All Characters belong to their Creators, I have no right to write this but I am doing it anyway
The darkness is waiting, why not go?
The light dims, why not turn away?
Death awaits, why not join me?
Chapter 1: Marriage and Rebirth
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Akane sighed as she stared out over the water; it had been three years since Kuno had made that _stupid_ announcement. Since then her life had grown steadily worse, though there were some good moments, like when her father had started training her again. Father had even started teaching in the Dojo again thanks to her prodding. That had been two and a half years ago. Since then she had actually surpassed her father, Uncle Saotome, and was quickly reaching a level where she could safely defeat the old pervert, Happosai.
Uncle Saotome had taught her. Taught her? Heck she had learned the Umisen-ken and the Yamasen-ken from the old man. Two of the most powerful techniques she had ever encountered. The combination technique of the two was _frightening_ in its lethality.
Kuno was worse then a bane. After two years of hounding her Kuno had asked her father's permission to be engaged to her. To her shock and horror Father had actually agreed, She had spent the following three months trying to convince her Father to drop the engagement, to no avail. Three more months were spent with Nabiki's aid but that didn't work either. She had given up. Family honor be damned, no way was she going to marry a pervert like Kuno. This had led her to here.
On a boat.
Carrying her away from Japan.
Heading towards China.
--------------------------
Her strength and skill in the Art had made the men on the boat weary, especially after she had demonstrated just what she was capable of if someone pushed her too far. So they had kept a safe distance since.
She was in the middle of a kata when she heard the shout that they were approaching the harbor.
Turning she watched in as little trepidation she took another step on her journey away from her family, once she reached the land she would begin heading to the place where women warriors were respected, where she could live safely without being forced to marry some pervert like Kuno.
She was going o the Village of Joketsuzoku.
Maybe she could learn a few new techniques there too.
--------------------------
Akane sighed and wiped her forehead, it had taken two months to reach it but she was very close to Joketsuzoku. She had already encountered a patrol of some men bearing archaic weapons and animalistic features, who had attacked her on sight, they seemed far stronger then they should have been.
Luckily they had very little training so she could avoid their attacks easily. She had left the unconscious men on the ground as she walked away.
Two days after that she had noticed to people with wings fly by her. Chalking up another strange thing about this place she began to believe some of the tales the old letch had told her about the place.
Looking around she saw a small valley that seemed shrouded in fog; curiosity was spiked as she walked towards it.
--------------------------
Something stirred, and awoke.
It strained to see what had alerted it.
Its anticipation was heightened, the Warrior had come.
--------------------------
Following the compulsion she walked among the springs and poles of bamboo, she walked from spring to spring glancing down at the each reflective surface. They all seemed to beckon her, but the compulsion to move on was stronger.
She finally reached the center. Even though there had been some close calls she hadn't fallen in once. The spring in front of her was a perfect circle, unlike all the others it was also clear all the way to the bottom and it seemed to give off a gentle glow.
She then heard something in her mind.
*Traveler, I give greetings. I am lord and ruler of this place. Each spring is cursed with my magic. Each spring has two distinct properties, drown in one and the next thing to fall in will take your shape. Fall in one and don't drown your shape will change on application of cold water and your true form will return with hot. *
The voice in her head paused.
*However the spring in front of you is different. If you decide to enter you will be change into the Warrior, your body will not change much but you will have a mindset of a Warrior. If you accept this you will be bound by your personal Honor to serve my companions, the Lord of Jusenkyou and me. If you accept you will have the dubious pleasure of saving not just this, but many other worlds. You may quit at any time and I will just remove the Curse of the Warrior. *
Thinking the offer over she slowly nodded, reclaim her honor, and help save her world and possible others? It was an offer she could refuse but deep in her gut she knew she had to accept.
She slowly put her foot into the water, noticing how a tingling covered her foot and the glow seemed to grow bright. Taking another step, then another the tingling sensation continued wherever her body touched the water.
When she reached the center Akane was chin deep in water, following the same compulsion that had brought her here she looked down. The two swords were laying on the bottom of the spring were beautifully crafted and the compulsion begged her to take them.
Not knowing why she took a deep breath. She then lowered herself into the water and reached out to get both swords. As her hands approached them both swords suddenly began to float towards her, grasping them in her hands she noticed the tingling of the water suddenly stop.
Instead there was a _click_ and she felt one of the swords meld with her, she knew exactly how to handle it, knew its every quirk and ability.
There was also a face, well two faces, one a guy, the other a girl, but for some reason she felt they were of the same person.
The other sword gently tugged at her mind. Wanting her to take it somewhere, or to someone. Her intuition hinted at the faces she now had etched in her mind.
Standing up she slowly walked through the springs, going where the sword wanted.
She thought to herself
*Why am I doing this? It isn't like I actually like swords, but taking these swords feels so _right_*
*Welcome to my service Warrior. * The voice was not heard as she moved across the springs.
--------------------------
Akane was troubled, it had been two days since she had left the springs, and she hadn't felt tired despite the fact she hadn't slept. She also noticed that she had gotten faster, stronger and almost a foot taller. The latter had been apparent when she had stood up in the spring she had found the swords in.
Akane then noticed the two figures moving through the light fog, she tensed, both were jogging towards her, using the senses she had learned from her father; both chi signatures were that of women. The strength of them indicated they were slightly stronger then she had been right after the Hentai Horde had started attacking.
As they approached her she said in haltering Mandarin, which she suddenly knew, figuring it had to do with her curse, "Are you of Joketsuzoku?"
At their nods she continued. "May I enter your village?"
The one on the right nodded and the one on the left said "We will escort you to our village."
--------------------------
It had taken only ten minutes to reach the village and what she saw was nice, the village looked like it hadn't changed in three hundred years, but she could see that modern technology that had just been hidden so well that it was almost impossible to notice. Though thanks to her training in the last three years she could note the differences.
It was then when she spotted her. The sword linked her mind began clamoring and she grimaced. She wouldn't get any rest until she gave the sword to that woman. That woman who was teaching some Amazons.
Why did that look so familiar?
Why did _she_ look so familiar?
She was just showing a basic kata.
She was one of the faces etched in her mind ever since the Curse.
She was doing basic kata in the … Saotome … School of, as her sister would say, Oh My.
Pointing with the sword that wanted the girl "That girl, she cursed?"
The two looked at each other. "Yes how did you know?"
"So that is the woman, and the man." Akane muttered under her breath.
The one on the right understood a little Japanese was intrigued. She then gasped in startlement.
The girl wasn't between them any longer; she was moving faster then anyone else besides the newest addition to their tribe.
She was running, with the two swords in her hands glowing.
In what seemed like an eternity to all witnessing it, but was in truth was a fraction second, the girl had raised her sword to strike the redhead.
It missed.
The girl had rolled out of the way.
Akane not knowing why she had attacked, bowed, and began speaking to the redhead who had settled into a defensive stance.
"Ranma, I have two gifts for you."
Her eyes widened as she realized what the second gift was, she didn't want to go from an unwanted engagement to an unwanted _marriage_.
"The first gift is this sword, to complete the Gift that Jusenkyou has given you."
The girl laughed at that, "I don't need a _weapon_ and this isn't a _gift_ it is a _curse_"
The last word had been practically shouted the girl looked furious. "I need near boiling water to change back into a guy and it barely lasts a _minute_. I _HATE_ MY LIFE."
Akane laughed, she knew exactly what the sword could do for Ranma, and so she told him. "Ranma, the sword will control your so called curse, but you _will_ have to spend half your time in your girl form at least."
Ranma, who was getting angry at the laughter stopped speechless. "I can be a guy again?" It was practically a whisper.
Akane nodded, "Unfortunately you have to take both gifts."
Looking at her with suspicion Ranma asked, "What do you mean unfortunately?"
"The second gift is… me, as your wife"
Ranma fainted.
--------------------------
Ranma opened her eyes and saw the purple haired Amazon who had adopted her smirking. "Xian Pu I had the strangest dream, some Japanese girl said she could help me with me curse but had to be my wife."
"It was no dream Ranma, though I wish it had been. I really don't want to be married either."
The voice he heard was soft, it also had a hint of sorrow in it. Ranma looked at the voice and saw the girl from before, but she as different, shorter, younger looking. She noticed Ranma's, curious expression she nodded at him, the sword glowed briefly and she changed. It was if her body matured, it also looked like added on a couple years worth of intense training in the Art. The girl then changed back, to the shorter version. Again she spoke.
"You see Ranma I was cursed, not by accident but by choice, in the very first pool of Jusenkyou, it is called Spring of Drowned Warrior. Simple and exactly to the point, my body changes so its at it's current peak, if I stopped training right now, I also gain the outlook of a warrior, attack," her eyes looked sad as she said the next few words, "And kill."
Sighing she continued. "I am the first person ever to go into it, simply because it's in the center of the springs. And the Lords of Jusenkyou never allowed it"
Akane took a deep breath. "That is also where I found the two swords, one of them belongs with me, and the second wanted me to go somewhere, so it could be given to someone, someone who was cursed and died at Jusenkyou, someone who was a very skilled fighter, valued life and defense, and finally someone who could be at my side, someone who could be my protector, my guardian."
Ranma was to put it mildly stunned. Of course his innate stubbornness at being told what to do made him respond.
"I am NOT getting married."
Akane looked at the stubborn girl, sighing she wondered what to do. Suddenly information began to pour into her head. Clutching her head in pain as all the laws of the Amazons poured into her head she gasped outload.
--------------------------
Ranma looked at the girl who had suddenly popped out of nowhere, demanding that she be married to her. Offering a way to be cured. She had been tempted but she hated being forced into anything.
"You ok?" The sight of the girl clutching her head and groaning in pain made him forget to speak Mandarin, Ranma looked closely at her.
Rannma then gasped also, she know knew why that face was so familiar, it was the same as the one that had been etched in her mind when she learned the Soul of Ice. The only thing different was her hair, that's what had taken her so long to recognize her.
The girl then stood up, steadied herself and began to speak. "I, Akane, As a Warrior of the Lords of Jusenkyou, I Challenge thee Ranma, born male, adopted to the tribe of Joketsuzoku to a Duel of Marriage"
Ranma growled, she had just challenged her, and Ranma _never_ turned down a challenge, no matter what. "I, Ranma of Joketsuzoku accept your Challenge of a Duel of Marriage."
Akane nodded, and held out the hilt of the sword. "Touch the sword Ranma, and will yourself a guy, once the battle is over you will turn back to a girl. If I win you will receive the sword, if I lose I will depart the village." This was spoken in a whisper so only Ranma could hear.
Ranma reached out and touched the hilt of the sword; she pictured herself changing into her male side.
The sword glowed.
Ranma changed.
Ranma looked at himself and smiled. Following the girl outside he _grinned_ and it changed into a smirk as he said. "Lets rumble."
--------------------------
Ranma was too confident, he didn't realize that it would take a few days to get used to his male side again.
Akane took both swords and stuck them in the ground. She then leapt onto one of the roofs and headed towards to place where all challenges were carried out.
Ranma appeared almost immediately; several warriors and two Elders followed him quickly.
"Young one, why do you challenge one of the village of Joketsuzoku?" The small one hopping on a staff twice the old woman's height asked.
"Elder I desire this male and wish to marry him." Akane noticed her accent had disappeared within he short amount of time she finished talking with Ranma and reaching the dueling circle.
Akane grinned to herself as she took an offensive stance, making sure to make it look like she was a beginner. Ranma seeing this smirked slightly and settled in his own stance, from what Akane could see it was a fairly effective one. It looked like he was just relaxing there, but she could tell by the way he held his body he was ready to dodge, block or attack.
Akane charged, deliberately slow.
Akane punched, Ranma dodged.
Another punch. Another Dodge.
A kick, a jump, a higher kick, a split.
A charge, with a shout. "This time for real!" Inside she was grinning, one of the lessons she had learned was to make your opponent underestimate you.
Ranma flipped over her.
Quicker then thought Akane was moving. With a single carefully gauged punch Ranma was sent flying into one of the houses on the other side of the ring. Akane was following him in a flash. Faster then even the Elders could see Ranma was once again sent flying, but by a kick this time.
*Well I have had my fun time to end this; a few shiatsu points and he won't be able to move from the neck down. *
Ranma had stood up shakily. "So fast." Everyone present could hear the whisper. Ranma shook his head and once again settled down waiting for her next move. Akane grinned at this; even though he was no match for her Jusenkyou-enhanced body he had a lot of spirit.
Moving even quicker then before her hands vanished from sight.
--------------------------
Ranma felt the poking fingers and gasped as his entire body froze. He had lost; she had been faster then him, made him underestimate her. The girl who was now his wife looked him in the eyes, smiled and with a quite "I'm sorry." And she kissed him.
It was done, the marriage was complete in the eyes of their village, she had challenged, he had accepted. The Kiss of Marriage had been given. Realizing that he could speak he gave the response expected of him. "Wo Ai Ni Airen."
The girl, Akane gave him a small, sad smile. Her hands blurred as she tapped a few more shiatsu points. Ranma felt control of his limbs return and he stretched and felt his body shift to female again. She looked at Akane, the girl was holding out her hand still smiling gently.
*She sure is beautiful when she smiles, maybe this won't be that bad. *
As the two walked towards the swords Ranma absently commented, "You should cut your hair, it'll look good on you short."
He noticed Akane glancing at him, "You think so?" she asked quietly. Ranma nodded.
--------------------------
Reaching the swords Akane paused. "OK Ranma, I want you to stand in front of that sword." The sword was nearly identical except for the blue tinted blade; Akane's was tinted red. Akane then continue once he was in position. "On the count of three I want you to take the hilt." At his nod she began to count.
"One."
"Two."
"THREE!" As one mind they grasped the hilts of their respective swords. They also felt something forge between them, and the clothes on their bodies began to change to something more appropriate to a battlefield.
--------------------------
Unknown to the two the second they had taken the hilts of their swords a brilliant light had immediately flooded most of China, elsewhere, wherever there was true Masters of the Art the same light shone. Where ever it appeared a voice spoke in the minds.
*The Warrior and The Guardian have Met, Married and Linked. My weapons are now unformed and need council and guidance to be forged into their true potential, I call thee to teach and guide them. I King of the Age of Dragons, Ruler of the Lords of Jusenkyou call upon thee. *
--------------------------
END CHAPTER 1
Document created with wvWare/wvWare version 0.6.7
-->
