Ceremony Part 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma ½.

….

Ranma breathed in the crisp morning air while he waited. The sun had barely risen and already everyone was scrambling around like crazy. Today was the day of the full moon ceremony to anchor the Great One to the mortal world. Nabiki and Kasumi were behind him on the Temple steps, slowly and secretly beginning to prepare their own ceremony. Ranma desperately wished he and Akane could help, but currently with the servers constantly reappearing the two shisa were more or less stuck frozen, one with their mouth open, the other with their mouth closed.

Waiting was by far not Ranma's strong suit. He had to do something, but once again, his muscles were frozen as the servers 'cleansed the grounds of the Temple' or other such nonsense. To him they just appeared to be running around to random points in the yard, waving their hands a lot and muttering nonsense.

Ranma felt his spine begin to itch in anxiety. Nabiki had assured them that their own ceremony just had to be performed within the daylight hours, but what if the servers continued this nonsense until sunset? What if it was too late by the time the sisters and the shisa were able to perform their own ceremony? What if someone interrupted their ceremony? After all, the sisters and the shisa were confined to the Temple yard for their own ceremony.

Ranma shifted his thoughts instead to the shisa next to him. Her golden fur glinted in the morning light capturing his eyes. Whatever chaos erupted today would be worth it if he got to see her adorable, smiling human face again. Anything to replace the desperate defiant look she had before she was dropped into the water to drown a mere month ago. Ranma mentally shook himself and concentrated on how, no matter what, he would see Akane return to human form again.

In this anxious state Ranma waited and watched as the hours went by.

….

Hours had passed and finally the main Temple residents had retreated inside to attend to the ceremony there. Ranma whirled toward Nabiki, wondering what they needed to do for their own ceremony. He briefly saw Akane stretch out of the corner of his eye.

Nabiki handed Kasumi a basket which the elder sister began setting out the items inside in a large circle, humming while she did so.

Nabiki then finally turned her attention to the shisa to address them, "I need you two to-"

Ranma felt his muscles freeze unexpectedly, his mouth open.

He watched as Nabiki whirled around, "Oh, hello! I thought the ceremony was beginning inside?"

Ranma could just make out the Apprentice as he approached from behind her, "They are still finishing the set up; I was sent to make sure the shisa were correctly positioned." His voice sounded somewhat disappointed and resigned. "Not that I know if I am able to position them correctly, anyway."

Kasumi, still mildly putting the objects for their ceremony in a circle, asked pleasantly, "What do you mean?"

"The shisa are to be facing the gate, one on either side of the path, which they obviously are not," The Apprentice eyed how Ranma and Akane were seated facing Nabiki who stood in front of the Temple. The young man turned his attention toward Kasumi, "What are you doing, by the way?"

Ranma could hear the pleasant smile in her voice, "This circle will strengthen the shisa's protective powers. I thought this would be the best way for me to help The Great One have a successful ceremony."

Ranma wanted to applaud Kasumi's disarming nature and believable explanation, but Nabiki quickly added to the deception, "Do not worry about moving the shisa, my sister and I are experts in shisa protection and will move them to the correct positions shortly."

The Apprentice eyed her disbelievingly, "Are you sure? They look rather heavy. I could help you lift them?"

Nabiki smiled enigmatically, "We have our ways, and we are much stronger than we look."

The Apprentice stared at Nabiki, her smile turning into a smirk. Ranma wanted to twitch uncomfortably, but was unable with his muscles frozen. This was taking too long, why wouldn't she get rid of the Apprentice, already!

The young man cleared his throat, "I do not think we were ever properly introduced, I'm Arata Hashira." Ranma inwardly groaned in annoyance.

"I am Nabiki Tendo and this is Kasumi Tendo," she said gesturing to Kasumi. Now go away, Ranma mentally added.

"Tendo? Isn't that the name of-" He broke off, his face reddening before prostrating himself on the ground hastily, "I commend your family for the sacrifices and contributions you have made in honor of The Great One. Your sister's life-" here he looked up briefly for conformation until Nabiki nodded sharply. The middle sister's face had grown stony as he spoke. "Your sister's life was not sacrificed in vain and The Great One will rain many blessings on your family." After a brief pause of the Apprentice staring at the ground he continued, "You should be proud of your sister and her life."

Ranma stared incredulously at the Apprentice. On the one hand it was the first time he had ever heard any one of the zealous servers offer any form of apology. On the other hand this was the lowly apprentice, the bottom rung in their hierarchy, and his apology was as if Akane had chosen to be sacrificed and hadn't been forced to by his very own superiors.

Ranma glanced at Akane to see her wide eyes as he heard Kasumi respond softly, "We are."

Arata clumsily climbed to his feet and cleared his throat, "They also wanted me to bring the small shisa in back to the front as additional defenses…" He trailed off as he was greeted with silence. "I'll go get them then." Arata hastily retreated.

As soon as he could move Ranma immediately whirled around, "Akane?"

The female shisa blinked and exhaled loudly, "At least I received some form of apology."

Ranma felt the overwhelming need to hug her. Instead he rubbed his head against hers until her eyes closed. Ranma watched her relax, continuing to monitor her, before Nabiki cleared her throat. He licked Akane's cheek before facing the middle sister.

Nabiki raised an eyebrow at his action, but otherwise ignored it, "Well, you heard the man, one on either side of the path facing the gate. Inside the circle, if you please. Luckily those positions don't interfere with ourceremony."

Kasumi had stood after setting out twelve items in a large circle, "Arata will return, you know."

"I know," Nabiki replied, "The key is to have as much done as possible while he is otherwise occupied before we have to chase him off again."

Ranma snorted, "You didn't chase him off at all." He stepped between a hairbrush and candle into the circle.

Akane followed him inside the circle, "what if he interrupts our ceremony? What would happen? Would we have to start from the beginning?"

Ranma glanced back, wishing to send her reassurances he didn't have.

Nabiki paused, "We won't let that happen. I have an idea or two to get rid of Arata."

….

A few minutes later the Apprentice returned carrying the stone shisa with its mouth open. Staggering forward he placed the thing right in front of Ranma, who currently had his mouth firmly shut. Ranma watched as Arata stepped back and wiped his brow, eyeing the sisters' handiwork. "Good job moving the shisa, they are positioned exactly as they should be," his voice carried the slightest hint of suspicion.

Kasumi thanked him pleasantly, while Nabiki addressed him less so, "and what are you doing?"

Arata looked sharply at her, "placing the stone shisa, as I was told to."

Nabiki gave the man a pitying look, "inside the circle?" Ranma wondered what exactly Nabiki was doing. Wasn't she supposed to be getting rid of Arata?

The Apprentice looked confused, "You said the circle amplifies the shisa's powers."

"It does. For one pair. Any more than two shisa and the circle will no longer work."

Arata's ears reddened as he picked the stone shisa up again and moved it closer to the gate and outside of the circle. He quickly left after that to fetch the other stone shisa.

"That was mean, Nabiki," Akane said once she could move again.

"The stone shisa would have interfered with our ceremony. Besides, now he doesn't want to spend any extra time around me. Isn't that what we want?" The middle sister retorted.

Kasumi lightly chastened, "we could have sent him off another way."

….

By the time the Apprentice retuned the third time with the second stone shisa, the sisters had finished the final preparations for their ceremony. Ranma watched as Arata silently placed the shisa he was carrying across the path from its counterpart outside of the circle. He then awkwardly stood surveying his work.

Kasumi walked up to him, "You've done a wonderful job. Certainly you want to return inside and watch the proceedings?"

Arata sputtered, "Well, yes, but they told me to keep watch out here."

Nabiki from the other side of the circle snorted, "My sister and I have this well under our control. Go watch, no one will notice if you sneak in the back."

Kasumi smiled at the young man, "excuse my sister's rudeness, she gets absorbed in our work. She is right though, we have the Temple front well protected. Go and watch."

Arata looked hopeful, "Are you sure?"

"Of course, we won't let you get in trouble," the eldest sister smiled benevolently.

After returning the smile shyly Arata ran back inside the Temple.

Ranma let out a huge sigh, "finally, now let's get on with this."

Now that the ceremony was actually beginning, Ranma felt a rush of calm wash over his previous anxiety. His eye met Akane's in shared relief; she gave him a reassuring look in return. They would soon be back to normal. He breathed deeply as Kasumi and Nabiki moved to the side of the circle, closed their eyes and started to chant.

….

Arata means new/fresh. Hashira means pillar/support. I thought it was about time the Apprentice got a name.

Good news, the next chapter is written. I just need to finish editing it...