Tsundere45

Thunder in the Mountains

By

Jim R. Bader

DISCLAIMER: Ranma 1/2 cast members were created by Rumiko Takahashi and remain the sole property of both her and those to whom she leased out the creative rights. This fanfic is not intended for the purpose of monetary gain and so is purely the work of the author using characters from Takahashi-dono's series. I am not getting any compensation or royalties for this, so please do not sue me…

"What…where have you brought me?" Valka demanded as she looked around at the oddly illuminated setting.

"Oboy," Ranko murmured, then hastily added, "It wasn't me! It's this Pendant, I tell you. It keeps yanking me around to places like this, and I don't have any real control over it when it has a mind to take me some place I've never been before."

The girl drew a sharp bladed dagger from concealment, at least fourteen inches in the curving blade, which she held expertly as though accustomed to plying it in someone's gizzards.

"You expect me to believe that?" she said, "With those thoughts you were having about me just now?"

"Hey, I'm not a kidnapper and a rapist, you know," Ranko protested, though failing to add that opinions about that tended to vary on different worlds at different times and locations, "And I'm just as much in the dark as you are about where we happen to be…"

"I don't like this place…" said Kataru, the red furred familiar whom Ranko had just acquired.

"You think I feel any different?" said the falcon who was Valka's own familiar.

"Hush, Skryai," Valka herself urged, "So, you are saying that you have no idea of where we are or how we got here?"

"Oh, I've got a pretty good idea of how we got here," Ranko said uneasily as she scanned the bleak landscape, "But where we are…"

YOU ARE IN THE LAND OF THE DEAD

Ranko almost jumped as she whirled about and found a pale, almost translucent shade staring back at her with her features in place, albeit totally drained of every ounce of color.

"H-H-who…?" she felt her voice crack and had to steady herself, realizing that she was behaving in a manner that was unworthy of a Saotome.

YOU DON'T BELONG HERE

The voice did not come from the pale apparition but rather from a disturbing looking aspect that hovered over the shoulder of her counterpart, a hooded figure whose gleaming eyes shone from a skull-faced aspect so frighteningly real as to appear to be something other than a costume.

"That voice," Valka's voice shivered and she suddenly was standing a bit nearer to Ranko, "I don't hear it in my mind…but I feel it in my bones…."

"Ah…sorry about intruding on your place," Ranko said, swallowing a thick lump of mindless terror that was appearing at the back of her throat, "We'll just be here a moment and then we'll be on our way, honest…"

THE LIVING DO NOT COME THIS WAY

"You don't say?" Ranko squeaked, "Can't imagine why that is…"

The pale version of her was looking on with a curiously dispassionate expression. Those milk white eyes, colorless skin and hair, made her appear all the more ethereal and insubstantial. But still there was something flickering behind those eyes, like a faint trace of recognition.

YOUR TIME IS NOT SET

The giant bone-faced figure seemed faintly puzzled about this, as though presented by an anomaly that was causing it to study Ranko with greater scrutiny behind those eye-like sockets.

HER TIME IS FARTHER AHEAD THAN NOW

"Who…Valka?" Ranko murmured, feeling the girl cowering behind her, for which the dark haired Witch might be forgiven.

HOW STRANGE THIS IS…YOU BOTH ARE QUITE THE ANOMALY

"Yeah…yeah…I guess we are at that…" Ranko said, only to feel the hand laid at her shoulder, a warm hand pressing against her back, which made her stiffen for entirely different reasons.

THE LIVING DO NOT COME HERE TO THE CROSSROADS…ONLY THE DEAD, WHO ARE IN A STATE OF TRANSITION

"And…she is…?" Ranko swallowed as she looked upon her pallid counterpart.

AN ECHO OF ONE WHO HAS PASSED ON BEYOND THE MORTAL PRIME

"Right, of course," Ranko said, "Land of the dead. And that would be…me…on another plane…a me who's died…"

PASSED ON

"Right," Ranko said, feeling all the more distracted as she felt Valka huddle up even closer to her, with the girl's body pressed up to her back, which was nice and distracting but terrible for her focus and…

"Okay, that's it…" a woman's voice suddenly cut in on the silent ennui of their surroundings, "Mortis, you're messing it up again. Mortals come here there's generally a reason for it, so the least that you could do is show a little hospitality for once in your Grim existence."

AND HOW DO I DO THAT, MISTRESS?

"Oh, never mind," a woman with absolutely white skin and raven dark hair, dressed in Goth mode with clothing that looked like it had been taken off a rack somewhere, loped up on slender legs and said, "So, you finally made it, Saotome Ranko. I've been wondering when you'd be gracing me a visit."

"Ah…" Ranko looked into the fairly attractive face of what looked to be a girl her own age and saw night dark eyes of infinite depth smiling at her, and said, "How do I…"

"Oh, I know everyone," she smiled, "Sooner or later everyone comes to me, even your Old Man, who's sent a lot of business my way over the years."

"You…?" Valka peered past Ranko's shoulder, with a tone of almost reverence, then at once she fell down to her knees and said, "Dark Lady…"

"Oh, stop that," the Goth girl said, "I hate it when people get all fearful and reverent and stop being themselves. That's why I don't go around announcing myself like Skull face over here. He's just one of my aspects, by the way, and you don't need to be so frightened about him. He's harmless."

"Harmless?" Ranko asked dubiously, seeing the bone faced giant peering at them curiously.

"Well, mostly harmless," the girl replied, "He can't really hurt anyone…until it's their time to go. And then he just tries to show people to the exit sign so they can make their way to the next transition point of their existence."

"Oh," Ranko said, deciding that made as much sense as anything, "I guess that means that you're…"

"Thanatos," she smiled, "You've heard of me. One of the Seven Lords of Darkness. Actually, I'm the original one…the others are my younger brothers and sisters. Your step-father being an aspect of my brother, Destruction."

"Oh," Ranko said, "Right."

"Actually I have a variety of names that I prefer besides that old Greek one," the Goth girl said, "Muerta, Kuroi, Erskegal, Hel, Yama, take your pick. I'm older than the stars and the Universe itself. But you don't have to be afraid of me. I never take a life until it's time for you to leave. If I did I'd be messing up the carefully worked schedule of my brother, Destiny, and you know he wouldn't like that. Especially since you're one of his agents."

"Okay then," Ranko started to relax a bit, "Well…nice to meet you…though I think we've…ah…met before?" she asked uncertainly.

"Several times in fact," the Goth girl replied, "Most recently when you said good-bye to your girlfriend, Sayo."

"Oh…you were there?" Ranko blinked.

"Duh," the white faced girl replied, "It's my job, you know. I don't enjoy it having to watch lovers say good-bye to one another, and I have to say your scene was a real tear-jerker."

"Your lover died in your arms?" Valka asked, clearly of Ranko.

"Ah…yeah…it's complicated," Ranko answered without turning away from the personification of Death, "You don't mind that we…?"

"That you're trying to erase that version of reality and replace it with one that has a happier ending?" Death smiled, "No, I don't mind that a bit. The Death of a whole entire timeline is a challenge that I rise to. And besides, I'm not really into tragic endings. I see enough of that at the office. I'm really more like a sucker for a happier ending."

"Okay…" Ranko replied, "So…maybe you can tell me what I'm doing here…and my friend here with me?"

"Oh, that's just that Pendant thingie you got messing around," Death said with a dismissive wave of her bone white hand, "Since Yggdrasil plucked you out of that dimension you came from it's given you the Alice in Wonderland E-Ticket joy ride of the Cosmos. All of time and space at your disposal, and you wiind up in a dumpy place like this," she waved her hand and indicated the gloomy setting that surrounded her. Then she smiled, "Just kidding. Home sweet home…no other place like it."

"My lady," Valka spoke up, obviously gathering her courage as she pointed with a hand, indicating the still-present ghostly apparition, "Perhaps you might care to explain that?"

"Oh, her?" Death indicated the pale girl, then waved a hand, "Come over here, Dear. Don't be shy. These people are waiting to meet you."

The pale shadowy girl moved…or rather appeared to float across the ground, only to take a step mid-way and then solidify like mist becoming solid, and then turning completely into a person.

By the time she had completed her fourth step she was totally solid but still quite pale, her hair a light pink and looking a bit dry and brittle, as though in need of a good conditioning shampoo.

Death took her hand and then said, "This is Saotome Onama, daughter of your Father in a world where he was trapped in his Girl form and bore a child by a man you ought to well remember…Senzenen Mikado."

"Muku Dori's dad?" Ranko blinked, "You're kidding."

"As a matter of fact I frequently do," Death grinned, "But in this case I'm totally serious. You might say…Deathly serious. Especially as this poor child met with an unfortunate demise just recently and now can't seem to find her way to the next world because of unfinished business left behind in the last one."

"You mean one of my parallel sisters died?" Ranko asked.

"Hey, comes with the territory," Death explained, "Being a Nexus doesn't grant you invincibility, you know. You may cheat me on occasion but sooner or later the odds work in my favor…and the House always wins in the card game of life. But, you see…Onama here has one regret that keeps her trapped between the realms so that she cannot pass beyond to her next incarnation. She is waiting here for her girlfriend, a lady named Kumon Anika, who has not yet passed beyond the realms of the living."

"Oh man, that's awful," Ranko said, "You mean she can't move on because somebody she loves is still on the other side?"

"Just what I said, Kid," Death replied, "What's especially got her ticked off is the way she kicked off, which you can guess was violently. A slime named Hosen Keitaru defeated her using a combination of Poison darts and special Ki attacks that stopped her heart and left her for dead. And he did it so that he could have a shot at stealing Anika away from her true love, who doesn't have a clue about what happened."

"He did that?" Valka asked, "But why, Dread Lady?"

"Some guys are just sore losers at the game of love," Death replied, "And Keitaru…the one who grew up on their world…he definitely could not take losing out to another girl. His fragile male ego wouldn't stand for it, so he cheated."

"And my sister here can't forgive him for it either?" Ranko asked.

"You Mortals," Death sighed, "Always with the attachments to life. You just can't let things go and move on. You always want to settle things, as if the Universe allowed for fair play…" she smiled, "Well, the Universe might not care about such things, but I certainly do. I get a lot of complaints passed my way about how unfair I can be, which isn't nice since I'm not the one who schedules when people are supposed to die. But I am very meticulous about keeping my appointments and records, which is why her case irks me so."

"Because she did not die in accordance with your timetable?" Valka asked.

"Bright girl," Death nodded, "Onama was destined to win her fight against that loser…until he cheated by forging a pact with a certain Demoness whose name I don't suppose I need to mention…?"

"Cybele," Ranko said grimly.

"I really get cheesed off when that Bitch messes around with my brother's finely written screen play," Death said, and for a moment her expression was more than a little scary, "But this time she went too far. That's why I'm prepared to take drastic measures to right the balance that got upset when the Demon made a last-minute edit job and allowed a loser to take down the Nexus Guardian of her home dimension."

Death raised her other hand and something came fluttering down to alight upon her fingers. Ranko looked up in surprise as a black winged fowl settled down to utter three caws before turning to regard the pallid girl with the pink colored hair.

And then, very slowly, the girl raised her head and stared up at the bird, who locked her in eye contact. And then a strange and terrible transformation came over her as her hair began to darken and her eyes became more sunken and hollow with her lips assuming a blue-black palor as her face drained of all remaining color.

Only for the process to reverse itself and before their astonished eyes her hair regained color and became a bright cheery pink. Her skin regained complexion and her lips became rosy. She blinked her eyes and looked around then said, "Ah…hey…where am I?"

"In a realm half between a dream and a nightmare," Death said, turning to Ranko and saying, "Take her with you. She'll be of great use in your coming battle. And after that she'll return to her own dimension, and that's where the fun will really begin…" and the Goth girl's smile once more took on a chilling look of ominous implications.

"Ah…sure thing," Ranko said as the pink haired girl turned a questioning look in her direction, "Hi there. My name's Ranko, and this is Valka."

"Do you know where we are?" the pink haired Onama asked.

"Trust us," Valka said in a voice that shuddered slightly, "You do not want to know."

"Off you go then," Death smiled, releasing Onama's hand, "And Ranko…be seeing you around. I won't say when or how or under what circumstances…but we will have that long-scheduled appointment."

"Charmed," Ranko said weakly, already feeling the familiar pulse of transition coming over her and her new companions, "No offense if I hope it won't be anytime soon?"

"Why should I be offended?" Death asked, just before the trio of girls-plus their animal familiars-faded away, turning around and adding softly, "But one day we will be having that dance, my little Redhead, and then we'll see how good you are with Death warmed over…"

Kodachi grunted in as lady-like a manner as she could manage while riding the "Horn of Plenty" of the man whom she now thought of as her prospective Husband, even as she moved within the warm embrace of her future co-wife, who was encouraging her to ever sweeter glory.

Ranma wondered at the demands that these girls were placing upon him and hoped that they would at least allow him some time to get some sleep before the morning rose upon them. After all, it was a school day on the morrow, and he could not afford to be late, and he certainly did not want to appear falling-down drunk with fatigue before his classmates.

Even if the reason for exhaustion would be the demands of his ladies, whom he was intent on satisfying, one way or another. At least he could be grateful for the fact that he only had two of them to satisfy this time, Ukyo and Nabiki having graciously offered to bow out for the night so as to settle their own private personal business. He was a little worried on that end, wondering what was going on between his newer set of Iinazuke, but he figured that they would let him in on the joke sooner or later.

And just as long as it was not a Joker he satisfied himself with whatever decisions they came to, trusting the both of them to know about their business…just as his business was in keeping the ladies in front of him well contented, if only for the sake of his own continuing survival…

Kasumi smiled, content in the warmth of having her arms around Kodachi, and seeing Ranma make an honest effort at pleasing them both. In a way it was a shame that Nabiki and Ukyo were not there for this session as it had been very interesting the night before trying out for the variety of the situation. At one time the thought of doing these sorts of things with her own beloved sister would have shocked her for the propriety of it all.

And yet it somehow felt natural and right doing this when in the presence of the man whom they had agreed to share between them. Just as Ukyo was proving to be quiet the surprising package in her own sense, now that the truth about her was fully revealed and she could be embraced by them all as a long-lost and truly beloved half-sister…

She truly felt extraordinarily well blessed to have such precious people in her world, and the joy of that realization was expressed through her body as she gave her portion to the overall effort of making Kodachi enjoy yet another climax…

Down the hall in the main dining room Peorth was glancing at the adjoining room and thought to herself that the young people in there were certainly enjoying their youthfulness. And the carefree nature of their fun left her simultaneously envious…and fretful as a mother might be at her oldest daughter having sex before she was even properly wedded.

She turned to the man sitting before her and said, "Soun-chan…I know this must be awkward for you. Hell, it's not exactly normal for me either."

"Yea, I'm sure it must be difficult for you," Soun replied, searching the features of a woman that he objectively knew was not Kimiko…and yet unable to entirely convince himself of this fact as his heart was telling him an entirely different story.

Peorth sought for words and found herself wanting. She looked at the familiar face of this mortal and wanted to tell him so many things that had crossed her mind and heart over the course of the past nine years. Things that only someone as intimate as a lover could tell a man, or a wife tell a husband. Which she knew was not exactly right as she was not his wife.

After all, she had been merged with Kimiko and had been a subconscious part of that mortal woman. And yet she was not Kimiko…not truly, any more than a Goddess could be her own Template. It was frustrating and confusing, and yet…

"You look…distinguished," Peorth said, choosing that word when what she wanted to do was fuss over him and chide him for looking so thin and growing such a ridiculous mustache.

"And you look beautiful," Soun replied, "As beautiful as any goddess."

Peorth looked stunned. Quite recently she had attempted to spark something with a younger man, but it had gone no where as that boy was already in love with another Goddess, and who could complete against someone as beautiful and Angelic as Belldandy? But that had been nothing more than a casual flirtation, as well as an attempt to snub Belldandy, whom Peorth had resented for a time over what turned out to be a misunderstanding on her part.

But still…it had wounded her pride, and for someone who had as much pride in her looks and abilities as Peorth it was…unbecoming.

Yet here was a man giving her a compliment, and obviously meaning it, and in no uncertain way as he was eyeing her like she was the most precious thing in all the world. And it was killing her inside to know that she was not entitled to have him. Especially not within that body as it belonged to another, and using it would be just…wrong.

"So," he said after a long drawn-out pause, "What has become of Silk while you occupy her body?"

Peorth wondered if he had read her mind but knew at once that it was foolish to expect that level of depth from Tendo Soun. He was merely asking her because it was the most logical question, and so she answered, "Well…she is still in here with me, if that's what you're worried about. I didn't force her soul out of this body when I took it over. It's rather like she's in a different compartment of her own brain and I'm merely in the driver's seat."

"But can she come out and talk with us?" Soun asked, "Are you aware of her thoughts and feelings?"

Peorth paused and looked surprised as it belatedly occurred to her that she ought to know what her own Template was feeling at the moment. It simply had not occurred to her to ask since the moment when she had assumed control. And, now that she thought about it, why was the Lore Master laying back and not fighting against Peorth for control over the reins of her own flesh?

So she closed her eyes and looked inwardly, mentally projecting, (Come out where I can see you, Dear, and tell me if you fully understand everything that's happened?)

(About time you asked) came the reply, (I was beginning to think you had forgotten all about me).

(As if I could), Peorth responded, (You do know that I would give this body back to you if not for that restriction placed upon me?)

(And what sort of a Lore Master would I be if I did not already have that figured out?) came the slightly amused sounding answer.

Peorth scowled, (A Wise Ass if ever I met one. So just what the Hell do you make of me being stuck in your shell trying to relate to a guy I haven't seen in almost a decade?)

(I'd say you were doing a good job of relating to him as it is) Silk's smooth voice resonated from the depth of their very being, (But if it bothers you so much then why not trade places with me for a moment and let me explain things to Soun-chan for our mutual benefit?)

"What…but I…?" Peorth said aloud, only to blink her eyes, and suddenly they opened again and the woman looking out at the troubled Soun were no longer the eyes of the Goddess. "Soun-chan."

"Yes?" he almost jumped at being addressed with such a familiar context.

"The Goddess and I are in something of a predicament it seems," she informed him, "Basically she wants to do the right thing, and we both would like to accommodate the other. But for the moment…we seem to be stuck with one another. I know this must seem terribly confusing, but if you can accmmodate us both we may be able to turn this affair to our mutual advantage."

"How do you mean that?" Soun asked.

"As Peorth explained both Kimiko and I were Templates, fragments of her personality copied over as a sort of back up to reinforce her personality," Silk began, "But back when she took possession of your wife she merged with Kimiko completely and the two of them became as one, and Peorth took on many of the aspects that made Kimiko-chan the unique person whom she was. But then Kimiko died and those elements returned to the Goddess, even as Kimiko's spirit passed on from the world of the living…but not completely."

"Not completely?" Soun repeated in surprise.

"It's complicated, and I know you lack the training in Metaphysics," Silk replied, "But, basically, every person living has a soul with seven essential layers surrounding the core. The core is the Monad and the layers of the soul form around it like the layers of an onion. But when a person dies the outer layer is lost, and like the shedding of a snake's skin it remains behind as a residual imprint that lingers in the flesh. If the body is cremated that layer is freed to wander on to the realm of the dead…unless, of course, there are regrets it leaves behind, which can bind it like an echo or resonating memory imprint. In some cases two or three of the Soul Layers can join together that way, and if they find a strong basis for convening together they can form a spirit on the other plane. Sometimes it becomes an elemental spirit, and other times it may devolve into a demon."

"A Demon?" Soun said with horror.

"If four layers of a dark soul join they might, conceivably, form a Resonant or Ghost Aspect," Silk continued, "But there is no core to the soul and it becomes a hollow being trapped between the worlds of life and death, a kind of limbo-like mid-transition. If there are five layers that Aspect can be a terrible force of negativity, unless the soul were of someone who is light-hearted and positively centered, in which case they might become a Guardian Aspect who might protect the living if given offerings and prayed to on a continual basis."

"Like a Kami," Soun replied, "But…what happens if all seven layers remain together?"

"If the being who dies loses the body yet retains all seven layers and still fails to find the path to the world of the Dead than it can be quite the problem," Silk remarked, "Atheists and Unbelievers who have no certain set notions of the Afterlife can either be swept up in the currents of transition where the Dark Lady herself will manifest as their guide…or they may be trapped between the worlds to wander in Limbo without rest. In quite a few cases such a person can manifest the illusion of a physical presence and walk among the living without being detected as one of the dead."

"The walking dead?" Soun repeated.

"Imagine if someone dies suddenly," Silk replied, "So suddenly that there is not even a sense of transition. If the body were subjected to some massive hydrostatic force that drove the soul out of the body then it would quite possibly be unaware that the body had perished. The soul would look around and think it some miraculous thing that they had survived a mortal situation and not look back to see the mangled flesh they leave behind…mainly because a dying body gives off a kind of essence that blurs the senses and perceptions of spiritual beings. Such a soul would then go on about their lives without conscious awareness that they were no longer among the living."

"That is horrible," Soun said.

"Actually it's not as awful as I'm making it out to be," Silk replied, "It may surprise you to know that one out of a hundred people whom you may randomly encounter in a crowd are the dead walking among us, oblivious to their own condition. But as they retain their soul core they are capable of eating, drinking and sleeping and manipulating physical objects, so they pose no real threat to the living, just so long as their condition is not discovered by a Demon."

"Someone like Cybele you mean," Soun frowned, "Yes, that would be most unfortunate for such a being trapped in that condition."

"There is another kind of Revenant, however," Silk went on, "An angry soul whose wrath is such that Death itself cannot contain them. In very rare instances a soul trapped between the realms might come back as an angry spirit of vengeance, and one who can reap terrible harm upon the living until its anger is at last appeased. One form of this is a Crow."

"A Crow?" Soun was puzzled.

"So named because they are linked to the earth by the spirit of a Death Sprite who assumes the form of a Raven and remains on the Earth for as long as its link to the Spirit is whole. Crows have many strange abilities, such as the power to read thoughts and know the guilty secrets of the living. They are drawn to the darkness but seek to purge it in the name of the light. They cannot be stopped or killed by conventional means and they absolutely will not relent until they have fulfilled their mission."

"That sounds like the sort of creature that I hope I never have to encounter," Soun averred with fervent enthusiasm.

"There is yet another spirit whom I have yet to name in my list of those who do not pass on to the realm of the Spirits," Silk paused then said, "Someone who dies slowly by a progressive illness. In most cases their energies leach into the void and they slowly dissipate their ties to the living by the process of gradual surrender. When death comes for them it is often almost a relief, and many are ready to journey on to a place where there is no pain or want or fatigue. To Heaven if they are of lighter quality, and to Hell if they are of darker aspect. But some do not move on right away but choose to linger in this world due to their ties yet unresolved to the living."

"And what would cause a soul to want to do that?" Soun asked.

Silk's expression sobered, "One who has passed on yet harbors deep regrets brought about by fears and anxiety for the future. When a person dies their concerns with the world of the living may be ended, but someone who loves dearly those whom she has left behind and fears that they may be imperiled will have more difficulty in letting go. And such a one was your Kimiko."

"Kimiko-chan?" Soun all but jumped, "You are sure of that?"

"I've been studying the problem for some weeks now," Silk replied, "But when the Goddess merged with me my perceptions expanded greatly, and now I am absolutely positive that Kimiko's spirit yet resides upon the Earth Plane. She knows that she is dead and cannot affect the living directly, but several times I have felt her presence. She is watching over this house and this family, albeit discreetly."

"But why hasn't she made her presence known?" Soun wondered.

"Because she is worried most about you, Soun-chan," Silk replied, "She knows how much you have wept for her and how dearly you long to see her once again. My appearance in this house affected you much over the time that I have resided here, but you have begun to relax somewhat and come more to terms with her absence."

"You mean to say…that I am the one who has been holding her back?" Soun was surprised.

"Yes, but not in the sense of a burden," Silk replied, "She feels your need for her and her longing for you is great. You have been lonely without her in this house, and even though Kasumi has done much to try and take her mother's place…that too has been a source of anguish. After all, what mother wants her daughter to be trapped serving others and never thinking about a life of her own? Only that, too, has changed because of Kasumi's engagement to Saotome Ranma."

"Wait a minute here," Peorth found her own voice speaking through Silk's mouth and decided to take advantage of the ability to Timeshare in the same body, "I haven't seen Kimiko's Ghost around, and I'd recognize it instantly if I saw it."

"Yes," Silk replied patiently, "But she has been avoiding you for precisely that reason. Avoiding us, to be more precise. Not least of her worries is that you not be troubled with guilty feelings, either you or Soun-chan, since you both feel as though you have been effectively cheating on her without actually doing anything naughty to deserve that."

"Hey now!" Peorth protested, "I'm not trying to be a Home Wrecker!"

"Neither am I," Silk assured, "And Kimiko, on some level, understands that. But the dead are often like people who are sleep walking and behave as they might in a dream, reacting to things on gut level instinct. And in Kimiko's eyes the both of us are out to seduce her husband…"

"Urk!" Peorth reacted with Silk's face expressing a very guilt-ridden expression.

"Precisely," that same face resolved into the quiet, confident demeanor of the Lore Master.

Soun watched this fascinating interplay as though observing a person with a split personality. Yet he did not have difficulty in believing that two souls were in possession of the same body and found it a fascinating experience for all its general sense of weirdness.

"So, what do you expect us to do about it?" Peorth demanded.

"Well, you're the Goddess," Silk replied, "So the logical thing would be to draw Kimiko's spirit out into the open so we can have a chat together, all three of us, and arrive at a settlement regarding which of us gets to keep Soun-chan."

"Precisely," Soun nodded, only to blink and say, "Wait a minute…"

"Are you insane?" Peorth demanded.

Silk shrugged, "Opinions vary."

"I can't be attached to a mortal and dwell here with him on the plane of Earth," Peorth protested.

"And who are you trying to convince of that?" Silk asked, "Besides, there is precedence."

"Belldandy?" Peorth reacted.

"You say her name as though you were resentful of her," Silk remarked, "But I can see in your memories that the two of you were once very close, and that you secretly envy her relationship with the young man named Keiichi."

"Hey!" Peorth snapped, "Stay out of my head! I mean…your head…our…AAARGGHHH!" she threw up her hands in despair, "This is definitely NOT a situation that they prepared us for in Goddess School!"

"But the truth remains," Silk said calmly, "That you do love Soun-chan."

Her eyes went round and Peorth looked startled, then turned and gazed at the man sitting anxiously a short distance away, and she bit her lower lip in anxiety and confusion.

"A Goddess cannot lie," Silk reminded, "And if I do not speak truth then say the words and I shall let the matter drop."

"I…" Peorth said, then faltered, unable to go forward.

"Goddess?" Soun said, his own expression confused, anxious, and-just perhaps-a little hopeful. His eyes were also misty and were beginning to tear up with emotion.

Peorth winced slightly, "Don't cry on me like that, Soun-chan! I swear, you always turn on the water works when I'm trying to be serious…"

"You know!" he all but lurched forward, "You remember me because you and Kimiko were once together. You have all of her memories from back then, don't you?"

"Ah…?" Peorth leaned back, her expression non-plussed as she saw the earnest look in his expression.

"You do remember, I knew it!" his face was just a few inches from her own, only he belatedly realized what he was doing and promptly pulled back, sitting back down again. Then he coughing politely as he said, "That is…I had hoped that it were true…that some part of Kimiko was here in you…but then again, if her spirit is also hovering somewhere else…"

Peorth felt her chest thumping fiercely with her heart racing like a hammer. She had to take several deep breaths to calm herself down and wondered if being in a mortal host once again was affecting her more than she would have dared to imagine.

In her mind she heard Silk's voice murmur, (Go ahead and kiss him, Dear. You know you want to…and I won't mind if you use me for that one little bit).

(You butt out of this), she silently thought back, then said aloud, "Um…yeah…I do remember…everything. And that's the reason why the All Mighty One broke us up nine years ago."

"Because he disapproved of our being together?" Soun asked.

"Worse than that," Peorth replied, "That I might care so much about you…and about our daughters…that I would lose all interest in being a Goddess and remain here at your side…as your wife…until death do us parted."

He gazed at her and then said, "Thank you for saying that. You have no idea how much it means to me to hear those words," and the tears once more went flowing down his cheeks, just like Peorth so well remembered.

She trembled a bit as she said, "I would gladly be your wife once again, Soun-chan…if it were permitted. But…you don't really belong to me. You never did."

"Kimiko," Soun said softly, "We must find her spirit and put her to rest. I've been holding her back for far too long. It is time that we both moved on and got back to the business of living."

"Now you're talking like the man I love and so well remember," Silk answered, and then-before Peorth sensed the thought within her mind, Silk lunged forward from her sitting position and brought her face up to Soun's, kissing him before surrendering the flesh once again to the goddess.

Soun was too surprised to move away, and Peorth was too stunned to find herself tickling her nostrils with his mustache, and for a moment they held their lips pressed together, an actual kiss developing out of instinct. And then Peorth mentally decided, (OH, TO HELL WITH IT) and just threw her arms around the man and drew him in tighter to her body…

"So this was created with Oni magic?" Ambergris remarked as she and the others sat soaking in the Jacuzzi portion of the pocket dimensional extension of the Tendo Yard, "I have to say that Hibiki woman does good work."

"Hey, Mom's the best when it comes to crafting realistic illusions," Ryomi said as she bobbed a bit at her end of the line of female bodies.

"Demon magic," Kachu said, glaring at her surroundings, "I feel as though I am polluting my spirit just by being in this place."

"Oh relax," Nabiki chided, "You should learn to take it easy now that you're among family, Ka-chan. Try not to be such a stiff, as though you expect someone to leap out and attack you."

"But that is how I live," Kachu said, "I always imagine the dangerous angles of attack whenever I am among strangers. And despite the assurances of the Holy One I am not entirely convinced that you are, indeed, my actual sisters."

"Sheesh, talk about Hard Cases," Akane winced, turning to the little girl sitting nestled between herself and Shampoo, "At least try and pretend like you're having fun. I know things seem a little weird for you…but that's Neriima."

"Aiyaa," Shampoo avowed, "Ever since Shampoo come here she see one thing after other that make her think place is even stranger than mountains in China. Kachu need learn let go and have fun. Warrior no enjoy life, what then is cause for living?"

"I think she's going to need some time to grasp the concept behind that, Sugar," Ukyo remarked, "I know I'm gonna need a lot of time just coming to terms with the idea that I'm part Tendo as well as a Kuonji."

"A shame your mother went back to your place to look after the Grill," Nabiki said, "I'd like to have had more time to interrogate her about those fishy circumstances concerning how she got pregnant with you from Daddy. I don't care how much sake he drinks, the idea that Daddy could be virile enough to pop out two more daughters and not one boy among us…"

"Hey, that's right," Akane said, "How can we be sure that there aren't any more like us out there?"

"Obviously you can't," said Ambergris, "But I doubt that your father is enough of a player to stretch himself towards other conquests, judging by how surprised he was by discovering his connection to you and Kachu, Kuonji-san."

"Yeah, well…I owe the Old Man for taking me in and sponsoring me like he did even before all of this came to light, Sugar," Ukyo drawled, glancing at Nabiki, "Your Dad may have his fault's but he's a pretty cool guy. Not like the Jackass who raised me, who I've now gotta think about like he was my Uncle."

"So, how does this affect your relationship then?" Ambergris asked, "I remember you saying that you two were officially engaged to marry. But how does that set now that you are aware of the fact that you are half-sisters?"

"I don't really know, Sugar," Ukyo sighed, "This whole thing started when Pop put it in his will that I had to get married, but no way am I trying to steal Ranchan away from Kasumi. And since he can't legally marry both of us…at least, not officially…"

"But you are still participating in a Sacred Band marriage circle," Kachu pointed out.

"Can't be legalized here in Japan," Ukyo shrugged, "That's why Nabiki and me hatched up this scheme to have me pretend to marry her as a boy…"

"What do you mean pretend?" Nabiki asked.

"Huh?" Akane asked, "Nabiki?"

"Well, it's just like you and Shampoo getting married," Nabiki shrugged, "The government won't recognize two girls as a couple, but they do allow for Common Law unions. And since Ukyo's a boy on the official transcript records at school…"

"You mean you still intend to go through with this?" Ryomi asked, "Even though you're both sisters?"

"That's not in our official records either," Nabiki pointed out, "Outside of taking a blood test and confirming that we've got the same dad no one has to know it for certain. So, as far as anybody knows, Ukyo's going to be my husband and I will be her dutiful wife who will love, cherish, honor and support her in all things, sickness or in health."

"Plus fifty percent of all the community owned assets and property, huh, Sugar?" Ukyo asked.

"That goes without saying," Nabiki turned to the other girl, "You stand to inherit a lot when your…ah…Uncle passes on, and he obviously wants the family business to remain in the Kuonji household. So why shouldn't I expect my fair share for helping to rescue your business from going up at public auction?"

"Just so we know that your motives are pure," Ukyo said, "But…doesn't it bother you at all that we'll be committing incest?"

"So let's not have kids together," Nabiki replied, "Fortunately, I'm sure that Ranchan will supply more than enough semen for the both of us."

"You're crazy," Akane said.

"Like fox," Shampoo smiled slyly, "Sneaky Mercenary girl know what she do."

"Like fox," chirruped the dark haired, inquisitive child, smiling brightly as she glanced up at both of her "parents."

"And that's another thing," Nabiki said, "We're going to have to come up with a story to explain your child since I doubt anyone is going to buy the notion that a girl her age is your secret love baby."

"I don't really know what to tell people about Ku-chan," Akane said while riffling the hair of the little girl sitting next to her, "Maybe she's our cousin or something?"

"Something convincing would be in order, Sugar," Ukyo said, glancing at the little girl, "Cute tyke. Hard to imagine her turning into that huge winged monster we saw."

"She is an elemental Earth Dragon," Ambergris replied, "I don't pretend to know much about them, but I doubt she will remain in a child state for very long, so you had best set about educating her in the proper manner to behave around people."

"A Dragon of any stripe is not a being to be taken lightly," Kachu warned, "This one is loyal to you because she hatched out of your flesh and must share a part of your essence. But never doubt that she is a dangerous and powerful creature who is to be respected."

"Dangerous?" Ryomi smiled, looking at the young girl and saying, "Does that look like the face of a dangerous…?"

The little girl hiccuped…or rather, more like a burp, and suddenly rings of fire belched out into the air, spiraling upward and vanishing a second later while only mildly singeing the eyebrows of those nearest to her.

"Okay," Ryomi hastily amended, "Maybe it would be a good idea in the future to burp the kid in another direction?"

"I call that a safety tip," Nabiki said numbly.

"Nix the idea about wanting to get one of our own just like her, Sugar," Ukyo agreed in the same deadpanned tone of voice.

"So," Ambergris continued, "Does it bother you at all that the man you profess to both wish to marry is currently with his other wives and not you at this particular moment?"

"Actually…not really," Nabiki said, grinning, "Though Ranchan owes me a favor in particular, and you damned well bet I'm going to collect, with interest."

"Letting Kodachi and Kasumi have him now means we got to have him all to ourselves the next time," Ukyo leered, "And that means saving up more of the boy's energy to devote to the two of us. Better than sloppy seconds."

"Besides," Nabiki added, "Kuonji-chan and I should be able to keep ourselves entertained while we're hashing over the details of our engagement."

"We will?" Ukyo arched her eyebrows.

"You still haven't given me a ring," Nabiki pointed out, holding up her left hand as if to signify its barrenness of adornments, "And besides…I want to hear more about what you planned to do with Senzenen if he tried again to kiss me."

"Ah…uh…" Ukyo stammered.

"That's right," Akane said, "You threatened to kill him if he laid a hand on Nabiki."

"Shampoo witness," the Amazon drawled, "So, you two no just make pretend marriage? Maybe you actually…"

"Ah…" both girls glanced away and studiously avoided looking at one another, both Nabiki and Ukyo seeming momentarily more flush around their faces than for which the heat alone could account.

"Fascinating," Ambergris remarked, "You people may actually be more amusing to watch than my village back home. Indeed, you remind me of one of those Western Soap Operas, albeit with gender swapping as an additional added feature attraction."

"I think that you are all positively insane," Kachu said, then paused before adding, "But that would also include my own mother."

"She might actually be our mother too before too long," Akane said.

"Eh?" Nabiki asked, "What do you mean, Sis?"

"Well, you know how Silk tends to act around Dad most of the time?" Akane asked, "Well this Peorth acts like her on steroids. The way she kept looking at Dad, and the way he was looking at her…"

"Wow," Ukyo said, "And I thought Aunt Umi…ah…Mom had competition before. If Tendo-san…I mean…Dad…" she paused and glanced at Nabiki, "Wow, does it feel weird just saying that."

"You're telling me?" Nabiki remarked, "But hey, if Ranchan can have more than two wives, why not Daddy?"

"Surely you jest," Kachi sounded incredulous.

"I'm quite serious," said Nabiki, "And don't call me Shirley."

"Makes sense to me," Ryomi noted, "And hey, Uncle Tendo's a pretty cool guy. So why should he be alone all of the time? You ask me a good woman or two ought to be what keeps him from weeping all the time like a little girl."

"Father cries?" Kachu asked.

"Like waterworks," Akane snorted, "At first we thought it was because he missed Mom so much, but now it turns out he was like that even when they were dating."

"And that reminds me, Sugar," Ukyo glanced around, "Where's our other Lothario about? Is Uncle Saotome still playing with the Polar Bears?"

"More like they are playing with him," Ambergris smiled, then paused before adding, "The one I worry about is the Matron with the sword. There is something very…otherworldly about her."

"Aunt Nodoka?" Akane asked, "Yeah, where did she get off to?"

"I think she went with Aunt Umi to the restaurant," Nabiki replied, "She ought to be back before nightfall."

"I'm glad somebody went with Mom," Ukyo remarked, "Considering what she looked like when she left here."

Nabiki turned to glance at the girl sitting beside her and then murmured, "So…would you kill a guy who tried to lay a hand on me, like Senzenen?"

Ukyo regarded her with a speculative glance, "If you're my fiancée…then you bet your tight ass I would, Sugar."

Nabiki smiled then leaned her head upon the other girl's shoulder murmuring, "I love a girl who talks dirty about business…but…save the rest of it for later. And not in front of the children."

"Hey!" Ryomi said, realizing that she was being included in the glance that was superficially being turned in the direction of the child-shaped dragon.

Ukyo looked at the top of the head that was leaning on her, then carefully slid an arm around and behind Nabiki. But then it moved from her ribs down to her hip…and squeezed her fanny, prompting Nabiki's eyes to widen by a fraction.

"I'll talk dirty business with you anytime I like, Sugar," she murmured softly, "But, like you say, that can wait until later…"

"I told you before, I don't need a babysitter," Umi growled as she stalked her way across the district.

"I just thought I'd go for a walk and it happens to be in the same direction where you are headed, Dear," Nodoka replied, "But I thought that you were headed for your restaurant."

"Yeah, so?" Umi asked.

"The financial district is in the opposite direction," Nodoka pointed out.

"So I'm taking a little detour," Umi fumed, "Anything's better than being around the House with that Floozy of a Rose Goddess making goo-goo eyes in Soun's direction."

"Ahhh," Nodoka said, as though this were the solution to a great mystery of life as she continued to walk just behind the other woman, "Sooo..."

"Well, how would you feel about a man's dead wife coming back to life and revealing that she's a Goddess?" Umi demanded with a snort, "Bad enough to have to compete with that flute playing Know-it-all…"

"Then you are jealous," Nodoka murmured.

Umi whirled around with her baker's peel in hand and snarled, "I AM NOT JEALOUS!"

Nodoka ignored the implied threat of the spatula waved under her nose and just said, "Soun cares for you too, you know. If you want him you should fight for co-equal recognition."

"What's the matter with you?" Umi scowled, "Comb and Atsuko are practically fighting each other to get a crack at your worthless fur rug of a husband and you see that as a sign of his Manliness? Aren't you even just a little bit upset that he cheated on you with both of them?"

"I would if I didn't actually like Comb-chan and At-chan," Nodoka said, "Though they may not like me in quite the same manner."

Umi stared, "I don't understand you at all."

Nodoka just gave her an indulgent smile, "Umi-san…I'm a bit older than I look, and I have been around a lot more than you have. I've been to places and have seen things that you could hardly imagine. And I know for a fact that life is very precious. And we only get a little time in this world to get it right and to find the happiness and love that we so desperately cherish. So why should I waste one minute of the day resenting the people whom I care for? After all, think of the possibilities. And besides, if Soun is worth the effort then I feel confident that you will find a way to make it work between you, Silk-chan, Kimiko and even the Goddess of the Roses."

Umi frowned and then said, "Who are you?"

"I am Saotome Nodoka," the woman said primly, "The daughter of Misaki Katsuhiko and wife of Saotome Genma. That should be enough for any woman, don't you think?"

Umi continued to stare at this ageless woman who seemed hardly changed in any significant way from the time of their first meeting two decades in the past. But then Nodoka's eyes slid off of her and she smiled for a different reason, saying, "Here comes At-chan and Comb now, along with the children."

"Huh?" Umi turned around, and then her eyes almost bulged out of her head, "What in the world…?"

"Don't ask," said Comb as she and Atsuko walked with a pole stretched out between them, and dangling from that pole was the largest deer that Umi had ever set eyes upon…huge, surely as much as ten feet at the shoulder, and bound up tight in a bundle with heavy ropes.

"I told you that I knew a place where we could find game like this in Japan," Atsuko said, "It ought to keep those bears happy for a couple of days. Step lively, Ryo-chan, and don't drop that bundle on Kaori-chan."

"Coming, mother," Ryoga said as he trudged along with his shoulders bearing a burden that was much larger than himself, a huge boar that he supported with only a slight bit of discomfort while Kaori helpfully guided him along to make sure his footing was steady and he did not wind up wandering off in an unintentional direction.

Umi watched them trudge on past her than asked, "Where did you find those things?"

"This place I know called the Ryopanza, or something like that," Atsuko replied as she strode on past, "The game animals that drink from the water there grow huge, even larger than these guys. We had to pick some of the little ones that we could carry or I'd have had to hire a truck to haul them off."

"I still do not believe it," Comb said almost numbly, "Even though I saw it with my own two eyes…"

"I still say this feels like borderline cannibalism," Ryoga murmured as he and Kaori brought up the rear of the odd little procession.

Umi watched them pass her by then very slowly she said, "I wonder what the fishing there is like?"

"Quite good to judge from the evidence," Nodoka looked up at her and said, "You look as though you could stand for a cup of sake, Umi-chan. Would you care to join me in a bottle?"

"First round is on me," Umi said, and the two of them reversed directions and headed on towards the Furinkan Financial district…

Continued.

Comments/Criticisms/Cyclopean Fish Fridays: shadowmane

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood where the Grass is Green, the sky is blue and those with hangovers could not care less. But is it a time for Ranma and his crew to breathe easy and enjoy some of the much-needed domestic bliss that they have earned? (Hey, this is a Ranma story, ain't it) Tune in next time for, "Nuke it 'Till it Glows," or, " There Blows the Neighborhood."

Be there!

X

_._,_._