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.
Himiko was beginning to enjoy her life among the Amazons of China. She was already fairly adept at Mandarin so the language was no problem. All in all the Amazon's were a great group of people, if a bit odd. One of the first things she did was to read up on their laws. After hearing about the insanity in Ranma and Akane's life it seemed a prudent idea.
Little Kaori was already in danger of becoming spoiled. She already had a half dozen Amazon women at her beck and call. They were actually trying to train her in the martial arts and she was only a couple weeks old. It was certainly entertaining. Kaori was her life. She could not even hate the father for running out on her, not when he gave her something so precious. Well maybe she could hate him, but it didn't bother her much anymore. She had found a place to be, or more accurately Cologne had offered her one and badgered her until she accepted.
Himiko had just finished up her class teaching Japanese. Next was her math class. The Joketsuzoku had a great respect for teachers giving her an honored position in the tribe, especially once the elders decreed that learning modern ways was essential if the tribe was going to continue to survive and prosper. That did not mean they would abandon any of their old ways of course.
Kaylin had awakened early to resume her daily spoiling of Kaori. Sulin had privately told her that she was to guard them both with her life. Sulin did not say why, but she accepted and vowed to do so. She walked up to Himiko's house. It had been her sister's house not long ago. Her sister had died defending the village. That's odd, where are the hidden guards? She knew that Sulin had told others to guard her. She had seen signs of them often enough. "Hello? Himiko?"
Link came walking out of the house. "Himiko has been taken. We don't know how yet. Go in and watch over Kaori. A house is being prepared now. You are one of our finest warriors. Sulin has chosen you to be one of six that will personally watch over Kaori. I will be another. Others will watch over as well, but her life will be our personal responsibility."
Himiko is gone? This makes no sense. Why? For that matter why all the guards in the first place, and why more now? Kaylin rushed in to see Kaori surrounded by the four other sisters that had spent so much time playing with her. Several had grim faces. It was no surprise. To have one abducted from the middle of the village brought dishonor on the whole tribe. To have one abducted that they were specifically protecting was worse still.
Ranma, Akane, Nabiki, Dr. Tofu, and Sailor Mercury arrived at Ukyo's new restaurant a short time later. Kasumi had stayed behind to start on dinner claiming there was little she could do to help.
Konatsu stared at Sailor Mercury when she came in.
Akane turned to Konatsu. "Konatsu, I'd like to introduce you to a friend of ours. This is Sailor Mercury. She has agreed to help look for Ukyo."
Mercury said, "Pleased to meet you."
Konatsu introduced himself. Mercury was taken by surprise when what she thought was a lovely young woman turned out to be a crossdresser, but accepted it quickly. "I'll take any help I can get. I would have already gone to the Sailor Scouts, if I knew where to find them."
Despite everyones best efforts they could find no clue of where Ukyo had gone. Konatsu had checked with everybody he could think might have a clue already. They simply could find no trace of her.
Mercury said, "I can't find anything. Its been several days, almost any trace of anything abnormal would have faded by now." Mercury continued to punch keys on her computer.
"This is interesting. There are eleven missing persons reported to the police in the last few weeks that don't fit any normal profile you would expect of a missing person. Including Ukyo, that is 6 women and 5 men all around the same age. Several of them apparently disappeared from a closed room, with their families present. I have all the details here. There is nothing that seems helpful though. The police have no leads either."
"But Ukyo.."
Ranma turned to Konatsu. "Don't worry Konatsu. We will find her somehow. In the end Ranma Saotome never loses." Konatsu stared at Ranma for a few seconds as if in hope. Ranma continued in a lighter tone, "I would miss her Okonomiyaki after all."
Akane said sweetly, "Baka. Can't even get your own name straight? I could have sworn you had a new name, something beginning with a T."
Ranma sweat dropped. "Gimme a minute.. I'm thinking.." He then gave a quick glance at Konatsu. Mercury looked on in curiosity.
Well that didn't work.
Akane looked at Konatsu and tried to convey her sympathy to the gender confused ninja. No, it didn't. He must love her very much
Mercury said, "I will ask my friend to look into this. She should be able to find out something."
Akane frowned in thought. "Speaking of missing people. What ever happened to Ryoga?"
Your right. That is odd, he always shows up more often than this. I almost miss him.
Mercury frowned. "So if your friend's disappearance is related, that means there are an equal number of men and women abducted from japan. According to this, there have been a similar number in China as well."
Akane said, "I don't get it, why abduct random men and women?"
Dr. Tofu said, "It could have a perfectly innocent reason, but I doubt it. From what you've said most of these people were probably taken against their will. One idea that comes to mind, is you always study an enemy before attempting to fight it."
Ranma sighed. "I hope your wrong, but the idea makes sense."
Later that night in Ranma and Akane's room. Mercury called them on their communicator.
"I have news. Sailor Pluto checked on all the disappearances, except your friend Ryoga. The time gates refused to lock onto him for some reason. In most of the other cases, a man in a black robe stepped through a portal in the air, shot them with a green ray and then dragged them through the portal. I'm afraid the news is no help, other than they are probably alive. Unless a portal opens up very near me, I know of no way to track where they went."
Akane said, "You said in most of the other cases. What happened to the others?"
"A couple of them were runaways. There is one more thing. I extended the search beyond China and Japan. There are people missing around that age group from all over the world that fit the same pattern. The authorities are baffled."
"Oh."
Akane called Konatsu and told him the news. He thanked her politely, and went back out to look. He had gotten very little sleep over the past few days.
The next day they learned from Cologne that Himiko was also missing, although thankfully her child was fine. The Amazons had taken to having six warriors on guard and in sight of her at all times. As Cologne put it, "We have failed her. We shall not do so again."
There were no more abductions. Ironically this was somewhat of a disappointment since it might have given a chance to track whoever was responsible. Ranma wanted Sailor Pluto to go back in time and change the past so they could do something. She refused.
"I swore an oath when I received my temporal powers. They are not a part of the Moon Kingdom. I swore to never use my powers to change history in a significant way. The penalty for breaking that oath can be my life, should those I have sworn to wish it. Yes, on rare occasions, I have violated that oath, when the world as a whole was at stake, and I live in fear of the day I will be held accountable for my actions. The world is not at stake now. You will have to deal with the problem on your own. I can only help in the ordinary ways."
Nabiki nodded. "She is right of course. The power to manipulate time is something given to very few mortals, and not that many gods. When I was a full goddess, I could do it only with great difficulty and not at all now. It is a great responsibility. We must not ask her to do this again."
Ranma turned back to Setsuna. "You did it for me didn't you? ... When your future self sent Usa back to help us."
"Yes, my future self did, but it was not for you. You and Akane are somehow necessary for the world to survive what is coming. I cannot know my future self's exact motivations, but it seems obvious that the risk was taken for the world and not for you. That is another reason I cannot do what you ask. My future self has already changed this timeline. Changing it further would magnify my crime. There is even the chance that those who gave me my power would undo all of the changes. We must proceed as best we can."
"Thank you anyway." Ranma placed his face in his hands for a moment. A tear could be seen falling from his left eye. "It's just hard. Uchan has been my friend for a long time. I couldn't even stay mad at her for what she did at the wedding for very long. It's just hard.."
I am here for you always Ranma. Akane took hold of his hand and twined her fingers with his.
Thanks Akane. What are we going to do?
Whatever we can.
"Akane has reminded me of something I had forgot in my worry for Ukyo. We may have exhausted our leads for finding those that were taken for now, but we have not run out of things we can do. We can train and prepare. If Dr. Tofu's original guess is correct they will be back someday, and we have a score to settle."
Cologne turned so as to best face everyone. "Ranma is right. I want to get Himiko back every bit as much as Ranma wants to see Ukyo and the others back. For now we must prepare."
The next day Cologne began training the Senshi. Setsuna, Makoto, Haruka, and oddly enough Hotaru welcomed the training at least initially. Cologne managed to convince Rei once she pointed out that mastery of martial arts would eventually gain her greater control of her ki so she could improve her fire readings. Ami did not much like the training, but understood the need and dutifully worked to improve herself. Mouse of all people figured out how to persuade Minako. After all how could she be the coolest Senshi if all the others could do better tricks than her? Usagi caused Cologne the most frustration. The girl would at times be very serious, but most of the time it seemed as if she truly did have nothing between her ears.
Ranma was so much easier to trick into doing things. Just threaten something he cared about like his manhood and he would follow me around like a puppy.
The solution was found by accident. Ami was displaying pictures of all those who were abducted on her computer screen in the hopes of trying to come up with some pattern when Usagi glanced at what she was doing. In the upper right hand corner of the screen was a picture of Himiko cradling her daughter. Usagi touched her picture gently and then it all hit home. From that day on the carefree Usagi seemed to die. Many felt her loss. She worked with a vengeance at learning to fight from Cologne and began to work harder at her schoolwork as well.
One day Ami asked her why Usagi worked so hard. Everyone thought they knew the reasons but Ami wanted to hear it from her.
"I sometimes see her in my dreams you know. She reaches for me mouthing mommy as if expecting me to know where to find her. They are to be my people, and yet I feel as if I have failed them. That child may never see her mother again. I must try to become worthy of the trust that has been placed in me."
Ami smiled. "I think you will do well." She then gave her friend a hug.
Ranma looked over at his wife. You have come a long way love in such a short time.
I still regret it you know. I protected myself so much after my mother's death, and then the hentai hoard. You saved me so many times and for the longest time my jealousy and anger ...
We each had our share of problems Akane. You needed kindness and understanding and I often insulted you. I don't regret who I am now. The part of me that is Cara was able to finally begin to understand you. I loved you for the longest time, but I think we might have made each other miserable save for what happened at Jusendo.
They continued to walk towards their home and in a few minutes they saw the sign for Jubaan medical center. Ranma stopped and stared, his thoughts diffuse but Akane could sense the longing in them.
We can go in if you want.
We can't afford the attention. We have to prepare. Ranma seemed resigned and a little depressed.
We will just go as Senshi. We can't be recognized that way. We can also use the disguise pen thing so we fit in.
Ranma brightened and before long two candy striper's were quietly looking around the hospital using their martial arts skills so as not to be noticed. They came to a burn ward that was occupied by two young brown haired girls and a black haired boy. The girls were probably about six or seven. They boy was perhaps ten. They were wrapped in bandages covering perhaps half of their bodies. They were also obviously medicated heavily for the pain.
"Who are you?" said the boy.
Sailor Io turned to the boy and smiled her best smile. The one that melted Ranma's heart anew every time he saw it. "Don't worry we are here to help."
A few tears fell down the face of the youngest girl. "It hurts. I want my mommy." The other girl was asleep with a small teddy bear clutched to her chest.
Sailor Sun placed a hand carefully on the youngest girls head and she fell into a peaceful sleep. Sailor Io did the same for the boy. She said in a whisper, "Sleep, it will be better soon."
In another room Dr. Mizuno and two doctor's fresh out of medical school sat discussing various cases. Their names were Megumi and Devan.
Megumi noticed Sun and Io on the monitor. "What is going on there? They are not allowed in there."
Dr. Mizuno looked up at the screen and studied them. The violet glow that was around them didn't show up on the camera. Ranma was holding Akane's left hand in his right and moving it carefully over the burned areas on the girl. "I don't think they are doing any harm. There is something familiar about them. Let's go find out what is going on."
They opened the door and stepped inside. Sun and Io failed to notice their entrance.
Dr. Mizuno asked, "Would you mind explaining what you are doing?"
Sun and Io came out of their trance. Sailor Sun dropped her disguise transformation in favor of the normal Sailor Sun outfit. Io did the same. Sailor Sun said, "We have been careless it seems. Please let us finish. We only barely got done healing the girl."
Dr. Mizuno said in just a little bit of awe, "Your the new sailor Senshi."
Devan said, "Healing? What are you talking about?"
"Sailor Sun learned to heal with magic a very long time ago. I was helping her to heal these children."
Megumi had gone over to the girl and was looking at her. "Amazing, there are no signs of burns in what I can see although I can't tell much through the bandages."
Sailor Sun smiled at her. She had learned long ago that Ranma-chan's face was very effective with that smile. "You can remove the bandages now if you want. I had intended to leave them so the healing would not be as noticed.."
Dr. Mizuno said, "Go ahead. I don't know alot about these new Senshi, but all the others I would trust with my life any day."
Megumi carefully unwrapped the bandages around her right arm. "Amazing. I was the one who wrapped these. The burns are gone."
"May we continue please? Sailor Io and I would like to finish so we can leave without attracting more attention."
Dr. Mizuno nodded and in another twenty minutes of work the other two were healed as well.
"They will be fine now. Some of the strength for this came from their bodies so make sure they eat well when they wake. Please don't mention us. We should go. This has made us rather tired."
Devan said, "How did you do that? Can it be learned?"
"It used to be that about one in ten people had a significant potential in magic. I don't know what it is now. Very few ever learned to master it enough to heal to this extent. Additionally we draw strength and energy from our guardian stars. That is something others cannot do."
"But it can be learned?"
"Yes, if you have the potential. It usually takes many years to gain sufficient skill though. I myself studied for eight years before this."
"Where did you learn?" asked Megumi.
"The short answer is part of my spirit is from a girl over 1500 years dead. She is who learned."
Devan seemed doubtful about this talk of spirit's, but it was hard to deny the evidence in front of him. "How do I know If I have the potential?"
Sailor Sun held out a hand to Devan which Devan accepted. A brief violet glow enveloped them. "You have a large potential. You could learn." Megumi and Dr. Mizuno wanted to know as well. "Megumi has a potential similar to Devan's. Dr. Mizuno's potential is significantly lower, yet she could still learn."
Megumi asked, "Could you teach us?"
Sailor Sun sighed. It looks like I just volunteered myself for more work.
You know you want to do it. Sailor Io smiled at Sun.
"If I agree to teach you, what would you do with the knowledge? I would have to insist that you keep our involvement secret. You should also know that magic is not in of itself good or evil. It can be used to harm as well as heal. I will not teach the second."
Devan said, "We would need to discuss it, but I would like to learn it in the hopes of teaching others. If a lot of doctors could do that then we could help so many more people." Dr. Mizuno and Megumi nodded.
"Very well. Could we meet you three tomorrow evening sometime?"
Dr. Mizuno said, "Yes. May I suggest 6pm at my house?" She gave them directions. "My daughter may be interested in learning as well."
"We will see you then" added Akane. Let's put the disguises back.
Sun and Io shifted back to their candy striper disguises and quietly left the building.
It turned out that Dr. Mizuno's daughter Ami had almost no potential for magical healing, other than what her Senshi form gave her own body. Ami was disappointed, but was too tired from Cologne's training to do much more than find her bed.
Megumi asked, "Why was she so tired? I saw several bruises on her too.."
Dr. Mizuno answered, "She is training under a martial arts master. I hate to see her hurt, but she really wants to do it."
Megumi nodded. Devan thought it odd that neither Dr. Mizuno nor her daughter reacted significantly to the presence of the Senshi, but said nothing about it. The learning proceeded well that night. Megumi and Devan took copious notes and with the Senshi's permission recorded an audio tape of the training for later review.
It turned out that Achika had chosen to go to Jubaan college as well. Nabiki no longer had a bedroom to herself but seemed to prefer it that way despite her protests to the contrary. Ryoko had claimed the carpeted area above the bathroom/laundry area for her own. The futon almost seemed redundant in her case, seeing as she often slept several inches above it. Yosho was back to being Katsuhito. He had closed the shrine to visitors and was staying with Konatsu and helping at Uchan's new restaurant. When asked, Katsuhito responded with, "He needs the company now and it gives me a chance to be near Achika if she needs me." Funaho had remained at the shrine, but then such a trivial distance hardly mattered between a tree ship and its master. Katsuhito made a point to return home every weekend and do chores at the shrine. The Neremians and Ryoko would often travel there to help and to train. Sometimes one or two of the other Senshi would join them.
Cologne had heard of all of the Senshi's former battles in great detail. Setsuna had even been gracious and allowed her to view a few of them in the time gates.
"Mamoru, come here." He did so.
"Do you care about that girl?" She pointed to Usagi.
Mamoru was confused. "I love her.."
"Then why do you consistently wait to become involved in fights until their is no option but to help?"
"I.. " The others were looking at him then.
"But Mamo-chan does help all the time." said Usagi.
"The fights you people have are very real. Many people have died in them. To fight with less than your best insults the memory of those who have died before. This goes for you all. If you do not work as a team then very likely one day you will die one by one. Do you understand?" She said the last from atop her staff looking right at Mamoru.
Mamoru nodded.
"Now back to your training."
Konatsu continued to spend all his free time either training or looking for Ukyo. It was a Saturday when Konatsu spotted a Youma. He decided to stay in the shadows and follow it in case it had something to do with Ukyo's appearance. Before long he spotted Ranma and Akane. They had spotted the creature and had ducked into the alley he was hiding in. They couldn't see him though.
"Sun star power, Make up!" "Io Lumina Power, Make up!"
Konatsu stared in awe. They were Sailor Senshi? That would certainly explain how they got the other Senshi to help before..
Sun and Io went out to confront the Youma.
Ladies first.
Why thank you Ranma.
"Eternal Blaze!" Brilliant orange and red fire formed between Sailor Io's hands and went forth to envelop the creature. It tried to roll to put it out, but it wouldn't go out. Parts of the sidewalk that had been bathed in those flames continued to burn as well, which is a very odd thing for concrete to do.
Firebug.
Sailor Io grinned.
"Starfire Emergence!" A violet, gold, and green ball of energy emerged from Sailor Sun's hands and tore the monster in half.
A tad overkill don't you think?
There are so few enemies I can practice on. Jubaan is a strange place though. Most of the monsters avoid Nerima, since they don't last long there yet they still come to Jubaan.
Makoto and Minako arrived to help out.
"Dang it Sun, you could have left something for us." said Makoto.
"Sorry."
Sailor Mercury arrived a few minutes later and pulled out her computer. "Nothing special here. From what I can tell from the little thats left, its probably a leftover from one of our old enemies thats been in hiding. Um how long is that sidewalk going to continue burning?"
Sailor Io looked sheepish. "It shouldn't be but another five minutes or so."
Sailor Mercury summoned some water and dropped it onto the scene. Now there were lots of little fires surrounded by water. "Your dangerous you know that?"
Sailor Io tried to resist grinning but failed.
After two months of bi-weekly Sessions with Sun and Io, Devan and Megumi were able to heal a small cut. They then started their own regular class at Jubaan university for those who were interested in what they had learned. While healing a small cut may seem like nothing it was enough to spark a fire of interest. The government soon learned about what was going on and decided to fully fund the research. Nations from around the world sent their finest healers to learn the new techniques studied there. Kasumi and Dr. Tofu applied for the program and because of their surprising aptitude were readily admitted. Dr. Tofu saw no need to mention they had been receiving private lessons. Soon Megumi asked if they could bring Kasumi and Dr. Tofu to the bi-weekly meetings with Sun and Io. Sun and Io of course readily agreed that teaching two more that talented would be no problem whatsoever.
Nabiki showed up on occasion wearing a disguise field that made her look much older. She was limited in what she could teach there since she had no potential for magic, and had no interest in explaining Jurian energy to those without any control of it. Still she remembered a few things that turned out to be helpful. Her own lessons with Kasumi were proceeding very well. She was disappointed that neither Yosho or Achika had much aptitude with healing. Nabiki mused that at least their skill at using Jurian energy for combat was improving steadily.
Many who tried to learn soon left for home when they found out that they lacked the needed potential. Some left angry as if they had been unfairly rejected. The Japanese government added discrete security where appropriate and began a small media campaign to make sure things didn't get out of control.
In time Ranma figured out how to create an energy sword similar to Ryoko's. He created his by forming his ki into a blade. Before long Ranma was learning the art of Jurian swordsmanship from Katsuhito along with Achika and Haruka. Akane wanted to learn the sword as well. At first Ranma insisted that she had too much other stuff to learn and that weapons were crutches until you had mastered the unarmed styles. Eventually he gave in and Akane joined the lessons. Unfortunately, the creation of an energy blade was well beyond her current level of mastery.
On her birthday Akane was presented with a sword handle. Nabiki called it a key. Ranma, Akane, and her had spent over four months, off and on, making it and linking it into her Senshi power.
"Thank you. Both of you. I'm so glad we finally finished it. Now I have my own blade."
Ranma grinned. "Let's go down into the tunnels to test it out."
They opened the hidden trapdoor and climbed down into the tunnels that were below their house. Akane transformed into Sailor Io and focused on feeding energy to the key. A blade of the finest steel formed and superheated till the blade glowed white. Ranma had transformed as well, just in case. Akane was testing out a lethal weapon after all.
Ranma stared at the sword in awe. "The steel is almost molten."
Nabiki admired the sword. "From what I can tell the metal is in a gaseous state. The energy field is keeping the heat and gas contained and giving it an edge. It should cut, or perhaps melt through most things."
Akane tried it out on a rock wall. The wall lost.
Ranma nodded. "Nice, It is every bit as effective as our swords."
Akane grinned. Somehow that grin looked dangerous.
"What will you name it?" asked Nabiki.
Akane paused for a moment in thought. I'm really glad we learned not to broadcast all of our thoughts to each other Ranma. A girl likes to keep a few secrets, at least till its time to reveal them.
Akane's face and voice grew solemn. "I name this sword Memory in honor of those that while gone still exist in us. For the red head who came in out of the rain that wanted to be my friend, for the mercenary sister who always protected her family, for my mother who loved me, for the spirit of the girl who saved us, and for the goddess who gave up so much to save us again."
Ranma smiled a small smile. "Thanks Akane. I like it."
"It is a good name." added Nabiki.
Author's Notes:
This chapter is in a way divided into two parts. The second part will be chapter 17. Chapter 16 is a side story that focuses on Yosho and Nabiki that occurs before the events in chapter 17.
Originally I wasn't sure whether Amy or Ami was the correct spelling. Bryan Durnell and one other I only have an email address for wrote me with the correct information for which I thank them. Additionally Bryan pointed out a couple of mistakes in this chapter which I have now corrected.
If anyone else sees more mistakes, feel free to point them out and I'll try to eventually correct them. I don't intend to go back and change how characters act though. For one I don't have the time, for another I need to get on to other things.
The offer is still open if anyone thinks they can make a scene better. If I agree, I'll gladly replace it and add a note in the Author's notes for the chapter about who actually wrote that part.
2006-02-01