A Place to Belong…
By Ryoga's best friend
A/N- The repost continues. I am glad to see this story still holds peoples interest as I do enjoying writing it. But I'll save the longer words for the notes at the bottom so please enjoy the chapter. Again, a big thank you to S3 Cubed for editing and polishing this up.
Over the following week Ranma got to learn about the world he now inhabited. He was in a land called Ivalice which had recently ended a war between its two largest factions that had lasted fifty years. Though it was still stuck in a whole mess of problems. Ranma didn't quite understand the complexity of the battles being fought, though now he had a general idea. The Death Corps was fighting the Hokuten for being tossed aside at the end of the war without any recognition because of their rank, very dishonorable in his opinion.
After spending a week bedridden he was happy to be out on the entrance ramp watching the sun peak out on the horizon. "Ah, finally. I've been so stiff." He said with a big smile. He stretched, dressed in green death corps uniform, his old clothes beyond salvage. "Better start working off this stiffness before it gets any worse." he said to himself dropping into stance. He took a breath and slowly began one of his katas, his movements focused and graceful. His lost himself in the kata, allowing his mind to wander. What were his fiancées up to? Did they even know he was gone? What was Gos doing in his absence? He finished with his leg up in a split and held that position for a moment sighing, "I can't believe it was Gos that got me, of all people." Ranma slowly brought his leg back down.
"Not bad kid." Came a familiar laid back tone. Ranma turned to see the Death Corps archer leaning against the wall, that strange coin sparking in the light as it twirled across his knuckles. Next to Andy stood Miluda in her casual wear, sword perpetually strapped to her side.
"Thanks," he replied after a pause. He was a little surprised to see him so early, he'd been under the impression that the tall man was notoriously lazy. "What's up?"
"We just wanted to talk a bit," the archer smirked. Ranma took a seat on the ledge next the entrance ramp and was soon joined by the archer. Miluda approached but still remained distant.
"So what's up?"
"I came to apologize about trying to kill you earlier. I'm sure you can understand my motives though."
"Don't worry 'bout it. My friends tried to kill me all the time." The watchman and knight raised an eyebrow at the remark.
"That was some impressive fighting there, especially considering your injuries. You must have been quite a great warrior in your world." He said putting an arm around the boy.
Ranma sighed. "I guess you could say that, but the fighting there was mostly squabbling. I've never fought in a war." he spoke softly looking down. "On top of that I got beat by that wimpy mage wannabe Gosunkugi."
He clenched his fist.
"Ah, Wizards. They can be a tricky bunch, that is in case we're talking about Madeline," he started to chuckle but stopped when Miluda cleared her throat, quickly becoming serious once more. "So what you're saying is you felt like you didn't belong? Did you ever think this may be fate? That you were brought here for a purpose?"
Ranma was silent for a moment, his thoughts had been echoed aloud by the archer. "Maybe bu."
"Ranma," Miluda interjected. "To be blunt, we're asking if you would be willing to help us and our cause." she said seriously, stepping closer to him. "Will you join the death corps and help us get our freedom?" she continued.
Ranma had trouble finding the correct words. He still knew very little of this world, and didn't even completely understand the war that they were asking him to fight. He glanced to the archer who had a slight smile, and then to Miluda, who kept her expressions neutral though she had a fire in her eyes. Fierce determination and pride; he knew, even if he said no, she'd fight on without him.
"I'm not sure if I should; I need time to think it over." he said finally.
Miluda sighed obviously somewhat displeased. "That's a fair request.
It is a lot to ask of you so suddenly." she said gathering herself back up. "I will await your decision." she added swiftly before making her way back up the ramp.
"I thought you'd say that." Andy spoke up after a moment. "It's understandable, all things considered. You know little of our world, though if you're up to it, Miluda is going into Dorter to meet up with our leader in a few days. It might do you some good to get out of the base," he said with a wink before flipping his coin and catching it. "Think about it." With that he pockets his coin and headed inside, leaving the martial artist to his own devices.
"Hmm…"
Miluda sat in her room looking out her window to the deck below, where the martial artist sat in contemplation. She heard her door open and didn't bother to turn, "What have I told you about knocking?" she said in a bored tone.
"Well it's also not nice to watch people." Andy said from the doorway.
"So I guess we're both guilty." he continued with a shrug, closing the door behind him. Miluda gave the archer a level glare before turning back to the window.
"You can tell can't you? How good he is? We could really use someone like him, it would help boost our failing morale at the least," she said softly.
"Yeah, the boy's got skill. Can't deny that." Andy said with a shake of his head. "But are we in that bad of shape? Would his arrival make that much a difference?"
"Sadly, yes. The death corps is grasping at straws. It's only a matter of time now before the Hokuten come." her tone was grim. Andy's fist tightened over his coin.
"Stop that talk Miluda. Those are dangerous thoughts, I'm sure Weigraf has a plan."
"Ah yes, my brother, and his plans." the warrior maiden hid no small amount of sarcasm. Though she drooped a bit, "I want to believe. I really do." she added softly.
The two companions remained silent at that until the archer noted something outside, a small smirk growing on his face. "Looks like she's at it again. She's persistent, I'll give her that." he said amused as
Madeline crept her way toward the thinking Ranma below.
Even Miluda couldn't help but chuckle a little, "Though Ranma seems to be immune to the more subtle hints."
"That's a nice way of saying he's dense."
The pair shared a well needed laugh as they watched the show for the best seats in the house.
Madeline stood a little ways behind her mark, who was lost in thought. She glanced back to see two other death corps females watching on, making motions for her to keep going. She crept a little closer, and he still hadn't moved from the edge of the dock. It was a tempting thought to go and push him in. So tempting that she decided to do it. She made her way right behind him and made to push him clean off, only to have him lean aside at the last moment. She squealed as she tumbled forward bracing for the cold embrace, one that never came. She slowly glanced back to see Ranma eyeing her quizzically, holding her by the back of her dress, at the edge of the drink. "Ah, hi Ranma" she said weakly.
"Hello to you too," He replied evenly. "Was there a reason you were going to push me into the water?" he asked in a calm voice, his grip unwavering.
Madeline looked nervous. "Well you were looking so serious, I just thought it would be funny," she tittered awkwardly.
Ranma smiled at her and she sighed, it looked like she was safe. Until she noticed the water was getting closer again. "EEK!" was all she got out before disappearing under the water with a splash. Ranma was trying to hold back chuckling as she popped out looking like a water-logged rat.
"You're right, that did cheer me up." He smiled, which caused her to pout not wanting to be the butt of the joke. After a moment he relented, and reached for her hand to pull her out. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself."
"I'm sorry too," Madeline took his hand.
"Eh, for what?"
"This!" she said, yanking hard on the boy's arm, pulling him off balance into the water. The petite red head soon emerged spiting out water. Madeline stuck her tongue out. "Gotcha."
"This is war," Ranma replied with an evil smirk, splashing the healer causing her to hide her face and splash back. The two girl's epic splash fight went back and forth until the healer finally withdrew to the dock, soaked to the bone. Ranma soon followed with a triumphant smirk. "Ranma Saotome never loses a challenge."
The two looked at each other for a long moment and burst out laughing.
After a minute they finally calmed down and took a seat on the dock.
"That was a nice distraction. Actually it probably helped me answer my question a little," Ranma said with a kind smile to the healer, who became flustered at the attention.
"Question?" she asked confused.
Ranma didn't elaborate, instead she took off her oversized damp shirt and began to ring it out, bare breasts hanging out in full view. Madeline looked on wide eyed.
"Ranma, you can't do something so bold. The men would get the wrong idea about you. Where's your feminine modesty?" the healer asked flushing.
"I'm a boy, I don't need to be feminine." the red head said with born conviction Madeline sighed and shook her head, almost wishing she could do that and not die of embarrassment, her own clothes were soaked. Up in the second floor came a distant 'damn those are big!' followed by a clang and a 'pervert'.
To be Continued…
A/N- Okay a lot to say… first off I'd like to thank people for review my piece even though these are reposts and only slightly changed and polished from the originals, the new ones don't begin until chapter six.
Review comments
DTravler- There no need to apologize for having an opinion it was just a lot of people grumbling about the same thing, when I am of the mind that Ranma is over powered in most fics (an unfortunate minority) but yours was a different issue, which relate to my narrative take on the battles. In the game this battle was a 6 vs 8 or 9 I believe person fight, all around the same level. In my story it was more like 40 vs 50 with the named characters standing out, so basically my view is that the game only shows the truly skilled people amoung a much larger group so all the Knight Ranma was battleing before Ramza were less skilled Mooks. But I digress I do plan of fixing the fight a little, nothing too crazy just even it out some more…
Locke1- thanks for pointing that out 6-- I seem to have issues remembering that thing.
Silence-Darkness- I appreciate the detailed feedback, though I found it a little harsh in places it was straight forward and honest. I can respect that. I agree with you on some point and disagree on others. I Know I tend to narrate and it's been something I've been working to improve on, as for the somewhat cliché beginning… while I realize that yeah you can see what is coming it's nessary to give a reason for Ranma's appearance and with so many crossovers out there theres only so many thing s that can be done, all you can do is put it in your own words and let it ride. I think the start worked well and seeing as I will be referring back to the normal Ranmaverse later it's not 'skip worthy' at least in my mind. Now that characters shrug I like them, I mean they just got introduced and this is a long story it's not like the character development ends in two pages and I have received no other complaints about them so I guess we'll just have to disagree there. I will take what you have said and hold it in mind as I work on the new chapter, I have already put the reposting off a long while as it is. I will strive to improve the quality of my stories.