Dinner that night was a largely subdued affair, the only excitement occurring when Urd spilled some tea on Ranma, returning him to his male form. "The one good thing about goddesses," Ranma reflected as he prepared for bed, "is that they don't take too much convincing when it comes to magical stuff." All throughout dinner there was talk of someone named Keiichi, although each of the three girls had seemingly different feelings towards the man. When they were questioned about his location, Ranma discovered that Keiichi was studying late at a friends house.

Something like that seemed strange to Ranma. After spending nearly his entire life devoted to becoming a martial artist, he was having difficulty wrapping his mind around the concept that some people could actually enjoy school (and math. Didn't engineers use a lot of math?) enough to willingly study.

After preparing the futon that had been set out for him in one of the spare rooms, Ranma realized that he had neglected to train due to the hectic nature of the day's events. Although it was getting late, Ranma realized that the path of a true martial artist required discipline and constant practice. (As to why this piece of advice took on the tonal inflections of his father, he really couldn't say.)

Deciding that a bit of meditation would be appropriate (a section of his training that he underwent secretly since his father and the last martial arts master they had trained with had differing viewpoints on the subject.) Ranma walked into the back yard and stood in a relaxed pose, hands at the sides, chin down, and feet shoulder width apart.

He breathed deeply and slowly, the air filling him with energy and expelling contaminants from his system. He slowly raised his chin and opened his eyes. All of the soul seemed to be missing from those eyes. Instead of reflecting stormy skies, they took on the sheen of gunmetal. When he spoke, his voice commanded attention, although it was neither loud nor particularly musical. It merely rang with truthful conviction. The three goddesses wandered over towards the back doors and stood upon the porch, watching as Ranma stared across the yard with unseeing eyes and began his meditation.

Slow, graceful movements flowed across the yard, the young martial artist appearing to dance over the grass. A nearly imperceptible glow began to form around him, a faintly luminescent blue-tinted corona that steadily grew until it was plainly visible. Skuld gasped in mild astonishment. As if this were a signal, Ranma spoke to the empty air.

"A martial artist possesses many abilities and talents that other people do not. It is the martial artist's sworn duty to protect the weak and bring justice to the wicked through the use of these talents. Should a martial artist ever fail in his duty, he becomes dishonored."

Ranma moved swiftly and suddenly into a relaxed pose facing his impromptu audience. "To a martial artist," Ranma continued, "honor is everything. When one is without food, shelter, friends, or direction, then he can continue to rely upon his duty, and his own strength in upholding it." Turning a half-circle in a split second, Ranma pushed his hands forward in the motion of a palm strike. With a shout, the energy surrounding him flared into stark brightness and reality.

"Ki is the living energy of all things. It can be used as a weapon or a shield. It can bring pain or a relief from suffering. It can be controlled and focused for best effect. My ki is me, and I am my ki." The corona intensified and began to swirl around the young man. Bits of dirt and small twigs began to be lifted into the air.

The effort and concentration this display of power required of Ranma was not lost upon the three goddesses. Sweat pored in a steady stream down his face, and his eyes had slipped shut in an effort to curb the power to his will.

The trinity standing on the porch were completely silent. It would take only a single break in concentration to wreak havoc upon the balancing act Ranma was performing with his life force.

That break was heralded by a sudden and unexpected, "What the heck?!" from Keiichi Morisato.

Ranma's head snapped towards the sound, his eyes glowing white-blue as the energy within him demanded release. Keiichi, having developed a sort of sixth sense for oddity during his time with the goddesses, immediately dropped his books and flung himself aside and to the ground. A split second later, ki arced between a nearby tree and the ground in a circle with Ranma as its epicenter. Keiichi's landing place cleared the edge of the circle by a matter of inches.

The tree smoked for a moment, and then disintegrated into a soft pile of ashes.

Ranma grinned apologetically, went to raise his arm behind his head, and instead passed out.

The Skuld and Urd rushed to Ranma's prone body. Belldandy ran towards Keiichi. "Um… what…?" were the only words that the new arrival could articulate. Belldandy held him for a moment and then shook her head. "It's a bit of a long story…"

==

NOTE:

I don't usually do notes, but I felt that this was somewhat necessary. I have been listening to my reviewers' requests for longer chapters. Unfortunately, I am at an impasse in my writing. This seemed like a natural story break, and serves to give you all another piece of the story while allowing me some more time to work out the snags on this damnable chapter. --MM