Ranetta, Vol. 2! – By Ocramed
Disclaimer: Ranma ½ and Bayonetta belong to the respective properties.
Note: This is a one-shot, semi-fusion alt-story. C&C are welcomed.
Special Note: This is a Ranma 1/2/Bayonetta story only.
Author's Note: This is my way of testing the waters, after getting requests for a continuation. Enjoy…
Part 4
Meanwhile, back in the "real world", in a place that lies between Heaven and Hell, Luka arrives at an infamous drinking establishment known simply as "Gates of Hell"…
"Are you SURE Rodin will help me find Bayonetta, Enzo?" Luka said warily, as he suddenly appeared in a bar that also served as a nightclub of sorts.
"Would I bother taking us here to this place, if I SAID he wouldn't?" Enzo said, as he adjusts his hat.
"Not unless it's part of an elaborate trap," said a large, bald black man, as he stands up from behind the bar.
"Rodin," Luka said in a warily manner. "What a surprise."
"Don't be," Rodin said, as he gets himself two shot glasses out. "Sooner or later, you would have found yourself right back here."
"And why would that be?"
"Yes, why would that be?" Rodin said, before taking a puff of his cigar, and then blowing the smoke out in a very realistic shape of a woman.
"If you think I am here because of Bayonetta-"
"Of course, you're here for Bayonetta," Rodin said, as he pours himself and Luka some drinks…
"Here," Rodin said, as he slides Luka's glass to him. "We have much to discuss."
"Hey, where's MY drink?" Enzo asked.
"I didn't invite you to this little conference, did I?" Rodin said. "You can sit yourself RIGHT over there in the corner, and don't speak until I say so."
"Humph!" Enzo said, as he glares at Rodin, before marching off into his designated corner. "I don't get paid enough for this abuse…"
"Okay," Luka said, as he took a gulp of his drink. "What's up?"
"I can't say that I am Bayonetta's biggest fan, but she was my biggest client for the, let's say, the exotic."
"Obviously."
"Tell me, what do you remember the day Bayonetta disappeared?" Rodin asked.
"Well, I remember her father, Father Balder had tried to use her as the Left of Jubilee, in order to restart the world," Luka said. "In fact, that was exactly sixteen years ago, this year, when all that happened..."
Luka looked at himself in the mirror behind Rodin. He was still youthful, in spite of pushing forty years old, in a Brad Pitt sort of way…
"Correct," Rodin said. "Well, we ALL know that Bayonetta had made a deal with the devils below."
"Yes, I know," Luka said. "She could increase her power by eliminating angels, thereby avoid ending up in a rather 'bad place'."
"You got it."
"But if she stops doing so, or dies, the devils could claim her."
"Exactly. Problem is that when Bayonetta died, she never ended up in Hell…or any other place, for that matter."
"Are you saying…Bayonetta is…alive?" Luka said with hesitance.
"Nope, she is quite dead, as is her friend Jeanne," Rodin said. "After all this time, I used my contacts in…certain circles to determine that their bodies had been recovered and buried in China."
"Okay, so why are you telling me this?" Luka said angrily.
"Didn't you just hear me? I said that Bayonetta never ended up in Hell…or Heaven, for that matter."
"So, she's in limbo. So what?"
"So, guess what I see in the news, thanks to the Japanese press?" Rodin said, as he throws a local newspaper towards Luka.
"What am I looking at?" Luka asked.
"Look at the newspaper."
Luka quickly scanned the page, which was part of the local section, and catches a glimpse of a picture with caption underneath:
MYSTERIOUS, SEXY GIRL CHASES ESCAPED PANDA.
"The…the hair color is different, but I recognize those curves and that outfit," Luka said. "But…the girl looks younger than Bayonetta."
"At first, I thought that Bayonetta might have had a kid I didn't know about," Rodin said. "But then, I remembered that she hated kids, and I remembered the place where Bayonetta's body had been found..."
Pause.
"What do you know of 'Jusenkyo'?"
"Never heard of it."
"Most people haven't, but it's a place of power that had the unusual ability to transform people into something else, depending upon the pool that the victim fell in."
"Come again?" Luka asked.
"Imagine hundreds of pools of water, springs even, that had magic in them. Someone or something dies in that spring. No harm, right? Wrong. The pool picks up the properties of whatever had died in that spring. The result? Whatever falls into that spring takes on the properties of whatever died in that spring…"
Pause.
"And Bayonetta's body was found in one of the springs there," Rodin said.
"So, you're saying that somebody fell into a spring, and is now running around with Bayonetta's body?" Luka said.
"I would say that, and would be done with this little story of mine, had I not heard from someone 'below' that someone is accessing Bayonetta's powers," Rodin said. "And when I say 'access', I mean a power that can only be obtained from a pact made by the original person who had made it in the first place…"
Pause.
"And that would be Bayonetta herself," Rodin said, as he blew a puff of cigar smoke into the air.
"So, you're saying that not only has someone picked up Bayonetta's body, but also her powers," Luka said, as he lowers the newspaper onto the bar.
"I think so, and apparently, the forces of Heaven and Hell thinks so as well, so much so that they are going to converge together in order to 'test' THIS person, in order to determine her connection to Bayonetta," Rodin said, as he taps Luka's newspaper. "And I don't have to tell you crap storm that will occurs when all that power centers around one person."
"You're talking about people getting hurt," Luka said.
"To say the least."
"So, what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to go to Japan, and figure out this girl," Rodin said. "I want to know who she is, and how she is connected to Bayonetta. You ARE an investigative journalist, yeah?"
"Of course I am," Luka said confidently. "I'm still the best at what I do."
"Good, then get started. Once you have made contact, get back to me as soon as possible."
"Why?" Luka said suspiciously. "What is YOUR angle in all this?"
"THAT is none of your damn business," Rodin said, as his eyes glowed red, shining even through his ever-present sunglasses. "What I have to say or do to this girl is my concern. Just be glad I've given you a head start to settle your affairs."
"Humph."
Meanwhile, back at Furinkan High School, a certain sparring match was about to happen…
"Who do you think is going to win, Nabiki?" Akane said to her sister Nabiki, as the middle Tendo sister finished collecting bets from the other students. The match between Upperclassman Kuno and Bayonetta was to take place in the back field of the school…
"Not sure," Nabiki replied. "We all know that Kuno is good in kendo, which is why he is captain of the Kendo Team, but I've never seen him go all out."
"And I haven't seen Ranma practice with a wooden sword or anything," Akane said, as she looked around her immediate area. "By the way, have you seen him…her around…?"
"So, my tigress, where is the dark goddess?" Kuno asked, flanked by his flunkies. "Not that I do not mind being the focus of everyone attention, but I do expect better."
"Ask and he shall receive, my swordsman," Bayonetta said, as she whispered into Kuno's ear.
"Ah!" Kuno said, as he jumped. He was surprised that someone could sneak up on him, with many of his lesser peers present. Come to think of it, why was he just reminded of his younger sister's antics…?
"Oh, there you are," Akane said with annoyance. "Everyone is waiting on you to show up, you know."
"What can I say?" Bayonetta said with a shrug. "I like to make an entrance…with style."
"Well, it's creepy."
"So says the one who hates boys, but won't admit the truth about herself."
"I told you, I'm not LIKE that!"
"Hey, it's all good," Bayonetta said. "I don't judge anyone…except their 'performance'."
"Humph, I'm not even going to dignify a response to THAT."
"Then you can be quiet, and watch me school the Blue Thunder," Bayonetta said, as she presents herself to her opponent.
"With all due respect, my dark goddess, it is I who shall be the teacher," Kuno said, as he brings his wooden sword at ready. "We may begin at your leisure."
"Ranma, catch!" Akane said, as she throws her bamboo practice sword into Bayonetta's hands.
KTCH!
"Thank you," Bayonetta said, as she twirls it around a bit before raising it overhead.
"You will spar with me, using a mere bamboo practice sword?" Kuno said incredulously.
"The art that I utilize enables me to use any tool," Bayonetta said. "Of course, if you think that you are unable to perform…"
"I shall allow you the use of such an unconventional weapon," Kuno said, as he raises his sword into the air…
"HAVE AT THEE!" Kuno roared, as he charged forward.
Bayonetta waited until the last minute to leap out of Kuno's strike range.
"HA!" Kuno yelled, as he brought down his sword. Bayonetta was near a dividing wall, when Kuno struck.
SLICE!
The wall splits in half, as Kuno recovers.
"Whoa," said one of the students. "Kuno is really good…"
"Enhancing one's sword?" Bayonetta commented, as she lands on her feet. "Performance issues?"
"I have trained nearly all my life to perfect MY art," Kuno said. "None can defeat me, especially in the art that I have mastered."
"Then we shall determine if you can back your words," Bayonetta said, as she raises her bamboo sword in front of her…
"You feel that?" said a student to her friend.
"Yeah," replied the friend. "It feels…colder."
Slowly, Bayonetta forms a circle with the bamboo sword. As she does, her battle aura begins to show. In fact, those closest to the fight begin to feel waves of energy emitting from the strange girl.
HUMMMMMMMMMMMM…
"Amazing," Akane said in whispers. She was impressed with Ranma's skills, but was not about to be heard saying so.
"Such…power," Kuno said, as he prepared to strike. "I must…I must have it!"
Kuno twists his torso while pointing his sword overhead. He then performs multiple thrusts, all in an effort to break down the battle aura that existed between him and his dark goddess.
YATATATATATATATATATATATAT-!
Bayonetta grunts slightly, as she takes on the attack. Even though Kuno's blade did not touch her battle aura, the air pressure alone, caused by Kuno's attack, was inflicting damage to that aura. However, Bayonetta was timing the strikes, in order to successfully perform her next move…
"HA!" Bayonetta roars, as she leans back, and thrusts her bamboo sword forward. The release of energy not only sent Kuno reeling, but sent him through what was left of the dividing wall.
BOOSH!
'No!' Kuno thought, as he was blown backwards, even as he began to fight off falling into a state of unconsciousness. 'I cannot be defeated like this…!'
"Victory: Bayonetta," Nabiki said, as she thought about the money she was going to make. She knew that Bayonetta was going to win, so she made money on the margin of victory…among other things.
"Great," Akane said. "Now jerk is going to get an even bigger ego…"
"I…I admit defeat," Kuno said, as he knells before his dark goddess. "You have proven to be a better master of the sword."
"Oh, my little Blue Thunder," Bayonetta said, as she tosses aside what was left of her bamboo sword. "Then, you admit that your declaration of victory came off as a bit…premature…?"
"I…I will admit such a thing, for you are truly ARE a worthy foe," Kuno said. "I shall abide by our agreement."
"You know, for being such a good sport, I shall allow you to challenge me again," Bayonetta said, as she adjusts her glasses. "Train hard, and you just might best me…"
Bayonetta then bends over and gives Kuno a peck on his forehead.
"After all, if you want me to submit to your whims, I want you to be at your peak," Bayonetta said.
"I…I shall endeavor," Kuno said happily. "Yes, I shall train harder, so that I might be worthy of your affection."
"You do that," Bayonetta said. "Ta…"
"You know, you didn't have to do any of that," Akane said.
"I'm a tease, so what?" Bayonetta said. "Look on the bright side: I took your burden from you. You never have to worry about 'Blue Thunder' ever again."
"And what if he does manage to defeat you next time? Then what? How are you going to avoid dating Kuno?"
"What makes you think I want to?"
"You can't be serious?"
"You'll never know, now, will you?" Bayonetta said with a mischievous grin, as she leaves a dumbstruck Akane behind…
"…"
"Three, two, one," Bayonetta said, as she counts down to the point where Akane realizes that Bayonetta was pulling yet another fast one on her.
"Hey, you just said that just to get under my skin, right?" Akane said, as she places her fists unto her hips.
"Nothing get past you, huh?"
Tbc.