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Chapter Sixteen What once was

"We fight."

Chi slipped out of the hall and went towards the back door. He knew that no one would notice him. They were all busy making sure that Shampoo was going to be ok.

CHi stepped out the back door and thought back to his life as a child. It had it's ups and downs. It was only normal by Nerima's standards. He had a girl he loved, a best friend stranger than he was, both beautiful young women. He had rivals and allies. He didn't need to come back here. He didn't have to.

But Chi had grown up seeing how his adoptive mother would always cry a tear when she looked at the family shrine were Ranma's picture was kept. Chi was ashamed that he had actually grown use to it. It all changed the day he asked Master Happosai what had really happened to his brother. Happosai had remained quiet, but instead took Chi to a hospital, and then to it's mental ward. That was the first time he ever met Tofu's and Kuno's Grandfather, Soun Tendo.

It was there that Happosai gave him an obviously shortened version of what happened. Something forced the fiancee wars to crash to a halt. Cologne pulled out her trump card and used Ranma's honor against him. Ranma lived with the Amazons, until he started a war. Akane was killed by an assasin in an atempt to have Ranma over come with grief. Ryouga was the one who told Ranma. Together they both ended the Amazon war with a double suicide Perfect Shi Shi Hadokan. It also destroyed Jusenkyo.

Chi had been over come. He finally understood for the first time in his life. Chi also remembered hearing a story about the Nanban Mirror. Chi went to work researching what he needed to do. He had become obssesed. He refused to recieve help from his friends, even if one of them was from a sorcerous family.

Chi found it. They way to restore the mirror. He said his goodbyes and turned his back on everyone he know. He was ready to sacrifice what happiness he knew for his parents. They had raised him with love and deserved more than to have their first son taken from them like that, So did Soun Tendo.

So here Chi was. He still didn't know what had ended the fiancee wars in his own time, but he was begining to believe it had something to do with Ukyo Kuonji. He had never heard of her before he went into the past. Oh, he had heard that Ranma had another fiancee no one talked about. But what could Ukyo have done?

Chi looked into his hands and thought of what the future Shampoo had told him. If there had been no other way...

Chi didn't know when the tears started. Chi was afraid. It almost seemed like a game. He knew what was suppose to happen, right? He could control it all, right? He could fix it and stop the war that had killed almost everyone, right? Then why was he losing control of everything? All it would have taken was mudering the loved one of an uncle that had died before he was even born. One life for so many.

He couldn't bring himself to do it. Chi had actually been a little glad when it looked like Shampoo was going to sacrifice herself. Chi was ashamed of what he had wanted to happen and also ashamed that he couldn't do it himself. He was only suppose to care about the future.

Chi felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around. There was Nodoka, his mother. She was looking at him with worry in her eyes for her son. Chi couldn't hold back anymore. He grabbed her and started crying in earnest. He started babbling about how he had failed and how he was sorry. Nodoka comforted her son.

ooooo

Ranma had seen Chi and then his mother leave. He could tell some of what must be going threw Chi's mind. Ranma had nearly lost it when he assumed that Shampoo would choose death. He wanted to let her know that it was alright and that they would always be friend no matter what happened now. He wanted to congradulate her and Mousse.

But he had other things to do. Ranma was a brilliant fighter and given enough time could find a way to counter any opponent. Ranma had plenty of time and warning about what could happen. He knew where his priorities lie now, Akane. No matter what else happened, Akane would get threw this. Ranma knew of only one way to truely protect her. He would have to sacrifice something that, to Ranma, helped define who he was. But now he only wanted to be defined as being Akane's, anything else was now secondary.

Ranma waited for Cologne to get down trying to comfort Shampoo and he taped Cologne on the shoulder. Her eyes met his in question and he only nodded for her to follow him.

Cologne wanted to stay with Shampoo, but knew that now Mousse would comfort her more than Cologne could right now. She followed Ranma to what must be his room.

"Alright Ranma, what is the meaning of this?"

Ranma started going threw his closet while he talked.

"Mousse has the right idea. We can't stop the fighting from happening now, can we?"

"No. I believe that if Chi's presence threaten's the Amazon Nation, then the elders who use oracles to face for such threats may already know he's here. I doubt that they know who he is, but they know he is in Japan."

"So they'll come here?"

"Yes, I believe that they'll try to catch him off guard. Ranma, what are you looking for."

"This."

Ranma pulled out a small chest with several locks on it. It looked reinfoced and designed to keep something in it. He walked over to Cologne and put it in front of her.

"I need this fixed. I also need a couple of changes if you could. I'm willing to offer what ever it takes., anything."

Cologne was confused and curious. She looked up into Ranma's eyes and could see the seriousness there. What could be in this chest that Ranma would act like that? Ranma leaned forward and broke off the locks, he wouldn't need them anymore. Cologne looked into the chest and gasped.

"Where did you get this?"

"It's for Akane. I need it fixed, and I need to make sure it will take care of her. Please, you're the only one I know that could possbly do it."

"Ranma, to fix this I'll need..."

Cologne stared into Ranma's eyes and realised that he was ready for whatever he would need to give up. This was not good. It would leave Ranma weaker for a little while and she didn't know if Ranma would have the time to fully recover. Besides, how the hell had Ranma gotten an Amazon item that was so powerful anyway?

"Whatever it takes. It's for Akane to use."

Finally Cologne understood Ranma's plan fully. He wanted Akane to use this, not Ranma himself. Cologne debated what to do for a moment, then made her decision.

"All right, but I want to know everything about how you came to have this and how come it's in the shape it's in."

"Alright. Do we start now?"

"Yes, I believe it would be wisest to start as soon as possible."

Cologne went to Ranma's window and lept out. Ranma followed after carrying the chest and it's secret.

ooooo

Unryu pig farm

Konatsu came at Akari's beloved pig again. It was getting faster and seemed quiet intelligent for a pig. It was learning and it was obvious that it could understand the orders it was getting. Konatsu had given Akari a project to do for two reasins, it would help the pig greatly and would keep Akari busy while Konatsu trained the pig warrior.

Akari came running in.

"Dinnertime boys."

Konatsu could se that Akari was worried over the couple light cuts her beloved pig had taken during training. Although she knew they were not really serious, it still broke here heart to see it injured. She knew that she had to trust Konatsu. Afterall, he had promised that her pig would survive the match. Maybe even win.

"Alright Miss Akari. We're done for now I guess. We'll pick up in the mornin- "

Akari and her pig never saw Konatsu move until he was already pushing the pig out of the way. Normally Konatsu could have pushed a person and possible not even been seen. But The pig was just so heavy that it slowed Konatsu just enough for the shuriken he had sensed to cut his hair where it was tied into a ponytail.

Akari saw Konatsu's hair fall to the floor, then she saw the shuriken in the floor. She turned her head and caught a shadow leaving through a window.

Akari turned to Konatsu and saw him look at his fallen hair in shock. She remembered about how Konatsu was raised as a girl and so would react like he was one. He was in shock. Akari rushed over and tried to comfort him as if he was one of her girl friends.

"Come on. I'll trim it up. It won't be so bad."

Akari's pig watched them go and then look from the hair to the shuriken. The person had just saved his life, again. Akari was sure that it was a guy now. If that was true, then he had earned the pig's respect. He was asking alot of the pig in training, but he desearved everything the pig had and more. The pig only wished that he could do something more for the two of them.

ooooo

Akari was standing behind Konatsu and had just finished cutting his hair. She felt guilty now that she was done. She hadn't given Konatsu a girls style cut, she had given him a guys. She handed him a mirror.

"Konatsu? How do you like it?"

Konatsu looked at his hair and felt like crying, then he saw Akari's face in the mirror. She felt responsible.

"It's looks wonderful Miss Akari."

Akari brightened up and couldn't help help herself. She hugged him around the neck from behind. Konatsu turned to say something else and realised how close their lips were. Their eyes met and they pulled back quickly, both blushing.

Konatsu got up and started towards the dinner table.

"I hope that you didn't go to too much trouble on my account."

"Oh no. I just made a little something because I knew that you had to be hungry. You've been training with Katsunishiki all day. I really appreciate it. I don't know how I'd deal with everything that's happening. I never thought that we'd be challenged my ninjas."

"Ninja."

Akari looked over at Konatsu.

"Huh?"

"The plural of ninja is still ninja. A lot of movies get it wrong. I guess that's what I am now."

Konatsu look to the table and his eyes threatened to pop out as he saw the massive amount of food on the table.

"What's with all of this food? Are you expecting a lot of people coming over?"

Akari looked at the table that held the normal amount of food that she usually prepared for herself and her grandfather. Well, maybe she had cooked a little extra, but it wasn't like she was trying to impress Konatsu or anything.

"What do you mean? That's just for us. Grandfather has already eaten and has turned in for the night."

Akari was blushing as she said that last part. Dinner alone with Konatsu wasn't something she had actually planned. Her grandfather had just snuck off to bed saying something like you kids have fun.

Konatsu wanted to be embarassed. He wanted to be polite to his host and show her the proper manners. A part of him flashed back to growing up and remembering never having this kind of kindness or treatment. It was the same part that had taken over his actions when he had tried to get revenge on Ranma.Akari blinked as Konatsu seemed to disappear. She looked towards the table to see Konatsu eating at top speed. It was as if he was afraid that the food would vanish.

Akari smiled as Konatsu praised her cooking between bites. Akari walked over and sat beside Konatsu. She half expected him to act protective of the food with the way he was eating. Instead he made room for her and never tried to interfere with her eating. Konatsu noticed that Akari seemed to have a healthy appetite herself. He figured that it must come from all the work she did to take care of her family's farm. The two of them started talking about idle things as Konatsu slowed to Akari's speed and they finished a nice dinner together.

ooooo

Saotome Family home

Natsumi sat on her bed and looked at her weapon of choice in her hands. She hadn't meant to over her her new mother comforting Chi, or the conversation that followed after Chi had calmed down.She had known that Chi had come from the future and that he had come to try and save Ranma and Akane. She hadn't thought about what he had had give up and walk away from to be here.

He heard Chi talk about if friend Mina, a friend that he had started to have feelings from but whose mother had forbiden any relationship between the two. She heard him talk of his best friend, a girl he called Gos that appearently was a very powerful sorcerous in training. They shared a fact of having parents that were from older traditions that most people didn't understand.

He heard Chi speak of his friendship his a boy named Tofu who was appearently Kasumi's eldest son. He also spoke of his rivalry with Nabiki's son Kuno, a rivalry that had eventually become mutual respect. Kuno had been Mina's cousin on his father's side. That made her Kodachi's daughter.

What had really surprised Natsume was when he spoke of a boy named Taro. He was Chi's sparing partner and chief rival. They grew up respecting each other and pushed each other's limits beyond what they knew they had. What had shocked Natsume was learning that this Taro was her son. Her son with a man she had never met.

The Kurumi from Chi's world had appearently never married. It seemed that once she had finally found a family and had a chance to build a future for herself, that she had thrown herself into building a better life. She was appearently a bussiness woman who was dating some guy from work when Chi left, but she wasn't into anything serious as of yet.

Natsumi tried to hold back the tears as she realised how much stopping this war had meant to Chi. It wasn't just who would die anymore that was the problem. It was now about who Chi had just condemned to never being born as a result because of such death that was tearing Chi's spirit into two.

Natsume came to a decision. She would see this son of hers no matter what. She would also see all of Chi's other friends as well when the time came. It was time for her to get back to training. She would not allow evenone person to die in the coming fight.

Natsumi got up and sought out her sister so that they could get started tonight.

ooooo

Happosai was annoyed. Ranma had wanted Cologne to go with him and they had not been seen for hours. Happosai had already determined that they had appearently left. He couldn't understand what could be so important that Cologne would leave Shampoo's side at a time like this.

Happosai looked over as Mousse continued to hold Happosai's great grand daughter and whisper words of comfort and love quietly to her. Happosai was slightly over come with emotion. He had not allowed himself to think of the family he had left behind in decades. He had not been a father or grandfather in what seemed like forever. Now he had a great granddaughter that he no longer had to hide his identity from. He had family again.

Happosai looked over at Genma, who was eating a 'snack' with his new younger daughter. Genma and Happosai had too many things in common that neither of them would ever admit to. Genma was the son that Happosai never had the chance to have. When Genma shreaded his honor to give the two orphaned girls a home and a family, Happosai couldn't have been prouder. It was a lot like what Happosai had done for his wife and daughter so long ago.

Happosai looked around at the young people that had come into his life recently. They were all family in a way. Above all else, no one ever threatened Happosai's family. He had walked away once, never again. The Amazons were going to be forced to make one mistake that they didn't make in Chi's world. They were coming here, to Happosai's turf. He already had many plans in motion. The Amazons would either leave peacefully, or in boxes...

Happosai felt an aura outside that he hadn't been expecting for a while longer. The Amazons must be moving sooner than expected.

Happosai moved to the door as Chi, Nodoka, and Natsumi returned to the main living room. They turned to him as he opened the door. On the otherside was a massive fist that appeared as if it was just about to knock.

"Hello Pantyhose. I take it you have news?"

Taro glared at the little demon in human form. He hated himself for effectively signing a deal with the devil, but Happosai had explained everything. He had actually promised Taro, in writing, that Taro could pick his own name after this was all done with. He vaugely noticed some guy leave the room, only to return with a kettle of water. Taro looked at the guy before he took the kettle and used it to return human.

"I take it you're the famous Chi? I can see the similarity with your mother."

"My mother? What do you mean Taro? And how do you know about me?"

"Because both Happosai and the Amazons in China do."

Taro turned to the old man.

"You had better keep your word. I didn't hide as a damn Amazon male for weeks for my health. You were right. They know he's here and they're on their way. They're going slow. They wanna try to sneak into Japan unnoticed. I'd say about a week until they get here. Bad news thou, that guy Wing you wanted me to watch over was appearently killed a few days ago. I would have come sooner, but the elders got strange suddenly."

Wing walk up to Taro.

"Watch over me? Why?"

Taro turned to look at Wing and got big eyed as he was appearently looking at a ghost.

Happosai decided it was time to explain things to everyone here.

"Actually, just before I talked to you I talked to Wing about coming here. I only needed you to watch him in case the Elders believed he was the cause when they caught on to Chi's presence. He faked his own death and arrived a couple days ago. Everyone, most of you know Taro. What you don't know is that while I was in China this last time preparing I found Taro and made a deal with him. He has been my spy in the Amazon village while I was here."

"That's right. Happosai wanted to know the moment the Elders made their move. They made it. I guess you've got a fight on your hands."

"Happosai told you everything? Including about Chi's future?"

Taro turned to look at the beautiful woman that had just spoken to him. She was georgous.

"Pretty much."

Taro felt a little like a piece of meat as she looked him up and down.

"I guess I did pretty good. You're pretty handsome and I guess you must be nice enough."

Taro was getting confused. What was this woman talking about? Did Happosai do something stupid like try and arrange a marrige for Taro? He knew that the Japanese were appearently prone to do that.

"Just what the hell are you talkig about?"

Natsume grabbed Taro's hand and dragged him over to where Genma and Nodoka were talking together.

"Mother? Father? May I introduce my future Husband, Pantyhose Taro."

Taro fainted. You see, Happosai had left that little detail out about Chi's future.

Genma turned an appraising eye on Taro. He knew the boy was a fairly good martial artist and was an excellent stradigist. His daughter had chosen well. He didn't know it was about Chi's future that she had been talking about.

Nodoka looked at the young man that Chi had earlier mentioned briefly. It seemed that this man would be a loving husband to Natsume and would gift Natsume with three children if things went like Chi's world, but that was with them meeting later. They now had at least a year's head start.

Natsume looked over to where Ryu and Kodachi were kissing off to the side of the room again. If this Kodachi could start her relationship ahead of scedule and be happy, so could Natsume. After all, she wasn't getting any younger and it was about time she got married anyway. She could tell her newfound parents approved of the man.

"What just happened? I just had the wierdest dream. Damn Happosai and his stupid mission."

Taro looked up from the floor and realised that he hadn't been dreaming. Before he could stutter any questions, he was pulled to his feet and dragged off to another room.

"Come on. We need to talk. First off, why is your name Pantyhose?"

ooooo

Gosunkugi's house, Hikaru's room

Hikaru looked around and wondered about what had happened to him recently. He had seen what was possible his future. He had seen the woman he loved die in his arms bringig his daughter into the world. He had known pain beyond all other pain. He had tried to save her life by ending his own. And finally, he had come back to the world of the living to find himself engaged to Miyo.

And that was begining to look like the most normal part of his relationship with Miyo. Once Hikaru had been checked out earlier, Miyo's mother had insisted that Hikaru and his mother come by for dinner and so that she could explain in more details about Hikaru's future training in magic.

He was still a little in shock to learn that he appearently had actually hidden magical talent. He had been embarassed to learn that any children he and Miyo had would inherit Hikaru's potential. It was the main reason for Miyo's mother to force the engagement. She wanted that strength to belong to her family.

It did help that she seemed to like Hikaru, but she didn't hide too well about seeing him as a breeding tool. She had hinted heavily threw dinner for Miyo to take Hikaru to her room and unlock his full potential. She had then explained that it could best be done through Tantric magic and exercises.

He still felt embaressed at Miyo's mother's answer when He asked what exactly Tantric magic was. He should have gotten a clue when the normally outgoing Miyo was blushing.

Hikaru reached up and felt the blood come from his nose again.

Oh well, there was always tommorrow.

ooooo

"Daddy..."

"Daddy..."

"Daddy help me..."

"Daddy help me..."

Hikaru was a little surprised to be back in the dream he had while he was in the coma. He looked around for the voice and still couldn't find it's source.

Hikaru started to strain his ears to listen as the female's voice called for her daddy. Suddenly Hikaru could hear a light chanting in the background. The voice seemed so familiar. Hikaru started flashing to training in magic that if he'd thought about it he'd have realised that he hadn't recieved yet.

Hikaru assumed a meditative stance in this void and began to chant along with the voice behind the one calling for it's daddy.

Once again Hikaru started having flashbacks to another life.

FLASH

His daughter came home crying. Her best friend had just left on a quest alone that she believed that she could have helped with.

FLASH

Hikaru knocked on the library door. His daughter had locked herself in there everyday after school for weeks now. She wasn't talking to him and it started to worry Hikaru.

FLASH

Hikaru walked passed the door he had just shattered. His daughter had actually tried to keep him out with magic. She had been coming to the library for months now. He was about to yell for the first time in years when he saw tears in her eyes. She was saying something about someone being wrong.

FLASH

Hikaru double check the item he had just accuired threw the black market. He had been shocked when his daughter explained what had been troubleing her. To get some of what they had learned they needed he had gone to Nabiki Kuno. Nabiki had demanded to know why, she had noticed some of what was going on.

FLASH

Hikaru met with Sasuke again to recieve the package with the latest rare ingredient. It was had work researching a spell of this power and type. It didn't help that it required very rare herbs items. Nabiki had been a great help at first, but lately she was always busy doing something in private. Rumor had it that she had taken an indeffinate leave of absence from her job.

FLASH

Hakaru watched as his daughter trained her body and spirit like it had never been trained before. She was determined to not fail when the time came. She would be prepared for whatever was to come her way. He nodded as arcane fire flew from her hand and destroyed a boulder, and then repaired it as if there had never been a mark. It was one thing to destroy, another to mend. He nodded for her to do it again.

FLASH

Hikaru smiled as he saw the blush on his daughter's face. Nabiki's son had been quite polite and charming when he had delivered the latest item. It seemed that he was starting to personally deliver them for some reason. Hikaru wondered why he even needed to be in the room when he arrived. It wasn't like either of the young people noticed Hikaru leave to give them a chance to talk.

FLASH

"Are you ready?"

"Yes daddy...suheg egbru quer geu... DADDY! HELP ME! I NEED YOU TO COMPLETE THE SPELL ON YOUR END!"

ooooo

Hikaru woke up with a start as he remembered everything. It all made sense now. He had to talk to Miyo. Hikaru looked at his clock and decided that it had best wait til morning. He should have time after all. That was kind of the point.

ooooo

Author's notes:

I'm sorry that it took so long to get to this chapter. The final countdown is begining.

All that's left to ask is will the Amazons face overwhelming odds? Or will they still have a few aces up their sleeves.

As always, please review.