A Ranma ½ Alternate Histories Company Presents:
Ranma ½ / BTVS
Ranma The Vampire Slayer
Book 1
Changes in the World
By Felix Webster (Felix Warstar)
Chapter 10
- - - -
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.
- - - -
- Castings -
Willow woke up to a sound of whimpering coming from the floor area
just out of her sight from the edge of her bed. Looking over to see
what was wrong she was pained to realize it was coming from the red
haired girl she was coming to really lo. .like a lot. She moved over
and laid down next to the part time girl and wrapped her arms around
her in comfort. Thankfully it seemed to help as Ranma-chan settled
down quickly and both went back to sleep with Willow spooning her
friend trying to be as totally encompassing as she could possibly be.
- - - -
Mrs. Rosenberg knocked on her daughter's door twice before she
decided the girls had more then enough time to respond. Opening the
door quietly she caught sight of both girls cuddled on the floor
where the girl, Ranma, was sleeping. They seemed so wrapped up
together that she started to doubt she could tell where one started
and the other ended. For a brief moment she smiled at the cuteness of
the scene and though about getting a camera, then she remembered what
the Asian girl was and the smile went away replaced by a frown as she
went for the camera to get a picture to confront her daughter with.
A few flashes later caused Ranma-chan to open her eyes wearily,
"Nabiki! I told you to stop taking pictures of me when I'm sleeping.
. I don't care how much Kuno pays for them."
Mrs. Rosenberg lifted an eyebrow in mild confusion as it sounded as
if the girl was use to being woken by flash photography, and having
those pictures sold to others. . she sounded like she had been
exploited a lot at her last home.
Ranma-chan rolled slightly trying to wake herself up more when she
felt the body beside her. Giving a gentle push she tried to remove
the encircled arms from herself still not cognitive enough to
remember where she was, "Xian Pu! Get offa me! I told you I wasn't
like that!"
Mrs. Rosenberg's mouth dropped and her eyes widened almost
comically. She didn't know if 'Shampoo' was a cute name for Willow or
not but it sounded very much like her daughter was the one forcing
herself on this poor girl. Having very mixed feelings about this she
decided to break this up at the current moment, "Good morning Girls."
Willow opened her eyes slowly then more quickly as she realized she
was being gently pushed away, and that her Mother was standing in the
doorway. Sitting up quickly she pulled the covers up to her chest in
embarrassment even though she was still wearing the PJ's from last
night, "MOM!?! Can't I get some privacy!?!"
"Willow. . we need to talk. Downstairs," Mrs. Rosenberg simply said
in a cold tone as she turned and walked out of the room.
Ranma-chan had opened her eyes almost as soon as Willow had but she
stayed in her sleeping position until the woman left then she raised
herself up on an elbow and looked at Willow, "I think I've gotten you
into trouble. . ."
"I think this was going to happen sooner or later," Willow replied
with a weak smile as she leaned down and kissed Ranma-chan on the tip
of her nose.
Ranma-chan blushed to a colour very close to her hair then realized
Willow was right beside her under the blankets she was given, "Um. .
Willow? What are you doing down here?"
Willow smiled a bit more as she got up to sitting on the edge of her
bed, "You were having a nightmare. . and I thought if I comforted you
it would make it stop. . ."
Ranma-chan looked mildly shocked at the girl for a only a moment
then she remembered that she had been starting to have a nightmare
during the night but it had suddenly ended as a feeling of warmth
came over her. It had been a nightmare she had a few times before and
she wasn't surprised that it would come back now. She always feared
the loss of her manhood and how no one would want her if it happened
permanently. . last night she suddenly felt as if that wasn't going
to be a problem anymore. Looking up into the eyes of the other red
haired girl she smiled softly, "Thanks, it work."
"Good," Willow replied as she got up and headed for the door to go
downstairs. "Now I'd better find out what the parental unit wants to
'discuss' before things get worse."
- - - -
Mrs. Rosenberg looked across the table at her daughter not knowing
how she felt at the moment as things were too confusing, "You were
just trying to comfort Ranma because she was having a nightmare?"
"Yes Mom, Ranma has had a very rough life and it has led to her
having some very bad nightmares," Willow replied still looking nervous.
"A rough life? Would this include being. . . exploited in some way?"
Willow's Mother looked very cross but it didn't seem directed at
Willow or Ranma-chan.
"I think Ranma said something about one of the girls she lived with
always taking pictures of her and the girl's younger sister to sell
to someone Ranma didn't like much. . . but I wasn't really listening
at the time," Willow blushed slightly as she remembered the little
daze Ranma-chan had put her in when they first met.
"I see," Mrs. Rosenberg said saddened at the conformation of what
she assumed from the girl's words earlier. Giving her daughter a
serious look she resolved herself to ask what she didn't really want
to know, "Willow. . what is Ranma to you?. . I mean what is your
relationship?"
"Mom!?" Willow looked up in shock then realized that her Mother
seemed nervous and not angry. "I. . I really don't know. . . I like
Ranma. . a lot, but I. . I don't know."
"Yes you do," Mrs. Rosenberg replied with a sigh as a weak sad smile
came to her face. "I can see it in you eyes just thinking of her. I
know it isn't the stone age anymore but this will still cause you two
a lot of problems out there. . Um, is she?. . "
"Is she what? Into girls? It isn't like that with Ranma! Really!"
Willow's eyes bugged out as she caught the gist of her Mother's
little rambling. "She. . she was raised as a boy and has only been a
girl for about a year or so."
"Raised as a boy? Who would do that to a child?" Mrs. Rosenberg once
again didn't like the sounds of things.
"Um. . her Father did. He had this big thing about Ranma being a
'man among men'," Willow explained although the comment confused her
slightly.
Mrs. Rosenberg blinked in disbelief at her daughter several times
before replying, "Not only did the man raise his daughter as a boy,
but. . but he raised the girl to be a gay boy!?!"
"What!?!" Willow exclaimed in shock then warded off her Mother. "NO,
no! He raised Ranma to be a strong macho man not. . . gay!"
"Sorry, I misunderstood," Mrs. Rosenberg said in embarrassment.
"Must not mean the same to the Chinese."
"Japanese Mother," Willow corrected rolling her eyes at the woman.
"I already told you that Ranma was Japanese."
"Oh, I forgot," Mrs. Rosenberg waved off the correction as if that
didn't matter. "But what do you plan to do with her?"
"Wha. .!?! I. . don't know! We haven't discussed. . ." Willow
started to reply in a panic.
"I meant what were the two of you planning to do about Ranma's
living situation after she leaves here?" Mrs. Rosenberg rolled her
own eyes at her daughter's seemingly perverted mind. "I'm not going
to stop this. . relationship as it really isn't any of my business,
no matter how unhappy it makes me, but I can not have it going on in
this house. I'll have to ask Ranma to leave soon."
"I should be able to deal with that," an old scratchy voice replied
from the entrance leading into the dinning room.
"Who. . Who are you!?! And how did you get in here!?!" Mrs.
Rosenberg exclaimed in shock as she turned to see a gnarled old
*thing* sitting on a gnarled old staff.
"Cologne!" Willow called out happy about seeing the ancient woman.
"I thought you threw Ranma out?"
"No Child, that overstuffed excuse of a Watcher pushed Ranma out
because she was not 'following orders'. I may not have said anything
at the time but I would never abandon Ranma like that," Cologne
explained as she made her way to the table.
"Willow, you know this. . this. ." Mrs. Rosenberg started to ask.
"Very old woman with a lot of power who is getting very tired about
being called a demon, creature, or ghoul," Cologne interrupted with a
nasty glare that promised great pain.
". . very old woman?" Mrs. Rosenberg finished taking the oh so
subtle hint.
"She's a friend of Ranma's," Willow explained with a smirk.
"I see," Mrs. Rosenberg said quietly then turned to Cologne. "Have
you found a new home so soon?"
"This is Sunnydale, finding a house up for market cheaply is hardly
a challenge," Cologne rolled her eyes. "I mean no one in their right
mind would actually move here."
Mrs. Rosenberg looked confused between the old woman and her
daughter, who was trying not to laugh, "I agree the market is a
little odd here but it's a nice place to raise a child."
"I see, your Mother is one of the blinded," Cologne said to Willow
making it sound very unfortunate. "She has no touch of magic at all."
"Now about Ranma. . where is she?" Cologne asked before the woman
could make a comment about magic and about being blinded.
- - - -
Ranma-chan was still drying her hair when Willow and Cologne came
into Willow's room, "How'd the talk with your Mother go?"
"Mom is going to allow us to try a relationship. . but you can't
stay here because of it," Willow replied still confused by her
Mother's reaction.
"But don't worry Child, I have found us a new place already. Gather
up your stuff and we will go there immediately," Cologne added with a
small smile as she indicated she meant all of them.
"What about Miyabi? Is she going to cause us problems?" Ranma-chan
asked as she started packing.
"She has gone to England on the first flight she could get," Cologne
said unhappy. "We will probably find out the kind of problems she
brings back soon."
"We could do the spell today," Willow piped up to change the subject.
"Yes, Child, I was planning on that, and on trying the other spell
that afflicts Ranma's friend Ryoga," Cologne agreed with a smile.
"If we can find him," Ranma-chan said with a smirk.
"Don't worry, he is already at the new house," Cologne continued to
smile. "With that other girl who seems to be trying to get to know
him in the old fashion way."
"Old fashion way?" Willow looked confused.
"I thing she means in the biblical way," Ranma-chan explained almost
giggling. "Ryoga must be shooting buckets of blood right now!"
"Huh?" Willow was confused again.
"She is referring to a Japanese belief that virgin boys tend to get
huge nosebleeds when girls try to get sexual with them," Cologne
explained this time. "It's a silly idea. . . but Ryoga does seem
prone to nosebleeds. ."
- - - -
Cordelia sat back on the sofa with her arms crossed and a pout as of
so far Ryoga hadn't even responded once to her passes. She had
started getting more and more blatant but the last just seemed to
make the boy pass out and a trickle of blood come from his nose. If
she knew what that meant she would possibly jumping in glee but she
didn't.
"I don't get it! He seems to like me, he's always so nervous and
sweet around me since I met him. . . but he just doesn't seem to LIKE
me," Cordelia complained to the blonde beside her.
"Maybe he's just shy," Buffy replied as she stretched out slightly
on the huge sofa and yawned, it was too early for her. "You might be
coming on too hard."
"It's not right! Guys are supposed to drop around me but not like
that!" Cordelia protested to the ceiling.
Buffy shook her head slightly and closed her eyes, "Why are you so
hung up on the guy? He's good looking and all but he seems a touch. .
. I don't know, extreme I guess. Those tapes you showed me of him
weren't very flattering."
"I. . I don't know why I'm interested really. I've been a fan of his
and Ranma since I first saw the tapes. . . and now I know that what I
was watching was real, it's a lot to take in," Cordelia leaned
forward and looked to the bathroom where the boy in question still
lay. "I've felt pulled to him since we met, not the same way I did to
Ranma because of the magic. . . stronger, more. . more real."
"So you have the hots for a guy who can't even find his way out of a
room with one door," Ranma-chan said with a small laugh as she walked
into the room with Cologne and Willow. "Don't get me wrong, I like
the guy and I'm happy he came get a girl like you to want to be with
him, but he's already got someone in Japan and I don't like to see
him getting confused again over who to choose again.
"Ranma," Cordelia jumped up happy to see her then realized the red
haired girl was serious. The smile dropped from her face quickly, "He
does. . . is it a real relationship or is there a chance?"
"I won't lie to you about this, Ryoga doesn't know if Akari likes
him for who he is or because of his Jusenkyo curse," Ranma-chan gave
to girl a steady look and shook her head slightly. "If you truly want
him tell him that. Don't lead him on, don't let him believe
friendship is more then it is, and don't break his heart or you will
have to deal with me."
"I wouldn't do that to him!" Cordelia protested then gave the other
two girls a outraged look, "What!?!"
"Cordelia, you play with boys like candy, once the flavour is gone
you go onto the next," Willow replied as she wrapped her arm around
one of Ranma-chan's and cuddled in close. "Not like the rest of us
who look for a long term relationship."
"Um. . Willow?" Ranma-chan gave the other red-head a nervous look.
"What?" Willow asked bewildered.
"Too. . too much, too fast," Ranma-chan gave Willow's tight grip a
glance then gave an apologetic look to the girl.
"Oh. . oops, sorry," Willow let go of the girl slightly disappointed.
"It's not like that with Ryoga!" Cordelia protested again.
"I hope not," Ranma-chan said then looked around. "So where is he
anyways?"
"He's laying unconscious on the bathroom floor," Buffy said as she
got off the sofa. "Cordelia decided to play with him a little while
Cologne was out."
"What did you do child?" Cologne asked as she hoped over to the
downstairs bathroom and opened the door.
"She offered to. . . what was it again? Oh yeah, she offered to
'wash his back' since he said he needed a bath," Buffy replied
looking a little confused, she realized it had to be a sexual
reference by Ryoga's reaction but it wasn't one she knew.
Ranma-chan slapped her forehead laughing, "Of course he passed out
from that."
"I'm surprised there's so little blood on the floor," Cologne added
as she dragged the boy out into the living room.
- - - -
Cologne nodded her head at the designs drawn on the floor of the
work room, the basement really but it was a solid area to do any
needed casting, "You three have a deft hand at magical design dears,
and your voices were very nice to hear."
"Um, Thank you," Willow and Buffy both replied as they looked at
each other confused at Cologne including Cordelia in that praise.
"Although child I don't think you are destine to cast magic as a
vocation," Cologne continued patting Cordelia on the shoulder making
the girl a little more relieved. "Please stand with the lost boy and
wait for his cue."
"Ranma, you can sit in the middle of the circle and then we'll
start," the old woman hopped to the far side from Willow and waited.
"Walk the spiral and then enter the centre."
Ranma-chan stood and walked to the centre circle of the three drawn
circles by the large spiral that flowed around and through the
drawing passing the two circles beside the centre, she could feel a
touch of power the moment she put her foot on the path and it kept
getting stronger until she had to force herself sit down, "Why is
already active? I can feel power already."
"We've been casting since the start of this," Cologne indicated the
large spiral circle and the lesser circles, only the centre one had
on lines flowing through it as it was the primary focus, "Each word
of the little song I taught the girls gave the design the power to
start this."
"Okay so what now?" Ranma-chan asked after nodding in understanding.
"Now? Now we start," Cologne replied as she flipped the page of the
book she had beside her and threw up her hands to the heavens.
"Oh hear us those who choose the destinies of those below," Cologne
started.
"Hear us," Willow and Buffy added from their positions making a
triangle of power with the old woman.
"Through magic there is imbalance and through magic we ask for
balance."
"Bring us balance."
"Come to your child and grant a blessing to right what is wrong."
"Bless the child," Buffy and Willow forced down giggling as Cologne
gave then a glare.
"Lionna, god and goddess of the sexes we call you to help your own!"
Cologne called out loudly causing Willow to look at her funny as the
old woman had just changed the spell. Cologne glared at he girls
again as they missed their cue.
"Lionna, we call," Willow caught up with Buffy who was a split
second faster.
Cologne looked at both Cordelia and Ryoga, who were now standing on
the edge of the spiral and nodded. Both pricked their fingers and
threw the light sprinkle of blood onto opposite circles from them
laying a small path of blood across the spiral and the centre circle.
The centre circle's edges started to glow and then a barrier of blue
light mixed with flashes of red until Ranma-chan was no longer
seeable. The outer two circles started to glow and a barrier of blue
light sprung from one and red from the other, in the centres of each
a form appeared standing but unconscious to the world. In the blue
stood Ranma as he should be wearing a blue set of Chinese silks with
a golden dragon etched flowing up beautify on the fabric, and in the
red stood Ranma-chan wearing a simular set in red with a silver
dragon flowing down. . . the only problem was that she wasn't a
stable image. The female form of Ranma seemed to fluctuate from the
smaller girl with the large chest the everyone recognized to a taller
girl, almost as tall as Ranma himself, with a more muscular figure
and smaller chest.
Everyone gave Cologne a look in confusion who calmly said, "The one
is what Ranma is, the other is what Ranma would have looked like if
born a true girl instead cursed to be one."
-
Ranma-chan had closed her eyes at the beginning of the casting but
something happened and she forced herself to look around. Opening her
eyes she found herself standing in a field of white energy. . . but
she wasn't alone. Standing beside her was herself as she should be
and then realized he was looking at her the same way, they were both
Ranma Saotome and both were one in mind if not in body. A second
presence made them look forward to look at a figure standing there
smiling at them.
"Welcome son/daughter we are happy you have come to us," the figure
said in a double voice, the lower toned on calling him son and the
higher calling her daughter. The figure was an image of confusion as
it looked to be both sexes but both at the same time and never at the
same time, all in all it made Ranma not want to look at either too
long. "We have been waiting for you but you've come for something and
we will hear it, so speak."
"I want to be a man again," Ranma-chan stated loudly looking angry
then realized that Ranma-kun never spoke. Turning quickly to look at
her boy form she gave him a nasty glare, "What's wrong? You don't
what to fix this?!"
"I ain't said anythin'," Ranma-kun replied calmly as he stood with
his arms crossed. "I seem ta be male already so I figured ta let you
do the arguing."
Ranma-chan stepped back a pace and realize two things, one he was
right and two he was talking like they use to. Spinning to face
Lionna again she glared, "What's going on? We aren't the same anymore!"
"You are Ranma as you were and always will be," Lionna replied
without emotion, "And you can not become again what you never were in
the first place."
"Never were in the first place!?! I was male! I remember being a
guy! What are you pulling!?!" Ranma-chan screamed in frustration,
glancing at her male side without turning her face she snarled, "Are
you going to let her call us a girl?"
Ranma-kun straighten stiffly at the implied insult then got into a
stance, "Nah, can't let that happen."
"Child, we are not here to fight you," Lionna held up a hand that
fluctuated slightly from obviously male to female and back again.
"You have called as you curse is in opposition to the wishes of the
Powers that Be and you have been suffering from it."
"YES!!!!" Ranma-chan yelled, "And you did this spell to get you to
balance it out!"
"I can not do what you truly want," Lionna replied in dry tone.
"I don't care about changing into a girl anymore, I just want the
ability to become the boy I am supposed to be again!" Ranma-chan said
annoyed.
"We were not talking to you child," the Lionna replied causing Ranma-
chan to spin again to face her other half.
"Hey, I'm a guy! I can't do anyone any good as a girl!" Ranma-kun
protested as he stepped back warding off Ranma-chan then a look of
depression came to his face, "Besides what girl would want us like
this?"
"Akane just couldn't stand being forced into an arranged marriage
and the feelings she was having for a 'girl' was driving her nuts as
she isn't a blasted bisexual, but she was willing to try" Ranma-chan
replied in anger. "And Willow doesn't seem to mind!"
"We both know why Willow don't mind the curse," Ranma-kun said
sadly. "We see it in her eyes every time we changed inta a girl."
"She has the same look we change back!" Ranma-chan countered. "She
wants both of us! And we need a girl who does or we will never find
any happiness!"
Ranma-chan stopped stalking towards her other half and dropped her
head in depression, "You idiot! We're here to balance the curse not
cure it. She can't do that and we both know that. If we don't do this
you never get to exist again so we have to be in agreement!"
"I know that. But I still want what I want," Ranma-kun replied
softly. "It's how Pop raised us, no matter how wrong it was it's how
we see things too often."
Ranma-chan raised her head to look into her counterpart's eyes, "But
the power of the Slayer balances out the difference we use to have. .
. we're not weak as a girl anymore."
"We never were, just weaker then when we were as a guy," Ranma-kun
gave a small smile. "We were still as strong as Xian Pu and Akane as
a girl but we didn't see it like that."
"When did you start talking properly?" Ranma-chan looked at the boy
confused.
"When we stopped arguing," Ranma-kun smiled again then looked at
Lionna. "We want the curse balanced! What has to be done to do this!?"
"The Powers That Be want you as the Slayer but we do not like the
pain this causes you, son/daughter," Lionna said in hir double voice.
"We have made a deal that will be acceptable for the time being but
will ask a boon from you at some time for this."
"If I can fulfill it I will do so," Ranma said agreeing to the terms
as he had no real choice, something he was use to in his life.
"Then go, son/daughter, and be well child of ours," Lionna said and
the light became blinding causing Ranma to clench his eyes shut.
-
The lights around Ranma and Ranma-chan got too intense to look at
and all people looked away before the light finally died. Standing in
the centre of where the design had been was a very male Ranma
blinking out the after effects of the blinding light he experienced,
before he had time to say anything he felt a body wrap around him and
hug him. Hugging the girl back he softly spoke to her ear, "I'm back
and things will be better."
- - - -
"I think I want have that spell cast on me too," Ryoga looked
envious at the soaked but male Ranma. "That last one had ice in it."
"It wouldn't work," Ranma replied as he wrung out his shirt. "And I
still have the curse. . . it just doesn't have the same activation
anymore."
"Oh well," Ryoga shrugged and sat down at the kitchen table with the
others who stayed. "It was a hope, after the other spell failed I
could hope something went right for me."
"The spell for your misdirection was not a failure. . . at least not
completely," Cologne said as she sipped the tea in her hands. "You
will always be able to find those you care about with little effort,
and the curse's ability to get you to place you should never be able
to be will get you to those people very quickly."
"His misdirection curse sorta did that before," Ranma said as he sat
down with the others and accepted Willow's offered hand for comfort.
"Yes but now it will be quicker for him to find them and he as long
as he stays focussed he won't be suddenly missing," Cologne replied
as she put her tea down and looked out the large sliding patio doors.
"It's almost sunset and you two should patrol tonight."
"Giles has a lead on a possible new Vampire trying to organize the
strays into a fighting force," Buffy said giving Ranma a smile.
"Maybe we can find him tonight and stop him."
"Or make him realize that Sunnydale just isn't the place for him,"
Ranma said not smiling, he noticed Cologne's look at him as he said
it and then added, "But we'll stop him either way."
"So you going back to Japan Ryoga?" Willow asked as she squeezed
Ranma's hand slightly.
"I should let Akane and Ranma's family know about how things are
here, they'll be worried," Ryoga replied giving Ranma an even gaze
before looking at Cordelia. "I also should see Akari too."
- - - -
Ryoga stood on the porch and watched the sun starting to set, his
pack was sitting beside him and he was more then ready to test this
change in his oldest curse. He more then anything wanted to see his
parents again, and if Cologne was right this change in his curse will
pass into them when he hugged them as the change in magic as that
powerful.
"So. . um, when are you coming back?" Cordelia asked as she came up
behind Ryoga, depression haunting her face.
"I'll be back soon. . . I've got a few people I have to find first,"
Ryoga continued to watch the sun set. "If Ranma needs me he can get a
hold of me on that small satellite phone Cologne gave me and I'll be
here."
"What if he isn't the one who needs you?" Cordelia asked nervously
as she stood next to the boy.
Ryoga turned to look at Cordelia and dropped his head slightly, "If
I'm needed I will be here, but I can't say what you want. . . not
yet. I have to talk to Akane and to Akari to see what if anything is
there for me, then I will be back and can answer what you want to
know."
"I. . I see," Cordelia said very quietly trying not to start crying.
Before Ryoga could crumble at the sound of depression in the girl's
response a red-haired girl ran past them followed by a blonde then
another red-haired girl. Looking at the trio Ryoga had to blink
several times, "Ranma?"
"Yep, you like?" Ranma-chan replied as she framed her new female
form, it was the taller athletic one that had been fluctuating over
the old curse form. Ranma-chan looked happier about it. "Don't look
like a big breasted bimbo anymore."
"You never looked like a big breasted bimbo. . . unless you were
putting effort into it," Ryoga chuckled then got curious, "What
causes the change now?"
"The night," Ranma-chan said with a small smile. "I'm a boy during
the day and the Slayer at night when the Vampires come out to play."
"It means Ranma can go to school as a boy in the day and patrol as a
girl at night," Willow explained latching onto Ranma-chan's arm and
was even happier that the girl didn't flinch this time.
"It has a few drawbacks but I don't have to worry about watching for
water at inopportune moments anymore," Ranma-chan added and then
quirked a sad smile. "At least for now. . ."
"So, we should like get a start on finding this guy," Buffy said as
she tossed Ranma-chan a stake.
"Right," Ranma-chan replied and removed her arm from Willow then
both turned and started walking towards the closest graveyard.
Ryoga looked at his pack and then at the girls walking away.
Turning, he smiled at Cordelia in a lopsided way putting a hand
behind his head, "It's been so long that I don't think a night will
make a difference, I can head out in the morning."
Both Ryoga and Cordelia quickly caught up with the other girls and
all of them started talking as they headed for the night of patrolling.
Willow stopped for a moment causing the others to stop too, "What
about Xander and Giles?"
"Giles said they'd met us there," Buffy smiled as Ranma-chan put and
arm around Willow's waist and started walking again. "We wouldn't
leave them out of this."
- - - -
"So Lionna changed her?" an old scratchy voice said from behind
Cologne causing her to spin to face the intruder.
"What are you doing here?" Cologne demanded in a challenge to the man.
"I never left," Happosai replied as he puffed on his pipe and sat on
the table cross legged. "I would never leave my precious little
Ranko, you know that."
"She isn't so little anymore," Cologne gave a crooked smile. "But I
haven't sensed you around since you messed up that language spell."
"I never mess up anything," Happosai closed his eyes and enjoyed his
pipe. "And I like my little Ranko growing up into a beautiful woman.
. . just like you did."
"You have always been an old fool, even when you were young,"
Cologne sighed then passed him a cup of tea. "What are you planning
this time?"
"Nothing new, just training," Happosai sipped the tea and smirked.
"She is the heir to my style after all."
"You mean he is the heir to your style," Cologne corrected the old
man.
"Not at the moment she isn't, she looked very much like a 'pretty
lady' when she left," Happosai snickered and winked before standing
up and hopping to the patio door. "I'll see you around."
Cologne watched her old lover, later an old enemy, leave the house
and shook her head smiling as he didn't answer her question about how
he had been around without her noticing, "Ranma, child, that one is
going to be trouble. . . but then again what else is new."
- - - -
Author's Notes: Chapter 10 done, book one done, and it took way too
long to do this one. First the use of the word 'hir' isn't a spelling
error, it refers to a person who is both male and female as does
's/he'.
Ranma isn't stuck as a girl -just in more fitting Slayer looking
body that comes out at night-
Ryoga still gets lost -he can just find Furinkin High and the Tendo
Dojo easier now :)-
Those were the biggest requests that I not mess with on this fic. I
never planned on leaving Ranma as a girl and Ryoga is funnier when
gets lost, he's just more useful when he can get back quicker.
I'll be continuing the budding relationship between Cordelia and
Ryoga as it'll keep him in a bit of turmoil over her, Akari. . . and
possibly Akane still.
I didn't flesh out the spell for Ryoga as I did enough magic with
Ranma in this one.
Hope you enjoy it
Ranma ½ / BTVS
Ranma The Vampire Slayer
Book 1
Changes in the World
By Felix Webster (Felix Warstar)
Chapter 10
- - - -
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.
- - - -
- Castings -
Willow woke up to a sound of whimpering coming from the floor area
just out of her sight from the edge of her bed. Looking over to see
what was wrong she was pained to realize it was coming from the red
haired girl she was coming to really lo. .like a lot. She moved over
and laid down next to the part time girl and wrapped her arms around
her in comfort. Thankfully it seemed to help as Ranma-chan settled
down quickly and both went back to sleep with Willow spooning her
friend trying to be as totally encompassing as she could possibly be.
- - - -
Mrs. Rosenberg knocked on her daughter's door twice before she
decided the girls had more then enough time to respond. Opening the
door quietly she caught sight of both girls cuddled on the floor
where the girl, Ranma, was sleeping. They seemed so wrapped up
together that she started to doubt she could tell where one started
and the other ended. For a brief moment she smiled at the cuteness of
the scene and though about getting a camera, then she remembered what
the Asian girl was and the smile went away replaced by a frown as she
went for the camera to get a picture to confront her daughter with.
A few flashes later caused Ranma-chan to open her eyes wearily,
"Nabiki! I told you to stop taking pictures of me when I'm sleeping.
. I don't care how much Kuno pays for them."
Mrs. Rosenberg lifted an eyebrow in mild confusion as it sounded as
if the girl was use to being woken by flash photography, and having
those pictures sold to others. . she sounded like she had been
exploited a lot at her last home.
Ranma-chan rolled slightly trying to wake herself up more when she
felt the body beside her. Giving a gentle push she tried to remove
the encircled arms from herself still not cognitive enough to
remember where she was, "Xian Pu! Get offa me! I told you I wasn't
like that!"
Mrs. Rosenberg's mouth dropped and her eyes widened almost
comically. She didn't know if 'Shampoo' was a cute name for Willow or
not but it sounded very much like her daughter was the one forcing
herself on this poor girl. Having very mixed feelings about this she
decided to break this up at the current moment, "Good morning Girls."
Willow opened her eyes slowly then more quickly as she realized she
was being gently pushed away, and that her Mother was standing in the
doorway. Sitting up quickly she pulled the covers up to her chest in
embarrassment even though she was still wearing the PJ's from last
night, "MOM!?! Can't I get some privacy!?!"
"Willow. . we need to talk. Downstairs," Mrs. Rosenberg simply said
in a cold tone as she turned and walked out of the room.
Ranma-chan had opened her eyes almost as soon as Willow had but she
stayed in her sleeping position until the woman left then she raised
herself up on an elbow and looked at Willow, "I think I've gotten you
into trouble. . ."
"I think this was going to happen sooner or later," Willow replied
with a weak smile as she leaned down and kissed Ranma-chan on the tip
of her nose.
Ranma-chan blushed to a colour very close to her hair then realized
Willow was right beside her under the blankets she was given, "Um. .
Willow? What are you doing down here?"
Willow smiled a bit more as she got up to sitting on the edge of her
bed, "You were having a nightmare. . and I thought if I comforted you
it would make it stop. . ."
Ranma-chan looked mildly shocked at the girl for a only a moment
then she remembered that she had been starting to have a nightmare
during the night but it had suddenly ended as a feeling of warmth
came over her. It had been a nightmare she had a few times before and
she wasn't surprised that it would come back now. She always feared
the loss of her manhood and how no one would want her if it happened
permanently. . last night she suddenly felt as if that wasn't going
to be a problem anymore. Looking up into the eyes of the other red
haired girl she smiled softly, "Thanks, it work."
"Good," Willow replied as she got up and headed for the door to go
downstairs. "Now I'd better find out what the parental unit wants to
'discuss' before things get worse."
- - - -
Mrs. Rosenberg looked across the table at her daughter not knowing
how she felt at the moment as things were too confusing, "You were
just trying to comfort Ranma because she was having a nightmare?"
"Yes Mom, Ranma has had a very rough life and it has led to her
having some very bad nightmares," Willow replied still looking nervous.
"A rough life? Would this include being. . . exploited in some way?"
Willow's Mother looked very cross but it didn't seem directed at
Willow or Ranma-chan.
"I think Ranma said something about one of the girls she lived with
always taking pictures of her and the girl's younger sister to sell
to someone Ranma didn't like much. . . but I wasn't really listening
at the time," Willow blushed slightly as she remembered the little
daze Ranma-chan had put her in when they first met.
"I see," Mrs. Rosenberg said saddened at the conformation of what
she assumed from the girl's words earlier. Giving her daughter a
serious look she resolved herself to ask what she didn't really want
to know, "Willow. . what is Ranma to you?. . I mean what is your
relationship?"
"Mom!?" Willow looked up in shock then realized that her Mother
seemed nervous and not angry. "I. . I really don't know. . . I like
Ranma. . a lot, but I. . I don't know."
"Yes you do," Mrs. Rosenberg replied with a sigh as a weak sad smile
came to her face. "I can see it in you eyes just thinking of her. I
know it isn't the stone age anymore but this will still cause you two
a lot of problems out there. . Um, is she?. . "
"Is she what? Into girls? It isn't like that with Ranma! Really!"
Willow's eyes bugged out as she caught the gist of her Mother's
little rambling. "She. . she was raised as a boy and has only been a
girl for about a year or so."
"Raised as a boy? Who would do that to a child?" Mrs. Rosenberg once
again didn't like the sounds of things.
"Um. . her Father did. He had this big thing about Ranma being a
'man among men'," Willow explained although the comment confused her
slightly.
Mrs. Rosenberg blinked in disbelief at her daughter several times
before replying, "Not only did the man raise his daughter as a boy,
but. . but he raised the girl to be a gay boy!?!"
"What!?!" Willow exclaimed in shock then warded off her Mother. "NO,
no! He raised Ranma to be a strong macho man not. . . gay!"
"Sorry, I misunderstood," Mrs. Rosenberg said in embarrassment.
"Must not mean the same to the Chinese."
"Japanese Mother," Willow corrected rolling her eyes at the woman.
"I already told you that Ranma was Japanese."
"Oh, I forgot," Mrs. Rosenberg waved off the correction as if that
didn't matter. "But what do you plan to do with her?"
"Wha. .!?! I. . don't know! We haven't discussed. . ." Willow
started to reply in a panic.
"I meant what were the two of you planning to do about Ranma's
living situation after she leaves here?" Mrs. Rosenberg rolled her
own eyes at her daughter's seemingly perverted mind. "I'm not going
to stop this. . relationship as it really isn't any of my business,
no matter how unhappy it makes me, but I can not have it going on in
this house. I'll have to ask Ranma to leave soon."
"I should be able to deal with that," an old scratchy voice replied
from the entrance leading into the dinning room.
"Who. . Who are you!?! And how did you get in here!?!" Mrs.
Rosenberg exclaimed in shock as she turned to see a gnarled old
*thing* sitting on a gnarled old staff.
"Cologne!" Willow called out happy about seeing the ancient woman.
"I thought you threw Ranma out?"
"No Child, that overstuffed excuse of a Watcher pushed Ranma out
because she was not 'following orders'. I may not have said anything
at the time but I would never abandon Ranma like that," Cologne
explained as she made her way to the table.
"Willow, you know this. . this. ." Mrs. Rosenberg started to ask.
"Very old woman with a lot of power who is getting very tired about
being called a demon, creature, or ghoul," Cologne interrupted with a
nasty glare that promised great pain.
". . very old woman?" Mrs. Rosenberg finished taking the oh so
subtle hint.
"She's a friend of Ranma's," Willow explained with a smirk.
"I see," Mrs. Rosenberg said quietly then turned to Cologne. "Have
you found a new home so soon?"
"This is Sunnydale, finding a house up for market cheaply is hardly
a challenge," Cologne rolled her eyes. "I mean no one in their right
mind would actually move here."
Mrs. Rosenberg looked confused between the old woman and her
daughter, who was trying not to laugh, "I agree the market is a
little odd here but it's a nice place to raise a child."
"I see, your Mother is one of the blinded," Cologne said to Willow
making it sound very unfortunate. "She has no touch of magic at all."
"Now about Ranma. . where is she?" Cologne asked before the woman
could make a comment about magic and about being blinded.
- - - -
Ranma-chan was still drying her hair when Willow and Cologne came
into Willow's room, "How'd the talk with your Mother go?"
"Mom is going to allow us to try a relationship. . but you can't
stay here because of it," Willow replied still confused by her
Mother's reaction.
"But don't worry Child, I have found us a new place already. Gather
up your stuff and we will go there immediately," Cologne added with a
small smile as she indicated she meant all of them.
"What about Miyabi? Is she going to cause us problems?" Ranma-chan
asked as she started packing.
"She has gone to England on the first flight she could get," Cologne
said unhappy. "We will probably find out the kind of problems she
brings back soon."
"We could do the spell today," Willow piped up to change the subject.
"Yes, Child, I was planning on that, and on trying the other spell
that afflicts Ranma's friend Ryoga," Cologne agreed with a smile.
"If we can find him," Ranma-chan said with a smirk.
"Don't worry, he is already at the new house," Cologne continued to
smile. "With that other girl who seems to be trying to get to know
him in the old fashion way."
"Old fashion way?" Willow looked confused.
"I thing she means in the biblical way," Ranma-chan explained almost
giggling. "Ryoga must be shooting buckets of blood right now!"
"Huh?" Willow was confused again.
"She is referring to a Japanese belief that virgin boys tend to get
huge nosebleeds when girls try to get sexual with them," Cologne
explained this time. "It's a silly idea. . . but Ryoga does seem
prone to nosebleeds. ."
- - - -
Cordelia sat back on the sofa with her arms crossed and a pout as of
so far Ryoga hadn't even responded once to her passes. She had
started getting more and more blatant but the last just seemed to
make the boy pass out and a trickle of blood come from his nose. If
she knew what that meant she would possibly jumping in glee but she
didn't.
"I don't get it! He seems to like me, he's always so nervous and
sweet around me since I met him. . . but he just doesn't seem to LIKE
me," Cordelia complained to the blonde beside her.
"Maybe he's just shy," Buffy replied as she stretched out slightly
on the huge sofa and yawned, it was too early for her. "You might be
coming on too hard."
"It's not right! Guys are supposed to drop around me but not like
that!" Cordelia protested to the ceiling.
Buffy shook her head slightly and closed her eyes, "Why are you so
hung up on the guy? He's good looking and all but he seems a touch. .
. I don't know, extreme I guess. Those tapes you showed me of him
weren't very flattering."
"I. . I don't know why I'm interested really. I've been a fan of his
and Ranma since I first saw the tapes. . . and now I know that what I
was watching was real, it's a lot to take in," Cordelia leaned
forward and looked to the bathroom where the boy in question still
lay. "I've felt pulled to him since we met, not the same way I did to
Ranma because of the magic. . . stronger, more. . more real."
"So you have the hots for a guy who can't even find his way out of a
room with one door," Ranma-chan said with a small laugh as she walked
into the room with Cologne and Willow. "Don't get me wrong, I like
the guy and I'm happy he came get a girl like you to want to be with
him, but he's already got someone in Japan and I don't like to see
him getting confused again over who to choose again.
"Ranma," Cordelia jumped up happy to see her then realized the red
haired girl was serious. The smile dropped from her face quickly, "He
does. . . is it a real relationship or is there a chance?"
"I won't lie to you about this, Ryoga doesn't know if Akari likes
him for who he is or because of his Jusenkyo curse," Ranma-chan gave
to girl a steady look and shook her head slightly. "If you truly want
him tell him that. Don't lead him on, don't let him believe
friendship is more then it is, and don't break his heart or you will
have to deal with me."
"I wouldn't do that to him!" Cordelia protested then gave the other
two girls a outraged look, "What!?!"
"Cordelia, you play with boys like candy, once the flavour is gone
you go onto the next," Willow replied as she wrapped her arm around
one of Ranma-chan's and cuddled in close. "Not like the rest of us
who look for a long term relationship."
"Um. . Willow?" Ranma-chan gave the other red-head a nervous look.
"What?" Willow asked bewildered.
"Too. . too much, too fast," Ranma-chan gave Willow's tight grip a
glance then gave an apologetic look to the girl.
"Oh. . oops, sorry," Willow let go of the girl slightly disappointed.
"It's not like that with Ryoga!" Cordelia protested again.
"I hope not," Ranma-chan said then looked around. "So where is he
anyways?"
"He's laying unconscious on the bathroom floor," Buffy said as she
got off the sofa. "Cordelia decided to play with him a little while
Cologne was out."
"What did you do child?" Cologne asked as she hoped over to the
downstairs bathroom and opened the door.
"She offered to. . . what was it again? Oh yeah, she offered to
'wash his back' since he said he needed a bath," Buffy replied
looking a little confused, she realized it had to be a sexual
reference by Ryoga's reaction but it wasn't one she knew.
Ranma-chan slapped her forehead laughing, "Of course he passed out
from that."
"I'm surprised there's so little blood on the floor," Cologne added
as she dragged the boy out into the living room.
- - - -
Cologne nodded her head at the designs drawn on the floor of the
work room, the basement really but it was a solid area to do any
needed casting, "You three have a deft hand at magical design dears,
and your voices were very nice to hear."
"Um, Thank you," Willow and Buffy both replied as they looked at
each other confused at Cologne including Cordelia in that praise.
"Although child I don't think you are destine to cast magic as a
vocation," Cologne continued patting Cordelia on the shoulder making
the girl a little more relieved. "Please stand with the lost boy and
wait for his cue."
"Ranma, you can sit in the middle of the circle and then we'll
start," the old woman hopped to the far side from Willow and waited.
"Walk the spiral and then enter the centre."
Ranma-chan stood and walked to the centre circle of the three drawn
circles by the large spiral that flowed around and through the
drawing passing the two circles beside the centre, she could feel a
touch of power the moment she put her foot on the path and it kept
getting stronger until she had to force herself sit down, "Why is
already active? I can feel power already."
"We've been casting since the start of this," Cologne indicated the
large spiral circle and the lesser circles, only the centre one had
on lines flowing through it as it was the primary focus, "Each word
of the little song I taught the girls gave the design the power to
start this."
"Okay so what now?" Ranma-chan asked after nodding in understanding.
"Now? Now we start," Cologne replied as she flipped the page of the
book she had beside her and threw up her hands to the heavens.
"Oh hear us those who choose the destinies of those below," Cologne
started.
"Hear us," Willow and Buffy added from their positions making a
triangle of power with the old woman.
"Through magic there is imbalance and through magic we ask for
balance."
"Bring us balance."
"Come to your child and grant a blessing to right what is wrong."
"Bless the child," Buffy and Willow forced down giggling as Cologne
gave then a glare.
"Lionna, god and goddess of the sexes we call you to help your own!"
Cologne called out loudly causing Willow to look at her funny as the
old woman had just changed the spell. Cologne glared at he girls
again as they missed their cue.
"Lionna, we call," Willow caught up with Buffy who was a split
second faster.
Cologne looked at both Cordelia and Ryoga, who were now standing on
the edge of the spiral and nodded. Both pricked their fingers and
threw the light sprinkle of blood onto opposite circles from them
laying a small path of blood across the spiral and the centre circle.
The centre circle's edges started to glow and then a barrier of blue
light mixed with flashes of red until Ranma-chan was no longer
seeable. The outer two circles started to glow and a barrier of blue
light sprung from one and red from the other, in the centres of each
a form appeared standing but unconscious to the world. In the blue
stood Ranma as he should be wearing a blue set of Chinese silks with
a golden dragon etched flowing up beautify on the fabric, and in the
red stood Ranma-chan wearing a simular set in red with a silver
dragon flowing down. . . the only problem was that she wasn't a
stable image. The female form of Ranma seemed to fluctuate from the
smaller girl with the large chest the everyone recognized to a taller
girl, almost as tall as Ranma himself, with a more muscular figure
and smaller chest.
Everyone gave Cologne a look in confusion who calmly said, "The one
is what Ranma is, the other is what Ranma would have looked like if
born a true girl instead cursed to be one."
-
Ranma-chan had closed her eyes at the beginning of the casting but
something happened and she forced herself to look around. Opening her
eyes she found herself standing in a field of white energy. . . but
she wasn't alone. Standing beside her was herself as she should be
and then realized he was looking at her the same way, they were both
Ranma Saotome and both were one in mind if not in body. A second
presence made them look forward to look at a figure standing there
smiling at them.
"Welcome son/daughter we are happy you have come to us," the figure
said in a double voice, the lower toned on calling him son and the
higher calling her daughter. The figure was an image of confusion as
it looked to be both sexes but both at the same time and never at the
same time, all in all it made Ranma not want to look at either too
long. "We have been waiting for you but you've come for something and
we will hear it, so speak."
"I want to be a man again," Ranma-chan stated loudly looking angry
then realized that Ranma-kun never spoke. Turning quickly to look at
her boy form she gave him a nasty glare, "What's wrong? You don't
what to fix this?!"
"I ain't said anythin'," Ranma-kun replied calmly as he stood with
his arms crossed. "I seem ta be male already so I figured ta let you
do the arguing."
Ranma-chan stepped back a pace and realize two things, one he was
right and two he was talking like they use to. Spinning to face
Lionna again she glared, "What's going on? We aren't the same anymore!"
"You are Ranma as you were and always will be," Lionna replied
without emotion, "And you can not become again what you never were in
the first place."
"Never were in the first place!?! I was male! I remember being a
guy! What are you pulling!?!" Ranma-chan screamed in frustration,
glancing at her male side without turning her face she snarled, "Are
you going to let her call us a girl?"
Ranma-kun straighten stiffly at the implied insult then got into a
stance, "Nah, can't let that happen."
"Child, we are not here to fight you," Lionna held up a hand that
fluctuated slightly from obviously male to female and back again.
"You have called as you curse is in opposition to the wishes of the
Powers that Be and you have been suffering from it."
"YES!!!!" Ranma-chan yelled, "And you did this spell to get you to
balance it out!"
"I can not do what you truly want," Lionna replied in dry tone.
"I don't care about changing into a girl anymore, I just want the
ability to become the boy I am supposed to be again!" Ranma-chan said
annoyed.
"We were not talking to you child," the Lionna replied causing Ranma-
chan to spin again to face her other half.
"Hey, I'm a guy! I can't do anyone any good as a girl!" Ranma-kun
protested as he stepped back warding off Ranma-chan then a look of
depression came to his face, "Besides what girl would want us like
this?"
"Akane just couldn't stand being forced into an arranged marriage
and the feelings she was having for a 'girl' was driving her nuts as
she isn't a blasted bisexual, but she was willing to try" Ranma-chan
replied in anger. "And Willow doesn't seem to mind!"
"We both know why Willow don't mind the curse," Ranma-kun said
sadly. "We see it in her eyes every time we changed inta a girl."
"She has the same look we change back!" Ranma-chan countered. "She
wants both of us! And we need a girl who does or we will never find
any happiness!"
Ranma-chan stopped stalking towards her other half and dropped her
head in depression, "You idiot! We're here to balance the curse not
cure it. She can't do that and we both know that. If we don't do this
you never get to exist again so we have to be in agreement!"
"I know that. But I still want what I want," Ranma-kun replied
softly. "It's how Pop raised us, no matter how wrong it was it's how
we see things too often."
Ranma-chan raised her head to look into her counterpart's eyes, "But
the power of the Slayer balances out the difference we use to have. .
. we're not weak as a girl anymore."
"We never were, just weaker then when we were as a guy," Ranma-kun
gave a small smile. "We were still as strong as Xian Pu and Akane as
a girl but we didn't see it like that."
"When did you start talking properly?" Ranma-chan looked at the boy
confused.
"When we stopped arguing," Ranma-kun smiled again then looked at
Lionna. "We want the curse balanced! What has to be done to do this!?"
"The Powers That Be want you as the Slayer but we do not like the
pain this causes you, son/daughter," Lionna said in hir double voice.
"We have made a deal that will be acceptable for the time being but
will ask a boon from you at some time for this."
"If I can fulfill it I will do so," Ranma said agreeing to the terms
as he had no real choice, something he was use to in his life.
"Then go, son/daughter, and be well child of ours," Lionna said and
the light became blinding causing Ranma to clench his eyes shut.
-
The lights around Ranma and Ranma-chan got too intense to look at
and all people looked away before the light finally died. Standing in
the centre of where the design had been was a very male Ranma
blinking out the after effects of the blinding light he experienced,
before he had time to say anything he felt a body wrap around him and
hug him. Hugging the girl back he softly spoke to her ear, "I'm back
and things will be better."
- - - -
"I think I want have that spell cast on me too," Ryoga looked
envious at the soaked but male Ranma. "That last one had ice in it."
"It wouldn't work," Ranma replied as he wrung out his shirt. "And I
still have the curse. . . it just doesn't have the same activation
anymore."
"Oh well," Ryoga shrugged and sat down at the kitchen table with the
others who stayed. "It was a hope, after the other spell failed I
could hope something went right for me."
"The spell for your misdirection was not a failure. . . at least not
completely," Cologne said as she sipped the tea in her hands. "You
will always be able to find those you care about with little effort,
and the curse's ability to get you to place you should never be able
to be will get you to those people very quickly."
"His misdirection curse sorta did that before," Ranma said as he sat
down with the others and accepted Willow's offered hand for comfort.
"Yes but now it will be quicker for him to find them and he as long
as he stays focussed he won't be suddenly missing," Cologne replied
as she put her tea down and looked out the large sliding patio doors.
"It's almost sunset and you two should patrol tonight."
"Giles has a lead on a possible new Vampire trying to organize the
strays into a fighting force," Buffy said giving Ranma a smile.
"Maybe we can find him tonight and stop him."
"Or make him realize that Sunnydale just isn't the place for him,"
Ranma said not smiling, he noticed Cologne's look at him as he said
it and then added, "But we'll stop him either way."
"So you going back to Japan Ryoga?" Willow asked as she squeezed
Ranma's hand slightly.
"I should let Akane and Ranma's family know about how things are
here, they'll be worried," Ryoga replied giving Ranma an even gaze
before looking at Cordelia. "I also should see Akari too."
- - - -
Ryoga stood on the porch and watched the sun starting to set, his
pack was sitting beside him and he was more then ready to test this
change in his oldest curse. He more then anything wanted to see his
parents again, and if Cologne was right this change in his curse will
pass into them when he hugged them as the change in magic as that
powerful.
"So. . um, when are you coming back?" Cordelia asked as she came up
behind Ryoga, depression haunting her face.
"I'll be back soon. . . I've got a few people I have to find first,"
Ryoga continued to watch the sun set. "If Ranma needs me he can get a
hold of me on that small satellite phone Cologne gave me and I'll be
here."
"What if he isn't the one who needs you?" Cordelia asked nervously
as she stood next to the boy.
Ryoga turned to look at Cordelia and dropped his head slightly, "If
I'm needed I will be here, but I can't say what you want. . . not
yet. I have to talk to Akane and to Akari to see what if anything is
there for me, then I will be back and can answer what you want to
know."
"I. . I see," Cordelia said very quietly trying not to start crying.
Before Ryoga could crumble at the sound of depression in the girl's
response a red-haired girl ran past them followed by a blonde then
another red-haired girl. Looking at the trio Ryoga had to blink
several times, "Ranma?"
"Yep, you like?" Ranma-chan replied as she framed her new female
form, it was the taller athletic one that had been fluctuating over
the old curse form. Ranma-chan looked happier about it. "Don't look
like a big breasted bimbo anymore."
"You never looked like a big breasted bimbo. . . unless you were
putting effort into it," Ryoga chuckled then got curious, "What
causes the change now?"
"The night," Ranma-chan said with a small smile. "I'm a boy during
the day and the Slayer at night when the Vampires come out to play."
"It means Ranma can go to school as a boy in the day and patrol as a
girl at night," Willow explained latching onto Ranma-chan's arm and
was even happier that the girl didn't flinch this time.
"It has a few drawbacks but I don't have to worry about watching for
water at inopportune moments anymore," Ranma-chan added and then
quirked a sad smile. "At least for now. . ."
"So, we should like get a start on finding this guy," Buffy said as
she tossed Ranma-chan a stake.
"Right," Ranma-chan replied and removed her arm from Willow then
both turned and started walking towards the closest graveyard.
Ryoga looked at his pack and then at the girls walking away.
Turning, he smiled at Cordelia in a lopsided way putting a hand
behind his head, "It's been so long that I don't think a night will
make a difference, I can head out in the morning."
Both Ryoga and Cordelia quickly caught up with the other girls and
all of them started talking as they headed for the night of patrolling.
Willow stopped for a moment causing the others to stop too, "What
about Xander and Giles?"
"Giles said they'd met us there," Buffy smiled as Ranma-chan put and
arm around Willow's waist and started walking again. "We wouldn't
leave them out of this."
- - - -
"So Lionna changed her?" an old scratchy voice said from behind
Cologne causing her to spin to face the intruder.
"What are you doing here?" Cologne demanded in a challenge to the man.
"I never left," Happosai replied as he puffed on his pipe and sat on
the table cross legged. "I would never leave my precious little
Ranko, you know that."
"She isn't so little anymore," Cologne gave a crooked smile. "But I
haven't sensed you around since you messed up that language spell."
"I never mess up anything," Happosai closed his eyes and enjoyed his
pipe. "And I like my little Ranko growing up into a beautiful woman.
. . just like you did."
"You have always been an old fool, even when you were young,"
Cologne sighed then passed him a cup of tea. "What are you planning
this time?"
"Nothing new, just training," Happosai sipped the tea and smirked.
"She is the heir to my style after all."
"You mean he is the heir to your style," Cologne corrected the old
man.
"Not at the moment she isn't, she looked very much like a 'pretty
lady' when she left," Happosai snickered and winked before standing
up and hopping to the patio door. "I'll see you around."
Cologne watched her old lover, later an old enemy, leave the house
and shook her head smiling as he didn't answer her question about how
he had been around without her noticing, "Ranma, child, that one is
going to be trouble. . . but then again what else is new."
- - - -
Author's Notes: Chapter 10 done, book one done, and it took way too
long to do this one. First the use of the word 'hir' isn't a spelling
error, it refers to a person who is both male and female as does
's/he'.
Ranma isn't stuck as a girl -just in more fitting Slayer looking
body that comes out at night-
Ryoga still gets lost -he can just find Furinkin High and the Tendo
Dojo easier now :)-
Those were the biggest requests that I not mess with on this fic. I
never planned on leaving Ranma as a girl and Ryoga is funnier when
gets lost, he's just more useful when he can get back quicker.
I'll be continuing the budding relationship between Cordelia and
Ryoga as it'll keep him in a bit of turmoil over her, Akari. . . and
possibly Akane still.
I didn't flesh out the spell for Ryoga as I did enough magic with
Ranma in this one.
Hope you enjoy it