Disclaimer : I don't own Ranma.

Chapter 25 Seize the Day.

Goucho put down the phone and looked up into the waiting eyes of his younger son and the boy's mother. The news he had received was the very news that he had been fearing for months now.

"Well?"

Goucho sighed at his Wife's simple question.

"It seems that a rather large group of Chinese women entered the country a few weeks ago. Many were wearing armor and carrying weapons."

"What do we do?"

Kanji spoke up at this question.

"Nothing."

Both parents turned to their son with a bit of surprise on their faces. Kanji looked around and continued speaking.

"Genma came here because he knew they were coming. He's most likely certain that this will be war. These are high end Martial Artists so police and military would be next to useless if they got involved. He wanted to make peace with the family before that happens."

Goucho was worried and angry as he spoke.

"We have to do something. I refuse to be useless. Not now, not when my boy needs me."

"Pop, look at me."

Father and Son locked eyes as Kanji spoke.

"You knew something like this was coming, that's why you gave Genma Grandfather's scrolls. From everything we've learned about Ranma it's possible he's already mastered the Neko Ken's true form. You were at Genma's house, you saw everyone there and you know all about Ranma's friends and their families. Genma isn't walking into this alone. We've done everything we can to help him prepare to fight. We have to leave the fighting itself up to them."

"So you're telling me after all this, everything I've spent my life working for, all of it is useless to help him."

"No, I said that we can't do anything else to help him fight. But I refuse to abandon him now. I need your help on this Pops, at least to back it."

Goucho was a little curious.

"What did you have in mind son?"

OOOOO

Outside a hospital in Nerima, one that frequently makes use of Kanji Saotome's surgical magic, a man was leaning against an ambulance. His hair was long and red, and pulled into a ponytail. He had what appeared to be Celtic tattoos on his head leading into his hairline as well as similar markings on his arms. He had the build of a warrior and any who looked into his eye would see the spirit of a demon there.

Renji Kokoro was The Devil's Driver. If it existed with wheels, he could push it to speeds and abilities that would seem to defy the laws of the universe as if the laws themselves were afraid to defy him.

He was also the best EMT to serve this hospital, and possibly any hospital in Japan, since it had been built decades ago.

To look into Renji's past and watch his life from the beginning you might wonder how such a man, who seemed destined to either cause nothing but suffering or to die in agony alone, could come to use his talents to help others for a living. To become someone who is truly dedicated to giving their blood, sweat, and even their very soul to saving the lives of others.

The strange thing was many were beginning to think his ambulance may actually be blessed, or that death itself feared to interfere with his work. All that was known for certain was that no matter the distance or the obstacles in his path, anyone he carried always arrived on time. He had yet to ever lose a life.

Renji was taking a break and thinking back, once again, to the attack that nearly killed him years ago. The attack that he nearly let take him when he had nothing else in this life to live for. Until he felt that Rage.

OOOOO

//Flash//

"No you don't you son of a bitch!!!! You will not give up or so help me you will suffer for it! "

Renji could feel his light fading and his fire going out. He was an orphan who had done what he needed to survive. There was nothing special about him, nothing to be concerned over once he was gone.

"You want to die? FINE!! you're just going to have to go through me to do it!"

On the streets, when the gangs come out and do battle, real battle, you fight with both your heart and your soul. You can break your body and still achieve victory if you break your opponent's spirit first.

Renji had broken the bodies of many men and the spirits of many more. He knew how to give it his all to cause suffering. He knew well the pain that Rage can give to others.

This was possibly why Renji was surprised to feel such Rage directed at him, yet it was not harming him. True it's grip was firmly on what was left of his spirit, but it was not crushing him as he was expecting. Instead he found it pulling him, drawing him back. He felt his fires being flamed by another and his light returning.

But the rage could not return him all the way. It would not let him go quietly into the night, but it was unable to return him fully to the world. It was simply a beacon.

Renji was at a crossroads. Possible eternity here, or he could fight to leave this life forever. Suddenly Renji felt the Rage's kindred essence and knew that the warrior he was fighting would not let him go. Because Renji would never let an opponent go. Renji turned on his crossroads and took the only path left to him, the one towards the voice......

//flash...//

OOOOO

Renji was brought out of his thought by the sound of his phone. He only had one ring tone that was personalized to one person and that was the song now playing, "Highway to Hell."

"S'up Doc."

'Renji? I need a little help with something. Lives might be on the live, but it might also get you killed or at the very least fired'

Renji hung up. Both caller and called knew he didn't need to answer. Many talk of following someone into Hell, Renji had followed someone out of it. Not just coming back from clinically brain dead, but from the Hell his life had become.

After surviving, he had been made to question his life by the one who saved him. He had been shown a new path and given power over his Rage in ways he had never believed or known to exist.

And when he came to visit his Teacher at work to celebrate the anniversary of his rebirth, he found his calling at the death of a small child.

It had been a year since the doctor had saved him, and no matter how many people the doctor saved he always made time for them if they came to thank him. As he was walking down the hall of the hospital to the Doc's office he saw her. Renji watched as the EMT walked in slowly, covering the girls face as he entered the hall.

She couldn't have been more than four and might have reached five if she could have made it in time into the arms of the one who had save him, or any of the other doctors at the hospital. Instead she had been DOA and Renji swore on the life he had been given back that he would never allow another person to be lost when he could save them.

Renji had been shocked when his Teacher's father had paid for all of Renji's education. The old mad had been the second person in Renji's life that had looked at him and had seem something more.

If the Saotomes needed him, he was already committed.

OOOOO

Morning came as it does when night becomes day. The people in the dojo had talked long into the night and few had actually left. Plans had been made and many questions had been answered. Kasumi had been discovered with what she had been doing to her beloved and they both had simply streaked to her room in the house since it was so much closer than his place.

The Amazons had decided to sleep in the dojo rather than return to the Cat Cafe. Nabiki had taken her boyfriend up to her room to make him her husband, after all she was an Amazon herself now. Ukyo, Akari, Ryouga, and Konatsu had returned to the Ucchan's with questions and thoughts of the lives they had in Chi's world, or lives they had lost. Genma and Nodoka had taken the guest room for the night and Akane had offered her room to Natsume and Kurumi, she had decided to use the living room using Ranma as a blanket. Ryu and Kodachi left for the Kuno estate. Taro slept on the roof.

As sleep began to claim everyone in the house, no one noticed as a bed lay empty for the night. No one had even noticed Soun Tendo leave earlier, and there was no one to notice that he did not return that night either.

OOOOO

Morning came and Hinako stretched as she sat up. She paused as she realized that she was still in her adult form. She looked at the bowl of fish she had moved next to the bed, but something felt different. Before she could put thought to what felt so odd, the door opened and a reminder of the nights event, including the need to be adult in her bed that night, walked in carrying a hastily made breakfast.

Soun blushed slightly as he walked in. Last night he had been so sure, so confident. He had been caught up in the tide of events and just came over. It had been like he was following some romantic script. And last night HAD been wonderful, Hinako was so...

Put the problem with romantic scripts were that that rarely showed the next morning, only saying that it was suddenly alright and they skipped to the wedding or whatever the story called for. The few times they mentioned the next morning breakfast in bed had been used so Soun had prepared some. Now he was suddenly completely out of ideas. What was he suppose to do now?

Hinako looked up and saw the look in Soun's face and lowered her head. She spoke in a quiet voice, certain she understood the look on his face.

"You don't have to speak about it to anyone if you want. I understand how much your reputation means to you. I'll... I'll do whatever you wish. Please use me often, please. I won't tell anyone."

Soun had been shocked by her words when Hinako started speaking, but the tears in her eyes as she finished with her offer turned his resolve to ancient steel. His face set he sat down the breakfast to the side, it wasn't very good anyway, and he strode towards the woman and took her hand. He pulled her off the bed lightly, causing her to stand and look into his eyes again. He gave her a simple command.

"Dress."

OOOOO

Kasumi blushed slightly as she entered the kitchen where Nodoka was currently cooking breakfast. The older woman had a knowing smile, but said nothing as Kasumi fell into rhythm beside her stirring the morning soup. Nodoka had been young and newly in love herself once, besides Kasumi rarely slept in or even slightly failed to put her family before her self.

Judging from the color of the marks on Kasumi's neck that she failed to cover properly Kasumi had been enjoying herself very well the night before and possibly some this morning, one or two looked rather fresh. The fact that Kasumi's shirt was inside out and she seemed not to notice gave evidence to something obviously distracting her as she had dressed.

The thoughts of both women were distracted by the greeting of Soun returning. Kasumi turned a questioning look towards her Auntie, but Nodoka shook her head since she had not heard Soun leave earlier either.

Before stepping out to greet him, Nodoka made a slight motion to Kasumi's state of dress. Amusing though it was, it just would not do for a Lady to be seen in such a state by her father. As Kasumi looked down and squeaked, Nodoka walked to the door and stopped just short of opening it, standing guard for modesty's sake, until the ruffle of clothing went silent.

Nodoka and Kasumi walked out of the Kitchen to greet Soun and to politely inquire as to where he had been. The stopped short as they took in the sight before them.

Soun was wearing the same outfit as the night before. It was currently looking as if it had, oh say, spent most of it's evening on someone's bedroom floor. Standing slightly behind him was Hinako, Akane and Ranma's School teacher. She had the distinct look of one who had gotten dressed in a hurry, but the lack of the 'bedroom floor' look implied that she had gotten her clothing from a bedroom where she had more options than just the owners floor, for example a dresser that just happened to have clothing in her exact size. On both of their necks were marks similar to the ones currently now hidden much better on Kasumi's neck. Hinako's face also held a shocked, scared, sheepish look.

It was obvious that she didn't seem to understand what was going on or even why she had been brought here. As both women from the kitchen turned to face Soun, both took note of his hand holding Hinako's and that it appeared to not be letting go anytime soon.

Before either could ask, Soun responded simply.

"There will be one more for breakfast."

It left no room for argument. Nodoka smiled in a knowing way, after all Soun had obviously admitted his thoughts on the subject the night before, she still didn't understand what her husband found so funny about it. She turned and returned to the kitchen.

Fully coherent thought finally began to form in Kasumi's mind about this WOMAN who was following her father. She opened her mouth to voice her mind when a hand shot out of the kitchen door and Kasumi was practically teleported back to the soup pot.

Over the obvious sounds of fierce whispering coming from with in, Soun turned to Hinako and mentioned that it had seemed to go well. This snapped Hinako out of her confused funk and she smacked him on the back of his head with her free hand. Soun simply smiled and kissed her.

Ranma had peeked over the arm of the couch when Soun had returned and had born witness to these events, as Soun had leaned in to kiss Ranma's teacher, Ranma decided sleep was a wonderful idea and he should get as much as possible before Nabiki and Akane noticed their guest.

Akane closed the eye she had cracked open. On seeing Miss Hinako, Akane remember that she had forgotten to perform her treatment the night before, but felt certain that sometime during the night her father had administered it if only by accident. The only evendence that she had been awake was a slight smile that was now on her lips, but she had been smiling in her sleep often since her and Ranma had accepted each other so Ranma noticed nothing and sleep returned to them both.

OOOOO

Nabiki had taken a different approach to Miss Hinako's presence. It said to her father that if he would not comment on the man who had come down with her after obviously having 'slept' in her bed, then she would not comment on the woman who had followed him home after obviously letting him have 'slept' in her bed.

It was actually turning out to be a quiet morning, quiet as in the silent war that had gone on as Nodoka and Kasumi set the table. Every time Nodoka set Hinako's place by Soun, Kasumi would a few moments later reset Hinako's place as far from her Father's as possible. Nodoka would then quietly set it back a few moments later. Finally after Kasumi had once again moved Hinako's place, this time to the coffee table in front of the couch, Akane gave up pretending to be asleep, picked up the dinning set and replaced it by their father. Akane then Stared into Kasumi's eyes. The silent agreement was that they would let Nabiki decided.

Nabiki had come down stairs, looked at everyone, smiled, grabbed an extra setting and placed it beside herself and them called Kuno down from him trying to sneak out the window. He arrived confused but noticed how Soun was trying very hard to ignore HOW Kuno had arrived. Kasumi realising the play simply moved Tofu's setting a little closer to her own, but when he sat down Kasumi took seat in his lap.

Hinako kept her face in her hands, embarrassed. Then Happosai showed with everyone else. No one commented on Hinako's presence during breakfast, but Happosai immediately pulled both elders to the side and began whispering quickly while pulling out scrolls. Finally all three went silent and turned to Hinako. When they grabbed Tofu for their huddle, Hinako got nervous, so did Kasumi.

OOOOO

The visions had come during the night. Every elder and remotely sensitive Amazon in the war party had experienced it. Something was wrong. The war party dropped any pretense of stealth and set off at a dead run, hoping against hope that they were not too late.

Xien Mao was worried. Her Great Grand Daughter had not returned nor tried to contact them. Xien Mao feared the worst, not death since death can be glorious, but that the girl had somehow been swayed. Pity that, she would prefer not to kill the child, but...

Xien Mao check once more on the object she had brought just in case. It was a final option only, but she knew that she could not hesitate to use it should she have no choice. Knowing of it before hand would be the only thing that would spare her the death it would give the other Amazons in the war party, including the other elders. Actually, if they knew that she carried it and was actually planning on using it they would have tried to execute her on the spot.

It would surely be enough to deal with this Ranma Saotome.

Fung Ti was worried. The dream had come again so she had secretly contacted the Matriarch again. She had learned that the combined armies of BOTH the Musk and the Phoenix were camped just at the edge of Amazon land AND WERE GETTING ALONG!!!

What worried the Matriarch most however was that they had made no attempts to contact the Amazons and were actively ignoring all inquiries. They were prepared for WAR, and they were waiting for something.

Either Army along was cause for concern, but on home turf the Amazons would eventually win. But against both, and with half the elders in Japan with their strongest warriors, they would be slaughtered.

The Matriarch knew that this could not be coincidence, so had order Fung Ti to communicate first with Ranma and what ever forces he had gathered there.

Fung Ti prayed that Xien Mao would not do anything foolish.

OOOOO

XXXXX

It was Time. The elder Hikaru looked at the gathered forces prepared to literally storm the past. A rare few here had suffered through this war once before, but many here either had not known of it until it had been over or simply not yet been born.

That didn't mean that they didn't live with the pain the war had left. None here would let it end here as it did before. The Taro's turned up their water and stood ready for when the door opened. Pant's wife climbed on her husband's back as he knelt into a runners start.

Everyone else stood ready. All that was left was for the portal to be opened on the other side.

XXXXX

OOOOO

A/N:

"Yes, I know it's evil only giving this little section. I just wanted to say that the story is back in production and I am even doing repair work on the previous chapters."

I made a promise some time ago and I feel bad that it took me this long to fulfill it. I hope you guys haven't waited too long :p

Next Time: It Begins Again.