"Blood Calls Out For Blood"
Sailor Moon and all related properties are properties of
Naoko Takeuchi. Ranma ½ and all related properties are
properties of Rumiko Takahashi. This story is inspired by
Vaughan Stevens' "Recruiting" and I owe him a debt of
gratitude for a good story and inspiration.
Chapter 04 -
Ranma - Death and Rebirth
Ranma began to burn with fury as she looked upon the
sight in the alley. A hideous creature who's body seemed to
be coated in serrated spines was looming over a very
familiar woman. In a voice filled with malice, she rasped,
"Let her go..."
The Shredder looked away from Nodoka, staring at the
diminutive figure. "I could use an appetizer before the main
course..." It said in it's bone-grinding voice, as it
stomped toward Ranma.
Nodoka's eyes widened, and she screamed, "RANKO! GET
AWAY!" before she was kicked into a wall almost idly.
The Shredder leaped toward Ranma, who almost blurred as
she suddenly wasn't there anymore. Two pieces of rebar were,
however. Both rammed straight through the creature, as Ranma
swung two more bars rapidly, both lashing hard into the
creature, pounding a tattoo into it's back.
The creature howled in pain and spun toward Ranma.
Ranma threw the rebars in her hands through the creature,
before sending a ki blast for it's head, tearing off a great
chunk. The Shredder stumbled toward him, roaring in pain and
fury. It took two steps before being vaporized. When the
ashes cleared, Ranma saw three figures on the other side of
the alley.
Sailor Moon stepped forward, but Ranma didn't care, as
she rushed to Nodoka's side, eyes wide in fear. The fear
turned into relief when she realized that her mother was
merely unconscious. Ranma picked her up, and lept for the
roofs, heading for the hospital, the Senshi hot on her
heels.
A few hours later, the news came to Ranma. Nodoka had
suffered a broken rib and a concussion. Ranma's visit to her
was unfortunately brief, before she was ushered out. Three
girls approached Ranma as she stumbled from the room. "Are
you alright?" The taller blonde asked.
Ranma shook her head. "No... my mother's hurt, my
friends are dead... and I can't do a damn thing."
The shorter blonde looked to Ranma. "Can we speak with
you?"
Ranma shrugged as she was led toward the roof. "So what
do you want?"
As they turned the corner, Sailors Uranus, Neptune and
Saturn were standing there. Ranma paused and then closed her
eyes. "The offer?" She asked, assuming the other three were
friends of there or more.
Usagi nodded. "Yes... we felt the crystal break, so we
came... I'm glad we did."
Ranma felt a surge of anger at a wounded ego, but
Akane's cries of refusal to Ranma's help echoed in her ears,
and she kept it down. "Thanks... it was an accident though."
Usagi shrugged. "It's alright. But we were wondering if
you had thought about it at all.
Ranma nodded quietly. "Yes... Yes I have. I wasn't
going to. But..."
"That woman is a relative?" Makoto asked.
Ranma swallows hard. "She's my mother. She doesn't know
it, but she is."
Minako blinked. "How could she not know she's your
mother?"
Ranma sighed. "Because I wasn't born like this. I was
turned into a girl by a curse."
Sailor Uranus barely restrained a chuckle. "Looks like
you got the better of the deal."
Ranma growled and then sighed. "Thanks to my idiot pop,
I've been hiding from her because of this. Because of some
stupid agreement he made."
Usagi nodded softly, then said, "You should tell her.
Whether or not you take us up on our offer,, you need to
tell her. As dangerous as it is, you may never get the
chance."
Ranma looked at Usagi. "Taking up your offer means I
would go against everything I was ever taught. Needless to
say, I'm a bit hesitant."
Usagi nodded softly. "We can understand that. But would
you do it to protect everyone you care for? Your mother?"
Ranma froze and sighed. "Blackmail."
Makoto steamed but Usagi waved her back. "No. You can
stay as you are, and fight as you are," Usagi said, "or you
can join us. We can fight together, and we'll win. We'll do
our best to make sure no one else gets killed."
Ranma closed her eyes and sighed. As much as it galled
her. As much as Ranma would lose... it would be worth it.
Worth it to make sure Akane would live to give that
beautiful smile. Worth it to make sure mother would be there
for her. Worth it to not have the blood of her friends on
her hands.
Ranma looked up at the croud about her. "Give me one
day. Then meet me right here."
Without a responce, Ranma slipped back into the
hospital.
Ranma looked at the slumbering Nodoka, sighing gently.
"Mom... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let pop talk me into
lying to you. This stupid curse kept me away from you. I
mean how can I be the man you wanted when I have boobs half
the time? " She took her mother's hand and sighed gently.
"Mom... I'm going to have to do something. It may mean
you'll never see your son again. But I have to do this. I
have to make sure that you'll be alive..." She whispered,
closing her eyes.
Because she closed her eyes, she didn't see the shock on
her mother's face. "R... Ranma? Is that you?" She whispered
hoarsely.
Ranma looked up, a flash of fear entering her eyes,
before settling on resignation. "Yes, mother, it's me. I
didn't want to lie to you, but I guess I don't look all that
manly right now."
Nodoka blinked, and then hugged her softly. "Ranma... I
understand. Your father may have much to answer for for
this, but I love you, my child. And I don't care whether I
have my son back, or I have a daughter. As long as I have
you with me, I don't care."
Ranma blinked. She was unable to hold back the tears
that had threatened to fall for the last hour as she held
her mother tightly.
Nodoka whispered, "So, Ranma, what are you doing?"
Ranma braced herself, then looked up at her mother.
"Those creatures... I don't know how to stop them by myself.
But some people want me to help them. They've taken these
creatures out, and they want me to join them. But I don't
know what it'll do to me. I just wanted you to know before I
did it."
Nodoka looked at Ranma, and whispers, "I don't care, my
child. Having the courage to come tell me. Having the
courage to sacrifice possibly everything to save people...
That's all I could have ever asked for. You've proven
yourself manly, even if you do have a woman's body. That's
all I ever wanted. You have my blessings, my son, my
daughter. No matter what."
Ranma nodded softly, then sighed. "There's someone else
I have to talk to, mother..." She stood quietly. Nodoka
paused, then nodded softly. "Yes. I understand. Take care,
my child." She whispered, as Ranma left the room.
There was a knock on the glass, barely loud enough to
wake up Akane. Grumbling, the blue-black haired girl opened
her eyes and looked out the window. Irritated, she sat up
and moved toward the window, opening it. "Ranma, what are
you d..." Her protest died upon her lips, however, as she
saw the resignation on her iinazuke's face. "Akane.. I need
to talk to you. It's very important."
"It'd better be for your sake," Akane protested weakly.
Ranma slipped in and closed the window. "Akane... I've
got to do something. I might not come back. Or I might not
come back the way you knew. But I've got to do this."
Akane looked at Ranma, confused. "What are you talking
about?"
"Someone offered me a way to stop the monsters. But I
don't know what it'll do to me." Ranma said simply. "I...
they said I should talk to you, let you know."
Akane blinked, a bit awed. "Ranma... why are you
telling me this?"
Ranma paused, then sighed. "Because I love you. I've
wanted to tell you for so long. Now I have to tell you,
before it could be too late." She says, sighing as she sinks
a bit.
Akane looked over Ranma with tears in her eyes, before
hugging the demi-girl tightly. "Ranma, you don't have to do
this..."
Ranma sighed and hugged her tightly. "I have to.
Because I can't lose you. I can't lose mom. I've already
lost possibly the only two people I can call friends. I
can't lose the ones I love. I have to do this. Even if I
lose myself in the process."
Akane winced and sighed. "Alright... But promise me
you'll come back. No matter what."
Ranma paused, then nodded. "I promise, Akane. On my
honor."
Akane began to cry softly, as Ranma rocked her gently.
The next morning, Ranma stood upon the roof of the
hospital. As promised, the Senshi were waiting for her.
Ranma sighed. "Alright. What do I do?"
Sailor Moon nodded. "Follow us. I'm sure Rei won't
mind..." She said quietly as she led the Senshi and Ranma
toward the Hikawa Shrine...
The shrine was quiet, almost suffused with a funerial
air. The six Senshi and one half-girl were joined by a
seventh woman in a fuku, bearing a key-like staff, a child
in a pink fuku, and a man in a mask and tuxedo. The girl and
woman nodded to Ranma in recognition, and the man in
resignation. Behind the two were two small memorials, each
bearing a picture. Upon those memorials were small glowing
orbs.
Sailor Moon paused, then concentrated, as her fuku
became a glowing gown of white. "Saotome Ranma, this has
never happened before. We have lost two of our number, and
now we have humbly asked you to take up the position of one
of the fallen. We can only ask that she may forgive us for
what we will do today. Do you, Saotome Ranma, promise to
fight for love, justice and humanity and to protect all who
live for peace?"
It was time for Ranma's final choice. After this, Ranma
realized, she would have to accept any consequences of her
actions. She nodded. "I do."
With tears in her eyes, Eternal Sailor Moon stepped
forward, taking up the glowing orb upon the left monument.
"Mizuno Ami, Sailor Mercury reborn, fought and died to
protect. We now beg you, Ami, to accept this warrior and
help her so that more need not die." She then walked toward
Ranma, and placed the orb in her hand. "This is Ami's Star
Seed, the focus of everything she is and was. Will you
accept it, for good and for ill?"
Ranma, not sure what to do, nodded softly and took the
orb. Some call urged her to place the orb to her chest. And
she gasped as the world turned light...
A brilliant void surrounded the martial artist as she,
or rather he, floated in it. Ranma wondered when he had
changed, and where he was, when another form drifted in
front of her. An azure shadow drifted before him and
whispered, "So you are Ranma." The figure moved closer,
revealing more detail the face.
Ranma blinked as he remembered the picture from the
monument. "Ami... I'm sorry." He whispered.
Ami shook her head. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault.
It's not their fault either. They are doing the right thing.
I'm dead. But if I can help them, I will. Even if it means
becoming you."
Ranma was unsure whether to take that as an insult or
merely a comment. Ami laughed. "No, I am not saying that is
a bad thing. It is just that much will happen when we become
one." Her voice became apologetic as she said, "You won't
have this body anymore."
Ranma blinked but nodded. "I should have figured... I
guess I'll have to do it. I can't let them die."
Ami moved to hold Ranma tightly. "You'll do the Senshi
great honor... to be willing to sacrifice so very much." She
closed her eyes as she began to fade, suffusing Ranma's body
with a light. The light grew until Ranma's eyes closed...
A light flared in the Senshi's eyes, as the woman
changed. First she became an unfamiliar looking man, then
the light flared... leaving a new woman before them.
She was slightly taller than the diminutive redhead they
had invited into the shrine, yet not as tall as the woman
who had departed. Her hair was a dark onyx, save for near
the back where it faded into a red pigtail. Her eyes were a
stormy blue, set in a heart-shaped face. Above was a tiara
with a stormy blue sapphire at it's front. Framing her body
is a sparkling white fuku with a pearlescent blue trim,
covering her somewhat more modest bosom. A slightly longer
fuku reaches to mid thigh. A pair of knee-length dark blue
boots cover her lower legs, but these boots have a tracework
of metal along them, with a stylistic horse upon the front.
And upon her forearms, instead of the elbow-length gloves of
the other senshi, were a pair of blue steel bracers.
The other Senshi looked on in amazement. "Welcome,
Sailor Mercury." Eternal Sailor Moon whispered softly.
Sailor Moon and all related properties are properties of
Naoko Takeuchi. Ranma ½ and all related properties are
properties of Rumiko Takahashi. This story is inspired by
Vaughan Stevens' "Recruiting" and I owe him a debt of
gratitude for a good story and inspiration.
Chapter 04 -
Ranma - Death and Rebirth
Ranma began to burn with fury as she looked upon the
sight in the alley. A hideous creature who's body seemed to
be coated in serrated spines was looming over a very
familiar woman. In a voice filled with malice, she rasped,
"Let her go..."
The Shredder looked away from Nodoka, staring at the
diminutive figure. "I could use an appetizer before the main
course..." It said in it's bone-grinding voice, as it
stomped toward Ranma.
Nodoka's eyes widened, and she screamed, "RANKO! GET
AWAY!" before she was kicked into a wall almost idly.
The Shredder leaped toward Ranma, who almost blurred as
she suddenly wasn't there anymore. Two pieces of rebar were,
however. Both rammed straight through the creature, as Ranma
swung two more bars rapidly, both lashing hard into the
creature, pounding a tattoo into it's back.
The creature howled in pain and spun toward Ranma.
Ranma threw the rebars in her hands through the creature,
before sending a ki blast for it's head, tearing off a great
chunk. The Shredder stumbled toward him, roaring in pain and
fury. It took two steps before being vaporized. When the
ashes cleared, Ranma saw three figures on the other side of
the alley.
Sailor Moon stepped forward, but Ranma didn't care, as
she rushed to Nodoka's side, eyes wide in fear. The fear
turned into relief when she realized that her mother was
merely unconscious. Ranma picked her up, and lept for the
roofs, heading for the hospital, the Senshi hot on her
heels.
A few hours later, the news came to Ranma. Nodoka had
suffered a broken rib and a concussion. Ranma's visit to her
was unfortunately brief, before she was ushered out. Three
girls approached Ranma as she stumbled from the room. "Are
you alright?" The taller blonde asked.
Ranma shook her head. "No... my mother's hurt, my
friends are dead... and I can't do a damn thing."
The shorter blonde looked to Ranma. "Can we speak with
you?"
Ranma shrugged as she was led toward the roof. "So what
do you want?"
As they turned the corner, Sailors Uranus, Neptune and
Saturn were standing there. Ranma paused and then closed her
eyes. "The offer?" She asked, assuming the other three were
friends of there or more.
Usagi nodded. "Yes... we felt the crystal break, so we
came... I'm glad we did."
Ranma felt a surge of anger at a wounded ego, but
Akane's cries of refusal to Ranma's help echoed in her ears,
and she kept it down. "Thanks... it was an accident though."
Usagi shrugged. "It's alright. But we were wondering if
you had thought about it at all.
Ranma nodded quietly. "Yes... Yes I have. I wasn't
going to. But..."
"That woman is a relative?" Makoto asked.
Ranma swallows hard. "She's my mother. She doesn't know
it, but she is."
Minako blinked. "How could she not know she's your
mother?"
Ranma sighed. "Because I wasn't born like this. I was
turned into a girl by a curse."
Sailor Uranus barely restrained a chuckle. "Looks like
you got the better of the deal."
Ranma growled and then sighed. "Thanks to my idiot pop,
I've been hiding from her because of this. Because of some
stupid agreement he made."
Usagi nodded softly, then said, "You should tell her.
Whether or not you take us up on our offer,, you need to
tell her. As dangerous as it is, you may never get the
chance."
Ranma looked at Usagi. "Taking up your offer means I
would go against everything I was ever taught. Needless to
say, I'm a bit hesitant."
Usagi nodded softly. "We can understand that. But would
you do it to protect everyone you care for? Your mother?"
Ranma froze and sighed. "Blackmail."
Makoto steamed but Usagi waved her back. "No. You can
stay as you are, and fight as you are," Usagi said, "or you
can join us. We can fight together, and we'll win. We'll do
our best to make sure no one else gets killed."
Ranma closed her eyes and sighed. As much as it galled
her. As much as Ranma would lose... it would be worth it.
Worth it to make sure Akane would live to give that
beautiful smile. Worth it to make sure mother would be there
for her. Worth it to not have the blood of her friends on
her hands.
Ranma looked up at the croud about her. "Give me one
day. Then meet me right here."
Without a responce, Ranma slipped back into the
hospital.
Ranma looked at the slumbering Nodoka, sighing gently.
"Mom... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let pop talk me into
lying to you. This stupid curse kept me away from you. I
mean how can I be the man you wanted when I have boobs half
the time? " She took her mother's hand and sighed gently.
"Mom... I'm going to have to do something. It may mean
you'll never see your son again. But I have to do this. I
have to make sure that you'll be alive..." She whispered,
closing her eyes.
Because she closed her eyes, she didn't see the shock on
her mother's face. "R... Ranma? Is that you?" She whispered
hoarsely.
Ranma looked up, a flash of fear entering her eyes,
before settling on resignation. "Yes, mother, it's me. I
didn't want to lie to you, but I guess I don't look all that
manly right now."
Nodoka blinked, and then hugged her softly. "Ranma... I
understand. Your father may have much to answer for for
this, but I love you, my child. And I don't care whether I
have my son back, or I have a daughter. As long as I have
you with me, I don't care."
Ranma blinked. She was unable to hold back the tears
that had threatened to fall for the last hour as she held
her mother tightly.
Nodoka whispered, "So, Ranma, what are you doing?"
Ranma braced herself, then looked up at her mother.
"Those creatures... I don't know how to stop them by myself.
But some people want me to help them. They've taken these
creatures out, and they want me to join them. But I don't
know what it'll do to me. I just wanted you to know before I
did it."
Nodoka looked at Ranma, and whispers, "I don't care, my
child. Having the courage to come tell me. Having the
courage to sacrifice possibly everything to save people...
That's all I could have ever asked for. You've proven
yourself manly, even if you do have a woman's body. That's
all I ever wanted. You have my blessings, my son, my
daughter. No matter what."
Ranma nodded softly, then sighed. "There's someone else
I have to talk to, mother..." She stood quietly. Nodoka
paused, then nodded softly. "Yes. I understand. Take care,
my child." She whispered, as Ranma left the room.
There was a knock on the glass, barely loud enough to
wake up Akane. Grumbling, the blue-black haired girl opened
her eyes and looked out the window. Irritated, she sat up
and moved toward the window, opening it. "Ranma, what are
you d..." Her protest died upon her lips, however, as she
saw the resignation on her iinazuke's face. "Akane.. I need
to talk to you. It's very important."
"It'd better be for your sake," Akane protested weakly.
Ranma slipped in and closed the window. "Akane... I've
got to do something. I might not come back. Or I might not
come back the way you knew. But I've got to do this."
Akane looked at Ranma, confused. "What are you talking
about?"
"Someone offered me a way to stop the monsters. But I
don't know what it'll do to me." Ranma said simply. "I...
they said I should talk to you, let you know."
Akane blinked, a bit awed. "Ranma... why are you
telling me this?"
Ranma paused, then sighed. "Because I love you. I've
wanted to tell you for so long. Now I have to tell you,
before it could be too late." She says, sighing as she sinks
a bit.
Akane looked over Ranma with tears in her eyes, before
hugging the demi-girl tightly. "Ranma, you don't have to do
this..."
Ranma sighed and hugged her tightly. "I have to.
Because I can't lose you. I can't lose mom. I've already
lost possibly the only two people I can call friends. I
can't lose the ones I love. I have to do this. Even if I
lose myself in the process."
Akane winced and sighed. "Alright... But promise me
you'll come back. No matter what."
Ranma paused, then nodded. "I promise, Akane. On my
honor."
Akane began to cry softly, as Ranma rocked her gently.
The next morning, Ranma stood upon the roof of the
hospital. As promised, the Senshi were waiting for her.
Ranma sighed. "Alright. What do I do?"
Sailor Moon nodded. "Follow us. I'm sure Rei won't
mind..." She said quietly as she led the Senshi and Ranma
toward the Hikawa Shrine...
The shrine was quiet, almost suffused with a funerial
air. The six Senshi and one half-girl were joined by a
seventh woman in a fuku, bearing a key-like staff, a child
in a pink fuku, and a man in a mask and tuxedo. The girl and
woman nodded to Ranma in recognition, and the man in
resignation. Behind the two were two small memorials, each
bearing a picture. Upon those memorials were small glowing
orbs.
Sailor Moon paused, then concentrated, as her fuku
became a glowing gown of white. "Saotome Ranma, this has
never happened before. We have lost two of our number, and
now we have humbly asked you to take up the position of one
of the fallen. We can only ask that she may forgive us for
what we will do today. Do you, Saotome Ranma, promise to
fight for love, justice and humanity and to protect all who
live for peace?"
It was time for Ranma's final choice. After this, Ranma
realized, she would have to accept any consequences of her
actions. She nodded. "I do."
With tears in her eyes, Eternal Sailor Moon stepped
forward, taking up the glowing orb upon the left monument.
"Mizuno Ami, Sailor Mercury reborn, fought and died to
protect. We now beg you, Ami, to accept this warrior and
help her so that more need not die." She then walked toward
Ranma, and placed the orb in her hand. "This is Ami's Star
Seed, the focus of everything she is and was. Will you
accept it, for good and for ill?"
Ranma, not sure what to do, nodded softly and took the
orb. Some call urged her to place the orb to her chest. And
she gasped as the world turned light...
A brilliant void surrounded the martial artist as she,
or rather he, floated in it. Ranma wondered when he had
changed, and where he was, when another form drifted in
front of her. An azure shadow drifted before him and
whispered, "So you are Ranma." The figure moved closer,
revealing more detail the face.
Ranma blinked as he remembered the picture from the
monument. "Ami... I'm sorry." He whispered.
Ami shook her head. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault.
It's not their fault either. They are doing the right thing.
I'm dead. But if I can help them, I will. Even if it means
becoming you."
Ranma was unsure whether to take that as an insult or
merely a comment. Ami laughed. "No, I am not saying that is
a bad thing. It is just that much will happen when we become
one." Her voice became apologetic as she said, "You won't
have this body anymore."
Ranma blinked but nodded. "I should have figured... I
guess I'll have to do it. I can't let them die."
Ami moved to hold Ranma tightly. "You'll do the Senshi
great honor... to be willing to sacrifice so very much." She
closed her eyes as she began to fade, suffusing Ranma's body
with a light. The light grew until Ranma's eyes closed...
A light flared in the Senshi's eyes, as the woman
changed. First she became an unfamiliar looking man, then
the light flared... leaving a new woman before them.
She was slightly taller than the diminutive redhead they
had invited into the shrine, yet not as tall as the woman
who had departed. Her hair was a dark onyx, save for near
the back where it faded into a red pigtail. Her eyes were a
stormy blue, set in a heart-shaped face. Above was a tiara
with a stormy blue sapphire at it's front. Framing her body
is a sparkling white fuku with a pearlescent blue trim,
covering her somewhat more modest bosom. A slightly longer
fuku reaches to mid thigh. A pair of knee-length dark blue
boots cover her lower legs, but these boots have a tracework
of metal along them, with a stylistic horse upon the front.
And upon her forearms, instead of the elbow-length gloves of
the other senshi, were a pair of blue steel bracers.
The other Senshi looked on in amazement. "Welcome,
Sailor Mercury." Eternal Sailor Moon whispered softly.