Crimson Hunter
A Ranma 1/2 and One Piece FanFiction
Written by: Konsaki
"Uhg… I never want to go through that again…" Ranma stated, laying on her bed in exhaustion, even though it was only early afternoon.
Sitting at the small nearby desk, Sora had head propped up with an elbow. "Well, it was your fault, you know."
"Traitor." The redhead half-heartedly repeated from before. Her mother had held almost nothing back in her brow beating, never raising her voice but somehow making you feel ten centimeters tall.
"Can't win them all, Ranma." Sora said with a smile, still amused by her friend's condition.
Rolling on her side, said friend stuck out her tongue. "Says you! I plan on winning until I'm at the top!"
"Of course you'd be that kind of girl." Sora joked, laughing at the flush on Ranma's face at the innuendo. "So, what do you usually do around here? It seems kind of… I don't know… dead? Didn't you say you had an adopted brother here?"
Pushing herself up to sit cross legged on her bed, Ranma thought about it for a moment. "Mom said he was hauled off island by his grandfather, so I don't know where he went or when he'll be back... As for being dead, since no ships are in port, the bar's going to be pretty light tonight. Mom's already preparing everything, but I'll still probably help out some."
"So it's busier when there's a ship? How busy are you talking about?" Sora asked, before raising a finger. "And remember I helped Sister Freya with twenty something kids."
Ranma snorted, remembering the organized chaos she tried to help out with back at the orphanage. "When these sailors put enough away, they almost act like those kids when they're having a tantrum only they're grown men."
"Is it really that bad?" Sora looked sceptical, glancing out the window facing the small wharf before blinking.
"It all depends on the ship and what type of crew they're bringing in." Ranma replied, drumming fingers on her shin.
Sora let out a hum of contemplation. "What about Marine ships? They're better than normal sailors, right?"
The scarlet haired girl just snorted, falling backwards to stare at the ceiling. "They're even worse, sometimes. For all the discipline they're supposed to have, they can do some really stupid things. It's even worse when two ships of them dock, cause they'll fight each other while drunk but tell their captains they were just 'sparring' so they get away just a slap on the wrist."
"So, two ships of Marines docking here is a bad thing." The brunette girl summarized, still looking out the window.
Feeling a twitch in her nose, Ranma scratched the small itch. "Not bad, just… really, really annoying sometimes. It all depends on which crews show up, cause I'm not supposed to rough them up like I can the normal sailors."
"So, what would you say if I told you two Marine ships just docked."
Jerking upright, Ranma searched for signs of Sora joking around. "Are you serious?"
"Come look for yourself, if you don't believe me." Sora directed, pointing to the window.
Slipping off the bed, Ranma glanced out the window before palming her face. "Damnit… there goes the rest of the day." Opening the door to her room, the redhead stuck her head out and yelled downstairs. "Mom! Two Marines just landed at port!"
A muffled cursing eked up from wherever Makino was downstairs. "I'm sorry, Honey, but I'm gonna need your help tonight!"
"I know, Mom!" Ranma called back, already moving down the hallway towards the bathroom. "I'm drawing a bath now!"
"Do you need any help?"
Glancing behind her, the warm water tap already running to fill the tub, Ranma saw Sora sticking her head out into the hallway. "If you want to, I'm not gonna turn it down. Really, Mom plays bartender and cook, I play waitress and bartender if Mom gets swamped. If you want to do the waitress thing, it'd help out."
"I think I can do that." Sora smirked, thinking of her managing the kids at the orphanage again.
"Sure, then. Just wait your turn for a bath, find a good dress but comfortable shoes. Oh, and a little makeup goes a long way for tips. Maybe even show some cleavage."
Unable to help herself, with each suggestion Ranma gave, Sora burst out laughing. "You're so shameless!"
"Hey, if you got it, flaunt it." Ranma cockily replied, before pointing out, "But no touching allowed. If they get grabby, let me know, okay?"
"Okay, sure thing." Sora responded, heading into the spare bedroom they'd put her up in to look through her clothes.
oO0Oo
"I give! Uncle! Uncle!" The marine cried out, tapping the dirt as Ranma held him in an arm bar. He breathed a sigh of relief when the redheaded young woman let him loose.
Standing up and brushing the dust off, Ranma smirked. "Anyone else?"
"I think my men have had enough of their masculinity stripped away for one day." The Captain that led this crew dryly commented, eyeing the men who were jeering at those that lost to the hometown girl. "Still, it's good to remind them that there's always someone better, I suppose. Lieutenant."
"Sir?" The twenty something man acknowledged commanding officer.
"I think the men could use a few laps around the village to burn off some steam, don't you think?" The black haired captain idly commented, twisting his handlebar mustache. "I think, considering Ensign Udana's poor showing, he might redeem himself."
"I'll make it happen." The ship's first mate saluted, before moving away to deliver the orders.
"That's kinda harsh, ain't it?" Ranma commented, seeing the men form up and starting to jog at a cadence.
The Captain just waived away the concern. "They were scheduled for a run later this afternoon anyways. This way, they'll have a fresh reason to work harder." Glancing over at the young redheaded woman, the officer continued to roll his mustache. "Have you ever thought of joining the Marines, young lady?"
Ranma just snorted, crossing her arms beneath her breasts. "If Grandpa Garp couldn't convince me to join the Marines, sorry, but you've got even less of a chance of it."
That comment caused the Captain to raise an eyebrow. "You know the Vice Admiral?"
"Yeah, I trained with him and his grandson when Grandpa Garp comes to visit him. They're on a training trip right now, though, and I don't know when they're gonna be back." Ranma replied nonchalantly, not being that big of a deal. Sure, the training might kill a normal human but, for a rubber boy and the best martial artist in the world, they were just difficult at best, strenuously exhausting at worst.
"So, what do you plan to do? I don't see you staying here in this small village."
"Well, I plan on becoming the best martial artist in the world, so I'm gonna head to the Grand Line soon." The Captain nodded at that logic, as the strongest men and women gravitated onto the Grand Line, hence why there were more Marines there than in the four Blues. "Eventually, I'm gonna hunt down Red Haired Shanks."
Now, that was a name that cause both eyebrows to raise on the Captain's face. "Really? You are going after someone like him? Surely, I'd have thought you would have gone after a smaller bounty first."
Ranma just waved away the concern. "Nah, I've already got around… twelve bounty turn ins already. I'm already registered with you guys, so it's all good." She considered each guy she'd dropped off an individual bounty, even though the Gangreen Gang had shared the same payout.
"Oh, well I apologize for my presumptiveness, then, young lady." The Captain nodded his head towards the redhead.
"Don't worry about it. I wasn't even trying to hunt them down or anything, they just sorta fell into my lap, it was so easy."
The Captain just hummed in response, already deciding to look up just who this girl was, to train with a Vice Admiral and already have a dozen bounty turn ins under her belt, this was someone to keep an eye out for. Thinking about that, he waved his First Mate over.
oO0Oo
"Come on, Sora! Just a little more to go!" Ranma called out, keeping her backwards pace steady at ten meters in front of her friend.
"Shut! Up! Ranma!" Sora puffed out, her face red with exertion as she ran up the hill towards the windmill and the finish line.
Slowing down to let the brown haired girl catch up, Ranma flipped around to run with her. She was barely feeling anything from this workout, but it wasn't about her right now. "Alright, get ready to give it everything you have on the count of three! One, two… Three!"
There was a slight increase in speed from her friend, already close to her limit as it was. "100… 75… 50… 25… Almost there! 10… Done!"
Even as Ranma called that out, Sora stumbled to some nearby grass and collapsed onto her back, gulping in deep breaths of air. After a moment or two, she finally gasped out, "I'm done for… Go on without me!"
The redhead snorted out in amusement before reaching down and hauling Sora to standing. "Come on, keep moving. You'll cramp up if you don't." Reaching into the small backpack she was wearing, she pulled out some water. "Drink this while you walk."
After cooling down enough and rehydrating, Sora glanced at her friend like the redhead was crazy. "And you do this every morning?"
"Nah. This was way too slow." Ranma answered, not having broken a sweat on the her light jog, which was Sora's outright sprint. "And I usually do it four or five times."
"You're a monster, girl." Sora dryly stated before finishing off the bottle and handing it back.
Slipping the proffered container back into the backpack, Ranma flashed a toothy grin. "If you're recovered enough to snark, you're strong enough to train. Let's see your new move when you're tired."
Shooting a glare at the grinning redhead, Sora stepped away a bit before closing her eyes. Crossing her wrists over her chest, she took a breath before flinging her hands wide, letting loose a cry. "Sora Baasuto!"
With her cry, clouds shot out in every direction, filling about a fifteen meter radius, almost three meters high. Ranma, who was still caught up in the wet fog like substance, could barely see a half a meter around herself, though she could still hear Sora's muffled breaths ahead. Lifting a hand, she felt some resistance pull against her movements, but it was nothing she couldn't handle.
Considering the state her friend was in, Ranma expected the move to be much weaker.
"How are you holding up?"
"Really tired." Sora replied with a heavy breath. "I can hold it maybe thirty seconds more?"
"Nah, that's okay. Let it loose, if you want." Ranma replied, blinking as Sora's 'Sky Burst' faded into the early morning air. "You're getting stronger, Sora! You're doing better than I expected."
"I want a bath and I want to sleep." The brunette complained, leaning heavily against a fencepost.
Ranma just snickered at the sorry state her friend was in, moving over to throw one of Sora's arms over her shoulder to support the flagging girl. "Come on, let's head back."
"Thanks, you crazy slavedriver."
Ranma just laughed in amusement as she led them both back towards the village. A few minutes after starting, Sora moved to start walking under her own power, though she was obviously still exhausted from Ranma's workout.
Just as they entered Foosha Village, the young women blinked as a young mother ran towards them, her young son in her arms.
"Ranma! Pirates!"
Blue eyes widening at the panicked yell, Ranma ran forward to steady the woman. "What's wrong, Yanette? What about pirates?"
The blonde woman took a breath, clutching at the taller martial artist with her free hand, baby still asleep in her arms. "Pirates at the docks! The mayor is there but they look dangerous!"
Looking towards where the docks were in town, Ranma's crystal blue eyes flashed as she narrowed them. "Stay here with Sora, I'll go make sure Woop Slap's okay. You got this, Sora?"
Moving over to put a hand on the woman's arm, Sora nodded, giving her friend a worried look. "Just be careful."
"Don't worry! I'm a bounty hunter, remember!" Ranma flashed a cocky grin before sprinting off, leaping up to the low rooftops. It only took her a minute or two to reach the docks from her rooftop path, but she could see some more villagers evacuating on the streets below. Some, though, were carrying tools or the occasional sword as weapons, pushing towards the docks themselves.
When Ranma arrived, she saw the relatively tall but aging Woop Slap staring up at the vastly larger pirate, who grinned down at the mayor. Ranma guessed this was the Captain, considering his clothing and stereotypical pirate tricorn hat some pirates had taken up as a badge of position.
Landing nearby, Ranma sauntered up to the mayor, knowing instinctively that displays of bravado were the appropriate tone for the moment. "Are these guys giving you any trouble, Mayor?"
The pirate captain shifted his eyes to leer at her; her figure on display in the blue shorts and short pink shirt she'd been using as workout gear this morning. "Well, lookie here boys! At least we know we'll have some good entertainment today, eh?"
Ranma smirked as she heard the pirate crew jeer and cat call towards her. After all, it was all part of the game. She did her part by throwing an uncomplimentary gesture the captain's way, causing more hoots and jeers.
"Ah, Ranma." The mayor looked slightly more relieved, stroking his chin beard. "I was just telling Mr 'Mad Eye' Crompton that we're a peaceful village that doesn't want any trouble."
The redhead could hear the village men with the improvised weaponry running up the street behind her, but didn't look back. She instead looked towards the identified Mad Eye, who indeed had a lazy left eye which wandered slightly before snapping back to the redhead.
"So, 'Mad Eye', what's your bounty at?" The martial artist inquired conversationally. It was sometimes said that the 'power' of a pirate was proportional to the bounty the Marines put on their head.
"My bounty's 2,200,000 Beli, girl." The scraggly black haired pirate captain responded, puffing up his barrel chest in pride, much to the cheers of his crew.
"Huh." Ranma replied, cocking her head slightly, sending her high scarlet ponytail waving slightly. "So that's why I've never heard of you."
As the pirates suddenly went silent and Woop Slap grimaced at the expected outcome, the mayor started moving out of the way with the slight gesture from the young woman. He'd seen the girl use this tactic or something similar many times as she dealt with troublemakers at Party's Bar. Though this was slightly more dangerous, probably an understatement in his opinion, he knew he couldn't handle anything like this himself, so he moved towards the other armed villagers.
"You better watch your pretty mouth, girlie, or you might reach an unfortunate end, if you get my meaning." Both red eyes locked on the still smirking redhead. Behind him, Mad Eye's crew were glaring, sneering and fingering their weapons.
"Oh, shit! You brought your wife to fight me!" Ranma suddenly looked aghast before reverting back to her smirk. "Oh, wait… sorry about that, that's your pet monkey. My bad."
The gorilla man in the crew was glaring bloody murder at the redhead now, trying to push his way up from the far back, with little success.
"I think this girl needs a little lesson in manners…" The pirate Crompton muttered, drawing his four foot almost comically oversized saber from its sheath.
Buffing her nails on her shirt, Ranma just grinned. "If you think you're man enough to handle me, bring it on. You won't even touch me."
Mad Eye let out a loud yell, bringing the saber down in a large telegraphed overhead swing. A cloud of dust flew up as it bit into the dirt where the redhead was standing, clearing a moment later to reveal Ranma slightly to the side, fist cocked back with a blue glow surrounding it.
"Hiya!" She cried out, mostly for the intimidation factor, as she punched through the side of the saber, shattering it to pieces. Not giving the gaping captain time to recover, she stepped up his arm and lept forward with a glowing flying knee straight into his face.
Blood exploded out of his broken face, spraying into the air as he fell. Ranma kicked off, flipping into the air before diving down with both knees into the large pirates fat belly. The impact caused Mad Eye's to exhale loudly before vomiting blood to the side and falling unconscious.
Stepping off the downed man, Ranma brushed some imaginary dust from her shoulder before flashing a predatory smile. "Whoever's next, please step forward for your asskicking."
The panicked scramble to board the ship, no matter if it meant abandoning their captain, was music to the redhead's ears and the villagers behind her.
oO0Oo
"Three cheers for our Foosha Champion!"
"Banzai! Banzai! Banzai!"
Ranma just grinned widely, soaking in the praise. "First round's on me!" She called out, causing the cheering villagers to cheer even louder as they filed into Party's Bar.
Makino rushed up and hugged her daughter, relief and anger fighting for dominance on her face. "You stupid girl, you could have been killed! I'm so happy you're alright!"
Hugging her mother and rubbing her back in comfort, Ranma just couldn't see what had happened as all that important. It wasn't even really a fight to her. "It's alright, Mom. He never even touched me."
Pulling back, the green haired mother looked at her unrepentant daughter. "And what was this about the 'next round being on you?'"
The redhead chuckled nervously, clearly understanding her mother's words having learned that 'free drinks' were a real no-no from her lessons growing up. "Well, the guy had a 2,200,000 Beli bounty, so I figured it wasn't a problem if I paid for it."
"2,200,000 Beli... " Makino was shocked to hear that number come from her daughter's mouth. The bar barely earned that much in a few months of busy nights. "Oh, well… that's okay then, I guess." Moving off towards the bar, she started setting out mugs on muscle memory for the impromptu party.
Ranma just scratched the back of her head, accepting the pats on the back and words of thanks from the random villager now that her mother was letting the alcohol flow.
She rocked forward a moment later, feeling someone launch into her back to hug her, feeling thin arms wrap around to hold her tightly. The woman holding her, put her head on her shoulder before speaking. "You stupid, stupid idiot… I'm so glad you're okay!"
Reaching over her shoulder to tussle Sora's medium length hair, Ranma smiled fondly. "It's okay, he wasn't anything special. Barely lasted four seconds."
Sora snorted at the innuendo, lifting her head to look at the smiling redhead. "You're still an idiot. A battle crazed, muscle bound idiot and I wouldn't have you any other way, Ranma."
Ranma just chuckled, bumping foreheads with her friend. "Maybe, but that's what I've been training to be my entire life. If I'm gonna be the best, small fry like this isn't gonna hold me back."
oO0Oo
"Happy Birthday!"
Sora blinked as both Ohomo women cheered in sync. Makino had already removed Sora's dinner plate and placed a small cake with lit candles before her.
"Now, make a wish and blow them out before they melt." Makino directed, sitting back down in her chair.
Smiling warmly, the brunette thought about it for a moment before taking a breath and blowing out all the candles. Then one sputtered back to life, confusing her for a moment before she blew it out again. It sparked to life a second time, which she frowned at in annoyance.
Hearing some snickering from her friend, Sora realised the joke for what it was. Pointing a finger at the offending flame, the small bit of water vapor snuffed it out permanently.
Hiding a bit of giggling behind a hand, Makino setting out a cutting knife and some small plates. "So, what did you wish for?"
"That everything was going well back home at the orphanage." Sora wistfully replied before glaring at the trick candle and then her friend.
The redhead just held up her hands defensively, pointing to the cake her mother was cutting. "It was an extra one, you still got all sixteen!"
Sora giggled at her friend's antics before looking to the slice of chocolate cake the green haired woman placed before her. "Thanks for this, both of you. I really wasn't expecting anything."
"I kinda figured that, but I wanted to celebrate your birthday and surprise you." Ranma said with a grin, bringing a fork-full of cake to her mouth from her own peice.
"Thanks, both of you." The new sixteen year old girl repeated, as she wiped a tear away from her green eye.
"It wasn't any trouble, dear." Makino said, rubbing the girl's shoulder with a hand before sitting down to her own slice of cake. "When Ranma brought it up a few days ago, I thought it was a wonderful idea, considering how you've helped out around here. Now, just relax and enjoy yourself, dear."
Giggling at Ranma nodding with a mouthful of cake, Sora started digging into her own piece. "I'm don't know how you found out, but I really appreciate this, really."
"Blame Sister Freya. She's the one that told me it was September second. Even asked her what flavor cake you liked." Ranma beamed, scooping another fork full into her mouth.
"So, I guess that's why you put out the closed sign today?" Sora inquired, looking towards the elder Ohmoto woman.
"After the rush we had this week and the fact that we finally have an empty harbor, I thought the least I could do was ensure a relaxing day."
"Plus, it allowed your daughter to drag me around the village while you baked the cake." Sora pointed out with a knowing smile.
"Guilty as charged." Makino admitted with a smile, while Ranma let out a burst of giggles.
Wiping away another tear, Sora let out a small laugh herself, eating some more of the sweet confection.
After they had each finished off the small cake, Ranma stood up. "Just a sec, I've got one more thing."
"Ranma?" Sora questioned, trying to follow the redhead girl as she circled the table.
"Hey, no peeking, Sora!" Ranma demanded in a teasing tone, to which Sora huffed playfully but turned back around and closed her eyes.
Sora heard her friend step behind her and open something. She felt something light but cool dip into her cleavage and frowned slightly before she felt something tickling her neck hairs.
"Okay, you can look now."
At Ranma's words, Sora opened her eyes again and looked down. Those mismatched colors widened as she reached down to touch the piece of golden jewelry, a heart made of a single rod of gold bent into shape. It was hung on a braided gold chain that went around her neck.
Looking over towards the broadly smiling redhead, Sora's eyes stayed wide in surprise. She knew this gift had cost the redhead six figures or more, having window shopped for jewelry before. "Ranma, what is this?"
"Your birthday gift. Figured that I'd get you that to remind you that I'd always be thinking about you, even if you decide to go back to the orphanage." Ranma said before leaning down to hug the stunned brunette. "Happy Birthday, Sora."
Sora just wrapped her arms around her friend and cried happy tears as Makino silently left the room to leave the two girls alone.
Finally, Sora leaned back, tear tracks down her cheeks even as she smiled. "I don't deserve this, Ranma!"
"Yeah, you do! You mean a lot to me, Sora. You're my best friend and I want you to know how much you mean to me. This is just a small thing that barely shows it, but I want you to keep it. Okay?" Ranma replied, crouched before the seated brunette.
"Alright." Sora accepted the redhead's feelings with a smile. "Thank you so much for the gift. I'll treasure it always."
Smiling in return, Ranma stood back up and held out a hand. "Good! Now, I figure since we're closed early for a change, that we might as well get some early shuteye. What'd ya think?"
Accepting the hand up, Sora stood with a nod. "I think that's a great idea."
Two hours later, Sora found herself laying in the spare bedroom looking up at the ceiling. All she could think about was how alone she felt, surprised at how she missed the sound of the young boys squabbling and the girls singing as they played, running up and down the stairs. While the Ohmoto family house and tavern was bustling when open, once closed it was so silent and it was keeping her awake this night.
Finally, Sora slid out of the bed she'd been given, bare feet tender on the cool wooden floor as goosebumps formed on her bare arms. Slipping out of the spare bedroom, she silently opened the door to Ranma's bedroom. In the pale moonlight, she could see her friend's form under the covers, slightly moving with the steady rise and fall of her breath.
Padding over, Sora softly touched an exposed shoulder, causing crystal blue eyes to flutter open and blearily look towards her. "Sora?"
Hearing her friend's confused and sleepy voice, the brunette girl wrung her hands. "Sorry, but I can't sleep. I just…"
Before Sora could try and explain any further, Ranma had shifted further back and lifted the sheets in silent invitation. Smiling in gratitude, Sora slipped under the covers, only now realising how much smaller this bed was than the one they had shared at the orphanage. Ranma, for her part, just draped her arm over her friend, falling asleep almost immediately.
The unconscious actions felt surprisingly comforting to the brunette girl, as she snuggled closer to the warm body of her friend and soon found herself dreaming.
oO0Oo
Ranma could tell she was in another memory dream. They had a different feel than normal dreams. Normally, she was just a passenger looking out of her memory self's eyes, along for the ride as everything played out.
This time, though, she found herself in her own body, looking towards her memory self playing out the memory.
Her black haired boy past self and a glasses wearing Panda Man were walking through thick bamboo groves in silence. That was fine to Ranma, as any talking in her dreams was just gibberish to her. She didn't know if it was a different language or just something to do with the nature of the memory dreams. It wasn't like she could ask anyone about them…
The father and son, she had figured that out based off their body language, continued walking through the wilderness. When the young man asked something, Panda Man pulled out a folded piece of paper from his white gi. Of course, she couldn't understand the text on it nor any images, both showing as a blurred mess. She was used to that, though.
A mild argument between the two men happened before it subsided as they reached their destination.
It was clear to Ranma that she'd never seen this memory dream before, her blue eyes widening at the sight of seemingly hundreds of pools of calm water with bamboo poles growing out of them.
After a little posturing, easily read due to the body language, the two jumped up onto the bamboo poles, balancing like she would while holding fighting stances. This part, she watched like a hawk, having used these moves in real life to great effect. There was some buzzing gibbering off to the side but neither the two on the poles or Ranma paid it any attention.
On some unspoken signal, both males leapt towards each other, fists, feet and grabs flying mid air before they kicked off each other to land on different poles. They taunted each other, a normal occurrence, before leaping towards each other once again. This time, she could see her past self gaining the advantage, planting a solid kick into his father.
Panda Man reached out towards a pole as he passed, but his fingers slipped off the smooth bamboo. A large splash geysered out of the pool he landed in as her past self landed on a different pole and taunted cockily.
A third man appeared out of the edge of the memory dream, which she understood as her past self finally paying attention to the man. The green clad pudgy man babbled something, waving an unintelligible sign. Whatever he said, her past self seemed to disregard it, up until a large black and white bear burst out of the pool Panda Man fell into.
"Huh, so that's what happened." Ranma mused, suddenly realising the significance of the dream.
Her past self babbled back and forth with the green clad man once more in utter shock, pointing towards his now panda father. It seems Panda Man either didn't know he was a panda now or just didn't care as he leapt the distance and batted the stunned male self with his large bear paw.
Her past self flew around ten meters into a different pool, another geyser of water shooting into the air.
Ranma knew a scarlet haired girl wearing the black gi would emerge, which happened a few moments later. Seems her past self knew about the change, having seen Panda Man's, pulling open her gi to see the large breasts she now sported before letting out a large shriek.
After seeing the multitude of different memory dreams, spanning what seemed like spanned a year or two, and showing a multitude of people that also changed forms, it was good to finally know where they got the ability.
"Jusenkyo; the legendary training ground of cursed springs."
Ranma jerked to the side, shocked at hearing speech she could understand. Standing there was her past self, arms crossed with a resigned look on his face.
"I can understand you… Why?"
Past Ranma just shrugged, either not knowing or not bothering to answer. "As you just saw, Pops and I got our curses here. Another stupid mistake on this stupid training trip."
"I don't really think turning into a girl is a curse." Ranma bit back, crossing her arms beneath her chest.
Whether in response or because of something else entirely, her past self shifted to her shorter female form and shrugged again. "Having a girl form wasn't the problem, though it did cause some problems of it's own but that's not the curse's fault. No, it was the lack of choice I hated so much."
Past Ranma waved her hand back towards the memory still playing out. The green clad man had poured warmed water over Past Ranma's head, turning her and Panda Man back into men. Time then seemed to skip forward, both men walking through a forest before a rain shower turned them back into their alternate forms.
"The lack of control, shifting at the whims of nature or the spiteful actions of others, that's what makes this a curse to me." Past Ranma explained, oddly melancholy throughout the explanation.
"Why am I seeing all this?"
"I don't know."
'Well, that was helpful', Ranma thought with a frown. "What about the 'curse' thing? Am I gonna start changing like you did?"
Past Ranma shook his head, sending his black ponytail swaying across his back. "I was always told it stopped working after you died."
"But that's something you can't really check without actually dying." Ranma mused, rubbing her chin in thought. Past self just shrugged his shoulders noncommittally. "How did you die?"
"I don't know."
"Some help you are." Ranma grumbled, even as her past self shrugged again. She then blinked as the memory dream started falling apart, meaning she was going to be waking up soon.
"How do I find if I still have it?!"
The dream crumbled around her, as the ghostly voice of her past self echoed out.
"Look… inside…"
oO0Oo
Sora toyed her heart charm between her fingers as she worried her bottom lip as she stood outside Ranma's bedroom. She'd been trying to build up the courage to tell her friend something that she needed to say but didn't want to risk the repercussions. So, there she stood, like she had for the past five minutes.
"What's up, Sora?"
The brown haired girl shrieked in shock, jerking around towards the unexpected voice. Seeing the confused redhead stalled on the stairs, Sora put a hand to her chest and took a relieved breath.
"You okay?" Ranma asked in concern, finishing her assent up the stairs with a worried look in her eyes.
Sora shook her head, taking another breath to calm herself some more. "I… I need to go back."
"Did something happen?!" Ranma asked, now very concerned, knowing Sora had received a letter yesterday but wouldn't talk about it.
"No, but… I just need to go back." Sora repeated, not able to convey the full reason right now.
Ranma looked at her friend, searching for something, before nodding. "You're homesick. Got it."
The brunette girl blinked her blue/green eyes at that blunt summarisation of her feelings, but not really finding anything wrong with it. "Yeah, I'm homesick. I guess it didn't really hit me until after I got the letter from Sister Freya. I… I've just missed so much since leaving…"
Sora snuggled in when the redhead wrapped the brunette girl in her arms. "Hey, it's no problem. We'll head to Goa City and get a boat out from there. One week, two tops, and we'll be back at the orphanage."
Sora blinked up at her friend's smiling face, feeling warm comfort in her heart. "We?"
"Sure." The redhead replied with a shrug, not concerned with the travel or expenses. "I'm not gonna let you on a boat by yourself, not till I know you're sure you can handle it."
Sora just let out a small relieved laugh, lowering her face to her friend's shoulder as she hugged her friend back. "You don't know how happy I am to hear you say that."
Ranma chuckled at that, patting her friend's back. "We still have to tell my mom." She laughed as Sora stiffened and groaned at that statement.
It was only a little while later that they finally told Makino of their plans. The elder Ohmoto sat down into one of the chairs in the tavern, looking at the two teenagers, Sora grasping Ranma's hand in desperate hope.
Sighing, the green haired mother rubbed her forehead. "I knew this was coming but I still find myself hesitant to allow this." She let out another sigh. "Now I know how my mother felt." Spearing her daughter with a look, she asked, "You are going to write this time?"
"Yes, Mama!" Ranma instantly replied, easily remembering the butt chewing she received a few months ago on her return from Dusk Island. Sora giggled at her side, to which she lightly elbowed her friend in response.
"Alright, I'll allow it. I know you're growing up to be a strong independant woman, like I did around your age, and I'm not going to make the same mistake your grandmother made with me in trying to keep you here." Makino smiled wearily, seeing her daughter and her friend's rising cheer. "Just try to keep yourself safe and send me letters so I know when you're coming back." Another look speared her daughter, "I do expect you back."
"Just a few months, Mom." Ranma replied, stepping forward to hug her mother, which Makino returned. "I'll be back before you know it."
"I know, Honey, but I still worry. I'm a mother, it's my job." Makino replied with a smile before looking towards the nervous but giddy brunette. "Sora, it's been a joy having you here, not only because you helped out but because you're a wonderful young woman. You're welcome back anytime."
Sora curtsied to the green haired woman. "Thank you very much, Ms Makino. I really appreciate everything you've done for me and for allowing Ranma to accompany me home."
"It's no problem, dear, and you definitely earned your keep by helping out." Sighing, she looked towards her grinning daughter. "Please, just keep my foolhardy child from going after multi-million Beli pirates."
Sora giggled at the embarrassed flush on her friend's face. "Sorry, no promises."
oO0Oo
The trip back to Dusk Island was relatively uneventful compared to the trip from it four months prior.
Both teens left Foosha Village by sailboat to Goa City, Ranma paying one of the fishermen for the voyage. They were lucky, only needing to spend one night in the city before a boat shipped out to Dawn Island. They spent the evening before the trip window shopping and building Sora's confidence for the trip.
Unlike the previous trip over East Blue, this one was clear weather and good trade winds all the way. It still didn't mean Sora was going to act the fool like she thought Ranma was, crawling all over the rigging and yardarms like a monkey.
Still, even with the easy sailing, Sora was happy to have firm ground beneath her feet once the ship made port at Shimotsuki Village. She wasn't about to break down in tears, like she did on her previous voyage, but it was definitely a load off her heart. She had to admit, her friend could be right about her fears and conquering them.
Letting out a sigh, Sora laid her head on Ranma's shoulder in satisfaction as they walked down the familiar streets of Shimotsuki Village. "It feels so good to be back."
Ranma just laughed in understanding. "I know the feeling!" Shifting into a grin, she booped her friend's nose with a finger. "Here's to hoping that no shady pickpocket takes off with my wallet, this time."
Sora just rolled her eyes but still found herself smiling at the event that led to them becoming friends. "I'd do it again if I had the chance. I think you're worth it."
The redhead turned her gaze away with a slight flush, but the wide grin on her face told it all.
All things considered, it didn't take too long to reach the orphanage, the sun already starting to set and the streets clearing by the time to boat made port. Lights were on inside a few of the rooms when Sora unlocked the front door with her key and both girls entered. The first thing the brunette girl did upon entering was find Sister Freya's bedroom door and knock with a smile on her lips.
"Just a moment!" The Matron called out from inside before the door opened a moment later. "Yes?" She blinked a moment in surprise before enveloping the young woman in a motherly hug. "Oh, Sora! You've returned!"
"I'm back, Sister! I missed you so much!" Sora replied happily, wiping tears from her eyes while trying to hug the elder woman back.
Pushing Sora back to arm's length to look her over, Freya finally noticed the other person in the hallway. "Oh, and you brought Ranma back as well!"
"How's it going?" Ranma asked casually with a small wave.
"I am doing very well, especially that you've returned Sora safely back to us." The silver haired woman replied with a smile. That smile turned into a concerned frown though, a moment later. "I'm sorry to say, though, that we had more children added to my care and needed to use your room, Sora. I did move your things into storage… but I'm afraid we just don't have an open bed here for you right now."
That news was like a punch to the gut for the teenaged orphan, traveling across East Blue and not being able to sleep in the room that was hers when she left. Though the rational part of her mind knew it could happen, she still couldn't reconcile the feeling of loss. She forced a smile to her face, though, as she reassured her mother figure of the past six years. "It's all right, Sister. Ranma and I can just find an inn for now."
Seeing through the act, Freya hugged the forlorn teen again. "I'm sorry, Sora. As soon as I have room, you can move right back in, I promise."
"Thanks, Sister." The brunette girl replied lightly, pulling away with a smile on her lips that didn't reach her eyes. "Well, it was a long voyage, so we'd better find an inn to get some sleep. I'll come over in the morning."
"Sleep well, dear child." The Sister worriedly bid goodnight, walking the teens to the front door.
Sora held her stoicism until she and Ranma were at the end of the block and the orphanage was out of sight. Then she broke down in her friend's arms…
oO0Oo
It had only been two weeks…
Just two weeks since they set foot back on Dusk Island and Sora couldn't wait to get back off it. Oh, sure she and Ranma had gone back to the orphanage almost every day to help Sister Freya out and see how the kids had handled Sora's absence. Things seemed to be going great, the kids trying to throw a party at their returning family member the first dinner they'd had since her return.
Sora sighed as she put her chin to her crossed arms, looking out the window of the inn, knowing exactly where to look to see the orphanage on the horizon. The problem was, she really didn't have a place there anymore and she didn't know what to do now.
Her room had been taken over by three young girls, the eldest being only seven, who had been dropped off by the Marines. The night of the first full day back she accidently opened the door to what once been her room, when she saw the three huddled under the blankets in warmth and comfort, Sora just silently closed the door. This wasn't her room any longer.
When she'd tried to gather up the children for their evening baths, Daniel, a thirteen year old boy who'd seemed so immature before, was already tracking down and organizing the bathing rotations. He'd enlisted the next eldest girl, a twelve year old named Wendy, to help him with the girls. Sora just let them handle things. She'd lost her spot as Big-Sis.
Sure, the kids still respected her and did what she said, but it was different now. She wasn't Big-Sis Sora, she was Miss Sora… and adult… a foreigner in what was once her own home.
At that thought, she sniffed, feeling the tears rolling down her cheeks, blurring her vision of the building in the distance. The place that was once her home and entire role in life.
Maybe the saying was right: Once you leave home, you can't go back…
oO0Oo
Ranma was sort of at a loss for how to help her friend. Sora had been in a funk for the past two days, that the redhead noticed at least, and not really left the inn room or eaten but barely ate any of the food Ranma brought her. She could guess that it was something similar to her own feelings on staying at Dawn Island, the wanderlust growing with each day and the dissatisfaction with how worn tread it all felt. But there was something else she couldn't put her finger on...
So, here she was, wandering the docks and markets trying to either think of something or find something to help her friend she deeply cared about out of her self suffering. She was so out of it, she found herself bumping into someone in the streets. "Ack! Sorry!"
"No, no, like, it's my fault!" A young woman about her age replied hurriedly, smoothing out her knee length pink fluted skirt. "If I don't post these flyers by noon, I'll, like, lose my bonus!"
"Hey, let me help you, you know, for bumping into you." Ranma offered, holding out a hand.
"Hey, that's a great idea! With two of us, we can cover twice the ground!" The strawberry blond girl replied happily, thinking about her bonus with Beli in her eyes. Handing over some flyers, she told the redhead some instructions. "So, like, just put these on the message boards on that side of the street while I get this side, okay?"
"Sounds simple. Let's do this!" Ranma said with a grin. True to form it took half the time, the girls finishing by ten-thirty and with some leftover flyers.
"Like, thank you so much! You're a lifesaver! If you want, you can, like, keep those to give to your friends or whatever." The ditzy girl in twin ponytails offered with a smile.
Having checked out the flyers as she put them up, Ranma knew they were for a Dance Party a few days away at a place called Mirrorball Island. "So, how far is this place?"
"Oh, just a day if the winds are good. Like, that's why this is the last place for me to put up the flyers, since it's so close." Looking over the redhead and her figure, the flyer girl smiled with encouragement. "Like, with those looks, you should totally enter the Couples Contest! Like, it doesn't matter if you can't dance or whatever, as long as the crowd, like, cheers for you!"
Thinking about it, Ranma grinned with a nod. "You know, I might just do that! Thanks!"
"Like, thank you, girlfriend! Without your help, I'd be, like, stuck washing dishes or whatever tonight!"
With that, Ranma headed back to the inn she was sharing with Sora but made a quick detour to buy a piece of travelers luggage she'd come across. Finally returning to the room she'd rented with Sora, the redhead found the brunette girl still staring forlornly out the window, like she had when Ranma had left that morning.
"Sora, go take a bath! We're gonna go to pick up your stuff from the orphanage." Ranma directed as she put the luggage case by the door.
"Excuse you?!" Sora demanded in a shocked tone, finally looking away from the window with an affronted expression.
"You heard me." Ranma responded, crossing her arms under her chest, giving Sora a look. "Now, are you gonna take that bath or am I gonna have to strip you and throw you in?"
"You wouldn't dare." Sora responded, obviously trying to call Ranma's bluff.
It wasn't a bluff.
"I hate you." The now clean brunette said petulantly, face bright red and pointedly looking away from her friend as they made their way towards the orphanage, luggage in tow.
Ranma knew she didn't mean it, still grinning at the shrieking banshee her friend had turned into once she'd started stripping her. Plus, she'd seen an interesting birthmark that she wasn't going to mention again anytime soon… but she wouldn't forget about it, that's for sure.
Sora finally sighed, seeing the doors to the place that was her home at one time and knowing what Ranma had pushed her to accept and do, it was a sobering thing. She really wasn't expecting Sister Freya to be standing there, watching her approach with sad eyes.
They shared a hug, in mutual loss, before any words were even said.
"My child, this is both the most joyous and saddest event I could ever wish to happen for any child under my care; the day you no longer need this old building of stone." The silver haired woman said, wiping a tear from her eye even as she smiled. "It means you've grown strong and wise enough to need to spread your own wings and fly away to your own place in this vast world."
"I didn't want to believe it but Ranma wouldn't let me deceive myself any longer, whether I wanted to or not." Sora said, giving the redhead a dry look and getting a toothy grin in return.
Freya smiled at the interaction. "She only wants what's best for you, just as I do, my child. You are truly blessed to have a friend such as her to help you forward with your life." Tucking some of Sora's chestnut hair behind an ear, she stroked the teenagers cheek with a thumb. "You may not have a room to your name here any longer but remember, you do have a place to come back to if you ever need it." Her smile turned bittersweet at her following words. "You may not have come from me but you will always be one of my daughters, so please write to me once in a blue moon so I can know what a wonderful woman you've up grown to be."
"I can do that… Mother." Sora replied tearfully, smiling the entire time.
It was with a much lighter heart that Sora carried when she left her home, Ranma pulling the full luggage case as they both went back to the inn room. The next morning, they got on a ship headed to Mirrorball Island.
oO0Oo
They'd arrived the day before the Dance Party and contest was set to happen. Getting an inn room was a little tricky but they'd found one at the sixth place they checked, the Fawlty Hotel. Money still wasn't much of a problem to Ranma, so the steeper price tag for the honeymoon suite was just chalked up to circumstance as they rented it for a few nights. Sure, the manager seemed to be a bit of a twit but they wouldn't be in the room that long.
"I can't believe how big this city is!" Sora cried out in wonder, looking out from the balcony of the tall hotel. "It covers everything!"
"Yeah, if it wasn't for your Sora Sora powers and my skills, I'd say we'd probably get lost, even if we had a map!" Ranma agreed, looking at all the twisty alleyways and streets that wormed their way randomly through the city. Even with it being noon, with the way the city was built inside a mostly enclosed dome of rock, street and house lights were still lit all over the city.
Turning from the expansive sight out there, Ranma looked towards the girl in the pink blouse and purple short skirt. "So, what do you want to do today?"
Taking the time to think about it, Sora scanned the horizon one more time before seeming to spot something that triggered an idea. "You know, if we're gonna enter a dance competition tomorrow, we can't really do it with you wearing something like that."
Blinking as Sora waved towards her, the redhead looked down to examine her outfit, a Marine shirt and blue vest with her normal black cargo shorts. Other than the shirt, they'd served her well in travel and day to day stuff. "What's wrong with them?"
"You look like you're about to fight someone, not win a dance competition." Sora commented dryly. "You, girl, need a makeover." A catlike grin took her lips as she feigned surprise. "Oh, wouldn't know it? Mirrorball Island is the fashion mecca for East Blue!"
"No! Not another shopping trip!" Ranma rejected, backing away to bump into the railing. The ten story drop to the street was the only reason she didn't leap over it.
"Ohmoto Ranma, you're gonna get a makeover even if I have to pre-buy everything and have you try them on right here in this room!" Sora stated absolutely, a smug smirk on her face as she held her hands behind her back.
"Oh, and how are you gonna do that?" Ranma demanded to know with a quirked brow.
Sora just pulled out Ranma's wallet from behind her back, smiling like the cat who caught the canary. "So, are we doing it my way or the hard way?"
"Hey! Give that back!" Ranma demanded, jerking forward to swipe at her black wallet and missed.
Sora just laughed in her superiority, having shifted her legs and dodged her friend's lunge by flying ten meters away from the balcony to float in open air. "What's wrong? Can't reach it?" Sora feigned confusion, holding the wallet against her cheek. The look lasted all of two seconds before shifting to the catty smile. "Well, Ranma? My way?"
Ranma looked like a pouting child, sticking out her lip and crossing her arms under her chest… well, if a toddler had a pair of DD's, that is.
They stayed that way for a full ten seconds before Ranma threw her arms into the air in defeat. "Fine! We'll go on the stupid shopping trip!"
"I knew you'd see it my way." Sora replied smugly, flying back into the honeymoon suite.
oO0Oo
"You're evil." Ranma declared, looking herself over in the mirror.
"Maybe, but you're gorgeous!" Sora said in awe, looking over her friend from different angles. "Come on, even you have to admit that even the girls will be drooling over you!"
Ranma had her crimson hair done in an elaborate bridal tangle hanging over her left shoulder. It only drew more attention to the halter dress she wore and her generous assets barely contained within. A thin strap behind her neck held it up while a thin lace lattice held the barely decent straps of fabric at just the right distance apart to show almost everything but hiding everything needed hidden, leading down to a mini skirt which allowed the top of a pink thong Sora had somehow cajoled her into wearing play peekaboo from behind with her movements. A pair of pair of black ten centimeter heels did their best to make her butt perform those movements, too.
The problem was, the redhead had to begrudgingly agree. With the light coating of makeup, which Sora told her she'd reapply tomorrow, she was smoking hot. A slight flush came to her cheeks as Sora started adjusting the straps and 'barely there' fabrics around her bust. "So, you think I look good?"
"Honey, if you were any hotter, you'd be spontaneously combusting." Sora smirked with her statement before letting out a slightly unhinged laugh. "Just think of how many guys are going to explode when they see us dancing together! Kyahahaha!"
Ranma just smiled, flush still steady on her cheeks as she looked over Sora's outfit. It was a bright yellow miniskirt and halter combo, the halter consisting of two straps of cloth just big enough to wrap around her shoulders and cup her breasts, showing a very large cleavage where the heart pendant nestled within the valley. Sora also wore a violet sequin mini jacket, for contrast, and platform shoes tall enough to make Sora the same height as Ranma, even with the heels the redhead was wearing. Finally, she'd done something to her hair to make it more curly and voluminous.
"I don't think enough words exist to say how stunningly beautiful you are." Ranma offered straight from her heart.
"Aw, you're so sweet." Sora cooed, pecking a kiss on the redhead's cheek. Finally, it seemed that she was pleased with the adjustment with Ranma's outfit and took a step back with a nod.
"So, now what?" Ranma asked, feeling surprisingly warm what with how little she was wearing at the moment.
Smirking, Sora took one of her friend's hands and led her into the center of the overly large suite where they had enough tiled floor to move in. "Now? Now we practice the dance moves that'll make everyone go crazy!"
Those practice sessions took the girls long past midnight, but both had fun and worked out their choreography using the music from a built in sound system in the suite. From separate synced moves, to more sensual skinship dancing to dancing that seemed to contain more sexualised grinding and touching than dancing, they practiced it all till when Sora called it good enough.
Ranma needed a long cold shower before she got any sleep that night…
oO0Oo
Ranma breathed heavily, looking into Sora's heterochromatic eyes, still holding their very intimate positions that Sora had deemed the best ending move. The cheers and wolf whistles of the crowd just continued to feed the heat the redhead felt. Finally, throwing caution to the wind, she leaned down and captured the brunettes pink lips with her own ruby red, causing the crowd to go even wilder.
It seemed like eternity, but Ranma finally pulled back to see Sora's eyes wide and lips parted, both of them panting in more than exhaustion from the dancing.
"Whoa! Things are getting a little steamy on the stage!" The announcer called out over the sound system, getting the crowd to amp up again in their cheering. "Let's have one last round for the Bounty Babes!" The crowd cheered more as the announcer used their 'couples name'.
Feeling no movement from the still awestruck brunette, Ranma literally swept her off her feet into a bridal carry so they could exit the stage. The wolf whistles tripled at that, causing the redhead to grin to the audience, which kept the cheers rolling as they went backstage.
Finding an out of the way spot, Ranma let Sora numbly set her platform heels on the stage flooring, still holding their arms around each other. Blue/green eyes stared into crystal blue even as the following couple's slower sensual music started over the speakers.
They held that position until Sora flinched first, looking down to where they were touching.
"Sora?" Ranma asked, fear and hope filling that spoken name enough to drown the entire island.
The brunette girl didn't respond for the longest moment before finally whispering softly. "Give me some time…"
"Okay." Ranma sadly allowed, kissing the top of the brunette's head before pulling away. "I'll give you all the time you need…"
The 'Bounty Babes' wound up winning third place and a purse large enough to have covered the entire trip's expenses.
Ranma never got her answer, even as they boarded the ship back to Dawn Island.
oO0Oo
Makino fretted slightly as she hung out the laundry on the line. Something was bothering her daughter and her friend, it was obvious from the day they had returned six weeks ago. They barely said anything to each other, doing the bare minimum of interacting even with waitressing a tavern full of sailors. Something happened between them but she didn't get a straight answer from either of them when she asked and it felt like it wasn't her place to pry any further.
Pinning up the sky blue pillow cases, she worried something had happened to them but couldn't think of anything that would have left her daughter in such a state, let alone Sora.
She just wished it resolved itself for the benefit of both girls. In fact, Ranma had seemed to have disappeared a week ago with her small travel pack, just saying she'd be back before the turn of the month. Considering that would put it just four days before her birthday, it confused the worried mother to no end.
Ranma's absence seemed to have caused a turn for the worse in her friend as well. The brown haired girl barely got out of bed these past few days, barely eating or caring for herself. Makino basically had to drag the girl to the bath and bathe her herself, the teenager listlessly not putting up a struggle nor assisting in any way.
Something had to change but what exactly that was, Makino had no clue. Whatever it was, it had better happen soon.
oO0Oo
True to her word, Ranma returned a few days before her seventeenth birthday, full of hope and determination unlike when she had left.
Makino couldn't help but see a change in Sora as well, though not one she'd call for the better. Sure, the brown haired girl was active again, eating and taking care of herself, but she still seemed to avoid her daughter if there wasn't a reason for them to be together, like the family dinner.
The redhead didn't seem to mind though, while she didn't try to talk to her friend, she had an air of confidence about something and the hints of a secret smile. Makino tried to ask her daughter what was happening but all she'd get from the redhead was a confidence filled smirk and a 'Waiting till the right time'.
For Ranma, the right time was something she'd been thinking and planning about for two weeks. So, on the morning of her seventeenth birthday, she left a note on the desk in Sora's room: "Meet at the windmill just outside town at 9 PM".
She didn't know if Sora would follow the directions but she hoped and waited, sitting on the large unmoving blades of the windmill as the sun set in the sky. It was just at the point that the sun kissed the horizon that Ranma saw Sora's cloud-form flowing through the sky to reform at the base of the windmill.
Ranma took a moment to examine the waiting brunette from a distance. Sora was wearing the same outfit she'd first seen her in, that aquamarine sundress and sandals, sans the glasses this time. It made the redhead sitting on the windmill smile with nostalgia, noting it had almost been a full year since she'd seen Sora last wear it and her friend filled it out even more now than then. Ranma even saw the slight flash of that golden heart she'd given her friend on her sixteenth birthday, Sora still wearing it even through all this.
Seeing Sora start to tap a sandaled foot in impatience, Ranma decided it was finally time, falling off the windmill blade to land silently behind the chestnut haired beauty.
"Good evening, Valke Sora."
Twirling around in surprise, Sora's unique eyes flashed wide at seeing Ranma standing there. Ranma wasn't sure it was her appearing seemingly out of thin air or the outfit she'd custom ordered.
Measured and cut to her figure, the crimson haired teenager stood there in a pristine white tailored tuxedo. While it was a man's outfit, there was no denying the person wearing it was a woman. If Ranma was being honest with herself, the gobsmacked look on Sora's face was worth every Beli.
Once she finally got her jaw under her control again, Sora touched a hand to her lips. Ranma hoped she was remembering the kiss they had shared on stage at the Dance Party. The redhead sure remembered the taste of the tinted strawberry lip gloss the brunette had put on that night.
"Ranma…" Sora hesitantly started once she gained full control of her voice. "...what is this?"
"Valke Sora, since the day you stole my wallet, you've been steadily stealing my heart." Ranma said, having practiced that line the entire week she was in Goa City. "The thought of you missing from my life makes the colors of the sunset sky turn dark and grey."
Sora's eyes managed to grow wider as Ranma stepped closer to her, still speaking. "I've known you for just under a year but I know I'd happily spend the rest of my life with you or give my life if it would allow you to live just one more day under this wondrous sky."
Dropping to one knee before the stunned girl, Ranma pulled out a small box from her pocket, opening it up to reveal a gold ring with a half karat sapphire resting on top.
"Sora…" Ranma's voice finally softened as she reached the end of her script and had to just lay her heart bare to the girl standing before her. "I've fallen in love with you and I can't imagine a world without you in my life. I know you asked for time and I'm being selfish but…" Tears started filling her crystal blue eyes as fear started filling her heart and her confidence began flagging. "But, for you to say yes is the only gift I could ever want… need from you."
Clearing her throat, Ranma forced a smile as she looked up into those crying blue and green eyes as Sora held her hands over her mouth. "Valke Sora, would you please do me the honor of one day becoming my wife?"
They stayed that way, redhead kneeling and brunette standing covering her mouth as tears ran down her cheeks, even as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon. Just before the last rays of sunlight disappeared, Sora finally spoke.
"Ranma… I… Yes!"
Tears of relief started falling down Ranma's face as she let out a hiccupping laugh. Slowly, with shaking fingers, she plucked the ring from the box then reached for Sora's proffered hand. Her hands shook even as she slipped the perfectly sized ring onto her new fiancee's left hand.
"Sora, I love you with all of my heart. You've made me the happiest woman alive." Ranma whispered from her kneeling position, not trusting her legs to not give out.
"Ranma, I love you more than anything in this world." Sora whispered back, tears of joy streaming down her smiling face. Slowly, she leaned in towards the woman who would be hers to marry.
The kiss between them lasted long after the rays of light faded from the sky…
End of Chapter 5
A/N
*lets out a deep breath and slowly lets it out*
60,000 word checkpoint passed! Next checkpoint: 100,000 words!
Okay, I wrote all of this pretty much in a 10 hour period and this is the end of the Ranma/Sora romance saga. Next up is the start of the Grand Line!
For those of you who are wondering; yes, I'm a romantic at heart and I was trying not to tear up while I wrote the end of this chapter. I'm feeling really drained right now, so I'll probably be posting this Monday morning or afternoon.
If you want to see where I got the outfit ideas for the dance party and Ranma's tuxedo, check out my bio page for links. A little risque but completely SFW.
Also, I made a mistake in the chapter 4 A/N: Sora was almost 16 in that chapter. She turned 16 early in this one. She's only 4 months behind Ranma in age as Ranma's is 4 May and Sora's is 2 Sep.
And yes, before anyone asks, I still plan on having Ranma unlock her male form, hence the dream part of the chapter. Probably in chapter 6 or 7, but not exactly in a way you might expect.
And now for reviewer comments!
- Rydan fall
How much do you know about transistors, silicone layering and microprocessor engineering even though you know how to use a computer? No smartassing here, it's just a fact of nature that it's easier to use something than build it. Even though Ranma might have used some ships in his life and used some swords, he definitely didn't have the technical knowledge on how to construct/make them. Nice try, though. XD
- Grizzmon
(Will Ranma get her own ship?) I'm still undecided on that. I can tell you that for the immediate future, she won't own her own since she doesn't have enough people to man it. She isn't like Naruto who can make duplicates of himself. Inbeforesplittinghairstechnique.
- NightmareKnight1
Apparently I'm high on life, shuffleboard and Karaoke, since I wrote this chapter in between those things. XD
- Dumbledork & Cheb
Hey guys! Glad to see you two are still around! Hope your own fics are still going well!
- The Keeper of Worlds
Just remember that Zoro had his 3 sword style going on before getting trained, basically a desperation move that became his schtick. Even if Koshiro trained Zoro and Ranma, they have different styles altogether which they just polished with Koshiro's help. Still, it'd be an interesting fight, considering Zoro focuses solely on swordsmanship while Ranma's a general martial artist and, well, Ranma. XD