Disclaimer: I still don't own Ranma1/2.
Summery: AU. Things took a strange turn at Jusenkyo. Ryouga falls from the cliff and knocked his head on an outcropping. Not only that, but he fell into the spring of drowned Musk girl as well. Now undergone a total story change.
And we're finally out of China and back in Japan. Around 2 weeks has passed since the last chapter. Ranma now lives with the Tendo's, is engaged to Akane and attends Furinkan High School.
[Sign]
(Thoughts)
*SOUNDS*
++++++++++Flashback
Chinese
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An Unexpected Turn
Part IV
Back together again
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The sun had long since dropped below the horizon and a thin fog had rolled in from the ocean when the ship stopped at the harbor. Several black vans were waiting for the ship. With all the lights out, the black suited men with the night vision goggles added to the feeling of a bad b movie. All that was needed was a standard bad guy sticking out from all the black suits. Finally stopping, the ship dropped its entry plank and turned on a dimmed light to at least prevent anyone from mistaking it.
As the black suited men spilt up and half of them walked up the entry plank to the ship, several tough looking sailors emerged from the darkness of the ship deck. Stepping out from the group an old, thin and breaded man bowed to the men moving up the plank. Checking the papers handed to him by the men in black he waved his hands at the sailors. It didn¹t take long before one box after another was being dragged down the entry plank and placed in the back of the vans.
Shi-Fuu overlooked the work for a few moments, before he walked back to his private cabin. Looking both ways as he reached the door, he unlocked it and stepped inside. The lights were not as dim as outside, and he had to cover his eyes for a few moments before he could see clearly. An extra bed had been put up inside his cabin and it was on the bed that he found what he was looking for.
"Are we there" Ryona asked as she sat up and twirled one of the many bandanna's she had started to wear around her neck around in the air. Her long purple/pink hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she had exchanged her dingy old clothes for new ones. She was currently wearing a pink shirt in a Chinese fashion over a pair of lose black pants.
"Yes" Shi-Fuu's answer was short and straight to the point. Opening a small wall closet,he pulled out a black cloak and handed it over to her. "Now, as we agreed. As soon as we have finished delivering our goods you'll disembark the ship." Opening another and much larger closet, he dragged out her backpack. "If anyone asks, you don't know me or the ship." Putting on the cloak, and pulling up the hood she nodded. Shi-Fuu looked at her for a few moments before he pulled out a black scarf and tied it around the bottom of the hood. "There, that should keep you hidden and out of the men's interest. It is in both our interests that no one sees you leave this ship." Closing the door behind him, Shi-Fuu stepped back out into the night.
It was a good 10 minutes later that Shi-Fuu returned and gave her the signal to come out. Stepping out the door, Ryona shot a quick look around the deck of the ship. A few of the men were still moving around on the deck and removing the signs of loading off half the shipment in the night. Only a few of the men gave her a glance before returning to their work.
Stepping down the plank, Ryona found herself standing back in Japan. The place where she had come from, and maybe, where she could finally learn who she was. Walking quickly, she vanished into the fog.
The buildings loomed largely around her as she slipped through the night. Going from one shadow to another, she avoided the many noise filled parts of the city and focused on getting somewhere. Feeling an old fear of the dark sneaking up on her she started to sprint down the street. Buildings after buildings passed her and eventually the dark and quiet harbor gave way to the more busy and noise filled nightlife. Neon signs flashed around her and people pushed and almost stepped on her as they moved through the night.
Backing away from several young people with brightly colored hair, she jumped when she felt someone grab her shoulder. Looking behind her she spotted a young man, clearly drunk, smiling at her. Whatever he would have said was lost as several other men pulled him back into the bar laughing.
Shuddering at the smell the man had left behind, Ryona slipped back into the crowd before he could come back and do more to her than grab a shoulder. Moving through the crowd she controlled her curiosity and looked around her to see if any other would try something with her.
Looking around her, Ryona noticed that the crowds were thinning and that there seemed to be less people around, although there was still a large crowd moving through the streets. After pushing her way through a crowd of young girls, who were in the same strange and very short uniform as many others, she found a quiet corner to rest. Leaning back against an iron fence she shook her head, how anyone would spend time in such a noisy and crowded place, was beyond her. Slowly she looked back and stared through the fence. Some kind of park loomed inside it. Trees reached well over the fence and there seemed to be no one inside it.
Looking left and right, Ryona pulled her backpack off and gently tossed it over the fence. Checking again for anyone around, she crouched and jumped over the fence. Rolling a little as she landed, Ryona looked around her and breathed in. It was weak, but the smell of the trees was sweet to her. Picking up the backpack, she slowly moved away from the fence and scanned the park. A large wooden building loomed in the distance and the quiet sound of a wind chime could be heard. Behind her the noise of the city faded away as she walked further into the park. Suddenly the trees parted and Ryona blinked at the sight of the well-kept garden greeting her. Flowers were arranged in small images and signs. Following the small gravel filled path, she looked at each of the images as she passed them. Ryona stopped as she passed another tree and looked up at it. "Looks safe enough, I'll search for Ranma again tomorrow." Slowly she tested the side of the tree before climbing up towards a large enough branch.
**************
*Splash*
"Get up Ranma"
A wet and truly annoyed Ranma-chan sat up on the futon and rubbed her eyes to remove the water from them. "What did you do that for?"
Akane crossed her arms and glared at the red haired girl. "Baka, I tried to wake you four times already?" Turning she walked out of the room and shot a look over her shoulder. "Hurry up or you'll be late"
Ranma-chan sighed, and grabbed a spare set of clothes, and walked out of the door. "Would it have killed her to be just a bit more friendly." Sneezing, Ranma-chan looked at her dripping pigtail and grumbled. "It just had to be cold water didn't it."
**************
Several miles away from the Tendo house and dojo, Ryona yawned as she woke up. Scratching her head she turned it from left to right to try and find out where she was. The first thing she noticed was the large house in the distance. After crawling down the tree, which was more difficult that getting up, she followed the path leading towards the house.
Passing through a gate made of flowers, she stopped and looked around the place she found herself in. The building loomed over her as several people walked around the place. A few young women dressed in white kimonos were helping an elder man.
Looking to the right, she noticed several girls huddled around a small booth buying a charm or amulet. Shrugging, she walked closer and looked at the charms and their prices.
"Would you like a charm young lady?"
Looking up, Ryona locked eyes whit a girl a little older then her dressed in the same white kimono as the elder ones at the shrine. Looking down at the charm, Ryona bit her lib and slowly nodded as the girl smiled and handed one over "That'll be 1000yen please."
Ryona nodded and pulled out her wallet and look into it. Pulling out the only note saying 1000yen she handed it over and picked up her charm from the counter. "Thank you"
Smiling the girl nodded. "Have a nice day." Ryona smiled slowly as the girl turned to serve another customer.
Stepping away, Ryona slid the charm around her neck and watched the other people around her. Slowly she turned her head and stared at the large gate in front of her. Made of wood, it rose five meters into the air and was painted red and black.
Walking down the stairs leading away from the Shinto shrine, Ryona stepped trough the gate and out into the street below the temple. Turning a left, she walked down the sidewalk. Several early shoppers, and people going to work, shot curious looks at her, after all you didn't see anyone with purple-pink hair that often in Nerima. As the sun crawled higher up into the morning sky, the streets filled with kids of all ages headed for school or college. Ryona stopped to watch as a group of girls her own age passed her, the looks they gave her were questioning. It wasn't until the group had turned around a corner, that Ryona shook her head and walked further down the street. As she crossed an intersection, the uniforms the other kids wore changed color from blue to green.
Stopping, Ryona followed several of girls her own age as they chattered about something that had happened the day before. While trying to be as quietly as possible, Ryona could still hear every word they said to one another.
"Kuno sure seems to be acting more insane lately," Mumbled the first Girl, she was around average height with brown hair in a ponytail. "At least the other boys stopped attacking Akane."
"Yeah, but I wonder if he's ever going to understand that Akane's is engaged," Mumbled the other girl. She was also average height, with short blond hair. "What do you think he means with that pigtailed goddess stuff he's been yelling about lately?"
The first girl turned her head to look at the second girl "No idea, probably some other poor girl he's got his sights on."
The second shivered, "How horrible, can you imagined being chased by someone as demented like that?"
Shrugging Ryona looked up and noticed the gates in front of her. Looking to the side she spotted a metal sign on the stonewall. Stepping closer she reached out a hand and ran it across the signs on it, "Furinkan High School" it read.
"Die foul Sorcerer."
"Morning Kuno."
Ryona looked up and turned her head to see a girl with long black hair scowl as she looked in through the gate. "Ranma you baka, we're going to be late!"
"Ranma?"
Walking up to the girl, Ryona looked in through the gate to see Ranma duck one of Kuno's attacks. Standing up, he kicked Kuno in the face. "Do we have to do this every morning?" Flipping his pigtail out of his face, Ranma walked past the prone Kuno lying on the ground. Akane shot a look at Kuno before walking towards the school next to Ranma.
Following the two with her eyes, Ryona's face lit up with joy as she had finally found her friend. Not even bothering to take off the backpack she began to run towards the pigtailed boy. Halfway there, she crouched while running and jumped into the air to pass over the large crowd of students looking at the prone Kuno. Sailing through the air, she bared her fangs in a huge grin as gravity kicked in and she started to descend towards her target. "RANMA!!" The shout made the entire student population stop and fixed their eyes on the shadowy figure descending towards the boy in question.
In one spilt second, Ranma had registered the shout and had turned to face the one yelling. Looking he found the source of the yell, while he flung his school bag aside with a hand and was mentally prepared to defend himself. Then the face of the figure became visible and in one moment he stood completely still. "Ryona?" The figure landed and Ranma found himself in a position he had never been in before.
Ryona slug her arms around the stunned boy in a very strong hug as soon as she landed in front of him. Both her and Ranma stumbled a few steps as the boy had been unprepared for the greeting and she had too much momentum from the jump. "Ryona?" At the question, Ryona tightened the hug and nodded silently, afraid to say something all of a sudden.
Ranma slowly tried to moves his arms and at the same time to look through the mass of purple-pink hair. A million questions formed at the edge of his mind and he could only voice the most urgent one "Ryona… how?" Then, another thing became more important then a few questions, "Ryona, I can't breathe." Slowly, the hug became a little looser and the purple-pink haired girl looked up from hugging him. Large, hazel green eyes sparkled with joy and happiness, as the owner of them stepped back from him.
"RANMA!!" The pigtailed boy gulped and turned to face Akane glaring death at him from where she stood. The sky darkened around her as she stepped closer to the two friends, school bag close to its death, as the black haired girl tightened her hold on it. "Well Ranma, who is that?" Her voice was cold and spoke of untold pain if he didn't answer.
**************
Tbc in: Full Moon Fever
AN: Ah sorry to all who have waited for so long. Time just seemed to fly by me. It's not easy writing five different stories at the same time. Anyway, what can I say, other then "Review, I feed on em, and if you have any questions for me. Leave your E-mail when you review"
Until the next chapter,
Dak.
