-AN-
I'm finding with this fic I enjoy writing the fluff more than any fights. Which might go along with my theme from the beginning I was trying to make this a fic about Ranma focusing on healing and less than battle. But, life comes at you fast sometimes. So here's Ranma-sensei doing what he does best, riding out some chaos.
-Story Start-
It was a refreshed and energized Ranma that for the next few days happily set to his classes and training. His students were happy to be introduced into the more, esoteric, training methods of their instructor, but maybe not trying to jump with ten to twenty pounds of extra weight strapped to themselves. Today however it was a female Ranma that had ended his morning classes and he as prepared for lunch, he was met with an early arriving Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru. Not used to the scouts showing up early but always willing to listen to them, just in case they needed some help, he turned to them while kicking away yoga mats.
"What's up you three? Gotta bail on classes later?" He had a lax schedule for training with normal people. It was only a few that would take the art even a portion as seriously as he had. So for business sake he made sure not to penalize people who had other things to do. Besides, it was their time they were paying for.
While a grinning Haruka worked herself up to saying something, most likely vulgar, Michiru pushed ahead, "It's actually Hotaru who had some questions, we're just her ride here. But we can help clean up in the mean time." Taking her lover by the hand, he led a smirking Haruka away. That left Hotaru and shuffle nervously in front of the currently female teacher.
Sighing and putting his hands on his slightly wider hips, Ranma put on his usual smirk, "Ok squirt. We haven't had much time to get to know each other as I have with the others. So what's up?" While at first he had thought the girl sickly and weak, over time she had improved greatly and it was just confidence that she needed. Maybe he could have her and Usa spar together, seeing as how they were close enough in stature if not skill level. Usa was his after all.
Hotaru quit shuffling as her instructor focused on her. It put her off her stride slightly to see the busty and confident red head version of her sensei, but the other's had warned her and she tried to ignore it oddness. "I um, wanted to ask about something related to magic."
Shrugging and motioning to the front of the room where he would normally stand and instruct everyone, he pulled two sitting cushions from his stuff space and placed them both down evenly. One he sat on, while he motioned with his hand to another, "Well I'm not exactly a magic expert, but hit me. I'll see if I can help out." As the girl sat, Ranma himself began to passively scan the girl's aura while she talked so he could skim the surface of her emotions for more clues.
Sitting and twiddling her fingers together Hotaru eventually started talking. She knew they didn't have a lot of time before the rest of the class began to show up. "You've been helping Usagi better control and focus her own magic and it's been helping her a lot. She's needed less time to focus and fire her attacks and now, even without transforming she can use some of her basic abilities." Shuddering as spotty memories of her own began to surface. Of what exactly she herself was capable of. "I'd like the same help. They may not have told you, but my power is such that if I'm not careful, I can crack the very planet into pieces. Or cleanse it of all life. I've always feared losing control of it. So I stick to healing or barriers."
Nodding and being able to agree with that kind of fear, if was something commendable that she had still been doing her best to help and fight alongside her friends. Estimating by what he help both now and the few times he had seen her transformed, she was almost like a walking nuclear bomb in terms of power. "Well, first things first, what Usagi needed was balance. Both for her emotions and within herself. And I don't think you're that far off from that. You know you have the power, but you don't fully see it as yours I'm guessing. So you fear it, fear that it could run out of your control. Has that happened in the past?"
Hotaru nodded slowly, and began to explain her relationship with Mistress 9 and her possession. She was finishing her story just as the first students walked into the room and sighed, upset that she wouldn't get her answers right away. Ranma however just smiled and put a hand over her own, freezing her in place. "Sensei?"
Ranma shrugged, "You had something way beyond the normal done to you, and that wasn't your fault. I can understand the fear you have however. Losing control of yourself and your power. For now, maybe start with talking to your friends about what it was like. Let them reassure you that what and who you are now is completely up to you. We can begin working on how to train your powers from here on later. I'm sure Setsuna and Usagi will be more than happy to help as well." While Ranma really couldn't help with the magic side of things, the mental and spiritual side he at least could give insight on. That one time his female half had taken over was one of the few times he had to deal with possession himself. Not nearly the same as he didn't have the power to literally end the world, but the smile building on the young girls face seemed to at least show that his feelings were reaching her all the same. Watching her stand and bow before him, she skipped off to her place among the others, ready for another afternoon of training. They wouldn't have many more days of this left before school started back up so they might as well get in as much as they could. Standing up himself and stashing away the cushions, he went right on into training the class. The chorus of Ranko sensei only causing him to twitch slightly, especially when any of the senshi did it with covert smiles on their faces. He'd up their workload as payback later.
At the end of that nights class and ushering everyone out with a smile and a bow, Ranma again turned to find the senshi waiting or chatting in a group in the middle of the room. Hitting the button on the wall to close the shutters, Ranma tilted his head, "When did my dojo become the hangout spot?" Seeing homework and books appear from gym bags the feeling of missing something increased.
Rei looked over her shoulder at the boy, "Well you do know about us, and we usually like to hang out together to talk and catch up and whatever. And we're all here for your classes. So it kinda lines up."
Before Ranma could voice that they could have at least asked if they could use his space, it was a smiling Usagi who disarmed him, "It's okay isn't it? We still have a lot to learn from you and this is a good time to ask questions." That something deeper passed between them wasn't lost on Ranma, but he shook that off for now. The peppy blonde could be very, mature, when she wanted.
Watching Makoto take out snacks and Ami open up her computer to begin working on something, Ranma eventually folded and sat next to his friend/girlfriend/future wife. "Fine fine, come over here Hotaru, we can continue our conversation." As the girl sat on his other side with a smile, accepting a cookie from Makoto, Ranma leaned back on his hands, "So you wanted to know how to start working on your control right?"
Hotaru nodded, "That's right. All I can do now is either the smallest of attacks I have and barriers, or full scale destruction."
Ranma moved his head left and right thinking her problem over. Sounded a lot like the power house next to him. Nudging the girl currently gabbing away with Minako, Ranma got her attention, "How did you figure out to start managing your power levels?"
Usagi took a minute to think it over before idly switching her forms. All without her henshin pen or scepter she switched between her base form, her super form, and then her queen form, before back into her civilian form. Seeing everyone now staring at her and the conversations die down, Usagi was all smiles, "I guess the first step was like you told me. Finding balance with myself. A big part of that was no longer seeing the sailor senshi side of me as different from the civilian side of me. I AM Usagi Tsukino, Sailor Moon and Queen of the Silver Millennium and hopefully Crystal Tokyo one day. Once I stopped seeing those parts of me separate it wasn't much longer before I realized that even without my focus tools I could always feel the magic flowing through me. So I started playing with it. I didn't have my tiara sure, but could I throw a magical blast? Could I teleport or augment my body and skills? I tried everything and found things that worked and things that didn't. And as I experimented my control slowly got better." Holding up her right hand to summon up her scepter, the woman caused it to shine with light and power before stashing it away in her own space pocket. "You've already sort of started experimenting with it, using your power to heal. Now it's the hard part of working on using other things."
Hotaru was looking her own hands thoughtfully before nodded and smiling at her Queen, "Ok, I'll start working on it from now on."
It was Usa who jumped into the conversation now free to say her peace, "Just remember not to get discouraged. It's a skill you don't know, so it's gonna take practice." Ranma ruffled her hair much to her protests, but she was still smiling as she settled into Usagi's lap.
Ami asked a question that was on her mind now, idly directing equipment through her computer, "How can you who only has chi, interact with our or at least Usagi's magic?"
At this Ranma shrugged as a comfy Usagi herself leaned into his side, "I don't really know actually, chi is life force given form and magic from what I gather is your will given form through energy. So that might have something to do with it."
Ami nodded, "Do you think there's a chance you could use magic like we do? Or maybe use our tools?"
Setsuna stepped in again, shaking her head, "Our magic derives from our star seeds and our connections with our planets. Ranma does not have such a connection."
Ranma thought about it, seeing the challenge for what it was or maybe just assuming so and lightly sat Usagi up straight before standing and stretching. Pulling a prepared thermos and returning to his male form, ignoring Haruka's protest, he turned to look at Hotaru. "How bout it squirt, can I see that oversized stick of yours?"
Turning to look at Usagi who waved her to go ahead, Hotaru first transformed. After the light show and summoning her Silence Glaive she held it out with a warning. "I'm pretty sure you won't even be able to hold it."
Setsuna was looking between them with worry and missed the bright eyes of Usa, "This does not sound like a good idea, Ranma-dono." Though she was enjoying not having to worry about future threats or annihilation via ancient dark gods. This might be inducing chaos just a little early.
Cracking his neck and holding a hand out Ranma smirked, "We either learn I can do it or I explode." Taking the weapon by it's center and relieving the girl of it, he did have to say it was pretty heavy, but not the heaviest weapon he had held. Spinning it overhead before resting with it on his shoulder he appreciated the balance though. Who ever had made this originally was an absolute craftsman.
Michiru's eyebrows were raised high, "Well that's new."
Ami was scanning away, a frown on her face but not saying anything. Usa was still grinning and waiting while Usagi seemed slightly confused. Eventually she voice her own opinion while everyone else was muttering, "Why not try connecting with it with your chi?"
"Now that does seem like a very bad idea." For once it was Rei who was momentarily ignored as Ranma did just that. Slowly circulating his chi through the weapon and eventually connecting with something deep inside of it.
Not having the sense of self like if he had connected with Usagi, the energy he found was dense and tightly controlled. Feeling out for it and getting an idea of how it flowed, he allowed some to flow into himself and unintentionally completed the magical circuit. Having never actively dealt with magic like this and having no reference on how the various magical girls usually handled their transformations, Ranma was not fully prepared for the energy that flowed through him and radiated from his person. Nothing else seemed to change beyond the power that filled him and tentatively connected him to the young girl now looking at him in wonder, a bright sigil glowing purple on her forehead. If he had been looking into one of the mirrors along the wall he would have seen the same sigil on his own forehead. Instead his eyes were closed in concentration, feeling something else just out of reach. Feeling still very much in control of himself and the energy now connected to him, Ranma mentally pushed himself just a bit more, crossing a threshold.
There was no bright lights or explosion of power that suddenly ripped through the room. No instead there was a deep thrum and then silence. A silence that seemed very apt as Ranma connected himself to a magical power source through the currently transformed Hotaru as Sailor Saturn. Opening his eyes and feeling as if he was under the soul of ice yet if it had been turned up to the max plus some, everyone was shocked to see his eyes now radiating a deep purple with the sigil of saturn now blazing on his forehead for all to see. Taking a moment to spin the weapon around himself again he eventually held it up in the air and pointed toward the door.
"Silence Wall." Spoken softly, all of the assorted senshi watched as a larger than normal silence wall was brought into existence. Blocking the door and the wall of windows. Taking another deep breath and marveling at the energy he was connected to, he slowly disconnected himself from it, dropping the psuedo transformation and breaking his connection to Hotaru. "Well that was new." Blue eyes back to normal, he was hit with a wall of questions.
"How'd you do that?"
"That was amazing!"
"Wait wait, where's Michiru's mirror? Let's try that next."
"How about my blaster sword? As a girl this time."
"I wonder what he'd look like with my scepter."
"Everyone pause!" Setsuna was holding a hand up causing everyone to freeze. Idly Ranma returned the silence glaive to Hotaru who was looking at him with stars in her eyes. Turning to the young man who did something he shouldn't have been able to do the time mage asked a question, "Were you in control?"
Ranma shrugged, "I was still me, if that's what you're asking. It wasn't like going cat or anything. Definitely no where near connecting directly to like Usagi for sure." Ranma held a hand to his chin and thought of how to describe it best, finally snapping his fingers, "It was like I was looking at her through a screen door. I could take and give energy, but there was a separation between us."
Ami spoke up now as her mind set to racing trying to understand it herself, "It sounds like Hotaru was still in control then of her mana tap, but Ranma connected to it through her, and to her through the glaive." Like multiple filters, or relays.
Minako was frowning, "But then, why didn't he transform like that when he connected to Usagi?" All eyes turned to their Queen. It was an exhausted Setsuna answered instead.
"Connecting to you through a focus is what brings about the transformation." Seeing everyone now waiting for her to continue she did so, "It was an emergency protocol put in place when our powers were first being conceived. In case one of us was injured or in danger, we could appoint a champion to assist or fight for us." Waving to a smirking Ranma who puffed his chest out just a bit and the woman smirked, "In comes the chaos magnet."
Ranma shrugged, "Sounds like you had an idea this might happen, you were worried at first."
Setsuna was thoughtful, "In the past, connecting to the senshi this way could lead to, disastrous results. Perhaps your training with the cat fist and your ability with chi manipulation helped you? It's not like you have a magical core within you after all." That would however solve a lot of the mysteries surrounding the boy and how he did some of his more outlandish feats.
Usa was nudging Usagi, motioning towards Ranma who was now fending off Haruka and Michiru both. Why were they both so interested in seeing Ranma-chan in their colors? Usagi got the hint and stood, summoning her own scepter and making her way before him. As they locked eyes and everyone watched them for a moment, Ranma put his hands on his hips with a smirk, "You know what happened the last time we connected at all. Something tells me putting your scepter between us isn't going to help."
Usagi had a small smile on her face while her own blush started to grow. While the others were watching to see what happened and had no clue just what happened when Ranma connected to one of them through his chi. They'd learn. Eventually. "You know maybe you're right." Looking around at everyone and thinking her next actions over, Usagi shrugged and reached forward, grabbing Ranma by the collar, "Let's do it on the moon instead!" And in a flash of light both their Queen and young martial artist were gone.
"Hey!"
"No fair!"
"That hussy!"
Internally Setsuna was laughing long and loud. Leave it to the moon bunny to finally lose her patience. She'd have to update Nodoka about this later when they met up for drinks. A hand pulling on her own while the others made plans to raid the moon palace, Setsuna looked down into the eyes of the little princess herself, "Yes little lady?"
Shuffling for a moment but a smile on her face, the little girl nodded, "Uh, that was usually the look mama got when she wanted papa to make his extra special cookies. Do you think they'll bring any back?"
Setsuna flatly ignored the howl of rage from Minako as Makoto, Ami, and Rei dog piled her. Smiling and shaking her head, Setsuna turned to the door, "Who knows dear, you know how your mother loves her sweets." Maybe it'd be best to meet up with Nodoka now.
Someone burst into their little party from the doorway, thankfully Hotaru had de-transformed already. Though when they saw who it was some of them paled while Haruka and oddly Setsuna had grins blossom on their faces.
Mamoru was out of breath and scanning the room frantically, "Where is that home wrecker! I have a score to settle." Poor boy, no one had the heart to tell him right away that he was probably the home wrecker by now. It was a tired looking Rei however and pointed upwards.
"Looks like Usagi got tired of waiting for you to make up your mind, so she made up her own."
"Wah, but….our destiny together? What about fate or-or Crystal Tokyo?" Sure he had been a little indecisive in the past, and this summer included, but he was just a college man. He wanted to be sure of this. Sure he had dated, like, most of her friends, but that was just because he wanted to be sure!
It was a gentle Setsuna who walked by him with Usa blowing him a rasberry, "Nothing is ever truly set in stone. And who knows, you may reconnect later. Much. Later." Secure in her own knowledge, Sestuna led a giggling Usa outside and towards the Saotome family home.
As the rest of the scouts began filing out, Haruka pushed the distraught man out on the sidewalk while a curious Ami used her mercury computer to lock the door. And as te others either gossiped, made plans, or ranted about unfair blondes, Mamoru looked around the soon empty street, "What about our destiny?"
-b-
Laughing and twirling away from him as she looked up into the star lit sky, Usagi was in a great mood. Pranking her friends, keeping Ranma for herself for a little while, and being back on the moon. What more could she ask for? As her eyes danced across Ranma's frame, she decided that there was a little more that she could ask for. Though now wasn't the time. As much as she said she was fine with more, something told her he wasn't. That was okay though, she knew she was important to him and he had his own problems that he shared with her. She didn't feel like an inevitable option to him like she did with Mamoru, with Ranma there was interest, there was love. Remembering the last time his mind touched hers, she blushed as she though on what that might come to later. But for now to laughed and danced while the bemused man walked along behind her.
"You know they're going to come for us eventually." Ranma hadn't expected the woman to whisk him away like that, but for once he wasn't going to complain. It was peaceful up here in a way it couldn't be on Earth. And being able to see the stars so clearly reminded him of his time on the road, when he wasn't being pounded on by his pops.
Usagi nodded as they started making their way through the garden grounds of the palace. While her previous life memories were still foggy, they were coming back in spurts. She vaguely remembered spending a lot of time out on these grounds, hiding from her mentors and getting into trouble with her guards.
Ranma shrugged and followed after her as she finally seemed to calm and walk sedately with her hands behind her back. Eventually transitioning from her gown to her more normal sail moon attire, it was good to see her with a smile on her face. Probably being so connected to everything here was as peaceful for her as it was slowly becoming for him? "Is is just me or has the magic barrier grown?"
Usagi nodded, "It almost completely covers the whole moon now. Though plant life won't grow far beyond the palace. To much of the moon's water was vaporized, or so Ami says. We've considered using one of the ships to harvest water from Neptune or one of jupiter's moons but I've decided not to for now. I think that'd be to much of a change to keep out of the eye of the rest of earth." Terraforming planets and moons, rebuilding desolate stations and bases. Those sort of decisions were now at her fingertips. Part of it was exciting while more of it was still so overwhelming. She was glad for her friends who were doing their best to support her but for now it was to much to handle. She'd wait, learn what she needed while she could, and take things as slowly as she could. Turning back to look at a just as peaceful Ranma she again smiled brightly, "Ready to go back?"
Ranma shook his head, "It's nice here, I don't mind staying with you for a little longer."
Usagi held out a hand, "We could try it, see what happens when I make you my champion." Her scepter was instantly in her hand pointed towards him.
Ranma grinned, "My answer won't change, do you really think that's the best idea?"
Usagi twirled her magical focus between dexterous fingers, "We've already connected on a deeper level than most people could hope for." Shining eyes latching onto his so she could make sure he could focus on her conviction, "I understand your own pressures. I will never push you to do something you don't want. What I'm offering at the moment is a chance to see what we can truly accomplish together. Even if we save it just for an emergency." While they hadn't been hit with a world ending threat for a while, she was more than used to something coming from the darkness to fight them. She wanted to be proactive for once. Just like Setsuna had guided them to do. To prepare themselves for the future. And she'd rather not lose themselves to their mutual emotions and feelings in the heat of the moment when it really counted.
Sighing and stepping forward, hand brushing the weapon and Usagi's hands for a brief moment while not extending his chi, the man pressed his forehead against her own, "You're going to be the death of me."
Usagi closed her eyes with a smile, "You just better treat me properly as a queen in the future, my bed hopping husband."
Rolling his eyes and stepping away, the scepter now in his hand, it was barely a thought as he extended his senses. It was tempting to reach for Usagi and not the weapon, already so familiar with the feeling after only twice so far. But he reigned that in, reaching into the weapon and pulling at the sense of power within it.
Usagi watched as just like with Hotaru, Ranma began to radiate the energy he was connected to. A crescent moon formed on his forward and idly she noted that much like he said, instead of being connected directly to her it was more like she was looking at him through a screen door or window. Once he was fully connected however, things changed.
The scepter lengthened to become a full staff, while his clothes changed to match hers. Since she was currently in her base moon attire, he own clothes changed to a more white and blue coloration. The armbands he wore changed to an almost clear or silver metallic material. And his eyes we still blue, but now shining with power just as they had previously. He made no attempt to use any powers of hers or from the staff, just merely watching her calmly. His smile was soft, kind, accepting. As she reached into her own power she could feel it. It was muted from the filter, but it was there. His and her feelings still trying to connect and intertwine. It was softer and more manageable than ever before, but it was there. With a thought she herself upgraded to her Queen form, tiara becoming a crown and in response a wide shoulder white cape burst into existence around his shoulders and a matching set of shin guards to his arm bands formed on his legs. There looked to be the beginning of something else forming at his temples but nothing came, only motes of light that filtered away from him as he moved about.
"Well this is, new." Ranma wanted to try to explain what this power felt like coursing through him, but already through his mind's eye he could tell Usagi already knew, she had gone through the same feeling herself when she first obtained the powers.
Usagi herself nodded, "You get used to it, sort of." Twirling in place the woman smiled, "See, we can control ourselves."
Nodding Ranma spun the staff and moved briefly through a very light kata, circling the young Queen, "Just barely if what I'm feeling from you is anything to mention." Feeling a touch off balance after experiencing this power for himself, it was no wonder that Usagi had such a problem with her control. It was so much! He felt like he could tear a hole through the earth itself if he wanted.
Usagi danced and spun with him, always keeping him within her view while they both moved together in harmony, "You know exactly how I feel about you right now, Ranma." Shining blue eyes meeting shining blue eyes she continued, "At this point, the physical will just be something a little extra."
Scoffing and thrusting the staff at an imaginary foe, the boy had something to add to that, "Something tells me being physically and mentally connected at the same time might just break reality." Considering her power, that was a real possibility.
From their the conversation ended and together they danced through the garden. One with martial arts and skill, the other with the traditional twirls and spins of the ballroom. Soon enough however they came together embracing each other before parting, hands sliding against each other while the staff moved between them. Usagi miming a magical blast while Ranma spun to her back. Spinning the staffed moved back to the warrior, a vacuum blade just tracing it's edge while Usagi's hands came to her chest in almost a prayer. Back and forth, up and down the walkways of the space around them from what where minutes and soon became an hour, before soon they were standing together in each others arms. Finally at the center of the garden and facing a fountain, they both were panting but still felt so exhilarated. The staff was held by both of them, pointed up at the Earth itself. Neither could truly say what was passing between them both, though they still came together in a tender kiss all the same. Like liquid fire energy surged between them both, lighting up the area and themselves. In the distance a tone sounded from the palace, lights coming alive with the aura of their Queen. When they came apart finally, foreheads resting against each other, they were both smiling.
"Really think connecting even deeper will be so simple?"
"We're gonna break something big, maybe we should stay on the moon for that."
"Mmmmm, low gravity, that sounds fun."
"What am I going to do with you?"
"Love me forever."
Staring at each other, they shared another much smaller but just as tender kiss before pulling away from each other. Usagi had her staff while Ranma disconnected with it's power, returning to his normal self. Motes of light scattered from his clothes where the transformation faded away. Usagi's scepter returned to it's own normal form, reducing it's length before she returned it to the ether. They smiled and turned to walk back to the palace. Usagi however felt like teasing as she leaned into the man at her side.
"Should we bake some cookies for everyone? I hear you're a good cook."
Rolling his eyes while encircling her waist with his arm, the man nodded, "Sure sure, though we'll have to go to my home first, I doubt the kitchens here are stocked with anything."
Usagi nodded and began welling up her power, "Then let's head back, before the others finish catching up with us." Just as she said that, silver/white power surrounding her hand, they both disappeared from view.
Reappearing in Ranma's backyard the two held hands as Ranma led the way inside. Already he could hear a commotion from his mother and what sounded like Usa. And it also sounded like some of the scouts may be here as well. "Looks like everyone decided a sleep over was the best idea for tonight."
Looking up at him through lidded eyes, the woman gently nudged him along, "Sounds fun to me. But you can't have a taste of my friends for at least a decade." Hearing Ranma sputter and giggling at the flustered boy, she nudged a little harder, "I think Shampoo, Akane, and myself are enough for a while, yes?"
Ranma nodded with a blush, "I'd like to say you're all more than enough for a lifetime."
Usagi squeezed hisi hand, "We're going to be long lived Ranma, we have lots of time to do everything we can think of." While she had a hint that there was something more to him than just his chi, now that she had connected to him again, she still hadn't pinpointed what it was.
Ranma however remembered the shriveled forms of Happosai and Cologne, "Maybe, we'll see what I look like after 100 years." He had no clue what magic would do to the senshi over time, but the way Usagi was talking made him believe they expected to outlive most people. But that was a worry for another day. Tonight was about making it through the evening without one of the women he loved trying to sneak away with him or his mother egging them on. With a grin he opened the back door and ushered Usagi inside, lightly brushing her waist, "You are more than enough."
Usagi was watching him with eyes wide, "So are you, Ranma."
-AN-
And with that we are done with this chapter. While I like the idea of a senshi-fied Ranma, I don't think that'll be happening in this particular fic. I like a champion or gaurdian type Ranma who can be adapted as the need arises. But, we're going on the theme that the senshi are preparing for a problem in the near future, whatever that may be. How many galaxy spanning threats could there be after all?
Also, who's finally going to be getting their dose of cookies first? Never know.
