Ordeals
North Shaolin Temple. . .Six months earlier. .
Far from Nerima a girl tested to become a true warrior fell for what she believed was the reason of her worst problems in life. The consequences of her earlier actions forced her to take on a different path. "Master Iko why am I here? I know that my "accident" on Jusenkyo, and my punishment for meddle with ancient artifacts has messed my life by making me into a stupid girl. So why try to teach me this Art?"
"Child. The reason of your "accident" could not be avoided. Your destiny for a higher place on this planet's designs are set in motion. Lady Gaia needs your help on protecting it from the enemies coming our way."
"You Sound kinda cryptic there old man? I can't remember when I was a boy, but to get stuck as a girl, and then locked on it by that relic made all my training useless. I have no skill or power. Is like a new body resets everythin' and I don't like it."
"I'm sorry, but Lady Gaia was very specific. Only women are allowed to become her disciples. And to master her ways nothing must be learned before. Don't worry in due time you will learn once more, and even better. You won't be alone. There will be other joining your cause."
When the master left the chambers another two men met him on the entrance at the deserted place. Akira wondered why would those guys blushed, while staring at her. "Master. We can't keep him here looking like that; leaving "her" in a desolate area might do for now, but our brothers are feeling uncomfortable with a lonely female in the temple.
The old shaolin master believed in equal gender laws, and the female image as their spiritual leader demonstrated this was a temple of virtue, but to live obeying a statue, and living with a very tomboyish girl jumping and running all over the place, was something of a "focus breaker" feeling. Specially between the men with a weak will.
"She will leave shortly. Our "other" student has learned everything from Lady's Gaia's teachings, while used as an ultimate discipline. It's time for blood to meet each other." Moments later they met a young man wearing a bandanna and a heavy backpack.
"Master Iko. I have returned to finish my training." The master took him to the main hall. A place full of steel constructed dummies, blades and equipment seen only on horror movies. "Young Ryouga. This will be your last challenge, but the greatest of obstacles. You will face yourself in ways that will "make you, or break you." Only one response could be seen from the young fighter by looking on the resolve shown in his stance.
Ryoga's Training consisted on developing his already powerful techniques into a more natural , and fluid set of abilities; The Bakusai Tenketsu and the Shishi Hokoudan alone were outstanding powerhouses, but this time around the Shaolin masters taught him the basic, and more power induced meaning on their utility.
Up until this moment. The practice included extreme physical clashes between himself and weapons powered by ki, and that basic new power. The result was the fatally demise he endured on his last attempt two weeks before this day. The punishment received by the attack made his training useless, and was sent out of the temple, while recuperating in the hospital. "Damn I'm still sore from those blades stabbing me through the back and popping out of the side of my stomach. Good thing no internal organ was damaged. . . . . .one month coma. Now that was a close one."
This time around he focused a lot harder through his Ki, and techniques. There was no room for distractions, and he soon realized it the hard way. Creating a shield using the Bakusai Tenketsu; his body was able to withstand massive amounts of punishment much more devastating than the ones met before, and the way to control the earth beneath him by manipulating it through his negative emotions let him "move the dirt" like a living range shield and a spear like attack. But this time was different. three masters were applying their own Ki on the weapons and they were dozens of them. The sheer strength needed to keep it up was too demanding, and it had to happen. . . . . ."
Five days later in the hospital. . .
The smell of disinfecting products and the white brightness of the room convinced Ryoga the he wasn't in the temple anymore. "Great. I failed the last training. Just when I thought I had it; I lost focus, and I let them down." Disappointment clearly seen, while he was grabbing the blanket fiercely hoping the depression would go away.
At some point in his delusional state, he felt the presence of somebody else moving around the room. When he looked above his sheets, a small red-headed girl walked in a stressful manner.
"I can't believe we are related, and I thought the Hibikis were unstoppable." Came a voice from Ryoga's side. Turning around he met the strange vision. "A redheaded girl here? I could think Ranma was in front of me, but her eyes are red and the hair is straight."
"Who are you? I think you have the wrong room little girl." He couldn't recognized her from anywhere before, but that signature fang coming out her left side smile surely remained him of his own. "I got the right room, and I'm a distant relative of yours. Name's Akira, Hibiki Akira. I've been charged to keep tabs on you until you get ready to leave this place."
"Relative? I have no relatives that I'm aware of, and how are you related to the temple?"
"Well you see. I met master Iko about 2 years ago, and on my first visit I was a lost boy looking for my parents on a nearby camp. Master Iko told me that I had a very important mission to carry out, and sent me to some weird-looking place full of pools. When I arrived. the keeper there knew the old master, and sent me to a pool where I became a female version of myself."
"So I came back to the temple to give the old man a piece of my mind. When I got there he poured some liquid on me and since then I can't turn into my guy form. I can't even remember my parents or anything from my life as a boy. They took me in, and since then I've trained on a secluded area away from the temple. Apparently I "scare" the other masters and students."
"Master Iko showed me a pendant, and said it was the only thing on me when I was found. In it there is a picture of an old woman and a small redheaded girl sitting on her lap, but It wasn't me she looked different."
When she showed the pendant to Ryoga. He brought one of his own as well, and when opening it he saw the same old woman, but with a brown-haired boy on her lap. "So grandma Hibiki is our parents mom? incredible. Say do you get lost as well as I do?" For the first time Ryoga was identifying himself with someone else. "At first I did, but since I got stuck I can find places, and develop better although. . . . ."
The lost boy feared the next words.
"What? is there something more to a female curse?" The lost boy had one thing in mind. To try to understand why Ranma would act as reckless as he is. He knew him in junior high, and while he was a wild card and excellent opponent. He acted rather normal, and not as crazy as he was now.
"I don't know. It's funny to say, but I feel like I can understand a different form of energy than the regular Ki induced through our bodies, and the gruesome part is. I lost all ability I had before the transformation. Like starting from zero all over again."
While the two students were discussing and getting to know each other. Another figure entered the room. "Ah, but the reason for a new body is a new soul so to speak." The boy and the girl turned at the same time, and greeted the old master. "Master Iko. What are you doin' here. I told you that I would have everything under control?" The master simply raised his hand and rested on the girl's head.
"Little one. You are in control, but times have changed. We cannot accept you in the temple any longer. Either of you. As you might have heard; the brother's behaviors towards a female in our ranks are rather troublesome. Now Imagine having two very attractive young women among them? Chaos would ensue."
"Two girls? What do you mean by that?" Ryoga didn't like the sound of it. Since the time when he was admitted in the hospital; he kept feeling weak and depressed to a point where was out of his control.
"Sorry Ryoga-san, but you are assigned in the service of Lady Gaia, and the same liquid poured on Akira's was applied on you." This did not make any sense. If he was locked with that liquid why was he still in male form? "I don't get it "I'm still . . .me?"
"Yes. The liquid is based on the water of drowned girl, but since you possessed another curse it has been overwritten. Your piglet form is no more, but your new form will be somehow harder to master." Marveled at the outcome Akira had to see for herself, and by moving her hand in circles; the water on a nearby glass flew to the patient's face turning him into a shorter blonde girl with green eyes.
The feeling was a strange one. Specially around her chest, and the missing sensation on her lower regions. "I don't think I like this, I feel lighter, and yet my chest feels heavy. Is there a way to reverse this?" A new feeling was surfacing. Fear. She began to tremble, and could be easily seen shaking at the news.
"You think I haven't tried myself? Even if I don't remember being a guy. Becoming a girl is weird, and all the chores I've got to do to even clean myself is daunting." And snickering at the situation she finished. "I can't believe it. I find I have relatives and now I got a sister. This can't get any weirder."
"And that's not the worst part. Wait when you meet a guy. There is this weird vibe that makes your body flush, and you get all stuttered, while close by. Is sickening. That is the only big problem I find."
"Well as I said before. I'm sorry, but you need to finish your training on your travels. Ryouga-san. You are ready physically and Akira has passed all the teachings. The only thing left is for you to master the elemental side on your techniques, but that is not my area. That belong to Lady Gaia herself. She'll be the one teaching you that, and you are complementing each other too. Akira can navigate, but has a very short temper and you have control of your emotions, but your direction problem hinders you. So be careful out there."
Finished with the wise words. The master left the two girls, and left for the temple.
