A Ranma crossover fanfic

Started - 1 February 2003 Completed – 12 June 2003

Last revised - 10 May 2004 Reason - typos

Characters are from Ranma ½, Sailor Moon and Ah, My Goddess. They are used without permission or profit. This is a form of literary tribute to the original authors and no copyright infringement is intended.

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Chaotic Future . . . by . . . Cloud Dreamer

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Chapter three - Little Sister Ranko

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Ranma tried to sleep in, but the soft bed and unfamiliar surroundings of her own boyhood room denied her that simple pleasure. She rose and put on her familiar red silk shirt and black pants. She shuddered at the close feminine fit and nearly gagged on her own cuteness when the bracelet 'prettied' her up once again when she accidentally rubbed it.

Nodoka couldn't help but smile at her cute daughter. If this had still been 'Ranko', she would have considered her bridal training a success at this point. "Ranma, look at the good side, you don't have to spend a fortune or a lot of time to look really sharp. Not to mention that if you need to, you always have a way to instantly clean up. If you have to be a girl, well the bracelet will really make it easier."

"Mom," tiredly responded Ranma as she morosely studied her delicately applied makeup in a small mirror. "The damn bracelet takes away the last of my choice about being a girl. I don't even have a choice about dressing or looking like a girl anymore. Damn earrings anyway."

Nodoka sat beside her child and hugged her. "Sometimes one has to be the reed before the wind. Resisting like an oak may just break you. I am proud of my manly son, but I can also accept my beautiful daughter under these circumstances."

"These circumstances?" questioned Ranma.

"Like now, where you have no choice in the matter." Her mother softly replied. "Accepting karma is also a trait of a man. It doesn't mean meekly accepting what others have forced on you, but it does mean making the best of what you cannot change."

Ranma asked with surprising calmness despite her nearly overwhelming melancholy, "What am I gonna do with my life, momma? Everything I once had planned is gone."

"Everything? What about your friends and . . ." Nodoka paused when Ranma shook her head sadly.

"No, momma. I don't really got any friends. No fiancées either unless the damn panda has engaged me in my girl form too." Ranma sighed deeply. "Urd is sorta helping me out, but after hearing about what she did to that other goddess, I don't know how far I want to trust her. Her fun could hurt me. The only good thing to come out of this is that I'm no longer engaged to anybody, including Akane." She leaned into a hug with her mother. "I actually glad those two old farts kicked me out so that I could live with you. I've missed you, momma."

Nodoka hugged her daughter and silently decided that she'd make sure Ranma was never forced to return to the Tendou dojo. "Well, the semester break for the high school here in Juuban will be ending next week. That gives us time to get you registered, get you your uniforms and some supplies as well. Maybe we can even get a head start on the schoolwork too. Who knows, maybe you can make a few friends at your new school without all the other distractions interfering now." She grinned mischievously at her neo daughter, "Maybe you will even meet a cute guy."

"Owie," responded Ranma as she rubbed her head from where it had impacted the table a few moments earlier. "Mother, I don't LIKE guys that way. I'm a guy inside, no matter what the outside looks like."

"The outside looks really cute and pretty," snickered Nodoka.

After a long (suffering) silence, Ranma asked, "Momma, not many of my old school mates are gonna recognize me dressed like this, but they might. Do you think it would be ok if I sorta changed my name so that I got a separate girl identity just in case it makes a difference later?"

"Ranko?" suggested Nodoka.

"Yes momma, just as long as it's spelt 'wild child' instead of 'orchid girl'. Do you think you'll have any problems registering me in school?" Ranko wondered, a hopeful idea in the back of her mind.

"I'm not sure, RANKO," her mother hesitated in thought. "With both the gender and name change, not to mention the radically different appearances of your two forms, there might be problems transferring your records and registering you."

"Momma," Ranko paused in embarrassment. "My old school grades ain't all that good. If I'm gonna hafta start over as a girl, could it be a clean start? It would give me an inced . . . inderce . . . reason to study harder before school starts again and later too."

Nodoka paused in thought at the mechanics involved in the several different ways this could be handled. "All right Ranko, since I'm still technically head of the clan because your father still seems to be on his never-ending training trip, I think that I can adopt you into the family/clan registrar. We may have to get a little creative explaining where you came from, but I think I and a few of my government friends can handle that. I'll see what I can do this afternoon."

Nodoka started the next day off by tossing a new identity card onto the breakfast table before her daughter after she came down from her bath after working out several hours in the early morning.

"Ranko Saotome," read the pleased girl.

"Yes," grinned her mom, "and early next week we need to register you at Juuban High School, get your placement tests scheduled and maybe pick up some school uniforms for you too."

"Mom?" asked Ranko in confusion, "The birthday is almost right, but this says that I'm two years younger than I really am."

"Yes daughter, I decided to select a younger age for several reasons, first, your girl form actually does look about fifteen or sixteen. Second, since you want a fresh start, you need to start at the beginning of high school to do it. Three, an age difference makes the distinction between your two identities all the more believable especially since we retained the same birthday to give an excuse for confusion."

Later that morning Ranko was taking another break from her training. That or schoolwork was all she had to occupy her time at the moment. She was leaning back against the outer wall of the Saotome compound sitting in the shade and enjoying her cool down after a vigorous workout. Her gi was sweat stained and her appearance a bit disheveled from her morning exertion.

Hearing an angry voice, she looked into the house only to notice Urd trying to dust herself off as she staggered away from the TV. The elder goddess was a mess. Her clothing was torn and actually smoked a bit still, while the woman herself was staggering from fatigue.

"Da . . . darn that Mara." Urd snarled to herself. Noticing Ranko studying her, she explained. "Mara is that demoness you met the night you were first locked in your curse by Skuld. She is always ambushing us, especially Skuld or I since we are weaker than her and she knows that Bell is too kindhearted to really do much damage to her though she could." She sighed, "It's worse now that Skuld has been stripped of all but her basic powers. She's a sitting duck for Mara outside the temple area."

Ranko slowly walked over to Urd and silently handed her a bottle of sake from the stores they decided to keep on hand for emergencies like this for her after learning about Urd's power-up mode at the restaurant. Urd gratefully accepted it and eagerly sucked at it visibly gaining health and energy as the bottle emptied. "That's da ticket," she slurred before shrugging off the intoxication effects as she cast a restoration spell on herself.

Unfortunately Ranko was still in range of the spell as the golden bracelet absorbed the excess magic using it to restore its faded powers even more. The affect on Ranko was immediate as she was suddenly cleaned and beautified in a moment. Ranko sighed with a 'put-upon' noise as she studied the designer fashion gi that she now wore complete with daring silk undies. She put her hand up and found earrings again.

"Damn it Urd, quit doing that to me!" she snarled.

Urd only chuckled as she insincerely said, "sorry."

Ranko quietly asked, "Will you take me to see Skuld?" Seeing the arched eyebrow, Ranko continued, "I have a duty to her, er him and you to help defend you both from this Mara creature. I lost the address so I don't even know where Skuld lives. Besides I guess I do need to talk to him. Maybe he's not mad at me for 'popping' him one that first night and he'll let his other sister unlock my curse now."

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Kasumi cautiously entered the house as the stench from the kitchen had alerted her to a certain problem even before she'd reached the front gate. She peeked into the kitchen and her face blanched at the disaster within. Hearing some moans from within the dining room, she hurried there only to see her father and 'uncle' looking as if they were in great pain.

Akane was sitting at the table, fuming as she snacked on a carton of ice cream. Kasumi noticed that her sister's plate was still clean.

"Akane, what happened here?" wryly asked Kasumi as if she were totally clueless.

"These two idiots are making fun of my cooking." She huffed, "They made me so mad that I couldn't eat anything except ice cream to cool myself down before I pounded them."

Kasumi put a finger to her mouth for a moment apparently in thought, "That's odd. What did the meal taste like?"

Akane brightened up and she hurriedly filled a dish with . . . something. Kasumi couldn't even guess at what it was originally intended to be. "Here you go Kasumi, eat up. I made plenty so we could have leftovers too." At these words, the men groaned once more and then fainted, out of their misery for the moment.

"Akane," sweetly smiled Kasumi; "I've already eaten. Besides, I asked you what it tasted like, not that I wanted to taste it for you. After all you did promise to taste it before you served it."

Akane beamed a confident smile, "I didn't need to taste it to know it was wonderful. Just try it and you'll see."

Kasumi's face lost most of its smile. "It doesn't matter how good it tastes Akane, what matters is that you broke your promise. Who are you going to blame this time?"

Akane's face darkened in anger, "Ranma was supposed to taste it, it's his fault."

"But YOU promised that YOU would taste it." She quietly responded. "We said nothing about Ranma having any part of this promise. You broke your promise to me."

Akane angrily set the ice cream carton on the table and rose, "I've had enough of this nagging. I'm going to bed."

"So," sighed Kasumi. "You'll leave your mess for me to clean up thus breaking the second half of your promise?"

Akane snarled in anger, the outline of a mallet almost visible in her hands. "It's not my fault. Besides, cleaning the kitchen is your job. I'm the heir to our art and you take care of the house. That's the way it's been. That's the way it is." With that she stormed off to her room and slammed the door.

Kasumi sat there in shock for a few moments; Akane had never talked to her like that before. She thought to herself, 'Little sister is taking Ranma's absence pretty hard'. She glanced into the kitchen again, paused in thought and then despondently made her way to her room after carefully putting the groceries away first.

She slept in the next morning. She ignored the noise when Akane pounded on her door. Akane broke the lock as she slammed open the door. "Kasumi, are you alright?" Akane asked.

"Oh yes, I'm fine." Kasumi languidly replied. "Since I now don't have to cook or clean I thought I'd sleep in a bit. Why? Is something wrong?"

"Why don't you have to cook or clean anymore?" asked her perplexed younger sister.

"You broke your promise." Kasumi frowned. "I promised that I wouldn't cook or clean here if you did until reparations were made. Unlike you, I DO keep my promise."

"That isn't fair Kasumi." Akane complained.

"You are the one who made the choice, so live with it." Kasumi said. "Oh, by the way, please close the door on your way out."

Frustrated, Akane hesitated then blushed when she realized she was considering violence against her sweet, kind and oh so stubborn elder sister. Out of options, she did as her sister asked. She sighed, then brightened at the thought that 'she'd make breakfast. After all, how hard could it be?'

Akane hesitated at the door of the kitchen. 'Wow, what a mess! Did she really do this last night?' She entered the kitchen and eventually found a semi-clean pot. She started to make something. She wasn't sure as her ideas changed a few times as she worked. She studied the mess, hesitantly used a spoon to dish up a small helping. She quickly looked in the dining room hoping to find somebody else up. Finally she tasted it. She woke up in pain several hours later.

Akane struggled to stand, and finally settled on crawling to the bathroom instead. There she was violently sick. She shakily rose to her feet and seeing that it was nearly noon, decided that going to see her friends could wait. She went into the front room in time to see her eldest sister come down the stairs.

Kasumi smiled and waved to Akane as she 'obliviously' made her way into the bathroom past her youngest sister. She closed the door before Akane could get out the words she seemed to be struggling with.

Akane stared at the door that Kasumi had all but slammed in her face. 'She was trying to apologize even though she really didn't think it was her fault. The promise was just so unfair anyway. That's it! It was Kasumi's fault for making her agree to an unfair promise. She'd explain it to her after she got out of the bathroom and everything would be all right again.' Akane smiled to herself as this perfect solution occurred to her.

In the bathroom, Kasumi washed up before taking a short soak in the furo. As she exited, she gathered up the clothing strewn about the clothes hamper and started putting them in the hamper. Yesterday she had been involved much of the day with ensuring that the hole in the dining room floor was properly repaired so she hadn't had time to really clean as she usually did.

She sadly smiled when she saw the Chinese dress that Ranma had been wearing the final night of the convention. She held it up, inspecting it for any needed special care. As she did, a napkin fell out of the shallow pocket of the dress.

Kasumi bent down to pick up the piece of paper to put it in the trash when she noticed that it had writing on it and the writing was glowing. She knelt down to look at the napkin closer without having to touch it. Nothing changed. She touched the napkin and felt a sense of peace. She thought about the omen before her and then decided that she'd visit the address given there; after all her day was free now.

Quickly dressing, she pocketed the napkin and exited the house while Akane was still in her room trying to find clean clothes for herself.

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Urd grabbed onto Ranko and started pulling her toward the TV. Ranko stubbornly planted her feet and halted the taller goddess. "Come on Ranko. You said you wanted to go to the temple where I live with Skuld. Why are you stopping?"

"I want to walk there, besides you could use the exercise there chunky." Ranko snickered at the other woman as she froze and then stabbed the teasing girl with a sharp glance.

"Humph," snorted Urd, "You are just jealous because I'm better proportioned."

"Naw," retorted Ranko with a grin. "I think you are just trying to justify the fact that I'm bigger than you are."

"Am not!"

"Yep."

"Not so."

"Pretty obvious."

"Prove it!"

Glaring at each other, the two gals sat facing each other, chest to chest, whipped off their blouses and bras and began a critical comparison. Well they started to until Nodoka collapsed onto the other couch giggling hysterically. Seems they hadn't noticed her in the room with them. At which point they blushed equally brightly and quickly redressed. Ranko whispered, "Tie?" Urd reluctantly nodded.

Ranko blushed again as she really couldn't believe she had just done that. 'Man, I gotta stop being so competitive.'

Urd hurried out of the house walking toward their destination. She stopped when she noticed that Ranko was not with her. Seeing the other girl stopped behind her, she walked back and asked, "I thought you wanted to go to the temple together. What's up with walking so far behind me?"

Ranko scratched the back of her head nervously, "Well, ya see. It's about this Mara that's harassing you. I met her already so I don't think she'll bother ya if I'm with you. So I thought that maybe . . . I should . . ."

Urd thought about that for a moment, then asked. "You mean I'm bait?"

Ranko nodded hesitantly.

Urd didn't like the idea, but thought about it a bit more. She was especially remembering just how vulnerable Skuld was at the moment. "I don't really like the idea, but I guess you're right. Just give me some warning if you can, Ok?"

Ranko nodded and with that Urd set off toward the temple, her senses on alert.

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Belldandy quietly responded to the doorbell summons. Her questioning smile brightened when she saw Kasumi. Even though they were strangers, they both sensed kindred spirits. "Hello, may I help you?"

Kasumi smiled warmly, "Hello, my name is Tendou Kasumi and I'm not sure why I'm here. I found this napkin in Ranma's dress. The writing was glowing and I took that as a sign that I should come here. Do you know anything about it?"

Belldandy looked at the napkin Kasumi was holding out and said, "Oh, that's my sister . . . er, I mean brother's handwriting. He probably gave it to Ranma. How is Ranma doing anyway? Skuld is really sorry about locking Ranma in his cursed form." She paused a moment and then added with a slight amount of embarrassment, "My name is Belldandy, please call me Bell, Tendou-san."

Kasumi's smile faltered a bit as she followed Belldandy into the main room of the converted temple. "Bell, please call me Kasumi. As for Ranma, well, things haven't gone too well for her. After Ranma admitted that she was locked as a female, well everything just sort of snowballed. It was a series of misunderstandings and people jumping to conclusions that ended with Ranma being thrown out of the house after my sisters threatened her; one with financial ruin and the other with death. It was so unfair and I wanted to talk with her and tell her that I thought she was still a really neat person."

"Kasumi?" Belldandy and Kasumi looked at the heap before the TV where Ranko was holding a barely conscious Urd. "Kasumi, do you really mean it?"

"Urd!" Belldandy quickly prepared a healing spell and revived her elder sister and incidentally 'refurbishing' Ranko yet again. Not that anybody but her noticed, since most of the attention was on Urd.

"Yes Ranma, I do." Kasumi continued a bit hesitantly. "I wish to apologize to you for the way my family has treated you. It was neither fair nor right and I'm ashamed of that."

Ranko turned to her traveling companion and asked, "Urd, how ya doing?"

Urd shook her head and accepted the sake bottle that Belldandy was holding out to her and took a big swig. "I'm doing Ok Ranko. But we need to talk. I didn't realize you were going to try to kill Mara."

"Oh, my," in stereo at that. None of them noticed Skuld stop at the edge of the doorway to the room and silently listen in.

Kasumi posed her question first. "Ranma, why is Urd calling you Ranko; why are you dressing so femininely and why were you going to kill this Mara person? That seems so unlike you."

Ranko shuddered at the memory of the recent fight between her and Mara. It was tough and Ranko had been losing big time until she utilized the Saotome sealed techniques. Seems that while demons had some sort of natural protection against normal martial arts and weapons because of their abnormally tough hide; they had almost no protection against ki attacks like a vacuum blade. Ranko had come close to eviscerating the demoness before she had finally fled limping from the mortal plane with a half severed leg and holding her stomach with both hands.

Ranko softly replied, "Since I'm locked in girl form for the foreseeable future, I asked my mom if I could be Ranko so that my guy reputation didn't get all messed up at my new school. Mom agreed and even got me a new identity card." Ranko tossed her new card on the table and Kasumi picked it up and immediately noticed the revised birth date.

Ranko explained, "Right now I'm listed on the family register as my own sister."

"And Mara?" prompted Belldandy.

Ranko hung her head a bit and started, "Well, I told Urd that I'd help her against the demoness named Mara that has been harassing her and Skuld. It's my duty to help as a martial artist and also since I'm at least partially responsible for Skuld being weaker now."

Ranko looked at Urd and apologized, "Urd, I'm sorry I didn't protect you better. She got those couple of good shots in at you before I got really serious. I'll try and finish her off next time so that you and Skuld will be safe."

"Darn," Softly whispered Urd. Seeing the puzzled expression on Ranko's face she explained. "Ranko, Mara is a demoness but she's also my half sister. I know she's evil but it . . . it bothers me to think about her dying."

"Oh, my," said Belldandy. "And there is the doublet system to consider as well. I know the demons don't care all that much about the consequences, but we kami have to consider them."

"Doublet system?" wondered Kasumi.

"Yes," responded Belldandy, "All demons and kami are linked in pairs. Only Kami-sama knows the identities of each pair, but the pairing ensures that each time a kami or demon is slain then the paired demon or kami also dies. Its purpose is to stop the killing of either kami or demons by the other."

Ranko blinked, "Then if I kill Mara, I also kill a kami. DAMN, that means each time I took out a demon, I slew a kami as well. Damn, damn!"

"No Ranma, I mean Ranko. You didn't!" Urd hugged the cursing girl to her. "The double system only applies to demons or kami killed among themselves. The rule doesn't apply to deaths caused by a mortal. Not many kami know about that since it's almost impossible for a mortal to kill a kami, but I looked it up after you killed Saffron."

Ranko sighed in relief, she studied Urd and realized the turmoil of the older goddess. Finally Ranko said, "Alright Urd, I won't try to kill Mara, just hurt her a lot. But all bets are off if killing her is the only way to stop her from killing an innocent."

Urd softly said, "Thank you Ranko."

Skuld tentatively entered the room. But before he could say anything, Kasumi asked, "Ran . . . ko, why is your birth date two years later on this identity card than your real one."

"Oh, that." Ranma pointed with her thumb over her shoulder at Skuld, "Well, since the flat-chested un-cute tomboy locked my curse for the foreseeable future, I decided that I might as well make the best of it and try to get a new start on my life. Mom decided that meant redoing the school stuff that I messed up too. So she changed the listed age of my cursed form to give the illusion that I'm my own younger sister. It actually makes sense since I also look about that old in this form."

"Ranko, that wasn't a very nice thing to say about a goddess," reproved Kasumi with a questioning glance at the sniggering Urd.

"God." Seeing the questioning look in Kasumi's eyes, Urd clarified; "Skuld was transformed into a boy by Dad after she almost killed Ranma for mouthing off." She sighed theatrically, "Seems nothing, even almost dying can get this redhead to quit chewing her toes."

Ranko blushed. She looked over at Skuld, then hesitantly said, "Skuld, I . . . I'm sorry for all that stuff I said to you. Urd is right, I do let my teasing get away from me. I guess it's the only way I know to interact with others. I'm not really very good at making friends it seems. That's probably why I don't got any." Ranko swallowed and continued, "You really don't deserve to be cursed like me . . ."

Ranko stopped talking as Skuld had placed his hand over her mouth. "Apology accepted. And you don't owe me an apology for me being a guy now. I did that all on my own when I lost my temper, I'm just sorry that you got pulled into my punishment. Maybe that was Dad's way of punishing you for your teasing, but on top of everything else you've had to endure, well, I don't think it was really fair."

Ranko looked hopeful, "Then you'll let Belldandy unlock my curse?"

Skuld shook his head, "No."

Ranko looked annoyed, "Ok, whata I gotta do for ya? What da'ya want to change ya mind?"

Skuld softly said, "Nothing. I just can't undo your curse now and I can't tell you why."

"Yes, you can and you should tell." Everyone looked to Urd as she said these words with a quiet authority that was unusual for her. "What you should have realized from looking over the file of Ranma's life is that almost every major decision in his life as been made by somebody else without once consulting or even telling him why or giving him a chance to have any control over his life. He's earned that right and it's a courtesy that you do owe him . . . her."

Belldandy thought about if for a moment before catching Skuld's eye and nodding her agreement with Urd.

Skuld took a deep breath and began. "If I let you change back to boy, a really cute boy at that; you'll end up married to Akane Tendou by the end of the year and murdered by her before the end of another year." Seeing the look of disbelief he added, "I am the goddess, er . . . god of the future. This is part of my powers and it is something that WILL happen. Even though you know about it now, somehow you will be manipulated, most likely by using your honor against you, into marrying her. And she WILL KILL YOU! This isn't theory, it's been recorded as future 'fact'. Ranma, I mean Ranko, my honor won't allow me to let you die. I will be the cause of your death if I have the means to stop it and fail to do so. I'm sorry; I won't let you die. You will have to stay as a girl until that danger is past. Once I'm sure that the future has changed and you are safe from that particular danger, then I promise that I'll allow you to be unlocked, even if you decide to never help me return to my girl form; I promise." Skuld had taken the redhead's face in his hands and looked her in the eyes as he made this promise.

The mortals were surprised when a clear bell like tone seemed to echo faintly from everywhere at once. Urd explained, "A kami cannot lie and when one of us makes a binding promise, it becomes a part of reality itself. It is now impossible for Skuld to not keep that promise because the very universe itself will force it to happen."

"How long?" asked Ranko despondently as she accepted the necessity of being locked.

"No idea at this point. Reality is still readjusting itself to what Kami-sama did a couple of days ago. The future is still sort of fragmented." Skuld gestured to his two sisters, "The three of us took a quick look at the future early this morning and it's still a mess. A change like that involving someone as important as you just causes chaos to the future. It could be only a few months, but it might be years. I just don't know right now, sorry."

"I'm important?" softly questioned the redhead.

"Yes Ranko," softly said Belldandy, "A warrior like you only happens once every thousand years or so. Nobody knows what your destiny is, certainly not even you; but be assured that you do have one if you survive long enough."

Kasumi hesitantly asked, "Are you sure about my sister Akane and Ranma? I know she has a temper, but killing someone just seems so unlike her. Despite her anger she really is a sweet girl."

Belldandy placed a comforting hand on Kasumi's arm, "Yes, we're sure. She doesn't do it on purpose, but her jealousy causes her to lose control. Part of the blame is Ranko's since she helped teach Akane that venting her anger physically had no repercussions."

"And Akane . . .?" hesitantly asked Kasumi.

Urd spoke softly, "She goes insane with guilt and grief. She never recovers."

The five were silent a moment before Ranko concluded with a sad heartfelt sigh; "Then I guess I'm Ranko for awhile. I suppose that I could live with it alright if only I could get rid of this annoying bracelet." The explanation left the others in near tears from giggling. A demonstration replaced the earrings that Ranko had removed twice already. 'Damn earrings anyway' thought Ranko.

=  =  =  =  =

Urd sat down at her terminal. She hesitantly typed in a query:

'Demoness first class Mara, request health status.'

The system's response was immediate: Authorization?

Urd sat and contemplated the question for a moment before hesitantly responding:

'Sister'

The terminal paused a moment, an occurrence that was very unusual for this system, then:

Authorization accepted. Demoness first class Mara gravely injured but will survive. Recuperation expected to take a minimum of six months since injuries delivered by mortal Ranma Saotome will not readily heal for demons because of his chaotic nature. Query reported to subject. Subject asks 'why do you care?'

Urd thought of all the hurtful or wiseacre responses she could make and then typed:

'Because I am a kami and you are my sister. I don't like what you do but I do care for you – Urd.'

Urd then quickly logged out before she had to think anymore.

She decided not to tell Ranko that Mara was unlikely to show up for awhile. Perhaps Skuld could get to know the redhead if Ranko still thought she had to show up as a bodyguard.

=  =  =  =  =

Skuld watched Ranko as she gracefully executed a series of kata. Ranko was not pushing herself, she was just refreshing her muscle memory of some of the little used knowledge that she had gathered over the years of her wandering training.

Moving to a somewhat secluded part of the temple grounds, Skuld hesitantly tried to repeat some of the moves he'd just seen. Being blessed with an eidetic memory enabled him to faltering work through them gradually. He didn't notice Ranko slip up unobserved and watch him for a while.

"Not bad," smirked Ranko; "for a wimp anyway."

Skuld flushed with a mixture of embarrassment, irritation and surprise. He was about to make an angry retort when a momentary vision of a broken Ranma gasping for life surfaced in his memory. Shuddering, he said instead. "Thank you. Would you be willing to help me get better?"

Nonplused by the unexpected response to her taunt, Ranko paused for a few moments, then responded, "Depends on how serious you are. If all ya want is a bit of toning up, then nah. If ya really want to learn the art, then I'll think about it after we talk some first."

"Sounds fair," replied Skuld. He thought about all the things he'd learned about Ranko. He walked over to the redhead and asked, "Hi, my name is Skuld, I'm the god of the future. Do you want to be friends?"

Ranko's eyebrow's knitted themselves and she suspiciously asked, "What do ya mean. Ya know that I'm NOT gonna have ya kid, right?"

Skuld shrugged, "That's my problem, not yours. I'm not asking anything of you but the chance to be your friend." He hung his head a little and added, "I don't have very many and I know you have even fewer. I thought that it would be nice to have another friend, especially if you decide to teach me some of the martial arts."

Ranko slowly nodded and smirked, "Ok, but that don't mean I'm going to go easy on ya, puny."

"Ranko."

"Yeah, Skuld?"

Skuld wanted to scream, pound and bomb Ranma; but the memories of the 'bonding' effects forced her into an unusual somberness. "Friends don't insult friends." He added quietly, "I know that one of your fighting techniques is insulting your opponents until their rage overtakes their judgment, but we aren't fighting. Insults just don't help friendships grow. Thanks to Urd, I KNOW all the details of your life so that I know that you've experienced this perhaps without realizing why it happens that way. I'm guessing that you've never stopped to really think about it before or maybe you just don't know any better since that's how your father taught you. Please don't insult me. I want to be your friend, not your enemy. I think you already have enough of those."

Ranko was stunned into immobility and watched wordlessly as Skuld turned about and walked rapidly into the temple.

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The following day, Ranko and Nodoka were sorting the clothes that Ranko had asked her mother to get for her from the second hand store. They both figured that the 'annoying' bracelet would fix them up anyhow so why waste any money on good clothes that would only be ruined (from Ranko's point of view anyway).

Ranko was pondering Skuld's words and working the concept back through her relationships with others in the past. She had watched her mother closely all morning as she interacted with everyone else while they had been shopping together. She needed a few questions answered.

"Mom," hesitantly asked Ranko. "Words are pretty powerful ain't they?"

Nodoka nodded, "Yes Ranko. That is the source of the saying 'the pen is mightier than the sword.' While it is referring to the written word, the concept also applies to the spoken word. While your actions have something to do with making friends and enemies, your words are really the deciding factor." She paused then added, "Not only the mere words themselves, but also the context, when you say them, whether they are true and even how you say them; all of these are part of the way other people perceive what a person is saying to them. It's also part of the reason why it's important for you to learn to speak properly. It's a valuable tool that you can get the best effect out of only if you use it not only precisely but correctly as well."

'Sigh,' Ranko picked up a pair of tattered shorts and a stained tank top. "It sounds both really simple and horribly complex at the same time."

Her mother praised her, "Well said Ranko. That is an example of the power of words. That's why Nabiki was able to dominate so many others despite not being a warrior."

"Oh . . . OH!"

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"Hey Skuld, what cha doing?" asked Ranko as she settled next to the young god.

Skuld smiled at the girl and then replied, "I'm putting a computer together out of spare parts just to see what I can do with them. Do you have a computer?"

"Me? Nah, I've never used one of them things." She paused a moment and then continued, "Some of my buddies were trying to get me to play some games on their computers, but it seemed awful boring compared to the real stuff so I passed on it."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," sighed Skuld. "No matter how good a game gets, it is still only a game instead of real life. But the computer does have other uses. It's like a huge library at your fingertips."

"Really? Hummm, what's the use of a library?" Ranko asked. "I mean, I ain't really had much use for all those books and stuff unless there were some martial arts scrolls in there."

Skuld stopped what he was doing and thought deeply for a few moments while absently staring at the redhead. Ranko was puzzled at first then blushed deeply and turned away with a muttered imprecation, "Pervert!"

"What? Huh? Oh, I'm sorry Ranko, I didn't mean to ignore you and stare at you like that. I was just thinking." Skuld paused and then asked with a puzzled expression on his face, "But why did you call me a pervert?"

"You were staring at me. I always get called a pervert by Akane when she sees me looking at her." Ranko paused and concluded, "That's why I called you a pervert."

Skuld scratched his head in confusion and then replied, "Well, I may have been a little bit rude, but it was unintentional but certainly not perverted. Any perversion you sensed was in your own mind, not from what I did."

Ranko blushed again and then abruptly asked, "Well, do ya wanta train? I've decided that I'll teach ya." As she said this, she absently cracked her knuckles; apparently she had a bit of frustration to work off.

Skuld nodded and stood, but he stopped and then asked, "But what about the bonding, do you think that will interfere in training?"

Ranko paused, then nodded, "Yeah, I don't think there are exceptions to the rule. 'Member when I pushed you out of the way from Mara's first attack? There was a counter shove on me even though we weren't fighting. So I guess I can show you the moves but we won't be able to spar." Ranko shrugged, "Not that it matters anyway. We are so far apart in skill that sparring together wouldn't do either of us any good."

"Ranko?" Seeing that he had her attention, Skuld continued. "Why did you blush and call me a pervert a little while ago?"

The redheaded girl hesitated, even going so far as scuffing her toe in the dust before responding in a whisper. "I was imagining what you were thinking when you were looking at me like that." She looked up defiantly, "I know what I look like and it's good, real good. I've heard how boys talk about girls so I thought that you were thinking those kind of things about me." Ranko gulped audibly and then softly said, "I forgot that you are really a girl just like I'm really a guy. You were right, the perversion was all in my own mind, sort of anyway."

"Sort of? What do you mean?" asked Skuld, a bit puzzled.

Ranko blushed, "Well, it's sort of funny in a way. I've been called a pervert a lot of times, but I really don't know just what it means. I sort of have an idea that it's something bad that guys do to girls but that's about all I know."

Skuld paused and then softly said, "Ranko, I don't have a whole lot of experience with all of that even if I am sort of old the way mortals measure time. Because the future is my domain, I've always been a kid, sort of. But I do know that you are missing a lot of knowledge that you should have. You really should talk to your mother or some other adult that you trust. What you don't know CAN hurt you, especially if you are a girl."

Ranko paused, a puzzled expression on her cute face, "Really?" At his confirming nod, she thought a moment and then apparently coming to a decision, said, "Yeah, maybe you're right." She sighed again and grumbled, "I just know that momma is gonna enjoy making me all embarrassed, but maybe it will be worth it."

She turned out to be right on both accounts when she asked her mother that evening.

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Ranko was absently wandering through the mall trying to ignore the guys that were ogling her. She was supposed to meet with Urd for lunch in an hour and they would go to court together afterwards. She was not looking forward to it. Especially since that damn bracelet had already 'prettied' her up twice this morning. She'd given up on getting rid of the earrings for now and she was actually getting used to panties and a bra. She had to admit that silk was pretty nice. For lack of anything else that was fit to wear to court, she'd actually agreed to put on a dress that morning. It was now a rather sharp business suit. Seems that the bracelet had a link with the wearer and adapted its magic to the occasion. She was not happy.

"Pervert!" It was all the warning that Akane gave her. But it was enough as Ranko dodged the unseen mallet by jumping straight up onto the open second story floor of the mall.

Ranko leaned over the edge of the railing and coldly asked, "And just what is your problem Tendou?"

Akane was standing below glaring up at her; her friend Yuka beside her with a disgusted look on her face. "You're a pervert you baka. How dare you go around dressed like that?"

"Jealous?" asked Ranko with a smirk as she posed slightly.

Akane's face suffused with anger, she stormed up the stairs and stalked over to stand in front of the redhead. "Jealous? Of what? Of you? Don't make me laugh. You are just a nobody; a cursed pervert who leads other girls on with your womanizing ways. You have less honor than even your worthless ole man. Your martial arts skills are all based on dirty tricks and I'm tired of everybody believing that you are better than me." She paused and continued with a malicious grin, "I challenge you, right here and now. You always refused to spar with me, so let's fight instead. Right now, or are you afraid of getting your dress dirty?"

Ranko's face had blanched under this diatribe. A decision firmed in her mind; a decision that was the culmination of months of earlier talks with Tofu and more recent conversations with both Skuld and Urd. 'If I'm a girl, then I can fight girls without loss of honor. I have the right to defend my honor and myself.'

Ranko's only response was to slip off her heels and put her purse down on top of them before backing out into an open area of the mall. Her eyes had never left Akane. Once she'd set herself she asked softly, "Your challenge, what are the conditions?"

Akane was momentarily surprised at Ranko's response but then grinned. She was confident of her skills and really needed to work off some anger. This was going to be fun and 'he' had it coming anyway; "Straight martial arts, no dirty tricks or weird special moves." She handed her purse to Yuka and took a stance.

"Terms?" tersely demanded the redhead.

"When I win, you drop all that ridiculous legal stuff against my sister." She glowered and prepared to attack only to stop when Ranko asked.

"And if you should lose?"

"I never lose, especially to someone like you!" she screamed and attacked.

Ranko simply invoked her father's hidden thief technique and vanished. Her voice was easily heard though. "I will not fight under those conditions. Either state fair terms for your loss or admit that you are a bully."

Akane stood there fuming, her mallet in hand. "I said no special moves. You're already cheating."

"No, I am not cheating for I have not agreed to the terms, therefore I am neither fighting nor cheating," snarled Ranko still invisible but seemingly behind Yuka. "Besides," she added, "you are pretty obviously a hypocrite seeing as your mallet is a special technique."

Akane blushed as she glanced at the mallet and noticed all the frowning faces around her that seemed to agree with Ranko's assessment. She stored the mallet again and began to angrily pace back and forth, searching for her foe. "Alright, IF you happen to win without cheating, then I agree to apologize for all the times I've insulted you. I also will not insult you anymore. THERE!"

Ranko sighed as she de-cloaked. "You seek to take away damages truly owed me by your sister if you win and offer to give me what you already owe me should I win. Typical! Very well, I accept for the chance of actually pounding you for once instead of the other way around."

Akane hesitated as Ranko almost snarled these last words. But confident that her former fiancée would never harm her, she accepted with a feral smile and attacked without further warning.

Ranko slapped aside the incoming fist and dodged the rising knee as she gracefully slipped inside Akane's defense and slammed a palm into the other girl's gut. It was a gracefully executed but brutal blow that left Akane kneeling on the floor puking her guts out and struggling to not faint.

Yuka was stunned. The fight was unlike anything that she'd expected. She stared at the well-dressed redhead who was smoothing out her dress after putting her heels back on. She'd never believed that Ranma would have ever hit Akane ever in his life. But somehow he was gone and that redheaded demon was here instead; a demon of incredible skill that had no problems defending herself.

"You cheated. You had too. That was the only way you could have done that to me." Akane choked out, tears of pain and frustration hoarsening her voice.

"I dodged a slow clumsy attack and countered with a single open palm blow like any other skilled martial artist in defense and all you can do is cry 'cheat' like a little three year old girl." Ranko paused and then added almost as an aside, "I guess you really are a true heir of your pathetic school after all, Tendou. Humph, 'like father, like daughter'. Know this Tendou, I will defend myself from now on."

She walked away, her words spreading a wave of somber silence as she walked away.

Akane's face paled as she heard these words and she whispered, "Oh, no, what have I done. Ranma, I'm sorry." She struggled to her feet but Ranko was already gone. Yuka did not meet her friend's gaze. She was embarrassed for Akane's actions and words.

Akane hurried after Ranma, catching her just as she met up with Urd. Recognizing the pale haired goddess from Nabiki's description of her, Akane's temper once more surged and she snarled. "YOU! You are that damned attorney that's been harassing my sister. Well, I'll just teach you to let the Tendou's alone." With that she swung a haymaker for the taller woman. She connected and sent Urd sprawling.

A triumphant grin on her face, Akane smirked, "Well, that's what you deserve. Now let me tell you the way things are going to . . ."

That was as far as she got before Urd nailed her with a mana bolt that left her clothes in tatters, her skin almost parboiled and her hair shorn in a ragged cut that smoked a bit. Ranko's eyes were wide with shock, but before she could rush to help her former fiancée, Urd grabbed her wrist and whispered, "Relax, Ranko. It looks worse than it really is. She's not really hurt, a little sore perhaps and a whole lot embarrassed when she wakes up in just a few moments. Leave her to learn this lesson without you rescuing her again. If you interfere, she won't appreciate it; neither will she learn from it either."

Ranko looked into Urd's eyes questioningly, but then nodded and followed her attorney into the restaurant for their meal and a final briefing together. Akane regained consciousness just in time to see Ranko walk away from her. At that moment something broke in her heart, she knew beyond any doubt that she'd lost Ranma.

Yuka had sunk to her knees beside her friend nearly sobbing, "Akane? Akane, are you alright? Should I call for medical help?" She paused when Akane sat up and then she helped Akane to her feet.

Yuka barely heard her friend whisper, "Oh, Yuka. I really messed up. I finally drove him away. Damn my temper anyway."

"Akane? Are you Ok?"

Akane looked over at her nearly hysterical friend and then painfully replied, "No Yuka, I don't think I'll ever really be OK again. But for now, all I want to do is go home." She took a few painful steps away. She was either unaware of how revealing her clothes were now in their damaged state or she just didn't care. She held her hand out to her friend, "Come on, let's just go home before I make it any worse than it already is."

Yuka quickly took off her light jacket and wrapped it around the injured girl. "Ok, let's go. I'll stay with you till you get home."

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Author's note: Additional Ranma fan-fiction can be found on my Web Pages.

C & C to cloud (underscore) dreamer2000 (at) yahoo.com

Web-page  - www.geocities.com (slash) cloud (underscore) dreamer2000

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