A New Beginning
by Lerris
Smith
Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2, Sailor Moon or Tenchi Muyo. This piece of work is purely for entertainment purposes. This is just a reposting to insure clean chapters. This story is on hold for now.
Akane was determined to rapidly improve her cooking to put that unfortunate history behind her. Ranma was determined to make sure Akane did well with her cooking. It is important for her training in the art that she keep her confidence up after all. It had nothing to do with having to eat the food or anything like that. Besides Kasumi would be angry with me if I let anything happen to her kitchen. Ya thats it. Akane suspected Ranma wasn't quite ready to trust her solo with food yet. She was annoyed, although she was trying to be patient.. She was trying quite hard, and almost burned breakfast. Fortunately she noticed it and it was just crispy.
The doorbell rang and Ranma went to answer it. An older man and a young woman about his age were sitting there. Ranma had a bad feeling about this.
"Good Morning. What can I do for you?" Let's see what he says before I volunteer a name..
"Good Morning. My name is Katsuhito Masaki and this is my daughter Achika. I was informed that a Ranma and Genma Saotome were living here. I'm here about an arrangement with Mr. Saotome from about seven years ago."
Akane was eavesdropping. Fortunately breakfast was finished since she was no longer paying attention to it. That dang panda did it again. I used to doubt why Ranma felt that leaving the Saotome line behind was necessary, but I suppose this illustrates it well.
Ranma replied, "There is no one living by the name of Ranma Saotome. I'm sorry you came all this way." Ranma took another look at him. Something was odd. He extended his ki and magical senses. Hmm that's a disguise of some kind, and there is some kind of energy. Ranma looked over at the Achika. The same energy, although less ordered and no disguise. Interesting.
Katsuhito: "But you are he, are you not? Forgive me, as I said I met Ranma once and you look very like who the boy I met would grow into."
Ranma sighed. I wish I had changed before answering the door. "What was it this time? Food? Money? Sake?"
Katsuhito thought for a moment. "Oh. He promised his son in marriage to my daughter if he could stay for the night and rest up. He said he couldn't afford to keep you, and just knew you would have a lovely life with us. Seeing as I needed help with the shrine I agreed."
Ranma looked at him. I wonder if this is his real reason is for being here. "Would you really force your daughter to marry a man she doesn't even know? Genma didn't keep his word after all, what makes you think I would be a suitable husband for your daughter when my own father sold me for food and lodging?"
Akane had come to the door and was standing beside Ranma. "Hello my name is Akane Tendo. Our parents fathers promised that we would marry before we were born."
Ranma chuckled inwardly. She was getting better at telling half truths. Ranma wondered if Nabiki was giving lessons.
Achika glared at her father. "No he wouldn't. That is, if he knew what was good for him." She seemed slightly disappointed though.
"Achika is right. I would not. Perhaps we could talk some more though. I'm curious as to why you said Ranma Saotome didn't exist, and some other things.. "
Ranma could hear Kasumi in the kitchen. She was bringing the food into the dining room. "Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Um actually. You see father isn't a very good cook, and well we had to catch a train."
"Thats no problem. I just finished making breakfast. You can eat with us. Right Ranma?"
Ranma looked over the breakfast. Looks. Check. Smell. Check. Akane caught Ranma's discreet inspection, and more importantly caught his lack of reaction.
"Sure. I'll help Akane carry some breakfast out to the dojo. Kasumi we may need a little more breakfast. Could you please?"
Kasumi looked over at him. "Sure Ranma-Kun. I'll fix more."
Akane figured Ranma was probably trying to keep Genma out of this conversation or something. Ranma and her carried the food out. Ranma closed the door behind everyone and warded the room against listeners. Akane began passing out food.
Ranma didn't sense any danger. "Lets see, you wanted to know why I no longer consider myself a Saotome. That would be because I am no longer." He went into an abbreviated tale on how he knew someone who had removed him from the Saotome registers and given him his own name and why he did it. Cara was not mentioned.
"I see. I suppose that is understandable, given everything. I knew your father was a crook of course, and would have let you two stay the night anyway. Indeed I would have kept you as my own son, without any promise of marriage, but it was not to be."
"You have my thanks for your understanding. Even though I no longer bear the Saotome name, when these things occur, they still are very troubling. I wonder what my life would have been like if I had been raised by someone honorable, but then I wouldn't have met Akane. Perhaps I have something to thank the panda for."
Ranma decided to play his cards. "So tell me why are you really here and why are you wearing a disguise and what is that energy I sense in both of you? From what I can tell, you in particular are one of the most dangerous men I have ever known."
"Ranma! Don't be rude."
Katsuhito was caught off guard and was at a loss for words.
"Father what does he mean? I have never seen you so surprised before.."
"I'm not sure what your talking about. I'm as normal as anyone else. Your not making any sense. Perhaps we should be going."
Ranma brought an violet and gold energy ball to his hand.
Katsuhito pushed Achika behind him and got into a fighting stance.
"Ranma just what do you think your doing?"
Ranma split the ball he created into three and started to juggle them. "Oh nothing much." He walked closer to Katsuhito who took a step back. "Just juggling. Its just a trick after all. Here catch." He tosses one of the small balls at Katsuhito. Achika was at his side and Akane wasn't far from his other. He was in no position to dodge so he reflexively brought up an energy shield and the ball exploded on impact.
Akane had never seen the like. There was.. something in front of him, then the ball just exploded.
Ranma dissipated the other two balls. Hmm, these don't have much power, but at least they can be dispersed safely unlike my chaos/ki mixes. "So your just a normal human huh?"
"Father, how did you do that? What is going on?"
Katsuhito grimaced. "So how did you know I could protect against that?"
Ranma: "It was just a guess that you could do something. I didn't know what. There was little energy in that. I think your shield, made the explosion flashier than I would have normally expected. If necessary, I could have healed any damage."
Katsuhito thought about what he felt through the shield. There really wasn't much energy in it. Well I walked into that one.. Sit around a shrine for a few hundred years and get sloppy. Now what am I going to tell Achika? "Why should I trust you? You just attacked me after all."
Ranma pondered for a bit, then he brought his ki and magical senses to their fullest and examined Achika and Katsuhito. Ranma's own knowledge in such things was minimal, but Cara's was far better. Akane still wasn't sure what was going on, but continued to sense concentration through the bond.
Katsuhito wasn't sure what was going on. He thought perhaps Ranma was looking at his aura somehow. Well the boy had already figured out most of his secrets, so there was little harm in it.
"My initial impression was right it seems. You are both good, honorable, people. I have decided to trust you with our secrets. Perhaps then you can trust us with yours. We may have need of your help in the coming year. We will have to discuss it later though. If we stay behind my ward for too much longer people will grow suspicious. We have school to attend as well."
Katsuhito was lost in thought. Well at least this gives me time to explain to Achika. "Very well then. Would you two care to meet me at the Masaki shrine after your classes are over?
"I would like that. How about you Akane?"
"Why not? I still want to know how he blocked that attack after all."
Ranma dispelled the ward. They had all finished breakfast by now. Ranma opened the door. "It has been nice meeting you both."
Akane said, "Achika, perhaps you and I could go shopping or something later."
"I'd like that."
Achika and Katsuhito went on their way. Nabiki came up to Ranma and whispered, "How's a girl supposed to stay informed when you keep doing that?" Ranma laughed and whispered, "Well I guess you will just have to learn to be a better spy then won't you?"
Akane smiled. It was good to occasionally see her sister frustrated. Well it would be better when she was able to do it. She still owed her sister for allot after all.
School went well except for the swimming lessons. No matter what Ranma-chan did, Akane would instinctively panic and make matters worse. Still it was not a complete loss, by the end of the period Ranma-chan got Akane used to holding her breath while she was underwater, so it was a small victory at least.
After school Nabiki went over to walk with Ranma and Akane. "Your planning something aren't you?"
Akane said, "We are just meeting some friends."
"The ones from this morning right?"
"Perhaps."
"Well then you won't mind if I tag along then will you?"
Ranma sensed that there was no one nearby enough to hear them. "Are you in the mood for an adventure then Nabiki?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
Ranma replied, "I'm not sure. It should be safe enough though."
Nabiki thought about it. Whoever those two were this morning, she was now fairly certain it was more complex than an old 'trade Ranma for food' scheme from the panda. I smell profit potential.. "Sure, lets go."
Ranma laughed quietly.
Akane looked over at Ranma. "What are you laughing far?"
"Oh nothing. I was just wondering if Nabiki was right."
Nabiki looked at Ranma with her usual ice queen face.
"Right about what? She hasn't said anything."
"Why whether our not our journey will lead Nabiki onto the path of profits of course."
Nabiki winced. Am I that predictable? Dang I think I liked him better stupid. "I don't know what your talking about Ranma. I'm just curious is all."
Ranma nodded. They had to take a train a short distance and then it was a long walk to the shrine. Ranma looked upon it as training and was having Akane carry all of their things.
Nabiki looked annoyed. Why do these people have to live so far away? And in the middle of nowhere. She was sweating as much as Akane was when they arrived, but then she wasn't carrying anything.
Katsuhito greeted them. "Akane is it? So why are you the one carrying everything?"
Akane huffed. "Training. Ranma thinks I need to build up my endurance."
Katsuhito nodded. "Come, there is a small picnic area just over here. It is shady, and my daughter has lemonade and snacks for whoever wants them." Akane sat their packs by the tree and they all sat down. Glasses of lemonade were passed out.
Akane looked at Ranma acusingly. "You did it again didn't you?"
Ranma pretended not to understand. "Did what?"
"You did whatever it was you did during my match with Shampoo so I didn't draw energy from you."
Katsuhito's interest perked up. Now this is interesting.
"Oh that. Well I figured that you would think more of your accomplishments in training if sometimes you relied purely on your own strength. Your endurance would have increased as much either way, but well isn't this more satisfying?"
Akane pondered the situation. Kill him or thank him? Kill him or thank him? Hmm, first more lemonade.
Nabiki wished Ranma would learn to stop giving away information. It seemed so unnatural. She looked at her sister. "Some of us don't have magical links to keep us from getting tired you know."
Akane winced. "Perhaps you are right Ranma. Thanks." Akane could feel that whatever Ranma did just went away, since suddenly she was feeling very refreshed. She could also sense that Ranma was feeling a little tired now as well. Well thats a form of revenge..
Nabiki glanced over at Akane who seemed suddenly revived, and stepped on a pang of jealously hard. I will get in shape, and I'll do it the hard way.
Ranma looked back at Katsuhito. "So, if we tell you our secrets, will you promise to keep them?"
"As long as no one is harmed keeping them, Yes. I could wish you had not figured out what you did before. I had hoped to give Achika a normal life, and now that she knows her life may never be normal again."
"I had the right to know and to make my own choices father."
Katsuhito nodded. "Yes you do daughter. I just wanted you to be happy."
"Very well. Nabiki you know the story fairly well. Why don't you explain our lives a bit, particularly all the major events since Jusendo."
"Ok, well I remember fairly well what you told our family. Let's see."
"Nabiki. All of it please."
Akane wondered why Ranma was asking Nabiki to tell the story, or even why he was placing such trust in complete strangers. At least these people had secrets of their own they obviously wanted kept secret. "Are you sure Ranma? We really don't know these people."
"I'm as sure as I can be. I have a feeling that we may need their help before it is all over. Yes their is always a risk in trusting, but I think it is worth it here. We shall see if I'm right won't we?"
Nabiki nodded. She knew all about knowing when to toss the dice and when to place safer bets. She hoped Ranma was right. Her story was interrupted many times by questions from Katsuhito and Achika. Katsuhito seemed content to wait for Achika to think of the questions most of the time. Ranma was studying Katsuhito while trying to appear to be casual. She suddenly realized it was the same thing he did in a fight. Well I know why he picked me to tell the story now. Akane was glancing at both of them and wondering what was so special about them that Ranma considered it worth this insane risk. Their transformations into Sun and Io made Achika gasp and Katsuhito raise and eyebrow. Well Sun's transformation in particular, since Ranma was male just a second ago.
"So that idiot took you to Jusenkyo. You certainly have had an interesting life."
"Well now you know our story. I would still like to hear yours"
Katsuhito thought of the danger the two had mentioned coming in about a year. Something dangerous enough to kill much of the human race before it was over. He wondered if it were true. How could they know? Katsuhito sent a summary of the conversation to his space tree Funaho, who forwarded it to Tsunami who sent back, "I too see a darkness coming for the Earth. You must help them Yosho. I have looked into their hearts and they can be trusted."
"Well, you have the trust of my goddess, so you have mine as well. Don't be alarmed. I'm just going to drop my disguise field." His face and form wavered and then a man not much older than Ranma in appearance appeared. Akane gasped. Ranma merely nodded.
"I don't suppose you can tell me how you did that? We could make a lot of money.."
"Nabiki.. This is not the time."
Nabiki nodded. She suspected as much. She had appearances to keep up though.
Katsuhito told the story of how he came to be here. He told of his Jurian heritage and of how he came to be here after chasing Ryoko. He told of the cave he trapped her in after defeating her, and the life he lived. He told of his beautiful wife, taken from him so early. He told of his friend at the Jubaan shrine who had heard their names mentioned and his desire to find out more about you two. "...and that is how we came to be at your house this morning."
Akane said, "Amazing. Real alien's and you look just like us.."
"I trust you understand that this must be kept secret. I have no wish to be a guinea pig. In truth I wish no more than to live a peaceful life, but it seems that duty calls."
Nabiki pondered Yosho for awhile. Hmm not bad. Its a pity hes not more outgoing.
Ranma said, "Nor do I. Some know of my curse already, but if the right people were to ever find out all about me, well I suspect they'd want me in the lab to your right." Ranma thought briefly of Nabiki, but knew she would never go that far.
"I have a question. Whatever happened to Ryoko?"
"I went after Ryoko for a couple reasons. First off, there were some issues at home I wanted to avoid, and secondly I had learned a little about her past and her attack on the Jurian home world made no sense. Sure she was a pirate, but she was never a cold blooded killer until then. I wanted to find out what was going on."
"I still don't know all the details, but I think she was under some kind of mind control. When I defeated her I sealed her in a cave not far from here. I thought about releasing her a few times, but I could never be sure about the mind control or if it had or would ever wear off. There was also the matter of her death warrant still being valid anywhere in the galaxy. I can't prove my suspicions after all. I wish I could. At least there she can barely notice time passing."
Ranma asked, "She is still alive then?"
"Yes she is. I can sense her presence sometimes when I go near that cave."
"I want to go there. I know a little about healing the mind. I wish I knew more, but I still may be able to help."
Yosho nodded. "If I am wrong, if she is still under some kind of control, heck or even if she is angry and just wanting revenge for the imprisonment, then this could be dangerous... I'm afraid I have let my skills slip a little over the years."
"Akane, I would like you to stay here and protect Achika and Nabiki for us. I don't want to take any risks to satisfy my curiosity."
"But if its that dangerous, shouldn't I be with you?"
"Yosho beat her before, and she has been in a cave for 700 years. I think we will be ok. I just wanted to be covered in case she slipped past us."
"I am not helpless."
"No one is saying you are. I hate being left behind too. We can use the time to practice the art."
"Thank you Akane. If we are to do this Ranma, we should go now."
Akane asked, "So what do you know about the art?"
"Father has taught me a little of the sword."
"Well, would you like to learn a little bit of Anything Goes?"
"Yes. Yes I would. I think father has chosen to be involved in all of this. I want to learn to help as best I can."
Nabiki said, "I can definitely understand that. Why did I have to be born into a family that attracts trouble?"
On that afternoon friendships were made and a new student in the art was born. Both Nabiki and Akane liked this half alien young woman. She had almost the serenity of Kasumi and the fierceness of Shampoo.
Ranma and Yosho arrived at the cave. Ranma was tempted to transform into Sailor Sun, but decided to stay as he was for the moment.
"The cave is sealed with what is known as a master key. It is called the Tenchi-ken and is in the form of sword handle. It helps its owner to focus Jurian energy among other things. I will need to remove the seals since it would be dangerous and unpredictable for you to try."
Ranma nodded. "Lead on. I will back you up."
"She has been sealed in here a long time. Things might be a little wierd initially.. "Yosho grasped the Tenchi-ken and released the seals. He kept hold of the sword.
They walked deeper into the darkness, and came to Ryoko's prison which was opening as they watched. Ranma and Yosho sat down and waited. Ranma began to glow a faint violet that spread from him to encompass Ryoko. Her prison faded as they watched.
"I cannot find any traces of coercion remaining, although there is a trace of it in the past that leads me to believe your guess was correct. I do not sense evil either, although I don't think she is happy with being in there so long."
A mummy like Ryoko emerged from her crystalline prison and looked at them.
Yosho said, "Hello Ryoko."
"You!. You were the one who put me in here."
"Yes I was. I am sorry it was necessary."
Ranma continued to look on.
"What have you come for? Why have you released me after so long?" If they try to put me back...
Yosho pointed to Ranma. "Ranma convinced me that it was time the risk was taken. I am glad my guess was correct. You were not responsible for my people's deaths."
"Do you have any idea what it feels like to watch your body kill hundreds of people and not be able to do anything to stop it and then to be trapped in a cave for years with only your own guilt as company? The closest thing I had to a life was a few moments when I was able to watch Achika grow up."
Ranma began quietly. "It has been almost 10 years since my father threw the small child I was then in the pit full of starving cats wrapped in fish products. He repeated this many times. It was to teach me a martial arts technique, or so he thought. Eventually my mind snapped, and I learned the technique, after a fashion. From then on whenever I couldn't get away from a cat, my mind would become like that of a cat, and I would gain tremendous amounts of speed and power. I could slice through steel with claws made of energy. I never knew what I did when it would happen. I always wondered if I had hurt someone this time."
"It turns out that I never did hurt anyone badly. I was lucky, my father had an incomplete guide to the Nekoken. This and perhaps my fathers incompetence caused the ritual to be botched. The true purpose of the ritual, that was not mentioned in the guide, was to create a berserker by destroying the mind of the subject and binding a demonic cat spirit into the subject. The spirits of a couple of kittens in the pit somehow became a part of me and protected me from that possession."
"I did not know of the truth of the Nekoken until recently when some dear friends of mine risked much to destroy that evil that resided within me. I did not know that all those years, had I been just a little less lucky, or a little less stubborn I could have still been taken over. I could have killed all I loved."
"Some nights I have had nightmares dreaming of losing control of the Nekoken. You have my greatest respect Ryoko."
"Your own father did that to you? I thought my mother was incompetent, but she was an angel compared to that."
"You have mine as well. I believe the arrest warrants for you should be expiring in a few months. After that you should be free to live your own life."
"One of the reasons I asked to come here, was in the hope you could be of help to us. You do not owe us or this planet anything. I hope you will come back with us and meet the others though. It has to be more fun that hanging around this cave."
"The first thing I'm going to do is kill the guy who did this to me. Kagoto will die."
"Beware of hate and anger Ryoko. I have seen it destroy people. I once had a friend in junior high school. We would spar often. I even led him to and from school since he had a curse that caused him to get lost easily. He grew to hate me because I managed to win the battles to get the best breads at lunch. It got worse after he challenged me. I waited for three days, but my father took me to china on the fourth. We ended up at some cursed springs. He was so angry that he followed me there. We were both cursed there. I was cursed due to my fathers stupidity and my own arrogance. He was cursed because I lost control of my anger and didn't pay attention to where I was going when I was chasing my father."
"That sounds so stupid though. Chasing you all over, because he didn't get the bread he wanted?"
"It was stupid. Since then he shouts, "Prepare to die." whenever he crosses my path and we fight. Occasionally we even work together, but usually he just recites his promise to 'ruin my happiness'. The point is, if its possible to lose yourself into hate and anger with something so stupid, then think how likely it would be when you have a lot of very good reasons to hate this Kagato. You can't fix the past. The regrets become a part of us, but we can work toward the future."
Yosho added, "I have committed myself to the defense of this planet for the next year or so, but I will try to be there with you when you face Kagoto, if he is still around. He is responsible for a lot of death on my world. It is my duty to see him face justice."
"Lets go meet the others. I too will try to be there if I can."
Ryoko had by then recovered to her normal form. They began their journey back to the others.
"So what exact is your curse?"
"I don't really think of it as a curse anymore since I have some control of it now. Watch carefully and I'll demonstrate." He focused turning into instant Ranma-chan.
"Now does this look like a curse to you?"
Ryoko burst out laughing.
Ranma, Ryoko, and Yosho arrived back where everyone else was and introductions were made all around.
Achika said, "Your flying!"
"So?"
"And whats worse, is I haven't been able to figure out how she does it.."
Akane laughed. "Oh no, a martial arts technique that the great Ranma Inverse can't learn. What is the world coming to?"
"Hey! I can to learn it. It may just take awhile."
"So you think you know how to fight huh? Perhaps if you win against me I'll teach you." Now that I'm outta there, I gotta get back in shape after all.
"Ok your on."
"Hey Yosho. How about giving me back my gems. You wouldn't make a lady face a fight unarmed would you?"
Yosho pondered this a bit. "Well you are still a space pirate, and right now those gem's are what is keeping my tree healthy. Hmm, how about I give you one of them."
"Only one? They are mine.." Yosho wouldn't give in though. "Oh alright." Yosho willed a gem to Ryoko which then moved onto her right wrist.
Ranma looked over at her. "Interesting. Before we begin, can you tell me how badly this would affect you?" Ranma held out a ball of chaos magic twisted around his ki.
Ryoko peered at it and brought a hand close. "Well it would hurt quite alot. If you hit me with enough of them I might be in trouble I suppose. Why?"
"Excellent. That means I may be able to go all out sparring with you."
Akane said, "Perhaps the rest of us should take cover."
"Hold on you two. Don't go destroying my shrine. Theres a clearing a few minutes back that is more suitable. You two go there. The rest of us will go into the house. Everyone is welcome to stay the night of course."
At first Ranma was doing really well in the fight. He landed several energy blasts that would have killed normal people on her and several punches and kicks, but then she started moving faster and faster, and then randomly appearing and disappearing and launching her own energy blasts, which hurt allot. It ended when she brought an energy sword against his neck.
Ranma said, "Yield."
"I've still got it. Your not too bad yourself you know though."
"Thanks. I learned allot. I have a great deal to think on, but I would like to do it again sometime. It seems I must learn how to defend against sword attacks when staying my distance isn't an option and neither is disarming the sword.."
"Anytime. Lets go join the others."
They arrived at the house shortly.
Akane said, "Hey what happened to you? You look like heck, and I can feel that your hurt."
"Its mostly my pride. Ryoko is a very good fighter."
"Well I called Kasumi and let her know that we would be staying overnight at a friends house and not to expect us."
Ranma nodded.
Achika said, "I'll have dinner ready in a few minutes everyone. I hope everyone likes ramen."
2006-02-01