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 Twenty One Ukyo woke up to the loud blaring of her radio and the pounding of someone at her shop door. She slowly sat up and looked around the restaurant, she caught sight of the clock and bolted from the booth where she was sleeping. She headed toward the door of her shop. She opened the door to about twenty people waiting some what patiently for her to open for business. She smiled as she ushered them in and began serving only about ten minutes behind schedule. The terrible dream still dancing in her mind. A dream where she was Ranchan and was dying because no one loved her. She was being cared for by a strange looking woman with pointed ears. Now awake she felt for Ranko, for the link that seemed to connect them she found it but it was very weak. She pushed her love for the martial artist through the link to let her know she loved her. Ukyo was brought out of her musings by one of the pixies tugging on her hair. She looked up to see Kasumi standing there a worried smile on her face. She smiled back at the oldest Tendo then threw several orders of okonomiyaki to her waiting customers. The pancakes landed on the tables in front of each customer perfectly, a round of applause followed. She offered Kasumi a seat and then made the oldest Tendo sister her favorite, a seafood okonomiyaki. "I came to return your belongings she said while bending down to pick up a duffel bag that clanked with the sound of metal and a battle spatula. "Thanks, Kasumi, I can sure use the knives." She smiled broadly as she took the bag and spatula. "Ukyo, you look upset, is something wrong?" Kasumi asked placing her hand over Ukyo's when she reached for the battle spatula. "*SIGH!* Something is wrong with Ranko, I feel..Kasumi she wants to die!" Ukyo told her tears streaming down her face. "OH MY!" Kasumi looked at the chief her eyes wide with fright. "I think it is alright now, I don't feel that any more, but I wish I can be certain." Ukyo looked at the young woman with pleading eyes. Kasumi smiled and patted her hand reassuringly, then left the restaurant. She didn't turn to go home but turned toward Nerima park. She headed to a secluded area near a grove of trees. She entered the grove and pulled from under her dress a necklace on a tri-gold woven chain of thirty six inches, made of yellow, white, and pink gold. At the end of the chain hung a pendant of silver in a heart shape. It is edged in the braided yellow, white, and pink gold, and has small flowers engraved in it. In the center of the heart is a star opal one inch in diameter, at the top point where the two humps meet is a star onyx. At the bottom point is a lapis. And at the each of the outer edge of the heart just slightly below the onyx is a piece of jade. Each of the stones is the center of a large flower on the pendant. They each had a stem connecting it to the opal in the middle. Kasumi faces a large boulder that was in the center of the grove. The boulder was covered in graffiti from generations gone by. Kasumi pointed her pendant at the stone and pressed the opal in the center. The other stones began to glow sending a stream of power down the flower stems to the opal. Suddenly a beam of translucent light burst from the opal opening a doorway in front of the Tendo girl. She smiled and walked through the open gate. In a forest near a small lake with a water fall another translucent door opened and Kasumi stepped out, to be met by many of her friends who felt her activate the portal door. /*\*/*\ Ranko laid with her head in her mother's lap, sleeping from her over extending herself in the fight with the red dragon. Curled up behind her with her head resting on Ranko's waist was Kiri. In Ranko's arms was a moping sapphire blue duck, who had finally given up trying to escape the clutching grasp of his soul bonded. He lay there peacefully his eyes partially closed but still paying attention. The women were joined shortly after they arrived at Lady Victoria's cave by Seran and Raist. Both still tired but not wanting to miss anything important. Victoria told them of Ranko's flight to her shores and of her recovery. She had been staying with an elderly elf couple of seven or eight hundred years, while she recuperated. She was still much to weak to begin any strenuous training so she had been learning herbal lore from Ijas. While Nodoka listened she gently stroked her daughter's hair, letting her know she was still there. Ranko slept peacefully her head pillowed in her mother's lap with Cerulean and her new friend Kiri near by. She sat up so suddenly that she made everyone jump. "Ranko dear are you all right?" Her mother asked worriedly to her daughter as she looked around the cave frantically. "Momma can I go play?" Ranko asked quietly while looking out the door, Nodoka not to sure if she should. "Alright but don't stray to far." She told her, Ranko put down Cerulean and gave her mother and poppa a kiss before she bolted out of the cave. "Does she always move that fast?" Lady Dracon asked the Sylph across from her. Nodoka, Raist and Seran all nodded in unison while they watched Ranko disappear into the woods, followed closely by a blue duck and a fluttercorn. Ranko flew toward the lake, she could sense the opening of the gate and the arrival of someone she cared a great deal about. Almost as much as Ucchan. /*\*/*\ Kasumi knelt by the lake surrounded by her friends from the Faerie realm. There were four unicorns each laying in a circle around the Tendo girl. Several pixies and sprites, plus half a dozen of the dragon Faeries that Ranko loved to plays with. She talked quietly with her friends telling them what had been happening on earth and how their earth bound pixies and sprite friends are doing. When a red and purple blur streaked into the clearing, grabbing Kasumi and lifting her in the air, while spinning her around in a circle. Kasumi's friends look shocked and the pixie and sprites are about to cast spells against the evil that would take Kasumi when there is a loud *quack* behind them the animals and Faerie folk turn to see the sapphire blue duck and the fluttercorn enter the clearing. They watch while the duck shifts to a man with sapphire blue hair and a deep scowl. They all freeze because even in this form they know he is a blue dragon, but what is he doing with a fluttercorn? They turn back to Kasumi when they hear her laughing and look to see a Faerie with long candy apple red hair hugging her tightly and giving her kisses all over her face. "_Ranko_, bring her back down!" Cerulean commanded of his soul bonded, who turned to look at him and nodded. Kasumi looked at the man standing on the ground with wide shocked eyes. She gasped and putting her hand to her mouth. "OH MY!" Came her ever present reply to all that shocked or amazed her, Ranko landed near the man. "Kasumi this is Cerulean he is a blue dragon, and my best friend, and that is Kiri she is my new best friend isn't she pretty!" Ranko introduced her old friend to her new. Behind them the animals and Faerie folk line up preparing to cast a major combined spell at the blue dragon. Kasumi can sense them behind her and moved so that she was blocking their aim. Cerulean noticed this and raised an eyebrow. "You would protect a blue dragon from those trying to protect you?" Cerulean asked her knowing full well what was going on. "You are Ranko's friend and I trust her judgment of people." Kasumi told the blue with a firm voice and stern gaze. "Why do you look like Ranma?" Kasumi could not help but ask him, Cerulean shook his head slightly. "I am not sure but as near as Silverfire and I can figure out, when Ranko accidentally soul bonded with me her curse moved to me and since this is her new normal form her old male body was what was moved." He told the Tendo while pointing at his soul bonded who was off already playing with Kasumi's friends. "KASUMI! What are you doing here?" They all turn to see Nodoka, Lady Victoria, Seran and Raist standing behind them. /*\*/*\ Queen Titiana sat nervously on her throne, although she was holding court her mind was thousands of miles away with a little redheaded Sylph. Oberon worried about his wife's state of mind had stayed with her. He realized until Ranko returned to her court she would be depressed. Then the cocoon next to his wife's throne pulsed with blue light. It won't be long now probably two maybe three days, and a new Aurora family member will be born. /*\*/*\ Titiana looked at the cocoon a sad smile on her pale lips. She missed Ranko, hopefully Silverfire will allow Nodoka to bring her home. She reached out and touched the cocoon next to her and it shivered at her touch. She smiled as Oberon took her hand in his and gave hers a gentle squeeze. She scowled when Rohn walked by, to near the cocoon for her liking. She is still angry with him and his wife for the trouble they have been trying to cause for her new clan. /*\*/*\ Rohn entered the throne room, carrying a tray. He scowled when his gaze fell upon Oberon still on his throne. With Oberon near by his advice is not accepted as readily. Then Rohn's cold blue eyes fell upon the cocoon next to the queen. His eyebrow shot up in disgusted surprise. [By Rhiannon she is converting another one!] His eyes narrowed to tiny slits, as he made his way to the cocoon. He stopped some four feet from it when the queen looked up at him rage flashed her normally twinkling blue eyes. Rohn moved away from the cocoon to behind the throne glaring at the royal couple as he passed them. He paused when the cocoon began to glow even brighter, he knew the new mongrel was almost ready to come forth. He headed on toward the room were his wife and her cronies were imprisoned. He knew the only reason she and her friends were in an anti chamber off the throne room and not in the dungeon was because of him and his station. The guard opened the door for him to enter the room where his wife is sequestered. /*\*/*\ The knock was urgent sounding, as Akane hurried to answer it. She opened the door to a delivery man, he hands her a package and clipboard which she signed and handed back. He tipped his hat and turned to leave. Akane slowly closed the door while staring at package which was addressed to Genma Saotome. She headed into the family room where Genma and her father were planning how to get Ranma back to being _his_ old self. "Mr. Saotome who is Masaki Hiromi?" She asked entering the room, Genma looked up from the shogi board with a look of confusion, Nabiki's ears perked up. "Don't know anyone by that name why?" Genma told her after giving it all the thought he felt it deserved about two seconds. "Well she sent this to you." Akane said handing him the packet. Genma took the packet and stared at it. He was surprised that Masaki Hiromi was an attorney, he wondered who would be dumb enough to use a female lawyer. He dropped the packet on the floor next to the game board. When he looked back at the board it seemed Soun was winning. [How did that happen, I was winning a minute ago?] Tendo's attention fell to the packet on the floor, Genma took this time to rearrange the shogi tiles to his favor. "Saotome aren't you going to open that it could be important?" Soun asked ignoring his cheating friend. "Why should I? I don't know this person it probably came to the wrong person." He told them picking up the package and turning it over in his hands, not seeing Soun change the shogi pieces again. "Here let me see it!" Nabiki said with an exasperated expression, while taking the packet. She sat down at the table, Akane looking over her shoulder. The two men watching her. Soun with curiosity and Genma with boredom. Nabiki began to read the documents when Akane gasped. They both were startled when the documents were pulled from Nabiki's grasp. Genma and Soun started reading, Genma's bored expression quickly turned to shock then anger. Soun's mouth hung agape. Not only was he now divorced but according to the document he had no son but a daughter, and one he can never see again for he had been labeled abusive not only physically but emotionally as well. They papers sited the Neko-ken training, the multiple engagements, the fact he allowed one Tendo Nabiki to exploit her against her will for money. Nabiki was angry with this and was now glad she set up that little surprise for Nodoka and Ranma. Other documents explained that all Saotome property went to Nodoka, and that Genma is responsible for all promises he made while on the _training_ trip, and all debt incurred from the same trip. Genma paled as the attorney had an itemized list of everything he owed. Genma decided it might be better to disappear for a while, maybe a training trip. "Divorced! When did she do that?" Akane said allowed, with some confusion. "Well according to these documents she started the proceedings over a month ago, and they just became final yesterday." Nabiki told her after grabbing the stack from Genma's lifeless fingers. "Well at least now you don't have to marry Ranma sis, with his status being changed from a boy to a girl, after all a girl can't marry a girl." Nabiki told her with a wry smile. Akane looked at her sister with an angry look ready to make her usual retort. When it hit her she had lost, Nabiki was right she couldn't marry Ranma now. Akane's eyes began to fill with tears when she turned and ran up the stairs to her bedroom, the last sound any of them heard was the slamming of her door. /*\*/*\ Keitaro Takashi entered his home, he removed his shoes and slipped on the slippers waiting for him. He took a deep breath and smelled the wonderful dinner which he knew Taji had cooked for him tonight. He headed into the opulent leaving room and straight to his office. He opened a filing cabinet and placed the file on his daughter and grandson..granddaughter inside, locking it once he closed the drawer. He sat down at the desk his face in his hands as he rested his elbows on top of the deep red mahogany desk. He jerked when he felt the soft but firm hands of his wife while she massaged his shoulders. "Tough day at the office dear?" She asked while she gave him a wonderful back rub. "Yes, dear it was very strenuous." He told her as he took a deep breath and let his head droop to his chest. "Something to do with that file from your investigators that you locked up in the filing cabinet dear?" Keitaro stiffened and turned quickly to look at his wife. His wife smiled at him and gave him a long loving kiss. She then pulled away and looked him square in the eyes, her soft brown eyes alight with fire. A stern smile slowly grew across her lips. "Come we will discuss it over dinner and bring the file _dear_ I want to see what it says, _all of it_!" Keitaro wanted to spare his wife this, with slumped shoulders he retrieved the file and headed to dining room. To his surprise Hayashi and Hiroshi were already there. "Mirako can't make it she as an appointment for a training opportunity. Some doctor in Nerima who uses special healing techniques." Taji told her husband with a genuine smile. He knelt at his place at the table and Taji served him then her eldest son Hayashi, then her youngest Hiroshi. She then served herself, they all ate quietly for a few minutes then Taji turned to her husband with a smile and nodded her head. Keitaro sighed and nodded his head as he pulled out the folder. He placed it at the center of the table spilling the content.. Each person except him started to look through the papers it was Hayashi that found the photos, and Hiroshi the documents pertaining to the divorce, Taji found the one that told her she no longer had a grandson. She grasped the paper at the edges so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her sons looked up with a little fear as they watched their mother turn toward their father. Keitaro had a huge sweat drop forming in as the fire blazing in his wife's eyes landed on him. "Please explain this husband!" Taji asked with a low calm voice that was really anything but calm. "It is as it states Nodoka somehow as gotten Ranma removed from the family registry and listed him as Ranko and as female. She has divorced Saotome, and has full custody of Ranm..Ranko, plus she now travels with two male companions that are not normal." Keitaro couldn't stop talking he just wanted this night to be over. Taji held out her hand for the rest of the documents her sons handed them to her quickly. She looked over the divorce papers a sardonic grin crossing her face. When she looked at the photo she could see the love in her daughters eyes for the dark haired man. Keitaro was right they are strange first there was the gold man and then both men had such strange pointed ears then she noticed something. "Keitaro did you notice anything strange about our daughter?" Keitaro looked up uncertainty in his eyes, he shook his head no. Taji turned to Hayashi and he also shook his head no. Hiroshi had gotten up and was looking at the photo over his mother's shoulder. When Taji heard him gulp. With a trembling finger he pointed to his sister. "She has pointed ears like the two men!" Keitaro grabs the picture from his wife and stared at his daughter Hayashi looking over his shoulder. Both look closely at the picture of Nodoka and see that she did now have pointed ears. Something else started to become clear in the picture as well. When Keitaro first saw it he thought is was an after image but now he is not so sure. He pointed it out to his eldest son. Hayashi stared where his father was pointing. After a few moments Hayashi stood and with a shocked look fainted dead away.