Ranma was written by Takahashi Rumiko and published as an anime by Kitty Films - Fuji TV and Viz Communications, Inc.
Sailor Moon was published as an anime by Toei Animation and Geneon Entertainment
Ah! My Goddess was written by Kosuke Fujishima and published as an anime by AIC and AnimEgo
They own their own characters and other such trademarks, only characters that I make are owned by me.
Also Special thanks goes to my pre readers Urborg, and J. St.C. Patrick of fukufics dot com
Chapter 2 – History Unraveled
Direct violence was not really Amaterasu's style but to get her point across she did three things to leave the lasting impression that she could hit them where it would hurt the most. Amaterasu walked casually towards the door, she looked back at the crowd and without breaking stride she said, "Don't move, I shall return momentarily."
When she returned a few moments later she was carrying the Tendo dojo sign. Soun looked as if he were about to do something but with a wave of her hand he was rendered immobile. She walked back to the place where she stood before Ranma disappeared. She turned to the crowd and narrowed her eyes. "Before I take my leave I must first punish you for your actions and behaviors over the last year. Take heart I will not physically harm any of you. However those who deserve retribution shall receive it in the best manner that I see fit."
After Amaterasu said that she lifted the dojo sign over her head and broke it in half. She then ignited both halves and everyone watched in shocked horror as the dojo sign was burned completely in about a minute.
The next thing she did was to approach Nodoka, who was still bowing in respect. "Please stand up Nodoka Saotome" As she used Nodoka's full name and no honorific many wondered at what she was about to do.
Amaterasu looked at the middle aged woman before her, she knew that Nodoka was hard working, traditional, and possibly more trusting then Ranma was, which was no small feat. However she knew that her belief in tradition was what ultimately led to some of Ranma's problems. She decided that Nodoka would be easy to set upon the proper path, although one thing needed to be done.
"Please give me your Family's honor blade." Nodoka hesitated a moment then carefully unwrapped the sword and gave it to the goddess of the sun. Amaterasu took the blade and walked to where she was standing before. She spoke in a very sagely tone and said, "A family is a collective of people who may or may not be of blood. They are united by beliefs, and honor. The Honor blade is a symbol; it represents that as a whole a family of honor can be strong and hold together. A family is tempered by experience both good and bad. However a family without honor, or more tragically misplaced honor, should not have such a representation." With that she swung the blade side on against the podium and it broke in half. She then approached Nodoka and gave the broken blade back. "Your honor is damaged, as now is your blade, however, like wounds, honor can be restored in time. Do not let yourself be blinded into doing something because others say it is the honorable thing; because, it may not be."
"For now Nodoka, Ranma is somewhere safe, as per the deal with your husband…" she chose to ignore the countless snorts in the room, "…it is my prerogative to take him to where I feel is best."
She turned and walked toward the podium again and said with mirth, "By the way Nabiki Tendo, the charity, 'Save the Insurance Companies,' thanks you for your generous donation." With that she vanished in a flash of fire. Nabiki quickly ran from the room and checked her secret stash of money in her room. Only to find it almost all gone and her bank account reflected that as well, if the new bank entries in her bank book were correct.
From Asgard Amaterasu watched Nabiki frantically searching for her missing money, while the others of the wedding party took more time to collect themselves. Now she had to wait for Setsuna to change her avatar's name to Ranma Tenpino. That way these fools could not cause needless problems.
Amaterasu became lost in her own thoughts as she had thought about the situation, 'If Nodoka will truly change her ways then she will be invited back into Ranma's life. If Nodoka will change has yet to be seen. Nodoka and Genma's choices on Ranma's future are far too close minded to be healthy for Ranma at the moment, and if they continued putting pressure on him, then the results at best could leave me avatar less, at worse…'
She paused in thought for a moment before continuing, 'No matter, if things go that way then I will worry about it then; for now Setsuna had offered to put him up in the home where she lived with Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru. I would prefer to interfere with his life as little as possible but with the coming challenges the Sailor Senshi would face she had to act. Ragnarok was coming, and, from what she knew, if her avatar survived so would she. After Ragnarok occurs and the world is reborn, The Senshi's dream of Crystal Tokyo will give enough time for peace.'
As Genma ran he recalled the first time he met the Sun Goddess. He was unaware, at the time that, she was a goddess, all he knew was she had food. Ranma was only six at the time, but smart enough to realize not to get in the middle of his father's messes. The deal was that in exchange for a meal, a fairly large one, eventually Ranma would be her avatar. After he started eating he asked what an avatar was. She told him that it was like an heir, without the inheriting titles and such, meaning he would never be expected to replace her.
Also as her avatar he would eventually learn techniques and become powerful. Genma did not want her to get too attached; she would only weaken him he thought. The next day he left with Ranma, however once every two weeks she would appear and 'claim' Ranma for the day. She would drill honor into him until he was so honorable his honor was without question. She was able to drill in some manners; this is why he apologized to the Tendo's when they first met. However his eating habits could not be changed. Genma enjoyed her frustration at that immensely.
Amaterasu had returned to her room in Asgard; she, like Genma, was reminiscing about what led up to that incident in the dojo. About ten years ago Amaterasu was walking through Asgard, when she overheard a few fellow deities talking; one of them was her sister, the moon goddess. They were happy that their avatars were reborn. As she was walking by, she heard her sister speak up, "Hey sis! Why don't you have an avatar yet?"
She looked back at her sister and smiled. She replied after a moment of thinking, "I have never felt the need to have one, after all an avatar is just more responsibility."
Jupiter raised his eyebrow and said, "No it's not, at least not much more. Also if you pick them young you can help mold them, it's like being a parent minus diaper changes." He chuckled at that last part. And got swatted for the comment by Venus.
Her sister, the moon goddess, looked at her and asked, "So when are you going to pick an avatar? You need to hurry up, Ragnarok is coming, and if you want to increase your chances of survival, you will need an avatar that can survive the big freeze on Midgard when it happens."
Amaterasu shook her head and said, "I will find one when the time is right."
Selene looked at her sister and politely snapped, "Your time is running out."
She relented only so much as to say, "Perhaps, but I want to look first, and find one that is worthy, before making a decision." Some of her friends in this group had been pestering her for the last millennium about her avatar-less status. They insisted that it was like their angels; you simply had to have one. They continued pestering her but while she claimed that she had yet to look, she was looking, but could not find anyone that met her desired criteria
After she finally escaped her sister and her group she decided to go looking again. Perhaps a couple years on Midgard would be just the thing now. Since she was an unlimited she could simply come and go as she wished, she just had to sign out for Formality's sake; after all Formality was a close friend and she did not want her in trouble.
Some time later, it was the end of her two year search on Midgard Earth, and she was walking down a path near her current lodging, when she saw a cute little boy about six years old. He was walking with his father and with her ability to read souls she became instantly fond of the boy, his father on the other hand was bad news. She decided to meet these two.
After the initial meeting she offered food and shelter for the night. While they ate she quickly returned to Asgard to make the proper arrangements for Ranma to become her avatar.
She walked into her father's office. Kami-sama was expecting her, of course, and as she walked in she heard his booming voice, "WELCOME DAUGHTER, I HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN WELL."
She smiled and replied back, "Of course I have and I am certain that you knew of that."
Kami-sama smiled and then said, "TRUE, BUT IT DOES NOT HURT TO BE POLITE. YOU ARE HERE ABOUT RANMA BECOMING YOUR AVATAR CORRECT?"
She nodded politely
His smile grew bigger and continued, "I THINK HE IS AN EXELENT CHOICE, BUT HIS DESTINY IS TO BE WILD AND UNBREAKABLE, HOWEVER IN HIS CORE HE IS MUCH LIKE YOUR SISTER'S CHOSEN AVATAR. I GIVE YOU MY PERMISSION. REMEMBER TO TEACH HIM WHAT HE NEEDS TO KNOW, THE OTHERS' ARE REINCARNATED AND WILL REMEMBER MOST OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT. BUT MOST OF ALL ENJOY YOURSELF DOWN THERE. YOUR DUTIES CAN ALWAYS WAIT A FEW DAYS WHILE YOU DO WHAT YOU MUST."
She bowed and said, "Thank you father, I will do my best."
With that she left, Kami-sama looked at Ranma's file and shook his head, his daughter made a good choice, but a hard one too.
Amaterasu proceeded to the 'Department of Angels and Avatars', where she had to go through a mountain of paper work to make it official.
She returned, having been gone for only twenty minutes. Asgard may have a lot of bureaucracy, but it helped by having all the paperwork done in a temporally accelerated chamber. She made the offer and introduced herself properly; Genma ignored the goddess part but heard about the food. She had looked them up while in Asgard and saw what happened to Ukyo a month ago. She knew that Genma could be bought for food; fortunately she knew that being her avatar would make Ranma immune to any pacts with demons on his behalf.
After they left she returned to Asgard and asked Skuld, Fate, and Destiny to look at his future; they had told her about Jusenkyo and his various possible adventures. That was when it struck her and she almost ran to her father about setting her up, Saotome indeed. Fate noticed her sudden change in posture, she asked what was wrong, but being Fate she knew the answer.
Amaterasu looked at Fate and said, "My avatar's name is Ranma Saotome, it translates as Wild horse rice planting girl. This is obviously a setup."
Fate smiled and replied, "Only father would know for sure but all must run by the designs that are laid out. Mortals, however, individually cannot normally be directly affected by such as Destiny and I. Yet we only symbolize Fate and Destiny, not even we can control it as it is not anyone's to control but the Ultimate Force. Even your father is bound to it, as it is bound to him."
As most of her meetings with Fate and Destiny she came away with a headache and useless information. "Just enough rope…" she muttered.
It had been two weeks since Genma made the deal with Amaterasu; of course he had long forgotten about it. He had felt, 'It was probably just some lonely crazy lady. I have to admit she was beautiful in her own way, though she was no Nodoka, but she had no katana either. But you find beautiful traditional women like her everywhere.' He saw one nearby, walking in their direction. 'There is one now, and look Ranma is running up to her calling 'Ama-san'… crap'
"Hello Genma, I have come to train Ranma as per our deal, you do remember it right?" he heard her say.
Of course his brain was elsewhere, as usual, probably in some bar getting very drunk.
Amaterasu knew full well that Genma was about to try and back out of his promise. And she was ready, she hated what she had to do, however she knew three important things about Genma: One, he could be bought easily; two, he was greedy; three, he was easily distracted.
Genma stated, "Woman I have no idea what you are talking about, I made no deals like that over my son, you are mistaken."
She looked annoyed but only mildly, as if she expected this but hoped better. She then spoke, "Fine Genma I will play it your way, down this road is a tavern called 'The Wooden Nickel', they have your name and are prepaid a fair amount, I will feed Ranma while I train him. We will set up camp near that tree." She pointed at a tree in a field at the last part. "All you have to do is be back by dawn."
With that the seller of his child was gone. Amaterasu sighed; it is going to be an expensive ten years.
With that she scooped up Ranma and the walked to the tree to setup the camp. She intended to give Ranma a proper education; no avatar of hers would be illiterate. And she swore she would get some table manners into him, a vow that she still had to achieve even ten years later.
It was now about two months since Amaterasu found Ranma and decided he would be her avatar. She was on Midgard at the time enjoying the beauty of the environment before she had to get to work with Ranma's training. She had done more research on Ranma and found out about the 'man among men' pledge, she decided as bad as Genma was, Nodoka was worse especially given his Jusenkyo future. She had hopes that Ranma and his mother could reconcile but that was a bridge that she would cross later.
As she was sitting, and lightly sleeping, on the porch of the small house where she was staying, she was awakened by a strange sound. It was getting closer, then she saw Ranma burst through the hedge. She smiled at the sight until she noticed something. He was acting like a cat. She carefully pulled Ranma on to her lap and looked Genma into his eyes when he bounced into sight a few minutes later. She was tempted to gut him right then and there. Ranma was lucky, there were no permanent injuries; however she would need Bast's help to get him back to a normal state.
"Genma, I need to take Ranma with me for a few days, return to the camp and stay there, when I return I will decide what punishment you deserve for trying to teach him the neko-ken. Yes, I know what you did, and know this it is for Ranma's sake alone that you will live for now." After Amaterasu said that she disappeared in a short flash of fire.
She returned a few days later, Bast did what she could. Ranma would carry the neko-ken for now; it was too dangerous to cure now. But at least it would have defense mechanisms. He would seek out a safe place when threatened under the neko-ken and Bast assured her that Ranma's neko self would always act like his true self, not a deranged killing machine.
Ranma and Amaterasu were sitting under a tree. It was four years since they first met and it was time for the discussion that she feared the most. She needed to get him do design his uniform. Fortunately she could just not tell him about the girl part of it until later, 'like in 6 years…' she thought.
Genma was currently 'Exploring other possible training locations, and techniques.' This meant that he was out drinking. Ranma was happily eating next to her while she contemplated how to approach this delicate topic. She had to be careful or else she could accidentally use a term that would tip off Ranma about Jusenkyo. Sure she wanted to lessen the problems in Ranma's life but for him to survive he needed his father's idiocy for now.
The Goddess repressed a sigh, she wanted to get Ranma away from Genma, however due to certain rules that Kami-sama set down she couldn't. The worst of it was that the neko-ken saved his life more then once. Although she suspected Bast was involved with that, there was no evidence beyond a cat happening to be in the right place at the right time.
She was glad he would have a male transformed state as that would likely keep him distracted from the other state. He would have both forms but the power scheme would be different. As a girl her speed would be unmatched except by Pluto's teleportation. As a boy his strength would easily surpass all the others. However in the terms of magical attacks his male form would have more power in the aggressive attacks; however his aggressive attacks would pale against his non-aggressive ones.
It will be a hit to his pride that in truth he will be slightly below average in the power department in either form, but at least the other abilities will be accessible in a non-transformed state. It would be also true that Ranma's power would be close enough to the others that he may not notice, however as he is already trained. His potential would be reached immediately where as the other senshi would be on his level before they receive serious training. Also his Ki usage would not be compatible with the Senshi training, they would complement each other but the powers will not stack.
Ranma who just finished eating his fill, was looking at her with his big innocent eyes. She could delay no longer, the others were curious as to how this would turn out and would not relent. She started in a serious voice, "Ranma you have been my avatar for four years and your training in what it means to be my avatar is almost complete." She saw she had his full attention, she just hoped nothing near by would distract him. She continued after only a slight pause, "However it is time for you to help me design your uniform. However unlike a school uniform this one will give you magical powers, ones you have earned." She had to include that last qualifier or else Ranma would have been lost on the matter, after all Ranma had a natural dislike for sudden and unearned power-ups. This dislike for free power comes from the neko-ken training, that left a scar that had yet to completely heal.
She looked up for a moment then back at him and asked, "Lets start with the torso, what kind of armor do you think would be best?"
Ranma looked at her quizzically and replied, "If I have ta, it gotta be something I can move in."
She smiled already expecting this answer, the standard Sailor Senshi uniform would fit that perfectly, but it was more the colors she was trying to get him to pick for it, she would simply base it on the colors of his male form and standardize it.
After a moment of chanting a ghostly image of Ranma appeared before them. Ama-san put her index finger to her lips and pursed them in thought. Then waved her hand and asked, "How about some body armor to start with?" The armor that appeared was the same shape of a sleeveless tank-top, it was a light grey, and looked sculpted to appear to be covering well defined muscles, there was also no undershirt.
Ranma looked at it, sure he hated this idea, but if it would make her happy he could go along with it, 'besides it is just for special occasions.' He mused. 'Its not like I have to fight in it...'
He looked back at Amaterasu and spoke in a flat voice, "I don't know Ama-san, I think it is a little dull. If you are the goddess of the sun shouldn't it be bright or somethin'? And I think there should be some sort of picture or something on the front."
Amaterasu smiled and looked at her avatar and she thought, 'this should be easier then I thought.' She waved her hand and the armor became bright white with a red rising phoenix design on the chest, it was also double bordered with trim, the inner was red, and the outer was black.
Chibi-Ranma smiled and then said, "Looks a lot better."
The sun goddess smiled at her charge, his smile could light up a room, "Ok how about we do your slacks next?" With a wave of her hand the ghost wavered and reformed.
Ranma looked at the new image and his smile faded, "Ama-san, can you make it like these slacks? Those look too tight."
Amaterasu sighed as she returned the ghostly image back to his current slacks. 'Well…' she thought, 'he would have to draw the line somewhere.' After a moment she waved her hand again this time the slacks were dark red with black trim on the bottom.
Ranma smiled and nodded, he disliked the light and darkness difference between the armor and slacks but, he knew he had no taste. He had completely missed the little black bow that was on the waist band of the slacks, but at his angle it did not look enough like a bow for him to notice or care.
Amaterasu stared for a minute and thought aloud, "What next?"
Ranma spoke up with a big grin, "A cape!"
Amaterasu looked at him for a moment and he continued, "Every super hero has a cape!"
Amaterasu wondered where Ranma came across comic books, but shrugged and figured it would only make him that much more dashing. She waved her hand again and a black cape with a red sigil of the sun on the back appeared on the image.
She waved her hand again and said, "You needed gloves to complete the look Ranma-kun." The gloves were black and just a little over wrist length and the trim at the end of the glove was dark red on her gloves were red.
Ranma looked at his image and nodded, Ama-san was doing more of this on her own right now, but he had begun to lose interest anywhere. However he did notice something, "Don't forget slippers Ama-san."
Ama-san waved her hand and said, "Boots I think would be better."
Ranma pouted and whined, "Slippers!"
Ama-san looked stubborn and stated, "Boots!"
Ranma proudly said, "Slippers, they're easier to fight in"
The goddess sighed, she knew there was no beating a child in a war of stubbornness, she caved and said, "Fine you win." She waved her hand and slippers, like those Ranma was wearing, appear on the mannequin, however, in keeping with the theme, they are black trimmed with red. Ranma sat there happily smirking.
His smirk slipped when she waved her hand and a circlet appeared on the image's head. "Ama-san…" he whined, "I don't need a girly what ever that is." The circlet was golden and looked like a pair of 'flat' 'S's on their side, in the middle of his forehead was a small back gem with a red Sol sigil on it.
Ama-san chastised him, "It called a circlet and it makes you very dashing and I am quite sure when you are grown-up you will look manly." She, of course, knew all his buttons, and this got him to stop complaining. She hated using that kind of line on him, but in this case it was needed.
Now came he hardest fight, this was the last tweak on the uniform, the katana and the kodachi. Ranma hated weapons, but as her avatar he needed to be able to use the traditional weapons of a samurai. She decided to leave him without a tanto because the tanto is supposed to be the traditional weapon of self death. As her Avatar this option is closed to him so the lack of the tanto would be symbolic of his eternal fight. Sure his body would wear out eventually, but that is reality, and this was symbolic.
She waved her hand once more and the swords appeared in the image. The sheaths were dark red and had white engravings on them. They looked like dragons to Ranma but it was hard to make out. The handles were both black with a red engraved grip.
Before he had a chance to complain on this addition she decided to cut him off give reasons at the outset. "Ranma there may come a time when physical contact will be a disadvantage, when your magical attacks may for some reason not be effective enough. Remember the powers you have gained from me focus on healing first, as such you need something to offset this apparent weakness. Would it be honorable to deny yourself a way to protect the weak because of pride, or arrogance?"
Ranma looked downcast and muttered a quiet and flat, "No."
Amaterasu smiled, "Don't worry, you will not need to use them all of the time, I would prefer if it came that you never needed them, but it is better to be ready than to not be. I will seal them until such a time that you need them so you will not be tempted, the seal will be released on the day that you meet the avatars of my family, your team of friends."
Ranma smiled at the thought of lots of friends, and after Amaterasu dispelled the image they went off to enjoy some ice cream before the not so jolly, not so old, fat guy came in to spoil their fun.
After years on the road Ranma would have a home, even if it only were for a little while. It was late evening, and Ranma was asleep upstairs in the house after a violent maniac hit him with a table. When Soun left the room and Genma was all alone he decided to look out at the night sky and nearly messed his already faded clothing.
Amaterasu stared menacing at the terrified martial artist, she then spoke in her coldest possible manner, "Genma, I have already arranged for Ranma to attend school, you will make sure he goes, or I will tell your wife where you are. Ranma will be safe, but the question is will you? My avatar will have a proper education to be able to perform his duties, and I feel it is in his best interest. Do we have an understanding?"
The bald fighter just nodded dumbly
Suddenly Amaterasu became bright and sunny, with a smile which seemed to be inverted her previous mood, "Thank you for understanding Genma."
After Amaterasu left, Genma collected himself and when Soun walked into the room he told Soun 'his' idea for having Ranma go to school with Akane.
It was late at night of the second failed wedding day and people in Nerima slept soundly with the sounds of chaos around them, as a fat balding, martial artist ran from his loving wife, pleading as he ran. Said wife was chasing her husband screaming at him while waving a tanto and a broken katana in his direction. She was screaming things like, "Why did a goddess take away my son?", "What deal was she talking about?", and "When I get my hands on you, I'll turn you into a panda skin rug!"
Soun was running behind them, at a safe enough distance, wailing about the schools, and Ukyo just watched the whole thing while her key to her door was still in the lock unturned, and still in her hand. She muttered to herself, "I was only gone for four days and it seems like I've missed a month of problems…" she sighed before continuing, "I'll have to call Nabiki in the morning and find out what I missed."
After she entered Ucchan's she relocked the door and made plans for tomorrow. 'Konatsu should be home tomorrow; whatever that event he went to, it sure had his interest. I am sure he wouldn't mind watching the shop while I get okonomiyaki to Ran-chan, Akane-baka probably tried feeding him while I was gone.' A few minutes later she was drifting off to sleep.
Author's Notes:
'After they left she returned to Asgard and asked Skuld, Fate, and Destiny to look at his future; they had told her about Jusenkyo and his various possible adventures. That was when it struck her and she almost ran to her father about setting her up, Saotome indeed.'
Ok I will need to head off questions here, the reason why she was mad because of the name plus Jusenkyo was because what she is the goddess of. According to Japanese mythology Amaterasu was the Goddess of the Sun, and agriculture, Rice planting girls in particular… Poor Ranma, but as Cherry from Urusei Yatsura says, "It's Fate"
Jusenkyo just confirms Ranma's destiny to be a Sailor Senshi in her eyes.
Tempino – Ranma's new last name, as I said in my last fic the 'no' part of the name implies ownership. Tempi is the Japanese word for the Sun and sunlight. So his name is Wild(Disorderly) Horse of the Sun, or by doing a translation another way (Ranma in Romanji can mean chaos) Chaos of the Sun.
After numerous recommendations I decided to cut back on reviewer reply section. But I want to thank all my Reviewers, and if your questions are not answered then it may be because it is a coming plot point so please don't feel I am ignoring you.
Dogbertcarroll: Who said he accepted it, if you read closer you can see 'her' displeasure. But Ranma likes Ama-san too much to cause a scene in public.
TheWhiteMonk: Thanks, it took a lot of thought to come up with an idea that was not done already
Since there were a lot of reoccurring questions I will end with this; the interactions between Ranma and the others will be humorous, and I do have a match up planned. I intend on causing Ranma more girl problems, since it would not be Ranma without them. As to the Powers, like i did in Siren's Calling, in this fic Ranma will fill a hole in their ranks.