Ranma ½ / BTVS
Ranma The Vampire Slayer
Book 1
Changes in the World
By Felix Webster (Felix Warstar)
Chapter 9
- - - -
Disclaimers
All original Ranma ½ Characters Copyright Rumiko Takahashi (first
published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by
Viz Communications), and are used without permission.
Buffy, Giles, and the other characters that have appeared on 'Buffy
the Vampire Slayer' belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy and what
ever company they are working at, be it Warner Bros., Twentieth
Century Fox, Paramount or any others that pick it up as it goes
along. They are used with out permission and I'm making NO money off
them and no one else except those listed above should either. Please
don't sue me cause I have no money.
Any character I create are mine, ALL MINE! Wahahahahahahaha. .
*Cough couch* oops sorry. They are always ready to jump into other
people's stories just let me know.
- - - -
- Help -
Spike gave the red haired girl an odd look as they neared the old
church, "So. . you're gonna to help me and Dru as long as we leave
Sunnydale after?"
"Without killing anyone on the way out," Ranma-chan reminded in a
very serious tone.
"A 'Slayer' who doesn't like the kill. . how bleeding novel," Spike
smirked as he sized up the girl again, she was a skilled fighter from
what he had seen earlier but it didn't scare him it excited him in
ways he hadn't felt in years. "So how'd you figure I had Angel?"
"He went looking for you and hasn't been seen since," Ranma-chan
replied ignoring Spike's first comment. "Either you killed him or
caught him. If you had killed him you would have been bragging to
Buffy about it when you had the chance."
"Oh, know me that well huh?" Spike joked slightly. "But why would I
keep him alive?"
"You need his blood to cure your girlfriend," Ranma-chan stated
still sounding emotionless and serious as before.
"How. . how did you figure that one out? We only realized that out a
little while ago," Spike asked in shock, the girl was obviously more
than he was thinking.
"A friend of mine told me that the most powerful spells require
blood to make complete. A vampire with a full soul would have a lot
power in his blood," Ranma-chan explained as she kept walking, she
could see the church up ahead and knew that it was the destination
now.
"Blood is power, blood is what makes you alive, blood is the most
powerful component to any ritual. And the fact that he is Dru's sire
just makes that blood more powerful in this ritual," Spike smiled a
happy but evil smile. "So how do you plan to help? Keeping the Slayer
off our back until we're done?"
"My blood's more powerful," Ranma-chan stated still without emotion
causing Spike's eyes to go wide at the realization of what this girl
was offering.
"Have you already tired of your life so fast to be willing to give
it up for some beast pretending to be human? Don't let the having a
soul business fool you, having a bleeding soul doesn't make you a
good and decent person," Spike laughed out even though he was truly
not finding this funny.
"You won't have to use much of my blood," Ranma-chan replied still
calm. "I have magic following through my veins from some from a curse
that is almost as ancient as magic itself and as I'm locked in my
cursed form right now it is following at it's most potent."
"Power from an ancient curse almost as old as magic itself? Locked
in your cursed form? You almost sound like a Jusenkyo victim," Spike
said off handed with a joking smile as he gave the girl another odd
look then dropped his smile as he saw the girl give him a small nod.
"Bloody hell, what were you before?"
"A guy," Ranma-chan said sadly then turned her gaze hard. "And I
will be again."
- - - -
"We have to go save her!" Buffy looked at the others almost as
worried as Willow about Ranma-chan's disappearance at the same time
as Spike's.
"Don't worry about Ranma he can take care of him. . herself," Ryouga
said trying to look unworried but concern was showing around the
edges.
"But she is with Spike! He keeps bragging about killing two Slayers
already!" Willow said in near panic.
"Actually he's only really brought it up a couple of times. . but
yes you should try to find her quickly," Giles started to correct
then changed his mind as he noticed the look he was getting from
everyone else.
"Okay but we still don't have any idea of where Spike is hiding,"
Xander added the obvious flaw to the plan as seemed to his job of
late.
"Oh! Oh! I could try a little seeking spell I was reading the other
day!" Willow called out suddenly happy about having a chance to save
Ranma.
"That would be nice and all but we don't have time to gather ritual
components at the moment," Giles replied as he tried to think about
what to do.
"No no the spell isn't a complicated one, it only needs a little bit
of power and a strong connection to the target that you want to be
find," Willow explained still happy.
"Good, we can use Ryouga to find Ranma, they seem to be pretty
strongly connected," Buffy replied as she strode into group
discussing the spell and gave Ryouga a smile.
"I think his misdirection curse might mess up the magic," Giles
corrected calmly.
"I've got a pretty strong connection to Ranma myself, I could use
that," Willow added with a small blush.
"Um, yes, well I guess it is worth a try," Giles finally conceded.
Willow took a moment to clear herself as the books she had been
reading suggested and then focused all the energies she could on the
image and idea of finding Ranma, but the magic seemed not to want to
come until she remembered that Ranma was currently a girl and changed
the image.
Before the red haired girl a ball of icy blue light sprung to life
and everyone was surprised at it but realized they really didn't have
time as the ball started to move at what could be called a brisk walk
away from the group. Cordelia grabbed Ryouga's arm before he could
walk the other way as everyone started to follow the ball hoping that
it was going where they wanted.
- - - -
Ranma-chan looked around the high arched center room as they walked
through the old church, it looked old but very elegant even though it
showed signs of disuse over the years. They came up to desk with a
balding man looking over papers and a tall woman elegantly dressed
sitting in a high backed chair nearby.
"Scribe, I have a possible change in our ritual," Spike said as he
gave a the red haired Asian a small nod indicating her to the man. "I
want you to find out if it's possible, and make quick about it as we
are almost out of time!"
"Spikey. .Spikey you have brought the Dragon home with you,"
Drusilla said in a daze not really looking at either of them.
Ranma-chan looked at Spike curiously but he gave her a hard look
back before responding to the woman, " She's come to help us Dru, not
to kill us."
"She's offered a portion of her life to save mine? She'll grant me
the power of the Dragons with nothing offered in return?" Drusilla
asked looking confused.
"Oh I want something. I want you and Spike to leave Sunnydale after,
without killing anyone as you leave. . including the Vampire know as
Angel," Ranma-chan replied firmly but with her cocky smile that she
used to mask any doubt she normally felt.
"You want me to give up my puppy? But why would I want to give you
my puppy?" Drusilla asked with a huge smile but still in a daze as
she motioned towards the cage off and to the back of the chairs.
Inside the cages as a strong looking man in a straightjacket and
collar looking very battered and bruised barely taking notice of his
surroundings anymore.
"Dru have you been kicking the puppy again?" Spike asked sounding
aspirated but the big smile on his face belayed that. "I keep telling
you that we needed him mostly intact for the ritual."
"But it was so much fun!" Dru pouted with a sniff then turn it into
a equally big smile. "Though I guess it wasn't so much fun for Poppa."
"By your own words you're getting the power of a Dragon. . whatever
that means, and otherwise I just kill all three of you," Ranma-chan
interrupted not liking what she was hearing.
"Don't worry once the Scribe has confirmed if your blood will do
we'll do the ceremony and let you and Angel go," Spike tried to calm
the girl as the balding man made a nick of her finger to get a blood
sample. "In the mean time why don't you at least meet the 'man'
you're trying to save."
Ranma-chan moved away from the trio and walked over to the cage, as
she got closer the man inside started to respond to the new presence,
"Didn't you get enough fun the last time?"
"Wrong person," Ranma-chan replied calmly as she sat down next to
the cage. "I'm sorta here to help get you out of this."
"Actually I heard," Angel said quietly opening one swelled eye more
then it looked like it should be able to. "If I act anymore conscious
Dru gets playful."
"I see," Ranma looked over at the others noticing that they weren't
paying them any attention.
"Buffy's been talking a lot about you. You seem to be giving her a
problem with you ideas about what a soul means," Angel almost laughed
but the smile alone hurt too much.
"She talks a lot about you too," Ranma-chan gave him a look that
made him want to squirm if he could. "She right about you having a
full soul unlike the fraction that the other Vampires have, it still
doesn't mean you're a good guy."
"It's what a person does in his life that makes one good or not,"
Angel agreed. "I've tried my best to do good as of late."
"And before that you were the terror of our kind, your killing
sprees made other Vampires envious," Spike added a large nasty smile
as he came over to the pair. "And you created two Vampires of greater
evil in me and Dru, you should be a proud parent."
"Figured you were listening in," Ranma-chan said as she slow stood
up and crossed her arms. "I gave you my word of honour I'd help you,
and honour is VERY important to me."
"The Scribe says that the blood is incredible in it's magical power,
he even thinks that you might actually be the Slayer but the power
from the curse magic is clouding any real readings of that," Spike
stated as he made a sweeping bowing motion towards the outer area
again. "We need to get started as soon as possible."
Ranma-chan walked forward and looked at the post in the center of
the walk area she noticed earlier. It had running groves all along it
and she realized it was to drain blood, "This what you need me on?"
"Yes yes, that would be right," the Scribe replied as he started to
help the girl onto the post and cuffed her into place.
"Don't worry, we don't need much of your blood for this. . it's the
most. . amazing I've ever seen," the man nearly drooled but stopped
himself quickly.
- - - -
Buffy and the others looked at the old church as the blue ball of
light moved towards the building slowly, "Figures, old and falling
down."
"I don't know, it looks kinda romantic to me," Willow said giving
the ball a mental order to disperse as it reached the door as to not
warn those inside they were there.
"Yeah, if your idea of romantic includes worrying that the roof
might cave in on you at any moment," Xander replied lifting an
eyebrow at the girl.
"Boys have no idea of romance," Cordelia said to Willow who nodded
back.
"I'm with Xander on this one, that place is a deathtrap. . in more
ways than one," Buffy replied as she started to think about what to
do with those inside.
"This is getting us no where, we need a plan to get everyone out
safely," Giles scolded the teens slightly.
"I've got a plan, I'll go in and kick them around a bit as you guys
go get anyone who needs help," Buffy stated out of annoyance as any
other plan she could think of wasn't much different than this. She
started towards the building before the others could argue with her.
"She's right, but she isn't going in alone," Ryouga added as he
pulled his arm away from Cordelia and quickly caught up with the
blonde girl.
As they reached the door both noticed that it was a lot more solid
than it looked. Buffy put a hand to it and gave it a push, "Locked
and solid. . we'll have to find another way in."
Ryouga gave the girl a fang filled grin as he motioned her out of
the way slightly. Gazing at the door for a moment he made his
decision fairly quickly and pulled back his hand with the index
finger pointing out, "Bakusai Tenketsu!"
Buffy watched as the door first started to buckle then explode all
around them, she had to cover her face with her arm and lean away to
avoid getting any cuts on her face from the wood fragments flying
everywhere. As the dust settled she looked at the empty door frame
and then at Ryouga, "Wow."
Spike looked up from his position near the Scribe's casting of the
necessary spells to make what he wanted to finally happen, he
narrowed his eyes the two at the now missing door, "Bloody hell!"
Both Buffy and Ryouga found Ranma-chan chained to the post at the
same time just before Spike landed in front of them from leaping over
a few pews. Reacting first Buffy threw a punch at the dye-blonde
Vampire could make an annoying comment causing him to fly backwards a
short distance.
Ryouga ignored this as he ran towards the girl in light bondage but
his path was quickly blocked by a tall woman wearing very odd
clothing. He tried to move around her but a small push from her sent
him flying back towards the door and slamming into the nearby wall
causing the whole building to shake and dust to fall from the ceiling.
"Looky looky a wild Boar has entered our nights too," Drusilla said
as she moved towards the boy swaying in weird and sexual ways. "But
you have come to hurt not to help and I can't let you stop this."
"I don't think that's going to be your choice," Buffy stated as she
popped up behind Drusilla and did an odd shoulder toss to send
Drusilla over the ornate chairs and to land on something metal. "What
was that?"
Xander, Giles, Willow and Cordelia moved along the wall towards the
back where if anyone was being held that would be where it would be.
They paused only long enough to watch first Ryouga be thrown against
a wall then Drusilla go flying into the area they were headed to.
Moving more quickly at the sound of a small argument in that area
they came upon Drusilla dusting herself off as she was yelling
obscenities at a very beat up man in a metal cage just before she
headed back off into the other room opposite of where they had come
in.
"Guys, over here!" Angel called out when he spotted the four others
bringing all over to him. "I need to get out of this so they don't
finish that damn spell."
"Stopping the spell would be good but what is Ranma doing on that
post?" Giles asked as he and Xander started to work on the chain and
lock.
"She was trying to save me by offering herself in my place. She's
got more powerful blood than I do and they came to some kind of
agreement about Spike and Drusilla leaving peacefully after the
ritual is over," Angel explained quickly as the cage started to open.
"Will they hold to that agreement?" Giles asked as they finally
broke the lock.
"Spike might, but Drusilla won't when she gets her head straight.
Dru will just drain the girl dry and continue killing," Angel replied
as Willow helped him out of the straightjacket.
"Then they have to be stopped," Giles said and turned towards the
room and was about to head into the area when Angel stopped him.
"I'll deal with this," Angel smiled weakly and move forward quickly.
- - - -
Ranma-chan was concentrating on the spell as the smoke at the
beginning was causing her mind to wander a little too much for her
liking. She really didn't notice the commotion around her until she
watched Drusilla go flying over the chairs. What came first to her
mind was that Drusilla was supposed to be sitting in the chair for
the ritual to be directed towards her. Turning her head slightly she
finally noticed Ryouga and Buffy trying to trade blows with the
Vampire she remembered was named Spike. None of the three were making
much connection with the others, and when they did someone would go
flying into a wall or over the pews before getting up and moving back
into the fight. She had to admire that Spike was a better fighter
than she expected as although he was more bruised he was still
holding his own against both Buffy and Ryouga.
Shaking her head she willed up as much Ki as she could to clear her
mind then became aware of Drusilla storming out from where Angel was
swearing in several languages that Ranma-chan knew all to well now.
She looked over at the Vampire woman and gave her a harsh glare,
"Hey! If you want this spell to work you have to be in that chair
right?"
Drusilla stopped and turned her head towards the girl then gave
Ranma-chan a sweet smile, "Oh yes I forgot, thank you for reminding
me."
"Sure whatever, I just don't want my blood going to waste here,"
Ranma-chan replied in an acidic tone then looked at the Scribe.
"Well?"
"Oh right," the Scribe started the spell again immediately only to
be stopped by being punched by Angel.
"Oh great more interruptions," Ranma-chan rolled her eyes the heavens.
"Just saving your life," Angel replied with a cocky smile.
"And here I was think I was doing that for you," Ranma-chan said
sarcastically.
"Oh look, puppy's come to play," Drusilla stated as she slow rose
from her chair again.
"Spike might honour your agreement but Drusilla will just kill you
while you're weak from blood loss," Angel explained as he move
towards the woman.
"Great, so much for a peaceful solution," Ranma-chan said mostly to
herself then flexed her wrists and legs causing all four metal cuffs
to break away easily. She beat Angel to Drusilla in a blur of speed
and kicked her towards the wall causing another shake to the building
and more dust from the ceiling.
"The building isn't going to hold!" Giles called out as he and the
others ran past Angel and Ranma-chan to try to get out of the way.
Angel and Ranma-chan looked at each other then at the pillars around
the room and saw the heavy cracking then they shrugged at each other
and ran towards their two friends. Angel gabbed Buffy and Ranma-chan
grabbed Ryouga and bolted out of the building to stop just past the
doors.
"Hey! Is this how much honour means to you? At the first sign of
trouble you bleeding say bugger it and head for the hills?" Spike
shout at Ranma-chan as he stood looking very angry.
"According to him your girlfriend wouldn't stick to the deal we
made," Ranma-chan called back indicating Angel.
"Oh and you're just going to believe him like that?" Spike
countered. "He use to be a lot more evil than Drusilla ever was!"
"Sorry but yeah I believe him. And I'm sorry about this too," Ranma-
chan replied as she suddenly started to glow. Pointing a hand out she
screamed, "Moko Takabisha!"
A small ball of energy shot from her out stretched hand and impacted
into one of the stronger pillars causing it to explode and the other
pillars to finally collapse and the ceiling to fall. The last thing
anyone saw of the room was Spike looking up in fear and trying to
protect himself with his hands.
- - - -
"Are you a total idiot!" Giles yelled at the red haired girl in
front of him and his look was mirrored by the girl's own watcher.
"Drusilla back to her full mental capacity would cause so much more
deaths in this world then the way she is now!"
"I was trying to solve things without bloodshed. . .," Ranma-chan
tried to replied but was cut off.
"WITH YOUR OWN!?!" Miyabi screamed in anger then turned to face away
from the girl. "I know you hate being the Slayer. . but I never
expected you hated it so much to try killing yourself."
"I wasn't trying to kill myself!" Ranma-chan yelled back angry
herself now. "Yes, I hate being the Slayer! I hate killing anything,
be it Kami, Vampire, or Demon! But my duty is to protect people and
the deal I had with Spike would have them out of Sunnydale
completely! A lot of people would be saved by that!"
"And you believed them!?!" Miyabi was still knew to watching a
Slayer but she expected a little more discipline and obedience from
her charge. . or at least a smarter than the one this one was showing.
"Even Angel says that Spike would have honoured the deal, all he had
to do was convince Drusilla afterwards to uphold it too," Ranma-chan
argued then turned to Cologne. "Aren't you going to start calling me
an idiot too?"
"Child, I am not the Tendo girl. I see this as simply a learning
experience and you'll know better next time," Cologne replied with a
small smile. "As for you others don't you have something to tell
Ranma, Miyabi?"
"What? Oh right. . I got the 'The Callings of Lionna' from the
student while you were out," Miyabi said in disgust pointing at the
table nearby.
Before anyone could say anything else Ranma-chan was at the table
and the book was open as she was reading page after page looking for
what she needed. After about a minute she held up the book with a
section open, "This one! This is the balancing spell! Do it know!"
Miyabi crossed her arms and gave the girl a raised eyebrow look of
disdain, "My my you're pushy for a girl getting scolded. I don't I
will at the moment, maybe a little time longer stuck in your proper
Slayer form will teach you to think about your duties more."
The temperature in the room dropped suddenly to the point that all
three adults could see their breath as Ranma-chan gave the woman a
nasty glare before turning to Cologne, "You do the casting then."
"I wish I could Child, but my talents lay in the more physical magic
like potions as I have said before," Cologne replied with a sad smile
of apology.
Ranma-chan turned to Giles but he was ready for that, "I'm sorry
Ranma but I can't go against the wishes of your Watcher. . as I would
expect the same from her in return."
Ranma-chan looked at the people before her and turned very angry and
the room returned to normal as she couldn't hold the 'soul of ice'
any longer, thinking for a moment she turned and headed for the door,
"Fine! I'll to someone who will cast it!"
Ranma-chan stopped before getting to the door and turned once more
towards the three and looked directly at Miyabi, "You are no longer
my Watcher as of right now! I want nothing to do with you or your
stupid ideas of how I should act! Ever since I've met you I've
nothing but problems!"
Cologne watched the girl walk out the door and slam it closed almost
destroying it in the process then turn towards Giles, "Don't worry
she doesn't hold it against us or she would have included us in that
last statement."
"She can't be allowed to run around on her own!" Miyabi shouted in
anger then looked the other two and lifted an eyebrow in confusion.
"What?"
"Ranma can take care of herself very easily. . And I agree with her
that she should have no more contact with you as refusing to help her
become whole again was very wrong," Cologne stated in annoyance then
started to hop towards her room. "I will be packing as I also no
longer wish to be here either."
"If she won't listen to me then she have to listen to the Council!"
Miyabi threatened loudly in vain.
"Oh yes I'm very sure the Council will put the fear of god into
her," Giles replied sarcastically as he head towards where Cologne
had gone.
Miyabi looked pleased that Giles had agreed with her until it
registered that he was being sarcastic then gave his retreating form
a glare as she gaped her mouth, the words weren't coming to respond.
- - - -
Willow looked up from her bed as her mother opened her door
slightly, "Yes Mom?"
"Willow, you have a visitor downstairs," her Mother said looking
very concerned about the person in question.
Willow shrugged and followed her Mother down the stairs then saw
Ranma-chan standing near the entrance looking nervous and unhappy,
"Hi Ranma, what's goin. . what's wrong?"
"I had a bad fight with the woman I live with and I sorta told her I
was leaving," Ranma-chan replied as she looked anywhere but at
Willow, she was embarrassed at the fact she was on the verge of
tears. "I was wondering. . ."
"Mom? Can Ranma stay for a couple of days?" Willow called out of the
room before Ranma-chan could finish her question.
Mrs. Rosenberg had been listening to the girl trying to explain what
had happen from the other room and it left her with a very bad
picture. The girl was a red haired Asian, which either had to be a
very good dye good or mixed heritage, and looked about the same age
as her daughter. None of that bothered her, what did though was the
fact it sounded like the girl had just had a fight with the lover and
that this person was a woman. Oh she was a modern person of reason. .
but she also remembered that Willow had been going on and on in a
daze for the past few days about some person named Ranma and now here
was a person by that name that was a girl. . . she didn't like this
as it could only mean one of her fears was coming true.
Realizing she had been asked a question about the girl staying with
them a few days caught her off guard, even though she should have
seen coming after thinking about it. She had two choices. . One was
to say no and alienate her daughter, in a way that said I caught onto
you're little secret. . and two was to say yes and have to keep a
close watch on the two.
"Of course dear. . Do you have any idea for how long?" Mrs.
Rosenberg called back a few moments later.
Willow turned and looked questioning at the other girl. Ranma-chan
shrugged slightly, "Cologne will probably find a new place within the
week. . at least she won't. . ."
Willow looked pained as she could she how much Ranma-chan was trying
not to cry then called back to her Mother, "Probably only for about a
week. . is that okay?"
"Yes dear," Mrs. Rosenberg replied and then swore lightly to
herself, a week was a long time to keep watch of those two.
Willow smiled and grabbed Ranma-chan's hand, "Come on you can stay
in my room."
Ranma-chan looked very uncomfortable about the idea but she had
realized before coming here that this would be Willow's reaction,
even without the attraction spell Willow seemed very hung up on him.
. and her. Following Willow she made the book appear in her hands, "I
got the book I need to correct my curse. . but I can't cast it. . ."
Willow smiled at the other girl and took the book from her hands,
"Don't worry I'm getting pretty good with magic so we'll get this
done quickly."
Ranma-chan walked into Willow's room feeling oddly better, for one
the first times in her life that she needed help someone offered to
help without asking for something in return.
- - - -
Author's Notes: Nine is in the can. Finalizing the storyline with
Spike and Dru. . but remember people they aren't gone yet. This was
done in one of the fast paces I've tried to start and finish a piece
( Three hours with interruptions ) and it probably shows around the
edges. . .
Hope you enjoy.
Next: The tenth and final chapter of Book One. . . Willow helps
balance Ranma's curse out with predictable and unpredictable results.
Ryouga tries to get his misdirection curse removed. And Cordelia gets
a very bad idea.
Then - Book 2: DARK LOVE -
Ranma The Vampire Slayer
Book 1
Changes in the World
By Felix Webster (Felix Warstar)
Chapter 9
- - - -
Disclaimers
All original Ranma ½ Characters Copyright Rumiko Takahashi (first
published by Shogakugan in Japan and brought over to North America by
Viz Communications), and are used without permission.
Buffy, Giles, and the other characters that have appeared on 'Buffy
the Vampire Slayer' belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy and what
ever company they are working at, be it Warner Bros., Twentieth
Century Fox, Paramount or any others that pick it up as it goes
along. They are used with out permission and I'm making NO money off
them and no one else except those listed above should either. Please
don't sue me cause I have no money.
Any character I create are mine, ALL MINE! Wahahahahahahaha. .
*Cough couch* oops sorry. They are always ready to jump into other
people's stories just let me know.
- - - -
- Help -
Spike gave the red haired girl an odd look as they neared the old
church, "So. . you're gonna to help me and Dru as long as we leave
Sunnydale after?"
"Without killing anyone on the way out," Ranma-chan reminded in a
very serious tone.
"A 'Slayer' who doesn't like the kill. . how bleeding novel," Spike
smirked as he sized up the girl again, she was a skilled fighter from
what he had seen earlier but it didn't scare him it excited him in
ways he hadn't felt in years. "So how'd you figure I had Angel?"
"He went looking for you and hasn't been seen since," Ranma-chan
replied ignoring Spike's first comment. "Either you killed him or
caught him. If you had killed him you would have been bragging to
Buffy about it when you had the chance."
"Oh, know me that well huh?" Spike joked slightly. "But why would I
keep him alive?"
"You need his blood to cure your girlfriend," Ranma-chan stated
still sounding emotionless and serious as before.
"How. . how did you figure that one out? We only realized that out a
little while ago," Spike asked in shock, the girl was obviously more
than he was thinking.
"A friend of mine told me that the most powerful spells require
blood to make complete. A vampire with a full soul would have a lot
power in his blood," Ranma-chan explained as she kept walking, she
could see the church up ahead and knew that it was the destination
now.
"Blood is power, blood is what makes you alive, blood is the most
powerful component to any ritual. And the fact that he is Dru's sire
just makes that blood more powerful in this ritual," Spike smiled a
happy but evil smile. "So how do you plan to help? Keeping the Slayer
off our back until we're done?"
"My blood's more powerful," Ranma-chan stated still without emotion
causing Spike's eyes to go wide at the realization of what this girl
was offering.
"Have you already tired of your life so fast to be willing to give
it up for some beast pretending to be human? Don't let the having a
soul business fool you, having a bleeding soul doesn't make you a
good and decent person," Spike laughed out even though he was truly
not finding this funny.
"You won't have to use much of my blood," Ranma-chan replied still
calm. "I have magic following through my veins from some from a curse
that is almost as ancient as magic itself and as I'm locked in my
cursed form right now it is following at it's most potent."
"Power from an ancient curse almost as old as magic itself? Locked
in your cursed form? You almost sound like a Jusenkyo victim," Spike
said off handed with a joking smile as he gave the girl another odd
look then dropped his smile as he saw the girl give him a small nod.
"Bloody hell, what were you before?"
"A guy," Ranma-chan said sadly then turned her gaze hard. "And I
will be again."
- - - -
"We have to go save her!" Buffy looked at the others almost as
worried as Willow about Ranma-chan's disappearance at the same time
as Spike's.
"Don't worry about Ranma he can take care of him. . herself," Ryouga
said trying to look unworried but concern was showing around the
edges.
"But she is with Spike! He keeps bragging about killing two Slayers
already!" Willow said in near panic.
"Actually he's only really brought it up a couple of times. . but
yes you should try to find her quickly," Giles started to correct
then changed his mind as he noticed the look he was getting from
everyone else.
"Okay but we still don't have any idea of where Spike is hiding,"
Xander added the obvious flaw to the plan as seemed to his job of
late.
"Oh! Oh! I could try a little seeking spell I was reading the other
day!" Willow called out suddenly happy about having a chance to save
Ranma.
"That would be nice and all but we don't have time to gather ritual
components at the moment," Giles replied as he tried to think about
what to do.
"No no the spell isn't a complicated one, it only needs a little bit
of power and a strong connection to the target that you want to be
find," Willow explained still happy.
"Good, we can use Ryouga to find Ranma, they seem to be pretty
strongly connected," Buffy replied as she strode into group
discussing the spell and gave Ryouga a smile.
"I think his misdirection curse might mess up the magic," Giles
corrected calmly.
"I've got a pretty strong connection to Ranma myself, I could use
that," Willow added with a small blush.
"Um, yes, well I guess it is worth a try," Giles finally conceded.
Willow took a moment to clear herself as the books she had been
reading suggested and then focused all the energies she could on the
image and idea of finding Ranma, but the magic seemed not to want to
come until she remembered that Ranma was currently a girl and changed
the image.
Before the red haired girl a ball of icy blue light sprung to life
and everyone was surprised at it but realized they really didn't have
time as the ball started to move at what could be called a brisk walk
away from the group. Cordelia grabbed Ryouga's arm before he could
walk the other way as everyone started to follow the ball hoping that
it was going where they wanted.
- - - -
Ranma-chan looked around the high arched center room as they walked
through the old church, it looked old but very elegant even though it
showed signs of disuse over the years. They came up to desk with a
balding man looking over papers and a tall woman elegantly dressed
sitting in a high backed chair nearby.
"Scribe, I have a possible change in our ritual," Spike said as he
gave a the red haired Asian a small nod indicating her to the man. "I
want you to find out if it's possible, and make quick about it as we
are almost out of time!"
"Spikey. .Spikey you have brought the Dragon home with you,"
Drusilla said in a daze not really looking at either of them.
Ranma-chan looked at Spike curiously but he gave her a hard look
back before responding to the woman, " She's come to help us Dru, not
to kill us."
"She's offered a portion of her life to save mine? She'll grant me
the power of the Dragons with nothing offered in return?" Drusilla
asked looking confused.
"Oh I want something. I want you and Spike to leave Sunnydale after,
without killing anyone as you leave. . including the Vampire know as
Angel," Ranma-chan replied firmly but with her cocky smile that she
used to mask any doubt she normally felt.
"You want me to give up my puppy? But why would I want to give you
my puppy?" Drusilla asked with a huge smile but still in a daze as
she motioned towards the cage off and to the back of the chairs.
Inside the cages as a strong looking man in a straightjacket and
collar looking very battered and bruised barely taking notice of his
surroundings anymore.
"Dru have you been kicking the puppy again?" Spike asked sounding
aspirated but the big smile on his face belayed that. "I keep telling
you that we needed him mostly intact for the ritual."
"But it was so much fun!" Dru pouted with a sniff then turn it into
a equally big smile. "Though I guess it wasn't so much fun for Poppa."
"By your own words you're getting the power of a Dragon. . whatever
that means, and otherwise I just kill all three of you," Ranma-chan
interrupted not liking what she was hearing.
"Don't worry once the Scribe has confirmed if your blood will do
we'll do the ceremony and let you and Angel go," Spike tried to calm
the girl as the balding man made a nick of her finger to get a blood
sample. "In the mean time why don't you at least meet the 'man'
you're trying to save."
Ranma-chan moved away from the trio and walked over to the cage, as
she got closer the man inside started to respond to the new presence,
"Didn't you get enough fun the last time?"
"Wrong person," Ranma-chan replied calmly as she sat down next to
the cage. "I'm sorta here to help get you out of this."
"Actually I heard," Angel said quietly opening one swelled eye more
then it looked like it should be able to. "If I act anymore conscious
Dru gets playful."
"I see," Ranma looked over at the others noticing that they weren't
paying them any attention.
"Buffy's been talking a lot about you. You seem to be giving her a
problem with you ideas about what a soul means," Angel almost laughed
but the smile alone hurt too much.
"She talks a lot about you too," Ranma-chan gave him a look that
made him want to squirm if he could. "She right about you having a
full soul unlike the fraction that the other Vampires have, it still
doesn't mean you're a good guy."
"It's what a person does in his life that makes one good or not,"
Angel agreed. "I've tried my best to do good as of late."
"And before that you were the terror of our kind, your killing
sprees made other Vampires envious," Spike added a large nasty smile
as he came over to the pair. "And you created two Vampires of greater
evil in me and Dru, you should be a proud parent."
"Figured you were listening in," Ranma-chan said as she slow stood
up and crossed her arms. "I gave you my word of honour I'd help you,
and honour is VERY important to me."
"The Scribe says that the blood is incredible in it's magical power,
he even thinks that you might actually be the Slayer but the power
from the curse magic is clouding any real readings of that," Spike
stated as he made a sweeping bowing motion towards the outer area
again. "We need to get started as soon as possible."
Ranma-chan walked forward and looked at the post in the center of
the walk area she noticed earlier. It had running groves all along it
and she realized it was to drain blood, "This what you need me on?"
"Yes yes, that would be right," the Scribe replied as he started to
help the girl onto the post and cuffed her into place.
"Don't worry, we don't need much of your blood for this. . it's the
most. . amazing I've ever seen," the man nearly drooled but stopped
himself quickly.
- - - -
Buffy and the others looked at the old church as the blue ball of
light moved towards the building slowly, "Figures, old and falling
down."
"I don't know, it looks kinda romantic to me," Willow said giving
the ball a mental order to disperse as it reached the door as to not
warn those inside they were there.
"Yeah, if your idea of romantic includes worrying that the roof
might cave in on you at any moment," Xander replied lifting an
eyebrow at the girl.
"Boys have no idea of romance," Cordelia said to Willow who nodded
back.
"I'm with Xander on this one, that place is a deathtrap. . in more
ways than one," Buffy replied as she started to think about what to
do with those inside.
"This is getting us no where, we need a plan to get everyone out
safely," Giles scolded the teens slightly.
"I've got a plan, I'll go in and kick them around a bit as you guys
go get anyone who needs help," Buffy stated out of annoyance as any
other plan she could think of wasn't much different than this. She
started towards the building before the others could argue with her.
"She's right, but she isn't going in alone," Ryouga added as he
pulled his arm away from Cordelia and quickly caught up with the
blonde girl.
As they reached the door both noticed that it was a lot more solid
than it looked. Buffy put a hand to it and gave it a push, "Locked
and solid. . we'll have to find another way in."
Ryouga gave the girl a fang filled grin as he motioned her out of
the way slightly. Gazing at the door for a moment he made his
decision fairly quickly and pulled back his hand with the index
finger pointing out, "Bakusai Tenketsu!"
Buffy watched as the door first started to buckle then explode all
around them, she had to cover her face with her arm and lean away to
avoid getting any cuts on her face from the wood fragments flying
everywhere. As the dust settled she looked at the empty door frame
and then at Ryouga, "Wow."
Spike looked up from his position near the Scribe's casting of the
necessary spells to make what he wanted to finally happen, he
narrowed his eyes the two at the now missing door, "Bloody hell!"
Both Buffy and Ryouga found Ranma-chan chained to the post at the
same time just before Spike landed in front of them from leaping over
a few pews. Reacting first Buffy threw a punch at the dye-blonde
Vampire could make an annoying comment causing him to fly backwards a
short distance.
Ryouga ignored this as he ran towards the girl in light bondage but
his path was quickly blocked by a tall woman wearing very odd
clothing. He tried to move around her but a small push from her sent
him flying back towards the door and slamming into the nearby wall
causing the whole building to shake and dust to fall from the ceiling.
"Looky looky a wild Boar has entered our nights too," Drusilla said
as she moved towards the boy swaying in weird and sexual ways. "But
you have come to hurt not to help and I can't let you stop this."
"I don't think that's going to be your choice," Buffy stated as she
popped up behind Drusilla and did an odd shoulder toss to send
Drusilla over the ornate chairs and to land on something metal. "What
was that?"
Xander, Giles, Willow and Cordelia moved along the wall towards the
back where if anyone was being held that would be where it would be.
They paused only long enough to watch first Ryouga be thrown against
a wall then Drusilla go flying into the area they were headed to.
Moving more quickly at the sound of a small argument in that area
they came upon Drusilla dusting herself off as she was yelling
obscenities at a very beat up man in a metal cage just before she
headed back off into the other room opposite of where they had come
in.
"Guys, over here!" Angel called out when he spotted the four others
bringing all over to him. "I need to get out of this so they don't
finish that damn spell."
"Stopping the spell would be good but what is Ranma doing on that
post?" Giles asked as he and Xander started to work on the chain and
lock.
"She was trying to save me by offering herself in my place. She's
got more powerful blood than I do and they came to some kind of
agreement about Spike and Drusilla leaving peacefully after the
ritual is over," Angel explained quickly as the cage started to open.
"Will they hold to that agreement?" Giles asked as they finally
broke the lock.
"Spike might, but Drusilla won't when she gets her head straight.
Dru will just drain the girl dry and continue killing," Angel replied
as Willow helped him out of the straightjacket.
"Then they have to be stopped," Giles said and turned towards the
room and was about to head into the area when Angel stopped him.
"I'll deal with this," Angel smiled weakly and move forward quickly.
- - - -
Ranma-chan was concentrating on the spell as the smoke at the
beginning was causing her mind to wander a little too much for her
liking. She really didn't notice the commotion around her until she
watched Drusilla go flying over the chairs. What came first to her
mind was that Drusilla was supposed to be sitting in the chair for
the ritual to be directed towards her. Turning her head slightly she
finally noticed Ryouga and Buffy trying to trade blows with the
Vampire she remembered was named Spike. None of the three were making
much connection with the others, and when they did someone would go
flying into a wall or over the pews before getting up and moving back
into the fight. She had to admire that Spike was a better fighter
than she expected as although he was more bruised he was still
holding his own against both Buffy and Ryouga.
Shaking her head she willed up as much Ki as she could to clear her
mind then became aware of Drusilla storming out from where Angel was
swearing in several languages that Ranma-chan knew all to well now.
She looked over at the Vampire woman and gave her a harsh glare,
"Hey! If you want this spell to work you have to be in that chair
right?"
Drusilla stopped and turned her head towards the girl then gave
Ranma-chan a sweet smile, "Oh yes I forgot, thank you for reminding
me."
"Sure whatever, I just don't want my blood going to waste here,"
Ranma-chan replied in an acidic tone then looked at the Scribe.
"Well?"
"Oh right," the Scribe started the spell again immediately only to
be stopped by being punched by Angel.
"Oh great more interruptions," Ranma-chan rolled her eyes the heavens.
"Just saving your life," Angel replied with a cocky smile.
"And here I was think I was doing that for you," Ranma-chan said
sarcastically.
"Oh look, puppy's come to play," Drusilla stated as she slow rose
from her chair again.
"Spike might honour your agreement but Drusilla will just kill you
while you're weak from blood loss," Angel explained as he move
towards the woman.
"Great, so much for a peaceful solution," Ranma-chan said mostly to
herself then flexed her wrists and legs causing all four metal cuffs
to break away easily. She beat Angel to Drusilla in a blur of speed
and kicked her towards the wall causing another shake to the building
and more dust from the ceiling.
"The building isn't going to hold!" Giles called out as he and the
others ran past Angel and Ranma-chan to try to get out of the way.
Angel and Ranma-chan looked at each other then at the pillars around
the room and saw the heavy cracking then they shrugged at each other
and ran towards their two friends. Angel gabbed Buffy and Ranma-chan
grabbed Ryouga and bolted out of the building to stop just past the
doors.
"Hey! Is this how much honour means to you? At the first sign of
trouble you bleeding say bugger it and head for the hills?" Spike
shout at Ranma-chan as he stood looking very angry.
"According to him your girlfriend wouldn't stick to the deal we
made," Ranma-chan called back indicating Angel.
"Oh and you're just going to believe him like that?" Spike
countered. "He use to be a lot more evil than Drusilla ever was!"
"Sorry but yeah I believe him. And I'm sorry about this too," Ranma-
chan replied as she suddenly started to glow. Pointing a hand out she
screamed, "Moko Takabisha!"
A small ball of energy shot from her out stretched hand and impacted
into one of the stronger pillars causing it to explode and the other
pillars to finally collapse and the ceiling to fall. The last thing
anyone saw of the room was Spike looking up in fear and trying to
protect himself with his hands.
- - - -
"Are you a total idiot!" Giles yelled at the red haired girl in
front of him and his look was mirrored by the girl's own watcher.
"Drusilla back to her full mental capacity would cause so much more
deaths in this world then the way she is now!"
"I was trying to solve things without bloodshed. . .," Ranma-chan
tried to replied but was cut off.
"WITH YOUR OWN!?!" Miyabi screamed in anger then turned to face away
from the girl. "I know you hate being the Slayer. . but I never
expected you hated it so much to try killing yourself."
"I wasn't trying to kill myself!" Ranma-chan yelled back angry
herself now. "Yes, I hate being the Slayer! I hate killing anything,
be it Kami, Vampire, or Demon! But my duty is to protect people and
the deal I had with Spike would have them out of Sunnydale
completely! A lot of people would be saved by that!"
"And you believed them!?!" Miyabi was still knew to watching a
Slayer but she expected a little more discipline and obedience from
her charge. . or at least a smarter than the one this one was showing.
"Even Angel says that Spike would have honoured the deal, all he had
to do was convince Drusilla afterwards to uphold it too," Ranma-chan
argued then turned to Cologne. "Aren't you going to start calling me
an idiot too?"
"Child, I am not the Tendo girl. I see this as simply a learning
experience and you'll know better next time," Cologne replied with a
small smile. "As for you others don't you have something to tell
Ranma, Miyabi?"
"What? Oh right. . I got the 'The Callings of Lionna' from the
student while you were out," Miyabi said in disgust pointing at the
table nearby.
Before anyone could say anything else Ranma-chan was at the table
and the book was open as she was reading page after page looking for
what she needed. After about a minute she held up the book with a
section open, "This one! This is the balancing spell! Do it know!"
Miyabi crossed her arms and gave the girl a raised eyebrow look of
disdain, "My my you're pushy for a girl getting scolded. I don't I
will at the moment, maybe a little time longer stuck in your proper
Slayer form will teach you to think about your duties more."
The temperature in the room dropped suddenly to the point that all
three adults could see their breath as Ranma-chan gave the woman a
nasty glare before turning to Cologne, "You do the casting then."
"I wish I could Child, but my talents lay in the more physical magic
like potions as I have said before," Cologne replied with a sad smile
of apology.
Ranma-chan turned to Giles but he was ready for that, "I'm sorry
Ranma but I can't go against the wishes of your Watcher. . as I would
expect the same from her in return."
Ranma-chan looked at the people before her and turned very angry and
the room returned to normal as she couldn't hold the 'soul of ice'
any longer, thinking for a moment she turned and headed for the door,
"Fine! I'll to someone who will cast it!"
Ranma-chan stopped before getting to the door and turned once more
towards the three and looked directly at Miyabi, "You are no longer
my Watcher as of right now! I want nothing to do with you or your
stupid ideas of how I should act! Ever since I've met you I've
nothing but problems!"
Cologne watched the girl walk out the door and slam it closed almost
destroying it in the process then turn towards Giles, "Don't worry
she doesn't hold it against us or she would have included us in that
last statement."
"She can't be allowed to run around on her own!" Miyabi shouted in
anger then looked the other two and lifted an eyebrow in confusion.
"What?"
"Ranma can take care of herself very easily. . And I agree with her
that she should have no more contact with you as refusing to help her
become whole again was very wrong," Cologne stated in annoyance then
started to hop towards her room. "I will be packing as I also no
longer wish to be here either."
"If she won't listen to me then she have to listen to the Council!"
Miyabi threatened loudly in vain.
"Oh yes I'm very sure the Council will put the fear of god into
her," Giles replied sarcastically as he head towards where Cologne
had gone.
Miyabi looked pleased that Giles had agreed with her until it
registered that he was being sarcastic then gave his retreating form
a glare as she gaped her mouth, the words weren't coming to respond.
- - - -
Willow looked up from her bed as her mother opened her door
slightly, "Yes Mom?"
"Willow, you have a visitor downstairs," her Mother said looking
very concerned about the person in question.
Willow shrugged and followed her Mother down the stairs then saw
Ranma-chan standing near the entrance looking nervous and unhappy,
"Hi Ranma, what's goin. . what's wrong?"
"I had a bad fight with the woman I live with and I sorta told her I
was leaving," Ranma-chan replied as she looked anywhere but at
Willow, she was embarrassed at the fact she was on the verge of
tears. "I was wondering. . ."
"Mom? Can Ranma stay for a couple of days?" Willow called out of the
room before Ranma-chan could finish her question.
Mrs. Rosenberg had been listening to the girl trying to explain what
had happen from the other room and it left her with a very bad
picture. The girl was a red haired Asian, which either had to be a
very good dye good or mixed heritage, and looked about the same age
as her daughter. None of that bothered her, what did though was the
fact it sounded like the girl had just had a fight with the lover and
that this person was a woman. Oh she was a modern person of reason. .
but she also remembered that Willow had been going on and on in a
daze for the past few days about some person named Ranma and now here
was a person by that name that was a girl. . . she didn't like this
as it could only mean one of her fears was coming true.
Realizing she had been asked a question about the girl staying with
them a few days caught her off guard, even though she should have
seen coming after thinking about it. She had two choices. . One was
to say no and alienate her daughter, in a way that said I caught onto
you're little secret. . and two was to say yes and have to keep a
close watch on the two.
"Of course dear. . Do you have any idea for how long?" Mrs.
Rosenberg called back a few moments later.
Willow turned and looked questioning at the other girl. Ranma-chan
shrugged slightly, "Cologne will probably find a new place within the
week. . at least she won't. . ."
Willow looked pained as she could she how much Ranma-chan was trying
not to cry then called back to her Mother, "Probably only for about a
week. . is that okay?"
"Yes dear," Mrs. Rosenberg replied and then swore lightly to
herself, a week was a long time to keep watch of those two.
Willow smiled and grabbed Ranma-chan's hand, "Come on you can stay
in my room."
Ranma-chan looked very uncomfortable about the idea but she had
realized before coming here that this would be Willow's reaction,
even without the attraction spell Willow seemed very hung up on him.
. and her. Following Willow she made the book appear in her hands, "I
got the book I need to correct my curse. . but I can't cast it. . ."
Willow smiled at the other girl and took the book from her hands,
"Don't worry I'm getting pretty good with magic so we'll get this
done quickly."
Ranma-chan walked into Willow's room feeling oddly better, for one
the first times in her life that she needed help someone offered to
help without asking for something in return.
- - - -
Author's Notes: Nine is in the can. Finalizing the storyline with
Spike and Dru. . but remember people they aren't gone yet. This was
done in one of the fast paces I've tried to start and finish a piece
( Three hours with interruptions ) and it probably shows around the
edges. . .
Hope you enjoy.
Next: The tenth and final chapter of Book One. . . Willow helps
balance Ranma's curse out with predictable and unpredictable results.
Ryouga tries to get his misdirection curse removed. And Cordelia gets
a very bad idea.
Then - Book 2: DARK LOVE -