[Ranma/Tenchi][FanFic] The Girl Who Wasn't and the Princess Who Was 1 (repost)
Darwin Cruz
Pug Productions
Author: Pug
dc...@ctron.com
cru...@rpi.edu
web address not yet avaliable.
Insert standard disclaimer here:
A fan fiction based on Takahashi Rumiko's Manga series, Ranma
1/2. The characters of Ranma 1/2 are the property of Takahashi
Rumiko and her licensees.
All characters portrayed in this story are owned by their
respective creators and companies. I don't own any of them. Please
don't
sue me.
Genra: Ranma/Tenchi Muyo Alternate Reality, cross-over.
Version notes:
Ver: 1.00 created: July 7 1999
Ver 1.25 Major grammar corrections.
Major spelling corrections.
Addition of Spam. (What is Spam? Spiced Ham? I think
not!)
Special thanks to Chad Walker for proof reading.
C&C 12/7/99 - 14/7/99 (dd/mm/yy)
Chad Walker, csw...@hotmail.com (main)
csw...@mail.austasia.net (FFML / alternate)
Ver 1.30 Minor grammar corrections.
Summary: Ranma is finally free of the fiancee mess and in a
quest to find his cure stumbled upon a place called
the Masaki shrine. There he meets a young girl named
Achika Masaki.
The Girl who wasn't and the Princess who was.
Chapter 1.
It was a peaceful night at the Tendo residence.
Alone in the dojo, Ranma sat enjoying the moment which was all
too rare.
Given an hour ago, anyone passing by would have heard the yells and
screams of
'tomboy' and 'pervert'. And who could forget the resounding battle cry
of
'Ranma no Baka!'
It was another fight, just like the others in a long string of
never
ending mayhem. Ranma shook his head, which had yet another lump in it
thanks to
'Mallet-sama'. And that was the problem. In over the past year of
staying in
the Tendo home, he and Akane were still fighting as if he had just
gotten there
the day before.
"Nothing changes..." he sighed. It had been two months since
the failed
wedding attempt. He had hoped that with such a drastic event, everyone
would
finally seen things in focus and realize that things had just gone too
far. He
had also hoped against hope that Ukyou, Shampoo, and Kodachi would
finally give
up on him, and that Akane and he could finally come to an
understanding.
"If only she wasn't so jealous, and short tempered, and could
cook,
and..."
Things seemed to look better the first week after the wedding.
Both
Shampoo and Ukyou had apologized for the destruction they caused.
Akane had
even stopped hitting him. But paradise didn't last; and then things got
back to
'normal'.
The bickering, the arguing, the rivalries, all of it came back
in full
force. He had forgiven everyone for all the trouble that they had
caused, and
everyone took it as a sign to resume what they had been doing before.
Shampoo
was back to her 'glomp of death', his father and Mr. Tendo were again
hounding
him about the engagement, and Akane was once more sending him on those
one way
trips into the great blue yonder.
Ukyou had come by that afternoon. Before she left, Ukyou had
dropped off
one of her specials for him. As luck would have it Akane came home
just in time
to run into the 'cute' fiancＦ. Seeing the package, the inevitable
argument
began. It ended with his foot in his mouth and Akane's mallet on his
head.
And that brought him back to the present.
"The Kami must hate me!" He groaned feeling the dull ache in
his head.
"A yen for your thoughts Ranma?" a voice asked.
Facing the direction from where the voice came, Ranma saw its
source. "Hi
mom."
The handsome woman looked at her son fondly. Nokoda, matriarch
of the
Satome clan was dressed in her usual kimono and the ever-present
Saotome family
blade was strapped to her back.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked taking a seat in the
dojo next
to him.
"I'm just trying to figure out why my life is so messed up." He
said.
"Oh, is that all." Nodoka said smiling.
"You think I'm being silly don't you?"
"Not at all dear. But the way you put it, it seems that the
weight of the
world is on your shoulders." (1)
"Well it feels like it. "
"Is it because of the argument that you and Akane had? My son
these
things happen..."
"But they've been happening for the past year now. After all
we've gone
through, Anake and I are still at each other's throats. Then there's
Ukyou and
Shampoo. They're still after me. They just don't give up. And I don't
even
want to mention Kodachi. If any or all of them ever get together
everything just
explodes. "
Ranma frowned. "Things have gotten so out of hand. I just
don't know what
do any more. It's like my life is a leaking roof. I have on drip
coming down
so I get a bucket to catch the water. But when I get there another
drip pops
up. When I get a bucket for that, two more appear and it just keeps
going from
there. I can't keep up anymore and I'm all out of buckets."
Nokoda had never seen this side of her son before. He was best
known for
his brashness, and arrogance. Ranma's tenacity, his refusal to give up
in front
of any odds was his trademark. But what Nokoda heard now, the tone in
his voice.
It conveyed the loneliness and despair within his heart.
Doing only what a mother could do, she held him close to her
and gently
rocked him. "I never knew Ranma, I never knew..." Nodoka cursed
herself. Her
dreams, which she shared with Genma of joining the two families, had
blinded her
from her son's pain. She had only the best intentions, wishing that
Ranma have
a good wife by his side as he walked the road of life. She had become
quite
fond of Akane during her time with the Tendos. With the wedding, her
wishes
were almost realized. But with that disaster, and now this... Her eyes
were now
open.
"Thanks mom, I needed that." He quickly wiped his eyes.
'Crying was un-
manly', he reminded himself.
"Ranma, tell me something." Nodoka spoke. "What do you want
to do?"
"What do you mean?"
"I just wanted to know. If you could do anything you wanted.
What would
it be?"
"I-I don't know..." He frowned. "What do you want me to do
mom? I'll do
what ever you want."
"Oh, Ranma." She let out a rich laugh. "You are my treasure,
and I am so
proud that you are my son. I know that, that which you hate most is to
see those
whom you care about hurt. But I understand now that you can't live your
life
based on the wishes of others."
"Mom..."
"Now close your eyes. That's right. Clear your mind. Forget
about the
engagements, the fights, and the problems. Think about what you want,
Ranma.
Look deep in your heart. What is it that you wish with your life?"
With his eyes shut, Images flashed through his mind. Akane
smiling at
him. Ukyou fixing him an okonomiyaki, even fighting with Ryoga. The
pictures
jumbled in his mind. Then one by one they faded away leaving only one
image. It
was what 'he' wanted.
"I... I want to find a cure for my curse," he said simply.
"I know your feelings for the other girls, but what about
Akane? I know
that you care for her the most, though you still wish to hide it."
"I care about her a lot... but I don't want to get married
yet. At least
not that way I am now. When I do get married I don't want any one
forcing me to
do so, and I want to be cured. And maybe then it might be her..."
Nodoka nodded her head. "I'm glad to hear you make your own
decisions
now. You've grown to be a fine young man. Is it any wonder why the
girls chase
you so?"
"Well, what good does it do me? You know how Pop and Mr. Tendo
feels
about the engagement. And besides, that family honor is at stake also.
I can't
leave my responsibility. I'm right back where I started. Nothing
changes..."
He sighed in resignation.
Nokoda studied her son, her expression serious. In a few
moments she had
come to a decision. The hardest decision that she had to ever make.
But her
mind was clear. 'Sometimes you just had to let go of the things you
love most'
"Don't be too sure of that Ranma. To live, is to embrace
change."
"I guess..." he said, unconvinced.
From the house Kasumi's voice could be heard. "Everyone,
dinner is
ready."
"Ranma." Nodoka spoke, stopping her son from getting up. "Sit
with me
for a while longer. We rarely get to be together like this." 'And
these times
will get rarer still' she thought to herself.
"Sure mom, I'd like that too."
****----***----****
"Another excellent dinner, Kasumi" Genma said patting his
paunch.
"Just like your dear mother use to make!" Soun seconded,
suppressing a
sob.
"Thank you Mr. Saotome. Thank you father." Kasumi said getting
up.
"Would anyone like some more tea?"
"Kasumi dear, could you sit down for a moment? Every else
please remain
seated. I have an announcement to make," Nodoka said.
All eyes turned to the older woman with interested looks.
Ranma raised an
eyebrow. After their talk at the dojo, his mother had been unusually
quiet.
Barely making conversation at the dinner table, only to approve of
Kasumi's
meal. Even as he had fought his father over the meal for the pieces of
food, he
read a troubled expression on her face which no one else seemed to
notice.
"What's up mom?" He asked a bit warily.
"Ranma, this evening when we talked at the dojo, I finally
understood what
you are facing and the stress it has put on you. What was once a
time-honored
tradition of engaging your child to another in hopes of bettering their
lives,
has turned into a circus. The multiple fiancＦs, the bitter disputes,
and the
curses have brought nothing but chaos and destruction into your life.
The
failed wedding is proof of this." She paused to glare at her husband.
Genma who was sitting Nodoka was beginning to sweat. His eyes
darted
around the room looking for quick exits for an escape.
Nodoka continued. "In trying to do what was best for my son, I
made the
mistake of neglecting to ask him what he thought what was best for him.
I plan
to remedy this mistake. Tonight I asked my son what 'he' wanted. I
had judged
him as a man, and a man is responsible enough to make his own
decisions.
Because of this, I have decided to no longer support the engagement to
the
Tendo's, or any of the engagements the my idiot husband has agreed to."
There was silence as everyone's minds raced to digest what
Nodoka had just
said. Both Genma and Soun looked wide-eyed, disbelieving what they had
heard.
Nabaki's eyes narrowed, thinking of the repercussions that would soon
follow.
Akane felt a hollowness grow within her. The hundreds of times which
she had
declared of never wanting to marry Ranma were coming back to haunt her.
Ranma was just as shocked as the rest of the family. For
almost the last
two years, his existence had revolved around the engagement to Akane.
Now the
world was being turned upside down. 'Things are changing...'
It was Kasumi who broke the silence. "Oh my!" And the room
exploded.
"The two houses must be joined!" Genma and Soun echoed
"Why don't you ask Ranma what he wants?" Nodoka suggested
"It doesn't matter what the boy wants! This is a matter of
honor!" Genma
said clenching his fist in a noble pose.
"Ranma, you do want to marry my daughter Akane? Don't you?"
Soun pleaded.
He was on the verge of bursting into tears.
Ranma glanced back and forth between his father, Mr. Tendo and
his mother.
Then he saw Akane's face.
"Ranma?" the youngest Tendo daughter questioned. Her
expression was void
of any emotion.
"Akane, I..." He felt himself faltering. Then his mother's
words came to
him. '...you can't live your life based on the wishes of others.'
"Akane, I don't want to marry you. I'm not ready for it. I
want to do
some things for myself first. Like find a cure for my curse. I'm
sorry..." He
turned his face away, and looked down at the floor.
"I see." she said. Her voice was cracking. She got up from
the table.
"Please excuse me everyone. I-I have some homework I need to
finish..." She
quickly ascended the stairs, hurrying so that no one would see the
tears.
"Now the two schools will never be joined!!!" Soun wailed, as
soon as
Akane left.
"Chear up Soun!" Genma said consoling his friend. "Ranma might
not marry
Akane, but you still have two other daughters."
The two remaining girls looked at each other.
"Father," Kasumi said.
"Daddy," Nabiki said.
Before either could continue, Nodoka interjected. "Don't worry
yourselves
girls. No one will force you into a marriage you don't want either. "
They both looked at her gratefully and quickly excused
themselves.
"Genma, I said that I would no longer support the engagements." She
said
dangerously.
"But dear, " Genma said, cringing from his wife. "The honor of
the
Saotome family is at stake. The pledge that Tendo and I made stated
that our
children would marry to unite the schools. I can not take back my
word. To do
so would plunge the Saotome name into shame."
"And what about the other engagements? Did you plan on just
conveniently
forgetting them?
"Well I... er..." Grabbing a glass of water, he splashed
himself. He
pulled out his sight saying <I'm just a cute panda>
Nodoka shook her head wearily. "Genma you foolish man you. How
could you
have been so careless with our son's welfare? Your unthinking actions
have
forced my hand." She paused trying to compose herself.
"So that my son will be free of the obligations that my husband
has
unjustly placed on him, and so that the Saotome honor can be
maintained, I here
by disown my son Ranma from the Saotome clan.
"Mom!" Ranma gasped. A faint "Oh my." Was heard from
upstairs. "Genma!
Do something!" Soun begged. Panda sign. <Nodoka, be reasonable!>
"I'm sorry Ranma, but this is the only way, " Nodoka said.
"But I don't want to lose you."
"Lose me? No Ranma, you can never lose me. I have loved you
since that
day you were born. I have loved you though we were apart for ten
years, and I
shall always love you. Your life is your own now Ranma. What you make
of it is
up to you."
"Thank you mother." He gave her a hug.
"That will be the last that you will be able to call me that
Ranma. And
this will be that last time that I can call you my son..."
Giving her a kiss on the cheek, Ranma got up and ran up the
stairs to pack
his things.
(------------------------------------------------------------------)
It was a clear day.
At least it was clear now. A spring shower had come by
earlier, lasting
only long enough to soak a certain martial artist and trigger a certain
curse.
Ranma wasn't surprised. She was use to being a 'water magnet'.
Ranma took a deep breath of the fresh air. She marched along
with a firm
stride. She wore her usual red shirt and ankle tied black pants. She
also
carried a massive backpack holding the few wordily possessions she had.
Sunlight filtered down through the emerald branches of the trees
painting the
ground in marble pattern of light and shade. She enjoyed the quiet
solitude of
the forest as she walked.
Three weeks had passed since she had left the Tendo home. Mr.
Tendo was
an inconsolable wreck. Her father seemed no better. She found out
that his
mother and father were also moving out of the Tendo home shortly after
her.
Nodoka had decided that they should no longer impose upon the Tendo's.
She had left on good terms with Kasumi and Nabiki, both of them
wishing
her well. Akane wasn't there to send him off though.
Even now she could see the pain on Akane's face.
****----***----****
"Akane?" Ranma said speaking to the wooden duck with Akane's
name carved
on it. "Akane, it's me. I... I just wanted to talk... Akane?" He
knocked on
the door a few more times.
He took a breath. "Akane, I just wanted to apologize for
everything. The
engagement, the fights... You're not uncute or a tomboy. And your
definitely
not built like a brick. I just said those things to get back at you
for the
things you did to me... I'm sorry, Akane. Good-bye," he said. With a
sigh he
headed down the stairs.
Just then, the door opened. "Ranma..."
"Akane..." He could tell that she had been crying.
"You're not a pervert," She said looking at him. "But you're
still a
jerk." Forcing a smile.
"And you can't cook." He said returning the smile. He
instantly regretted
what he said, seeing her expression.
"Akane, I didn't..."
"It's all right Ranam..." Sadness showed on her face.
Ranma saw this and tried his best to console her. "Akane, you
got nothing
to worry about now. Nobody's going to force you to do things any more.
And you
don't have to worry about Ukyou and Shampoo trying to kill you or
poison you.
Besides, who'd want to marry a sex changing pervert like me anyway?"
he said
jokingly.
Before he could do anything, he found Akane on top of him. He
closed his
eyes, expecting a mallet, for having put his foot in his mouth again.
It never
came. Instead he felt something warm and soft tough his lips.
Akane stepped back breaking the kiss. "I would have." She
said,
answering his question.
Ranma stood there dumfounded. "Akane, I... I..."
"Ranma no baka" Akane said softly. She turned her face, which
was wet with
tears. And with a 'click' her door was closed.
****----***----****
'It's not too late. I could still go back..." she thought to
herself.
Ranma felt her resolve crumble, as Akane's face formed in her mind.
But then
another voice spoke within her.
'That part of your life is over. It is time to move on. Isn't
this what
you wanted? Freedom? Change? Will you give up your dreams so easily?"
And then all was clear, the last traces of uncertainty were
banished. She
continued her pace with firm purpose. With that, she closed that
chapter of her
life.
Ranma unfolded her map. The most obvious place to begin his
search for a
cure would have been China. This is why that early on she had decided
that it
would be the last place she would go to. She was quite sure that the
moment
she set foot in China, she would be facing Shampoo, Cologne, and the
might of
the entire Amazon tribe. Once she had exhausted all his options in
Japan, she
would consider going to China.
She had already come up with some possible leads for a cure.
While
searching in one of the public libraries, there had been some
references to an
old book, which was suppose to have been able to grant three wishes to
the
person who found it. It was called the "Book of Four Gods of the Earth
and
Sky".
Another possibility Ranma picked up on was some information on
strange
occurrences of daimons roaming around Juuban. Battling the daemons
were a
group of young girls calling themselves the Sailor Senshi. Their
leader was
some chick named Sailor Moon who had supposedly healed people of
Daimons
possession.
The last place on her list of most likely places was a small
holy shrine
located in one a rural regions of Japan. There had been some written
accounts
of various people traveling there to pray for cures for various
afflictions. A
number of them were actually healed.
Coming to a decision on which trail to follow first, Ranma had
picked the
third one. She had enough experience with wishes gone wrong, or not
coming out
the way the user intended. And her ego just wouldn't let him go
crawling to a
bunch of underdressed girls for help.
'Hmm... I'm pretty close now.' She looked at the unfolded map
on the
ground. Judging from where she was, she guessed that she was only a
little less
than twenty miles from her goal. She was confident that she could get
there
before the day was out, with time to spare.
'Thank Kami I'm not like Ryoga. No way in hell I'd ever find
this place.'
She carefully folded up the map, placing it in one of the pockets of
her
backpack. Somewhere out there, a certain martial artist with fangs
sneezed. (2)
Checking to make sure that everything was secure, Ranma started
out again.
She bounded through the woods, strong legs carrying her over, bushes,
rocks, and
trees as she made her way to the Masaki shrine. (3)
****----***----****
A faint blush of red touched the afternoon sky over the Masaki shrine.
Most of the patrons had gone for the day. And, except for a
young girl
sweeping the steps the place would have been deserted.
She dressed in a garb befitting that of a Shinto shrine maiden.
Her long
black hair was done up in a ponytail, which reached down her back.
With a
morose expression, she swept the ground.
'Nothing changes.' Achika Masaki, daughter of Katsuhito Masaki,
the keeper
of the Masaki shrine, thought to herself. Tending the shrine had been
a routine
part of her life ever since she was a little girl. She had nothing
against the
traditions of the shrine, it was just that tradition was so boring.
It happened every summer as school ended. While other children
enjoyed
their vacation with outings and trips, she spent her time tending the
family
shrine. She didn't mind the work though. In fact she took her
responsibilities
very seriously. It was the lack of her friends, which she found
difficult.
The Shrine was located in one of the last remaining untouched
areas of
Japan, hidden from the modern world. Its remote location made visiting
friends
difficult at best. Sometimes her friends did come to visit, staying
over for a
time. But there was little at the shrine to keep teenage girls
occupied.
Namely, teenage boys.
Achika sighed as she resigned herself to another vacation of
peaceful
solitude.
Her peaceful solitude was broken when she felt a touch on her
shoulder.
"Excuse me?" a voice, said.
"Eeep!!!" Achika jumped. She hadn't heard anyone behind her.
She spun
around, taking her broom and gripping it like a sword.
"Ack!" Exclaimed the redheaded girl now in front of her. She
instantly
leaned back to avoid the wild swing of the broom. As she did so, the
massive
backpack she carried caused her to lose balance. With a thump, the
redhead fell
backwards.
Achika's eyes widened, as her heart got back to it's normal
pace. "Are
you all right?" She asked the prone form in front of her.
"Uuuuggh..." replied the fallen girl struggling to sit up
right.
Achika dropped the broom and was quickly by the girl's side.
"Here, let
me help you. I'm sorry about that. I didn't hear you come up behind
me."
"No problem." Said the girl, sitting up. "It was my fault. I
didn't
mean to startle ya. I tried to get your attention before, but ya
didn't hear
me."
"I guess I was daydreaming." Achika said lamely.
"Yeah, I do that a lot too." The redhead smiled as she stood
up.
"Well in any case, welcome to the Masaki shrine," Achika said
bowing.
"I'm Achika Masaki, my father is the priest here." She returned the
smile.
"Hi, I'm Ranm... Ranko!" she said scratching the back of her
head.
"Pleased to meet you! Ya have a very nice place here. I really hope
that it's
not customary to attack the visitors." She said wryly.
Achika found Ranko's laughter contagious. Soon both of them
were
laughing. She noticed that Ranko laughed out loud, with out
restraint, like a
boy would. The redhead wore Chinese cloths, which were a little large
though
snug enough to show off her form. And, judging from that large pack
she
carried, Ranko was stronger than she looked.
"What brings you to the Masaki shrine?" Achika inquired.
"Well, I... just wanted to look around and see what's here. I
read about
this place in some books. It seemed very special. I wanted to find
out for
myself. Would it be ok if I look around?"
'I could always finish my chores later,' Achika thought.
Besides, she
missed being around others her own age. "How about I show you around,
Ranko?"
"That would be great."
Achika smiled. "Follow me then."
****----***----****
Two girls walked down a dirt trail through the woods.
"It's very peaceful here," Ranko said.
"Yes, it is." Achika sighed, recalling her dilemma.
"Is something wrong with that?
"Nothing, I guess, if you like it. But it's always like that
here.
Nothing exciting ever happens. Every year it's the same thing. Just
another
peaceful summer."
"Ya won't hear me complaining." Ranko shut her eyes enjoying
the calm.
"So, Ranko, where are you from?"
"Nerima..."
"What's it like there?"
"Pretty hectic. So many thing going on at once that it was
hard to keep
track of all of them. It's good to finally get away."
"I guess that saying is true."
"What saying?"
"The grass is always greener..." Achika laughed.
"I guess so," Ranko said rubbing her chin and smiling.
"We're here." Achika said after a few more minutes of walking.
She
stopped in front of a cave decorated with wards.
"What is this place?" Ranko asked. Something about this place
caused her
some unease.
"This is the demon cave of the Masaki shrine."
"D-demon?"
"Um-hum. It's the legend of how the Masaki shrine was founded.
Almost
seven hundred years ago a demon fell to the earth. It was an evil
creature,
large enough to walk over mountains, strong enough to pick them up and
crush
them. Its eyes burned with anger and it shot out fire from its mouth.
Ryoko
was its name.
No one could stop it, and it seemed that the world was fated to
be
destroyed. But then a warrior flew down from the heavens, riding a
ship in the
shape of a dragon. He carried a sword of light in hands, and set forth
to slay
the demon. The warrior's name was Yosho.
Yosho and Ryoko fought for two days and two nights. It was on
the third
day that Ryoko was finally defeated. Yosho placed the remains of the
demon in
this very cave, and sealed the place with his sword. Since that time,
Yosho's
descendants have cared for the shrine. "
"Ahhh..." Ranko said. "Wish I could have seen the fight."
"It's true!" Achika said defensively. She thought she was
being teased.
Her friends had laughed, the times they had come up to visit her, when
she had
told the story. She couldn't blame them because it did sound like
something out
of a fairy tail. But she had been told the tale ever since she could
remember.
And the way her father had told it made it seem all the more real.
"I believe you," Ranko said seriously. "I... I can feel it. I
think it's
watching us."
Achika smiled. "Yes, when ever I come here I sense I'm being watched.
When I
was a little girl, I played a game and talked to Ryoko." She walked up
to the
mouth of the cave and bowed. "I'm sorry to disturb you Ryoko. I just
wanted to
show my friend around." Achika felt a slight breeze as if in response.
"Did Ryoko ever talk back to you?" Ranko asked.
"I believe so..."
As they left the cave, Achika caught something from the corner
of her eye.
"I'll see you later, Ryoko," she said softly to the fleeting image.
"Come on,
I'll show you the rest of the place."
"Lead on then," Ranko said cheerfully.
They continued chatting as Achika continued her tour. Though
she had just
met Ranko she felt comfortable talking to the redhead. It was just
easy to talk
to her. Ranko's face read like a book. The sincerity of her
expressions
conveyed a feeling of trust, which was usually reserved for close
friends.
But despite her openness, Ranko was still a bit of an enigma.
First of
all, what would a girl like her be doing at the shrine. It just wasn't
something normal girls her age do. 'Heck, I'd rather be some where
else' Achika
thought. Second, whenever the question of family came up, Ranko kept
avoiding
the subject, and a hollow expression came over her. Not wanting to
pry, any
more Achika changed the subject.
"So Ranko, what are you interested in?"
"Martial arts," She said simply.
"Really?" Achika said a bit surprised. "My father practices
Kendo, and I
know a little bit myself. What form do you study?"
"All of them," Ranko said brightly.
At first she thought Ranko was joking, but then she saw the
look on her
face. "You're not kidding, are you?"
"Nope. I've been training since I could walk. Pop taught me a
lot of
stuff, and I picked up a few tricks along the way." She demonstrated
with a
quick kata.
"Your very good." Achika complimented. Any doubts she had were
gone.
Though the kata was a simple one, Ranko had moved with the grace and
strength of
a true martial artist. A master even, as she compared Ranko's
proficiency in the
art with her father's skill in the Masaki style of kendo.
"What's this place?" Ranko asked bringing Achika out of her
thoughts.
"Huh...oh..." Achika found herself in a familiar area, a small
lake of
blue water. At the center was a large tree, decorated with prayer
strips.
There were stone steps leading from the shore to the tree.
"This is the Masaki holy tree."
"Aaahhh!!!" Ranko exclaimed. An excited look came over the
girl's face.
"Is it true about this tree being able to cure people?"
Achika nodded her head. "Yes, there have been some incidents
where people
came here to be healed of one thing or another. Sometimes the people
were
healed, and other times they weren't. It's also said that you can also
pray for
rain to the tree also."
"Do you... do you know if the tree can cure curses?"
"I'm not sure. But I wouldn't be surprised if it could. It's
very
special." Then something came to Achika's mind. "You seem pretty
interested in
the tree, Ranko. Is that why you came here? Do you have something you
what to
have cured?"
"I... " Ranko shied away from her.
"Oh, I'm sorry..." She apologized upon seeing Rankos reaction.
"It's ok. But it's something I'd rather not talk about..."
Achika looked concerned. She remembered how ill some of the
visitors had
been. Coming to the shrine had been their last chance. A desperate
hope.
'What could be wrong with Ranko? Is she sick? She looks so
healthy.'
Achika studied the girl.
"Ranko, my father knows more about the history of the tree than
I do.
When he gets back you could ask him whatever you want. He might be
able to help
you find what your looking for."
"That would be great Achika." The girl instantly livened up.
"Would it be
alright if I stayed here a little while?"
"Sure, Ranko. Please stay as long as you like. I still have
some chores
to finish anyway. Just follow the trail when you're finished. It will
lead you
back to the shrine."
"Thanks for the tour, Achika."
"It was my pleasure." Achika smiled. Walking back, she
thought more
about the girl she had met. Ranko, a brash, fiery, cheerful young girl.
But
Achika saw a hidden sadness that the redhead carried. Ranko had come
to the
shrine looking for something. Achika hoped that she would find what
she was
looking for. Whatever the case, at least she made a new friend.
****----***----****
Galaxy Police headquarters, the future.
The sirens were blaring and red lights flashed through the
corridors of
the expansive complex.
As the tech officers frantically struggled to find the source of the
red alert,
the Grand Marshal entered the command room.
"What's going on here? What is the cause of this?" The lion
faced
Marshal asked.
"We are tracing the source of the alarm now sir." One tech
said.
"It's coming through. The source is originating from... oh my
god..."
the man at the terminal paled. "Main detention block, c-central
containment.
It's a breach in the security field!"
The Marshal's face became a mask of worry. 'No... it can't
be..."
"Sir, it's Kain!!!"
End (for now)
Spam notes:
(1)
Washu <appears from nowhere>: Not literally the entire world, but it
would take a Herculean effort to tolerate this situation.
<Nodoka facefaults.>
Ranma: Please don't tell me you're another fiancee.
Washu: Heh, heh, heh. Of course I am, Ranma. So you shouldn't have a
problem with giving me a 'sample'...
(2)
Ryouga: Where am I now?
Man: You're in Hay.
Ryouga: Why's it so hot?
Man: 'Hay, Hell, and Booligal; the three hottest places on Earth.'
Ryouga: Huh?
Man: It's just a quote I heard.
Ryouga: Booligal? I've never been there...
Well, he has seen hell...
(3)
Over *trees*!? *Over* trees!?
Yeah well, he's Ranma, nuff said!
Story notes:
I have been a fan of Ranma 1/2 and Tenchi Muyo for some time now. I
have
enjoyed reading fan-fic crossovers where the two casts interact. But
it was
always the same thing, one chaotic world collides with another to form
one big
mess.
So with this little experiment, I being the all powerful god that I am,
changed
the timeline just a tad. Ranma appears just a little bit earlier in
the Tenchi
time line than he usually does. Where could this possible go? I'd
like to
find out myself.
Author's notes:
This concludes the first part of what I hope will be a
continuing series.
Weather it continues or not, will depend of the response to this piece
or work.
Please feel free to flood my e-mail account with various letters
burning me in
effigy. I look forward to any "Creative Criticism" my pears are
willing to
offer.