Author's Note:

There is a discontinuity between the world from which Ranma came and the one in which he now resides. Those back in Nerima live at a different pace, where a day may be equal to a day or a month. At some points the time between them synchronize, yet for the most part they are out of sync. The Nerima Wrecking Crew will have to come to terms with Ranma being gone.

Ranma: Kingdoms Invasion

By Sargon Dorsai

To Seek That Which is Lost

Sunlight barely kissed the skyline of Nerima, Japan, scattering the last of the fog lingering from the early autumn morning. Ranma had only been gone for a single day yet it seemed that the true reality of the situation had yet to hit those who still remained. The suitors for the women who had chased after Ranma had celebrated long into the night, once they'd recovered from the beating those same women had delivered upon them.

Scattered throughout the district, the various women who had pursued the pigtailed warrior lay in bed, their dreams the results of a wide range of emotions. For some it was a denial of the possibility that the man they wanted was lost to them. For others it was a deeper denial of reality, instead seeing themselves living happily ever after when Ranma returned to their arms, forsaking all others. Yet another dreamed of the justice she would administer when the pervert returned from spending time with those hussies (and yes, she was one of those in denial of reality).

Of all the people involved in the life of the disappeared, only one person was awake. Before even the sun had broken the horizon, Kasumi Tendo had awoken from her light slumber, yawning as she rubbed the remnants of the sleep from her eyes. Those eyes were red from the tears she'd shed the night before, recalling how the only friend she had in the world had been taken from her. As the last tendrils of sleep left her mind, she recalled the promise of the Goddess Belldandy, saying that it was possible for those who tried, to reach Ranma.

Strengthening her resolve, Kasumi flowed out of bed, quickly preparing herself for the day. After attending to her own personal hygiene, she made her way down to the kitchen, sighing softly to herself as she realized that there was no chance for the pigtailed boy to be there to help her this morning. Gathering the supplies for the meal, she mechanically went about preparing the meal. She was only a few minutes into her preparations when she glanced out the window at the empty backyard. No morning spar or quiet katas disturbed the silence of the garden and only the passing chill breeze rustled the grass.

The entire house seemed empty without Ranma's presence. He made himself felt throughout every facet of life, bringing with him a sense of energy that strengthened everyone around him. She knew that the others in the house had come to rely upon him, even if they wouldn't admit to the fact. Shaking her head sadly, she continued preparing a simple breakfast, not bothering to fix the generous portions that she had become used to. With no Ranma around, there was no one around who needed and deserved that much food. Genma certainly wouldn't be allowed that much.

With the meal preparations complete, Kasumi's gaze once again returned to the yard and from there travelled to the equally empty dojo. A wistful smile appeared on her lips and she made her way from the kitchen to stand at the door of the dojo. Closing her eyes, she could see Ranma gliding across the polished wood floors, his movements graceful, power and strength held carefully in check. Slipping silently to the center to the room, she allowed herself to feel the ambient energy that flowed throughout the dojo. It was almost as if Ranma's presence could still be felt within the room, his only true home.

Drawing upon the memories of her long lost childhood as well as her own observations of Ranma's morning workouts, Kasumi began a simple beginners kata. The movements were awkward, halting as she tried to remember, tried to piece things together. She refused to become frustrated, instead using each mistake to make herself better. Maybe, just maybe, if she became good enough, she could find a way. She could realize the promise given to her by Belldandy.

She would find Ranma.

The sun had long since set behind the mountains, allowing the stars to shine within the velvet sky. Ranma tilted his head back, searching among those glittering orbs for some semblance of understanding. None was forthcoming. He didn't see any constellations he recognized, only finding another confirmation of cold reality. He wasn't home anymore. His world was gone and in its place was this strange land and strange people.

Turning back towards the inner courtyard, Ranma could just make out the sounds of the revelry still going on within the main hall, the lights from the partially opened door spilling into the chilled night, a bright slash against the darkness, though the lights flickered from moment to moment. Candle light was a far cry from the light bulbs of home, though not all that unfamiliar to one who had been on the road for most of his life.

Home. It was a concept that Ranma had never thought he'd come to understand, yet the Tendo Dojo had been the only constant in his otherwise chaotic world. Even the fiancées and rivals fluctuated, constant as their bickering was. Their attentions would ebb and flow like the crashing tides of the ocean, yet always the Dojo was there waiting for his return, offering a shelter from the storm, at least for the moments he could get away, to sleep, to dream, to train, to learn, to grow. So many things he had planned.

Not all the memories were pleasant. Looking back on his life, Ranma could finally admit that most of his experiences had been unpleasant, punctuated at times by those tiny rays of sunshine that break from amidst the clouds surrounding his life. A cold wind stirred along the parapet, tickling the back of Ranma's neck as it teased his pigtail. Shaking away the reminiscing, the warrior lightly hopped down from the wall, a short twenty foot drop to the cobblestone courtyard beneath. His head immediately snapped to the side as a shadow detached itself from the wall.

Making his way into the light, the large barbarian from earlier kept his hands in front of him, a show of peace among those raised for war. Matthew had watched the man before him during the celebration, noting each grimace of discomfort. They were thoughts echoed within the bigger man, even if he never let those emotions show on the outside. He gave voice to those thoughts, wanting to know who else had lived a life of such constant warfare that to endure such frivolous behavior had been almost painful.

Ranma reached up and scratched the back of his neck, trying to find the words to express his feelings. While never one for flowery language, he had been learning to better speak his mind rather than inserting his entire foot into his mouth by speaking the first words that came to mind, or sometimes beating his mind to the punch. "It's not that I'm unused to celebrations. Back home we had some big parties and I'll admit I enjoyed them. It's just.." He trailed off, tilting his head back to gaze upon the stars once again.

"It's just that it was another piece of evidence as to how far I am from the only place I've ever called home. Most of my life was spent traveling, moving from place to place, master to master, learning their techniques, working towards the goal of being the best. The customs, the food, even the way everyone is dressed. It's so different. I can't find anything to relate to them and they way that they look at me, like I'm some sort of hero." He trailed off again, unable and unwilling to continue that train of thought.

Matthew considered the young man before him, nodding slowly in agreement with most of the thoughts expressed by the boy. Being separated from your people had a way of unnerving a man. Yet there was an undercurrent of power that echoed from the boy no matter what the situation. "This is not your land or your people and you didn't do anything more than what you saw as your duty. Having someone reward you for that duty does not in any way lessen the importance of what you've done."

Ranma snapped his gaze back to the large warrior. How had he known what was going on in his head? "I don't know. All growing up I was told that it was my duty to help others. How can I accept this type of treatment for just doing my duty? I didn't do anything special. I tried explaining that to your friend and his family but they wouldn't listen. They just kept telling me how thankful they were. I still feel uncomfortably knowing they feel that way." His gaze drifted back to the light spilling from the distant doorway. The idea that people were happy because he'd defended them. It was a foreign concept to the pigtailed martial artist. Back home he always got yelled at for saving people, especially by Akane, who always proclaimed "I'm a martial artist too."

A deep sigh disturbed the otherwise still evening as Ranma tried to push away the strange feelings. Turning to regard his fellow warrior, he once again wondered what made a man like him possible? Did he have to go through the same training that Ranma himself had been put through? And if so, just how fragile was his hold on sanity?

The barbarian looked back at the confused young man, sensing the pain and confusion behind those bright blue eyes. There was a strength of purpose that was almost frightening in its intensity. A clear understanding of duty to those around him. And yet he seemed afraid of that duty. As if something in his limited understanding of their new world was holding him back from being able to enjoy the simple comforts of life.

The sound of giggles rising into the air broke both warriors away from their inner reflections. Matthew was the first to notice the two young women making their way across the courtyard, silhouetted by the light from the common room. At this distance he couldn't make out just which of the servant girls it could be but any of them would be a delightful treat for the young man. There was nothing like a night in a woman's embrace to forget about your woes and sorrows and with twice the attention it should be an enjoyable night indeed.

Lips twitching into a bright smile, Matthew turned to young man, a crude joke at the boy's expense at the tip of his tongue. The joke was forgotten as he noted the tension in the pigtailed warrior's face. Taking another look at Ranma, Matthew noted the tension seemed to engulf the boy's entire body. Now why would wenches cause such a reaction? Unless… now that was truly interesting!

A hearty laugh echoed across the courtyard as the girls neared, drawing everyone's attention to the broad shouldered barbarian. Ranma's jaw nearly dropped as he looked at the warrior. This was not a laughing matter. While there was no way that these girls were new fiancées, they were no doubt out here to pound him into the ground for some perceived insult. Most likely for walking out on them and not eating their cooking. Though looking back he remembered eating everything he'd been presented. As Ranma walked through his day, trying to identify the place where he'd managed to screw up, Matthew made his way to the boy's side.

"While you may not know the secret joy of being a man with a women, I think yonder wenches are more than happy to educate you in that regard." Matthew clapped a strong hand on the Ranma's shoulder, trying to get the tense teenager to relax. What he wasn't expecting was for Ranma to wince and fade away from the hand, trying to merge into the shadows. Matthew blinked in surprise as the boy seemed to disappear, his shock echoed by the cries echoing from the girls.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to wait here for whatever they have planned for me. I just can't handle being hit right now. Tell them I'll face them tomorrow…" the voice trailed away, leaving behind three very confused people. Why would he think he would be hit? It's not as if any of the menfolk would begrudge the boy his fun. Matthew tried to reach out with his senses to find the boy, experiencing another shock when he couldn't locate Ranma. Turning to face the servant girls, he just sighed.

"Sorry girls, I'm not sure where the skittish boy managed to disappear to, but I don't think he'll be back anytime soon." He chuckled at the hurt pouts that blossomed on each girl's face. Smiling to them he stepped in close, wrapping an arm around each lush waist, drawing the two against his hard body. Leaning in, he whispered just how he would make it up to each of them, eliciting a set of giggles that trailed off into the night.

Panting from exhaustion, the runner from the Becosea estate pushed on, clearing the last rise before seeing the Mage Tower in the distance. It was fortunate that the estate maintained a way station close by and he had been able to requisition a horse. The mighty beast was as tired as his rider though both took what little comfort they could from the cool night air. Pushing on for the last bit of distance, the rider kept thoughts of warm food and a comfortable bed in his mind. His reward for doing his duty.

Nearly leaping from the back of his horse, he stumbled towards the Tower, banging on the door to try and capture someone's attention. The Mage Towers had been established hundreds of years ago to help facilitate communications between the far flung estates along the borders and throughout the Kingdom. A Mage Globe was stored at the base of the tower, a mystical construct that allowed the mages to communicate over long distances. A mage and a guardian were assigned to each tower to maintain the lines of communication.

After several more moments of pounding on the door an answer was finally forthcoming in the form of a large man pushing the door outwards, knocking over the already tired runner. Glaring down at the man on his rump, the large stranger regarded the man with barely concealed distain. "You'd best be having a good reason for rousting me from my bed, boy, or you'll be seeing more than what landed you on your backside." The voice was gruff, a professional soldier broking no excuses.

Scrambling to his feet, the runner just bobbed his head, shaking from both fear and exhaustion. "Begging your pardon sir, but I just came from the Becosea estate with news most dire. Kazon is on the move! They've already attacked in force against my master's home and were only just repelled, but more are surely on their way." Even the runner was amazed that he was able to get that out in so few breathes but the stunned look on the soldier's face seemed to add a little energy to the otherwise exhausted man.

Grumbling and cursing, the soldier opened the door further and motioned the other man inside, directing him to the mage who was just then rising from his bedding. There was an uneasy feeling from the man as he directed his gaze at the one who would dare intrude upon his well earned sleep. All thoughts of sleep were soon blasted from his mind as the runner's story was retold.

Allowing his own select curses to lick the air, the mage turned away and strode to center of the room and the glowing sphere that stood within. He had a call to make.

Outside the tower, a dark shadow detached from the side of the stonework, taking off through the air. Had anyone been able to see, they would have been shocked to see the evil grin that adorned the creatures far too human face.

Author's Notes:

I wanted to write a longer chapter but I find that if I add too much to this chapter, it pushes the story faster than I wanted to go. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it. Let me know what you think.