, "Washuu said that the Gate will
be ready soon. Just bring everyone to the Joketsuzoku village when
they're ready, and everything should be okay."
"You can speak with her across the distance?" Saffron asked, intrigued.
"Uh... yeah, the gem lets me hear her. Anyway, we'll see you later. You
ready to get back to the village, Herb?"
"Yes," he said quietly, his voice subdued. "This was a most... odd... day."
Ranma shook his head, sighing, and mumbled, "Tell me about it."
[End, Process of ELimination, Chapter 14, Part One]