Note: I do not own Ranma ½ Or Bleach or any of the characters in it except the ones I added to make the story interesting.
Author note: So this is a bleach Ranma1/2 cross-over I hope you will enjoy this rendition of both Anime/Mangas.
This story will have O.O.C. Moments, and will also have humor with some dark storylines.
This story takes place sometime after the 2nd failed wedding and will feature mostly M-rated material with potential Lemons.
Also for you Bleach fans, I see you! This story will predate the series and manga only by a little so yes you will get to see your favorites later on in the story so bear with me for a little bit okay?
A warning this is an M-Rated Fic and should not be viewed by children since this fic is for Mature Audiences.
(Edit Date: 7-13-2023)
-Notes: So with the help of Timberlinewolf who I've taken on as both a beta-reader and co-writer we have decided to split chapter one and revise it, Changes made include a shorter chapter:1, more character depth especially to Ranma's character, and a few other changes.
Hollow
Kitty 2.0
By: Zeltronica
Co-Written
by: Timberlinewolf
H.K CH:1
It was a typical day in Nerima, especially at the Tendo estate, though most of the family was out on their own personal errands. The only two occupants currently inside were locked, once again in one of their many, one-sided, arguments. As was typical.
"Ranma! I've told you time and time again to leave poor P-chan alone!" The irate voice of the young woman could likely be heard three doors down. Standing at five foot one, with a bob of cobalt blue hair and clad in a pastel yellow gi bound by a red sash that did little to hide her well-muscled frame. Years of training in her family's martial arts meant she cut quite the intimidating figure, despite her short frame.
"I wasn't trying anything! Jeeze Tomboy I've been leaving him alone! I can't help he walked in front of me, I didn't mean to step on him honest!" The resigned, yet in no way cowed, response was no quieter, to the mild annoyance of those in the neighborhood. One got used to the noise after all.
The target of the girl's ire, was a young man, with black hair tied in a pigtail, with eyes like warm sapphires and an athletic build many could only dream of. His chosen outfit, a classic ensemble of black silk pants and a sleeveless red silk Chinese tang that likewise did little to hide his physique. And yet, despite being over a head taller than his peer, stood wary against her tirade like a captain at sea against the coming storm.
Desperately hoping to delay the inevitable, he continued to back away, hands raised in supplication as his fiancee continued to stalk towards him slow and methodically.
"Akane I'm telling the truth okay? Can we at least talk about this?" he requested of the blue-haired girl stalking toward him ever closer.
"Talk about this? You have some nerve! As if I'd let you try and weasel your way out." So introduced, Akane charged forward, mallet suddenly in her hands, with her typical war cry of "Ranma no Baka!" feet thundering across the floor as she moved in delivering her fiance a fierce uppercut sending him through the roof and skyward.
As he was sailing through the air Ranma let a sigh escape his lips. Honestly, he didn't know why he even bothered to try and reason with his fiance anymore. It's not like she ever wanted to hear his side of the story after all.
Taking a glance over his shoulder as he felt himself begin his descent, he was rewarded with the sight of a rather large, familiar swimming pool below and gave a soft sigh, 'Well, I guess I can at least be thankful its water anyways.' He gives a humorless chuckle as he reoriented himself for impact as he had done hundreds of times before courtesy of a free trip by the Akane Airlines.
Within ten feet of water, he managed to bleed enough momentum in the air and perform a perfect swan dive that would make an Olympic judge speechless, gliding to the bottom with ease with nary a splash.
Barely a tingle was felt as the change once more overcame him, his once chiseled, muscular chest blossoming outward into a well-endowed bosom, his, now her, abs remaining toned but not as defined. Adjusting her motions and balancing the ease of long practice, she proceeded to kick off the floor, thrusting her now petite, four-foot-eight frame out of the pool.
Taking a hand back across her head, she shoved her now crimson, and soaked, hair out of her eyes as she more firmly detailed her surroundings. Noting the lack of anybody there, not even a security guard, she thanked what stars she could and made her way to the changing rooms which she knew to be unlocked.
Locking the door behind her, she began stripping the drenched mess of her clothes as she wandered over to the dryer before tossing them inside and starting it up. Once assured the machine was actually running she went to a locker popped it open grabbing some bathing supplies and made her way over to the showers.
One might wonder why she conveniently had this stuff set up beforehand. Honestly, it wasn't that big a secret.
The pool was closed some years ago, supposedly for remodeling or some such, and Ranma had found the place upon one of his many flights courtesy of Air Akane.
It never was really clear anymore why the place never reopened, but Ranma wasn't going to argue against a private location with working electricity and running water even if the water was cold.
Finally finished with her cold shower, Ranma carefully stashed away her bathing supplies for the next time she might need them. Crossing the distance to the dryer she waited patiently for it to finish its cycle with a few slow kata before getting dressed and making her way back out the way she came.
Expertly jumping up to the top of the wooden fence and taking a quick look around, she proceeded from the premise, hands in her pockets. Deciding to take the 'scenic route' instead of roof hopping, she walked down the sidewalk with all the confidence in the world.
It wasn't until she heard the sound of a distant gunshot that she remembered exactly what part of town she was in. While nowhere near as active as central Nerima in terms of active Martial Artists and collateral damage, this was still a rather bad part of town, though in the more conventional sense.
Ranma suddenly recalled a newspaper she read last week which mentioned there had been some active gang activity in the area, and for anyone living or working there to stay safe, especially females traveling alone.
He'd made a note at the time to see about maybe persuading Ryoga, Ukyo, or the Amazons into coming with him to clean the place up for the police. They'd have to be careful though, no matter how skilled they were at the Art, without a weapon to deflect them, even he couldn't beat a bullet. Right now though? She'd much rather hurry out of the area just to avoid the problem since she wasn't interested in becoming a potential target. "Hey, are those shots getting closer?"
Hearing the screeching of tires she whirled to her left to be faced with a swerving van full of figures inside, the passenger door thrown open as the van sped forward, the thugs all brandishing weapons and and shouting profanities.
In the split second it took her to register and catalog the danger, Ranma noticed a young girl with green hair and a pink dress backing out the door of the local convenience store. Bowing her way out, she was completely unaware of what was about to occur.
Barely sparing a moment to think, Ranma wasted nothing. Sprinting forward in a red and black blur, she gathered the girl up in her arms and shielded them both with her back toward the van.
So great was the pounding of the blood in her ears and the panicked cries of the little girl in her arms, Ranma scarcely registered the loud sounds of the gangsters in the van, and the impact on her back, before it sped off. 'Fireworks?' she inwardly thought.
Not taking the time to think about it, Ranma made sure to prioritize the kids' well-being. Spying a bus bench not too far, she staggered over and set the kid down. 'Why is it so hard to breathe?' she internally wondered.
Shaking the thought off she made to inspect the girl, hands carefully testing for any more subtle injuries. "Hey, you okay kid?" Ranma couldn't find any obvious wounds beyond a minor graze to her right arm and outer thigh, going on to think, "Still best get her to Doc Tofu to be sure."
The girl gave a shaky nod of her head, though her features morphed from shocked and terrified, to horrified and dismayed as she looked to her rescuer.
"A-are you okay?" she asked, eyes watering and lip a tremble (to be fair, she was trembling from head to toe, not just her lip). She watched as the crimson-haired girl just nodded with a cocky grin and stood saying, "Yea, I'm just a bit winded. I'll be alright." The small trickle of crimson from the corner of her mouth failed to convey the intended effect.
Ranma swayed slightly, suddenly feeling rather light-headed. "Are you sure?" the sound of the kids' worry in the girls' tone brought her back to the present. "Whoa, maybe I should sit down.'' she pondered as she stumbled over and sat next to the kid.
"Yeah Kid, I'll be just fine...I just need a breather..." she trailed off as she felt liquid down her back. "Eh? Just my luck that it starts raining." Casting her gaze to the heavens, she stared at clear skies with clouded eyes.
"Yeah, Kid. Nothing keeps, Ranma Saotome... down..." Ranma closed her eyes, her hand falling from her knee.
The girl went wide-eyed at her savior, and let out a wail of distress as she tried to shake the limp redhead awake. "No! Somebody! Help!"
Ranma's peaceful smile never left her lips.
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After what seemed but a moment, Ranma awoke on the bus bench she had apparently fallen asleep on. Stretching to get the kinks out from sleeping upright, she hopped up with little issue and looked about curiously, scratching her cheek in puzzlement, 'Huh, that's weird. Where did that Kid go?
She quickly shook that thought from her mind when she noticed the lengthening shadows going on to think, 'Gah! I was out fer that long! It's almost dinner time! Geeze, I better get home quickly. Akane's pro'bly gonna kill me...again.'
Just as she was about to take off, she was stopped by the one sound that she had problems handling. Turning to the sound of sniffling at her left, she was met with a high school girl with long green hair in uniform clutching a bouquet of flowers, tears streaming from her emerald eyes.
"H-Hey, 're you okay there?" Ranma's soft words of concern were either ignored or unheard, given the lack of response. Slightly miffed, but excusing it, Ranma bit her lip and tried once again, "Is everything okay?" She never was able to handle a crying girl.
Again though, she was met with no answer to which Ranma could only let a sigh escape her lips as she stood up from the bench. 'I might have the emotional range of a teaspoon, but at least I know when to leave.' Giving the teary-eyed girl one last look of concern before she once again checked the sky and determined it was well past the time she should've been heading home. Taking to the rooftops with deceptive ease, she began the trek home at speed.
It wasn't too long before she finally returned to the Tendo estate noting that Kasumi had left the front door open to air the place out some. Not bothering with the front gate, she proceeded to hop the property wall and make her way inside.
Pausing in her step unable to escape the nagging sensation that something was off. 'Bah! I'm sure it's nothing.' she assured herself.
Kicking her shoes off in the genkan by everyone else's, she made her way further in. "Tadaima!" Oddly she received no answering call, even from Kasumi. Thinking to herself, 'Strange?'
Just then Kasumi rounded the kitchen corner just in front of her saying, "Oh! Hello there!"
"Hey Kasumi, I brought you those books I promised." Greeted the warm masculine voice of Doctor Tofu.
Ranma glanced over her shoulder, eyes wide as she beat a hasty retreat past Kasumi and up the stairs, not wanting to be anywhere near the storm that was a Love-struck Tofu. She was in such a rush that she was completely unaware of the elder Tendo sister's sudden shiver and rubbing her arms, as though a frigid blast of air just blew in.
"Doctor Tofu, won't you come inside? I was about to shut the door. It is getting chilly outside?" Kasumi invited the charming Doctor in with a bow and gesture, a hopeful smile upon her lips.
"Maybe another time Betty I have some work I must attend." Sadly her hopes were dashed as he shook his head with a goofy smile, glasses partially fogged. He reached out holding out a stack of four books for which Kasumi took the proffered gift in hand and after some token small talk bid the handsome Doctor away.
Leaving behind the threat of disfigurement, Ranma breathed a sigh of relief as she climbed the stairs, passing the descending form of Soun as she did. "Hey Mr. Tendo, what's up?" she inquired as she paused to let the man pass. Oddly, all she got was a sad and weary sigh of "Ranma," as he passed by with no other sign of recognition.
"Was it somethin' I said?" Ranma mumbled to herself before continuing upstairs.
Making it down the hall towards his destination, Ranma glanced to the side, noticing Nabiki through her open door sitting in front of her laptop taking notes on the latest stock market trades. "Hey Nab's," she called out with a wave. Once more she was met with silence though Ranma didn't think much of it as she was already walking by, assuming her to merely be engrossed in her program.
Finally, she arrived at Akane's room. Observing the door was already open, she took a steadying breath and walked over. Giving the door a quick double wrap, she winced slightly as her fiance jolted to a start with a jump, nearly toppling over in her seat at the desk.
Turning to face the door Akane stood up walking over peering into the hall in confusion before scowling, shouting in a growl. "Nabiki! Stop knocking on my door! Aren't you too old for pranks now?"
"What are you talking about Akane? I have no interest in pranking you, I have work to do." Came Nabiki's measured reply. Akane gave a growl of irritation and went back into her room, slamming the door shut in Ranma's face, who barely managed to back up in time to avoid being smacked.
"What the?! Akane? Why the hell are you ignorin' me, Huh? I just came ta apologize fer whatever I done! Ya could at least hear me out before pretendin' I am not here an' slamming the door in ma face!" Ranma shouted glaring daggers at the door before turning and walking away.
'Whatever. She wants to be like that, let 'er.' With that, Ranma made her way to the one place she could work to find some solace in this house. The Dojo. Oh, she had others, to be sure, but this was where she could truly work out her frustrations.
Reaching over, she flicked the light on with her right index finger, concern and confusion briefly overshadowing her anger at the dojo's very disheveled state.
"Geeze, when did it get so bad in here? I sure don't remember this many patch jobs." Ranma mused in concern. Shaking it off as a concern for later, she began her martial arts routine, taking on a Kempo stance and proceeding through a number of katas.
It was about halfway through her routine that Kasumi came by, poking her head in and peering around in puzzlement before giving a slight huff and flipping the lights off, walking away muttering, "How odd. I wonder who left the lights on?"
"Oi! I'm in here!" Ranma called after the eldest Tendo sister.
Grumbling to herself, her workout ruined for the night, Ranma shook her head in frustration before she decided to just go to bed for the night. Making her way to the guest room she shared with Pops, she was surprised to find only one futon, hers thankfully. Again though, that nagging sensation of wrongness washed over her telling her something was... off.
And once more she pushed it aside. It was Nerima, something going wrong was par for the course, 'Whatever that actually means' she inwardly muttered.
Ranma trusted her training and skill to get her through whatever came ahead. Just like she always had.
Stripping before Dropping her clothes in the nearby hamper and retrieving and putting on her typical night clothes, Ranma lay down on the futon and prepared for a long-troubled sleep.
Though one thought burned in her mind as if to remind her of the fact. 'Ranma Saotome Doesn't Lose.'
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Ranma was pleasantly surprised to wake on her own the next morning. As she sat up with a stretch and a yawn, she marveled at the novelty of not being rousted out of bed via angry Tomboy or a flight into the koi pond from her Pops. Her good mood soured as she discovered her closet was completely empty.
"What the? The heck's all my stuff?" She frowned as she took in the sight of cobwebs throughout the interior before turning away, her eye landing on a stack of nearby clothes. Crossing the distance, she laid them out to find a pair of dark black trousers, and a white, black accented, sleeveless Chinese tang with ties the same shade as her hair and gold-thread buttons.
"Well, it's my style... But I don't remember having a shirt like this. Maybe Mom brought them over?" Shrugging off the oddity Ranma wasted no more time getting dressed, finding them to be remarkably form-fitting for her girl half, and well-tailored to show off her curves much to her chagrin.
'Did Mom forget I can turn into a guy at the drop of a hat? If I shift wearing this, it'll be torn to shreds' she grumbled to herself, it was then she realized this top had what Hiroshi and Daisuke had referred to as a 'boob window', fastening up around her neck but leaving a wide open, tear-shaped gap around her collar bone, leaving her ample cleavage on display for all to see, something she'd rather avoid if possible.
It was then her eyes fell on the last article of clothing, a white and black half-length Chinese hooded cloak, done the same style as her shirt. Clasping it over her shoulders, Ranma found it did an excellent job of covering her cleavage. She elected to leave the hood down though.
Ignoring the mirror in the corner of the room, Ranma performed a few stances and stretches to make sure everything sat right and wouldn't be a problem in a fight. Despite the form-fit trim, Ranma had to admit, it was one of her better outfits, offering no restrictions to her movement, and was actually quite comfortable. 'Too bad it makes me look all girly, ugh.' she inwardly complained.
Shortly thereafter she made her way downstairs, lured by the heavenly scent wafting from the kitchen. Entering the dining room, she was met with everyone who was about to start in on breakfast.
Though the Tendo's were an expected sight, as was her Pop, Genma, and even her Mother, Nodoka, to an extent, Ranma was surprised by the two extra additions at the table. Seated across from her own place sat Ryoga, whilst next to Kasumi at the end of the table sat Doc Tofu of all people 'Ryoga's here too? Weird. And what the heck's Doc Tofu doing sitting next to Kasumi?! Ain't he supposed to be crazy right now?' She wondered.
Wary, but spurred on by the smell of the food, Ranma wasted no more time in heading for her seat next to Akane, pleased to find a plate already loaded with food waiting for her.
After the customary prayer of "Itadakimasu!", the group began their meal. Ranma, of course, ate with her usual enthused gusto. It felt like forever since she last ate. However, as she paused to take a sip of tea, she noticed her Pops wasn't as fast as he normally would, and her Mother looked awful sad as she ate.
"Mom? Is something wrong?" Ranma inquired. Her worry only mounted when no response was forthcoming. Glancing about the table, Ranma began to realize that everyone at the table carried a forlorn expression.
Akane gave a sad sigh as she set her bowl down saying, "It's been five years now. Since that Jerk left us. How much longer are we gonna keep setting out his food and picture? Shouldn't we let him rest?" This only seemed to further upset her deceased fiance's Mother, eliciting a sniff in response. 'Wait. What?'
"Uh, Akane? I'm right here." Ranma commented with a frown as she looked down at her plate, finding her food was untouched as if the plate had been refilled without her notice. 'Ehh?' Ranma stood, once more that nagging sense of wrongness creeping up on her.
Only then, finally taking it seriously and looking around for anything amiss, did she see it. There, placed upon the cushion she was just sitting on, rested a picture of her male half in a black frame with a black ribbon between a lit candle and incense.
"W-what? The Hell is this?"Ranma's attempt to cover her panic seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Soun then spoke up saying, "Akane please, it's tradition. Ranma was a part of our household for a time, and your fiance at the time. Please have some respect. We did no less for your Mother." Though seeming an admonishment, his tone was nothing but conciliatory.
"Gomen ne. It's just... it hurts, you know? You know how our last conversation went." Akane's reply was hoarse as she looked back on her last encounter with her fiance. Ranma began to feel a pit grow in her stomach at the sight of tears flowing down the azurette's cheeks and her grief-stricken face.
The sight prompted Kasumi to go over and pull Akane into a tight embrace, offering what comfort she could.
Of course, Genma decides that was the perfect time to pipe in, "My only son to have died as a weak little girl... How cruel the world is! I still can't believe the boy let himself be done in by such weaklings..."
Any further such recriminations were silenced by the crack of wood meeting skull as Nodoka proceeded to strike him over the head with her sheathed katana, declaring irately, "My son died a hero's death saving a child! Regardless of what form he took, he was a Man among Men!" she proclaimed.
"P-Pops?... Mom? I-I'm right here... W-waddya mean 'died'? I'm right here!?" Ranma questioned, panic building alongside the pit in her stomach. That constant, nagging feeling suddenly evolved into dread.
Ryoga's shoulders shook, shedding a tear saying, "I still can't forgive that moron for dying on me like that. I- We never got to finish our fight damnit!"
By this point, Ranma was about to start shaking people to get their attention. However just before she could, instead found herself interrupted by a boisterous masculine shout from outside the open walkway. "Yo! Little Lady! Have you figured it out yet?"
More than a little peeved at the insult (and noting his use of English), while at the same time grateful for a new target for her raging emotions, Ranma whirled around to find this sudden intruder.
Crouched down atop the garden wall, was a man with dark brown hair, done in an afro of all things, beady brown eyes, and thick eyebrows. Clad in a formal shihakusho, Ranma was quick to spot the hilt at his hip. The man's easy-going, yet arrogant grin did nothing to make her any less agitated.
"And who the hell are you supposed to be, huh?" Ranma spat as she stepped out on the walkway, pacified, slightly, by the lack of any threatening aura.
"I'm what ya call, a Shinigami." the odd man called as he hopped off the wall and walked up to her. "And I Am Here," he struck a heroic pose, hands on his hips and chest puffed up, "To help Pluses like you move on to the next Life! Haha!" though genial enough, his laugh did little to disguise his elitist attitude. "Though I must say," he took a moment to peer at her more closely, hand on his chin, "That's quite the outfit you've got on there. With that skull on your head, I almost mistook you for a Hollow."
Ranma at this point was having none of this arrogant nut, "Plus? Hollow? Listen I am not sure what kind of sick fantasy you are playing at but you better cut it out."
Seeing Ranma's stern expression, the man's upbeat mood cooled to seriousness, "I can assure you, Little Lady, This is no game. You are very, very dead and have been so for some time, judging by the length of your Chain." The Shinigami explained.
Ranma just glared at the man, "Like Hell I am! I ain't dead! I ain't got no chain! I am still very much breathing Pal."
The Shinigami sighed 'Great, she's in denial. Shimatta! Those are always the hardest.'
"Look, if you don't believe me, why not just take a look in the mirror over there, eh? Get a good look at yourself?"
Having had enough of this weirdo, 'Seriously, what is it that always draws them to Me?' Ranma sighed, "Fine. I'll humor you and check the mirror, not like anything gonna change anyway." and with that, she headed inside to check her reflection.
As he watched the little lady head inside, the man caught his eye on something strange. "Wait? Why does she have a blade?" he murmured, before sitting down on the walkway to reflect on that detail.
Meanwhile, Ranma was staring at her reflection, her mouth suddenly dry. The first thing she noticed was, of course, the giant skull, 'mask', now adorning the top of her head like a helmet.
Though not of any beast she'd seen, Ranma knew, instinctively, that it was supposed to be a c-c-cat skull. It did have a few additions, with ram-like horns curling back behind and under her ears, and framing her face with hand-length fangs, the right side broken and jagged in the upper half. The pointed incisors arrayed atop her short crimson bangs like a circlet,
Hesitantly, Ranma brought her hands up to her face, poking and feeling at the oddly ceramic, yet still bone-like material. Disturbingly, she could still feel through it! It was as she went backward in her examination that she felt something different, something... fuzzy. Her ear twitched.
Face suddenly pale for a completely different reason, Ranma slowly turned her head sideways to more clearly see the furry, ear poking out from her crimson locks. Furry, Feline, ear. Heart racing and beginning to hyperventilate, Ranma desperately averted her gaze, only to find herself staring her reflection in the eyes. Deep, blue, cat-like slitted eyes.
With a cry of panic, Ranma threw herself away from the mirror, clenching her eyes tight as she did so. Desperately trying to quell the panic, she attempted to tap into the Soul of Ice training she had undertaken, mind racing for an explanation.
'Wha-what the heck?! What happened to me? Where'd this mask come from? My, my ears? My eyes! They look just, just like...NO! NoNoNoNo! It's Nothing like those things! It's, it's ...F-Fox! They're Fox-lke! Not... not that other thing. I can't possibly be one of those things (but you are) URUSAI! IM NOT A C-C-CAT! I'm Not! I'm, Imma Ki, Kitsu...Kitsune! That's it! I'm a kitsune! Perfectly normal, SAFE kitsune!"
With that trauma stuffed back in its bag, Ranma's breathing calmed down, and she went back to inspecting her changes. As she worried her lip anxiously, she found yet another change. Opening her mouth she observed two fangs protruding below her upper lip, as well as from below. Using her tongue she tapped the left fang "Huh..."
Deciding with a sigh that she needed a better look all around, Ranma undid her cloak and set it to the side. Now with an unobstructed view of herself, she performed a quick, practiced feel around her whole body. Normally used to check herself for injuries, or ticks, it seemed to serve well enough under the circumstances.
Starting with each hand, she discovered she now possessed claws instead of nails... Retractable claws... 'It's fine! It's fine. Foxes have retractable claws right? Yeah. Of course, they do!' Taking another fortifying breath, Ranma steadied her pulse and continued on. Moving down to her feet, she found much the same.
Continuing upwards the next items of note were the two swords she had fixed to her hip, a standard katana, and on her lower back, a shorter tanto.
"Really? Katana? Do I look like Kuno?" she questioned aloud taking a brief moment to examine, she noted the crude, bony handles, much the same as her mask. The sheath, likewise, was of similar stock, though Ranma noted the faint etchings designed to invoke wind and clouds.
After that was the long, bony white tail just above her glutes. Turning around to see it all in the mirror, she stared, poleaxed as it swayed back and forth. 'How th' Heck did I miss that!?' Thankfully, being nothing but bone, it was easy to 'correctly' identify this as a 'Fox' (cat)tail.
Lastly, as she was feeling around her ribs and bust line, that nagging feeling intensified. Slowly, she undid the ties of her shirt, letting them fall as they will, then reached up with her right-hand index finger placing it in the middle just under her breasts.
Just barely touching the rim of an empty hole the size of a baseball nestled in her cleavage. With a shuddering breath, Ranma shrugged the shirt off her shoulders and turned around, seeing, as she feared, the other side of that same hole, centered in her back. Right through her spine.
A few minutes went by before the odd man gave a small start as Ranma plopped down next to him with a despondent look on her face, her cloak surrounding her like a tent. 'OH! Must've dozed off there, hehe. Whoops!' He gave her his best comforting smile, "So, you finally see what I mean, 'Little Lady?'."
Ranma loosed an aggravated sigh inwardly thinking, 'Again with the stupid English name. Does he think t makes him sound cool?' "Yeah. Yeah, I get it." She spat turning her gaze skyward. "So this is it huh? My life's over."
She looked over her shoulder at the gathered family. "They all look older." She muttered under her breath. As she looked back on her life and the last thing she remembered a small smile graced her lips." Well, at least I know the kid I saved wound up alright. That must've been her at the bench with the flowers."
The Afro-Samurai wannabe hopped up and stood in front of her. "It's good that you finally understand. Now!" he made another pose, fist thrust to the sky in triumph, "Let's get you on to where you belong, eh!?" he said. He went to draw his blade only to find the crimson-haired girl was on him in a blur pushing his Zanpakuto back into its sheath with her left hand saying, "What the heck are you on about?"
Stunned at the sheer speed she had moved, the Shinigami took a moment to respond, shivers moving up and down his spine as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. 'Shimatta! She's fast!' he inwardly exclaimed.
Stuttering slightly at the sheer force of her gaze on him, he answered, "L-Like I said, we need to get you moved on to where you belong! It's dangerous if you linger too long!" His next attempt to draw was met with equal failure. 'Kuso! Let me draw, damnit!'
Her sarcastic drawl spoke volumes on what she thought of that, "Uh huh. Dangerous? And where do I belong, if not here, huh? Heaven 'r something?"
He finally backed away with a huff, dislodging his recalcitrant companion. "Yes, it's dangerous! For you And your family! If you linger too long in the World of the Living your heart starts to eat away at itself. Eventually, you'll be nothing but a mindless beast, a Hollow, driven by hunger and regret! If that comes to pass, your first targets will likely be your friends and family! I need to perform a Konso on you and send you on before that happens." He explained before sighing.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, "Look, I just need to stamp the hilt of my zanpakuto on your forehead. That's it. You've already lingered far too long. Your Chain of Fate is nearly at its end" Arrogant he might be, Ranma could sense no lie in the guys' words. Relaxing a little, she acquiesced.
"Alright. If that's really all it is, then fine. Do your stupid Konga thing and get it over with." She said, crossing her arms under her bust.
With an over-the-top" 'Thank you, Little Lady'. And it's Konso, not konga!" drawing his in one steady motion so as not to spook her more, he walked up to her. "I need to do this on the top of your head. Could you remove your hat please?"
"... This ain't a hat muchacho. I can't take it off."
"..."
"..."
"...Eh?"
Tired of the guy just staring at her, all frozen with his sword in the air, Ranma put her fists to hip and said, "Look, buddy, just bop me on the head 'nd send me off to LuLu Land or whatever already. I ain't got all day..." 'Little does He know, I Do have all day.'
Little did Ranma know that her current posture opened her cloak just enough for the man to see inside, and while many a red-blooded male might be fighting off a nosebleed at the sight, he was focused on a different detail. Slowly, whilst she was lost in her thoughts, he took his hand to widen the opening just enough to make sure.
"Oi! Bakayarou! The hell d'ya think yer doin'?!" she jumped back at the invasion of space, but the man's demeanor had changed completely. Gone was the easy-going attitude from before, replaced with a self-assured, determination. "Your chain is gone."
"Haa? Chain? Look hombre, I already told ya, I ain't got a chain! What's that got to do with anything?"
That was when he took a fighting stance before her. "All new souls have a Chain of Fate growing from their heart, that once bound them to their mortal body. As time progresses, without the nourishment of their bodies, that chain begins to eat away at itself, fueled by remorse and regret. Eventually, it completely consumes itself and the heart it was anchored to, transforming the soul into a Hollow, a being driven by an all-consuming need, a hunger to fill the Hole left behind. " He glanced meaningfully at her now-covered chest. "That's what you are, now. I am sorry, 'Little Lady', but it is also the duty of a shinigami to slay hollows, purifying them so they can rejoin the cycle of rebirth."
By now, Ranma was growing concerned, and more than a little angry. "Bakayarou! Do I look like a mindless beast to ya? I'm still a human, damnit!... Well... Fox-person." That last bit was mumbled into her fist as she felt her claws dig into her palms.
The shinigami faltered slightly at this but shook it off easily. "Well, no. Not really. But you do have the mask. not sure why it's on top of your head though... hmmm" Now caught up in the conundrum, he adopted a thinking pose, eyes closed, hand grasping his chin. "Hmmm..."
As he turns this way and that, Ranma just taps her foot impatiently, waiting to see where this was going.
The guy points a finger at her, " 'Little Lady', Did you find the hole in your chest?"
Ranma merely quirks an eyebrow, "And if I said yes?"
"That would be the definitive proof that you are, in fact, a Hollow. Albeit an incredibly evolved one..." He trailed off as his eyes once more caught the sword at her hip. He squinted at her, saying, "Say. Where did you get the sword from anyways? Hollows aren't supposed to have those."
Raising both brows now, Ranma huffed, "Heck if I know. I just found it there." Though she had no reason to tell him she had another blade after all.
"Hmmm..." Once more entering his deep thinking pose. However, it wasn't long before popped up excitedly tapping his fist in hand with a 'Bon!'
"AHAA! That's right! There's supposedly this super rare evolution of Hollows that regain their human looks and get swords or some such! What were they called? Uh, Maraca's? No, it started with an 'A'. Applecars? Anklecars? No, not quite... AH! Arrancars! That was it! HAHAHA," The idiot then did another hero pose as he laughed at his... success.
Ranma just stared at him, deadpanning. "Yeah. Great. So I'm a naranja You done yet?"
That seemed to catch the man up, as he froze and coughed in his fist, "Ahem, right. Regardless, it is still my duty as a shinigami to put you to rest." he declared, reaffirming his combat stance
Ranma went into a relaxed posture, eyeing the blade, then peered to the man just past the fang of her mask and said coolly, "You sure about this, hombre? If you hurt the Tendo's or my Mom and Pops I will end you. I mean it. I've beaten a Demigod before and I was alive when that happened. You better think very carefully before swinging that blade, Pendejo."
"I have no intention of harming them, 'Little Lady'. If anything I plan to cut you dow- eh errr... To free you from this world." though his face didn't show it, he was unable to hide the tremble of fear in his voice.
Ranma then backed away, heading further out into the yard, the Shinigami watching as she stopped over by the koi pond and faced her soon-to-be opponent.
"What are you up to now?" the man asked, head tilting in confusion, his large afro bobbing back and forth as he did.
Ranma placed her hands in her pockets explaining, "Well I figure this way nobody else'll get hurt. So yeah, if you wanna try and 'Cut me down", then please, feel free to try. I'll allow it." She gave her patented Saotome grin, now with more teeth! 'This moron's been rubbing me wrong the whole time anyway. He's got this coming.' she inwardly declared.
Apparently, it worked just as well on this guy as everyone else, judging by the growing tick mark and clenched teeth.
'She'll allow me to try! The nerve of this insufferable girl!' "Very well! Know that it is the Great Zennosuke Kurumadani!, On the Scene!, who shall grant you peace, 'Little Lady"!" he posed dramatically, at the declaration, first pointing at her, then raising his blade to the sky! And proceeded to charge at her headlong.
Ranma just let off a put-upon sigh as the idiot came at her. 'Honestly, this was worse than fighting Kuno.' she inwardly groaned.
Zennosuke stared up at the clear blue sky in bewilderment. How had he gotten here? Wasn't he about to strike down that cute Arrancar girl, such a shame that, and purify her soul?
"Oi, muchacho! How long are plannin' on layin' on the ground for?" the voice of an irritated woman broke him of his wandering thoughts. Quickly he sat up, looking around as he tried to remember.
'Ah! That's right..."
30 seconds
earlier
Kennosuke charged, ready to cut the girl down, 'Huh, she's actually kinda cute...Wait.'. As he makes a flawless rising cross-cut, looking to come in between her ribs to her heart for a clean death, he's momentarily nonplussed as he observed no contact from his swing. 'She's just standing there... Did I, swing too early?' his thoughts are broken as, in a blur of red and white, his target suddenly vanishes. Followed by his feet from the ground as he feels momentarily weightless, spinning forward thrice only to land with a light shove from above forcing him on his back with a thud.
Immediately he hopped up, incensed at the humiliation she put him through. "Why you little!?... If you think that was enough to put me down, then think again!" he shouted, fist clenched and sword pointed accusingly.
His only response was a cat-like grin as she said, "Ehh? 'S that right, Mu-cha-cho?" Zennosuke barely had time to repress the shiver down his spine before she vanished before his eyes! He looked first left, then right before finally turning around to find Ranma, practically floating in the air behind him, her left leg raised up on high, before bringing it down like the hammer of judgment. Then, all he saw was darkness as the heel of her foot drove him into the ground shaking the very ground he plowed into.
Inside, Nabiki was just entering the kitchen when she felt the ground tremble. Looking to Kasumi she asked, "Did you feel that?"
With a hand on her cheek, and an odd little smile, Kasumi affirmed, "Ara ara, what was that an Earthquake?"
Momentarily nonplussed, Nabiki shook it off with a shrug and smile of her own. "Kinda nostalgic, huh sis?"
Ranma looked down eyeing her handiwork as she picked up her foot stepping back observing the twitching idiot. "Well, I'll give ya this much, muchacho. Yer sturdier than Kuno at least." So saying, she proceeded to put his blade back in its sheath and picked him up like a kitten by the back of his sash. "But, I think you've officially overstayed your welcome, Afro-san."
As she used her other hand to grip his sash, she began to spin. "One more Thing!" she spun around Faster and faster. "I ain't!" by now they were but a blur, a small breeze beginning to pick up. "No 'LITTLE LADY!' " Yowling his stupid English name back at him, Ranma Launched him out into L.E.O, watching hand shading her eyes as the idiot disappeared in a star of light. With a satisfied "Hmph!" she dusted her hands off a job well done and headed back inside.
Soun Tendo gave a relaxed sigh as he sipped his sake, watching the little whirlwind carry the leaves in an intricate dance in the garden, a sad smile on his face as he remembered the old days when his house was full of s̶t̶r̶i̶f̶e̶, life.
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The next morning was much like the last, as Ranma woke on her futon eventually going about her usual morning stretching routine. Scratching behind her right ear she thought back on yesterday's revelations.
"That Idiot, Afro-san, called me an advanced Hollow... what was it?" Ranma tried to recall before finally it came to her. Balling her right fist bringing it down into her left palm with a deep 'boong', "Right! He called me an Arrancar. Now what the heck is an Arrancar anyways?"
Hoping for some further insight into her new predicament, she went back to examining herself in the mirror.
As she scanned her reflection she felt the familiar chill go down her spine as she more closely inspected her more feline features, thinking aloud, "Totally not a ca-ca-cat... I'm a kitsune, yeah, most obviously not a n-ne-neko-girl." 'yes you are' "URUSAI!" she cried, slamming her right fist into the mirror, the shattered pieces cascading onto the floor.
Retracting her hand, she noted the complete lack of damage to be had. Not even the slightest scratch marred her perfect skin. Curious, Ranma extended a single claw on her other hand and brought it down across the back of her hand with just enough force to break the skin.
It took a great deal more effort than expected, but she finally managed to cut a clean, if shallow line across her hand. Blackened blood beading up though the wound was quickly wiped away as it healed in a matter of seconds.
"Huh, Good to know I'm even tougher now. I always did heal faster 'n normal." She said as she clenched her fist, a determined grin on her face going on to say, "Yeah. Ranma Saotome Doesn't Lose. Not even Death can keep me down!"
Her thoughts were interrupted by the opening door, revealing Kasumi who turned and looked about in puzzlement, before spying the shattered mirror and broken shards upon the floor.
"Ara ara, When did that get broken?" she wondered aloud as she left the room to return with a broom and dustpan to clean up the mess.
Ranma watched on, suddenly feeling guilty as the eldest Tendo sister cleaned up the mess she had made.
"Sorry about this Kasumi-san," she murmured, scratching her neck, knowing full well her words could not reach the woman. Though she missed the shiver the eldest sister gave as she swept.
With nothing really better to do, Ranma just watched as Kasumi puttered about, cleaning up the rest of the guest room, even rolling up and removing the futon. Eventually, the room was left bare, only to be later filled with items the family no longer needed, storing them away for future use, along with a rather large, open cardboard box half filled with blankets.
Having spent the first half of the day observing the family around the house, then relocating to the roof to sit in the sun, Ranma eventually got bored of that too, and made her way back to the guest room. Curling up on the blankets inside the cardboard box, Ranma fiddled with one of Happosai's pipes that she'd found in the boxes.
"Why do the Pervert and Ghoul Smoke these things anyway?" she wondered aloud to herself.
She may have lost her futon, but Ranma had to admit, this box was surprisingly comfortable.
("It hurts, doesn't it? To be forgotten?") a soft feminine voice called out to her.
Ranma sat up giving the room a cursory look but finding nobody. 'Huh, must be my mind playing tricks on me.' she reasoned.
("I know how you feel. I, too, have been long forgotten as well. Maybe, someday, you'll come visit me?") the voice called out once more.
Ranma peered around the room, sinking lower into the box until just her eyes peeked over the edge. While wary, this didn't rank particularly high on the Nerima Weirdness Scale, maybe a 4.8, 5.2 at most.
She then inquired "And who might you be lady?"
("Come visit me sometime? We could spend Eternity together, you and I.") the soft voice invited, her voice full of hope and longing. to which Ranma inquired, "Yeah? And where are ya?"
Ranma's never got a response, leaving the room eerily silent as she eventually decided and went back to sleep.
She then found herself awoken once more by a new voice one she wasn't expecting. Actually, it wasn't even one she recognized.
"We know you are in there, Hollow! Come out here! Or we'll come in there and drag you out by force."
"Now who the heck could that be?" Ranma hopped out of her box, pipe still in hand, and looked out the window to see who was calling. Standing on the property wall were about a dozen or so guys all dressed in the same black shihakusho robes as that Afro idiot, swords drawn at the ready. Looking down at her nightclothes, she grew a vulpine smirk inwardly thinking, 'Let's have some fun with them.'
Sliding the window open, she poked her head out leaning on the sill, pipe poised for a drag. Giving her best coquettish smile, she breathed, "Ara ara, so many of you! All here for me? Oh! You're back Af-kun! Did you not have enough fun last time?" she drove the insinuation home with a flirtatious eyebrow.
She gave a little victory dance in her head as whatever they were going to do was completely blindsided by the exotic beauty in the window. More than a couple of them were visibly shaking and others fighting off nosebleeds.
Though she did give credit. Both the apparent leader, a goatee'd man with black hair in a carpenter's headband and ropes tied around his shoulders, and interestingly Afro-baka merely showed extreme embarrassment. Of course, the leader did a much better job of staying stoic through it.
Still grinning like a cat, eyes half-lidded, Ranma continued, "Do you mind if I get dressed first, boys? Only I just woke up, I'm still in my nightshirt, don'tcha know?" 'Oh Geeze, this is Priceless! Too bad Nab's ain't here with a camera.'
After a few tense moments, broken only by Afro-baka's flustered denials as his compatriots glared at him and Ranma took an experimental drag on the pipe for effect. 'Huh. That's actually not that bad? Oh well, I'm dead anyway, might as well.'
Finally, the Leader sighed, "Very well. You have five minutes. If you are not out after that we are coming in after you!" He shouted with finality, though the volume just seemed normal for him.
Ranma blew some smoke at them, her shoulders trembling with repressed mirth, "Ara ara! five minutes?! Clearly, you boys don't have any experience with women. It takes us far longer than five measly minutes to get ready, don'tcha know?"
"Hrgk! Grr, FINE! You have thirty minutes," he held up an accusatory finger at her, "And don't even think of trying to run! We'll be watching the whole house!"
Ranma merely waved him off, "Hai Hai. But no peeking!" her sultry voice washed over them, "After all, Naughty Boys get punished." As she delivered her parting shot, her grin grew downright predatory, and her voice once warm and inviting, grew cold enough to freeze the soul.
Retreating back inside and closing the window, it was all Ranma could do to stuff her face in the blankets to keep her laughter from reaching those outside.
It took her several minutes before she finally calmed down, at which point she took her time getting dressed, and puttered about the house for a bit, stealing a rice ball from an inattentive Nabiki's plate.
Snickering at Nabiki's confused expression, "Wait, didn't I have three of these? Did I already eat two?" meanwhile Ranma polished off her snack and went back to her window sliding it open.
"Okay, Boys~! I'll see you outside!" with that, she left the room and leisurely headed out of the house.
Kasumi shivered as yet another cold breeze brushed her, "It's getting quite chilly recently, I wonder if there's a cold front coming in?" Thankful she hadn't dropped her cargo, she made her way to Akane's room to offer a mid-day snack when something caught her eye, "Ara ara, how strange. Who could've left these open?" Taking a slight detour, Kasumi made sure to close the window and door to the guest room, before continuing on.
Eventually, Ranma exited the front door, closing the door behind her as she walked out the front gate onto the street, expression neutral as the dozen or so... shinigami, she supposed, given their outfits, immediately surrounded her., She covered a sigh with a drag of the pipe. 'Well, this sure ain't new.'
"So, Afro-baka, you brought some friends with you. Think you'll fare any better than last time?" Ranma questioned observing the Shinigami from the other day, who was still sporting a black eye. She also noted, with some satisfaction, how many of them stirred, exchanging confused glances at her shift in attitude.
Before he could make his retort, his leader stepped in, shouting, "It is the sworn duty of the shinigami to dispose of Hollows! For the Honor of our Captain!, we shall not rest till you are no longer in this living world!" At his declaration, all members of their little squad gave a hearty battle cry.
Letting out a tired sigh Ranma tilted her head sideways, "Can't you guys just leave me be? I mean I just found out I died five years ago the day before yesterday! I ain't hurt nobody, 'cept that idiot there, 'n he's fine! Can't you leave me alone?" she offered, going into a relaxed stance.
"Absolutely not! We cannot allow a being as powerful as yourself to continue in the living world any longer! Now accept your fate, and we shall grant you a clean death!" came the leader's reply.
Ranma took a drag, saying "Alright." and let out a stream of smoke. "Two minutes," she said as if confident of herself.
"Eh?" Momentarily taken aback at the masked girl's nonchalant words, the group paused before their charge. Suddenly they each felt a deep sense of foreboding as her straight face morphed into something that would not look at all out of place on a certain battle-hungry Captain's face.
"I'll give you lot two minutes. I won't even fight back. After that..." Ranma trailed off, leaving the rest implied.
Gritting his teeth at the implied weakness, the Shinigami tightened his grip and sounded the charge with a wordless cry, echoed by the rest as they all followed suit.
The next minute and a half were quite informative, as Ranma easily ducked and weaved around the Shinigami sword strikes, never once leaving her current position, save to jump as several of them attempted to take out her legs.
Ranma gave them their due, they weren't bad and they were certainly faster than most of the opponents she'd faced in the past, faster than she expected. But then, apparently so was she!
All in all, Ranma felt this was a good warm-up for discovering what her new body might be capable of.
That all changed when, of all people, Afro-baka jumps back with a cry of frustration and yells "That's it! Let's see how you handle This!" he poses, arms outstretched before him, his palm to his blade
He then shouted "Ohayo! Tsuchinamazu!" as his blade glows red, it morphs in a flash of light, revealing a new weapon.
Now clenched in his fist was a smooth-edged wind-and-fire-wheel, positioned just so as to match the silhouette with his afro. Noting everyone else has backed off, Ranma watches in curiosity as the guy then proceeds to pull a Ryoga, and drive his brand-new weapon into the ground.
Having beaten the Pig Boy countless times before, Ranma was only slightly surprised when the ground erupted forward in a wave, launching man-sized rocks up in the air toward her position.
Everyone watched in silence as the falling rubble buried Ranma alive... Well, almost everyone.
"Zennosuke! You were not given clearance to release!" Goatee shouted angrily. The man immediately bowed low,
"Apologies Third Seat!" An Elite he may think himself, Zennosuke, aka Afro-san, knew when to apologize. "But come on Sir! We weren't getting anywhere like that That damned girl was just toying with us!" He also knew when and how to wheedle and whine.
Looking back at the settling pile of earth, stone, and road, Goatee sighed and rested his blade on his shoulder. "You have a point. Very well, I'll let it slide...This Time!"
As the group congregated around the pile one of them piped up, "Umm, Sir? Don't we need to unbury her and finish it?..." The man was interrupted by an aggravating feminine voice.
"Hey, Dandy Dick!" As one, they all looked up in shock to find their quarry, alive and completely untouched, hanging sideways of all things off a street-lamp post! Afro-baka, in particular, began to sweat bullets as her gaze zeroed in on him, her Cheshire grin full of sharp teeth, "You Missed!" and in a blur, she vanished.
Looking around frantically, the dozen men all went back to back swords out at the ready. It didn't take long for them to find her. Or, rather, for her to reveal herself.
With an audible pull on her pipe, Ranma spoke, voice smokey. "Hey, Boys?" They all stiffened, one of them craning his neck robot-like and answering, "E-Ehh?"
"You're times up."
"U-Uh huh..."
"And you know what that means?"
"Ehh?" by now the man's obvious distress had nearly doubled.
Ranma savored it as she took another drag for effect, "I start fighting back."
Zennosuke could only stand frozen for the next three seconds as he saw the hollow, the Woman, effortlessly hand six of his squad mates their own asses. "Blasted Woman!" Befitting his status as an elite, he wasted no more time diving back into the fray.
Sadly his efforts turned out for naught as, just as before, the infuriating redhead seemed to float around every strike aimed her way. No longer the reed in the wind, she became the wind itself, taking every blow and twisting it toward her own design
As he tried to repeat his earlier groundbreaking feat, he found himself with a sudden sense of deja vu as his blade was caught by the crook of a smoke pipe, (a Pipe of all things!) before he felt his momentum stolen, inexorably guiding him into a repeat performance of his first encounter with the Arrancar. His vision went dark as he spun like a windmill into the air, before landing upon the pile of groaning bodies that were his comrades, a light weight on his back.
Ranma took a leisurely drag from her pipe as she sat yoga style atop her mountain of conquest, looking down on the last member, the guy leading this posse, with a very bored expression.
"You guys ain't that strong, are ya Señor?" She inquired of him, only to receive gritted teeth as the man crouched down in a horse stance, palm flat against the base of his blade.
Ranma sighed once more, before lightly hopping off the pile to circle behind the dude. To him, the woman merely vanished in static before he felt a shadow descend from behind. He barely felt the impact before his world turned black.
Ranma dusted herself off as she observed the pile of black-clad men, wondering what to do about them now. 'Huh, never really had to deal with this before. Fights were always either away from home or sent skyward...Well, I guess you can never go wrong with the classics!'
With that thought in mind Ranma gathered up her prey in a giant bundle held together by their own belts their blades bundled and tied together with them, and with nary a grunt of effort, hopped up onto the roof of the nearest tall building. After licking her right index finger to test the wind, she performed a flawless hammer throw, launching the mass of bodies skyward. "Looks like pendejo's 're blastin' off again~!"
"heh Well! Glad that's over with!" She said as she peered after them in the distance, "Hmm, wonder where they're gonna land? That's a lot farther than my old throws. Hope they get home okay." Ranma gave her pipe a jaunty twirl, singing a little tune as she hopped back over and into the Tendo abode.
~"I'm gonna be the veery best! Like no-one's ever seen!"~
And so, Ranma went back into the house. Maybe she'll pass the time with some pranks? Only time will tell...
Note: If you enjoyed this installment feel free to leave a review. If not that is also fine thanks for stopping by and reading.