Author Note: Another chapter release, good night I'll do some more work tomorrow.
U.F. Chapter:11
The Forgotten Goddess...
All around Ranma and the two children was nothing but a void of black murky water darkened by the cave for which it had flooded the walls the bubble of air they're only safe place to not be drowned and unbeknownst to the children that safe haven of a bubble was created by Ranma's alternate persona which was a Goddess who had been imprisoned by the God's and Demon's two ruling councils in order to tap her chaotic energies for their own purposes and goals.
"Can you get us out of here Miss?" Jinan asked as he still had his eye's on the scars on the ladies wrists.
Ranma continued to stair into the globe intently not speaking a word almost seeming as if in a deep trance.
"Brother I don't think she is hearing you." Iris said as she looked to the older nude Neko-girl holding the snow globe, taking off her jacket she walked over to the red n blue haired girl placing it around her shoulders to help cover the woman's modesty.
Jinan started to reach for the snow globe in order to take it away hoping it would snap the girl out of her trance only to find himself frightened as she in a blur grabbed his hand looking up into her eye's he just saw blackness in her orbs.
"You touch her globe and its magic will kill you, foolish mortal child," Ranma called in a voice that both sounded menacing and sinister as if in a wind tunnel as she let go of his hand proceeding to look inside the globe once more.
Taking his hand back Jinan looked into Ranma's cold black eye's fear prickling the back of his neck. "What happened to your voice Miss and your eye's?"
"You shouldn't concern yourselves with such trivial things, but if you must know the woman you speak of is my mistress and she is dormant inside grab onto me we are getting out of here," The Neko-Goddess said her voice slipping from sinister to slightly normal to the girl they had first met. Both siblings grabbed onto Ranma's person as they felt a tingling sensation and then they found themselves standing in what appeared to them a park of some kind, sounds of traffic erupted in their ears briefly before lowering to a dull roar in their ears as birds flew overhead and ducks quacked in the pond that was the parks center attraction, they took notice as children were playing on the jungle gym equipment that was surrounded by a sandbox.
"Where are we miss?" Jinan asked curiously.
The Neko-Goddess gave the boy a sideways glance. "What you have never been to Japan before?"
"Actually no... I am from Russia the same with my sister." Jinan said reaching up to scratch his head fingers running through his short green hair, he was dressed in a long robe now that was dirty that matched his sister's robe she also had green hair but long.
Iris looked up to the older girl her hand gripped on the coat that the woman was now wearing properly. "Um... what is your name if I might ask and have you been to Japan ever?"
"My Mistresses name is Ranma... that is the body you see before you I prefer you call me Nox-sama if you must... and no I have never been here to Japan personally my mistress, however, was born somewhere around here and lived most her teen years in this country." The Neko-Goddess now revealed to be Nox explained as she took in the sights as she wasn't used to this she had never had to deal with the outside world other than on a case to case basis when the world was nothing but a ball of molten rock barely in its infant status just before her imprisonment.
Jinan looked to the older girl with a curious expression. "So you are Nox... I am not familiar with what Goddess are you?"
"It is a long and difficult story to explain, perhaps its best you do not know what I am, though it shouldn't matter I am going somewhere and I do not wish to be followed go home the both of you," Nox said as she picked a direction and started walking away from the two children.
Jinan and Iris looked to themselves nodding to one another shrugging their shoulders then looked back to the older girl and started following her.
Snow globe in hand Nox continued walking stepping onto concrete feeling a sensation as the warmth from it was now on the bottom of her feet, she looked down at the ground. 'This feeling it's... strange I have never felt the heat like this.' she pondered on this as she turned her head slightly catching sight of the children who were now trailing behind her. "I told you to go home quit following me, mortals."
"But Miss... we don't have a home it was destroyed your the only person we know." Iris said as she and her brother were now stopped standing before The Neko-Goddess who had also been their savior who was giving them a look of annoyance.
Jinan pondered watching the older girls eye movements and fidgeting. "My sister is right we won't be too much of a bother to you please let us come with you, and from what I can tell you have a split personality which means you don't know what life is like out here do you?"
"I am an Alter-persona... I am not really a split personality as you put it I am an entity that lives inside my mistress, I am the force behind her power... and as for not knowing all of this yes you are right. However, I do not really feel it is safe for either of you to be around me." Nox explained in a rather calm tone hoping the two would heed her advice.
Iris looked up to Nox giving her a smile. "Look Nox-sama I am sure we will be fine you saved our lives and well... it sounds like you don't wish to take responsibility for us... well tell me this if you didn't wish to take such steps why didn't you leave us to drown in that cavern?"
"I eh..um." Nox started then contemplated the girl's question. 'Why did I decide to keep my mistresses spell in place?' she asked herself as her mind couldn't think of anything to answer this, turning she continued to walk the children following suit, she then spoke up. "I don't really know," she explained in a mere whisper.
Jinan thought on this a few moments. "How can you not know you teleported us here with you, not to mention that field you erected around us that kept us all alive and dry."
"Look I really do not wish to consider this subject right now... I am just trying to go somewhere okay so if you wish to follow me fine, but please just stop asking questions." Nox half ordered continuing her walk changing direction momentarily as they started walking past a school called Furinkan High.
Iris and her brother followed the Neko-Goddess in silence for quite a ways as they both watched the woman jump up onto a fence and start walking its length with a balance that was near perfect as if she used very little concentrated effort.
"Nox-sama as another girl such as yourself I might point out you are not considering your mistresses modesty or your own being up on that fence as all you are wearing is a coat," Iris informed as she smacked her brothers cheek so he would turn away.
Nox turned an annoyed look down to the girl who had just spoken to her. "Modesty hmm?" she questioned as she hadn't a clue of the word.
"Look just come down from there or you will give some people fainting spells," Iris said as she and her brother continued they're ground walk.
Nox pondered on this a moment jumping down from the fence continuing her forward momentum. "Wouldn't want to be randomly casting spells now would we." she deadpanned.
As the trio walked they came to a stop as maniacal laughter was heard then a voice shouted out. "Why if it isn't the Hussy. Where is my Ranma-sama do tell or I will beat the information out of you."
The trio turned to face the woman Nox and her unwanted charges took in the young woman's features noticing the girl was dressed in a purple dress that was long sleeves with frills on the cuffs her hair was raven tied back into a ponytail that hung at her lower back her eye's a teal color. 'What now I haven't been in control for more than an hour and I got random mortal's accumulating around me.' "Look Mortal I don't know who this Hussy you speak of is nor do I know you... and I frankly don't care to. So leave my sight immediately if you know what is good for you."
"My you are rather how do we say naive as ever why I am Kodachi Kuno The Black Rose and now that I have ended your ignorance since it is obvious you have forgotten I say again where is my Ranma-sama do tell dear?" Kodachi said as she pulled out her ribbon while fixing a frigid glare at the blue and red hair girl before her.
Nox pondered this information a moment. "Look Black Petunia or whatever it is you call yourself I really don't have time to be bothered by the likes of you now I suggest you leave while you are still able too," she said as she and the two children started to walk away from the insane gymnast.
"Miss you should probably listen to Nox-sama she doesn't wish to be bothered," Jinan said trying to stop the potential fight that would ensue.
Kodachi continued to glare at the young woman known to her as Ranko Tendo. "Nox is that what you call yourself now is it? I can't just let you walk away you see I really want my Husband and you girl have been hiding him now tell me where he is!" she said with venom as she snapped at Nox with her ribbon it cracked like a whip as the both Iris and Jinan jumped backward along with Nox herself.
'Ranma-sama...Ranma-sama.. hmm where have I heard this before? Oh, yea that was my mistresses old male name does this idiot really not know my mistress and this Ranma are one and the same what a deluded idiot.' Nox started to giggle as she caught Kodachi's ribbon with her right hand as it came at her face.
"Um are you really that deluded... don't you know my mistress and Ranma-Sama as you call him is one and the same?" she asked as she held the ribbon firmly as the woman on the other end played at a tug of war that she wasn't gaining any advantage in.
Kodachi quirked an eyebrow at Chaos. "You are an odd one aren't you talking as if a third party hmph." she let her ribbon go as she charged The Neko-Goddess producing two clubs lashing out with the right one as the woman before her dodged it.
Nox pondered as she dodged one strike after another while backing up forming her mistresses frost sword in her right hand as she used it to deflect some of the club strikes. 'Ranma wouldn't want me to harm this mortal but I don't think I have a choice okay then.'
"Why don't you stand still you brat and take your punishment!" Kodachi said in an exasperated tone as she was trying to club the dodging and weaving girl all while fully aware of the potentially lethal blade the woman before her now held.
Nox focusing her energy into the frost blade it's frosty aura turning a green tint. "Windburn!" she called out as with a wave of the blade she sent a furious gust of wind that hit Kodachi sending her sailing back into the East wall of Furinkan high causing her to fly into a classroom that was in session several shouts echoed out from the hole, as Nox let the frost sword drop back into subspace.
"Nice trick... Um, will she be okay?" Jinan asked as he looked to the hole at which the older girl who had confronted them had sailed through.
Nox chuckled some as she turned to leave feeling quite pleased with herself, she spoke up going on to explain. "I am sure she won't be too seriously injured she is as my mistress would say a martial artist even though poor in skill."
Kodachi now surrounded by students of the classroom she was now in felt like all her bones were aching as the heat of the wind that had just forced her through the wall was dissipating slowly her skin pink as if she had gotten to hot from being in the sun too long sweat pooled her features as if she had been sweating for hours as if she had workout in a gym. 'What manner of tricks was that... is she a sorceress or a demoness?' she asked herself before succumbing to unconsciousness.
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Meanwhile...
The frigid wind swept over the mountain as the windows to the cabin rattled some as Akane kept a blanket wrapped around herself. "Hon when can we go home we been here for nearly... six years I am not saying I don't like it here but I wanna get out and live."
Ryoga sighed as he adjusted the logs that were burning in the fireplace with a poker. "You heard the council's ruling we are to stay put. Look I don't like it any better then you do but they have been at this for far longer then us and too be honest as beautiful as you are your eye's would scare a lot of people your a demoness Akane your no longer just mortal and neither am I."
"I didn't want to be a Vampire demon as they call them... I just want to be human, why couldn't I just be a Goddess huh I don't wanna go to Hell!" Akane shouted the last as she punched the wooden floor in frustration.
Nodoka sat down next to Akane giving her a hug. "Dear hush you are not going to Hell... and to be honest just cause you are a demoness doesn't make you a spawn of Hell either. You didn't ask for this sweetheart."
Akane hugged onto the older goddess as if a life preserver. "I am scared... I hate the fact I can see when people are going to die... not to mention the pain of this hunger I get."
Kromulus materialized into the room looking to Nodoka and the currently male goddess along with the demoness that was the rooms, other occupants. "Well, I cannot help your eye's Akane however I can help you with that hunger you are feeling also I am here to tell you that the council has come to a decision though for you it was a long time to those of us outside of this realm shorter time. You may leave this place anytime you wish I just ask that you keep a low profile with the mortal creatures. Nodoka-san have you taught them how to transform they're appearance's and control the powers they wield?"
"Yes actually though Akane-chan here is able to hide her wings her skin remains quite pale and her eye's stay crimson," Nodoka explained while keeping a level gaze on her boss.
Kromulus nodded his head. "Well, Akane I guess you should get acquainted with sunglasses as for your skin color it isn't all that bad though you may find yourself considered unique."
"Yea people will call me a vampire... how delightful," Akane said sarcastically a frown on her face as she kept her gaze to the wood floor of the cabin.
Ryoga pondered for a few minutes. "Is there a way to change my wife's status you know into a Goddess?"
Kromulus gave the fang-toothed martial artist/goddess a sorrowful expression. "I have already consulted the council and the Kami himself and they have declined to help they do not see a reason since it is Akane's actions and faith that will decide where she should go when and if her time comes, plus the Daimakaicho herself has a stake to claim in all of this so to change the status of one could cause an imbalance."
"Could my daughter perhaps help her in any way?" Nodoka asked curiously.
Kromulus pondered on what to say a moment. "While your daughter may exceed a majority of the council in power she has rules to follow set down by the Kami himself... however since we have not been able to find her in some time Ranma-san isn't aware of this decision so yes she could very well help with this girls condition though it is strongly urged that she does not as certain powers will be rather upset at such a transgression."
"What do you mean certain powers?" Akane asked turning her gaze to the elder god who was standing by the door of the cabin.
Nodoka cleared her throat momentarily. "He refers to those of Hell's domain though you are not necessarily bound to follow they're order of things Akane you are a demoness and by just simply turning you into a Goddess would possibly ruin the peace treaty that keeps our different societies from war."
"Can I ask what Ranma is considered is she a Demon or a Goddess?" Ryoga asked curiously as he walked over taking a seat on the sofa with his wife.
"She is a Goddess, however, she isn't really bound to the council of Heaven and she isn't bound by Hell either she is chaotic in nature she only answers to Kami himself and will only adhere to the council's wishes if it's the Kami's will, though that is mainly due mostly in part of the Oblivion Goddess that we all believe to be dwelling within her mind," Kromulus explained while making a box of candy sticks appear taking a stick out of it then taking a bite.
Ryoga took in the information he had just learned. 'Must be nice... that should help boost her ego I can see it now... Nah Nah I am better than you Ryoga.'
Akane pondered on this information a moment. "So she is a double agent who could work both sides occasionally."
"You could say that... though I prefer my daughter to remain neutral." Nodoka said as she felt depressed as she hadn't seen her daughter in a while, though she wondered about Nox and if the oblivion Goddess was indeed free would she seek revenge eventually.
Beep...beep... beep. A tone sounded off as Nodoka reached into her pocket pulling out a cellphone. "Why hello Freya... oh really where was she last seen at?"
"Well my friend I was on my way to check on an old friend when I saw your daughter though briefly, I lost track of her after she had sent some poor girl hurling into a wall at some mortal school," Freya explained as she was now sitting in the hospital watching over the girl known as Kodachi who was asleep on the bed.
Nodoka perked up at her friend's words. "Oh where did you see her and where are you now?"
"I am currently at Tokyo General watching over the poor girl that was at the receiving end of a windburn spell... I haven't seen anything like it I mean doesn't she know not to cast chaotic magics?" Freya asked into the receiver of her cellphone.
Nodoka stood up walking over to the window to look outside while the eye's of the other rooms occupants followed her. "Yes Freya my daughter knows better... but that doesn't mean she didn't... thanks for telling me I am on my way in the meantime follow the rules and do not let anyone see you." she then ended the call, not at all revealing the fact the Goddess that was her daughter that Freya had encountered may very well be the Oblivion Goddess.
"So where is your daughter currently No-chan?" Kromulus asked as he reached into his robe producing an orb.
Nodoka looked to Kromulus giving him a stern expression. "Look Kromulus I would rather do this myself she is my daughter I will go deal with her Kami-sama doesn't need to be bothered."
"I see very well No-chan I shall let you do this alone then, just make sure to bring your daughter up to speed on the rules," Kromulus said before vanishing from the cabin.
Ryoga pondered a moment. "This may come across as a stupid question but if Ranma doesn't have to listen to anyone but Kami what makes you think she will listen to you Nodoka-san?"
"She is my child, of course, she will listen to me," Nodoka said with a chuckle at the end as she bonked Ryoga on the head with her left-hand palm.
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Nerima Japan...
As Nox and her two charges continued walking in an eastern direction pedestrian who shared the sidewalks with them would give them odd looks at they're odd appearance.
"Why do they keep looking at us like that?" Nox asked as she was feeling a new sensation unbeknownst to her was discomfort.
Isis looked to her older companion. "They are probably wondering why you are dressed indecently and why you are allowing us to be dirty."
"Why would they be wondering why I would be letting you be dirty it isn't my concern I am not your mother." Nox said as she gave a frigid glare at a woman who took off into the crowd.
Jinan chuckled some. "Like it or not your older than us so yes to them your our parental guardian and well we all look homeless."
"How wonderful... let's keep moving then." Nox said sarcastically as she let out a breath of frustration. They continued to walk finally turning down a street they were quite relieved as it was less busy.
Jinan stopped momentarily turning his head toward an ally seeing a group of boy's all pushing a man around as they were wielding baseball bats and pipes.
Nox came to a stop along with Iris as they took note that Jinan was no longer following them. "You decided against following me after all mortal?"
"Nox-sama that man needs our help I think they are picking on him," Jinan said pointing down the ally.
The Neko-Goddess walked over to young boy then looked to where his gaze was seeing five young Japanese men pushing a man around that was obviously a little older his eye's had rings under them as if in pour health brown hair dressed in tan slacks, and a white button-up shirt she estimated he stood around five foot four and also Japanese.
"You walked through our territory dude so I am only going to ask this once more give us your wallet." One of the men said as she clubbed the man in the stomach causing air to flee from his lungs.
The haggard lanky man finally catching his breath. "I told you I have no money this is pointless leave me alone," he said as he took another hit from the bat while the other gentleman laughed at his plight.
"Please Nox-sama you have to help him," Iris said as she hated bullies.
The Neko-Goddess watched on as the man took some more hits as it was obvious the gang of men was playing up to a beating of the man who was in desperate trouble. "It isn't my concern let's go." she then turned to leave.
"Your mistress told me it is a martial artist duty to protect the weak... That man needs your help are you truly going to turn your back on him?" Isis asked looking to the Neko-Goddess who paused in her steps.
Nox stopped in her tracks momentarily shrugging her shoulders as her hair was being blown by the wind. "These are mortal's hardly worth my time if you wish to help him then go ahead I am not stopping you." she offered.
"There you go again. We are mortal's you saved us why not help that man?" Jinan asked in an angry tone since he was starting to get tired of the woman's attitude.
Nox didn't answer as she started to walk off.
"Damn you how dare you to disrespect your mistress by flagrantly ignoring the very basis that is her honor-bound duty to help those in need," Isis shouted the last causing the older Neko-girl to stop turning to face her.
Nox growled feeling rather annoyed. "How dare you say..." she trailed seeing tears in the younger girls eye's. 'Why do I feel... is this pain I am feeling right now... what is this emotion is it truly pain or possibly a feeling of bad?' she asked herself as she turned to the sound of a cry from the man who had just taken another hit.
"You don't wanna give us your wallet fine lil' man I guess we will take our payment out of your hide. Hold him against the wall guy's so I can get some batting practice." The spokesman for the group said as he twirled the bat readying for a swing.
Two of the other gentleman slammed the gentleman against the wall holding his struggling form against the wall while letting off chuckles of excitement.
"Please stop it I told you I left my wallet at home I am telling the truth." the man cried as he closed his eye's as he saw the bat swinging forward, he then felt himself falling to the ground as five separate thuds sounded out along with the cracking of wood as it hit the sidewalk. Opening his eye's he looked up into the pitch-black eye's of a blue n red-haired woman who stood over him who looked slightly familiar but he couldn't place a name to her face.
Nox looked down at the miserable man who was standing up slowly. "Are you okay?" she questioned in a dull monotone voice.
"I-I-um-I." The man took a breath calming himself then looked to the woman who had just spoken to him her cold black eye's seeming to pierce his soul. "I am fine I suppose thank you my name is Hikaru Gosunkugi though most people call me Kugi."
Nox eyed the man momentarily giving him a blank expression. "Well Kugi uh be more careful next time," she said as both the children who were her charges ran over hugging onto her.
"See Nox-sama feels good to help people huh?" Isis asked as she was very proud of her friend's selfless act.
Nox gave a nervous chuckle as she reached up scratching her neck in reminisce of her mistresses nervous gestures. "I-eh... sure I sup'os let's go. Have a good day Kugi."
Hikaru looked to the five guys's who were just picking on him who were all on the ground groaning in pain and the shattered baseball bat 'Amazing such a delicate woman did all this... what power and those eye's it's as if the Kami himself has answered my prayers.' "Wait up guy's I am coming with you," he called out as he ran to join the trio.
Nox continued to walk annoyance creeping over her features. 'Oh great and so it starts... everybody and they're dog is going to start following me around'
"Actually Hikaru was it... we are just traveling," Isis said as she reached up taking Nox's hand as they walked.
Nox pondered as she gripped the child's hand that was beside her. 'I really hope Ranma wakes up I really wanna go back to familiar ground.'
"Nox-sama we have been walking for quite a while do you know where we are going?" Jinan asked curiously.
The Neko-Goddess turned to the young boy contemplating her words. "Look I really don't know... I have been following instinct and taking the necessary paths to where they lead us."
"I am not sure how you do it but from where I come from that means your lost." Jinan smarted off.
Nox rolled her eye's some feeling slightly embarrassed another emotion she wasn't used to. "Yea... I sup'ose you could say that." stopping her walk causing the whole group to stop.
"I have a suggestion if you all are interested," Hikaru said from behind the trio causing them to look over at him curiously.
Nox pondered then gave Hikaru a look of interest. "Your suggestion Kugi what is it?"
"Well, you three could come with me to the Tendo training hall. They might even be able to help you get to where it is that you are going." Hikaru offered as he gave a marveling look to Nox.
The Neko-Goddess pondered a moment as she felt familiarity creep over her. "Do you train there or somethin'? If so you should probably ask for your money back they are not doing you much good." 'Where did that come from?' she asked herself.
"Nox-sama with all due respect that wasn't very polite" Iris chided her older companion.
Jinan looked to Hikaru. "Sorry for our friend she is very rude at times."
"Oh it's alright I can tell by the way you all are dressed you have all been through some hard times please follow me the Tendo's is just up the street with a warm bath and some food I am sure you all will feel better," Hikaru said as he started to walk as Nox and her charges followed him.
Nox looked into her mistresses snow globe pondering as she gazed upon Ranma who was lying asleep on a white fluffy couch. 'Must be nice to sleep all day while your alter-persona has to live outside.'
~Hey shaddup I am trying to sleep here damn it.~Ranma grumbled.
Nox felt frustrated 'Look you need to wake up and deal with life I am not supposed to live your life for you.'
~I put you in charge just wing it a little longer until I can correct myself they did something to us and I am fighting hard to balance this.~ Ranma said as she opened her eye's looking up to Nox from within the snow globe.
Nox looked into the snow globe giving her mistress a look of agitation. 'Well do hurry please I can't stand these mortal's. I mean I am being followed by two children who think of me as a Mom... and some weird mortal who by all means should be otherworldly.'
~That's Hikaru for you look Nox-sama look just go with him to the Tendo's it is the best place for you at the moment. I will try to fix this and soon before we do something stupid.~ Ranma said as the globe fogged up.