Wild Magic
Ranma 1/2, Slayers, and any other series used in this fanfic are owned by their respective creators/publishers/whatever
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Chapter 3
As Sasami lead Xellos into the house, she caught sight of a young girl who looked no older than two with vivid red hair done up in a style that mirrored her own. She didn't think the child was the daughter of the purple-haired Mazouku. Then again, she only knew him vaguely. Came by several months ago to meet with Washu-chan. "Xellos-san, is she your daughter?" The young redhead raised an eyebrow in her direction, looked up to the tall man, and then back to her with an expression that asked 'are you crazy?'
"Ha ha. No she isn't Sasami. This is Ranma. I was put in charge of training her in magic and fighting. She's quite an energetic little thing too!" said the purple haired demon as he pinched the redhead's cheek. His hand was quickly swatted away by an irate child. "Aw, but your cheeks are so pinchably cute." Xellos mentioned in mock sadness. He had to at least something. It was hard to keep his composure around the blue-haired girl and her ever present cheery attitude. This is why he was so keen to get Ranma away from the Tendo Dojo. That Kasumi may be able to make some good tea, but being around such a... saint made him queasy. Then there was that Mihoshi girl. Brrr...
Sasami stifled a giggle as she watched the pouting younger girl with her arms crossed in front of her. Remembering her manners, the young princess of Jurai casted a smile to the child. "Why don't you come in? I'm sure we have some ice cream in the kitchen." the blue-haired girl finished, feeling as if that would be the best way to break the ice with the younger girl.
Ranma's eyes widened and then shined at the thought of ice cream. "Ok!" she chimed jumping next to the taller girl. The girl had a slight 'Kasumi' feel to her. Not as serene, but could very well give the eldest Tendo daughter a run for her money. There was also something... off about her aura that the young redhead couldn't place. Putting the thought at the back of her mind, the young martial artist/sorceress decided to focus on one thing... Ice cream.
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"This is great!" Ranma announced as she stuffed her face with the most delicious of confections. She didn't care if she was acting childish. Its ice cream, and the pony-tailed girl could forgive herself for now. Across from her, the 10-year-old Sasami giggled lightly at her way of eating the dairy product. Wondering why she wasn't getting a brain freeze. Her thoughts were interrupted at the sound of soft footsteps coming towards the kitchen. The young princess caught site of the 'elderly' Shinto priest of the Masaki shrine, Katsuhito Masaki (Also secretly known as Yosho). The elderly priest blinked a bit at seeing a child he never saw before gobbling up ice cream like no tomorrow sitting next to Sasami. He was aware the mazouku Xellos stopped by to converse with Washu, so this child probably came with him.
"Who's your friend, Sasami?" He asked. Curious about the young girl who's emitting so much power. Both magical and spiritual. The child of his studying looked towards his way. The redhead merely waved and smiled. Her face was messy with ice cream.
"I'm Ranma." She supplied. She could tell that the man in front of her was a trained fighter. The way he carried himself was proof to that. The two-year-old wondered just how well she'd do against the guy at her greatly diminished strength. 'Damn, I really need to get a move on it. Now that I'm not with the Malfoy's, I can go on to do a bunch of the more... interesting methods.'
"Ranma what?" Katsuhito asked curiously. Maybe he knew the child's family. This would also provide a possible clue as to why the child suddenly appeared in his home.
The pony-tailed youth thought for a long moment. 'Sure I'm now a Malfoy, but I don't FEEL like I'm a Malfoy. Saotome also sounds wrong nowadays. There's also those small and vague memories I've been getting each time a new spell comes to me of being an Inverse. Why the hell do things like this happen to me!' She shouted in her head as she proceeded to pull her hair and slam her head against the table a few times. Causing Sasami and Katsuhito to look on in worry.
"Um... Ranma?" Sasami asked, to see if her new friend was ok. She jumped back as the smaller girl raised her index finger up.
"Ranma Malfoy Inverse." She stated finally. Deciding that the best way to decide would be to include a part of all three of her lives. She didn't care if it sounded weird. The redhead looked at the elderly man and waved her arm, "Don't ask about what was going' on just now. It's too weird and strange. You wouldn't believe it." Katsuhito's eye raised at the last part, but it went unnoticed to the child who was suddenly staring at the wall where a woman with spiky cyan hair and golden eyes phased through.
"What's all the commotion in here old man?" She asked grumpily as she floated in mid-air. Her golden eyes then caught site of a young child sitting in a seat and staring at her with wide eyes. Smirking to herself, the masu phased out of sight, and phased in right in front of the girl's face and gave a simple 'boo'.
The Shinto priest sighed and also waited for the scream, but the scream that came was one neither expected. "WOW! How'd you go through the wall like that? Is it magic? A martial arts technique? That would sure be something to know. That's so cool!" The resulting face fault caused Ranma to blink in confusion and scratch the back of her head. "What did I say?"
Ryoko was the quickest to recover and rested her elbow on the child's head. "A normal child would have run away... or peed themselves. You're not bad, shrimp." The space pirate was then at a loss for words as the redhead started to get angry.
"What did you call me?!" came the shriek from the two-year-old who sent a glare to the floating woman
"Shrimp? Shrimpo? Shrimpy?" asked the cyan haired woman examining her nails with a smirk. 'Oh this could be fun. The princess has been a little boring lately and there needs to be some action going on around here.' Looking back to the child, Ryoko shrugged. "I mean look at you. You're tiny, runty, insignificant, and scrawny. A virtual toothpick..."
"Shut up you thick-legged psycho!" Ranma shouted jumping out of her chair, a small red aura outline around her. Katsuhito and Sasami shared a look and decided it best to quickly leave the possible disaster zone... at least until one of the two girls calmed down.
"Wha... what did you say?" Ryoko asked with a slight twitch to her eye. Increasing in speed at the cocky smirk appearing on the face of the one that she was teasing just a few seconds ago.
"Yeah, you heard me. Thick-legged, ugly, psycho... and is that a small wrinkle on your forehead? You're age must be starting to show." Finished the redhead with arms crossed. Of course, the woman in front of her wasn't any of that. It was just fun to see her get riled up. Ranma's eyes widened when an energy sword formed in the woman's hand. "Ack!" came her intelligent reply when she figured this might get a little messy. Catching sight of an open kitchen window, the former boy jumped through it so not to cause any damage to the house.
"Get back here you brat!" An irate masu shouted as she chased off after the retreating girl. She wasn't going to hurt her too bad. Just teach her not to disrespect those older than her. A few bruises to make her cry ought to do.
"Think we should try and stop them?" Tenchi asked after being filled in on what was going on in the kitchen.
"She may be a monster woman, Tenchi, but not even she would hurt a child. She probably plans to just put some fear into her. At least I hope." Ayeka finished uncertainly. Silence reined for a few seconds in the living room before everyone shuffled quickly to the outside.
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'Damn!' Ranma thought as she dodged a punch from the cyan haired woman. 'She's fast, and that flying of her's makes it so I can't fight her effectively. Damn weak two-year-old body.' Grabbing onto another punch from the older woman, Ranma used her current strength to heave her away as far as she could... only to see the woman straighten up in mid-air just a few feet away.
"You're going to have to do better than that shrimpy." Ryoko taunted with a cocky smirk that mirrored Ranma's just a few minutes ago. She was actually impressed a little with the skill the child showed. Reaching to her shoulder, the space pirate rubbed the spot that the redhead got a shot in moments ago. It felt more like a small bug bite that stung just a little bit. It wasn't all that strong, but stronger than a normal two-year-old.
Ranma started to fume at the flying woman. Until her eyes lit up, "Two can play this game." she whispered to herself as she concentrated and began to raise into the air to her opponent's level. "Not so special now, ugly." The redhead taunted as she floated there clumsily. Increasing her will, she managed to remain straight and move around without falling. 'Ha! I'm getting the hang of this magic stuff.'
Ryoko growled at the 'ugly' insult. "So you can fly. Let's see how well!" Balls of energy appeared in her hands, causing the redhead's eyes to widen. A sinister grin found it's way onto the cyan-haired girl's face as she let loose a volley towards her opponent.
"Shit!" The former Saotome exclaimed as she clumsily dodged a few of the energy spheres. "MOUKO TAKABISHA!" Shouted the two-year-old as she let fly her own ki blast. Ryoko, in shock of seeing the two-year-old pull off an energy attack of her own, was hit dead center and knocked back. Ranma wasn't able to rest as the spiky-haired alien, who was just a little scuffed, let loose another volley. This time, the redhead was grazed a few times. "Ooowwwww..."
The golden-eyed masu was about to gloat when her angered opponent placed her hands in front of her chest. "Oh, source of all power, light which burns beyond crimson." Her eyes widened at the orb pulsing with fire that appeared in those hands. "Let thy power gather in my hand. FIREBALL!" The ball was then let loose, coming her way. No problem, she'd just teleport away at the last moment. As she was about to get out of harm's way, a cry of 'break!' was heard. Causing the fire to explode.
Ranma had to smile at that. 'Break' entered her mind right as she was tossing the fireball. She wasn't ready to relax yet. She had to see if the older woman was unconscious or something. She hoped so, because that lady was tough. "Not a bad move, shrimp." A voice whispered from her shoulder. Turning her head, the two-year-old saw her opponent. She was a little charred and battered, but was otherwise fine. "Too bad it wasn't enough." The cyan-haired woman commented as she brought her fist back and sent it towards the stunned redhead.
Recovering quickly, she brought her arms forward to block the incoming blow. The block was successful, but the force sent her careening into the forest and to come at a stop next to a tree trunk. The block almost turned her arms to jelly. Blue and red specked eyes stared straight into golden eyes as the battered redhead stood to her feet. "You're not too bad." Ranma reluctantly said. The smirk answering her back got under her skin.
"Teaches you to know better than to pick fights with people you don't know, eh pipsqueak? Now why don't you just count your losses and go home crying to mommy?" The space pirate chuckled out. The kid was so much fun to tease. Confusion played across her face as a slight dark aura appeared around the child. Said child then started muttering something.
The young redhead can't quite remember how powerful the spell is, although she knows it has at least some power to it. "Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows. Buried in the flow of time." Ryoko was starting to feel a little wary as she started backing up. "In thy great name, I pledge myself to darkness. All the fools who stand in our way shall be destroyed..." At this point, at the sight of the red orb that pulsed with incredible destructive power, Ryoko started moving faster. "...by the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!" As the spell left Ranma's hand, a certain space pirate decided it best to teleport away. While a certain redheaded martial artist/sorceress-in-training's mind suddenly caught up on a memory of just how destructive the Dragon Slave was.
"Oh shi..." The reincarnated child managed out before darkness claimed her.
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(A few moments ago)
"That young child certainly isn't bad." Ayeka commented as the redhead battled with her rival for Tenchi. "But I don't think she has a chance against the mummy." The purple-haired princess quipped as she watched the battle take place in the air.
"We should stop this grandpa!" Shouted Tenchi to the older member of the Masaki family. "That girl is going to get hurt."
"Calm down Tenchi. It's just an innocent battle between two fighters. She may be but a child, but it seems like she can handle herself.. If things get bad, I'll step in." Katsuhito supplied to his grandson as he watched Ranma careen into the woods, and Ryoko follow. His body suddenly stiffened at the feeling of great destructive power, "This... does not feel good." The other spectators, except Mihoshi, felt it too.
"What's going on?" Sasami asked in fear as Ryoko materialized right in front of her just a second before the forest seemingly exploded outwards, gusts from the blast threatening to knock back everyone. As the winds died down, Ryoko let loose a long whistle.
"Pipsqueak's got some serious power." Something else then occurred to her. "Hey, she was in the middle of the blast, so..." The masu didn't get to finish her sentence as the door to the Masaki home flew open to reveal a wide-eyed Washu. The scientific genius looked towards the smoke and took off running. The assembled group exchanged looks before taking off after the diminutive scientist. When the young group caught up to Washu, they were shocked to see the size of the crater, and a small figure laying in the center who was recognizable as Ranma. Her clothes were completely shredded, and some blood was trickling from her mouth. Her hair, for some reason was pure snow white.
The spiky-haired scientist finished her small examination, picked up the de-clothed youth, and looked at everyone. "We need to get her to my lab, pronto! She's in dire need of medical attention!" Exclaimed Washu as she made a beeline to her sub-dimensional lab.
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"Uhhh... what the hell hit me?" Ranma asked herself as she opened her eyes. Confusion came to her as she looked on to see a mountain blocking her vision. "Where the hell am I?" She asked herself.
"You're in yer own mind. After ya nearly killed yerself on that damn dangerous magic." A grouchy voice said behind her.
"Hey, it's not the magic's fault. That's what happens when your memory is Swiss cheese." Another voice said.
Turning around, the two-year-old's eyes bugged out at the site before her. Two figures, both almost see through spirits, were sitting at a low table calmly drinking tea. The one on the left resembled her old male self, with a loose ponytail instead of pigtail. On the right was someone who looked like Lina Inverse of the past. "Wha... huh... who... how?" She let out, a loss for words.
'Lina' gave off a small smirk. "Still has your eloquence with words." The phrase was directed to the 'Ranma' on the left. 'Lina' ignored the indignant 'Hey!' from both Ranma's and greeted the redhead. "I believe I know what your question is. Both of us, grumpy over there and myself, are parts of your own psyche given form. Something generated by your subconscious to help you after almost being killed by that Dragon Slave you carelessly casted. A kind of spirit if you will." The older sorceress supplied. A snort came from Spirit-Ranma direction.
"That's what happens when ya play with magic. Ya end up gettin' burned. We wouldn't have almost been killed if it wasn't for you, ya damn flat-chested bandit killOUCH" Spirit-Ranma yelped nursing a few lumps on his head from the insulted sorceress, who motioned for real-Ranma to sit at the table. The younger redhead sat down thinking to herself.
'Great, I'm trapped in my own mind with a short-tempered ancient past life, and my past male self. Why the hell does he get to be male and me stuck as I am?' She finished, sending a glare to the spirit who dares taunt her with her former body. The spirit in male skin winced at the intensity of the glare he was receiving.
"Will ya cut that out? It's not my fault. Blame yer own mind for thinking us up. As well as that that magic. No good can come of magic. Think of all the problems it's caused ya. Made yer life as me hell, and that Voldemort guy killed ya with it. better off if ya tossed out learning magic and just stuck with Martial Arts. The thing you were supposed to be training in." He finished receiving a glare from Lina.
"If anything, you should focus on sorcery. Maybe magic did 'make your life hell' in your previous life, but learning it could help you reverse and avoid magical problems, spells, etc. A Little martial arts here and there wouldn't hurt. It would keep you in shape and all that good stuff." Spirit-Ranma slammed his fist against the table.
"What about normal people? How effective would the crap be if yer livin' among non magical people and attacked by criminals or somethin'. Magic would be too flashy and attract attention. With the art, you could defend yerself more discretely!"
The two were brought out of their argument by the sound of someone snoring. Turning their heads, they see the two-year-old with her head down on the table fast asleep with a bit of drool hanging out. "Ice cream..." Muttered the child in her sleep. Sweat dropping, the two spirits bopped her on the head to wake her up. "Whadja do that for?!" Yelled the irate redhead.
"We're havin' an important argument."
"Bull! You two are just trying' to bore me to death with this nonsense. I need to get out of here before I start going crazy!" Real Ranma stated. Mumbling to herself about being so pigheaded and stubborn.
"You can't at the moment. Your body is still recovering from your brush with death earlier. For now you're stuck. While you're here, maybe you should deal with a certain issue that SHOULD have been dealt with a long time ago." Spirit-Lina mentioned as she sipped her tea. Ranma tilted her head and looked at the older woman.
"What issue is that?" What kind of issue could she solve while being stuck inside her own head? The two-year-old followed the pointed finger, and what she saw caused her to let out a scream, jump behind Spirit-Ranma, and peek out from behind his back. "You expect ME to solve that issue? Do you have a screw loose?!" She asked looking straight on ahead at a small and cute kitten looking her way with big soulful eyes. The kind of eyes, in Ranma's opinion, that promised to devour her own soul. "You have GOT to be nuts."
"That's exactly what I was thinkin'." Agreed Spirit-Ranma. A bit un-nerved by the kitten as well, but not experiencing the fear that his real self is experiencing.
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In the sub-dimensional lab that belongs to Washu, the redheaded scientist is sitting back in her chair and wiping her forehead. After about three hours of intensive care, Ranma was finally in stable condition. Looking at her computer screen, it was a miracle the young girl survived. A severe concussion, serious internal bleeding, broken bones, physical, spiritual, and magical exhaustion. She must have used almost all of her energy to somehow protect herself from the blunt of the explosion. Either that, or she was insanely lucky. For a two-year-old to be able to live through that...
For a split second, the scientist thought about her as a guinea pig. The idea was promptly squelched to the back of her mind. The girl was only two-years-old, and even a scientist like herself knew when to NOT cross the line into experimenting. Getting to her feet, the spiky-haired girl walked over to the tank which contained the child in question. A breathing mask and wires attached to her as she floated. As she stood there and examined the young girl, her mind drifted to the conversation she had with that damn Mazouku after bringing Ranma in.
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(Three hours earlier)
"Ah" The purple-haired demon said carelessly after Washu stated her diagnosis of the two-year-old who was now floating in the tank that began the slow process of healing her. Everyone turned and looked at him blankly, except for Washu. The super genius gave him a look that, if possible, could've bore through solid steel.
"What do you mean 'Ah'? The girl almost died, and you're just shrugging it off like it's no big deal? How the hell did you come to be in charge of her well being?! What sane parents would hand their child over to a demon to take care of?" The regular residents of the house backed away a little. They've seen Washu angry before, but never this angry. It was kind of scary. The only one who wasn't affected was the mazouku the anger was directed at.
Xellos merely yawned. "I'm aware of that, but seeing as how you seem to have it all under control and all, there's no need to worry or anything. Ranma's a tough person. It Comes from her two previous incarnations. If she were to die just because of a little spell backfire, then she would have died in her first incarnation and not have become one of the greatest that she had. As for how I came to be in charge of her well being, I merely offered to give her some scrolls on magic and martial arts. I also told her family that she'd come back one of the greatest magic users."
"They believed you right off the bat?" Washu asked incredulously.
"What do you expect from a wizarding family who's used to working with dark and evil wizards and witches? They're prideful of being 'pure blood' and having the power to back it up. I just appealed to their ideals. It's easy to get people to trust you when you know what they want. As for why I'm training Ranma. Well, that's a secret. Even to me actually. I'm just following orders. Although I will say one thing. The child attracts chaos like a magnate, and as you know, I like chaos. It keeps me... entertained." The trickster said with a smile. 'Besides, Ranma's also having me carry her stuff, so until she gets something to use to carry her own stuff, she's stuck with me.' Xellos whispered under his breath.
"Give me everything. Ranma's stuff, and all those scrolls." Washu said with her arms crossed. Having heard the last part.
"What?" Asked the priest with a frown. 'Hm... maybe I said too much. Ah well, no matter.' His composure regained, the demon tilted his head. "Why would you want the items?"
"Because if Ranma has all her things and those scrolls you promised her, she'd have no need to follow a bastard like you into harms way. There's no way in Hell that I'll sit back and let a child travel with someone who cares only for the satisfaction of chaos, and not of her well being." The scientist stated, slipping into a maternal role.
"Oh Washu, you amuse me so." Xellos laughed. After the laugh, his eyes opened and stared at the smaller girl. "She may have the body of a two-year-old, but her mental state is much older than she appears. 17 or 18 years worth from her previous life, and who knows how much from the life before that. Considering that area of her mind is virtually Swiss cheese. She's not a normal child that you'd be able to coop up and take care of. She holds a wander lust, and will have to travel with me to enhance her abilities properly." Finished the demon as his purple eyes bore into Washu's.
Staring back with equal force, Washu frowned. "I don't care what you say. Even if her mental capability is of that, her physical age is of a two-year-old, and her physical capabilities are only a little greater than that of a normal two-year-old. She wouldn't be able to survive out there on her ki and magic alone, and who knows WHAT dangers you'd lead her into. Now please hand me the items I requested." She finished with her hand out in front. The staring match took place for a few seconds until the purple-haired demon got bored and spun around.
"Nah. I'll just be out of here until she's well."
"Hold it right there. Make one more move and I'll press this button." Xellos turned his head and saw a small remote in the diminutive scientist's hand. The mazouku priest gave off a small chuckle.
"Go ahead, try your worst." The smile on Washu's face grew sinister as she pressed the button. What came next filled Xellos with pure nausea. All around the laboratory, a sickening sound was being heard.
"You're my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin. You're my sweetie-pie. You're my cuppy-cake, gum drop. Snoogums-boogums, you're the apple of my eye. And I love you so..."
"STOP!!! STOP THIS MADNESS!!!!!" Xellos screamed as he doubled over in an odd combination of nausea and weakness. 'Th... this song. It ha... has got to be the most sickingly cute, cavity inducing piece of torture EVER! Not even that look Ranma gave me, or those old speeches Amelia did long ago, can compare. Oh god... it's starting over again!!!'
"Didn't count on me researching deeper about Mazouku after your visit a few months ago, did you Xellos? Now, like I asked, give me the items." After the tortured being pulled a large pack out of a subspace pocket, Washu stopped the song. "I also fitted the area around the house and shrine to play the song if you ever come near again. If that falls through, there's also something else you wouldn't want to even think about. Now, please get your ass out of my lab." The scientist said with a lovely smile. Xellos, at a loss for the first time in a long time, glared at the redhead, and vanished.
"Note to self. A Fully angered Washu is bad. So very bad..." Tenchi said softly as the assembled group could only nod vigorously.
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(At present)
"According to these scans of her brain, her mental usage IS that of someone older than two. There's more in that noggin than the average two-year-old. Just can't really tell what it's at, since it seems to be fluctuating for some reason. The demon was right about that at least." Her eyes twinkled for a second. "The reason Xellos brought her WAS to educate her. Not exactly sure why, but that's why he brought her. Young children also have a high learning curve. Imagine all that I could teach her. I shall take it upon myself to teach her." Washu's laugh found it's way beyond the closet door of the Masaki household and placed fear into those who heard it.
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(Back in Ranma's subconscious)
"Bu..but that thing'll eat me alive. I... it only LOOKS cute." Ranma stuttered out as the two personified parts of her mind pulled her towards the small big-eyed kitten. Apparently the two 'geniuses' figured that if she proved to it who the dominate one was, and then it would become part of her. Ridding her of the fear of cats.
"Aw come on. That kitten can't be THAT evil. Quit acting like a weakling." The form of Spirit-Lina taunted. Ranma's eyes narrowed at the last comment.
"Who are you calling a weakling, flat-chest?" The second the word left her mouth, Spirit-Lina glared at her with eyes so fierce that a dragon would be spooked. Ranma wished she could shrink and run away. 'Ulp, I guess what they said long ago WAS true.' She thought before being picked up by the armpits and tossed towards the kitten. Falling flat on her face near the demon spawn, the young redhead scrambled to her knees.
"Meow?" Came the vile sound as it tilted its head and stared at her. Shivering uncontrollably, Ranma reached out slowly to pet the cute demon. As her hand got closer, it seemed as if everything was going to be alright. A small smile broke out as her fingers touched the fuzzy head. "REEEOOOWWWW!!!!" Screeched the kitten as an aura shaped like a tiger emitted outwards. Faster than the blink of an eye, an energy fueled claw swiped through the air as Ranma jumped back.
"..." Silence reined as the reincarnated child looked towards her left hand to see it wasn't there anymore. This went on a few more seconds until "AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!! MY HAND'S GONE!! THE THING SLICED MY HAND OFF!!!" Spirit Ranma and Lina could only watch as a young two-year-old girl, missing her left hand, ran around waving her arms frantically and screaming at the top of her lungs. The redhead finally stopped in front of the two in hysterics.
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down there."
"CALM DOWN?! MY FREAKING HAND WAS CUT OFF!! YOU WANTED ME TO GET CLOSE TO THE MONSTER, SO I DID! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED!" The two-year-old shouted. What would she do now? How could she tell people it was done by a kitten? Why... um... why wasn't it bleeding? "There's... no blood?" Looking to the two spirits, Ranma was hoping for an answer.
"Ahem." Spirit-Lina cleared her throat. "This is your own mind, Ranma. You have control here. Just will your hand back." Doing as she was told, Ranma saw her hand grow back. Thinking how she just acted, the young girl's face became red in embarrassment.
"I... I knew that! I was just kidding. Ahahahahahaha..." Turning away from the blank stares, the martial artist/sorceress-in-training looked in the direction of the kitten and shuddered. "Since it's my mind, I... I could probably do s... something about that thing." Concentrating, the former boy reined in her emotions and looked onwards with cold eyes at the confused kitten. Step by step, closer and closer, ready to rid herself of the menace.
"HISSS!!!" Came from the kitten, trying to ward off the threat. When the warning didn't work, the angry feline pounced. Just before it reached the redhead, it's body became frozen in mid-air. "M.. mrow?" It questioned in fear as the hand of the redhead came nearer and nearer. Closing its eyes, the furry creature waited for the end. The end, however, actually felt pretty good. Opening a curious eye, it caught sight of the one in front of it giving an unsure smile as the fingers petted it.
Ranma was a bit startled when the thing started to purr, but continued petting it. "Hey, your not evil. You're just a little kitten protecting its territory. Why couldn't this have happened a long time ago?" As she finished petting and released the cat, something odd started to happen. A white glow enveloped the feline, and expanded until everything was covered in white.
After everything died down, Ranma couldn't spot the cat anymore. "It's gone."
"Feelin' any different?" The black-haired spirit asked curiously.
Looking around for a few seconds and then concentrating, "Yeah, I don't seem to feel any fear whenever I think of a cat. My senses have also seemed to increase. Don't know how much until I wake up. I also don't seem to be any stronger than I was. That is good, since I hate free power-ups. Although it wouldn't exactly be a free power-up. I'd just rather grow into strength and all instead of getting it all at once." Finished the redhead on her inspection.
The two spirits nodded as their forms began to vanish. "It looks like your getting ready to wake up. Ciao." Waved Spirit-Lina as the two vanished, and the area around Ranma began to fade.
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"Ah, she's starting to wake." Washu Noticed as she worked at computer monitoring her patience's health. It had all taken an estimated five hours, and the diminutive redhead was starting to feel a little worn out. Yet she still needed to check on some things and inform the girl on some issues regarding her treatment. Yawning, the 20,000-year-old leaned back and waiting for the child's eyes to open.
Said child's eyes began to twitch and slowly open. 'Guh, that was all weir... the hell?!' Eyes opened wide, she looked around frantically. Floating in a tank of water, check. Naked, check. Wires attached, check. Weird and mad looking evil laboratory, check.
Conclusion: Trapped by some evil and crazed scientist bent on using her for insane experiments to possibly create the ultimate human weapon needed to take over the world and carve a new world order.
"Welcome back to the land of the living, Ranma. I'm Washu, but you can call me Washu-chan. The greatest scientific genius in the universe. HAHAHAHA!" Yep, trapped by a crazed scientist alright. "You really did a number on yourself with that spell you casted earlier. It was lucky I managed to get to you in time. Otherwise you'd be drifting to the land of the dead. I'm serious; Death was probably breathing down your neck."
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"Glad that kooky scientist managed to save her. Would have been a shame if she died again after just two years." Botan commented as she sat on her oar.
"Why do I have the sudden feeling I'm going to be busy within the next few years around her. Let it JUST be a feeling, PLEASE."
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"Here, let me get you out of that." Tapping a button on her computer, the tank began to drain. After the draining, the glass surrounding the fellow redhead lifted into the air, and the breathing mask and wires pulled away. Leaving a slightly dazed two-year-old to walk off onto the floor, only to lose her balance and fall on her face. Washu stood there blinking for a few seconds until she moved to the downed child.
"Owww. What happened to my balance?" asked Ranma rubbing her nose. Looking up, she saw the weird scientist... squatting in front of her with a weird look on her face. "What's wrong?" Confused, the newly healed girl watched as the person in front of her raised a finger and started poking something on her head. "What the..." Slowly lifting her hands, Ranma felt a pair of furry objects on the top of her head, and the color drained from her face. "Washu...chan, do you have a long mirror?" Nodding, the scientist shuffled off and returned a couple seconds later with a full length mirror. Looking on in shock, the blue w/red specks-eyed girl saw a pair of furry scarlet cat-ears on the top of her head, and a red furry tail swishing behind her. "Th... this is just too weird. Go away, go away!" She screamed at her knew protrusions.
As if listening to her, the new appendages disappeared. Sighing in relief, she started cursing again when they popped back out. "At least I know I can hide the damn things. It's always me that this weird stuff happens to. What could go wrong next?" Now Murphy must have been having a grand ol' time that day, for he chose to answer the question of the two-year-old. Who just so happened to sink into the floor up to her chest. "Wha? Greeeeaaat." Pouted the redhead
"Oh... I forgot to mention. You were so badly injured that I had to use a little bit of masu DNA to help you. There's not much of a difference from before. You can just do things such as short range teleportation, intangibility through objects, and some minor other things. Ha ha..." Nervously laughed the short scientist. Ranma sent her an inquisitive look.
"Doesn't give me any unneeded power boost or anything, does it?"
"No, just think of it as now being able to do a few new techniques."
"Ok, that's good." Pulling herself out from the floor, a thought suddenly popped into her head. "That means... I can do that whole moving through objects thingy that Ryoko woman did, right?" At the scientist's nod, Ranma jumped up. "Yeah! Let's go!"
Spotting a wall, the redhead took off running at full speed and jumped off her feet heading towards the wall. A loud 'slam' was heard, and an unconscious redhead slid to the floor. At the exact moment, the cyan-haired space pirate came into the lab and caught sight of the child she fought earlier. "Um... why is there and unconscious and naked two-year-old girl with red cat-ears and tail lying face down near the wall kissing cold floor?"
Putting her hand to her forehead as if under a migraine, Washu looked towards her 'daughter'. "Would you believe that I'm not sure as to why she has cat features, although I have a theory that I'm most likely right about, and that the reason she's kissing cold floor is because she took a running leap at the wall and tried to phase through it, only to crash head first?"
"... Yes, yes I would." After all, weird things always seemed to pop-up around here. It's just that this kind of took the cake at the moment.
"Good. Now help me dress her and take her to a guest room. I need some rest after the long day, and I won't be able to do it watching after our little friend there."
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Ranma opened her eyes for what seemed like the third time in such a short amount of time. "Owww... my head." Glancing around at her surroundings, she noticed from looking out the window that it seemed to be morning of the next day. The redhead noticed the unfamiliar surroundings and frowned. 'So it wasn't all a dream.' She thought, feeling the ears on the top of her head. Pulling off the covers, a small smile came to her face. 'At least I'm rid of those eyesores of clothing.' Examining the pajamas, Ranma noticed they were blue with crab designs."Well that scientist's hair did look a little crab shaped, so it makes sense."
Hopping off the bed, the two-year-old moved to the closed door and reached for the knob. Only to have her hand pass through it. "Damn scientists." Trying again, she managed to grasp the knob and turned. Now free of the room, Ranma trudged down the hall and descended the steps. A few seconds later, she found herself alone in a living room. Figuring everyone else must be asleep still, since it was only just about 6AM, the well rested redhead hopped onto the sofa and flipped on the TV. Her eye came to a slow twitch at what appeared on the TV. A pink-skinned feminine alien with pointy ears and small horns almost hidden within her long green hair was talking about the weather on some planet called Aquastosian XVI. "What the hell is going on?" Flipping through the channels, her eyes blinked at noticing there was at least 4,593 channels or so. Many of them depicting alien programs and similar.
Maybe she wasn't able to get access to a TV for the last two years, but the redhead distinctly remembered that there wasn't a single alien TV channel before her death. She also doubted that most of the earth had even had contact with any extra-terrestrials. Ranma may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but her mind, if used properly and had an interest in the subject (Martial arts as an example), was a steel trap. The redhead also wasn't aware that her mind was starting to slowly assimilate the thought processes of her older incarnation. From flipping through channels that she thought shouldn't even exist on earth, she was able to determine that the people whe was currently housed up with weren't exactly of earth. This would make sense, concerning Crab-hair's laboratory.
"Myah!" Wincing slightly at the noise, Ranma discovered she didn't have any fear at all. Just a slight leftover reaction from the fear itself. Glancing in the direction of the noise, scarlet-haired child saw an odd creature. It was small, brown, and had floppy ears. Looking like an odd cross between a rabbit and cat. The small thing hopped up onto the couch next to Ranma and sniffed her a bit before tilting her head. Most likely confused by the myriad of smells coming from the child.
Ranma caught herself smiling at the tiny 'cabbit'. "Hi, I'm Ranma." Her eyes widened when the furry thing jumped at her and rested its head on the startled redhead and began 'myahing' happily at the redhead.
"Looks like Ryo-Ohki made a new friend." Sasami giggled as she sat down on the couch next to the smaller girl. "She gets easily attached to people. Ryo-Ohki's so much like a small furry child." Her pink eyes caught sight of the catty features on the girl she met only for a brief moment yesterday before Ryoko and her got into a spat. "I don't remember you having cat ears and a tail when we met yesterday, Ranma-chan." The small twitching of the girl's eyes, which now seemed to settle on a nice mixture of blue and red, after being called 'chan' confused the young princess.
Sitting back and petting the young cabbit, Ranma sighed. "Let's just say that it's a side effect of getting over another side effect that I had."
"Something from your previous life?" Sasami received a wide eyed reaction from the child, who looked at her as if asking how she knew that. "Yesterday when Washu was treating you, that demon Xellos and she got into an argument, and he mentioned some things about you having some previous lives." At the mention of a certain purple-haired mazouku, Sasami's suddenly felt a little dislike towards the guy. To have an utter indifference towards the safety of a child... That was not a person that Sasami wanted to be around.
"Ah, so Crab-hair and Xellos got into a spat. What about?" Curiously, Ranma listened to the twin pony-tailed girl describe the events yesterday while she was... indisposed at the moment. The blue/red-eyed girl's expression darkened at the thought of Xellos. 'Bastard. Even Genma cared in his own way about my well being while training me... There were exceptions though.' Her smile turned sinister. 'Maybe I should get a copy of that song for if I come across him again.' The thought of bringing complete nausea to the mazouku was derailed when something else she was wondering popped up."Hey, Um, Sasami."
"Yes?"
"I don't mean to be rude, but I was looking at the TV and noticed some... unearthly channels. I was just wondering..." She hoped it wasn't bad that the question was asked, and hoped even more that they didn't decide to do stuff to her now that she knew.
Sasami sighed. She tried to tell Washu that having all those channels would be a bad thing. Although then the blue-haired Juraian princess wouldn't be able to see some of her favorite programs if they didn't have them. Mihoshi would also cry at the lack of her favorite cartoons. Ranma also visited the inside of Washu's lab, so maybe she already suspected. "Ok Ranma-chan" She ignored the twitch in the redhead's eyes. "I'll tell you..."
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'Poor Tenchi. All these girl problems. I remember what that's like.' Thought the redhead as she pet a sleeping Ryo-Ohki. After finishing her tale, the younger Juraian princess excused herself to prepare breakfast. Ranma offered to help, but Sasami explained that the two-year-old wouldn't be able to reach the counter. Not able to dispute that logic, the younger child remained on the couch with a sleeping Ryo-Ohki. Sasami really did seem a lot like Kasumi. Taking it upon herself to cook and all.
"So how you feeling this morning after your collision with my laboratory wall?" Nearly jumping out of her skin, Ranma looked behind her to see the redheaded scientist with crab shaped hair. Said scientist hopped over the back of the couch and landed next to her and asked with a smirk, "What kind of person would run head-on without trying to figure out a new ability of there's?"
The two-year-old looked away miffed. "Just a small error is all. That whole phasing thing or whatever you call it has been giving me a few problems. I've been sinking or having my hand pass through objects since I woke up. It's not fun to almost fall through a floor."
"You just have to concentrate on your whole being until it all becomes subconscious. After that, you wouldn't need to think about it. Your mind will then figure out when the best time to become and not become intangible will be. Now I need to inform you on what abilities you now have." At the word 'abilities', Ranma's eyes locked onto hers in rapt attention. Washu gave a smile and continued. "Now that you have some masu DNA coursing through you, you'll have access to other functions. Flight and teleporting are two big ones. As well as quick regenerative abilities and survivability in areas with no oxygen. As I said last night, you did not receive a power boost. Just some new... tricks to play around with. You may even develop some more as you grow older. Much like your sorcery and martial arts." Almost laughing at the sparkling of the two-year-old's eyes, the 20,000-year-old scientist put her hand on the younger redhead's shoulder.
"From this day forth, I shall be your teacher. I will teach you how to use your new masu abilities. I will also provide you a place for you to better your martial and magical abilities. I will also teach you math, science, history, language arts, and all the other needed subjects." Ranma's face fell at the last part.
"Why do I need to learn that stuff? I don't need to learn it. Why would a martial artist and sorceress need to know that crud?" The stern look Washu sent her way made her shiver a bit.
"If you were to try and make a living off martial arts, you'd need to run a training hall or something similar. All the mental skills I mentioned, and more, take place in running a proper business. Without those, you are bound to fail. The same goes for sorcery. In sorcery there are calculations that must take place. You need to be aware of the right amount of magic to put into the spell. As well as calculate the distance, radius, and size of the result. Science can also be incorporated with your magic. You could probably take some components and combine them together to create something else. Such as... creating a flawless gemstone out of powder and flawed gemstones." The redheaded scientist mentally waved a fan as she saw that her new student's interest was completely piqued.
"Language-arts is important as well. There are many spells which require one to speak the incantation clearly. Otherwise there would be disastrous effects. I've done some research before about a sorcerer actually exploding himself from the inside out for botching up one word in his spell." At the pale face of her listener, Washu continued. "So as you can see. It's important to use your mind as best as you can. Considering the mazouku said that in your past life, you were one of the great sorceresses, then you must have been at least knowledgable in mental learning for the times back then." Ranma had to simply nod. Some place in her mind knew that part to be the truth. "I would like to know something Ranma."
"What?"
"When did you come under the influence of the Neko-ken?" At the younger's surprised look, Washu continued. "The Neko-ken, or Felicidan conversion method as the proper name is, was created 18,000 years ago by a race of cat-like aliens called the Felicidans. It was created to convert those who wished to live onto the planet. The process was quite painful. The 'initiation' required the person who wished to live on the planet to be constantly mauled by cats until their subconscious created a kind of incarnate of the fear. That person was then required to overcome and dominate the fear. It may SOUND easy in theory, but, as you are probably well aware of, it's almost impossible. Many either died or went insane, while a select worthy few went on to become citizens. Many suggest the method was part of the Felicidan's sadistic way of dealing with population and weeding out weak fools."
"After a while, this news reached both Jurai and the Galaxy Police. You see, the people who survived the ordeal were sworn to secrecy. Never to tell how the planet made people its citizens. Anyone who let go the secret would have their stomach sliced open, and be hung by their own intestines." The whole thought caused Ranma to go green. "It was never figured out how the information got out, but it did. The emperor of Jurai at the time sent the Galaxy Police to investigate. Since Feliciana was JUST near the edge of the Juraian Empire. The 'initiation' went on for so long because the planet was so far out, and not many people traveled there. It was a virtual unknown."
"The emperor 'convinced' them to halt their barbaric initiations. Otherwise they wouldn't see the next day alive. The Felicidans did comply, but not before sending manuals across space disguised as a training technique. This was most likely meant to be a kind of cruel joke. They believed that any fighter worth their weight wouldn't dare pass up the possibility of learning such an exotic thing. Once the person, if they ever do, survives and conquers their fear, they become 'one with the cat'. They gain a pair of ears and a tail they could will away for some amount of time, enhanced senses, the ability to use compressed air from their finger tips, and enhanced flexibility and balance. The last two are functional the most when the tail is present. The Felicidans weren't a strong race, but they were skillful and cunning." Digesting the information, her pupil nodded.
"Yeah, I noticed the flexibility and all after I woke up this morning. You don't know how great it is to finally be free of that damn fear. Now I'm afraid of nothing! No weakness to hold me down!" The two-year-old laughed. A laugh that eerily reminded Washu of her own laugh. "As for when I learned it. It was in my previous life, the one right before this one. My father at the time, Genma Saotome, 'found' the manual and decided to train me in it before I was even 10-years-old. Wrapped me in fish sausage and tossed me right into the pit of starving cats repeatedly. Even as I begged him not to. "Damn fat panda. Now I feel like frying him with a fireball or something." Ranma growled out as a fiery aura appeared around her. Washu's eyes widened at the fact that this child was subjected to that horror by her own father before the age of 10. Maybe she could use a new guinea pig...
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In the kitchen, a certain blue-haired, twin pony-tailed girl was shocked to hear about how her new friend was abused like that back then. For the second time in the last two days, Sasami discovered that she was capable of actually hating a person with a passion. With her mind made up, the young princess decided that if she ever met this Genma Saotome, that she would teach him a lesson. Either that, or inform Jurai about the man. Child abuse WAS considered quite a severe offense.
Hidden from view, Katsuhito Masaki's eyes blazed in rage. 'That no good thief actually trained a child in that damned thing. He used to be such a good man. I guess training under that blasted Happosai broke his mind. I know two people who are going to be in a whole world of pain if I ever see them again. That, I promise.'
On Ranma's lap, a certain cabbit was seething in anger. Her new friend was abused by this Genma person that dared consider himself a father. If she ever came across the beast, he'll face the business end of a laser from a cabbit spaceship.
Eavesdropping from her place on the ceiling, Ryoko was thinking the exact same thing as everyone else. Although her mind was wondering if she'd get in trouble for gutting the bastard.
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"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!" Sneezed a certain fat man as an intense chill ran down his spine. Causing him to pause in his eating. Across
the table, his wife glanced at him and noticed the shiver.
"Sounds like you somehow got on the bad side of the wrong people, husband. From the sound of those sneezes, it's a lot of people too." She slightly wondered if it was anyone Ranma met. Her former child sure gets around and can somehow gather both allies and enemies with ease.
"I hope it's just a case of being sick. If not, then I think a... training trip would be in order until it all blows over." Stated the fat man as he went back to his eating. His wife just rolled her eyes. Wondering if she should inform him of a small miracle that she thought impossible.
'Hm... maybe wait a while.' Nodoka thought to herself as she rubbed her belly. 'This time around, things are going to be done right. Not my fault we both ended up getting drunk..'
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Washu grabbed both of Ranma's shoulders and looked the smaller girl in the eyes. "Ranma, you are one of the luckiest people I have ever met. Maybe you do generate chaos greater than any other person, but you have got to have the most ungodly luck in history to have survived through the chaos you bring. Be lucky you have the physical body of a two-year-old. Otherwise I'd use you as a guinea pig." Laughed out the eccentric scientist. The last sentence caused Ranma to sweat, and four eavesdroppers to almost face fault.
'Well, at least this two-year-old body is good for something.' Deadpanned the two-year-old to herself. Her eyes then brightened. What was crab-hair's name again. She said it was... oh yeah. "Washu-chan, you said you'd help me get the hang of my abilities, right? Could you first help me with that phasing? teleporting, and the flying without magic stuff?"
"Sure Ranma-chan!" She ignored the twitch in Ranma's eye. "First up is flying. Close your eyes, search around for your sense of gravity, use your energy to mold it around, and send the energy downward. That's the best I could do to explain it."
The tiny redhead did as she was told and searched. She didn't have a dang clue to what she was looking for. After several minutes of constant searching, she suddenly found a small bit of energy she never noticed before. It felt kind of like a heavy and dense sphere. Concentrating, she molded the 'sphere as best she could. Not sure HOW to mold it, she willed it into a cone shape. Grabbing a hold of it, the redhead forcefully pushed it downwards. The next thing she knew, her body was rocketed up and her head hit a rafter. The martial artist/sorceress-in-training encountered darkness for the third or fourth time in two days.
Washu stared at the downed child and then looked towards the cieling. "Ryoko, can the laughter and take her upstairs to bed." After her 'daughter' disappeared with her new student, the redheaded scientist sat down on the couch and rubbed an oncoming headache. "This is going to take some time. Just what have I gotten myself into?"
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Meanwhile in the forest near the Dragon Slave crater, a mysterious figure was crouching down and examining the thing. He was on a vacation to Japan and felt a strong magical outburst yesterday and decided to investigate. Straightening up, it can be seen that it was an old man. He was tall and thing with graying long hair and beard. His twinkling blue eyes were hidden behind a pair of half-moon glasses. He had an air of power around him that was dwarfed by a calm and peaceful demeanor. He chose to visit Japan on his vacation because he always found it an interesting place. A hustle and bustle for all things strange and exciting. The landscapes were beautiful, the people were interesting, and the snacks quite tasty.
Sticking some strawberry pocky in his mouth, Albus Dumbledore checked the crater a little more. Some powerful magic was the cause of this. Strong black magic by the feel of it. Not often in his life had he seen such an impression. Whatever it was that caused it must be fierce. Sensing around, the aged wizard could feel something coming from the house and shrine just outside of the clearing. The feeling was one of power, but not evil. A feeling which he had before. About a little over a half a year ago.
"Why do I suddenly feel that this will be the start of some headaches to come?" The question wasn't asked to anyone particular. Several people around the world had to ask the same question.
xxA.Nxx
This was a fun chapter. I don't know why, but it was just fun. Until a little while ago, I was unsure how I'd start chapter four. I knew things for chapters after that, but chapter four was an unknown to me. I'm now thinking that chapter four should most likely consist of Ranma figuring out her abilities and being put under the guidance of Washu.
Dumbledore also decides to drop by and investigate the power he felt. Headaches abound for the Wizard and Scientist.
I'm having a slight problem though of remembering how each of the residents of the Masaki household call Katsuhito. Mostly Sasami. I can't remember how she refers to him.