By RankoSaotome
Disclaimer on first chapter. Theme song of the fic is 'Forever' from Erementar Gerad (Elemental Gelade in the US).
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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 11 - Let Me Fly
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Wyna and Ranma, seperated upon their arrival at the Coincule District. It felt weird to be here, especially since the place was so... destroyed. It was a place in ruins, and some of the lecherous looks Ranma found herself on the recieving end of unnerved her. She imagined Wyna was getting much the same treatment. They had discovered the others had gone to the inn and rented them all a room. They stayed to go over plans on what to do, while Ranma and Wyna went to find that girl from earlier.
They found her at the base of the steps. "I'm so glad that you've come! Please, come to my house. I need to talk to you in private... Um... if I may, where's the rest of your group?"
"They're resting after the long trip to get here. We'll be hearing you out."
"Alright. Please, follow me."
Unknown to them, a certain pair of idiots followed, not liking how Wyna was standing quite close to Ranma.
Upon arrival, they entered the house. The girl turned to Ranma and Wyna, looking them over for a moment before speaking. "My name is Kyleen. I must tell you what happened to Sharan. Please bear with me on this. The people of Sharan have changed... no, more like corrupted. They used to live honest lives... Ever since Lavantis came, the merchants have started to treat their customers badly. Through Lavantis, they buy goods from the Empire and sell them at outrageous prices...
And they have no qualms with selling products of poor quality. People in Fugoja began to notice, but..."
"But what?"
"The market will eventually collapse at this rate, and the Empire will take over Sharan. I'm trying my best to restore Sharan... and to get rid of Lavantis once and for all."
"The situation is that grave?"
"Oh no, it's very late. I'm very sorry. Would you like to stay the night?"
"We would, but we need to rent a room up at the hotel..."
"Believe me, your friends are probably pretty mad at the hotel. Usually, rooms are 10GG per person, right?"
"Yeah..."
"In Sharan, it's 1000GG per person."
"A THOUSAND!"
"I imagine they seeked other accommodations, possibly back on your ship."
"Please, it would mean oh so much if you stayed..." Kyleen begged, before unleashing every girl's secret weapon... THE eyes. The puppy dog eyes.
Ranma and Wyna both fell for the attack, since neither were used to being a victim of such a thing. "O-Okay... we'll stay..."
"Yay! I'll show you to your room."
"Uh, room?"
"Is that a problem? You two are both girls, after all."
"Uh, right. Sorry if I sounded inconsiderate. Please forgive me."
"There's nothing to forgive." Kyleen said, opening the door at the base of the steps for Ranma and Wyna. They both entered, and soon, were sleeping soundly. And the next morning...
"What the hell?" Was what Wyna awoke to, looking over to find Ranma going through her bag and pouches.
"What's wrong?"
"My supplies are missing!" To this, Wyna's eyes went wide, and she went stright for her own bag and coin purse. Both were empty.
"Dammit! That Kyleen tricked us!" Then, they found the worst part yet. Their weapons were gone as well. Accessories... even the necklaces Ranma and Wyna had given each other! It was all gone!
"Alright, let's find that girl! And she'd better still have our stuff, or there's going to be broken bones in her near future!" Both girls were pissed, but by the time they got outside, they were calmed a little. Very little.
But when Ranma found Bandiger outside a merchant stand, she started to shake with rage.
"Someone, please..." He seemed to notice her for the first time. "Hola, mi amigos! I've devoted myself to saving people. So, don't you think you should give me something in return?"
"How about a knuckle sandwich?"
"I'll pass. But for that remark, I must punish you!" He struck a pose, taking out his umbrella, before she heard something. Like a stomach growling in... displeasure. She grinned. "Oh, what was that?"
"Oh, no... Must be that meatlo... filet mignon I feasted on last night." He managed to say, clutching his gut. The sound came again. "Uhhh... Gotta go! Do you believe in true love? Uhh, where the hell is the bathroom...?" And he ran, ran like hell.
"What... the... hell...?" Was Wyna's reaction.
"Never trust the guy. I ran into him in Mounthand. The guy's sickening." She said, before the two girls set off out of the Coincule District. Kyleen was on the plate above, just outside the stairs. Slowly, Ranma moved up behind her, then placed a hand on Kyleen's shoulder. "I would like our stuff back. I trusted you."
"Trust? Are you stupid? How can you trust people?"
"Here's a reason." She said, cracking her knuckles. "Because if I find our stuff is gone, some of which is VERY precious to us, I WILL shatter every first, second, and third bone in your body." To which extent, Ranma looked pretty damn pissed.
"Hah! As if I believe..."
Ranma, then, casually punched the wall of a building. The wall collapsed under the extreme pressure of her strike. Secretly, though, she was thankful she could still find the weakpoints in inanimate objects. But hey, walls going down at a punch makes a good threat. Even Wyna looked shocked, as townsfolk began backing away from the dangerous girl... Who started to glow with her battle aura.
Kyleen swallowed hard.
"I did that to a WALL. Imagine what would happen to a PERSON..." But before Ranma could finish her threat, Kyleen ran like hell. Ranma and Wyna took off in pursuit, screaming about a thief.
People cleared way, as Ranma and Wyna chased after the green-haired girl. One reason why the cleared the way was because both girls looked pissed. Second, Ranm had a look that could kill if her gaze ever moved to a person.
But, her gaze was locked on Kyleen... Until she spotted someone else.
Genma and Soun... wearing the fanciest clothes and such she had ever seen. Not to mention... Soun was holding a familiar silver chain and sapphire in hand. Being as hers had been inscribed, it couldn't be pawned off. Now, she knew...
"Wyna, wait!" She yelled, stopping the girl. Kyleen must have heard, since she looked back to see them stop.
"What? Did you see something?"
"Look." She said, pointing out Genma and Soun to the pirate woman.
"... Hey, that's your pendant! Do you think they bought it from...?"
"Not a chance in hell! That's Genma Saotome and Soun Tendo. Genma's an expert thief, and Soun's a sort of partner in crime, from what I'm seeing."
"How do you know them?"
Ranma was silent. She didn't notice Kyleen move towards the both of them. "Because Genma, that bastard thief... is my father."
Both girls reacted in much the same way, when Ranma and Wyna noticed Kyleen. They both looked from daughter to unknowing father, then back. "How can you be related to that bald jackass?" Kyleen asked, bringing their attention to her. Ranma had shame enough to feel terrible for scaring the girl.
"... I would rather not talk about it right now. We need to get our things back, and... I... I need to apologize to you, Kyleen..."
"It's fine... Just please, try not to jump to conclusions against me next time, okay?"
"Deal. Now, Wyna... Leave this to me." She said, before starting to change her hair style, putting her goggles away, and sauntering over to Genma and Soun with a bit of a sexy sway in her step. Wyna watched strangely, wondering how Ranma could possibly trick her own father.
"Heya, boys..." Ranma said, upon reaching the thieves. Both looked at her, but didn't seem to recognize her. "Mmmmm, you two look good. I was just looking for such handsome men..."
"Well, you choose wisely, young lady. What can we do for you?"
"Well, it's not a matter of what you can do FOR me, but rather TO me..." She said, winking. Both adult men seemed interested. She then smiled, moving in for the kill, so to speak. "How about we go somewhere a little more... private?"
Both men readily agreed, and they all moved to a nearby, cheap hotel. As soon as Ranma entered with the fathers, there started sounds of extreme violence and yelling.
"You fucking thief, Oyaji! How dare you steal our possessions like they're yours! I'll teach you a thing or two!"
"AGH!"
"NOOOOO!"
There were more sounds of violence, before both men were launched out the still open doors. They landed in a heap, stripped of the good clothes, jewelry, and such. They only wore their gis now, and Ranma came out looking furious. People, sensing hostility, ran out of the market.
Ranma's eyes went blank for a moment, and Wyna recognized this for just a second. Was Ranma going to activate her forms?
But, as quickly as it came, it left, and she did not change. Instead, she approached both fallen fathers. "You both disgust me. You've resorted to a life of thievery instead of getting fucking jobs to survive. The next time you try to steal from me, my friends, or anyone I associate with... I will not be so lenient. Understood?"
The groans of the old men were her only answer. Slowly, she slumped her shoulders, before she and Wyna went inside. Counting up how much value the old men had on them, they found it was vastly higher than everything they'd had.
Then, Ranma found her gift, the sapphire medalion with silver chain... Broken in two. The gem itself was cracked a little, and the chain had been broken. Softly, she sniffed, looking down as she held it.
Wyna had noticed this, and moved closer to Ranma. "Oh no... Your pendant..."
"I... It's okay... I could always have it... repaired, right?" She said, trying to keep her tears down. But, it was hard, since Ranma had really loved that pendant... She hadn't even had it for an entire day, and now it was broken! She just felt like crying...
"We'll get it repaired, Ranma. Don't worry..." Wyna said, before gently embracing Ranma to comfort and soothe her. Kyleen watched in amazement, as the oh-so-strong Ranma broke down into tears. What had that Genma done to warrant this kind of reaction in the aftermath of her wrath?
"It's not the pendant I care so much about... It was the first gift... I ever got from someone I truly care about..." She said, looking up at Wyna. Wyna just looked down into her eyes, before turning to Kyleen.
"Kyleen, do you think you can find out where they had pawned our stuff off at?"
"S-Sure..." She said, before gathering it all. Then, on a second thought, she turned to Ranma and asked for the pendant. Ranma hesitantly gave it up, Kyleen leaving with everything.
"Care about? CARE ABOUT?" They heard after Kyleen's departure, as Genma suddenly grew a backbone and confronted Ranma and Wyna. "Boy, how DARE you get so soft! No son of mine..."
Ranma, in complete panic, jumped out of Wyna's arms and assaulted Genma, beating him into the ground. Wyna could tell there was something to the story here, and resolved to ask about it. "Do you have to try to ruin EVERY aspect of my life, old man? Leave me the fuck alone! If I ever see you trying this again, I WILL kill you!" She screamed in holy fury, tears running down her cheeks as she dished out her wrath.
Hesitantly, she was stopped by Wyna. And when Wyna asked about the 'boy' and 'son' comments, Ranma started to cry. Really cry, sobs and all. Ranma must have really not wanted it to be known by her, since it seemed to make Ranma feel worse.
Slowly, though, Ranma told her story, of how she used to be a man. The shocking thing, though, was when Wyna accepted the story, but still kissed Ranma.
"I... I thought you were a lesbian, Wyna?"
"I am, but you're a woman now. A lovely, beautiful woman, not a man you once were. No matter what, Ranma, I will love you. Not just for your form, but for YOU..."
"Wyna... Oh god, I love you too..."
Kyleen, had returned and listened, and found it strange to hear such things in Sharan. However, something about the scene before her warmed her heart. And she found it felt a bit... nice. Finally, she smiled and placed Ranma and Wyna's stuff in front of them. "Found all of it."
"Thank you, Kyleen... Where is this guy... this... Lavantis?" She said, taking her sword back.
Wyna took her hammer, before noticing something. Ranma's pandant was fixed. "Where did you get that fixed so fast?"
"I know a good jeweler. He was more than happy to fix it. He owes me a number of favors anyways." Kyleen said, offering the pendant to Wyna with a small smile. Wyna, understood and smiled, before putting it back on Ranma. Ranma returned the favor with the returned pearl necklace, before both girls bowed to Kyleen.
"We'll take care of Lavantis now." Ranma said, before smiling at Kyleen and both girls moved up the steps nearby and towards the palace.
The doors outside had no guards, making Ranma blink.
But, once inside, they had to hide almost immediately, when the guards came in with Kyleen.
"Let go of me, you goons!" She had yelled, but Ranma and Wyna could not yet afford to reveal themselves. Slowly, the two girls moved up to the doors, and Ranma peeked through the keyhole. She could hear voices.
"It's good to see you, Kyleen. Have you changed your mind and decided to join us?"
"No way! How can I be one of you? My life and family were torn apart because of you!"
"Don't act tough now. If you're obedient, you and I can have a wonderful life together."
"Jeez, never knew she had it so tough..." Ranma whispered.
"Who is that scumbag, anyway?" Wyna whispered back.
"No point waiting, let's beat the holy hell out of him." Ranma whispered back, before both girls ran into the room.
"Who are you girls? Don't tell me that you've come to save this girl! Hahahahaha! What good does it do to save a liar? A thief? ... Well, I guess it's none of my concern. I'll commend your courage with an offer. How much are you willing to pay in exchange for her?"
"Here's the deal. You let her go, and I don't castrate your lousy self before I kill you!" Ranma yelled, drawing her sword.
"Both you and Kyleen are fools. There's no way you'll get out of here now! Hahaha!"
"Maybe not, but you won't be leaving this room alive!" Ranma yelled, but before she could rush in, the floor opened beneath them. A trapdoor!
Down they went.
"AHHHHH!"
Then, they hit bottom.
"Owie... Are you all okay?"
"No, I'm not okay. Untie me, already!"
And Ranma did so, before they all got up, looking around.
"This is what happens to those that help others. Saddening, huh?"
"The only thing I think that'll be sad is Lavantis' parents when I mail his slaughtered remains back to them. Let's just get out of here..."
"Why did you say all that anyways? Don't you know threats will get you nowhere?"
"Sometimes, intimidation works better than money. Besides, all the money in the world shouldn't be enough to buy a life. Something just seems very wrong about the idea..." Ranma said, as she looked about.
Kyleen, with a grin, moved over to a wall and easily opened a secret passage. This left Ranma surprised.
"How...?"
"I used to live in this mansion. My parents used to send me down here a lot. I know my way around. So, what're we waiting for? Lavantis must pay!"
"Heh, don't be surprised, though, when we find him. He'll wish he'd never crossed us."
The group of three girls moved through the palace basement, trying their best to avoid the numerous enemies that scattered across the paths. Of course, some could not be avoided.
But, of course, they had to pillage every treasure chest, with glee, to open the exit. Ranma found a few things she wondered if others would like, but smiled when Wyna had given her a pair of earrings, made of lapis lazuli. She'd loved the gift, but HATED when they tried piercing her ears. It hurt a little, but not too bad.
And once outside, Ranma was steaming to find themselves right outside the palace. They quickly set off for weapon repairs and sharpening, then returned.
They quickly went back to Lavantis' room.
"Hmmm... Impressive... How did you manage to escape?"
"You think we'd really tell you?"
"You think you're smart? Well, behold the power of money!" Lavantis yelled, ripping his shirt open and revealing... something...
Ranma merely drew her sword, Wyna with her hammer, and Kyleen pulled her rapier.
Ranma opened up with the Fiednod summon, with Wyna and Kyleen taking the back ranks while Ranma used her elemental power. They both moved their hands to their pouches, reaching for supplies to keep Ranma healed while she used her power.
Ranma was struck by Lavantis in a one-two punch upon re-arrival, but it did little actual damage, proven when she merely booted him away. She used Fiednod's summon once more, followed by two Aquoon summons before falling to the back ranks to catch her breath. Kyleen and Wyna moved to the front to protect Ranma.
Each used their weapons masterfully to deflect Lavantis from attacking, while still dealing some damage to the man.
But, the two girls had trouble getting passed the hails of bullets he would send at them sometimes. They didn't penetrate their toughened flesh, but the first two hails of bullets sent them falling back.
"Wyna! Kyleen!" Ranma called, as she caught both girls. She looked down at both of them, before turning to glare at Lavantis. She didn't care about the side effects, this ends now!
"AERO REACT!" She cried out, her body and clothes turning completely green. Her eyes glowed with power, as she called upon all the strength she could. She would not lose, not with so much at stake!
She shot forward and swung wildly, her swings firing sharp vacuum blades at Lavantis.
"What the!" Lavantis called, as he avoided the blades. He thought about prolonging the fight, but he didn't count on when Ranma merely vanished. "Running away?"
"No, just running real fast." He heard, before he swallowed and turned. Only to get a blade of a sword in the middle of his chest. It wouldn't kill him, but the resulting small explosion from the gadgetry in his chest took him out.
Ranma reverted, and dropped, breathing hard and once again clutching her tummy. She looked a good three months pregnant now... "Hah... hah... It... That fight... is over..." She breathed, before something dropped beside her. Looking at it, she saw it was the cable car key. Slowly, she took it.
Kyleen and Wyna were just getting back up, in a bit of pain, but otherwise not in bad shape. Kyleen turned to Ranma and Wyna, pretending not to notice that Ranma looked pregnant now. "You guys need money, right? For your travels?"
"Oh, Kyleen..."
"No way am I letting you guys go without a reward! GO ahead, take it!" She said with a laugh, before tossing a bag of cash to Wyna from the side of Lavantis' chair.
"But..."
"Most of this is my family's money anyways. That's what made Lavantis so rich, he stole from my family. Anyways, just take it. You'll need it for supplies. You're looking for the Sacred Altars, right?"
Ranma raised an eyebrow, before...
"You talk in your sleep, Ranma."
"Oh..."
"There's one at Jayarl Plateau. You need to take the cable car to get to the town below, so... Can I go with you all?"
Ranma and Wyna looked to each other, and Ranma could tell from Wyna's eyes that she wouldn't mind. To tell the truth, Ranma thought Kyleen would make a great addition to the team. "Sure, you can come with us."
And so, the team grew, and as they all got back together at the market with Ryouga, Kasumi, and Soushi. They'd heard of the rise against Lavantis after it had happened. And, as they all set off for the newly priced hotel, everyone could tell how exhausted Ranma and the other girls were. The three revolutionary girls of Sharan happily turned in for the night.
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TO BE CONTINUED...
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Another member for the team, and things are getting stranger. Ranma has apparently fully fallen for Wyna, but there still might be a chance as far as the others are concerned. Who knows, maybe Kasumi will bring Ranma into her arms instead, or Kyleen could steal Ranma away from them both? No one knows. Well, hope you enjoyed. Ja ne!