Broken Hearts Combined
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I do not own Gold Digger and its associated characters. They belong to that marvelous fellow Fred Perry. I do not own Ranma ½ and its associated characters. They belong to the wonderful lady Rumiko Takahashi. This production is strictly for entertainment, and I am not making any money off of the writings. I am just a poor student, so please… Don't sue me… Please?
Author's Special Note: ~…~ = speaking through telepathy
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Broken Hearts Combined Chapter 19: The Raging Tsunami
It's been a hectic couple of days for Ranma. They've left Seer's Hamlet behind, and have been heading north. Along the way, Ranma has started training Britanny and Sheila side-by-side… From there Britanny and Sheila have been making progress… Britanny continues to pick up on what Ranma's taught her, while Sheila is a bit 'behind' and is trying to catch up to the others skill-wise
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We see a clearing within a forested region of land. There are three tents, and a fire going with a frying pan on top that is slowly cooking some foodstuffs. Not too far from it are Britanny and Sheila standing across from Ranma. Ranma has his eyes closed and hands forward. He gathers his ki into his hands. It's a pure white, since the ki itself is pure. The power radiating off of it is tremendous. Britanny and Sheila look on with awe in the widened eyes.
Ranma then takes the ball of ki to his side and gather a bit more energy into it. He then thrusts his hands forward, towards the sky.
Ranma: GINKA GENKI GAN!
A huge all of now silver-colored energy shoots forth in a huge ball, eventually exploding in the sky like fireworks.
Sheila: Oooooooooooooooh… Pretty…
Britanny: No matter how many times I see it, that move still amazes me… I just wish it had a better name though…
Ranma (Smirks): Don't like the name "Silver Energy Bang"?
Britanny: NO!
Ranma: Well… I didn't come up with the move, so technically I can't rename it…
Britanny: … D'oh…
Sheila (Shakes her head): Sigh…
Ranma: Well, now I want you two to try the ki gathering technique I showed you, the one where you use your emotions. I will do the technique first, to refresh your memories then you two shall do it.
Britanny: Okay.
Sheila: Sure.
Ranma concentrates on gathering his ki through his confidence… He has it form itself into a gall in his right palm. It is a shimmering light blue.
Ranma: This is confidence.
Ranma then snuffs the ball in his hands
Ranma: Now, you two try… Concentrate on the emotions you have a closest connection to… Go on… Try it.
Britanny, used to this by now, easily gathers a dazzling light green colored ki into her palm. It shines with a combination of confidence and excitement.
Britanny: I love doing this. Always makes me feel better.
Ranma: That feeling comes from the emotions used in gathering the energies. You should be careful though, the longer you hold this; the faster it taxes upon on your emotions. That is why you shouldn't concentrate on emotional ki for long.
Britanny nods her head. She lets her concentration go, and the ball of ki she had in her hand dissipates into nothingness.
Ranma: Okay Sheila. You try.
Sheila frowns slightly. She holds her hands out and concentrates… She concentrates harder… She increases the intensity in her mind; sweat pouring down her brow. She then drops to her knees and starts to breathe heavily. Ranma gives her a few moments to gather her bearings.
Sheila: I can't do it… I just can't…
Ranma: Don't say "can't" Shechan. There's nothing a person can't do if they put their mind to it…
Sheila: But I can't find which emotion I have the strongest connection to…
Sheila stops. Her eyes widen and her ears perk up. She looks around the area they're training in.
Sheila: We have company…
Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila then look around the clearing, allowing their auras to extend. They feel the presence of eight other people close by. Soon, people come into the clearing from the trees. The three narrow their eyes on the men. All wear simple brown and green clothing; all have a sword to their sides. One however stands out. He wears a green cape, and a brown bandana around his head, making his blonde hair stand up, in turn making it look like a broom. This guy also doesn't have a sword like the others but a wooden staff, with runes intricately carved into it.
The guy with the broom-hair starts to take a few steps forward.
Broom-head: Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooo…
Ranma: Um… Hi?
Broom-head: Hmm… 'Chu look like a foreigner… So I guess you're not familiar with this area.
Ranma: No, I'm not familiar. Anyway, what do you and these guys want?
Broom-head: BUT WAIT! Is it not customary to give one's own name first? THEREFORE, I SHALL GIVE MY OWN!
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila (Sweat-drop): … Huh?
Broom-head: I AM MONTAGO DE LA ROSA! WAR MAGE OF THE RED ROSE! And these brash gentlemen are…
Thugs 1-7: THE ROSE RACKETEERS!
Lightning strikes in the distance. A Huge backdrop of a rose falls behind the Rose Racketeers.
Montago & Rose Racketeers 1-7: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila stare at them and blink. Montago then walks over to them.
Montago: So 'chu should know, I own these woods. 'Chu are on my property. But, we are not an 'unfair' lot… So I give 'chu a chance boy… Hand over your goods and women, and we'll let 'chu pass…
Ranma and Britanny stare at Montago for a bit. Then they burst out into laughter. Sheila takes the situation a bit more seriously…
Sheila (Narrows eyes): Montago de la Rosa you say?
Montago: Yes. 'Chu heard of me perhaps?
Sheila then frowns. She summons her scimitar Ice Fang and holds it at the ready.
Sheila: I am Sheila; of the Seer's Hamlet Edge Guard. You Montago are a wanted man, for crimes of theft, rape, and harassment. Now I am giving you a choice. Surrender quietly, or face the wrath of the Edge Guard. And another thing, you DO NOT own the Dim Woods. This is an open area that is actually considered hunting property for the city of Dim's Dale.
Montago: And what 'chu gonna do 'bout it? Arrest me and take me to jail? I pick my teeth with little girls like 'chu!
Sheila (Left eye twitches): … "Little girl"?
Montago: Aye… Well, good-bye little girl. FIREBALL!
Sheila: FREEZE!
Sheila freezes the fireball to Montago's hand. He looks at it in shock for a moment, then sneers.
Mantago: GET HER!
Montago's men unsheathe their swords and begin to charge at Sheila… For about one step…
There is a sudden flash of two blurs, and all seven of Montago's men fall.
Montago (Wide-eyed): … HOW!?
Ranma: Over here!
Montago looks over and sees Ranma and Britanny standing to the side, holding all of his men's weapons. Montago seethes with rage.
Montago: 'CHU STUPID LITTLE GIRL! HIDING BEHIND YOUR PARTNERS TO DO YOUR WORK! GO HOME AN DPLAY WITH DOLLIES OR SUMTHIN'!
Sheila glares at Montago… This man is making her angrier and angrier… Sheila HATES being called a "little girl". Because of her stature as a werecat, people mistake her for a prepubescent 14-year-old all the time! And this guy is purposely digging that in…
Sheila: Excuse me, but I am NOT a little girl… I AM EIGTHEEN-YEARS-OLD FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
Montago: Eighteen years? Or months?
Sheila: RAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!
Montago, Ranma, and Britanny's eyes widen as Sheila's aura comes alive. If erupts in a burst of fiery red, summoned by her anger. She stares at Montago as the flames of her aura dance around her.
Sheila: So, I'm a little girl huh? I'LL SHOW YOU!
Montago: EEP! MERCY!
Sheila: NEVER! HIRYUU SHOTEN HA REVISED! ANGER AND ICE COMBO!
The fire of Sheila's aura of anger begins to swirl around her sword at a rapid past, making a spiraling wind begin to trace around Sheila. The winds move around the sword as she prepares to cast her spell…
Sheila: ICE BEAM REVISED! WIND BEAM!
Sheila cast the Ice Beam spell with her scimitar. However, the swirling inferno of her ki of anger amalgamates itself into the ice spell, creating a wind like the Hiryuu Shoten Ha, only on a more controlled level. Montago screams as the winds race towards him, and fly him high into the air. A minute later, Montago finally falls back to the ground, creating a large crater.
Ranma & Britanny (Stare): … Woah…
Sheila then turns around to her partners, a huge grin plastered on her face.
Sheila: LUCKY! I KAPOWIED HIM!
Ranma: Shechan… Nice ki technique… You did a completely revised Hiryuu Shoten Ha, and you did it by harnessing ki AND magic… Good job on originality.
Sheila (Smiles): YAY!
Ranma: However Shechan, I suggest that next time, you try to do that move with a more 'positive' emotional based ki. Negative emotions can lead one down the path of self-destruction. Just look at that stupid pig Ryoga for example.
Britanny and Sheila scowl and narrow their eyes. They remember the stories Ranma told them about the Jusenkyo-cursed-to-be-a-piglet martial artist. Britanny on the other hand…
Britanny (Grits her teeth): Grr… I remember that flaky jerk… HE TRIED TO KILL RANCHAN AND ME!
Sheila: I know. You told me… Hey Ranchan, why is he after you all the time? It's never made any sense to me…
Ranma: Well… Just think for a moment as to why Ryoga was always after me in the first place…
Sheila and Britanny nod their heads.
Ranma: It was because of his obsession in beating me, due to some slight to his 'honor'… Heh… As if pig-boy even knew what honor was… Sleeping in the bed with my fiancée as a pig… (Shakes his head). Anyway, the whole stupid rivalry started with the 'bread incident' at our junior high-school, where I would always beat him to getting the last piece of bread in the cafeteria. This lead Ryoga to challenge me to a duel that I waited three frikin' days for idiot Ryoga to show… And then it took Ryoga four days to get to that lot behind his own house!
Sheila whistles, and Britanny just frowns.
Britanny: He IS an idiot, isn't he?
Ranma: Yes, and now… Yes, because he's dense, but that isn't the reason his sense of direction sucks. It's his own personal problem.
Britanny: Okay… I still think he's a jerk though…
Ranma (Nods his head): Indeed… Anyway, to continue… Ryoga became so obsessed with finding me after he missed that duel. The jerk then began to blame me for all his stupid, insignificant problems. And then there's the fact that there once was that stupid pledge to unite the schools of the Anything Goes. Ryoga fell in love with my fiancée Akane at first sight, when she took him in one night when he was in his pig form. He then became so 'certain' that I would take Akane away from him, that he began attacking me again and again and again for now reason except he wanted me dead! Basically, finding ways to defeat/kill/humiliate me became his frikin' hobby. He's become downright obsessive with me!
Sheila and Britanny begin to narrow their eyes further. Sheila's ears perk up and she turns back to Montago. Ranma and Britanny turn around as well, and see the burn Mantago trying to get away.
Sheila: FREEZE!
With that, Montago is frozen in a block of ice…
Sheila: There. That'll hold him. Please continue with your story Ranchan… I want to know just how much I should hate this Ryoga person… Because I want to kapowie him so bad; literally kick his arse to the moon!
Britanny: Just ignore him if you ever meet that jerk Sheila. I'll never forgive that bastard for trying to kill me. All I did was talk and he fired a huge ki blast at me. (Sniffs air). Hey… What's that smell?
Ranma and Sheila smell the air as well. Their eyes then turn towards the fire; and their eyes widen in horror.
It's their breakfast they had cooking… And…
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! IT'S BURNT!
They run over to the cooking utensils they have over the fire. Indeed… All the food is burnt to a crisp, flaky black.
Ranma: And that was the last of our rations…
Britanny: Damn it!
Sheila (Looks at the unconscious Rose Racketeers): Hmm…
Ranma: What is it Shechan?
Britanny: Yeah. What gives?
Sheila (Smiles): I know where to get some supplies, and not worry about paying…
Ranma: Oh?
Sheila: The city near here to the north; Dim's Dale… And these weirdoes we have unconscious here are wanted criminals… All with bounties on their heads that can be cashed in on at Dim's Dale… At least a hundred Gold pieces for each of them… And then, if we travel a bit east, we can make it to Tessa, the capital of the East Continent of Jade. It has a bustling market place, where we can use that gold to get some more supplies…
Ranma and Britanny smile…
Britanny: YAY! Performing a public service AND getting paid for it… It doesn't get much better than that!
And so, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila start packing up the tents and such. Making sure to put everything away. Sheila puts all the unconscious thugs together and casts the Freeze spell again. So now all of the Rose Racketeers are frozen in a block of ice, making it easier to move them all.
Ranma (Pushing the huge ice block): Yep… Good exercise…
Britanny and Sheila follow Ranma, admiring his toned behind…
Britanny & Sheila (Think, smile): Yum…
However, during all that is going on, an older man watches what transpires from the shadows…
Man (Thinks): Hmm… Could this be the boy that I've heard about? The one that is heading out and looking for the Weaponsmasters so he can fight them? And if so… Why is his granddaughter traveling with them?
The man then sinks back into the shadows and disappears.
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After cashing in on the Rose Racketeers at Dim's Dale, Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila have traveled for another two hours in an eastern direction. Finally, they reach the city of Tessa, the capitol of the East Continent. Now there, all three martial artists of Anything Goes have one single thought on their minds…
Ranma, Britanny, & Sheila: FOOD!
And so Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila run to the nearest tavern to get a bite to eat, kicking up large clouds of dust through the streets of Tessa as they run. Those that were in their way were either pushed to the side or run over.
The older man that was watching them from earlier has followed them.
Man (Thinks): Hmm… They ran… It's easy to tell they went to get food… But where…
Suddenly a loud ruckus is heard from one of the taverns. Shouting of large orders for food are heard through the air.
Man (Thinks, smirks): There…
And so, the man walks towards the tavern. 'The Swallow's Nest Inn and Tavern'. A sign that says "All you can eat Fricksday" is outside.
Man (Thinks): Heh… Interesting choice for a place to eat…
The older man steps in and looks around. He sees a bunch of bruised thugs, standing far away from one of the tables as possible, and a man that is apparently the owner, crying about how his business is now ruined. Occupying that table are Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila. Ranma and Britanny fight over one of the large hams.
Ranma: MINE!
Britanny: MINE!
Ranma: MINE!
Britanny: MINE!
Ranma: MINE!
Britanny: MINE! … Please?
Britanny gives Ranma 'the look'. An almost puppy-like look gets into her eyes, and she does a little smile that borders on a pout. Ranma sighs… He can't stand up to that.
Ranma: Okay… You can have it Britchan…
Britanny: YAY! Thank you Ranchan!
Britanny kisses Ranma on the cheek and starts eating the ham. Ranma sighs and grabs the nearest food item on the table. A whole roasted chicken; and starts eating into that.
The man just looks on in awe.
Man (Thinks): By the Gods of Jaden… Those appetites aren't possible human!
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An hour later the older man drinks his tea quietly at another table as Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila begin to finish their meal; having eaten with a gusto that makes the chefs in the kitchen blanch. And the fact they got A LOT in reward money from the Rose Racketeers they brought in at the last town… They'll be able to pay for quite a few meals… (The chefs are going to want to revolt after this…) When it gets to the last fried jumbo shrimp on one of the plates, Ranma, Britanny and Sheila share glances, all ready to strike at that last fried shrimp… But none of them get is, as another pair of chopsticks shoots out and takes it from them, and deposits it in the mouth of an older man with long gray hair, beard and mustache. The older man wears a dark-brown leather outfit, and black scarf with slate-gray leather fingerless-gloves and boots. (The man that was watching them earlier). They all start to glare at the man for eating their last shrimp, but then Britanny's eyes widen in surprise, and she jumps out to hug the old man.
Britanny: GRANDFATHER!
Ranma & Sheila (Stare at Britanny): GRANDFATHER!?
Indeed. The man is Tsunami, a traveling ninja master, father of Julia, and one of the ten Weaponsmasters. Sheila and Ranma are surprised for a bit, caught in a state of shock, but Britanny invites her Grandfather over to sit with them, and find out what he's doing here.
Britanny: Hey Grandpa, it's great to see you again.
Tsunami: ~It's good to see you again too. Last I saw you, you were only seven summers old. You've matured into a fin woman.~
Britanny (Smiles): Thanks Grandpa. Hey, what brings you here?
Tsunami: ~Well, to be honest, you three had caught my attention before with that little 'show' in the Dim Woods…~
Ranma (Confused): What the… How'd you do that? You spoke, but you didn't move your lips…
Tsunami: ~It's a form of telepathy, to pass my thought into others.~
Ranma: Oh… Well, why don't you speak?
Tsunami: ~Because I cannot speak. A wolf tore my vocal cords out when he was a small child.~
Tsunami then pulls down on his scarf, to reveal his throat. It is a mess of scarred tissue on the skin. Ranma, Britanny, and Sheila cringe at the sight. Tsunami then lifts the scarf back up to cover his throat and gets his point across to Ranma and the others.
Tsunami: ~It is indeed a joy to see you again granddaughter, and an honor to meet you young man. From watching you train, I can tell that you have studied under Julia Brigand-Diggers, as well as many others. I am Tsunami, the Ninja Master. I am surprised my daughter had chosen you as her student young one. But, I can tell from also from watching you that she chose well. But, to my point. I know you are out looking for the Weaponsmasters. Instead of waiting around, I decided to come to you. After all… It's not everyday someone can give Karia a challenge, and I want to know just what you are capable of. Meet me outside of town at the break of dawn tomorrow morning in the plains to the west of here. And bring Britanny and Sheila there. They are to be witness to my full skill.~
With that, Tsunami gets up from the table, and walks out. Ranma looks at Britanny, and Britanny nods her head, giving Ranma a worried look. Tsunami may have 'mellowed' over the years, but one thing is still constant. Tsunami is a natural killer. He is Shinobi. A warrior that walks the path of darkness…
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Finished with the meal, Ranma tries to get a room at the inn. They only have two rooms left. When given that, Sheila and Britanny have some ideas of sleeping arrangement…
Britanny: I know, Sheila can take one room, and Ranchan and me will take the other.
Sheila: How about you take one room Brit, and Ranchan and me take the other?
Britanny: I prefer my idea.
Sheila: Well I prefer my idea.
Ranma: How about you two sleep in one room, and I take the other. I can honestly say I need the time to think… Without any… Um… 'Distractions'…
Britanny and Sheila frown slightly, but they understand. They nod their heads and follow Ranma's request, taking the room across the hall from the one Ranma is using.
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After what feels like the longest night in his life, Ranma gets up in the darkness and walks into one of the other inn rooms. He doesn't have the heart to wake either Britanny or Sheila. He doesn't want them to see the horror that may come from this… He just kisses Britanny and Sheila on the cheek and gives them a quiet good-bye.
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Ranma trudges across the city in total darkness.
Ranma makes it to the plain. He feels a breeze shoot by him and Tsunami appears behind him, he can hear the ninja master's voice in his head.
Tsunami: ~What brings you here so soon? Where are the witnesses?~
Ranma: I didn't want them to see what could happen here.
Tsunami stares at Ranma for a long time. A scowl adorns his face
Tsunami: ~… FOOLISH BOY! Fighting is a truth of life, a constant. It is the instinct of survival that has let all beings thrive, and continue on. You are denying them a chance to see a truth unfold before their eyes. For that, you shall be punished…~
Ranma's eyes widen in pain as he feels a slash across his back. The feel of cold metal slicing his flesh. Ranma rolls forward, and takes out his titanium katana using the Hidden Weapons technique. This is going to be a long fight…
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Britanny wakes up in a cold sweat.
Britanny (Breathing heavily): Oh God… Oh God… I dreamt Ranma was…
Britanny doesn't say anymore. She just shakes her head. She doesn't want to think about the dream.
Britanny gets up from the bed, and goes across the hall to Ranma's room to check on him.
Britanny (Opens door slowly): Ranchan… You all right?
No answer…
Britanny: Ranchan?
Britanny opens the door fully, and looks around to find Ranma's not there. She finds a note on the bed, saying he didn't want to subject them to what could happen. Britanny runs back to her room, to wake Sheila up.
Britanny (Grabs Sheila's shoulders, and shakes her): SHEILA, GET YOUR BUTT UP!
Sheila's eyes snap open as Britanny continues to shake her.
Sheila: ACK, Stop it! Damn it Brit, stop shaking me!
Britanny stops shaking Sheila. Sheila looks at Britanny, and notices the werecheetah is VERY upset.
Sheila: What's wrong Brit?
Britanny: Ranma's not here…
Sheila (Eyes widen): WHAT!?
Britanny: He left a note. He's left early to fight Grandpa… He didn't want us to see him fight.
Sheila (At dresser): Well come on! Get dressed, and lets get going
Sheila tosses Britanny one of her outfits from the dresser and the two get dressed. Once they do that, they start running to the field where Tsunami said he wanted to meet with Ranma in combat.
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By now, Ranma would resemble sliced bread… If it was bloody… There are so many cuts on his body. He is so steeped in his own blood that he now literally has a deep red, almost black coloring… And he still hasn't hit Tsunami once…
Ranma (Thinks): Shit… He's out there… Waiting to take advantage of another opening… I have to concentrate…
Suddenly Ranma hears someone screaming his name. He turns his vision to see Britanny and Sheila running towards him. He tries to tell them to stay back, but he feels another sting of pain go through his body.
Britanny & Sheila: RANCHAN!
Ranma starts to get woozy. He feels he's losing it. He's got only one thing left to try if he doesn't want to die in front of them. The Forbidden Techniques from the Umi Seiken and Yama Seiken scrolls…
Ranma: Okay… You want a fight… I'LL GIVE YOU A FIGHT!
Ranma closes his eyes and begins to concentrate. He gathers energy from his innermost self and nature around him as he begins to lose consciousness…
Ranma: Sai… Dai…
Ranma then falls to one knee… He coughs up a bit of blood. He feels Tsunami move for a split second. He sees Britanny and Sheila try to get closer. He holds up his hand
Ranma: STAY BACK!
Ranma gets back onto his feet and starts gathering his energies and nature's energies.
Ranma: Sai Dai…
Energy begins to glow on Ranma's hands. He begins to form a blade in his hands…
Ranma: Kyu… Kijin… Raishu… DAN!
Suddenly, a swirling vacuum blade of chi and ki flies from Ranma's hand and lashes out at the shadows, cutting through Tsunami's shoulder, causing a huge spray of blood. The energy attack continues on, after hitting Tsunami, and hits a nearby hill, leveling it into more flatland. Britanny and Sheila can only stare in awe at the power that that one attack had to it. Ranma then drops to his knees, and falls on his face; too tired from the beating/butchering he had received earlier.
Tsunami ignores the pain he's in, and thinks about what it was that Ranma did.
Tsunami (Thinks): First Rate Demon God Assault Bomb… What an incredible move… This young warrior is definitely the one…
Britanny and Sheila run over to check on Ranma. They both give a sigh of relief, seeing he's still alive. They move him carefully back to the Healer's Clinic in Tessa, to treat his wounds.
Tsunami watches them leave the field. The right side of his body now totally covered in his own blood. For the third time in his life, Tsunami smiles… The other two were when Julia was first born, and when Julia became the Armsmaster…
Tsunami (Thinks): HE IS IT! HE IS THE ONE! I JUST KNOW IT!
Tsunami then does something he has never, in all his life done. He rears his head back and actually makes a laughing sound; a sound that travels on the crisp early morning air, and carrying throughout all of the East Continent.
(-)
End Chapter 19
Next Time: Ranma wakes up, and finds out what happens. Ranma gets a gift left to him by Tsunami. And crossing the Seer's Desert…
-This is RedPriest17, signing off.
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