By RankoSaotome
Disclaimer on first chapter. Theme song of the fic is 'Forever' from Erementar Gerad (Elemental Gelade in the US).
Since I got some strange reviews after bringing in Chapter 9, I thought I'd do a little review answering.
Hiryo, who wrote a review for Chapter 6, was asking for more male Ranma. Um, problem. Ranma locked himself in girl form in Chapter 3. Did you happen to miss that? If so, I suggest going back and re-reading it.
Howard Russell, your review brings some good points. Why would Ranma change so quickly? It's more of a forced acception. You see, Ranma is with child, so she's pretty much forced to accept the hand she dealt herself since Chapter 3, if only for her child's sake. Plus, Ranma probably doesn't know how to handle being raped. In her mind, she probably sees it as just another form of assault. She lived with Genma as her only model of 'success'. Being forced to live in such a way, with attacks on her person being common, rape was just another attack. She will slowly begin to deal with her rape, but for such a thing to happen, I need to make her realize the full implications of the rape. You might see some of that in this chapter.
Your next question was about the love with Soushi. Ranma has trouble, canon and in fan fiction, expressing or feeling love. However, for sake of being different, you must realize a few things. 1) Ranma has had his curse for over three YEARS as far as this fanfic is concerned. That's a good amount of time to realize, and accept, that sexual attraction can happen anytime, with any gender. So, for the sake of the story, Ranma is bisexual.
2) You make most of your assumptions based upon what you know of canon Ranma. You must realize how much this deviates from the story of Ranma 1/2. One difference is all the death Ranma has seen. Another, the amount of time he's had the curse. Another, all the death he has seen. Another, his goal in life to eradicate the Dark Acolytes. There are many differences between Ranma Triumph and Ranma Saotome other than just last name. My suggestion, everyone forget what you know of canon Ranma as far as this fic is concerned. There's too much difference to make assumptions based upon what you know of Ranma Saotome in Ranma 1/2. Just think of this Ranma as a different person from the one we all know and love.
As for three... Let's just say, given, quote, 'Kasumi's thoughts and Wyna's sexy spanking', end quote, Ranma DOES have her options open. Also, please note that Wyna does not yet know of Ranma's curse. So Wyna is, indeed, a full-blown lesbian. Begins to make sense why, in this story, she doesn't want to marry a guy, huh?
As for juzafan85, easily my most loyal reviewer (I mean, he/she has reviewed every chapter!), I love the suggestions you make, since much of my own are fueled by the suggestions of the readers. And, amazingly, you may be pretty close in your suggestions to what I was planning... I guess you all just have to read and find out.
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The wind-like melody that's moving within our hearts
Vibrantly leads us towards the yet-unseen tomorrow
If we create the future with each thing we think
Could we grasp the "moment" the miracle smiles upon?
I feel 'I need you.'
... I just miss you in my life.
Please don't let go
Ah, Let's join hands
Heading toward a sparkling place in the wide-open future
Open up your heart
And turn this pain and loneliness into kindness
Don't get lost along my way
Both at the moment we met and now, you surpassed time
Shine together with me forever...
The pledge that echoes in this dreary night is fleetingly falling apart
My heart beats to the fate of the stars that pass each other
At the meeting place of the broad sky, our pulses raced
What is there behind those tears you held back?
I will never leave you.
I want to promise you!
Don't forget
Ah, You gave me the courage to move forward
Let's hold on to it and fly
If we were bonded together
Embrace and don't ever lose the strength of
Protecting the people you can't replace
At the moment I learn my weaknesses, I will become stronger again
Yes, forever...
I feel 'I need you.'
... I just miss you in my life.
Please don't let go
Ah, Let's join hands
Heading toward a sparkling place in the wide-open future
Open up your heart
If we share the seemingly broken affection
As it keeps overflowing from our hearts, it will be like Heaven
At times when we're bewildered, let's keep building our unending dream
Yes, forever...
Open up your heart
And turn this pain and loneliness into kindness
Don't get lost along my way
Both at the moment we met and now, you surpassed time
Shine together with me forever...
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Chapter 10 - Spare Change
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Ranma had, recently, landed on the Cloud Manta with her party, consisting of Ryouga, the master swordsman, Wyna, a pirate extraordinaire, and Soushi, the apprentice Samurai. Ranma, though, was here to save her most beloved friend in the world, Kasumi.
And as the group made their way into the place, enemies seemed to flock to them from all angles. Ryouga unleashed a pair of Twister Blades to deal with them, while the rest of them cleared up the rest. It was a bit annoying, all the attacks, but they took it in stride. After all, the Dark Acolytes here that just wandered weren't too much to worry about.
But they were sure of one thing, the first few rooms they hit were loaded with goods! In fact, their supplies were almost filled because of the chests they found. Ranma even found a few nice things that she had thoughts of giving to either Kasumi or Wyna. In fact... She thought the Pearl Necklace she pilfered off a corpse would look nice on Wyna... Besides, she had to thank her somehow for that very arousing spanking she got earlier that morning...
As they moved through the place, though, it got more and more straight-forward. They moved through the place as fast as they could, as Ranma could only think of Kasumi being forced to do Dark Master's every will... And she knew oh too well how demanding and scary the man could be. The more she thought about it, the more scared she was for Kasumi.
'Please, be okay, Kasumi...' She thought, as she ran through the base with the others on her trail.
Finally, after some time, they found Dark Master and Kasumi.
"Hmmm... I'm quite impressed you've made it this far. But, it was careless of you to have let this happen! Do you realize that I draw power from both Light and Darkness? You, Ranma, draw power only from the Light. It seems like we already know who the winner will be. Don't you agree?"
"I'll give you a hint, Dark Master. It won't be you. I will fight for everything precious to me, even to my last breath!"
"Well, it would be good to see how much you learned. Come, little one, challenge me!"
"With pleasure! Everyone, stay back! I'll handle this myself!" Ranma called, as she moved up towards Dark Master, readying herself for a hard battle.
"Then, I shall allow you the opening blow."
"You'll regret that." Ranma said, smirking as the channeled her elemental power into her body, and charged it. Then, she cried out, her body starting to vanish along with those of her allies. "AHHHHHHH! FIEDNOD!" She cried out, as the Elemental Beast of Earth appeared. She quickly unleashed a wind strike against Dark Master.
"Ugh!" Dark Master grunted, not liking how much more powerful the summon was from the last time Ranma had used one. He tried for the same move as last time, to skewer her upon arrival...
But Ranma wasn't where she had vanished. She had, utilizing as much speed as she could muster, rushed around Dark Master to slice at his back.
"You bitch! How dare you!"
With a moment, she charged her elemental power and unleashed Fiednod again.
"You have gotten better, girl... But can you handle anything I throw at you?" He said with a smirk, before slicing out to his right.
Ranma gasped as she was hit, and staggered at the cut along her left arm, but did not fall. She was bleeding a bit, but she would wait for a chance to heal. If she tried right now, she'd get crushed.
She wanted to unleash Aquoon now, but thought back, and gritted her teeth, trying to recall how she had done it. She thought over it, dodging between blows as she attempted to get the feeling just right...
Where had she drawn the power from...?
However, it took a realization before it hit her. Before she changed, she'd felt the elemental power being channeled from... her tummy...
More specifically, from her womb...
Her baby... granted her the power on the Langoud?
She slowly relaxed, flowing around Dark Master's attacks now like a dancer would. She swayed and moved gracefully around the moves, trying to think of her child... If she should fail... Her child would be no more...
She had to do this... If only for the new life she carried with her!
"TERRA REACT!" She cried out, her entire body and clothes turning tan, as her eyes became blank with the very power she channeled.
"WHAT IS THIS?" Dark Master yelled, finding an opening and attacking.
His sword strike her in the chest...
There were gasps all around...
As Dark Master's dark sword shattered.
"WHAT? No!"
Ranma narrowed her eyes, and drove her sword into the tile ground...
A massive tremor shook the entire ship, sending Dark Master, and everyone else, off their feet. Ranma, in a quick burst of speed, brought down her sword on the Dark Master.
And stopped it mere inches from cleaving him in two.
"Release Kasumi, now... Be glad our baby does not wish for you to die yet..."
To this, Soushi went rigid, as the words struck him. Baby? Ranma was... pregnant from one of the Dark Acolytes?
"I let you win, girl. Remember, girl, next time we meet... You'll wish you and I had never crossed paths..."
"Say what you will. But YOU remember this... If you EVER touch any of my friends again, YOU will be dead before you even realize what is happening."
This seemed to fluster Dark Master for a moment, before he merely laughed. "I will not be caught by surprise next time we meet, Ranma. Oh, and tell... our child... That I owe them a beating when they're born..." And, with that, he vanished.
To this, Ranma dropped her Terra React form, and dropped to her knees. She was clutching her tummy. Wyna was the first to reach her, Kasumi being on the ground in pain, Soushi in shock from the revelation that Ranma was pregnant with a dark child, and Ryouga trying to rise Kasumi.
Wyna noticed one thing. Ranma's tummy was bulging a bit now. The... the baby was growing at an amazing pace! What was going on?
"R... Ranma..." They both heard, as Kasumi was staring at them.
"A-Are you alright, Kasumi?"
"Ranma, thank you so much. I'm alright..."
To this, Ranma was glad. Immensely glad. So glad, she passed out from exhaustion.
And when she awoke, after a good rest to recover, she found they were in an airborne city. Ranma tried her best to get up, but she still had some pain in her body. She groaned a little, before she heard the door open.
"Oh, good. You're awake." She heard, looking up to find Wyna there. The girl looked a little sad, to which Ranma felt bad, but she also looked happy that Ranma was awake. Sighing in relief at the happy part, Ranma looked at Wyna.
The woman was as beautiful as ever, and Ranma felt herself blush. How had she never noticed this sexy pirate that had been with her for so long now?
"Um... Wyna...?" Ranma began, fidgeting with the covers of the bed she was in. he idly noted her clothes on a chair, but could feel her underwear on her body.
"Yes?"
"Can... Can you hand me the pouch I keep my supplies in?"
Wyna did so, and Ranma blushed once more as she thought of what she was going to do. Slowly, she opened the pouch and dug through it. Slowly, she pulled out the pearl necklace she had pilfered.
Wyna looked at it with surprise.
"I... I'd like you to have... To have this..." Ranma said nervously. It wasn't like she was in love with Wyna... Wasn't she just trying to thank her for everything? So... why did she feel so nervous?
"A gift?"
"Well... I wanted to... to thank you for... for everything, so I thought..."
Wyna, however, could guess that wasn't the only reason, but she didn't confront Ranma about it. She should probably accept, if just to have a small reason to flirt with Ranma a little. "It's a wonderful gift, Ranma-chan. Thank you. Could you put it on me?" To that, Wyna sat on Ranma's bed, back facing Ranma.
Ranma, with a small smile, put it on Wyna easily. And she had to admit, Wyna did look lovely with it on her. The small pearls of the necklace shined a little in the light, making a rainbow-like halo around Wyna's face. At this sight, Ranma's heart skipped a beat. 'Oh... my... She's beautiful...' Ranma thought, blushing once more.
Wyna, catching Ranma's blush when she turned, smiled herself, and slowly advanced on the other girl. Ranma, in a rare moment of timidity, pulled back just an inch, before Wyna gently kissed Ranma on the lips.
Ranma was surprised by the kiss, freezing solid for a moment, before her blush intensified and she attempted to return the kiss. The kiss wasn't a long one, mostly because Wyna didn't want to overload Ranma's mind with how steamy it could get. Pulling back, Wyna smiled, and left.
This left Ranma to watch her leave, or rather, watch Wyna shaking her behind at Ranma in her walk out. Ranma found it all the more attractive, and took deep breaths to calm down. Wyna's kiss and teasing had gotten her quite flustered and aroused. She needed to calm...
Once calmed, she dressed and set off down the hall. Her party, who had decided to wait out an explaination from Ranma on her new abilities, went into the city. The aerial city of Sharan.
Little did they know, a certain group of meddlers were here as well...
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"I heard word that your son has been spotted in the city, Saotome."
"This is our chance to pull that arrogant boy home to marry one of your daughters, Tendo."
"And assure our retirement, Saotome!"
"Quite right, Tendo!"
"It's Soun's..."
"And Genma's..."
"Operation: Get The Groom!"
Of course, to normal people, this translates to 'Plan-Destined-To-Failure'. But they don't know that.
- - - - - - -
Ranma and group, had just stepped into town from the ship, looking around at all the bustling activity. Of course, the peace of the scene, due to the curse set on Ranma, could only last so long. That curse, you ask? Ancient Chinese curse; 'May you live in interesting times'.
A girl with green hair and eyes ran up to them all, and Ranma could swear she'd seen the girl before. "Please help us! The people in the city are being tyrannized."
"Hey, it's you! We met briefly in Hatoba. It's nice to see you again."
"I... don't think we've met before." She then looked over her shoulder. "See those guys? They're after me. I've gotta go! I'll wait for you in the Coincule District." And after she left, this left Ranma confused.
"A look-alike, possibly?" Ryouga suggested.
"Possibly... Wait a second, where is the Coincule District?"
They set off down the road, before the shops caught their eyes. In a rare good mood, Ranma offered everyone some money to do a little personal shopping. Wyna and Kasumi, of course, liked the idea, though Ryouga and Soushi turned the offer down politely. Still, Ranma gave them their equal shares, in case they found something they liked.
Ranma managed to get to some gift shops and buy a few gifts for the girls, especially Wyna. She hoped she would like the gifts.
Ranma was especially embarassed when she gave out the gifts, but both made the girls happy with her. Wyna, after that, grabbed Ranma and pulled her to one of the balconies overlooking the city. Ranma was especially embarassed now. 'A date... Wyna got me alone for a date...' She realized.
Wyna's opening comment especially made her blush. "Love comes in all shapes and sizes."
"Well... I, uh... Love is a feeling that makes you attached to the other, right? So, shouldn't love be free to express, no matter what your love looks like?"
"Oh, Ranma... That was lovely." Wyna said, smiling, before saying the next thing that came to mind. "Uh... Well, Ranma... Oh no, it's nothing."
Ranma looked at Wyna confusedly before deciding to try and satisfy her curiousity. "What was so funny?"
"I won't tell." Wyna replied, sticking her tongue out at Ranma. To this, both girls giggled.
"Say, what was your childhood like?"
"My childhood? Mostly a lot of fighting and training... I wasn't lying when I said I was born to fight the Dark Acolytes, and my father... He took that very seriously in mind when training me. The short answer is, I didn't have one."
"That's sad..." Wyna said, looking a little saddened by that. Then, Wyna blushed, making Ranma wonder what was on her mind. "Should we hold hands?"
To this, Ranma giggled and took hold of Wyna's hand nervously, though less nervously than when the date began. "Well, does it feel wrong?"
To this, Wyna blushed a little more. "Oh, you! You're insatiable, Ranma!" Wyna said with a light laugh. "If you had to put a type to your personality, what would you say it is, Ranma?"
"Uh... my personality? To tell you the truth... I can't decide on a specific term for it. I have so many facets to my personality, it feels strange to just designate it as one thing."
"Are you serious?" Wyna asked, a shocked look taking away the look of curiousity on her face. Finally, that look gave way to another blush, and Ranma found she suddenly was liking seeing Wyna a little flustered. "Ranma... Would you... ever have dinner with me?"
Ranma smiled. "Satan himself couldn't keep me away from making it to dinner with you, Wyna." She said, blushing herself.
"Oh, Ranma, you have such a way with words! You promise?" Wyna said, delighted.
Ranma nodded, smiling. "Of course! I would love to have dinner with you, Wyna!"
"How about... tonight?"
"Sounds good."
"See you tonight, Ranma..." Wyna said, before leaning in. Ranma, trying not to freeze up this time, accepted the kiss. And began to return it happily when she did not freeze up.
Neither noticed the others watching, nor when the rest of the party dispersed. After the kiss, they continued to talk.
"Do you think love grows when there's lots of roadblocks, Ranma?"
"If you ask me, truthfully, I believe love only grows the more the two work at a relationship."
"That's very romantic..." Wyna said, smiling. "Will you always be there to protect me?"
Ranma had to actually think on this one. She couldn't make a promise, because she had failed her promise to protect Kasumi before. And earlier to protect both. "As long as I live and breathe, I will always be there to save you from trouble."
"Like my knight in shining armor?"
"Of course, Wyna. Do you think I would be any less for you?"
"Wow. You really DO have a way with words!"
"Um, Wyna?"
"Yes?"
"Maybe we should go somewhere, like... Um..."
"Ranma?"
"Uh, yes?"
"Is it alright... if I give you a present?"
To this, Ranma was surprised. Ranma rarely recieved presents, even on her birthday. So, to hear that made her very happy. "Th-thank you..."
Then, Wyna pulled something from her pouch and handed the wrapped little package to Ranma. Smiling, Ranma opened it slowly, to cherish the moment. And once open, she gasped.
Inside the small package was a little jewel case. And inside, was the most beautiful pendant and chain she had ever seen. It had a sapphire gemstone in the medalion, and inscribed on the back was the following words; 'From the Ocean, With Love'. The chain was made of shining silver, and was very beautiful.
She instantly tackled Wyna, kissing her on the way down.
When they parted, Wyna smiled. " take it you like it?"
"I love it, Wyna... This... It means so much to me..." Ranma said, getting up and off Wyna. Smiling, she offered the pendant to Wyna, while turning. "Put it on me?"
Wyna merely giggled, and did so quickly, but not without kissing Ranma at the base of her neck, making her shiver in pleasure.
Looking back, Ranma slowly reached out her hand.
Wyna took it, and the two set off for the Coincule District.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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Well, a little more romance is being brought to the forefront. Seems a little fast, I admit, but Wyna is also doing a number of special things for Ranma. First kiss, first date, possibly her first present ever... That has to have some impact in Wyna's favor. Anyways, hope you enjoyed. Ja ne!