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 Three Ryoga landed as a heap, just shy of the canal under his backpack. He slowly got up cracking his back into place. He looked around to figure out where he was, it didn't help. He moved away from the canal and headed for the road, his head hung low, and his depression growing. [Saotome has _no_ honor, he promised not to tell anyone about my curse! That is the only way Akane would have known is if _he_ told her.] Ryoga thought, glowing a low deadly yellow-green. "Hey Ryoga what are you doing here?" Ryoga stopped at that sound of a voice that sounded like tinkling bells but was also somehow familiar. He looked up and found himself outside a cave, to the side stood a small building and at the door stood a young girl with pointed ears and long red candy apple red hair and red glittery wings. She was wearing a dark blue and light blue outfit that caused Ryoga to have to pinch is nose shut. "Com'on P-Chan you want to meat my friends?" The young girl asked with a happy grin. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Ryoga yelled pulling his umbrella and swinging at her. The young girl held up her hand and a bolt of lightening shot forth striking the steel reinforced bamboo umbrella. The bolt surged through Ryoga's umbrella finally ending with zapping him. The bolt knocked the lost boy back into a tree. Ryoga slowly reached up to his head, shaking it slightly, he raised his aching head slowly and ended up staring directly into the face of a unicorn with butterfly wings. His eyes opened wide and he tried to back away but the tree was blocking him. Kiri poked him with her horn, she snorted at her, turned and walked away. Ryoga watched while the strange creature walked away and headed toward the girl. Ryoga then realized the girl was Ranma. He narrowed his eyes while he watched her pet the animal, probably a horse she disguised to look like a unicorn. He did wonder where she got the wig and fake wings. In the back of his mind he reminded himself he was at her transformation, but he pushed that away as there before him was the cause of all his troubles. "DIE SAOTOME, FOR ALL THE HELL YOU PUT ME THROUGH! SHI SHI HOUKOU DAN!" Ryoga shouted his aura blazing around him. Ranko looked up from the fluttercorn to see Ryoga shoot off a depression blast heading straight for herself and Kiri not to mention that she was still in front of door to the cottage and her mother was in there. Ranko jumped in front of the blast and Ryoga smiled as he knew Ranma didn't have enough time to stop the blast. Ranko flared her aura, Ryoga's eyes widened with shock at her new battle aura, and at the speed with which she could control it. Ranko dug deep inside of her, searching for her happy feelings. She had begun to figure out her new aura, and she was about to test her theory. She found the feeling and a dark pink strip almost the width of her confidence appeared in her new aura. "HAPPINESS INTERCEPTION!" She cringed slightly at the name, she was gong to have to change it later. Her shout brought those inside the house outside in time to see a large dark pink ball of chi meet a large yellow-green one. The two chi balls collided about thirty feet from Ranko her aura blazing even brighter as she tried to use it to protect the ones she loved from harm. Her family watched amazed as a bright and vibrant red streak shot through her aura. It was a much lighter and happier shade of red then the dark almost black one that was there now. The two chi balls exploded with opposite emotions causing a winking out effect. /*\*/*\ Ryoga watched dumbfounded as his depression blast met Ranma's _happy_ blast and then popped like a bubble. Ranma stood in front of some people, Ryoga wondering where they had come from. Then his anger rose again as he believed Ranma cheated and did that only to embarrass him like _he_ always did. "SAOTOME YOU CHEATED YOU COWARD JUST AS YOU ALWAYS DO, PREPARE TO DIE!" The lost boy screamed while charging Ranma with his umbrella drawn. Ranko watched as Ryoga charged a sad look on her face. She stood resigned to the fact that this was all that would ever be between her and her sometime friend. Lady Victoria stepped in front of her young friend followed by a blue duck. Ryoga stopped dead in his tracks glaring at the young Sylph behind the woman and bird. "You are a coward now Saotome that you must hide behind others?" Ryoga sneered at the one time boy, his answer came not from Ranko but her mother. "My _daughter_ boy is not a coward, but she has learned to care about those around her so as not to cause harm to innocents. What about you boy can you say the same thing? Not from what I understand, you let yourself get so deep in your rage that you go berserk and put those that can not defend themselves in mortal danger!" Nodoka spit out at the lost boy. Ryoga's eyes widened then narrowed with anger as he stared at an older version of Ranma. Then the man behind her caught his attention, only because he was sporting a blue aura filled with lightening. Then a movement caught his eye and he turned to see the sapphire blue duck shift into the male Ranma with long blue hair. His eyes got even wider as he and the silver hair woman began to shimmer, the man glowing in a golden orange. He craned his neck as he tilted his head back, falling backward when the weight of his backpack took him off balance. From his prone position he stared up at two large dragons. When their mauls came for him he quickly got to his feet and ran into the woods, within minutes he had disappeared from the Faerie realm all together. He left behind two very confused dragons. "The Hibiki curse strikes again!" Ranko laughed while everyone but one stared at the young Sylph. "WHAT MANNER OF EVIL IS THIS THAT A BLUE DRAGON HAS FREE REIN IN THE LANDS OF WOOD ELVES!" They all turn and stared at the wood elf that had but a moment before walked in on their talk with Kasumi. /*\*/*\ Akane stormed into the Tendo home, her aura still blazing. Nabiki looked up from the magna she was reading with a sly smile. Akane headed straight to the dojo, not even changing into her gi. Nabiki can hear the sounds of Akane smashing bricks. [Ooo, she only gets this mad at Ranma, maybe he is back. I can push up my timetable then.] Nabiki thought as she rose and headed for the dojo. Nabiki stood at the door watching her little sister vent her anger on the concert blocks she had to keep in stock for her. For the first time Nabiki really watched Akane and compared her to Ranma. She now can see why Akane was so jealous of Ranma, after being in Nerima for three years, Akane had not improved or if she did it was negligible. "You know sis, I think your skill is highly overrated, well in your mind it is anyway. So tell me is Ranma back is that why you're so angry?" She asked her younger sister. Akane turned to Nabiki and glared her aura flaring even brighter. She was amazed at the look the Nabiki gave her not one of hidden nervousness like she usually gave her but one of a lab rat in a maze. This made Akane nervous and her aura winked out. "It will cost you!" Was all Akane told her sister then she pushed past the shocked older Tendo. Akane smirked as she walked up the stairs and to her room, to get her things for a bath. She entered her room shutting the door. She leaned against the door and slid to the floor. She hung her head and draped her arms over her bent knees, she could now let the tears fall. /*\*/*\ Nabiki stood in the dojo doorway her eyes wide with surprise, they slowly narrowed as she realized her little sister just pulled one of her tactics on her. She turned and headed back into the house. Nabiki stormed past her father and Genma who were to busy cheating at shogi to notice her. Nabiki went up the stairs and went directly to Akane's room. She stood outside her younger sister's door ready to knock, when she heard the muffled sobs just on the other side. She heard the soft mutterings of her sister as she leaned her forehead against the closed doors. "Oh, Ranma why won't you come home?" Nabiki heard Akane ask through her sobs. Nabiki left her sister's door and headed to her room, closing the door softly behind her, she went to her bed and laid down on it. She stared at her ceiling her hands behind her head. [Well, Akane still loves him, and if I turn him over to Tanaka Labs she would be devastated.] Nabiki mused her eyes glassing over. [But the amount of money they are paying for two live Faeries would be enough to set me for life and then some!] Her face showing no emotions as her mind battled out the conflict she was having. [She'll get over losing Ranma after all she fought against being engaged to him, I won't get over losing all that yen! I am never going to have a chance at that kind of money again, if ever! Besides Saotome owes me, leaving me high and dry, his disappearance has cost me a substantial profit!] She began to rationalize her plan to herself. She then heard the sobbing coming through the bedroom wall. She turned away from the wall, closing her eyes tight against the tears that threatened to fall. She could tell Akane was still on the floor by her door, she hadn't moved. [I sorry Akane but I have to do this, I have no choice.] Nabiki tried desperately to convince herself of that thought. /*\*/*\ Shampoo sat on the roof watching the people walk by the Nekohanten, she watched but didn't see, and she heard but didn't hear. When a hand touched her shoulder that she wasn't expecting. "AAYYYYEEEE!" She turned to face her great grandmother, breathing heavily. "NO DO THAT! Great grandmother!" She admonished the old woman. "I am sorry granddaughter." The old woman chuckled at the wide eye stare from the purple hair girl. "Have you seen Mousse, he has been missing since the night son- in..Ranma left. I have chores for him to do." She asked the young warrior. "Shampoo no knows where stupid duck boy is! Shampoo no care! Duck boy can die for all Shampoo care!" Cologne was shocked at the venom in her granddaughter's voice. She watched as Shampoo jumped from the roof and headed into the restaurant and for the first time since coming to Japan she was glad the boy was no where near her granddaughter. For the past three years she had hoped that Mousse's presence would make Ranma jealous and claim Shampoo as his wife. She thought they had won during the Ghost Cat incident. Now with the claim finally ended she seemed to be blaming the Hidden Weapons Master for this new problem. She wondered what was going to happen in two days when Ranko and her mother returned. She can only hope her granddaughter doesn't do anything stupid. Cologne can't understand how she knew but deep in her bones she felt when the child returned she will be fully female and extremely powerful. /*\*/*\ Every time the door opened Ukyo jerked her head up from the grill. Kasumi had only been gone for a few minutes but she knew Kasumi was checking on Ranchan for her. The bell on her door rang again this time when she looked up her eyes narrowed to tiny slits and her hand reached for her battle spatula. "What do you want Kodachi?" She asked the gymnast as she sat at the counter across from her. "Where is Ranma-sama harridan?" She asked with her usual haughty tone, Ukyo laughed heartily at the girl. Then it turned to a sneer barely above rage. "If you want information _TROLLUP_ I wouldn't call others names." Ukyo told her smiling sardonically at the shocked look on her face for the insult. Kodachi pulled out her ribbon but quickly dropped it when the razor sharp edge of one big kick ass spatula was pressed into her throat. Kodachi felt the coldness of the blade against her skin as Ukyo pressed it firmly enough to be a hair's breath away from slicing her throat open. [How did I get so fast?] Ukyo wondered in a deeper part of her mind while keeping her attention on the crazy gymnast. "Now _Kuno_ _MY_ Ranchan is gone, he is dead, because of his stupid gluttonous, cowardly father. Now get out of my restaurant, before I forget my manors!" Ukyo told the deadly girl. Kodachi's eyes widened at the revelation, that her Ranma-sama was _dead_ and that his father was the cause of it. Her eyes narrowed if this is true then she was going to make him pay, and it won't be pretty for him, or any other that caused this to happen. Kodachi slowly backed away from the blade and headed for the door. She stopped when she heard her name being called. She turned to face the chef her eyes narrowed and she in a fighting stance. Her ribbon hanging off the end of the spatula came hurtling toward her. "Don't forget this Kodachi!" She told the gymnast while throwing the ribbon at her. Kodachi caught it glaring at her she turned to leave. Not paying attention she ran right into Kasumi as she re-entered Ucchan's. Kodachi glared at the eldest Tendo then lowered her head in shame at the sad smile on the woman's face. Kodachi pushed past her to leave the establishment. "Kasumi! Kasumi! Earth to Kasumi!" Ukyo asked as she waved her hand in front of the Tendo woman. "Oh my! I am sorry Ukyo, it is just the pain and confusion coming from that poor girl, and I wonder if her brother has the same problem?" Kasumi asked of no one in particular. "Yes he does, both of them refuse to see the truth of Ranchan's curse. That's why they always attacked his other forms. Her brother would go after male Ranma and she would go after female Ranma." Ukyo explained showing Kasumi to the counter. "Now how is Ranchan? I am not getting anything is she ok?" Ukyo asked her fixing Kasumi her favorite Seafood okonomiyaki. "She is fine now a lot has happened to her, but first you need to understand something. In the Faerie realm time advances differently then here. For every day that passes here, about two years pass there." Kasumi told the young chef, Ukyo's eyes widened with shock. "You mean to her she has been there almost six years?" Kasumi nodded at the question while taking a bite of the offered dish. "Actually a little more than six. She is fine now, and I will be returning shortly for Auntie Nodoka's wedding to Seran." Ukyo's eyes widened with surprise. "What about Genma? Isn't she still married to him?" Ukyo asked fixing a pork okonomiyaki, placing in on a plate then throwing the plate across the room to a customer, doing a perfect three point landing in front of him. "She was, she was here for about two days finalizing her divorce that is when they nearly lost Ranko." Kasumi told her, Ukyo grabbed the Tendo girls wrist in a vise like grip. "What _happen_ to Ranchan!" Kasumi looked up at Ukyo sadly, and told her what had happen too nearly cost Ranko her life. As Kasumi talked Ukyo listened with a mixture of feelings on one hand she heart broke at the desolation and despair that Ranko had to go through. She felt hatred build for the four elf woman who had done that to her Ranchan, but deep in a small corner of her mind is a small six year old child that had been abandoned by Genma and his son. This part of her mind jumped for joy that she finally got her revenge on Ranma Saotome, that he now knew the pain she had felt when he left her. Kasumi watched Ukyo's face, it fascinated her to watch the myriad of emotions that played across it. The one that confused her was when the guilt took hold of the young chef. Kasumi reached out and took Ukyo's hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. When Ukyo looked up at her she smiled a warm motherly smile. /*\*/*\ Genma sat on the roof across from his family home, well it was his family home. In the front yard was a 'SOLD' sign and watched as a young couple obviously just married entered the completely furnished home. He looked down at the divorce degree in his hand, not knowing whether to jump for joy or to cry like a baby. He looked at the other document which told him he had not had a son but had a daughter. He wondered how Nodoka was able to do that. He knew she didn't get help from her family. They had broken all ties with Nodoka when she married him. To his way of thinking that was the best thing for him and his plans to make Ranma the greatest marital artist of his generation. With the Takashi's out of the picture he could get Nodoka to agree to allow him to take Ranma on the training trip. He picked up the papers from the roof, putting them back in the envelope he headed away from his old home. The war inside Genma still raging. While heading back to the dojo he made a detour and found himself in front of the lawyer's office that handled the divorce and the changing of his son to his daughter. Genma walked into the office it seemed her assistant was not there, so he walked on into Masaki Hiromi's office. He found her sitting behind her desk staring right at him as he entered. A little shocked, Genma threw the documents on her desk. "I refuse to acknowledge these I am still married to Nodoka and I have a son not a _daughter_, now where is my _family_!" The Anything Goes Master demanded of the young woman. "You have no family, you sold your son to King Oberon, your ex- wife was deemed worthy to crossover when Oberon claimed his prize. That's how you think of your child isn't it? A prize to be used, abused, given away and stolen back? Well you now have no son, no daughter, and no wife. The courts refused to even give you visitation. All because your past exploits showed you to be untrustworthy and a danger to your child." Genma stared in shock at this woman surely Nodoka would not tell a complete stranger about the Faerie king? "Oh, no Mr. Saotome your wife did not tell me, _my King_ told me!" Hiromi threw the papers at Genma as she stood to face him. Genma caught the papers never taking his eyes of the beautiful woman in front of him. His eyes bulged and he slowly backed out of the office clutching the papers tightly to his chest. Hiromi stood in front of him her eyes flashing with burning flames behind her a pair bright yellow Faerie wings appeared, They glittered in the sun light streaming through the window. Genma turned and ran into a chair, stumbling he ran from the Faerie lawyer's office. He ran toward the Tendo dojo, he took a wide birth when he past the restaurants, but he also looked longingly at them. He wanted to go in and stuff himself with the delicious foods inside but at the same time he was repulsed by the idea. Genma reached the Tendo home, jumping the wall he headed straight to the dojo. He curled up in a corner, the divorce papers in front of him. His knees pulled up under his chin he looked at the envelope in front of him. He ignored his growling stomach, although he wanted to stuff himself he couldn't bring himself to do it.