My Secret

By RankoSaotome

Disclaimer: Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, Yu-Gi-Oh! belongs to Kazuki Takahashi, and Real Bout High School belongs to Reiji Saiga and Sora Inque.

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CHAPTER FIVE

Admitance

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'I want to be a mother...' Those had been her words, the words she had spoken to Kasumi, of all people. That's what she wanted to do when she got older.

It's been a day since then, and all that time went uneventful. Ryoko went back home, and was fussed over by Grandpa Mutou, and went back to life. However, her words to Kasumi still haunted her.

If you'd have asked her earlier, she'd have said she wanted to be a reknowned samurai, or a martial arts sensei, or an actress... But once Nabiki had planted the seed, Ryoko had... hesitated. And when she thought over it, she wanted to be a mother more than any of that.

Her own mother, Nodoka, had never been there for her while growing up, despite she was still alive. She had left Ryoko to the cruel hands of Genma, further causing Ryoko to lose love for the other woman.

And... she wanted to have children. She loved kids, and wanted to have some of her own someday... Despite she would have to birth them with her own body now, rather than in the past, when she had thought she'd be a father before a mother. But that wouldn't affect her, no. She would be there for her children, unlike how her own was not there for her.

"Hey, sis, what're you thinking about?" The question caught her by surprise, as she looked away from the floor of her room to the open door, to find Yugi there. Smiling a bit, she waved him over.

"Just about something I was talking about with Kasumi and Nabiki Tendo..." She responded, which brought a bit of a confused look from Yugi. She giggled slightly before looking down again, one hand going to her belly. "They planted a little seed of doubt in my mind, and... Well..."

"Well?"

"... I want to be a mother, Yugi... I want... I want to be with Shizuma..." She said softly, not quite whispering, but not quite speaking either. Regardless, her answer surprised Yugi. He'd never thought about what she wanted to do in the future, since she seemed content to go with the flow.

But now that he thought about it, Ryoko seemed to always know what she wanted and was willing to go to most any length to reach that goal.

Seeing her so lost, so confused, was rare.

"Ryoko, are you sure that's what you want? I mean, it won't be like choosing classes in college... Once you do the deed..."

"Yes, I know... But not anytime soon, Yugi, no need to worry. Just, someday... I want to have kids of my own."

Yugi was silent for a time before moving into the room, taking a seat beside his sister, before smiling. "What do you say about getting some air?"

"I would love that, bro. It's too stuffy in here..."

- - - - - - -

Ranma Saotome.

Never before had she thought to hear that name again. But as she looked at the poster on the lamp post outside Kame Games, she sighed.

Looking at a picture of her old male form felt like seeing a picture of herself...

And realizing this wasn't her.

She was once Ranma Saotome, but she was now Ryoko Mitsurugi.

Only... Why did she feel neither was truly who she wanted to be now?

Because, she realized, you didn't need to be someone special to be what she wanted.

But what she wanted...

She couldn't attain as Ranma Saotome. It was like that very NAME was holding her back. And as she walked with Yugi down the street, she lost herself in the turmoil inside her mind.

Ranma Saotome...

Amazing how much that name had held her back. How it had been slowly killing her spirit, only to be revitalized by her new family.

"So, you are here, Saotome..." Came a voice from behind, as Ryoko's eyes narrowed. She didn't recognize that voice, but when she turned, she did recognize one of the people.

Mousse was there, along with someone she didn't recognize.

Yugi approached her from the side, standing beside her to back her up in case either attacked.

Mousse rushed forward.

Faster than ever, faster than her...

Ryoko was forced back, before completely overtaken by the bullet that was Mousse. She heard Yugi call her name, before she saw the other man rush after her as well.

Mousse stopped with her in a secluded alleyway, slamming her into the wall before the most unexpected thing happened.

He kissed her.

Ryoko just stared at him with wide eyes, feeling his lips to hers and feeling so... violated...

Enraged, she kicked Mousse off her, and attacked.

Mousse didn't move to defend himself, but dodged her attacks with ease anyways.

Ryoko didn't understand. How had he gotten so fast? She couldn't help but wonder as she attacked him. And any martial artist can tell you, a wandering mind in a battle is an unfocused mind. And an unfocused mind cannot grasp victory.

So when Mousse suddenly became aggressive and disarmed her, Ryoko's ancient reflexes took over, and she scored a hit.

A snap kick to the face that sent Mousse into the wall.

When he got back up, Ryoko made a dive for her weapon.

To find her kotetsu gone from where it was.

She looked up from where she landed, finding the other man had her weapon in both hands. She quickly got back to her feet.

"What kind of weapon is this? This is like a mere toy..." Ryoko gasped, as she could guess where this was going.

"N-No!"

"Lay off the toys, little girl." The man said calmly, before he did something that tore Ryoko's heart in half.

He broke the sword in half, then proceeded to literally grind the pieces into sawdust.

At seeing her weapon destroyed so effortlessly, Ryoko dropped to her knees, her gaze unbelieving. Her gaze was a mere blank, but the tears that ran down her face were all too real.

Mousse got up, and the two started to exit, before the reality of what Ryoko had done settled with Mousse's words.

"I will be back, my wife."

With the words sinking in, Ryoko collapsed and screamed the loudest she could. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

- - - - - - -

When this began

Ryoko lay in her bed, having been found crying in the alley where she had been accosted by Mousse and that other man. She'd been laying there, mourning over her lost weapon, since they'd arrived.

I had nothing to say And I'd get lost in the nothingness inside of me

She felt terrible. In fact, she felt like crying some more, if only she wasn't out of tears. She'd been crying so much lately, it left her exhausted. And her feeling exhausted left an empty, hollow feeling inside of the girl.

I was confused

'I... can't stop them anymore... They've gotten too strong for me...' She thought sourly, as she sniffed. Looking about her room, her eyes fell on one item in particular. The sharp, well-maintained tanto on a display. Sniffing again, she looked at it for several moments before moving out of bed and to it.

And I let it all out to find/That I'm Not the only person with these things in mind

She examined its cutting edge, thinking back on the past several years.

Inside of me

A small flashback to a fight, a moment in which she was strong, not like now. Daisaku... Yes, it was the time he was taken away and she had to rescue him.

But all the vacancy the words revealed Is the only real thing that I've got left to feel

"A battle begins once one has prepared for the worst." She had said those words to her fallen opponents. Thinking back on those words made Ryoko's look sadden. She'd been so confident then, since she was settling down with her loving family and friends...

Nothing to lose

"I love you too, Shizuma..." She had said that too... To Shizuma during their battle at the end of her career as a Shinsengumi. She had told him she loved him...

Just stuck/Hollow and alone And the fault is my own And the fault is my own

"I let you win." Had been the words from Shizuma's mouth, making her choke again on her tears. She had thought she was the strongest since Saffron, but... She'd found many were out there that could still pose a challenge, without being gods.

I want to heal I want to feel What I thought was never real I want to let go of the pain I've held so long

Then, on the edge of her memory, two beatings she herself had endured. Once when she was fighting Azumi, and the other... G. She could remember the horrible feeling of being a victim against a superior swordsman.

Erase all the pain 'til it's gone

'Why did I not use my martial arts? I could have beaten him easily with my own hands and feet... I could have been killed!' She thought, rather shocked with herself.

I want to heal I want to feel Like I'm close to something real I want to find something I've wanted all along Somewhere I Belong

The pain had been immense, the anger towards him, unforgiving. He had struck Hitomi, a noncombatant, before proceeding to thrash Ryoko herself in Ryoko's fit of rage.

And I've got nothing to say I can't believe I didn't fall right down on my face

Ryoko, slowly, put the tanto back. That would not be her answer. Not now, not yet... Maybe at some point, but not now. She could still fight! Her sword may be destroyed, but...

I was confused

'I need to train... I need to show all of them that... Ryoko Mitsurugi never stays down. I may be beaten, broken, or lay shattered... But I never stay down for long.' She thought, regarding her door with fire in her eyes. It was time... For her to be reborn.

Looking everywhere/Only to find that it's Not the way I had imagined it all in my mind

Tapping into her inner reserves of ki, Ryoko moved like lightning, packing and moving things about for her trip. She knew where she would be going, she just needed supplies.

So what am I

And, slowly, she removed IT from her closet. The sheathed sword granted to her by her master in Ken-Jutsu before she left Daimon. She would see him again...

What do I have but negativity 'Cause I can't justify the Way everyone is looking at me

... Despite she knew not how Master Boo could help with this situation, but she somehow knew he could.

Nothing to lose

Shouldering her backpack, she opened the door of her room.

Nothing to gain/Hollow and alone And the fault is my own The fault is my own

No one was about, though she left a quick note as to where she was going and for Grandpa to get her excused from school for her training. She left the note in plain sight on the kitchen counter, before setting her jaw and moving down the stairs.

I want to heal I want to feel What I thought was never real I want to let go of the pain I've held so long

Kasumi and Nabiki were there, which surprised Ryoko, but she just walked towards them. There was a silent conversation with the group, as Ryoko noted they had packs with them. 'I see they're thinking ahead.'

Erase all the pain 'til it's gone

With a nod, the three girls set out the door and down the road.

I want to heal I want to feel Like I'm close to something real I want to find something I've wanted all along Somewhere I Belong

The train ride from Domino to Daimon was silent, as even the people around the girls could tell it was something serious. What helped was the sheathed sword attached to Ryoko's bag, and no one wanted her to draw it.

I will never know Myself until I do this on my own And I will never feel Anything else until my wounds are healed I will never be Anything 'til I break away from me And I will break away I'll find myself today

It took a while to get to Daimon, and the three immediately set off down the road. Daimon was a large district, though their goal was actually a pretty small place. Nabiki and Kasumi knew not where they were going, but they just knew Ryoko would need support.

I want to heal I want to feel What I thought was never real I want to let go of the pain I've held so long

The trip was surprisingly short, as the building Ryoko's master lived in was near the train station. Ryoko herself wanted to call her Aunt Madoka, but she needed to do this swiftly. She needed power, and she needed it soon.

Erase all the pain 'til it's gone

She needed guidance, for her rebirth.

I want to heal I want to feel Like I'm close to something real I want to find something I've wanted all along Somewhere I Belong

The only problem was that the current Ryoko Mitsurugi would cease to exist. And Ranma Saotome would not take her place.

I want to heal I want to feel like I'm Somewhere I belong

Oh no, she would still be Ryoko Mitsurugi, she mused, but not in spirit. Her spirit would change, her mind and body would be purified, and she would be ready.

I want to heal I want to feel like I'm Somewhere I belong

As she entered the courtyard of Master Boo's shrine, she kneeled before her master. "It is good to see you again, Master Boo."

Somewhere I belong

And the bunny replied, telepathically to all the girls, 'It is good to see you as well, Ryoko.'

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'I see. So, you wish to be reborn? You must realize that this could have various consequences, many of which I cannot begin to imagine...'

"Yes, Master, but it is necessary. My... past is catching up with me, and I cannot fight back as I am. I need more power..."

'Power is not the solution to all life's problems, child. Alas, I can see from your mind's eye that this problem can ONLY be solved with fists... Very well.'

Ryoko looked up from her position kneeling in the shrine, before bowing.

'Take off your clothes.'

Nabiki and Kasumi were startled by the request, but Ryoko seemed to be fine with it, as she started to strip from the moment she "heard" him. Once down to her birthday suit, she moved over to the middle of the dojo connected to Master Boo's shrine.

The rabbit nodded as he floated, literally floated, over to Ryoko. Nabiki and Kasumi had seen some strange things before, but they could tell that floating was effortless to the rabbit. Nabiki herself had to wonder how Ryoko had met such a unique animal.

'Are you ready, child?'

"I am, Master."

'Very well. Let us begin.'

And an aura of immense power surrounded the two, as it moved in a wave like pattern around the two. It seemed to flow and hug the naked girl inside the aura, as if caressing her. Ryoko merely closed her eyes, letting the power wash over her like a wave of water.

After several moments, finally, the aura shot into Ryoko and she cried out, as the power emerged once more... Taking on the appearance of a phoenix, the legendary bird of rebirth by flame. As the power dissipated, Ryoko dropped to her knees.

Nabiki and Kasumi rushed to her side. "Are you alright, Ryoko!"

"I... I'm okay... That felt so different from the first time you did that to me, Master..."

'I have given you a little gift, child.'

"Gift?"

'My dear Ryoko, it is time for you to train... Not as a martial artist, or a swordswoman... But, as a psychic.'

"Psychic?"

'Yes.'

Ryoko was silent for several moments, before her jaw set in a line and she redressed, then turned back to Master Boo. "I am ready, Master."

'This shall not be easy, child. I don't expect you to gt all I tell you on the first try, but...'

'For your sake, we must succeed in training you. Are you ready?'

"Yes!"

'Then, let us begin.'

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That's enough for this chapter, as I put a little Psychic Academy in here. I'm running out of inspiration for how far I can take Real Bout with this, so I decided to use a little something few would expect.

I hope the twist entertains you.

Next time: Ryoko's training.