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Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters here that belong to Ranma 1/2. The Ranma 1/2 cast belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Neither do I own Suikoden 3 or its cast. I'm just using them in this fan fiction and I have no money.
(Author's note: I turned off the no anonymous reviewer's option so now everyone can leave a review. PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW!)
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Chapter 10- Between Life and Death –
It was nearly dawn and four women are gathered at the entrance of Chisha Village. After the events of yesterday word was sent to the Grassland Army that they were under attack and so the army will be sending reinforcements.
"So Chris, you're going with Yun and Yumi?"
The female knight nodded. "Yes Ms. Apple. Yun said that to learn more of the 'Fire Bringer' I must go with them back to the Alma Kinan village."
"And we're coming along for the ride."
The group of women turned towards the village and sees Nash with Fred and Rico approaching them. Wilder and Rhett were leaving to go back to Duck Village to give word of what happened here.
Chris raised an eyebrow and asked them why they want to come.
Nash went to his usual aloof expression. "Just because. It might be fun to go with you." While his body and face were carefree his eyes on the other hand clearly said he won't take no for an answer.
At this point Chris has given up on figuring out what his agenda is and allowed him to come. She turned towards the knight to hear his answer.
Fred straightened his back to stand to his full height, a centimeter or two above Chris, and proclaimed with the same attitude of a certain kendoist, "It is the duty of a knight to help a woman whenever he or she can, despite the woman being a knight herself."
"And we're also out of money and the inn won't let us stay here. You're the only one we know besides Mr. Ranma who has a lot of money on them." For her comment Rico got a light bop on the head from Fred.
Chris just shook her head at the freeloading knight and his squire. "Fine, fine. You two can come."
"Chris, would you speak to me in private for a moment?"
She turned towards Apple and nodded. The two excused themselves from the group and went away a good distance so none of them would hear their conversation.
"What is it you want Ms. Apple?"
"Please, just Apple." Chris nodded. "The reason, I wanted to talk to you is because, I want to know something." She decided to just ask bluntly. "Chris, are you in love with Ranma?"
Chris' eyes widen and she started saying denials very much like the very man she has fallen for. Apple just crossed her arms and tapped her right foot impatiently until the female knight gave up. After a few minutes of spouting all sorts of denials from he's too tall all the way to his hair is not the right color she gave up and gave a sigh in defeat. She lowered her eyes and seemed to shrink into herself. "Yes."
Apple raised an eyebrow at the small voice. "I'm sorry, can you speak a little louder."
Instead of getting louder her voice got smaller and she shirked in some more if it were possible. "Yes, I have."
Apple sighed in exasperation. "Can you PLEASE say that again and this time in a louder voice!"
Frustrated Chris did something she immediately regretted as soon as she opened her mouth. "YES ALRIGHT! I THINK I'M FALLING IN LOVE WITH RANMA!" As soon as she finished she slapped her hands to her mouth and proceeded to imitate a tomato. Unfortunately Nash's group and half the village heard her shout. Everyone who heard her shout looked in her direction. Chris acquired a full body blush and had the sudden compulsion to find a really big rock and hide under it.
Apple's hair is sticking out a little from the shout to her face. She shook her head to get rid of the ringing in her ears and dragged the paralyzed knight farther away from prying ears.
"Well, at least you are honest with yourself. What are you going to do about it?" Apple asks the younger woman.
After getting her blush under control Chris looked back down to her feet and twiddled her pointer fingers. "I...I don't know. I really screwed up with what, I did in Karaya Village. I-I'm not even really sure if I'm even attracted to him or not. All, I know is that, I get jealous when I see other women with him. Whenever I talk with him, I feel utterly content. And when he smiles..." Tears start to make their way down her cheeks as the events of the past four months break down her emotional barriers. "My...my mother told me t-that, I would know when the r-right man f-for me would show up and, I...I want to find out if R-Ranma's the one. But...but now...I really, REALLY mess things up!"
Taking the younger woman in her arms Apple allows her to cry on her shoulder as sobs wracked her body. Yun, Yumi, Fred and Rico sees Chris break down and starts to head in their direction when Nash puts an arm out to stop them. When they look at him for an explanation he just shook his head.
As the tears and sobs slow down a little Apple continues their conversation. "Chris, I heard about what happened when you attacked the Karayan village. I know things look bad right now, but didn't Ranma say he would give you another chance?"
Chris nodded as she clung to the older woman for support. "Y-y-yes, I...I know, I have a chance to be forgiven by him now. But, what will I do? What if he decides to kill me if, I mess up again at another time? There's no way, I can stop him!" Her tears and sobs started up anew.
Apple strokes her hair trying to calm the frantic woman down. "If he was going to kill you he would have done it by now. I have known many men in my time and Ranma isn't the type to kill someone just like that."
"She's right. I'm not that type of person."
The two women jumped at the voice and turned towards Ranma as he walks to them from the direction of the village. Nash's group blinks as they were so concentrated on Chris' breakdown that they didn't see him coming.
Ranma stopped a few feet from the two women as Chris hastily removes herself from Apple's embrace and tries to hide her tears. "Don't worry. Unless you give me a good reason, I will not kill you, but I also won't forgive you until, I see what you will do to redeem yourself."
Chris walked towards the pigtailed man with her head bowed so that he would not see her tear-streaked face. "I know, and again thank you for giving me a second chance. It...it means a lot to me." Before he could react Chris darted in and gave him a kiss on the cheek and a quick hug before running away, tears trailing after her.
Ranma's eyes widened at her actions and involuntarily raised a hand at the cheek she kissed. A small smile tugged on his face before he could control himself. After a moment he spooled his face into an expressionless mask as he watched the female knight run away.
Apple stomped her way to the martial artist and stood fuming before him. "Ranma! How can you be so mean to her! Don't you know what she's going through now! How much pain you're putting her through right now!" She would have continued chewing him out if Ranma hadn't grabbed her collar and pulled her so they came face to face.
"The reason why, I'm doing this to her is to her teach a lesson. I am force feeding her how she has made the grasslanders feel. I'm showing her how it feels to know any moment that the one they fear and hate will strike for the kill. I know she has feelings for me, but I can't change how, I'm treating her now. I know I'm treating her like shit and it's staining my honor. Well, I don't really believe in honor anymore. Look deeply into my eyes! Look at them closely look into their dark depths. All of my life these eyes of mine have seen more sorrow and pain to last me a hundreds of lifetimes! I had my heart ripped out, stomped, and then put back in at least a hundred times by people that, I once thought cared for me! My parents treated me like shit, my 'friends' wanted to either kill me or marry me as a sort of prize, even my best friend wanted me nothing more than as a way to gain back her families honor for something my father did! SO DON'T YOU EVEN DARE SAY, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PAIN!" He let go of her collar and she fell back on her rear.
Apple looked at Ranma as if she was seeing him, really seeing him for the first time. "My god! There's a rage inside of you that, I have seen in only one other person, Luca Blight! What kind of man are you?" she said her eyes widen as her body shook from an unknown fear.
Ranma looked at her with cold, almost insane eyes. "I am what, I am. This man you see before you is what my parents have made when they saw me as a way to gain honor for their family name or a way to live off of me. They have totally screwed up my life without a second thought. If you think how, I'm treating Chris is bad my parents were infinitely worse." he turned and walked back to the village. Nash's group parted before him like the red sea. Only Yun went up to him and hugged him. Ranma gave her a small smile and he allowed her to walk with him. It raised a few eyebrows but no one dared to ask.
Caesar overheard the whole thing from his hiding place behind a tree. But he had the feeling that Ranma knew he was there hiding. He approached the downed and shaking Apple and extended a hand to help her up. "Apple, are you okay?"
She took the offered hand and shakily stood up. "Yes, but I pray none of us will ever have to face him. I fear nothing would ever be enough to stop him." She looked at the back of the departing broken man and his sister. "I...I just wish we could have stopped his parents from destroying his soul. I can feel it. He's on the edge. I just hope we can either fix whatever happened to him or not be there when he totally breaks. No matter how good our strategy is there's no way we can stop someone that powerful." She turned towards Caesar with a haunted look. "I faced Luca Blight before. I would rather face him than Ranma any day if he were to go berserk." Caesar nodded sadly as he too looked at Ranma's departing back.
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A little later –
"So your group is coming with us?" Nash asks Ranma as he and his group members gathered in front of the village.
Ranma nodded as he approached Yun who left him after he calmed down and went back to Yumi. "Yes, I do need to keep an eye on my little sister after all." Yun happily jumped up into Ranma's arms when he reached her and he put her on his shoulders.
Chris' group, Apple, Caesar, and everyone else who didn't know of this information eyes widened to almost the point where their eyeballs would have popped out. "YOUR SISTER?" Sure enough as they looked between the two they noticed the similarities.
Ranma nodded with a smile on his face. "Well, we both look so much alike and we act the same that I just became her big brother. I just love having a little sister!"
Yun squealed when Ranma started bouncing up and down with her on his shoulders. "Yeah! He's my new big brother!"
"So you're just looking out for your little sister, right Ranma?" When he nodded Yumi turned starry eyed and she clasped her hands under her chin. "That's so sweet of you!" 'Sweet and protective, VERY, VERY nice! He'll make a great husband!' Fantasy galore. (A)
"Yes it is," Piccolo spoke up. "Ranma and Yun are perfect as siblings." Everyone nodded seeing how happy the two of them are. "How about we get going, I haven't seen Yun and Yumi's village for years and I would like to see what has changed."
Edge nodded as he turned and walked back to the forest where they found the Alma Kinan women. "My sword wants to follow Ranma around some more."
The Seven Star Dragon Sword spoke up from its sheath. "Yes, I would like to see this trip to its end."
Rico looked at the sword with a surprised and awed face. "Wow! A talking sword!"
Landis smirked evilly at the group, especially at Ranma. He seemed to be enjoying a private joke. "I heard there's nothing but women in Alma Kinan Village. Hehehe." Landis chuckled making them all sweatdrop.
The pigtailed warrior's eye twitched when he heard that information. 'DAMN! Not another one!'
Landis' chuckle got even louder when he looked at Yun and Yumi. "Hehehe. I'm going to have lots of fun when we get there! Women are so easy to piss off and..."
Ranma's eye stopped twitching and he looked towards Landis with what can only be described as the evil, EVIL eyes. "Just don't try anything with Yun, got that!" Landis' chuckle died a cruel death and he nodded apprehensively. Instantly Ranma's cheery behavior returned and he turned back to walking back to the forest with Yun waving her arms happily as he sped up and started jumping around.
Chris leaned towards Ayame and she whispered so only the ninja could hear her. "Is he always like that? Mad one second and then all smile's the next?"
Ayame nodded at her question. "Yes. It's a little weird at first, but you get used to it. The girls in the castle say it's cute for some reason. Pervert." Fortunately she only whispered the last word so Chris didn't hear it.
Fred brought them out of their chatter. "We better get going before it gets dark."
Ranma turned to him and nodded. "I'll give you guys a ride." He summoned his cloud and Piccolo followed shortly.
"Wow! Magic clouds," Rico said looking at the two magic clouds.
Nash indicated Chisha village with his head. "What about the village?"
Ranma looked thoughtful for a moment then turned to him. "The Harmonian army saw what I did to Brute Hat so they won't be back for a good while. The Grasslander army is also coming here so we don't have anything to worry about. Besides, Hugo and his friends are staying and can handle things from here."
After the others had climbed onto one of the clouds Ranma and Piccolo willed it towards the forest with Landis flying after them. Ranma had put Yun down in front of him and hugged her tightly. 'Don't worry little sister, there's no way I'm going to let you die.'
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Meanwhile –
There seems to be a meeting of some sort in a large building that seems to be split into seven parts. Each part had its own unique style to it showing off its owner's personality. One part had training equipment all over the place. One looked like a little girl's room but had magic items along the tables. The next one is HUGE! It dwarfed all the others and looked like a metal shop with all the armor that's strewn about. One had gadgets and other strange things on the floor and along the walls, some even on the ceiling. One looked like a fun house. Another is filled with books on battles and history, but strangely also had beautiful outfits as well. The last is all darkness and seems to suck all the light to it giving a sign that said 'Do not enter unless you are suicidal.'
The people who lived in the strange building were having a family meeting as the newest person to give a test to their sister's future husband came back.
"So, little brother, you lost the fight with him," a very female figure said to the giant named Brute Hat.
"Yeah I did big sister. I haven't had such a good fight and defeat since big brother beat me long ago. So, whose turn is it next?"
"It's my turn now!" said a figure riding around on a disk. "I got some new gadgets to try out." Her eyes and smile clearly said this is NOT a good thing.
Dark Hat 'looked' at her and the figure seemed to shrink into herself. "You will have to wait for your chance. It seems that Ranma is going to save his new sister Yun from giving her life to unseal the True Fire Rune. We will not interfere." He gave everyone a look that clearly said he won't take no for an answer.
Magic Hat looked wide-eyed then started bouncing around the room. "Yay! I get a sister-in-law too!"
A figure with an X shape thing on his back ignored Magic Hat's antics and asked a question. "So none of us are going to test him till it's over?" Dark Hat nodded.
Brute Hat then seemed to realize something. "Isn't the Alma Kinan clan an all female village?"
The female figure smirked. "An all female village, that's something I should see sometime. I wonder how Ranma's going to react. Or more importantly what the women are going to do to keep him there."
Dark Hat nodded in her direction. "We are a close nit family. Let's see how close he is with our sister. This is a good test for him."
The one with the X shape thing on his back started laughing. "It'll be fun watching the females of the Alma Kinan Clan trying to make him stay!" The others also started laughing while Dark Hat had a small, almost imperceptible smile on his face.
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Meanwhile in the forest –
Ranma looked up at Yun who is sitting on his shoulders. "So your village is protected by a magic barrier?" They were all making their way through the forest to the village after Landis showed them a clearing where they could land.
Yun gave a big smile at him. "Yup! The barrier makes it almost impossible to enter the village without one of us!" It's clear to everyone that she's enjoying having a big brother around, especially one who gave her rides.
Landis smirked. "So is it true that the village is made up of nothing but women? No men at all?"
"Yes, it's true. For some strange reason we can only have female children," Yumi said staying as far from Landis as she could. Something about him just makes her feel all creeped out for some reason.
Ranma stopped as something about that didn't sound right. "Sis, if the village is made up of nothing but women then how were you and Yumi born?"
"Oh, well sometimes a guy would wander into the forest and get lost. Someone from the village finds him and leads him back to our village. Sometimes they stay there for a little while, but usually the elder's forces them to leave after a few weeks. For some reason they looked pretty worn out, but they were really happy for some reason. At least that's what the elders tell me. I don't see what the strangers have to do with us being born." Her face looked confused as she wondered why that was.
Yumi nodded. "Yup, right now there are only about two or three men living there and they're ugly. No one wants to...um...anyway I think the elders were going to throw them out when we left so they should be gone by now."
Chris' brows knitted as she starts putting some of the facts together. "Wait a minute. If what you're saying is right then that means..." Her eyes widened and she looked towards Ranma. Her body posture looked like she wanted to grab him and run, REALLY, REALLY FAST!
Piccolo nodded as he too figured it out. "So that's why almost all of you girls look alike. I have always wondered about that but I never did get around asking about it."
"You mean they all..." Edge began thinking maybe it would be better to go back to the Chisha village. There was no way he's ready to be a father!
Nash's face paled. "You mean all of the young women..." 'If what, I'm thinking is going to happen then that means... my wife is going to kill me!' He started sweating and looking around for an exit like a certain panda cursed individual.
Ranma also figured it out and tensed to grab his friends and sister and run back to Lake Castle, preferably in light speed if he can manage it. His Gale Rune glowed as the Chaos Rune fed power to it for a massive burst of speed.
Yun looked confused as she hasn't been told how they were born yet. All she knew is that it had something to do with the men who come by every now and then. She's too innocent to really figure it out.
Watari couldn't care less. If he wanted to he could make a run for it and no one could catch him. Ayame had a smirk on her face behind the veil. She's enjoying her master's nervousness. 'Hehehe. Pervert. Stop acting like you don't want to go there.'
Fred and Rico looked confused, especially Fred.
Yumi recognized their distress and made placating gestures. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to tell the others that some of you are off limits." The guys sighed with relief except for a certain brother of Yun. He did power down his Gale and Chaos Runes, but something told him that rule did not apply to him. Living with Nabiki forces you to look for loopholes in the wording.
Yumi looked at him and licked her lips. 'Of course with Ranma...I get to be first in line!' Looks like he has a good reason to be worried. (1)
"Don't worry big brother. I'll protect you!" Yun didn't understand why he looked so distressed, but she set herself to help him any way she can. She looked into the future to see why, but still cannot see anything that involved her big brother.
Fight grabbed onto Ranma's left arm. "And since, I'm his fiancée I'll make sure none of you get your hands on him!"
Chris' eyes widened and her heart shattered again. "You...you're his fiancée?"
Fight happily nodded. "Yup! He beat me in a fight and I gave him my real name. Plus he knocked my top hat off. In my family that means if they are of the opposite gender we have to marry them." Fight gave off a beaming grin as she gave up on his arm and snuggled into his body. Ranma flinched at the hopeless look on Chris' face and of Tina reminding him of a certain amazon.
"But Ranma and Fight are just in the bonding stage where they stay together for one full year to see if they could live as man and wife before they marry. They have not decided anything yet." Ayame has taken a liking to the female knight and decided to help her in her quest to be Ranma's wife. 'What the hell do these women see in him? He's nothing but a pervert.'
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In another world a certain tomboy sneezed.
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Hope came back with a vengeance and before she could help it a grin came to her face. 'I still have a chance to be forgiven by Ranma and still see if he's my future husband! YEESSSS!' Chris looked at Fight with steely determination in her eyes. 'He's mine tramp!'
Before a fight could break out between the two women in the Wild Horse's life they were interrupted by the sounds of fighting. Ranma put Yun down and motioned for Piccolo to stay with her and raced off along with the others to see what was happening.
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In a small clearing in the forest laid a battleground. A group of Alma Kinan women lead by a dark haired woman is fighting someone with a helmet on. She's wearing a dress that all the young women of the Alma Clan wore but wore white leather pants as while and is currently the only one left alive, barely. Her black hair is braided to her right side of her head and she has a pretty but aggressive looking face. Her crossbow is pointed at the one that took her hunting party down. An arrow is sticking out of her shoulder.
The person she is fighting against is a tall looking man. He's wearing a light brown coat and tan colored pants. His face couldn't be seen thanks to a skintight metal mask that covered his whole head. There's no mouthpiece, no breathing holes or even eye holes on the mask. However, they can feel evil coming from him. His two weapons are a pair of double-edged razor sharp blades that went up both of his arms. The women of the hunting party could have told you how sharp they were as they all had deep cuts on them. That's if they were still alive.
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"Yuiri why are we here?" one of the young women in the group of ten asks their leader.
"Someone or something has been trying to break through the barrier. Those two magic users and that duck came through the barrier since it's been weakening lately."
"I don't mind the duck but those two magic users are just so weird." The others all nodded at that.
Yuiri stopped and held up an arm. "Wait. I hear something."
Going behind some trees the young women could make out two figures near the barrier. One is dressed up like a count while the other wore a metal mask that covered his whole head.
"So the barrier is weak enough now?" the count asks the helmet guy. The man gave him a nod. The count looks in the women's direction. "There are some pests to get rid of. Make sure none live." Then he teleported away.
Yuiri left her hiding place and aimed her crossbow at the one left behind. "Kill him!"
They all fired their crossbows at the masked man who just stood still. Holding both his hands up at the last second the man pushed his second and third fingers on both of his palm. This action caused the machinery that he wore in his gloves to make an odd 'snikt' sound and brought up two long blades hidden along both of his arms. Seeing these blades, all ten of the women in the forest clearing eyes open in shock. The blades practically glowed with an evil aura. Seeming to feed off their fear, the man spread his legs apart while lifting his heels up, making it seem like he was about to pounce like a deadly tiger.
The arrows never had a chance to hit their target. The man waved his arms around blocking every arrow that was fired at him. Then he seemed to disappear and reappear twenty yards away then disappear again reappearing behind them.
Two of the women kneeled over as he gutted them with his blades. One of the women brought her crossbow to his face, but in one wave of his arm he cut it in two. Then he cut deeply into her chest as he made a made a side swing at her. The other women seeing this broke away to spread out in the clearing. Picking up two crossbows of the two women he already gutted he fired them into the backs of two of the fleeing women. Then he leaped into the air. Landing in front of three of the remaining five fighters he blurred his arms and the three fell dead.
"You bastard!" the last of Yuiri's party shouted and fired their crossbows at him. The arrows flew straight at him, but at the last moment got caught it in the air. Then he threw them back at the women faster than when it was fired by a crossbow. Looking down the women saw their own arrows embedded their chests. It was the last thing they saw before falling down as darkness overtook them. Leaving only Yuiri left standing to face him now.
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"Who are you?"
Even though she cannot see it she can feel him grinning behind his mask. "Just call me Faceless. Now die!" He ran towards her intending to cut her in half.
"Moko Takabisha!"
Faceless had just enough time to turn around before he was knocked through the air by a large ball of energy. It sent him far away from the clearing. A deep rumble is heard as the energy ball blew up in his face.
A large group of people ran into the clearing with a handsome pigtailed man leading the group.
"Watari, Ayame check out that Faceless guy. Kill him if you have to. I'll take care of these girls." Ranma chanted the Healing Blade as the two ninjas ran off to where Faceless was thrown to. The others were checking on the fallen girls and pulling out the arrows some of them had in them. As soon as the glow appeared on the sword he yelled out "Healing Light!" All the girls' injuries were healed and the dead were brought back to life. The one's who were dead looked around their surroundings in wonder. Wondering why they aren't in heaven.
Ranma put his hands on his knees as he panted to catch his breath. 'That spell takes a lot out of me. There's got to be an easier way of doing this.' After the first time he cast the spell he had to fight just to stay awake. It seemed that healing and bringing people back to life is taking a toll on his ki reserves. He still hasn't healed completely from using it in Iksay Village and more than half his reserves are gone. After recovering his breath his sixth sense finally tells him he's in danger. He looks around but sees nothing life threatening. Then, he saw it.
He notices that all the young Alma Kinan women are staring at him like a pack of hungry (or in this case horny) lionesses while a deep scarlet bloomed on their cheeks. Some are even licking their lips. 'Not this again! I thought men are suppose to be perverted, not women!' For the life of him he couldn't figure out why women are so attracted to him.
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In Leknatt tower –
"Chaos, why ARE women so attracted to him?"
The cat shrugged its shoulders, even though cats shouldn't be able to. "Don't look at me Leknatt. I don't know. Not one of the other Ranma's had ever figured it out either. But of course it wouldn't be as half the fun then."
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Yun and Piccolo have caught up to their group. Yun ran up to Ranma and he automatically caught her and gave her a piggyback ride. "Hi Yuiri! Meet my new big brother and his friends!"
The Alma Kinan women's eyes widened at this information. Before they could say anything, however, the two ninjas came back. Watari spoke for the two. "He's gone. We couldn't find any sign of him."
Ranma nodded and started to help up the girls still on the ground. He ignored their starry-eyed gazes and full body blushes as he touched them. "Come on, let go to your village before he comes back. I can't feel him anywhere." 'Geeze! What are they, this world's version of amazons? No hormone control at all.' He didn't know that they don't usually act like this. Only he's had this type of effect on them.
Yun jumped off his back and started pulling him. "Follow me!" Edge, Nash, Fred, Rico, Piccolo, Landis, Watari and Ayame followed them.
Yuiri grabbed Yumi and dragged her away from the others. "Yumi, would you care to explain how that hunk of a man is Yun's brother?" She realized what she just said and blushed heavily. Yumi just gave her an understanding smile.
"You take care of this Yumi," Fight said to her as she passed them to catch up with Yun and Ranma, "Oh yeah one more thing!" She turned around and faced the women still blushing to their toes, especially those who Ranma helped up. "Don't even try it! He's mine!" She turned back around to catch up with her fiancée.
Chris walked, more like jogged, to catch up with the siblings. "Hey! Who said you could own Ranma! He's still available!" This gave off a loud cheer that the group up ahead heard. They just shook their heads and kept going. 'I don't want to know' is the general thoughts going through their heads.
Landis just chuckled.
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Alma Kinan Village is the home of the Alma Kinan clan, an all women clan. The forest surrounds their village on all sides. A wooden gate is the entrance to the village. Wooden houses doted along the walled village. A pathway to the right of the village leads to the site of a dead tree. The tree in life was huge, but all that remained is a huge stump with its insides hollowed out. In the center is a round stone tablet with many runes craved into it. Magic seemed to surround the site.
Ranma is again carrying his sister on his shoulders. "So this is your village." He looks around the peaceful aura of the place and likes what he sees. 'Wow, this place is just as nice as Lake Castle.'
"Yup! This is it! Do you like it big brother?" She looked down at him from her perch on his shoulders.
Ranma looked up and gave a gentle smile at her. "I love it!" Even though these two met only a day ago they feel like they've known each other their whole lives. Already a bond is forming between the two.
Behind the siblings are the rest of Ranma and Chris' parties and behind them is Yumi surrounded by the hunting party they saved listening to her story. "So that's what happened."
"If he's her brother then after tonight..." one of the women began.
Yumi nodded sadly. "Yes, there's no way he'll ever agree to help us repopulate the village after tonight. And he must taste so good too!" She and the rest of the women except Yuiri pouted like a couple of five year olds that's just been told they couldn't have any candy for a whole year. Yuiri just sweatdropped as her emotional control kicked in before she could make a fool of herself.
"Does he know?" Yuiri asked.
"Piccolo knows since he was the one who help us in creating the seal, but he hasn't said a word of it yet," Yumi said.
Another of the women looked sadly at him with a bit of fear. "If he tries to stop it then we have to stop him."
Yuiri shook her head. "No, we can't. Yumi did say he beat a giant all by himself and took out Faceless with one attack. There's no way any of us will be able to stop him."
Up ahead of them Rico looked at the figure approaching them. "Hey, a duck!"
"Hi there!" He gave a small bow at the group. "I was picking herbs in the forest when I came across this village."
Piccolo looked thoughtful at this information. "Then the barrier must be weakening then."
Ranma is about to ask him if there's any way to strengthen it when he's frozen solid at a laugh he though he would never hear again.
"OHOHOHOHOHO!"
'HELL NO! DON'T TELL ME SHE'S HERE!' Ranma thought to himself.
"Well if it isn't old man Piccolo. How long has it been?" a pink haired women laughed. She was wearing an outlandish leather clothes. It's made of skin tight leather that seemed better suited for an S&M video than everyday clothes. Ranma could see the she's curved in all of the right places and he's getting a good view of her very ample bust. Her face is quite pretty and had a mole on her left cheek. Unfortunately she's all beauty and all screwed up in the head, just like the one on his world. He can tell she thinks the world revolves around her. 'Oh god, another nutcase! Why the hell they're all so freaking attracted to me? Do I emit some sort of waves that attracts all the weirdoes to me?' Next to her is a guy about his age. He has black hair that he kept in a ponytail. He dressed in the clothes of a magic user and held a broom in his hands.
Piccolo walked up to the two with a small sweatdrop behind his head. "Estella and her brother Rody. It's been not long enough."
Fred's eye twitched and he looked at the old man. "You...know them?"
Piccolo nodded sadly, but Estella just ignored it. "Yes, Estella was a student of master Crowley about twenty years ago. He had to let her go because she can't say more than ten words without lying about something."
Rody looks to his sister with confusion. "Didn't you tell me that you beat Crowley in a fight then left on your own?"
"YOU beat Crowley!" Ranma said heavy with sarcasm.
Estella gave a grin very much like Kodachi, which made Yun's brother wince. "Well, maybe I stretch the truth now and then, but my magic speaks for itself."
Rody turned to Piccolo and happily indicated his broom. "Yup! She's teaching me to fly on this broom."
Piccolo's eye twitched a little. "Well...good luck with that."
Yuiri decided to break up the conversation as the entire village is now looking at them, especially Ranma. "Yun, can you show your...brother and his friends to the inn while I talk to Chris about something."
"Sure!" The young girl led her brother and his and Chris' groups over to the inn while Chris walked over to one of the houses with Yuiri and Yumi. All the women of the village followed Ranma with their eyes until he entered the inn. They all sweatdropped when they heard a loud wolf whistle come from somewhere. Of course, they weren't about to admit the sound came from every one of them.
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Inside the house where Chris is at-
"So what do you want to talk about," Chris asks Yuiri as they sat down to talk. Yumi took a seat next to Yuiri.
Yuiri looked straight into her eyes. "It's about the 'Fire Bringer.' You see before he vanished he asked our people to help seal the True Rune of Fire after he lost control over it."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "You mean he had the True Fire Rune? So that's why he's called the 'Fire Bringer.'"
Yumi nodded. "Yes. To unseal the location of the rune we need to complete a spell that calls upon the help of the sprits to aid us."
"So why are you telling me this."
Both Yuiri and Yumi said the next sentence at the same time. "Because there are three people now that could become the next bearer of the rune and you are one of them."
This information froze her for a minute. "What? Me? But after all I've done how could I become the next Fire Bringer?"
Yuiri tried to reassure her. "The past is the past and the future is the future. It's what you do from this point in time that will determine your fate."
"But I burned down the Karaya village and you're telling me I will become the next 'Fire Bringer!' How in the world can, I be the hero of the Grasslands and Zexen. When, I'm the cause of so much bloodshed?" She's starting to become frantic as the guilt of what she has done is getting to her.
Yumi stood up and sat next to her and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "When the time comes you have to choose what you will do Chris. Besides," She gave off a mischievous grin and leans in to whisper in her ear. "I know you like Ranma, this might be a good chance to impress him. He just might forgive you, maybe even ask you out." Chris' eyes bulged at this information and a smile came to her face that spread from ear to ear. Yumi and Yuiri knew she was sold.
Unknown to them someone else was listening to them. 'Yun, I will not let you die,' Ranma thought to himself before sneaking away. He did not hear what Yumi whispered to Chris.
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That night –
Chris woke up to the sounds of many people chanting. Getting up she saw she wasn't alone as she walked through the inn. Her group and Ranma's were all awake. Looking around she couldn't find her Ranma anywhere.
"Nash, what's going on?"
"I don't know. Let's find out."
Outside the whole village is walking to the ritual site of the village where the dead tree is. Chris spots Yun leading them. "Come on, let's follow."
"So they're starting already. Ranma, if you're going to do something do it now," Piccolo said to himself.
Yun is almost to the hollowed out tree when Chris and the others arrived. "Yun! What's going on?"
Yun turned around and walked up to her. "Chris, so you came as I knew you would."
"What's going on?"
"To unseal the Fire Rune and to gain the help of the sprits, I must give up my life."
This caused Chris and those who didn't know about it to falter. "What? You're giving up your life to..."
She made placating gestures to calm them down. "Please, don't try to stop this. Many people wonder where their lives are going and how it ends. But, I knew from the day, I was born that, I would die this day. Don't be sad for me. I got to meet you and all your friends and also my brother. That's enough for me."
Landis for once didn't have his sinister or mischievous expression on his face. "But you're giving up your life for this. Even, I can't see anything funny here."
Edge nodded. "And coming from Landis that's something."
Yun shook her head sadly. "Sorry, but I must."
She was about to turn back to face the tree when she was picked up into a hug. Looking at the one that was holding her she saw her big brother. His powerful, steel hard arms as well as his body pressed against her as he hugged her to his chest, his fingers against her skin. She can feel them even through the fabric of her clothing.
He was hugging her and in that instant, that moment she knew that if he wanted to he could have torn apart her body. She's felt so powerless between his embrace, but, strangely, it was a comforting experience, pleasant even. She could feel his body heat soothing her own body. She could feel his silk-like skin against hers as his face touched hers. It was like a lover's embrace, but more personal, sensual even.
She was powerless, defenseless but strangely she had to struggle to find the last time she had ever felt as safe as she was between her brother's arms. She couldn't think of one. Then she found her voice to speck to him, "Brother, why?"
Ranma just held her even closer to him. "Yun, I won't let you throw your life away." She felt him shaking a little and his voice is full of emotion. Ranma knew this would be the last time he would ever be able to see his sister and let all of his defenses down. "I know that we're not really brother and sister, but that doesn't matter to me for you are my little sister in my heart. The life, I left behind was of one that's full of sorrow and pain. The ones that raised me only cared for themselves, not caring how I felt or how much it hurt me. You can see into the future, but just because you can see into the future doesn't mean you have to follow it. You never saw me or that you and, I would become brother and sister did you?"
"No, I didn't," Yun said to him. Her eyes filled with tears holding her brother to her. She saw into his eyes and could see the pain and the sorrow that the people in his old life gave to him. The amount of pain she heard in his voice left her breathless. There was so much hidden pain behind Ranma's eyes, her brother's eyes. So much loneliness and pain coming from her brother that it brought tears to her eyes.
Also her own pain called to him, her own darkness, her own doubts about her own life and knowing that she would die this day. It was darkness that's lighter than Ranma's, but it was still darkness and it was calling, drawing Ranma to her. She didn't know if she ever wanted to be set free of it if it meant being apart from him. He's just like her, knowing that she had no control of her own life.
"I know that to win this war the Fire Rune must be unsealed. I'm sorry my sister, and always know this, I love you." Ranma gave her a kiss on her cheek before putting her down. He looked towards Fight and the others. "Goodbye, my friends."
He ran straight for the tree and knocked away those who got in his way. "Chris! I'm counting on you! Become the Fire Bringer! Tina, please take care of my sister!" Then he leaped into the tree and the unsealing magic began to eat him away inside.
"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOO!" Yun yelled out watching as her brother slowly die in front of her. All for her so she wouldn't live out her fated path that she always saw before her.
"RAAANNNMMMMAAAA!" Chris and Fight yelled out running to the tree, but they couldn't get to him as a barrier formed around the entrance. All they could do is watch as the man they love die while they pounded futile on the barrier. The others with them all ran forward and started to hack away at the barrier hoping to get him out before he dies. Not even a dent appeared on it.
A laugh came from behind them. "Wonderful! He's killing himself for me! This is great!" Looking up Yuiri saw that it's the man dressed as a count. The Zodiac Sword knew who it was well too well.
"Neclord! You still live you damn vampire!"
He smirked. "Yes, I still live you stupid sword. As soon as that boy dies, I'll gain the True Rune he has and the one who set this up gets rid of a thorn at his side." Neclord bowed to them. "Faceless, you and the others kill them!"
Faceless jumped from his hiding spot kicking Nash into the group of young women behind him. Several figures could be seen in the tree lines running to them. Edge jumped at Neclord releasing a powerful energy wave at him. Neclord counters with a blast of his own magic. But something went wrong when the two waves met each other. The two attack spells mixed with the unsealing magic still eating Ranma's life force away.
Piccolo saw this and yelled out a warning to the others. "Watch out! There's no telling what mixing those kinds of magic will do!" He was too late as they were all engulfed into a bright light.
When the light faded Nash and the women saw nothing but a big hole in the ground where the tree and the others were. "They're gone," was all what Nash said looking into the hole where his friends once were.
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Ranma awoke to the sounds he thought he would never hear again. A low rumble as something metal sped by at a fast speed. 'What the hell! It sounds like...CARS!' Getting up he saw tall buildings filling up the sky. He's in a park at night and clearly in a Japanese City. 'DON'T TELL ME EVERYTHING WAS JUST A DREAM!'
He started to despair that everything he has gone through is just a figment of his imagination. Everything his friends, his new home, the Chaos Rune, his...sister, even...Fight and the other girls. 'Yun...Tina...everybody...Chris...they're not...real...?' Then he saw movement out of the corner of his eyes.
He looked to his right and saw a sight he thought he would never see again. There the bodies of Landis, Piccolo, Watari, Ayame, Edge, Chris, Tina, Fred, Rico and Yun were starting to wake up. He released the breath he didn't know he was holding.
He looked around his surroundings as he waited for the others to gain back their senses. Unfortunately he didn't notice something peculiar. If he could see his forehead right now and then he would see that the Chaos Rune's blood red part has faded a bit, while the sky blue part is brighter than before.
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Next Time – Ranma and his friends must get used to city life and figure out how to get back to the world they left. And who's that girl that saying she's the ultimate 'Super Gal' of the city? Also what has happened to Neclord and his monsters? Next time in: The Return, Back to Where You Came From!
Author's Note 1. Okay as with all of you who played the game I have no idea how the Alma Kinan clan has kids. This is my best guess.
Prereader's Notes
I know she's acting OOC, SO WHAT! I didn't like how she's portrayed in the game so I changed it.
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