The New Guardian

By The Senshi of Valis

Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Don't own Ranma or W.I.T.C.H.

Ranma laid in her bed staring at the ceiling deep in thought over what had happened not long before. It was so strange an surreal but Will had also experienced which added to the proof of it being real along with the feeling of Will's presence in Ranma herself. It was like Will was right there with her even though she was at her own home at the moment getting some rest.

For the first time for as long as Ranma could remember she didn't feel the deep lonliness burning deep inside even when surrounded by many different people. She now felt complete instead of the nagging feeling of being empty inside. She felt not only Will's presence though, she also felt the other's emotions when they were close to each other and while they were sitting against that building in the alleyway Ranma could have almost sworn she actually heard quiet snippets of Will's thoughts.

"Ranma, honey, is it okay if I come in?" Nodoka asked after gently knocking on the door.

"Sure mom." Ranma called while sitting up and turning around and leaning against the wall. Nodoka turned on the rooms light and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed and twisted a little to face Ranma.

"How are you feeling?" Nodoka asked with a small smile.

"I'm not sure to tell you the truth, mom." Ranma sighed while pulling her knees to her chest while Nodoka scooted farther onto the bed to lean against the wall next to Ranma, allowing the smaller girl to lean against her a little.

"Ranma…I know you're worried about Hay Lin and your grandmother rejecting you if they learn the truth about the curse but I really think you should tell them and get it out of the way before they find out which could make it worse." Nodoka said while circling her arm around Ranma and squeezing her softly in a hug.

"It's more than that now mom…there's been so much happening the last few days." Ranma sighed. "I'm cursed again to be a magical girl now."

"What?" Nodoka asked surprised.

"I transform into this fairy looking thing that is supposed to help protect earth from being invaded by this evil prince." Ranma said.

"Oh Ranma…" Nodoka sighed while shaking her head a little, "I don't understand why this kind of trouble has to keep invading your life."

"Tell me about it, but the others…I kind of want to be friends with them for some reason but if they find out…I'm sick of being rejected by everyone because I'm some kind of freak." Ranma whispered a little angrily, tears gathering though she refused to let them fall.

"If they are magical girls don't you think they may understand this a little bit more?" Nodoka asked, "They are magical after all."

"I don't know mom…their leader does kind of know now but she won't tell the rest though unless I agree to it though she really wants me to." Ranma said.

"That's good but how did she find out?" Nodoka asked curiously.

"It's…a strange story. I guess I kind of freaked at their meeting and ran out and she followed me and caught up in the alley. She told me that she didn't know what was going on but she said that she wanted to prove that I meant something…She kind of kissed me." Ranma sighed.

"If you was at a meeting and they don't know you're cursed…does that mean…" Nodoka said trying to figure out exactly what happened, a little shocked while thinking about what she thought happened. Was Ranma really a girl when this other girl kissed her?

"I was a girl at the time, mom." Ranma sighed, "It happened so fast but I was feeling something there between us, some kind of connection even before this."

"What happened?" Nodoka urged.

"I saw a bright flash of light and saw all of her memories mom. God, she had just as bad a life as…" Ranma started then stopped looking sadly at her mother.

"As bad as yours." Nodoka sighed sadly, "I'm so sorry Ranma, I wish you never had to go through any of it."

"It's okay mom…I'm just glad that we're here together now without any of those others." Ranma said hugging her mom and kissing her cheek.

"Me too, honey." Nodoka said hugging Ranma and kissing the top of her head before Ranma pulled back. "You saw her memories though?"

"Yeah…and she saw mine. She learned everything and after it ended…I didn't feel so lonely anymore. In fact I felt her in me and still do." Ranma said smiling, "I could even feel her emotions and everything as we stayed there next to each other for awhile. I feel like we belong with each other."

"Maybe you do." Nodoka smiled, "Have you ever heard of soulmates?"

"Yeah, they some corny romance thing." Ranma said.

"I've heard stories of it being true, it creates a total bond between the two and they become a part of each other forever. They see each other completely while experiencing each other's lives through there bound and can even feel each other through it. Some even say that it may become possible to talk to each other over time." Nodoka explained.

"Do you really think Will and I are soulmates?" Ranma asked hopefully.

"Yes, I do believe it is very possible. Its about time some good comes along with all the other weird stuff." Nodoka said ruefully. "Will is a pretty name, I bet she's pretty to."

"She is…" Ranma said quietly, blushing at Nodoka's teasing tone on the last thing she said.

"I'm glad that you found a soulmate, Ranma." Nodoka said with a smile, "A soulmate will always be there for you and never betray you."

"That's good." Ranma said with a smile.

"I really want you to think about telling the others Ranma but for now I think you should get some sleep." Nodoka said kissing the top of Ranma's head again. "Want me to tuck you in?"

"Thanks mom but I think I want to stay up for awhile and think." Ranma said as Nodoka climbed up from the bed.

"Okay but please don't stay up too late." Nodoka said.

"I won't mom, thanks." Ranma said.

"Your welcome dear, good night." Nodoka said, "Love you."

"Love you too mom, night." Ranma said with a smile.

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AN: Hi everyone, hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. The Road to Freedom is going to be on hold for a week or two as Brit wants to go over some ideas for it since she may be helping with the last few chapters of it. Also, we have started a new story that we're working on and will post most likely after we finish the Power of Love which is in the W.i.t.c.h. section or in my profile. The new one will be a Ranma and Dot Hack Universe fusion of sorts. The first chapter is about thirty percent done and by the time we do post it we will probably have the first few chapters done. It will be taking place in The World for the majority of the first part of the story while it introduces the characters and sets up the relationships between them. And no it won't be all of the Ranma cast being characters in the world but there will be two for sure and they will be Akane and Ranma though they won't know who the other is for at least a few chapters. Question is, should we put it under Ranma or the Dot Hack section?