Author Note: So this story seems to be paced a little fast I apologies, but when I first wrote this story it was very much written on the fly which was why I was able to proceed with such rapid chapter launches, that and I had no beta-readers and I didn't do near as much as I do now in terms of editing, and typo cleaning.
I hope you enjoy this installation of the story, enjoy the show. -Zeltronica
U.F. Chapter:12
Nox comes home...
Today was starting to become a beautiful day for one poor unfortunate soul being that of Hikaru Gosenkugi who had been saved by a very beautiful young woman who had two lovely children who followed behind her. The sun had risen further as it was approaching around four in the evening for those of Japan and it's corresponding time zone. Traffic had picked up as sirens and horns wailed and or honked almost as if someone was punching buttons in rapid succession in order to make the city come to life pedestrians going to work and or going to get groceries, the school was now out as children walked home.
Hikaru looked behind him a moment catching a glimpse of the girl known to him now as Nox his heart fluttered. 'She is so...so beautiful her blue and crimson locks those eye's of voided night... her creamy white skin is so beautiful and she has a feeling about her that feels otherworldly...' he trailed off in his thoughts as he moved his gaze back on the task of leading the group safely to the Tendo's.
"How much further Kugi?" Nox asked as she continued to walk casually looking to her left seeing cars driving by in curiosity since this was the first time she wasn't viewing one from within her mistresses mind eyes, no now she was viewing them up close with her own eyes son to speak being they were still her mistresses eyes, just this was better than watching television if one was to compare.
Hikaru was woken from his thoughts as he kept his gaze forward. "Well my swe... I mean Nox-sama we have just one more block to go, are you tired do you wish to stop for rest?"
"I do not require rest as you so put it let's keep moving," Nox said as she turned her gaze to the back of the man she was just speaking to sending chills up his spine.
Hikaru shivered as he felt like someone had just walked over his grave. "Very well let's keep going then."
Iris and Jinan walked on either side of The Neko-Goddess as they also were looking to their surroundings in curiosity.
"Nox-sama what does this sign say?" Jinan asked as he pointed at a poster that had a depicting of an ancient samurai warrior.
Nox came to a stop momentarily studying the poster for a few moments. "Basically there is going to be a samurai showcase at West Lashing Street the debut will be from ten in the morning to nine in the evening, yen for the event is four thousand per person. The display will be presented next Saturday if I am reading this correctly." taking a breath a moment she then spoke once again. "It stands to reason there is no samurai in your futures so long as we have no currency."
Both children let out a sigh each almost in perfect unison as they started to walk ahead of Nox now matching steps with Hikaru.
Nox looked to the sign a moment as she had seen the bummed looks on the children's features. 'Mortal's get so depressed over the littlest things... I have never been to a samurai show myself I don't see what the big deal is... well scratch that one thought I have met one samurai he drowned in my essence what a fool he was spouting poetry to that woman... what kind of idiot doesn't know how to swim? Well it doesn't matter now though I hate remembering such things at least with Jalia I didn't ever have to think of such things, but this new mistress of mine... she is so different I actually like her and I have purpose that goes past making water pipes break causing water magnet works and the like.'
"Nox-sama you coming?" Jinan called as he had stopped turning to his older friend who was standing as if in deep contemplation.
Nox broke from her thoughts looking to Jinan. "Yes I am sorry just thinking is all." she then started walking again following the group to they're destination.
After just a few more minutes the group finally arrived at the Tendo Training Hall stepping past the gate walking to the front entrance door Hikaru reached into his pocket retrieving a key unlocking the door then opened it ushering the trio through the door.
Nox and the two children turned momentarily to the sound of the door shutting, watching Hikaru walk past them. "Tadaima" Hikaru called out as he took his shoes off then noticing his three companions weren't wearing shoes.
"Okaerinasai" Kasumi called from the kitchen.
Hikaru turned to Nox and the children. "Wait here a moment please." then walked to the kitchen.
"Whoever that woman is she sounds cute," Jinan said as he took note of the pictures on the wall that had family moments caught in time. "Hey sis look at this doesn't she look familiar?" he asked pointing at a girl standing next to a blue haired girl that had red hair done back in a pigtail.
Iris studied the picture then turned to they're older companion. "Hey, Nox-sama it's you though your hair looks different from the girl in the picture."
"Yes, the girl in the picture is, in fact, my mistress when she was younger that picture I recall from her memory is from ten years ago." Nox explained as she turned to the room Hikaru had just gone too. As she was about to start walking over a young woman in her thirties stepped out of the room walking over to them with Hikaru walking just behind her.
Kasumi eyed the trio for a moment noting they're appearance. "Why hello I wasn't aware Hikaru was bringing visitors home." she then took in Nox's features for a few moments as her jaw slackened some.
"Kasumi this is Nox-sama, and well this young girl is Iris and the boy his name is Jinan." Hikaru introduced.
Kasumi let off a giggle a moment. "Yes while I haven't seen Nox-sama in some time I know Ranma-chan when I see her. Welcome home Ranma-chan."
Hikaru looked to the red n blue haired girl feeling mixed feelings. 'She's Ranma... but she doesn't look... damn how can and those feline features.' he ceased his thinking as he studied Nox's features letting off a depressed sigh.
"Hello um Kasumi as Kugi here introduced I am Nox my mistress is dormant inside this vessel." Nox explained giving the eldest Tendo sideways glance.
Kasumi pondered on this as she studied Nox gaining a shiver noting the color of the girl's eyes. "Are you possessing Ranma-chan?"
"Yes and no it's a very complicated story my mistress er Ranma said we should come here and that we would be safe would it be okay if we stay here for a little while?" Nox requested turning to face Kasumi giving her a respectful bow of her head.
Kasumi gave the Neko-Goddess her usual warm smile. "I don't see a problem perhaps your mistresses Mom will come by she was here last year looking for her and it hasn't changed she will return I am sure of it. Make yourselves at home I'll go find you three something to wear I suggest you go get a bath and I will have supper ready soon," she offered as she heard a growl coming from the two children's stomachs, and a louder growl coming from Nox's stomach.
Hikaru lead the trio to the furo area. "The furo is the last door on the right." he deadpanned as he headed back down stairs.
"Thanks." Both children called to him.
Nox watched Hikaru vanish downstairs. 'He seemed rather upset when he found out this body is that of my mistress... why?' she asked herself curiously as she walked with the children into the furo shutting the sliding door. "You two can bath first I will wait here."
Iris and her brother nodded to the older girl walking to the bath as they took their old rags off tossing them to the floor then disappeared into the bath shutting the sliding glass door that looked as if newly put in.
A couple of minutes later Kasumi came into the furo placing two outfits on the counter along with a red and black Chinese outfit. "Ran- 'Er Nox-sama the red and black set is yours I will be in the kitchen if you or the children need anything."
"Thanks, Kasumi I appreciate this," Nox said in reminisce of her mistress.
Kasumi gave Nox a bow then turned and left sliding the door shut behind her. The Neko-Goddess after watching the eldest Tendo leave the furo took a seat on the floor as she looked into her snow globe. 'Ranma why is this Hikaru upset about the fact this body is yours?'
~That is simple Nox I could answer it for you but it wouldn't be serving your best interests perhaps if you want to know you should ask him yourself. Now if you please let me be I am about to fight.~ Ranma said as she was walking toward the middle of an arena as a figure stood in the center as she got closer she chuckled to herself. "So your what The Jusenkyo Preservation Society was working on huh?"
"You could say that but after the dust of our battle is over you will be dead and I will be back in control as it should be stupid girl." The figure said as he formed a ki-blade in his right hand.
Nox watched the globe fog up unable to catch who the figure was due to him being too far from her view. 'Who the Hell was that?' she thought as she set the globe down next to her as she leaned back resting against the washer.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the Household kitchen, Kasumi set to work on making supper as her middle sister Nabiki came into the kitchen opening the refrigerator to grab a can of soda with a green label. "Hey sis why are you cooking so much food?"
"Well Hikaru came home with company with a young woman named Nox who is an alter-persona to Ranma-chan and there are two children that are accompanying her so yes I am cooking food for every one father should be home shortly Nabiki," Kasumi said as she got started on preparing the ingredients for the meal.
Nabiki popping the tab on her soda then took a drink as she walked back to the living room. 'So Ranma Is back this could work in my favor.' she contemplated as she watched two children come down the stairs dressed in some clothes that used to belong to her younger sister from childhood.
"Hiya," Iris said with a wave as she stood next to her brother now looking at the brown-haired young woman whose hair was a pageboy style, was also wearing a woman's pantsuit that had pinstripes on the pants, while the blouse she wore was gray with a red tie that was tied around the collar.
Nabiki gave the little girl and boy a warm smile. "Hello and you are?" she said as she looked the girl in the eye.
"I am Iris and this is my brother his name is Jinan, and well we have a companion her name is Nox-sama she is taking a bath," Iris replied with a smile.
Nabiki took this information in a moment setting her soda down on the coffee table. "You speak my language rather well for a foreign child so young I am very surprised."
"To be honest we couldn't speak a word of Japanese until we ran into Nox-sama it seemed to flow naturally for us after that," Jinan added into the conversation.
Nabiki sat down on the sofa a moment patting her left knee with her left hand with a smile. "Well, that doesn't surprise me if Ranma-chan had to talk to someone who doesn't understand her she may have simply cast a spell on you putting our language into your thoughts."
"That's exactly what my mistress did." Nox said as she came down the stairs her hair still wet from the bath the red shirt she wore was rather well preserved same for the pants she wore that she was adjusting the drawstring to better accommodate her small form as the snow globe was tucked under her right arm, once finished she took the globe in her left hand.
Nabiki arched her eyebrows in amusement. "So I was right so Ran... or is it Nox?" she asked as she noticed the young woman's eye color that stood in front of her.
"I am Nox I am sure if you wish to talk to my mistress she will be available in due time... you must be Nab's my mistress has told me much about you." the Neko-Goddess relayed as she took the towel that was draped over her left shoulder and began drying her hair some more.
Nabiki gave a nervous smile as she also let a nervous chuckle escape her lips. "I hope Ranma-baby told you good things?" she probed as she picked up her soda taking another drink swallowing, the eyes this girl had made her shiver.
"Well, she did have some good things to say and some bad things." Nox said with a cool expression to her facial features.
"Get away from her Nabiki she's an evil spirit. What did you do with Akane Ranma, you fiend!" Hikaru called as he was now holding prayer beads in one hand a cross in the other trying to ward Nox off.
Nabiki and Nox, as well as the children, turned to Hikaru all gaining a look of confusion.
"Hikaru-Kun uh this is Nox and if she is evil then she is obviously the nicest evil spirit I ever met so far," Nabiki said with a chuckle.
Nox chuckled at Hikaru's current look the candles he wore on either side of his head tied by a white bandanna which their wicks were lit a flame. "You are certainly unusual even by my standards I have never seen a priest such as yourself even the one who drowned in my essence didn't look this goofy as for Akane I am sure she is safe I am surprised you wouldn't know this. Did my mistresses Mom not tell any of you that both her and your friend had woken from they're slumber?"
"Actually we haven't heard from Nodoka-san or Ryoga-Kun in quite awhile," Nabiki said as she walked over to the couch sitting down pondering a moment. "Hey, your able to blink maybe you could either take me to see my sister or bring them to see us?"
Nox turned her gaze from Hikaru looking to the middle Tendo. "I would love to do either one but I couldn't guarantee we would get there safely and I couldn't say I could bring them to us safely either however once my mistress has awoken she could do it."
"Couldn't you wake her Nox-baby?" Nabiki asked curiously.
Nox shrugged her shoulders. "I could force my mistress awake but she wouldn't be of sane mind she is fine as long as she is dormant," she explained as she snapped her fingers causing water to fall from nothing over Hikaru putting the candles out.
Hikaru stood dripping wet as he shivered and his teeth chattered, his black robe thoroughly soaked.
"Nice Nox-baby. Now I don't suppose you can snap your fingers and dry the floor?" Nabiki said covering her mouth laughing at the now drenched master of the otherworldly arts.
Nox after watching Hikaru leave the room walked over squatting down taking the towel from off her left shoulder and started to dry the floor with it. "Nope but I can dry it with a towel the old fashioned way."
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ding ding dong the door ring tone sounded out.
"I wonder who that could be. Nox Or Nabiki could one of you please go answer the door?" Kasumi called from the kitchen.
Nabiki placed a hand on the blue n red-haired Neko-girls shoulder. "Yes I will get it sis'." she then walked the hall to the entrance of the house opening the door to be greeted by Nodoka and her sister along with Ryoga. "Speak of the devil we were just talking about you three."
Akane ran forward hugging her sister tightly. "It's so good to see you again Nabiki I actually really missed you."
"I missed you too sis' take those glasses off so I can get a look at you," Nabiki said as she looked over her younger sister.
Akane backed up some now standing by her Husband. "I would rather not maybe after some explanations maybe?" Nabiki observing her sister sported a tail and a set of black wings gave a slight nod of her head.
"Sure sis we can talk at dinner Kasumi I am sure will have made plenty for all of you since one of our guests I am sure still has an appetite," Nabiki said with a chuckle.
Nodoka smiled at this reunion between the two siblings. "Well I have never been referred to as a devil however may we come in and has my daughter come by recently?"
"Actually she is here well... Nox-sama is here it's kinda weird but they are alter persona's or something like that but yes Ranma is here." Nabiki said gesturing for them all to come inside.
Nodoka and company entered the house as she wasted no time in walking over to her daughter who had just come back downstairs. "Well my, you are looking rather well deary," she called, harboring no ill will for the woman currently in control of her child's body.
Nox gave a nod to the older woman standing before her. "I am Nox Goddess of Chaos and or as you Godlings call me the Oblivion Goddess and to some Mother Moon and Mistress of the cold deep dark of the void... your daughter Ranma is currently dormant trying to correct something the society had done to us."
"I know who you are and since you share the same body as my child that makes by proxy you my daughter as well. Come with me dear we need to talk," Nodoka said as she took Nox's hand leading her back upstairs so they could speak alone.
Ryoga watching both Saotome's walking up the steps to the second floor of the house. "So is Nox as she calls herself going to be chewed out you think?"
"No, I doubt it Auntie probably just wants to be with her child for awhile Hon," Akane said as she gave her husband a squeeze.
Nodoka after leading her daughter into Akane's room shut the door as she took note of the dust on the desk by the window turned her attention to the rooms only other occupant, "Nox-sama I must tell you it is against regulations to demonstrate your power in front of mortal's and if you must you should always mask it so that it looks like it is Ki driven you understand dear?"
"I understand but I can't really mask my magic I am chaotic in nature." Nox explained as she leaned up against the door as she reached over with her right hand setting her snow globe down on the dresser that was against the wall next to her right.
Nodoka looked to her daughter with a thoughtful expression. "Dear you said my daughter is dormant may I ask why?"
"Ranma was sent to deal with the Jusenkyo Preservation Society they were attacking a village and she had decided to try and save it since the inhabitants were all Jusenkyo victims. It was both a massacre and a setup they had a special dart that was able to put her to sleep and well they tortured her for days before we finally escaped but she went insane during that period of time and well now I am living her life until she can defeat this monster they created inside of us or I think it is a monster." Nox explained while Nodoka had taken a seat on the bed.
Nodoka considered this information as she gestured for Nox to sit by her once done she took one of her daughter's wrists looking the old scar over a few moments. "So my daughter believes someone in the council had set her up?"
"No, I think someone set her up how else would they know how to put my mistress to sleep." Nox explained to Ranma's mother.
Nodoka nodded as she hugged Nox gently. "Very plausible I will talk to Kromulus about this possibility."
Nox said nothing as she hugged her mistresses mother back gingerly as she wasn't used to this kind of contact.
"I must now ask something of you Nox-sama what is your intentions will you seek revenge upon the God's and Demon's who sought to imprison you?" Nodoka questioned, as she was curious of the Oblivion Goddess's intentions.
Nox frowned at the mention of her imprisonment. "Seek revenge? No, I am a very patient woman and not so petty. Eventually, you will all succumb to me so why rush it, besides I can because of my mistress see the reason of why it was done. I destroyed many a pet project Kami-sama had created since it was but a game to me, I was like a child and in many ways, I am still a child even though I was the first to enter being in the cold deep dark of the voided shadow expanse." she explained.
After a few moments, both of them broke the contact as Nodoka seeming satisfied with her neo-daughter's answer stood up walking over to the dresser picking up the snow globe then opened the door stopping then calling out. "Akane, Ryoga come up here please so I can teach you another trick."
"How are you holding my mistresses snow globe?" Nox asked curiously as everyone she had seen touch it vaporized into a bloody mist.
Nodoka walked over to Nox taking a seat on the floor gesturing for her to do the same. "Because I have no wish to steal it, plus most it would do to a being of my magnitude is put me in one of the hospitals in Asgard."
Akane, Hikaru and Ryoga came into the room walking over to the two Saotome's taking seats as Nodoka shut the door using a spell causing it to lock, turning her attention to Hikaru a moment. "Who are you?"
"I-I.. em I." Hikaru stumbled as the voice he had just heard was rather imposing.
Ryoga took that moment to speak up placing a hand on Hikaru's shoulder. "This is Gosunkugi Hikaru he is one of the wrecking crew and he also may be able to help us if what I presume you are about to do is a complex spell."
"Well don't you think we should tell Kasumi and them we will be a little late for dinner?" Akane asked looking to the Saotome Matriarch.
Nox chuckled about this as she snapped her finger causing Ryoga's curse to trigger transforming him into his busty white-haired girl side. "Must wear your uniform to work you know, and as for you Akane for us time slows down here we will be back before the food is set on the table."
"Well said Nox-sama though that is to assume none of us get obliterated where we are going. Hikaru after this matter is dealt with and we all make it back safely Kami-sama willing you are not to speak of what transpires here are we clear?" Nodoka asked in a calm and cool voice receiving a nod from the brown-haired boy, as both Ryoga and Akane sat down taking places around the globe that was glowing almost seeming to reverberate. Nodoka placed her hand on the orb along with the Neko-Goddess placing her hand over Nodoka's, Akane placing her hand over her husband sometimes wife's hand and Hikaru taking a seat placed his hand over his old love interests hand.
Nodoka making sure everyone was now joined began to chant, with Ryoga and Akane falling suit as she grabbed her sunglasses with her other hand taking them off in order to increase the spell's success her crimson eye's flashing a brimstone red, while Nodoka and Ryoga's eye's started to glow a frosty white and Nox's eye's changed to an eery green while Hikaru's eye's started to glow white. Right about then as the ritual was almost complete Ranma's feminine voice boomed out. "Begone!" and all of them were blown away from the globe.
Nodoka rubbed her back as she looked to the globe. "What was that?"
"Mistress doesn't want our interference she wants to do this alone." Nox explained as she picked up the globe looking down inside of it.
"Look this is my fight you five stay out of it." Ranma's voice called out from the orb.
Ranma-kun growled out from within the orb. "Don't listen to this bitch come on in Mom so I can kick your ass over that seppuku pledge you made me sign!"
"Don't you dare!" Ranma-chan growled out as the sound of steel on steel was heard from within the globe its metal stand was now frosting over, as it's glass quicky fogged up.
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The battle within the globe...
The arena within the orb was reminiscent of the Roman Colosseum as smoke wafted into a reddish sky flames rose over the walls of the arena only two occupants currently resided here battling it out with one another a red-haired Neko-girl with a pigtail her clothes bloodied, her face covered in soot from the ash that fell from the sky above mud covered her pants from the wet muddied ground that both her and the other pigtailed figure fought on with whom also looked just as much a mess as her though this was a human boy with raven hair with hatred in his sapphire eye's.
Ranma growled out as he threw one punch after another that was being blocked by the pigtailed Neko-girl figure at which whom he hated with a passion. "Just die I am not going to let you steal my life anymore damn it."
"Your life... Explain how I can have stolen from you when we are the same person?" Ranma said as she swung at her former male half with her right fist catching him in the jaw sending him backward.
Ranma growled out his eye's flaring red as he shook the hit off charging in "Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken!" he shouted out as he began an assault on his female half with fury as she blocked five of his blows for every twenty he threw at her per second.
Ranma growled out as she continued to try to block the assault she was undertaking wincing in pain with every hit she took. 'Damn it I shoulda known he had my abilities... he hits like a truck.'
"What's da matter lil Goddess can't you fight huh or is it you are weak without your magic?" Ranma asked as he dropped under her guard sending a powerful uppercut to the girls jaw that caused his female half to fly back into the east arena wall causing it to crack from the indention.
Ranma-chan feeling her bones aching as she slowly pushed herself off the ground dusting the rubble off of her. "I don't need magic against you, but don't you see this is pointless you can't kill me no matter how long you beat on me you will never leave this place so long as I can help it," she said as she rubbed her throbbing jaw.
"You're lying you're very close to dying and you know it let me have my life back stupid girl or it is your funeral," Ranma said as he cracked his knuckles.
Ranma-chan let out a sigh of sadness. "Look I would love to oblige you I don't want to be a girl, but I had to accept it... your a monster can't you see all you are is an essence of the rage I built up who just happens to have my former forms appearance and that is why I can't let you win this fight even if it means we will stay here indefinitely. I will not and cannot allow you free roam with my body."
"So you would rather die than allow us to be the way we were?" Ranma growled out with fury in his eye's.
Ranma-chan glared at Ranma-kun as she pulled a katana down from the weapons rack that stood next to her. "Your the whole reason I tried to commit suicide your stupid anger, bitterness, your foolish arrogance has gotten us into more trouble then I can count, believe me I feel ashamed of myself for ever letting you run my life not anymore if anyone is going to die it will be you once and for all!" right at that moment both halves charged one another once more.
"Even if you did manage to kill me and I doubt you will you would still be stuck with those emotions," Ranma-kun said as he caught the Katana as it swung in from the right between the palms of his hand's causing the blade to shatter.
Ranma-chan threw the broken Katana hilt away where it made a splatting sound in the mud of the arena's floor then shouting. "Kachü Tenshin Amaguriken!" now putting the male pigtailed martial artist under a relentless attack that he was blocking taking five out of every ten strikes she threw out while returning hits just as quickly. "Even so I don't care so long as you go back to where you belong which is just a memory."
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Meanwhile back to the outside world...
Soun sat down at the dining room table looking over to the auburn haired woman who was sitting at the table. "It is good to see you again Mrs. Saotome have you found your Husband yet?"
"No I haven't though not saying I couldn't if I really wanted to I figure he will come to me sooner or later... after our child became locked in his curse it wasn't a surprise to me Genma would leave the seppuku contract and all." Nodoka said as she took a bite of the food that sat on the table in front of her.
Nox holding her chopsticks tried to take a moral of food between their tips as it slipped causing some of her food to drop onto the table. 'This is so frustrating how does mistress do this?' she asked herself as she wasn't able to recall it from memory as she had been able to most everything else for some reason unknown to her.
"Nox-sama look at my hand notice how I hold my chopsticks try it," Akane said with a smile the light of the room reflected off her sunglasses which the lenses were blue tinted and the frames black.
Chaos looked at the way Akane's fingers were placed on the chopsticks then mimicked it this time able to grip some of the stir fry popping it into her mouth then began to chew the taste invading her taste buds. 'This sensation it's...delicious.' "Mmm-thank-you." she said through muffled with the morsel she was chewing before swallowing.
"Dear don't speak with your mouth full dear," Nodoka said with a chuckle as she took a drink of her sweet tea.
Ryoga pondered on the red n blue haired girls awkwardness a moment. "Is this the first time you experienced eating food Nox-sama?"
"Yes... to be honest, this is the first time I have actually had to live in the mortal realm. I used to be nothing more than a driving force behind Jusenkyo's cursed magic every water main, every pipe that would break, every chaotic force that happens around the curse you have are all my doings." Nox explained as she took another morsel of food into her hungry mouth.
Nabiki pondered on this a moment before speaking. "So, in other words, you are two Goddesses in one?"
"Yes, that is correct." Nox said after she had swallowed her food then reached over taking the cup in front of her in her left hand then drank of it's contents another look of wonderment crossed her features.
Hikaru digested this information a moment then looked to the girl who he had known as Ranma. "Is there a limit to what all you can do?"
"Not that I know of but then I have never been put through enough to know such things. I am invulnerable as far as I know. Um I have fast regeneration abilities, but my powers are very chaotic which means they do not always do as I intended, and as for Ranma as you know her she can't control chaos very well either as it is just that chaotic raw and untamed." Nox explained looking to the young man who had just spoken to her.
Soun taking a bite of his food then swallowing. "Sounds like Ranma has a lot of weight on her shoulders wielding such powers since they are apart of her nature."
"Yes my daughter does have a lot to deal with, that is why Nox-sama is in control of my daughter's body because her mind has become unstable," Nodoka said as she looked to Nox who was busy taking another bite of food the food before her.
Kasumi serving some more rice to her husband's plate. "Oh my, that sounds very overwhelming."
"Well, hopefully, Ranma pulls out of this predicament." Dr. Tofu said as he took a bite of the rice his wife had just set upon his plate.
Akane turned to her husband giving him a peck on the cheek unembarrassed even though he currently was her wife. "Dear would you like some Hot water?"
"If you would please... I almost forgot I hadn't changed back." Ryoga said sheepishly as she nervously scratched the back of her neck.
Kasumi looked to the white-haired girl giving a cheerful smile. "Ryoga-Kun I think given your current form you should have an appropriate name for her."
"Well I was going by Rei... but that is a name reserved for someone who will be special to all of us eventually, I really haven't put a lot of thought into it," Ryoga said looking to his empty plate.
Akane pondered on this a moment remembering the mountain. "What about Ryoko? The village referred to you as The Lady Of Mountain didn't they?" she said as she stood up walking to grab the kettle that was on the stove.
"Yes they thought I was the one who saved them when in fact it was Ranma she is that woman, not me, but if I used it I would much rather use without my last name as it sounds off to me," Ryoga said with a shrug.
Nodoka pondered on this a moment bringing her right hand to her chin. "Hibiki Ryoko interesting ring to it wouldn't you agree Akane?"
Akane walking back into the room with the warm kettle of water. "Yes actually it does, though I would like to be with my husband right now," she said with a chuckle as she poured the contents of the kettle over Ryoga's head causing his rigid muscles to reappear and the curves of his breasts to flatten out forming his muscular chest that was defined by the red shirt he currently wore and his hair to change from white to raven colored.
"Nox once Ranma manages to regain control will you be able to live on your own without her, I mean as another person?" Hikaru asked in a hopeful tone.
Nox looked to the man who had just spoken to her. "No Kugi sorry to say it will never happen we couldn't live without one another... if Ranma ever was split off from me this world as you know it and every realm outside of this one as well would all be destroyed by me it is my nature you understand the balance must always be kept Ranma as well as myself keep a harmony with one another to ensure that never happens."
"I-I see... if you would all excuse me," Hikaru said as he got up from the table and exited the room.
Jinan and Iris watched the man's abrupt exit. "I think that man likes you Nox-sama." Iris said turning her gaze to her older companion.
"I don't understand what you mean, why is he so upset when he found out I am sharing the same body as Ranma?" Chaos asked with a look of confusion.
Akane hugged her husband gently looking to the confused woman. "Nox-sama love is an emotion it's difficult to explain but when you are in love you just feel it in your heart, and well the reason he is upset is he along with Ryoga here had a rivalry over me and Ranma used to be at the center of it cause at the time she was my favored fiance."
"So again my mistress is between him and finding love?" Nox asked curiously.
Ryoga chuckled nodding his head. "It would appear that way don't worry he will snap out of it eventually I am sure... By the way, when did Gosunkugi start staying here anyway?"
"Oh some time ago Son Hikaru's parents had fallen ill and after they passed away Kasumi took him in and well he has lived here ever since helping out around the house and working at Ukyo's new restaurant now that she had moved back to Nerima, she now owns a whole chain of them," Soun explained as he finished the last bite of his food.
Nabiki broke into the conversation. "Not to change the subject too much but sis could you please take those glasses off and why are you so pale your skin is white as a ghost and what is with that tail and those wings?"
"Well... I was bitten by a vampire demigod and well do to Nox-sama here who managed to stem some of the corruption I retained some of my humanity but the demigod's blood transformed me into what is known as a death seer." she explained as she took her glasses off revealing her crimson eye's as she allowed her black feathered wings that had a purple tint to them to spread wide, stretching them ever so slightly, the small black horns one inch curved atop her head appeared surrounded by her cobalt blue hair that came down to her shoulder blades, with her left hand she lifted her tail which was pale in color as the rest of her skin.
Nabiki stared at her younger sister a few moments before finally taking a breath. "Very interesting your a demoness, but how can you be with Ryoga when he well his female form is a goddess?"
"Very complicated rules Nabiki-san do to how Akane's conception into this form transpired the marriage was accepted by the council and will remain so as long as your sister remains neutral in all conflicts," Nodoka answered for her former daughter in law.
Soun looked over his youngest daughters changes giving a slightly nervous chuckle. "Well, it doesn't matter your still daddies little girl Akane."
"Thank you, Daddy, that means a lot for me to hear that," Akane said as she seemed to glow as she replaced her glasses back over her eye's.
Kasumi smiled at her youngest sister with a loving glow. "So can you fly like a bird?"
"Not really but I can glide if there is enough wind current," Akane informed as she hid her true form once again with a spell.
Nodoka looked around the table snapping her finger causing Hikaru to reappear into the room. "Well now that everyone is here I would ask that as before none of you speak about any of us this should remain this households secret are we clear?"
"Clear" Everyone in the room said in unison.
"Snort, snort." a small black piglet let out as it hopped into Akane's lap.
Akane looked down at the small piglet that was now snuggled on her lap. "Oh P-chan baby you miss mommy my precious baby?" she asked as she picked the piglet up hugging him to her chest at which it nuzzled her giving off a couple more grunts.
"The little guy is something else he has lived well past the life span I thought he would. I have been feeding him for you, Sis." Nabiki said with a chuckle.
Nox chucked some as she looked to the little piglet. "Oh, that is my mistresses work no doubt that piglet will be around quite awhile he is tied in with my essence."
"Wait a piglet has Immortality?" Soun asked curiously as he looked to Nox.
Nox giving a nod of her head. "Yes that is right so long as I am around P-chan will be."
"That is so unfair." Soun whined as he looked to the piglet that his youngest daughter was coddling.
Akane looked to her father shrugging some. "Immortality isn't what it is cracked up to be I been taking classes with Ryoga in Nifelheim and well the instructors they say it is both a gift and a curse."
"Very well said Akane it is as much a curse as it is a gift. "I have watched many of my relatives pass on including those in my family who were born years after I reached the age I am now... it is somewhat unsettling at times," Nodoka said as she set her empty tea glass on the table.
Hikaru looked to the Saotome Matriarch. "May I leave now? I was in the middle of getting ready for work."
"Yes, you may leave have a good day Hikaru-san," Nodoka said with a cheerful lilt.
Hikaru left the room quickly heading back to the guest room. Nox watched the brown haired boy leave the room once more. 'That mortal is quite strange.'
"So Nox-sama do you know martial arts?" Ryoga asked from his spot at the table.
Nox quirked an eyebrow at the fang-toothed martial artist. "I can defend myself using my mistresses techniques if that is what your asking."
"So that is a yes you can do martial arts," Akane said looking to Nox with a grin.
Nodoka looked to her child then chuckled. "She most likely can as you said Akane but I don't think she will be as refined as Ranma was."
"Perhaps a demonstration is in order to see what all Nox-sama can do?" Soun asked looking to the blue n red-haired young Neko-woman that sat by his youngest daughter on the opposite side of his son in law.
Nox shook her head. "No my mistress forbid me to fight anyone outside of defending myself."
"So you can't even participate in a simple spar?" Akane asked giving her friend a sideways glance.
Nox shrugged her shoulders letting off a sigh. "Yea I am only to defend myself other than that I am supposed to lay low as my mistress put it."
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Ucchan's Okonomiyaki.
Ucchan's Okonomiyaki had been renovated from its old design by its owner Ukyo Kounji who was at the grill preparing a dish while one of her cook staff stood to the side to learn how to do things the way his boss wanted them done.
Hikaru walked over to the dishwasher placing a tray of dishes into it then shut the door as the motor started up cleaning the dishes from within with heated jets of water and dish detergent. 'Why is it the one girl I find I love has to have Ranma's body... it just isn't fair.' he shook his head as he heard the dishwasher beep sound off reporting it's wash sequence was through and the dishes should be removed and replaced with another set that needed cleaning.
Ukyo after finishing with teaching her new student walked into the back room watching Hikaru work. "I must say you have impressed me Gosunkugi very good performance, talk to Konatsu after your shift for your bonus."
"Hai Ukyo-sama. Y-y-your not going to be here tonight?" Hikaru asked looking to the chef he knew from his youth as he retrieved yet another tray of dishes placing them on the drying rack as he grabbed yet another tray of dishes placing them into the washer.
Ukyo nodded her head. "Yes I have to fly to American tomorrow morning to check on one of my other restaurants, but don't worry I will be back next week Gosunkugi-san you are doing a really good job as I said before. Now if I just had Ranma here it would feel more like old times, see you next week." she then walked into the entrance to her home shutting the door since she stayed in the second story loft apartment.
Hikaru went back to his work feeling depressed at the mention of his old tormentor. 'I should have known who Nox-sama was from the beginning... and now I can't help but be attracted to her this isn't fair why Saotome... must you always torment me.'