Ranma 1/2: A New Awakening Alternate Continuation (minor crossovers) By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com Co-author & Concept by: "Jerry" starfire@brainerd.net Chapter Ten Akane stumbled down the street, her mind a whirling bunch of images of Ranma sneaking into her room with a teapot. P-Chan would attack Ranma just because he walked into the room. Ryoga always knowing what Ranma had done to make her angry even after he had been gone for so long. The few people on the street at that time of night started giving her a wide birth as she began glowing bright red. [That pervert knew Ryoga was P-Chan all the time, and he didn't tell me! I wonder who else knew, and Ryoga _he saw me naked!_ I'll _kill_ them both for this!] She stomped down the street glowing brightly. [All this time those perverts where using me for their sick games, well it won't work any more! I bet that Ranma actually made Ryoga do it. He was always picking on poor Ryoga. I bet he was using Ryoga's curse against him to get his jollies, oooo that _pervert_! Wait till I get my hammer on him, that _baka_!] Akane's glowing got brighter with each step she took. Every time she stomped she put cracks in the sidewalks, her fists where clenched so tight that her nails had broken the skin and she was beginning to bleed. When she passed the street lamps they would shut off because she was glowing so brightly. When she passed they would turn back on. [That insensitive jerk, first forcing Ryoga to be my pet, then to turn around and _hurt_ Ukyo like that! Boy is he gonna pay for this when he gets back, I will pound him so far into the ground they will need a bulldozer to get him out.] Akane stormed through the Tendo gates and headed straight to the Dojo. /*\*/*\ Kasumi heard the gate slam, she looked out the window, and watched her glowing sister head for the Dojo. She put down the knife she was using to cut vegetables for dinner and went to check on her little sister. When she entered the Dojo Akane had already destroyed enough bricks to make a pile of dust four feet high. "Oh my! Akane-chan what's wrong?" Kasumi asked from the doorway. "That stupid jerk, Ranma! He is a pervert and when I see him again I will beat him into oblivion!" Akane punctuated each word by smashing another brick. Kasumi looked confused and was about to ask for more information when Akane gave her a look that said she wasn't going to talk about it. Kasumi actually stepped back in fear. She had never seen Akane this mad. It might be a good idea to allow her to calm down before getting her to talk about it. Kasumi didn't have long to wait an exhausted Akane walked into the house, not long after that. She sat at the table looking at her sore bleeding hands. Kasumi was there with tea, cookies and the first aid kit. While she cleaned and dressed Akane's wounds she got her to tell her what was wrong. Akane told her about her confrontation with Ukyo and what she had told her about P-Chan, and how Ranma had coerced Ryoga into being her pet and sleeping in her bed, so he could get his jollies at her expense, just like he always did. Kasumi tried to remind Akane that Ranma kept giving her hints as to who P-Chan was, and tried many times to activate his curse in front of her. "Don't you see Kasumi that was all part of the plan, to make it look like it was Ryoga who was the pervert not him!" Kasumi marveled at her sisters illogic, she decided to give up for now but would try later to convince her it wasn't Ranma's fault. /*\*/*\ Ukyo looked at the throwing spatula as it shone in the moonlight seeping through the closed blinds, its white silver metal marred by the blackness of the blood from her cut thumb. It seemed to fascinate her as the blood slowly traveled down the blade. Her life is now over, she had no family her father died several years ago, she lost all contact with the Kounji family, not that they ever cared. If they had she never would have been forced to live as a boy. Now she didn't even have Ranchan, she realized that was why she wanted to marry him so badly, not because she loved him that way but so she would belong, now she belonged no where. She was as the dust, and you usually sweep dust under the rug, or just throw it away. Taking a deep breath, she lowered the blade to her wrist. Her tears flowing freely, she felt the coolness of the blade and the small amount of stickiness from the blood on its edge. [There is nothing left for me here, I don't want to be alone any longer, I can't do this anymore!] She thought as she rested the blade lightly against her wrist. As she slowly pressed the blade harder against her wrist she marveled how the moonlight made her skin look so translucent. Ukyo wondered how much it was going to hurt? Would anyone even care that she was gone? While she was thinking these thoughts she slowly pushed the blade harder. Then the pressure stopped and Ukyo's vision began to cloud. Ukyo looked around her, there was nothing but gray mist everywhere, she was confused while she looked around to see where she was. [Where am I? How did I get here? Wasn't I in my restaurant a moment ago?] Ukyo was both frightened and angry, she had been ready to end her pain and now this. {Is that really the best way to end your pain?} Ukyo looked around confused. {W..Who's there? Show yourself, you coward!} Ukyo demanded taking a defensive stance. Ukyo knew she was not good at hand to hand but she was no slouch either. She would show this interloper not to mess with her. She watched as two figures came out of the mists. One was a tall man with wings, long black hair and ice blue eyes. The other was a figure she knew well, and missed so much, but her anger and grief overwhelmed her and she attacked. /*\*/*\ Ranko stood and watched while Ukyo came at her, a small smile on her face when Ukyo was in range Ranko grabbed her and held her close in a tight embrace. Ukyo tried to break free but Ranko's grip was too much for her, she let go of her anger, and started to cry wrapping her arms tightly around her friend. {You know you are the only one I would let call me a coward without proving them wrong.} Ranko telepathically told her, with a small chuckle. Ukyo giggled a little into Ranko's shoulder as she sobbed. Ranko just held her and stroked her hair, while making soothing sounds. When Ukyo's sobs began to slow, Ranko pushed her back slightly to look into her eyes. Ranko took Ukyo's face in her hands, Ranko stared deep into her eyes. {Why Ucchan, why do you want to leave me?} She asked with tears filling her blue eyes. {I have nothing left Ranchan, I realized I didn't want to marrying you because I loved you I just wanted to belong. I love you but like a sister or brother, but now you are gone and I can't go on alone anymore. It is too hard. I am tired of fighting each day for some acceptance, and getting punched down again. I just can't do it anymore!} Ukyo told her friend, while tears fell from both their eyes. {Your not alone Ucchan I will always be there for you! I have learned that you and I are bonded. I care so much for you that I felt your pain all the way in the Faerie realm. That's why I'm here, you are my soul sister, if you die I will too! I will follow you, I don't want to be without you either. Please Ucchan don't leave me!} She begged her friend, while pulling her to her in a tight embrace. Seran watched the proceedings before him, and he could see the truth to Ranko's words. Though he knew Ranko could not see it she felt the connection. Coalescing around the girls where shadows of themselves, their souls if you will, and if they were not connected they would be distinct and separate. They, however, where not, they merged and blended in some spots and where separate in others. He knew that Ranko needed this girl just as much as she needed Ranko. Ukyo held onto Ranko tightly afraid to let go, afraid this was all a dream, or the hallucinations of a dying person. Ukyo took a deep breath taking in Ranko's scent, she smelled vaguely of jasmine, and orchids. She decided she liked that smell. If she was dying then she wanted it to be the last thing she remembered. {You're not dying, not yet, you are however, dreaming but I really am here. Papa Seran brought me into your dream so I could talk to you and try to get you not to kill yourself.} She told her friend, Ukyo could feel the tears coming from Ranko. {Papa Seran? Who is Papa Seran?} When the words seeped into her thoughts. {I am, child I will be married to Ranko's mother soon, and I brought her to you to help you.} Ukyo looked up at the man, noting the differences between him and Genma instantly. {Please Ucchan, don't do this, promise me you won't! I will find a way for us to be together, I can't lose you! You're a part of me, and I don't want to lose that special part!} Ranko begged Ukyo tearing her attention away from Seran. Ukyo felt what Ranko was saying and knew that she would find a way for them to be together again. Ukyo nodded, with a small smile, Ranko beamed back at her and grabbed her into another tight embrace. {Ucchan, we are sending you some help, so you won't be alone, ok. Don't be afraid when they get there, they are kinda different but you'll like them. They will help you and protect you till I came back. Ok?} Ranko told her with concern glowing brightly in her eyes. {Ok, Ranko I will promise not to kill myself, as long as I know I will see you again.} Ukyo returned the hug just as hard as Ranko gave it to her. {Come, Ranko we must return now, we will be back Ukyo, you have my word on it.) He told the frighten girl with a warm smile. Ukyo looked up at Seran judging whether she can trust him or not, she looked into his eyes and saw concern for her and sincerity. She nodded and stepped back from Ranko. She watched as they faded, into the gray mist. When Ukyo opened her eyes she found herself sitting at the same table with the throwing spatula still pressing into her wrist, it had just broke the skin but not the artery. She pulled it away from her wrist and let it drop to the floor as if it were on fire. She watched as the cut on her wrist began to heal instantly, she gasped in shock then heard the tiny bell like laughter she looked up and flying around her where dozens of little pixies glowing different colors. One landed on the palm of her hand and sat down. She looked up a Ukyo with a smile and began to play a beautiful soothing melody for her. The music was interrupted when there came a frantic knock on Ucchan's door. Ukyo went to the door and opened it. There standing in front of her was a worried Kasumi. Kasumi didn't even wait to be invited in, as she pushed herself past Ukyo. She spotted the dropped throwing spatula and went to it. Picking it up she headed for the rest and Ukyo's battle spatula. Without a word she disappeared into her kitchen Ukyo could hear her rummaging through her drawers. Ukyo was confused and a little taken aback at Kasumi's invasion of her home. When Kasumi returned she was carrying a backpack that was full, Ukyo was about to say something when she noticed several of the pixies land on Kasumi's shoulders and give her a hug. "They know you?" She asked with surprise. "Yes I was taken to the Faerie realm when I was little, they sent me back when it was determined that my heart was pure." She said as she put the backpack down in another booth. "These pixies stay with me and protect me from the chaos that follows Akane and Ranma. They are why I am here, when the call came for their aid they told me why." Kasumi explained as she walked up to Ukyo and gave her a motherly hug. Ukyo could not hold back the pain and tears any longer, in Kasumi's embrace she broke down and cried. Kasumi just held her tightly, while rocking her gently. The pixies flew around them, wanting to make the young woman's pain go, but they also knew she needed to cry to cleanse her soul so she could heal. Soon Ukyo had cried herself out and Kasumi helped her to her bed. Kasumi tucked her in and kissed her forehead. She knew from her pixie friends that Ranko had dreamwalked into Ukyo's dream, and that it was safe for her to leave the young girl. Kasumi wrote her a note before she left and placed on her desk with a corner of it under the lamp to prevent it from blowing away. Kasumi left Ukyo's room filled with the colored lights of the pixies as they watched over her. One of the pixies went to the note her curiosity getting the better of her. Ukyo; Please don't tell anyone what I told you about my visit to the Faerie realm. Most people wouldn't understand. In addition, the pixies with you can only be seen by you and me so I wouldn't mention them to others. If you need to talk please feel free to come to me, I am no stranger to the kind of pain you are going through. If it wasn't for my Faerie friends, I would have done what you tried to do last night. Don't forget Ukyo-chan you are not alone, there are those of us that do care about you. Kasumi Tendo The Faerie looked over at the sleeping chief with a sad expression, she remembered that night so long ago where they nearly lost their friend Kasumi. The little pixie flew over to Ukyo and sat down on her pillow next to her and began to play a soft beautiful melody full of promises, of happiness, and love. Ukyo smiled slightly in her sleep as the strains entered her dreams. /*\*/*\ While the sunlight crept across the floor toward Ranko's bed, she began to stir. Aerial who had been sleeping next to her, holding her during the night woke at her movements. Ranko's eyes fluttered open and she turned to see who as holding her smiling at the sight of Aerial's green eyes. She then remembered last night as sat bolt upright, with a gasp. Aerial knew what she was worried about and put a calming hand on her shoulder. Ranko turned to her fear evident in her eyes, but Aerial's smile seemed to make it fade away. "It is alright my dear, your friend is now safe, you and Seran were able to keep her from doing harm. She is now being watched over by some of the earth bound Faeries." She told the relieved girl. Ranko threw herself into Aerial's embrace and started to cry, she had never cried this hard or long before. Aerial gently rocked her, while she let the young Sylph spend her fear and grief. Aerial began to understand why Seran cared so much for Ranko, and her mother. "I almost lost her Auntie Aerial, she wanted to kill herself." Ranko cried into Aerial's shoulder, Aerial raised an eyebrow. [Auntie Aerial? Well I guess I will be her aunt soon.] She thought while trying to comfort the distraught girl. "Yes I know dear, but you didn't, you were able to stop her, and she is now waiting for you to come back and see her." Aerial gently ran her hand down Ranko's hair trying to sooth the girl. "Are you sure, Auntie Aerial?" Ranko asked looking up into the older Sylph's eyes. "Yes child I received word from the pixies we sent to watch over her, she is doing fine. She is sleeping now and they will protect her, don't worry when you return to earth she will be there waiting for you." Aerial assured her. "What did papa Seran do to me, how was I able to be with Ucchan?" Ranko asked her with curiosity. "He helped you to dreamwalk. That is where when you sleep your essence leaves you and goes to others dreams where you can visit with them or monitor their dreams." Ranko thought about that for a moment then looked up at Aerial. "But Ucchan wasn't a sleep when we went to her she was awake and ready to..to, oh Kami-sama if we hadn't got to when we did she'd be dead!" Ranko wailed as she broke down into tears again. "Sshh, child, it was because Seran was helping you that you were able to make contact with her. He is a Gray Elf, that was given the gift of being a Sylph." Ranko looked at the woman confused. "Only females can be a Sylph, any males are the race of the father. My father was a Gray elf, with his consent mother made Seran a Sylph as well. Seran trained in the magic of the Gray Elf, one of which is dreamwalking. Gray Elves are masters at this technique. They can make a person who is awake fall a sleep so that they have access to their subconscious memories. Since Ukyo was already exhausted it wasn't to hard t push her over the edge into sleep where you could talk to her." Ranko leaned against Aerial sobbing quietly while listening to her explain what had happened. "Now why don't you go get freshened up and we will go down and see if your papa Seran is awake, last night kind of drained him a bit." Ranko nodded and ran to the bathroom. When she finished Ranko headed downstairs. Aerial followed her down the stairs, as Ranko made a beeline for her mother's room. Shaking her head with a wry smile she followed behind. Aerial tried to stifle a giggle when she spotted Ranko take a flying leap and do a belly flop right on her sleeping brother. "OOFF!" Was all Seran had a chance to say when his face started being covered with little pecking kisses. Seran opened his eyes grabbing a happy Ranko by the shoulders and holding her at a distance. He tried to take a deep breath to retrieve the air Ranko had knocked out of him. He heard sultry laughter, he looked at the doorway and saw his sister barely standing, while holding her sides with laughter. Scowling at her, he turned his attention back to his soon to be daughter. "And to what do I owe this pleasure?" He looked at her with a half smile and raised eyebrow. "_Thank you, thank you, thank you!_ We saved Ucchan! Auntie Aerial says she is fine now, oooo, thank you!" Ranko said while giving him a big bear hug after breaking free of his grasp. "Ranko, dear why don't you let your papa Seran get up now, go get ready for breakfast, then we will all go out and have a day of fun. The two of you need it after last night." Nodoka told her daughter as she walked into the room carrying a tray of tea and cakes. "Yes momma." She answered giving Seran one hug for the rode she zoomed out of the room. "How do the two of you keep up with that bundle of energy, I get tired just watching her?" Aerial asked while she watched Ranko leave. "It takes practice." Seran commented as he struggled to sit up. Nodoka poured him some tea and handed it to him. Then she offered a cup to Aerial. Offering both some of the cakes, she began to sip her tea. Aerial laughed, then took a sip of her tea. The two female Sylphs waited and stared at Seran, he first looked at them confused, then nodded he understood. He told them what had happened with the dreamwalk, and how Ranko had talked her friend out of killing herself. He also told them of the fact that Ranko and Ukyo where soul sisters and that if one died so would the other. Nodoka turned pale, at the thought of someone so alone that they would...then she remembered her own child and shuddered for that could have been her child at that state. What frightened her more was the fact that her child would have willing followed Ukyo into death to be with her. Nodoka looked down at the hand that gently touched hers, she looked up into the caring eyes of her fiancé and smiled. The moment was broken when a pink and burgundy blur came into the room and landed on Seran again this time he seemed better prepared. "Where we goin' papa Seran?" Ranko asked as she had belly flopped onto him again. "Well my little hurricane I think I'm going to take you to visit your future grandparents, in one of the sky kingdoms, we'll let you terrorize them for awhile." Ranko smiled as she thought about visiting a sky kingdom, then what Seran said slowly seeped in. "Hey!" The three adults laughed, as Ranko looked around the room indignantly at them.