Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma ½ nor do I own the Legacy of Kain series but that will change after I built my own Chronoplast room and travel back in time.
((Thoughts))
"Dialogue"
/Telepathy/
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Nabiki woke up in her bed. It was still dark outside and in her room not a single light was turned on.
"Where am I...?" she asked herself, "How did I get here... and what happened to those men?"
"I think, I can answer your questions." answered a voice nearby
Nabiki's head snapped into the direction of the tone, which came from a figure sitting on a chair next to her desk.
"Who are you?" Nabiki asked, still not fully awake
The lamp on her desk was switched on and the figure was revealed as Ranma who was eying Nabiki with concern.
"Ra- Ranma? What the hell are you doing in my…" Nabiki stopped and her eyes widened as she remembered what occurred not too long ago.
"I seem to remember what almost happened tonight." said the young man with a faint smile on his lips, ((It would have been pretty hard to explain why I was here if she really forgot it...))
"You saved me, didn't you?" questioned the confused girl
"Yes, I did and I also waited here for you to wake up." replied Ranma
"Why did you do that?" asked Nabiki a bit curious.
"Why did I do what? Save you or waiting for you to wake up?" asked Genma's son
"The waiting part." replied the girl, ((I know why he saved me. He is a good person and wouldn't let anyone down if his help is needed.))
"I wanted to know if you were okay and I also want to ask you a few questions." responded the still sitting boy
"Oh… well, ask your questions." said the Ice Queen of Furinkan
" I would really want to know why you were out this late at night." said Ranma, "That was a pretty dangerous part of Nerima as you might have noticed."
"I was visiting the new nightclub, which opened two days ago with some friends." answered Nabiki truthfully
"Nabiki there was no nightclub in the area where I found you... and I didn't see any of your friends either."
The second oldest Tendo daughter looked a bit uncomfortable as she replied to the question, "I thought it was boring in the club and wanted to go home. My friends stayed behind because they were flirting with some boys so I went out alone…"
"So... then why were you walking in the opposite direction of the dojo?" interrupted Ranma
Nabiki's face turned crimson red as she answered, "Um…ItwasdarkoutsideandIdidn'trecognizeanyofthestreetssoIgotlost."
"Errr... what?" asked Ranma intelligently, ((Did I understand that right?))
"I said it was dark outside and I didn't recognize any of the streets so I got lost." replied Nabiki still blushing, "That was my first time in that area... ... and probably the last."
"Oh... you should really be more careful. Or at least take someone with you that can protect you."
"And who would that be? You?" asked the girl teasingly
"Why not, it's not like I have anything to do here."
"Hmmm... I'll consider it. It sounds very appealing." replied Nabiki and then yawned a little
"You should go back to sleep now, it was a pretty hard night." Ranma stood up and walked towards the door, "Before I forget it, you have a pretty nasty bruise on your right cheek from where that bastard slapped you."
Automatically Nabiki's hand reached up to touch it and she winched when she felt a stinging pain, "How bad is it?"
"It's slightly swollen and almost completely darkened now. Sorry that I wasn't there sooner..."
"Don't worry, it will heal and with a little bit make-up no one will notice the bruise." replied Nabiki
"I hope you're right... so... I'll go then. Good night!" he stood up and walked to the door when Nabiki stopped him with a question of her own.
"Ranma?"
"Yes?"
"Why exactly were you still out this late at night?"
"Err… I had some things on my mind and decided to take a walk to think a little bit." ((Yeah, like trying to figure out what those dreams and this vision are about.))
"So, if that was it then I'm going to sleep. Good night again." said Ranma faking a yawn.
"Wait Ran…" but he was already out of the room.
Ranma was standing now in the dark hallway contemplating what to do, "There are still around three hours to waste until sunrise. What should I do?" Ranma proceeded walking up and down the hallway, thinking.
"Ah, I know!" with that he walked out of the house.
Back in middle Tendo sister's room, Nabiki got out of her bed and started to undress. She threw her outfit and underwear into a corner where it landed with a thud and walked to her closet to get the oversized T-shirt that she used as a pajama. She also looked into the mirror that was hanging on the inside of the closet door to look at her bruise.
"Oh man... that will be hard to cover..."
She walked back to her bed and noticed that her jacket was lying on her blankets.
She picked it up to throw it to the rest of her clothes but noticed something weird. On its back was red stain, which she touched with her fingers. It was a liquid and pretty sticky, so she brought her fingers to her nose and sniffed at them. It smelled sort of metallic and out of curiosity she tasted it by licking it off.
"Blood! B- but I'm not hurt... ... Ranma!" she let the jacket drop to the ground, "But he seemed okay... ... Ugh... maybe blood from those thugs..."
She tried to spit the blood she tasted out but to no avail... she already swallowed it. She kicked the jacket away and laid down on the bed, covering herself with her blanket.
"... ... I hope they didn't have any diseases..."
Ranma stood in the middle of the dojo with closed eyes. He stood like this for several minutes then he opened his eyes. He began with a slow-paced kata and minute after minute he became faster and faster.
It was almost sunrise when Ranma's kata reached its peak. He was moving trough the air at almost Amaguriken speed as another vision flashed before his eyes.
>>>>>>>>>>>>Vision>>>>>>>>>>>>
He found himself bound to poles near a pool of fire still with the sword in his body, in a place not meant for the living... hell or purgatory most probably.
((Vae Victus - suffering to the conquered, ironic that now I was the one suffering. Not anything as pedestrian as physical pain. Rather the cruel jab of impotent anger - the hunger for revenge.)) he thought
The noble looked around taking in his surroundings, ((I don't care if I am in Heaven or Hell - all I want is to kill my assassins.))
"I could help you with your wish, young man." said a voice from behind him
Looking around the noble saw a man, wearing a dark robe with an almost skeleton-like face
"Who are you, dark creature?"
"I am Mortanius the Necromancer and I am here to help you... if you accept my offer."
"I'll do anything to get my revenge, now send me back!"
"As you wish." said the sorcerer as he walked towards the man and ripped the sword out that was still stuck in the noble.
The man vanished and only the Guardian of Death stayed behind.
"You will have the blood you hunger for..."
>>>>>>>>>>>>End Vision>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ranma, who was now back in the real world, noticed that the floor came nearer and braced himself for a world of pain.
CRASH
"Ranma, are you okay?" asked a concerned Kasumi
"Argh... that hurt!" said Ranma while rubbing his head, ((Damnit, I should have been more careful... but this vision…))
Ranma's thoughts were interrupted when Kasumi knelt beside him checking his head for wounds.
"You should be more cautious while doing your katas." said Kasumi
"Yes, I know and I can still feel it." winced Ranma as Kasumi examined his head.
"You only have a slight bump, nothing serious. In some hours you won't even feel it anymore."
((More likely some minutes.)) thought Ranma, ((Since the battle in China I heal faster than normal. It's almost scary. The gun shot from before healed already, only a small scar remained… and even that will fade away pretty soon.))
"That's good to know Kasumi. Thanks for the help." said Ranma standing up
"Ranma?"
"Hm?"
"Why are you up this early in the morning?" asked Kasumi, "Normally you don't wake up till breakfast."
"The same I could ask you." stated Ranma smirking slightly
"Yes, you could but I asked first."
((Think… think… aha!)), "Um… I couldn't fall asleep so I decided to train to tire myself out." answered Ranma, "I overdid it that's why I fell down."
"I see…"
"So why are you awake?" questioned Ranma, "It's still too early to make breakfast since the others won't stand up for the next two or three hours."
"I always stand up this early Ranma." answered Kasumi, "I love to watch the sunrise. It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Err… yeah you're right", responded Ranma ((but I can think of some things that are more beautiful like a full moon or a starlit night…))
"Ranma, you should go back to sleep now so that your head can heal faster." said the eldest Tendo daughter.
"No Kasumi, I'll to keep you company. We do not often have time to talk to each other." replied Ranma, ((It's true. Since my arrival here two years ago we never really talked to each other.))
"Thanks but it's not necessary to do that."
"Who said anything about necessary? I WANT to keep you company."
"Thank you, Ranma!" and with that Kasumi stepped forward and hugged Ranma
Ranma not knowing what to do began to awkwardly return the embrace. A few moments later Kasumi broke the hug and stepped back smiling, a small blush on her cheeks.
"Not to sound rude, but what was that for?" asked the slightly confused boy
"Ranma you may not know it but no one really talked to me the past few years." said Kasumi her smile breaking, "except for the usual small talk at dinner, lunch or breakfast."
Ranma's eyes widened, "B- but what is with doctor Tofu?" ((I can't believe that I never noticed this but now that she mentions it I've never seen someone really start a conversation with her.))
"Tofu is a nice man Ranma but you can't talk with someone seriously when he dances around with a skeleton."
"Kasumi, do you even have any friends?" asked a concerned Ranma, ((That can't be, such a nice girl is bound to have many friends!))
"No, not really…" she hung her head.
Some moments later she felt two hands on her shoulder and looked up.
"Then I'll be your friend!" said Ranma smiling warmly
Kasumi's eyes went wide as tears of happiness entered them. She hugged Ranma for dear life and mumbled 'thank you' all over again. Ranma not feeling as awkward as before returned it.
Minutes passed and they let finally go of each other.
"So Kasumi-chan now that you let all of it out why don't you tell me about you."
"I would love to!" and so both of them talked for almost two hours.
"… and that's why I like history so much." said Kasumi sitting next to Ranma on the dojo floor
"Wow, who would have thought that..." replied an interested Ranma
Kasumi absent-mindedly looked at the watch on her wrist and gasped, "Oh my! The others will wake up soon. I should start making breakfast." She stood up and walked towards the exit of the training hall.
"Wait, I'll lend you a hand." said Ranma quickly strolling after her
"Thanks!" replied Kasumi gratefully, "That would be a great help."
"You're welcome!"
Quickly they made their way through the backyard and into the house. Seconds later they reached the kitchen and Kasumi went to the refrigerator and took out the needed ingredients.
"I'll make the rice and the sauce; you'll cut the vegetables and meat, Ranma."
"Okay." he said, walking to a drawer and taking a knife out of it
Ranma proceeded cutting the vegetables and gave them to Kasumi. He was about to slice the meat when he saw small drops of blood dripping from it. A strange sensation spread through his body almost locking him up, ((What the…))
>>>>>>>>>>>>Vision>>>>>>>>>>>>
He awoke to the pain of a new existence, in a dark womb of darkness and decay.
"Where am I?" gasped the undead, sitting up
((A grave… a mausoleum…)) he figured looking around
He stood up and stepped out of his coffin. He looked down at himself and noticed a black and red armor he never saw before.
/This is a gift from me young vampire. The armor was forged in the fires of hell with my magic. It will protect you from fire and will provide you with a strong defense./ said Mortanius' voice in the noble's mind.
"Vampire…" whispered the young man disbelievingly but then came back to his senses, "With what should I slay my assassins Necromancer? My bare hands?!"
/Of course not, look to the ground beside you. This sword was forged by the Serioli, the legendary weapon masters of Nosgoth. It will serve you well, in life and beyond and now be on your way./ with that the Guardian of Death left the vampire's mind.
The nobleman picked the sword up and walked to where he believed the exit was. On his way out he met animated skeletons which he quickly disposed off with a few slashes of his new sword.
((Probably tests of Mortanius to see if I'm capable of fulfilling my revenge. You don't see walking skeletons in Nosgoth pretty often…)) thought the man
In a secret chamber on an altar he found a scroll with strange symbols on it. He opened the scroll and the words on it were burned into his mind.
"Arghhhh!!" cried the fledgling as he fell to the ground, his armor clanking against the stone floor.
Some minutes later he stood back up still dizzy from the painful experience. The scroll was only dust now, as it served its purpose.
((What the hell… hey what is that?)) he thought confused
He found a spell in his mind which wasn't there before ((Was this the use for the scroll? So I could learn magic from it?)) asked the vampire bewildered, ((Sanctuary… with it I can travel back to this crypt when I am in danger.))
After almost half an hour he finally got out of the mausoleum. The world has changed to his eyes. He did not expect such cruelty form the light. For in the embrace of the sun, he could no longer find comfort, only malice. This would change in time for the worse, along with other things.
He left the graveyard on the search for his assassins. It was almost sunrise so he hurried. In a nearby forest he found their camp. They were sitting near the campfire on some logs and talked about the success they had tonight, while counting the money they stole.
"100 gold pieces! That will last us for the next few months, John!" shouted one of the robbers in excitement
"Yeah, who would have thought that we would earn so much money in such a dirty little village. Heh... and you already considered moving to a town like Coorhagen or Willendorf... that was the most stupid idea you ever had Michael."
((You two should have moved...)) thought the vampire and stepped into the clearing
Michael saw the undead man first and quickly stood up, taking the sword that was leaning on the log, "What trickery is this?!"
John was alarmed by this and jumped up, drawing his dagger out of his belt. When he turned around and saw the man his eyes widened in recognition, "I thought we killed you, bastard?!"
The sneering faces of the brigands were forever etched upon his memory. The noble crossed death for this moment. His mind was empty save for one thought, ((I will kill…))
"Vae Victus!"
He dashed forward towards John and slashed at the arm holding the dagger, severing it from the body, blood spraying everywhere. The brigand fell to ground clutching the stump screaming. The undead man wasn't bothered by it at all and with a swift move of his sword he through the crippled man's throat, killing him. All the while he laughed with such cruelty and coldness that it sent shivers down the remaining robber's spine.
The eyes of Michael widened when he saw what happened to his companion, "Y… you killed my brother you monster!!"
"Don't worry you'll meet him soon in hell." said the former noble with a wicked smirk.
So the battle began and their swords clashed against each other. Michael was holding himself pretty well but in the end, he joined his sibling in death. He was skilled but the superior speed and strength of the vampire were his doom. With a fast slash of his Iron Sword the noble cut through his adversary's blade and half into his chest.
The undead man pulled his sword out of Michael's barely living body, which dropped to the ground. Before he could join his brother though, a strange sensation spread through the former nobleman's body. He concentrated on his victim holding a hand out to him. To the frightened eyes of the almost dying man his blood flew through the air and into the mouth of the vampire, who swallowed it greedily.
The man, who finished feeding on the robber, looked at his now two dead murderers, "There is no greater release, now that my vengeance is sated."
/This is not over yet vampire. These fools were merely the instruments of your murder, not the cause. Look to their masters. Look to the Pillars, and gain way to the Fortress of the Mind…/ said Mortanius already leaving the fledgling's mind.
>>>>>>>>>>>>End Vision>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ranma breaking out of his stupor cut himself with the knife he was using.
"Argh, damnit!!" he said while holding his injured hand.
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