Tears of a Forgotten Yesterday

A Ranma Nibunoichi x-over

by Matthew Talbain (formerly Kitsune Saotome)

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma Nibunoichi nor do I own The Legend of Dragoon.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologize for two gross typos last chapter. Thank you, reviewers, for pointing out that Lina's eyes ARE indeed RED, and not blue. Also, I made a mistake with a name in the beginning: I accidentally got the name "Melpu" wrong, it's supposed to be "Melbu Frahma".

Also, my internet service is about to be disconnected, so I'm probably going to take a while in bringing the next chapter to bear.

That said, let us continue the fanfic. This chapter should get kinda angsty compared to the calmer other chapters...

------------Chapter Two: Bad Days, Bad Dreams, Bad Life-------------

Lina Inverse had not had a good day. She had lost all of her best friends, she had failed to stop Phibrizzo, and she had ultimately sealed the fate of her whole world.

And then she had invoked the name of the Lord of Nightmares in an attempt to run away from the trouble she had caused, to escape the death throes of the doomed world.

As she fell through the swirling vortex, not a little bit of fear, anxiety, and sadness evident in her crimson eyes. She hadn't even had time to focus the spell so that she'd know where she'd land, what world shed make her new start in. This train of thought was cut off by a rather soft landing, softer than she'd expected anyway.

As she quivered slightly, a soft baritone sliced through her awareness, setting her nerves on fire with something she couldn't properly explain.

"My name's Ranma. Erm...hi."

She looked up, fear and longing for her home, for knowledge, in her brilliant red orbs. Her eyes met the sapphire eyes of a devilishly handsome man, his black bangs spiking over his eyes in a sexy way that made her just tingle all over. But as she stared, she caught the evidence of an age beyond his apparent years in those misty blues. She suddenly realized he'd spoken and gathered her waning courage to reply.

"H-h-hi...m-my name's L-lina Inverse. Where am I?"

Her shaky voice echoed through the large room, and Lina took the time to look around a room that reminded her, in some old-fashioned way, of the tavern her older sister used to work, though the furnishings were abit more comfortable-looking. Thoughts of home brought on a wave of tears and sadness, and she buried her face in the red-armored crook of Ranma's firm chest.

Ranma looked down worriedly at the young girl, idly brushing his hands through her hair and sighing. When he thought she was asleep, he adjusted her so that her head remained where it was, though she was laying much more comfortably for both of them across his lap.

He cleared his throat, but was cut off by Nodoka.

"Well, it seems like our guest is going to be out of it for a while. Ranma, why don't I go make some tea for us all while you tell us your story. I do believe that would be best, and then we may figure something out about what to do with Miss Inverse."

Without waiting for reply, she and Kasumi bundled off into the kitchen, bringing back some instant, though very good, tea for everyone. Ranma sipped his and lowered his head before breathing out.

"This is the first time anybody'll ever hear the whole story. Mom, Kasumi, and the others know what happened at the clinic. To you all, Mom, Mr. Tendo, it was mere hours ago that I was attacked and murdered by Akane. To me....it's been a long, long time. Many years. And each moment of those years is burned into my memory....."

-----------23 Years Ago, Wingly Capital Kadessa-----------

Charle Frahma, spiting as she often did her brother's hateful ways, was out for a walk in the market place. It was supposed to be an ordinary day, for her. Go for a walk, buy some food for supper, read her texts, watch her brother declare more battles in the coliseum.

Her day's plan was shattered right then and there as a brilliant red light flashed from an alley way. She ran in, to find the source of the light, and gasped in surprise. There, on the ground, was a human boy, six years old, if appearance were a judge. Charle schooled her features and picked the boy up, dashing him away to her brother's palace. It wouldn't do for the young one to live out on the streets, alone.

She never thought what would happen to the poor boy when he got to meet her brother.

----------------One Hour Later---------------

"Don't worry, Charle. This boy is in very, very good hands. I'll be sure he learns what a HUMAN is supposed to learn."

Charle, tearful, nodded once before rushing out. She knew what Melbu would do to the unconscious boy, and she could stop it no more than she could stand it.

He was going to hand the boy over to the warden of the coliseum, and the boy would become entertainment for the younger winglies.

Again. Syuviel, so far, had survived. But the poor boy wasn't made to be a fighter, he was made to be a scholar. And Charle, weak woman that she was, kept giving in to her dominant brother's commands. And she'd already lost Syuviel to that damned Arknon....

Melbu turned his nose up as he lifted the unconscious boy. Yet another one with innate magical talent, Melbu could FEEL it. If only Charle could stop choosing boys with powers that could overwhelm and threaten his empire, than he would not hesitate to grant her wish. He knew that she dearly wanted a child, but sadly, the two she had chosen were HUMANS with the stench of magic around them.

They needed to be killed. Melbu frowned slowly, harshly at that. Even in his cruel, cold, human-hating mindset, Melbu never could bring himself to murder a child, human or no, outright. No, he would do it incognito, as he had already done many a time.

Like Syuviel had been, the boy was handed over to Arknon, the keeper of the Minors Coliseum. They would be killed sooner or later. Melbu was sure of it.

Arknon looked down at the child and grinned an evil, toothy grin. He hefted the child and threw him, violently, into Syuviel's cell. A sharp crack against the wall indicated a broken wrist, and a pneumatic hiss and an electrical hum signaled the closing of the door and the activation of the magical field designed to keep the boys in check.

A young man, barely eight years of age, crept to the side of the poor young man in the over-sized silk garments. He was prepared to shake the boy awake when a groan alerted him that the child was already very much awake. The boy sat up shakily and looked around himself.

"Ugh...what's happened to me? Last thing I remember is......."

At this long pause, the boy's eyes widened considerably before he curled up and began to cry. Syuviel, feeling for this young man, placed a hand upon his shoulder. To his surprise, the boy grabbed his wrist and twisted, ending with Syuviel's arm twisted behind his back. As quickly as it had come, the boy dropped his hand from Syuviel's wrist.

"I'm sorry....you surprised me."

Syuviel looked up in wonder. Nobody had been able to get the drop on him since he'd come into the Arena a year ago, and this boy, barely a year younger than himself, had effectively put Syuviel, though briefly, at his mercy. Syuviel held out his hand.

"My name's Syuviel. I'm from Serdio. Who're you?"

The boy looked at Syuviel's profferred hand and took it with his one good one. They shook, and the boy grinned.

"My name's Ranma....umm...I dunno where I'm from. Alls I got is a fuzzy memory of a woman with red hair and a crying lady with brown hair and eyes. Oh, and a mean girl with a hammer....I think..."

Syuviel couldn't help but chuckle at that. He put Ranma on the bed and helped him brace his hand, chuckling the whole time.

"I don't know anybody like that, Ranma. Anyway, do you know anything else? How'd you get my wrist like that? That was cool!"

Ranma looked down, his face twisted into a grimace, as he tried to remember. Suddenly, he grinned and looked up.

"I remember that! I can fight really good! I was the best fighter where I was from, somthin' called a 'martial artist' or somethin'. Anyways, I can do all kinds o' good moves...well....I think anyway. Somethin' happened an' I don't think I'm s'posed to be this small..."

Now Syuviel was confused. Not supposed to be this small? He shrugged and figured that maybe the winglies had used their magic to make Ranma younger than he used to be when they found him. Syuviel requested some demonstartions, and before long, Ranma and Syuviel were executing basic kata together, from midafternoon to the time they fell asleep, tired, but happy.

It was not to last.

The next morning, Ranma was awakened by Arknon grasping him by his broken wrist and dangling him three feet from the ground. Ranma's eyes shot open, blinking away the tears of pain that formed, as Arknon grabbed Syuviel by the back of the neck and shook him awake. Both boys were carried to a large, open room where a tall winglie with flowing black hair was practicing a very intricate kata. He stopped and stared at Arknon as the man headed for a door on the other side of the room. He sighed and wondered if the two young ones would live through the day.

Arknon had procured a Gigantos, and it was up to the boys to either kill it or be killed. This ran through Ranma's mind again and again as he brought his good hand, fist curled, into the Giganto's kneecap, shattering it with a ki infusion. Syuviel had procured a makeshift spear from the remains of a chariot and was slashing the Giganto's chest open. Ranma, gathering what courage he had, leapt onto the Giganto's back and brought his hands down in a ki-powered hammer strike, bringing the giant down. Ranma was about to walk out of the arena when he heard Syuviel praying to a god named Soa to guide the Giganto's soul back to the Tree of Life as he stabbed the spear through the giant's head.

Ranma couldn't sleep that night. He'd witnessed his friend murder a helpless Giganto. Sure, he knew the fundamentals of it. If Syuviel had not killed the Giganto, the giant man would have been tortured violently, then the boys would be tortured, and all of them would be killed. But still, Ranma thought as Syuviel cried, it is not easy to kill, even if the kill would help the one killed. Ranma shook violently as his sobs echoed through the compound.

"I miss my mommy!"

Ranma shook that night, images of a Giganto with his head pinned to the ground by a makeshift spear haunting his dreams. The same Giganto then stood, the spear coming out his eye socket, and accused Ranma in its halting tongue of murdering him. Ranma cried out, saying it wasn't so, but still the Giganto pressed on. Ranma screamed and awakened in a sweat.

It was a subdued pair that was served breakfast by the tall winglie they had seen before. He saw the tears on Ranma's face, and, in fact, had heard Ranma's wail for his mother last night. He also could sense the incredible aura of fire ki around the boy. He nodded and sat down, making sure Arknon was not coming before hugging the two boys.

"There, there. My name's Lee. What's wrong, you two?"

Ranma sniffled and poured his heart out, about the Giganto's death, about not knowing anything, and about being forced to fight when all he wanted was his parents. Lee's expression grew cold, but then brightened as he struck upon an idea.

"Hey, why not study with me and Charle when Melbu Frahma's out of town? That oughta be okay!"

Syuviel nodded enthusiastically, while Ranma was confused. However, he had no time to puzzle it out. Arknon showed up right then and barked at the boys to get moving. Lee glared at the man's back as he dragged the boys to the arena. Lee sighed and hurried off to find Charle and tell her the news.

That night, a wounded Ranma and an unscathed Syuviel mourned the passing of a noble dark elf, Ranma's scraped shoulder weeping blood slowly as Ranma allowed Syuviel to bandage it before drifting off into a sleep haunted images of a Giganto, his flesh beginning to rot and his head pierced by a wooden pole, and a dark elf, his neck twisted backwards and a large, fist-sized hole gouged into the side of his skull..

---------------------Author's Corner-------------------

Chapter 2 is finished, and as I said, I'm going to have some trouble getting net access for the next few weeks. Anywho, review my work, please don't kill me, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know it was short, but time presses and the story MUST NOT advance too fast.

-prays that somebody has drawn a Dragoon Ranma pic-