Author's Note:

I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to review my stories. I write for the enjoyment of myself and for all of you and hearing that you enjoy the story is what keeps me writing, even when I get frustrated. I truly value each and every single review I receive and take the time to personally answer every single one of them. Feel free to ask any questions you might have about the story or my writing style and I'll be more than happy to respond to them. Also, if anyone wants to start a discussion on the Forums, just let me know and I'll get it set up.

Ranma: Kingdoms Invasion

By Sargon Dorsai

Evolution of Threat

Sunlight glinted off the snow piled upon the rooftops of the Tendo Estate in Nerima, Japan, illuminating the blanket of white into a shimmer of almost magical brilliance. A halo of ice surrounded the rocks lining the koi pond and the fish themselves were resting lazily on the bottom of the pond, trying to eek out the new bits of warmth from the rising sun. There was little to disturb the quiet of the morning, except for the repeated sound of flesh impacting wood coming from the Dojo.

Clad in a gleaming white karate gi, Kasumi Tendo worked through the katas that she had thus far managed to master, her foot slamming down onto the floor of the dojo as she stomped at an invisible foe. Nearby was the shattered remnants of the target dummy that had thus far borne the brunt of her practice. Steam wreathed the swiftly flowing form of the eldest Tendo daughter as she swept from stance to stance, her body contorting around invisible attackers. It was as if there were several opponents engaged in combat simultaneously.

For several more moment Kasumi continued the frantic pace, building to the final flurry of blows that would have sent her opponents scattering had they been more than air and imagination. Arms still extended from the last attack, she stood there panting, trying to calm the beating of her heart and to collect her breath.

Turning to the corner of the dojo, Kasumi allowed a small smile to grace her lips. In a single frame by itself was a slightly faded picture. Dressed in his traditional Chinese silks was Ranma Saotome, standing tall and proud, invincible against the world. Standing back to back with him was the diminuitive form of his female half. The photo had been digitally edited, since there had only been one time in which Ranma's two halves had been separated. Kasumi had asked for that picture from her sister Nabiki, knowing that the girl kept a large file of photos on her computer.

At first Nabiki had been confused about why her older sister had wanted the picture, at least until she learned about Kasumi's early morning activities. It didn't take the middle Tendo long to figure out just what was on in her dear sister's mind and at first she wasn't sure how she felt about the interest that Kasumi was showing in the missing martial artist. That was until she really let herself think about what she knew about the real Ranma and the real Kasumi.

Looking back on their lives, it wasn't that hard to figure out what had happened and what was really going on in Kasumi's mind. Snippets of conversation half heard, the secret glances when they thought no one was watching. The almost hidden help provided while others were asleep. The extra portions of food. So many different signs and it took the colossal loss of the boy to finally put everything into perspective.

Those same thoughts ran through Nabiki's mind once again as the girl made her way to the dojo just in time to see Kasumi kneeling in front of Ranma's picture. Suppressing a sigh, she made sure she didn't interrupt the elder sister's time alone with the boy, even if the boy wasn't there. If anyone had deserved Ranma, deserved the dedication and attention, it was Kasumi. And of all the people still in Nerima, only Kasumi seemed to have made any changes in her life.

With the same critical mind that she had employed in business deals, Nabiki examined the changes that had come over her oldest sister. To most outward appearances, Kasumi was still the same cheerful loving housewife who had never been a wife that had always taken care of the family. It was only over the last few months that Kasumi had really begun changing in ways that should have been noticed by those on the outside. More and more of the chores were only barely getting done and many of those chores were being delegated to the members of the family.

Of course, no one realized that they were being put to work. Kasumi always had a good excuse for why she was asking for help. It's just that those excuses were coming more frequently. The change had been gradual and Nabiki doubted anyone noticed the escalation of events except for her. Nabiki was startled out of her thoughts by the sight of a slightly sweaty Kasumi walking up, toweling dry from her work out. There was a calm energy in that normally serene face that immediately caught Nabiki's attention. Kasumi was the first to speak though.

"I was wondering when you'd find me out here. You always were the smartest member of the family." There was a hint of a smirk behind those words, as if the ghost of Ranma's own brand of ego were making itself felt through Kasumi. With a start, Nabiki finally realized what was happening. In a way, Kasumi really was channeling Ranma, or at least was trying her best to do so. From the way she had been more assertive with the family to the way she was practicing martial arts again. Combined with the photo of Ranma in both forms, it was the only thing that made sense.

"You're training to find him, aren't you." It wasn't a question and the smile on Kasumi's face only grew in response. Nabiki struggled to understand the thoughts behind her older sister and realized that she should have seen it sooner. "When did you fall for him sis and why didn't you tell anyone?"

The scoff she got in response wasn't what she expected.

Kasumi looked at her sister, wondering just where those smarts she normally enjoyed had run away to. "Can you image the carnage that would have ensued had I entered the fiancée wars? Not to mention how little sister Akane would have taken things? The way she saw it, Ranma was her property to abuse at will and anyone else who tried to take her property needed to be punished. Only she couldn't punish anyone. They were all better martial artists than her. So she took out her frustrations on the one person who wouldn't hit back. Ranma."

Nabiki listened to Kasumi in morbid fascination, her mind working to assimilate all the information. It all made sense when she looked at it from all the angles. Kasumi was easily the best cook in Nerima, the best housekeeper, one of the prettiest with only Shampoo a contestant for sheer sex appeal. Why wouldn't Akane feel threatened by her had she entered the competition? And of course there was no way that Akane would be able to vent against dear kind Kasumi. Nabiki's eyes widened as she imagined the chaos that would have ensued when Akane saw poor innocent Kasumi being groped by the 'pervert' Ranma. A small shudder escaped her before she could control herself and she looked at Kasumi in wonder. Who knew that there was such a crafty calculating mind hiding behind that apron?

"Why now?" That was the main question that kept rushing through Nabiki's mind, the one that would determine how she acted from here to the future. "Why would you put yourself through this for him after he's gone? Even the amazons and grandpa Happosai haven't been able to track him down? How can you succeed where they have failed?"

It was a very soft voice that answered. "Because I'm the one who sent him away."

Nabiki felt her legs give out under her and would have fallen to the floor of the dojo had Kasumi not caught her. The middle Tendo looked at her older sister in wonder, trying to understand just how much that admission must have cost her and how it had come to past. She tried to give voice to those questions though her vaunted intelligence chose that moment to escape her. The gentle smile on Kasumi's face helped to calm her down to the point that she could get her question across.

Kasumi smile that same serene smile for which everyone knew her, then described her encounter with the Goddess Belldandy and the promise that had been made that day. It was an unbelievable revelation yet there was no denying that Kasumi believed it. More importantly, why would Kasumi lie about anything like that? With that piece of information in hand, all sorts of details made more sense. The way Ranma had disappeared all those months ago, the plaque that stood as a silent testament to the disappearance, even to this day. The way that Kasumi had been more assertive with the family and learning martial arts. All those subtle changes.

Making her way back to her feet, Nabiki considered her sister for a few more silent moments, trying to organize her thoughts. There were so many ways that she could go with the information, but looking into those trusting eyes she knew that she could never sell that news to anyone. "Alright Kasumi, let's see what we can do to help you find him. And when you see him, tell him I miss him, okay?"

Kasumi's answering smile was every bit as bright as the sun kissed snow.

Morning came quickly to the Becosea Estate on the day after the festivities and in spite of the copious amounts of celebration, most of the members of the estate were up with the sun, seeing to the daily operations of the household. Food was gathered, animals tended to, and member began to return to the workings of the land. There was a special sense of urgency among those workers, as if they could feel the tension in the air.

The men at arms cleaned weapons, knowing that all too soon those weapons would be required. The swish of a whetstone drawn across steel sounded in the air accompanied by the creak of leather being tightened. Within the stables, the estate's few horses were being tended to, with a single war charger standing out amongst the standard mares that were used for the farm work. Everywhere the eye was turned bore the sight of preparation.

These were people who lived among the mountains, along the border of a country with a history of bloodshed. Long have they been aware of the tenuous hold that peace had on the borders. They could see those stresses building but never had they felt that the battle would come to them within their lifetimes. The carnage of the day previous was fresh in their minds as the survivors worked to clear the remaining carnage that had not been taken care of the day before.

Bodies had long since been buried, weapons and belongings gathered from friend and foe alike. Only the wreckage of Ranma's fight with the elemental had been left alone, the ground ragged and torn from the force of the magic wielding upon that spot. Many a head turned to consider the highest point of the manor house.

Ranma Saotome stood on the top of the highest chimney, the wind rustling through his loose pigtail braid. His Chinese silk shirt seemed to catch the rays of the morning sun like a shimmering fire wreathing the warrior, serving to add further to the mystery with which many of the people on the estate regarded the boy. Not that many of the people thought of him as a boy. In their land he was already a man, a blooded warrior and a savior to the people. They'd tried to convey those feelings at the celebration the night before but many couldn't help but feel the boy slipped out earlier than need be.

All those thoughts were lost on Ranma as he gazed towards the horizon, as if searching for some sign to explain why he was there. None was forthcoming. He considered asking one of the mages for a divination, then blinked to himself. Since when did he know anything about mages? Didn't he distrust magic? After all, it had brought him nothing but trouble since the first day at jusenkyo. Examining the though, he realized with a start it wasn't his own memory, but something he'd drawn from the boy whose life he'd saved the day before.

A frown marred his features as he searched for more memories, that frown deepening as the true impact of his healing technique began to dawn upon him. There were more memories than his own available, snippets of thoughts or information that came when called for, or drifted on the sea of consciousness waiting for a link to bring them to the fore. Information about this world. It was the final coffin in his belief that he could return easily to home.

Ranma still had no idea how he had gotten to this world and there were no ideas on how to return home either. The fact that magic existed gave him at least a little hope for the future, yet that hope was tempered by the events of the day before and his own checkered past with magic. There was also a feeling in the air. It was as if the air was electrified, causing the hairs on the back of Ranma's neck to stand on end. A storm was coming, one that would sweep him up and carry him away.

Would he become lost in the turbulence? Would he be able to find his way back home? Did he really want to? What was waiting for him back there? Flashes of memory burst across his sight, faces of people and places. Each one carried their own weight yet none of them really tugged at his heart. This was a better way, a way in which honor could be satisfied for all involved. Ukyo would be able to return to her family, honor fulfilled with no more Ranma Saotome. Shampoo would be released from the kisses of death and marriage with no target or groom. The countless other women that his father had engaged him to would have to secure their revenge against his father.

Only one agreement stood out in Ranma's thoughts, that of the Tendo daughters. He tried to see Akane as his wife. He wasn't as violently against the idea as he projected to those around. It was more of the lack of control over his life that he truly resented. At least at first. Akane had abused his trust and his love over the years and the flame of love that had once burned within his heart had been cooled and extinguished by the lack of fuel.

One face floated in his memories, tugging at his heart strings. The one person who had shown him unconditional caring. Kasumi Tendo. He would miss her and wished he could spare her the suffering that would return with him not there to carry any of the weight of the chores and repairs. Shaking away those thoughts, he tried to focus on the present, knowing that he needed to survive in the new world before he could even consider trying to find a way back to his own.

The sound of a foot skittering on the roof tiles behind him caused Ranma to turn and glance over his shoulder. He caught sight of the youngest Becosea making his way slowly across the tiles, each step deliberate and calculated. Ranma smirked slightly to himself as he considered the sense of balance and poise that was evident in each movement of the man slowly making his way over. The boy was a warrior, even more than any of the other soldiers with the exception of Matthew.

Nathan came to a slow stop near the pigtailed warrior, wondering how he'd known that Ranma would be on the roof. It was as if he could learn things about the man just by concentrating. It took a lot of effort to pull up more than just a fleeting image, but it was worth the effort to understand the man who had saved his life. Saved everyone's lives.

"How can you be so comfortable standing up here?"

It wasn't a question demanding an answer but Ranma decided to provide one nonetheless.

"My art is an aerial one. I've always felt most comfortable in high places. Like the mountains, or flying through the air. Whenever I needed to think, I would jump to the rooftops of the nearest building, away from the people and situations. It helped me clear my head." There was a melancholy to Ranma's words, one that he wasn't even aware of.

Cocking his head to the side, Nathan considered the younger man's words, wondering again at the casual reference to such mighty feats as leaping to the rooftops. Yet those words paled in importance compared to the reference to Ranma's fighting ability as 'The Art'. Having seen Ranma's performance through some of the battle the day before, he readily agreed. There was something in the way that the young man moved that went beyond mere ability. It spoke of a love for fighting. Or maybe it wasn't the fighting itself so much as the challenge, the contest to overcome and to move beyond the limits you had already reached.

More information tried to jog itself free within Nathan's mind and he gave his head a shake as if trying to dislodge that same information. Now was not the time to be distracted, especially considering the consequences of faltering while on a rooftop. That thought caused him to glance over the edge towards the courtyard below, shaking his head in amazement at his own actions. Things had changed so much in so little time. Turning back towards Ranma, Nathan tried to figure out how best to frame what he had to say.

"Those soldiers from yesterday aren't the end of things, Ranma." The words were spoken in a level tone, yet there was an undercurrent of steel that strengthened the importance of what was to come. "I fear that they were only the beginning." Nathan turned his gaze towards the northern horizon, as if scanning for some unseen threat.

"I'm hoping that the army arrives in time to head off any kind of major invasion, but there is no way of telling how far ahead of their soldiers those two scouts groups were and considering how close together they arrived, it can't be that far." There was a glimmer of excitement in those pale blue eyes, yet they were tempered with the knowledge of what could happen to his family, friends and loved ones should he fail to keep the threat from reaching them.

"I never thought I'd see war in my lifetime. I've read the stories, the histories of bloodshed between nations, but those tales were always of years long gone, barely remembered in the books they're recorded in." Shaking his head in sadness, Nathan turned back to the warrior, wondering why he was telling him everything. "It's thankful we are for your help the other day, but this isn't a fight to be taken lightly. And it's not your fight."

Raising his hand to forestall any interruptions, Nathan gazed intently at Ranma. "You're a stranger here, Ranma. I'll be the first to admit that you are a powerful warrior and I doubt there be a man here who would say otherwise. But power isn't enough against a foe the likes of which we are likely to see. I don't have any idea of the scale of the war to come, but I do know that it feels ominous." Turning away from Ranma, he focused his attention on the horizon once again.

"There is a feeling in the air, Ranma. One of foreboding, heralding the presence of an evil that lurks just out of sight. It's close, almost like I can reach out and take hold of the tension." Hand outstretched, Nathan slowly closed his hand into a fist, pulling it towards him. Turning his hand upright, he slowly opened his palm, frowning as if expecting something to be there upon his empty hand. The sound of rushing air snapped his attention back to Ranma.

Glowing with a slightly blue aura, Ranma stood gazing towards the same horizon, surrounded by a short whirlwind. Dust lifted and circled around the warrior, answering the call of his power, a power he didn't even seem to be aware of exerting. A hard light blazed in the sapphire spheres of his eyes, an almost ethereal glow that echoed the corona of light surrounding him. "A martial artist protects the weak, no matter where they are. No matter who they are. This may not be my war, but that will not keep me from fighting in it." Each word was laced with a glaze of frost and strengthened with a core of steel that spoke of an indomitable will.

Ranma's silk clothes rustled in the rush of wind as his aura blazed brighter. Leaning forward, he focused on something just barely seen on the horizon. Frowning, he brought his hands forward, cupping them together. Nathan's eyes went wide as he felt, literally felt the energy pooling in the hands of his rescuer. With an inarticulate roar, Ranma shoved his hands forward, a bolt of blue energy blasting towards the distance, screaming through the air toward its target.

An explosion of blue light showed Ranma's attack had hit something. The air was rent by an inhuman scream, tearing through the unnatural silence that had descended in the wake of Ranma's actions. Slowly, the corona of light faded away, revealing a winged beast with an all too human face. Leathery wings flapped slowly, keeping the creature aloft, though it seemed to be struggling to stay in flight, staggering from moment to moment. It was too far away to make out any details other than the general shape, but there was a definite feeling of malice erupting from the beast.

Eyes narrowed in barely restrained anger, Ranma slowly lowered his hands. There was a feeling in the air that reminded him of the way it felt fighting Saffron. The power levels weren't the same but the sense of malice was definitely there. While fighting the Phoenix Godling, Ranma had felt nothing but hostility from his opponent, as if Saffron took delight in the destruction he was causing. Saffron enjoyed torturing Ranma, holding the cure to Akane's condition out of reach, drawing out the conflict. It was one of the few times that Ranma hadn't enjoyed the conflict itself, the struggle to win.

That same feeling surrounded Ranma now as he glared across the distance at the beast. There were no other words to describe the creature, for it was truly a beast, with no compassion in those black pools that passed for eyes. Leaping from the rooftops, Ranma alighted on the wall surrounded the estate for a moment before bounding into battle. The creature roared in challenge and dashed forward to meet the oncoming warrior.

Nathan looked on in stunned silence, unable to accept the reality of what he had just seen. The beast itself he thought he recognized, at least he thought he knew what it could be. Thrakor were creatures of whispered legends, monsters that drained the soul from the body of their victims, feeding on the very life energy that was a part of every living being. They stole the memories and knowledge of their prey and the older the Thrakor, the more powerful it was likely to be. Yet they were supposed to be only on the Great Southern Continent, never crossing the vast ocean that separated their world's largest landmass from the other two continents.

Ignoring for a moment the impossibility of the creature's existence, Nathan tried to wrap his mind around the performance of Ranma. No one could jump like that without killing themselves. The human body just couldn't do that. Just what was Ranma? Searching those scattered memories didn't help either since all he could sense were the thoughts behind the memories and not the memories themselves.

Shaking himself out of his contemplation, Nathan turned to rush back to the ladder that had been his means of reaching the roof, shouting at the top of his lungs to get everyone's attention. The Thrakor were also rumored to never travel alone and if they could see one of the beasts, there was surely at least one more laying in wait somewhere out of sight, not to mention whatever else might be in the area.

Looking up from where he'd been leaning against the wall of the estate, Matthew caught sight of the youngest Becosea floundering down the ladder. A floundering warrior was an unusual sight but the words being shouted were what really caught Matthew's attention. Bolting upright, he turned to look at the outer wall before reaching down and hefting his axe, hurling himself into motion towards the open gates. If the shouts were to be believed, this is one fight he didn't want to miss.

Author's Note: I'm going to cut this chapter off here. I've been trying to write Ranma's fight for months now and have scrapped several versions of it. So instead of making you all wait for me to get over my writer's block, I thought I'd share the work that I already have done.