Ranma 1/2/Tenchi Muyo (Earlier this Year/2013)

The Lost Royal Tree

Prologue

A New Purpose

Jusendo. During the battle with Saffron

Ranma pants as he holds Akane, in front of him floats Saffron, the God of the Jusenkyo Phoenix People. Saffron had managed to reclaim the Gekkaja from him only seconds earlier. Saffron smirks and without a word hold out his right hand, in his palm a blazing ball of fire forms and starts to grow. Saffron without a sound pushes his right hand and launches a blazing attack. Ranma grows desperate, some primordial part of him fearing the fire. 'I guess this is it, no more arguments no more fiancées the end. I only wish I could save Akane'. Just as the fire is about to hit a surge of power flows through Ranma. Akane disappears from his arms, appears for a few seconds in the cold tap of Jusendo and then disappears again only to appear in Ryōga Hibiki's arms.

Ranma then closes his eyes, and then opens them filled with glowing light, on his head a strange symbol of one long cyan triangle flanked by two cyan circles. In front of him two white wings of light blaze into existence, the wings are long about ten meters in length, but only a hand width at the widest and they then slowly grow smaller until they are only a few atoms wide. The part closest to Ranma is diamond shaped, the side facing towards Saffron is thicker and more 'hardened' The blazing attack hits Ranma only to be deflected by an energy shield being created by the two wings. Ranma then launches a thin beam of energy from the point where the two wings are closest. The energy beam although thin when it hits Saffron, it disintegrates him. Ranma stares in fear, terrified by the power she had just used.

With only a thought she disappears from Jusendo.

TLRT

Near the lake by the Masaki Shrine

Ranma reappears by a lake, she looks into the water to see that she was in her female form. Normally she wouldn't be as freaked out as she is by her female form, having long become used to it. No, this time Ranma is freaked out by the fact that her normally fiery-red hair is a cyan or turquoise instead, her face had also changed slightly, enough that it would take Nabiki several minutes of close inspection to recognize her. Then she stopped thinking of her appearance and she thought instead of what she had done in China to protect Akane or not she had killed, just thinking of that Ranma discovered something, for the first time in her life. Something she had never thought of before, how her power and martial arts could be used to kill and she came to a very startling realization.

For the first time in her life Ranma was afraid of her powers and skills, the powers and skills she had used to kill. Ranma comes to a decision, she would abandon the Saotome name and her arts, she… he, they, Ranma Saotome would be no more. As the finality of that decision hits her, she looks down at her hands and starts to cry. After crying for a couple minutes she looks up, an old man in the garments of a Shinto shrine priest had walked up to her while she'd been crying, while she hadn't consciously noticed him she had on some level sensed him coming and once more she'd created the two wings, only this time she created them only for defense. At that a small spark lights in her heart, she wouldn't use her powers and skills, unless it was to defend.

TLRT

A couple minutes earlier

Yosho Masaki Jurai, once the crown heir to the planet and empire of Jurai, now known as Katsuhito Masaki grandfather of Tenchi and Head Priest of the Masaki Shrine. Watches in astonishment as a girl appears suddenly next to the lake below his shrine, while that alone would be strange her extraterrestrial hair-color of teal, 'or is it Cyan or Turquoise' sets her apart even further. Watching as the girl breaks down in tears he Yosho decides to slowly walk down to the girl to allow her a couple of minutes to relieve her tears and let her clear whatever sadness ails her.

Yosho however was completely blindsided as he got closer. The girl looks about sixteen or seventeen, with a extraordinarily fit body like she'd been trained in a martial art for the majority of her life, but to an extreme Yosho had never seen before.

Yosho is about to say a greeting when two blinding wings of white, with hints of the girls hair color present appear. Yosho stands shocked, he know what the wings are! They are the 'Lighthawk' wings the ultimate power of the Royal Trees of Jurai. His overloaded mind labors to compute this 'How, how does this girl have the "Lighthawk" wings, and two of them! No member of the Juraian Royal Family has ever summoned even a single wing since the First Emperor himself!' Then Yosho notices the look in the girl eyes and he forgets about the mystery of the wings, this girl had seen or done something so horrifying or profound that her entire world view had changed. But as she watches the Lighthawk wings she seems to regain a sense of purpose, 'she has made a decision, something that would change her life entirely most likely' The girl looks at him and says "Who are you? And where are we?"

Yosho clears his throat and says "I am Katsuhito Masaki and I am the Head Priest of the Masaki Shrine" At the girl's inquiring look he continues "We are near Okayama" The girls nods in acceptance.

The girl then says "My name is… was Ranma Saotome"

Yosho looks at this 'Ranma' in confusion and he says "What do you mean was?"

Ranma looks near tears and her voice is choked when she finally says "I mean was because I no longer want to be connected to that name. I spent sixteen years, my entire life training to be the best martial artist. When my… friend was kidnapped I tried to rescue her, The one who kidnapped her wasn't human, he called himself Saffron"

Yosho shudders in a combination of fear and hatred and says "I've met the Phoenix God, long ago"

Ranma nods sadly "I managed to fight him for several minutes, but just as he was about to finish me off I somehow… summoned these wings" Ranma gestures to the Lighthawk wings "At first I just used them to protect myself, but then I… blasted Saffron with a lance of energy. Now I'm terrified, what if I ever lose myself again, what if I hurt people?" Ranma starts to cry again, the Lighthawk wings fade into oblivion.

Yosho smiles gently, steps forward and hugs the weeping girl to him and says "The fact that you are asking such questions mean you won't my dear, but if you wish. You can stay here. I could use a Miko or Shrine Apprentice to help out"

Ranma thinks it over, something those who knew him/her would consider impossible. She then nods and says "I would like that, a chance to start anew"

Yosho nods and then says "Since you no longer wish to be Ranma Saotome, is there a name you wish to take?"

Ranma thinks for a couple of minutes and then says "Kimiko, Kimiko no Sakura"

Yosho raises an eye "Noble Child of the Cherry Blossom?" Yosho laughs and then says "I guess it's as far from 'Wild Horse, Rice-Picking Girl' as you can get" (A/N Saotome apparently means Rice-Picking Girl, and Ranma can mean Wild Horse or Chaotic Demon or 'A Tangled Thread')

The newly named Kimiko smiles and says "That's the whole idea, no-one from my old life will even recognize me as I am now, by changing my name I've cast away the last thing connecting me to my old life"

Yosho sighs and says "While that may seem a good idea, there may be people in your old life that still care for you"

Kimiko nods and says "I'm sure there are, but there is only one I actually would accept"

Yosho smiles, happy that this young woman has at least one she still cares about "And who would that be?"

Kimiko smiles, lost in memories "Kasumi Tendo"

Yosho laughs slightly when Kimiko looks at him in confusion he elaborates "Would that be the same Kasumi Tendo my new apprentice that I got last year is trying to get up the nerve to speak to a 'Tofu Ono'?"

Kimiko breaks out in a grin and says "Tofu-Sensei? He's here, I wondered where he went to and yes the same Kasumi. She's a most wonderful person without even a hint of ill intent for others, she has the patience and warmth of a goddess. I am sad that she might cry for me, her family doesn't deserve her, they really don't. I would rather she be my mother rather than Nodoka Saotome"

Yosho smiles and says "She sounds like a rare person, maybe I might offer her an invitation to come visit"

Kimiko smiles "I'd like that, but first I've got to go speak with Tofu-sensei"

Yosho laughs "I'll take you to him"

A few minutes later Kimiko and Yosho walk into the private quarters behind the main shrine. Tofu is sitting down at a table reading a scroll.

Kimiko smiles and says "Tofu-sensei!"

Tofu looks up and is confused, the voice sounds slightly familiar but he can't place the person "Excuse me miss, do I know you"

Kimiko decides to make a little joke "I should hope so, I'm the best Martial Artist in Nerima!"

Tofu breaks into a grin "Ranma!"

Kimiko holds up a hand "Not anymore"

Tofu looks on in confusion and says "What do you mean?"

Kimiko sighs and says "Akane was kidnapped again, but this time it wasn't a normal person. I had to fight Saffron, the Phoenix God. I won… but I had to kill Saffron with a new power I unlocked. I was and am terrified at both the power… and the possibility of my losing control. Somehow I teleported to the lake next to this shrine. Masaki-sama offered me a position as a Miko and I accepted, I also changed my name. I'm now called Kimiko no Sakura"

Tofu sighs "I'm sorry to hear that Kimiko, hopefully one day you'll come to terms with what you did and you won't be terrified of yourself anymore"

Kimiko smiles sadly "Maybe"

Yosho coughs loudly and says "While this is good for the soul, we both have duties and I have to get Kimiko a pair of hakama and a haori and then instruct her in her duties" (A/N I have only the most loosest grasp of what a Miko actually is and most of that is thanks to Wikipedia. So Ranma/Kimiko's duties will include sweeping and washing the stairs, cleaning the shrine room, doing some sacred ceremonies (I don't know any and won't try to mess it up by trying and failing to properly mention some, so if you know of Shinto practices just think of appropriate ones and if you don't just think of her praying) meditating near Funaho, gardening, guarding the shrine and using her Lighthawk wings to protect the shrine if she feels the need)

TLRT

Over the next few weeks Kimiko settles into the life of a Miko of a rural shrine, her presence is welcomed by the elderly women who frequent the shrine. Kimiko while out of her comfort zone and dealing with people she otherwise would never have interacted with, enjoys every moment, she loves the freedom of not having her honor questioned or being called weak by her father. For the first time in his/her life the person formerly known as Ranma Saotome is at peace.

TLRT

Today, today is a rare day, Katsuhito's grandson Tenchi Masaki is coming to the shrine to help out over the holidays. Kimiko having heard stories of Tenchi from Katsuhito and Tofu who met him last year for weeks feels like she's the older sister to him. When she first sees him she just has to smile. The boy is only a year or two younger than her, his hair is done up in a short and thin pigtail. His body is fit but not overly so, it is obvious he keeps in shape but isn't a martial artist, though Katsuhito has mentioned teaching Tenchi his family sword style.

Kimiko isn't proud to say that she had to refrain from begging to see the family sword style, she still had parts of her old self that had survived the monumental shock to her system that the killing of Saffron had caused. Where there once was jaded arrogance, now lied open-eyed humility. Where he once saw the 'art' as paramount, she now fears it and what it can do. Where once he would tease, break down and insult, she now nurtures and builds. Truly Ranma Saotome had passed from this world and in his place Kimiko no Sakura stands, building a new life from the ashes of her old one, ironically similar to the being whose death caused the change.

However she hadn't been fast enough in hiding her expression and Katsuhito had seen the longing on her face, he'd started teaching her the beginning Katas and stances. When Kimiko asked why he simply said "Over the past week, I have come to see you as a daughter Kimiko. I have watched you try to deal with and overcome the nightmares and mistakes of your past. Watching like a real father would have, I spoke to Tofu and he told me of what your father is like. While I didn't mean to do this so suddenly I have to ask, would you mind if I adopted you and called you my daughter?"

Kimiko had been shocked, but then had immediately said yes. One week ago Kimiko had sent a message to a judge who owed her previous life a favor for saving his daughter, the judge had happily declared Ranma Saotome 'dead' and had signed papers saying that Kimiko no Sakura was now Kimiko Masaki. Katsuhito had been shocked by the speed of the adoption, but had allowed Kimiko to still call herself Kimiko no Sakura.

Kimiko smiles at the shock on Tenchi's face and says "Good morning Tenchi Masaki"

Tenchi shakes his head in surprise and says "Good morning, m-may I ask who you are? And how you know my name?"

Kimiko laughs and says 'I know your name because your grandfather told me, my name is Kimiko no Sakura or Kimiko Masaki, whichever you prefer"

Tenchi gulps in surprise and says "Masaki? Are you a relative?"

Kimiko nods "In a manner of speaking, your grandfather adopted me. So technically I'm your aunt, but you can call me Nee-san. Okay?"

Tenchi nods still shocked by Kimiko's revelations "Okay, Kimiko-nee-san"

Kimiko smiles "Good, I'll be watching you to make sure you do your chores Tenchi, but for now. Your grandfather wants to talk to you, he's in the shrine office" Kimiko reaches forwards and hugs Tenchi, while doing so a small spark of electricity jumps between them. Kimiko frowns for a second before shaking her head.

Tenchi nods to Kimiko and heads towards the office nodding a hello to Tofu as he walks past.