Ranma 1/2: A New Awakening Alternate Continuation (minor crossovers) By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com http://www.mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm or Visit my Mirror site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Co-author & Concept by: "Jerry" starfire@brainerd.net Chapter Forty Two As the children opened the presents their concentration waned slightly but not enough to release the queen. Ranko was the first to get her present opened. She lifted the garment from its wrapping with a small grin. "Look momma isn't it pretty?" She asked holding it up against her. "Yes dear it is lovely, why don't you put in on for us." Nodoka told her as she kept one eye on the cylinder of light and her daughter. She smiled as she saw the strong white light in the cylinder flicker. She now realized what Torma was working towards. She watched quietly as Seran, Raistlin and Mychol moved quietly toward the imprisoned queen. In the hopes of pulling her free when cell was weak enough. Ranko's dress was long to the floor. The base material was soft like satin and was white. It however had an iridescent glow to it. The waist was just under her chest giving it an old peasant type look. Then the gown portion fanned out in an 'A' line shape. It had a low scoop neck but not to low to appease a very powerful mother. The sleeves where squares of pastel colored gossamer fabric attached at the shoulders then again only at the wrist's hem. The sleeve was a bell shaped and at her different movements would fall exposing her bare arms. At the high waist started the larger gossamer panels of the same pastel colors. One corner of each panel was attached at just under the breast then left to hang loosely. Some of the panels over lapping the others. Ranko spun and giggled as the panels flared out. She then looked into the package and pull out a pair of white iridescent slippers with a pompom on each shoe made of the pastel gossamer fabric. As Ranko slipped into her slippers Ukyo pulled out her dress. It was in the same style as her sisters but instead of pastel gossamer hers was in varying shades of purple. The panels ranged from lavender to dark violet. The sleeves of her dress were slightly different also. Instead of the wide open bottom like Ranko's. Ukyo's panels ended in white iridescent cuffs with amethyst buttons. The sleeves then puffed down over the cuffs slightly. Her shoes had pompoms made of the same gossamer as her dress and in the center of each pompom sat a small amethyst bead. As Ukyo stared down at the beautiful gown her hands gently touched the delicate fabric. Her eyes filed with tears of regret and happiness. Her regret that she could never be who she was in her old life. Her happiness was now she had the chance to be the girl she should had been and be with her Ranchan. "Wow! Ucchan you look pretty!" Ranko told her sister, as the adults smiled in agreement. "I..Thank you!" She bowed to Torma, then turned to face her sister. "I am not Ukyo or Ucchan any longer. I will do as Micca did and start my new life completely. A new life deserves a new name." She told Ranko, then faced her new mother. "Mrs. Aur..momma please, will you give me a new name!" Ukyo asked with pleading eyes. Nodoka stared at the beautiful young girl before her. The child's eyes filled with pain and despair as she tried to forget her past. Nodoka could not help but notice the prison around Titiana again began to weaken. This time, however, it did not re-strengthen as quickly as it did before. "Very well _daughter_, as the newest child of the Aurora clan I give you the name of my beloved great grandmother. From this day forward your name is 'Setsuko'" Nodoka smiled at the young girl as she mulled the name over in her mind. "Setsuko Aurora, hmm, I LIKE IT!" Ranko jumped happily toward her sister. Setsuko smiled and nodded as she hugged Ranko back. She then turned back to her mother a smile lighting her face. She bowed deeply to her mother. Nodoka and the other adults had to cover their eyes as the light behind the children flared brighter. "Thank you momma I like it also." Setsuko stood and looked into Nodoka's smiling face. A low whistle escaped their brother drawing their attention to their brother. "What did you get Micca?" Came the simultaneous question of his sisters. Micca had dressed during the process of Setsuko's new name. He was wearing a pair of royal blue satin like pants that like his white tunic had an iridescent glow to them. He wore a pair of black soft soled boots. His tunic had long loose sleeves and the neck of the tunic hand a slit about three inches long, with a royal blue cord woven through the eyelets. Micca had woven the cord loosely and left the ends of the cord to hang freely. The shirt fit loosely but was still tight enough to show the fact he had more muscles then when he arrived. The shirt went just to the top of his thighs. Over the shirt he wore a royal blue iridescent open vest that stopped at his waist. On the front of the vest starting on the left side were the head and forearms of a sapphire blue dragon. The dragons body continued around the back of the vest, ending with its going up the right side of the vest. Around his waist was a loose black leather belt to hold his pouches and scabbard. He stared down at himself and like Setsuko felt the strange material. He watched as his outfit shimmered various colors in the sun light. He looked up at his sisters and smiled brightly as he stared at them. They grinned back and before they could glomp each other a deep voice boomed at them. "Why won't you kids release the queen?" The children turned and faced Torma, his eyebrow arched. The children looked at each other sheepishly. Ranko lowered her head her hands behind her back as she drew toe art on the floor in front of her. Micca just turned toward Ranko and tried not to look guilty. Setsuko just stared at the gray mage as if it was the simplest thing in the world to understand. "We don't want nothing to happen to her." Ranko whispered, so quietly that many missed her response. "Nothing will hurt her as long as the Aurora clan protects her. Besides you can not keep her inside it forever. It will kill her to be kept from you and her husband." Torma decided to go for the shock factor. "NO WE WON'T ALLOW IT!" Ranko shouted as her head snapped up her eyes flashing with a burning rage. "SHE CAN'T NOT NOW!" The tears began to stream down her cheeks as she glared at the gray mage her aura flaring around her. "Why not Ranko?" The question came from her mother. "I..She!" Ranko looked at the worry on her mother's face and took a step back toward the light. Ranko stopped as she felt arms go around her from behind. She looked over her shoulder and found her father standing behind her. She was shocked he hand been able to sneak up on her. She cringed away as she feared she was in trouble. /*\*/*\ Seran quietly snuck up behind his daughter. Normally he knew this feat would be near impossible but since she is so distracted he was able to do so. He smirked inside at the look of shock on her face as his arms went around her. He then watched as she cringed away from him anguish at the prospect of his hating her. He pulled her closer to him and held her tightly. "Please my precious one! Release the queen. No one is angry with you we are just confused." Ranko tried to squirm free but her father would not let her go. "He is correct Ranko please why are you and the others doing this? There has to be a reason, other then to protect her when she has enough protection." Oberon asked as he knelt in front of her. Ranko caught between a rock and a hard place fell back on her ten years in the Faerie realm and shrank into her father's tightening embrace. She looked to her siblings who nodded at her. She hung her head and everyone gasped as the cylinder of light finally disappeared. Oberon ran to his wife and took her in his arms and pulled her to him. He kissed her deeply and held her to him refusing to let go of her. The couple walked to Seran and Ranko who was now surrounded by her brother and new sister. Nodoka had joined her family as well as Raistlin and Mychol. Ranko had her face buried in her father's chest and was sobbing uncontrollably. "Ranko dear why?" Was all Titiana could think to say. "Mfhms hepus fhslie!" Came her muffled reply one no one could understand. Seran chuckled and lifted his daughter's chin and with a gentle touch wiped away her tears. He leaned in and kissed her forehead. He then looked down at her and smiled at her, putting all his love into that smile. "I think they could understand you better if you weren't speaking into my chest." He told his still weeping daughter. "Now try again, Ranko." Seran told her, she nodded and turned her head to look at Titiana and Oberon. "I didn't want to again be the cause of the death of your daughter and son." Ranko told them with a sniffle as she buried her face back into her father. "WHAT!" Oberon and Titiana shouted at the young Sylph. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" Oberon asked painful memories flashing through his mind. He took a step forward but stopped when he noticed his wife standing ridged as a statue. Her face pale and her eyes wide. Oberon put his arms around her and glared at the red head still crying in her father's arms. Nodoka kneeled down next to them. She reached over and raised her daughter's face to hers. "What are you talking about dear? You know they have no children." Nodoka could not think of a way to say it gently without hurting the royal couple. "They don't _now_!" Ranko told her mother as she clutched at Seran's shirt. "H..How do you know this!" Titiana whispered, her voice hard and cold as ice. "Anyone who can read chi can tell. When I read your chi I read three life forces within you. I am not sure on if they are a boy and a girl. I just sense one is more feminine then the other. The male one seems to be very protective of her too." Ranko told them her head leaning against her father as she began to feel sleepy. The constant power drain to keep the aura cylinder going and then the emotional upheaval was taking its toll on the young Sylph martial artist. Ranko yawned as did the other two children. Nodoka watched as Titiana absently placed a hand on her abdomen. She watched as a smile slowly broke on her face. She watched as tears began to stream down her face her smile lighting the room. "Beloved, don't get your hopes up, she can be wrong!" Oberon whispered at his wife trying to save her from the pain if she is not with child. "But she isn't!" The group turned to see three people walking through the devastation, they didn't expect to see. /*\*/*\ Kasumi finished preparing supper for her family. Her father sitting in the living room his face blank and eyes staring. She hummed to herself as she made the final preparations for the return of her sisters. She hoped they elves are going to be able to help both her sisters. Kasumi entered into the dining area and began to set the table she stopped halfway to the table and stared sadly at her father. Her face showed the pain she was trying to hide. She lowered her head and continued to set the table. When she finished she walked over to her father. She put a small smile on her face and placed a hand gently on his shoulder. She gasped and pulled back in fear. When Soun jerked his shoulder from her and glared at her with eyes as hard as ice over his shoulder. "F..Father?" She asked tentatively as Soun rose and walked from the room. Soun hadn't even glanced back at his daughter. He entered his office slamming the door behind him. The noise rebated throughout the house and rattled the windows in the family room. Kasumi stared at the closed door her face frozen in that of shock. As she stared at the door her tears began to flow down her cheeks. Kasumi fell to her knees and wept into her hands as her heart broke. She shivered at the memories of the years she had given to her family to protect them and help them grow. Her crying deepened as she now realized that the sacrifice of her happiness was a wasted effort. She was still there when Akane and Nabiki entered. The two bickering at each other until they saw their sister. "KASUMI!" The two younger Tendo's cried and ran to their older sister. Both Nabiki and Akane wrapped their arms around her to give something neither of them were sure how to give, _comfort_. Kasumi melted into the embrace of her sisters as they tried to remember how she had comforted them when they needed it. "Shh, sis its alright, we're here for you!" Nabiki tried as her elder sister's tears flowed. "Who did this to you Kasumi? I kill him!" Akane growled falling back on the only thing she was comfortable with her anger. "What are you to doing? Get away from her!" Nabiki and Akane looked up to see their father before them. /*\*/*\ Soun entered his office and took down the family's honor blade. He pulled it partially out of its scabbard. His mind flickered back to when the weapon was place permanently on display. It was the day after his beloved Kimiko had died. She like Nodoka carried the family blade but she did not need it any longer. Soun could not bare to look at it nor could he bare to put it away. He took a deep breath and straightened to his full height of six feet. His eyes stared blankly into the distance as he remembered his lovely wife's face before him. A small smile appeared on his face. Soun shivered slightly as he felt a gentle touch as though he was being hugged but there was no one in the room that he could see. There was someone there her spirit stood behind him her arms wrapped around him as she felt his turmoil hit her like a tsunami. Soun's smile turned to a frown as the past few days came back to his mind. His youngest daughter's loss to her fiancé. The breaking of the pact, the betrayal of his old fr..Genma. The out brurst of his oldest daughter and her disrespect for the memory of her long gone mother. To allow herself to become one of those things to turn her back on the memory of her mother. Soun's face darkened as he displays a Tendo trait passed down from Tendo to Tendo. The ability to rewrite in their minds what really happened and to place blame on someone else. He began his version of 'IT'S ALL RANMA'S FAULT!' His brain turning facts inside out to fit his need. How long had she been dealing with those creatures? How could she treat her family this way? Why if she had powers didn't she save his beloved wife? Soun's face got darker and angrier as his thoughts went over the past few days. How _she_ humiliated him, by disavowing _his_ Nabiki! How she manipulated it so that he no longer owned his own home. How she forced his gentle baby to go to that alternative school. _Worst_ of all how she had used the image and voice of his Kimiko in that manner. /*\*/*\ The spirit of Kimiko moved in front of her husband she watched the expression on his face go from a melancholy smile to a raging frown. Kimiko hung her head as she knew the Tendo curse of 'it was someone else's fault' just came into play. What she could not figure out was who he was blaming. "KASUMI!" Kimiko turned her head at the shout from her other daughters. She turned back to her husband at the sound of the katana being drawn. Kimiko's eyes widened in fear. He couldn't he wouldn't not her baby! Kimiko watched helplessly as her husband walked slowly to his office door. She had to do something, but what? An idea came to her as she disappeared. She just hoped she would have enough time and that Kasumi's little friends would protect her and her other two daughters. /*\*/*\ Tofu was finishing up with his last patient. He helped the elderly woman out the door and down the stairs. He watched as she walked slowly toward her home. The creak in her old cane as she leaned on it. He then re-entered his clinic. He locked the door and went to his office to complete the arduous task of the days paper work. He sat down and pulled out the first clipboard. He began entering the information into the laptop from his first patient that day. When he stopped and felt an overwhelming fear pass through him. He looked around the office but saw no one. The fear however continued and became stronger. He jumped when he heard a soft voice say Kasumi's name. After years of being around the craziness of Ranma, Tofu knew better then to ignore such things. He ran from his office and clinic and like the cursed martial artist took to the roofs. His destination the home of his beloved fiancée, a scowl of anger and worry on his face. /*\*/*\ Cologne was busy preparing for the dinner crowd. She watched her great granddaughter as she went through the motions. Cologne felt bad for her Shampoo, but it couldn't be helped. Son-in-law was dead now and all that remained was Ranko. Well at least she sort of won. Through the treaty with the Faerie realm the Amazons will survive for millenniums to come. Cologne suddenly dropped her knife. She had to steady herself to keep from falling from her cane. She felt two gentle hands on her shoulders and turned but there was no one there. She spotted Shampoo staring at her from across the room. She then heard a gentle whisper say the name of Kasumi. "What wrong, great grandmother?" Shampoo asked with some nervousness. "I don't know child but I think the Alexandrite Princess is in trouble." She told the lavender hair warrior. "You stay hear and finish preparations for the dinner rush. I must honor our agreement with the Faerie realm." Shampoo stared at her great grandmother her face full of confusion. "I know understand? Who Alex..Alexan..!" Shampoo's frustration at her bad Japanese showing on her face. "Who Princess must save?" She finally got out as she followed her great grandmother to the front entrance. "Child you were there. Kasumi is the heir to the Alexandrite Witches Throne. She is a crossed over elf." Cologne left before Shampoo could ask anymore questions. Shampoo stared her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. She stared at the empty place her grandmother had just occupied. The warrior shivered as she felt a presence near her. She turned to glare a Mousse but he was not there. There was no one for her any longer. Then her shoulders slumped as she remembered Mousse was gone for good now and she no longer had any friends. Her head bowed she returned to her duties in the Nekohanten her eyes brimming with unshed tears. /*\*/*\ "I _said_ get away from her!" Soun growled at his two younger daughters. His eyes cold and hard as he stared at the crying Kasumi. Nabiki and Akane stared at each other then back at their enraged father. The saw the sword clenched tightly in his right hand, his grip so tight his knuckles were popping and they were white. Akane jumped to her feet and stood in front of her eldest sister. Nabiki following her younger sisters example. She watched as Akane began to glow bright red. "What is wrong daddy? Why are you carrying that katana?" Nabiki decided to maybe try and end this with talk before someone got hurt. "_SHE_ betrayed her family by become on of _THEN_! It is her fault the engagement was broken and that I no longer have control over my own home!" Soun sneered at the kneeling girl. "Oh, man so that is where Akane gets it from!" Nabiki complained as Akane glared at her. "Daddy _GENMA SAOTOME_ is the reason for the ending of the engagement. He was the one to _KILL_ the prince of the Faerie kingdom. _HE_ was the one to trick you out of _OUR_ ancestral home, and planned on through us all out!" Nabiki tried to reason with him but found her words falling on deaf ears. "I will have honored satisfied! She could have saved your mother but she didn't! She caused our misery by not doing that! She even dared to try and throw you out of the family!" Soun snarled as his fiery eyes met Nabiki's cold ones. "WHICH YOU AGREED WITH AT THE TIME!" Nabiki shouted back her eyes becoming colder as the rage began to build in her again. Akane just stared between her father and sister. She was shocked to hear this as she was not told of what had happen between them before the confrontation at the Nekohanten. Akane looked down at Kasumi, trying to get angry with her for throwing Nabiki out of the family but she couldn't. Akane realized that Nabiki had done some pretty bad things and she is sure that what is was she had done must have been extremely bad. Kasumi looked up at her youngest sister her eyes filled with so much pain that Akane gasped. The only time she had seen that much pain was in Ryoga's eyes as he watched her family. No wait she had seen it somewhere else also. Where did she see that kind of pain. Akane took a deep breath and straightened as memories of her life with Ranma flooded back into her mind. She saw that pain each time she defended Ryoga. She saw that pain each time she blamed him for something she or someone else did. She saw that pain each time her mallet connected with the cursed boy or when she hit him. Akane's little world of 'Akane is the sun everyone revolves around' began to shatter. As she realized she was the one who brought that pain into the blue eyes of her fiancé. That she dismissed that pain as nothing but some perverted ploy to get into her panties or mock her. Akane's tears filled her eyes as she turned to flee to her room she saw movement from the corner of her eyes. Akane turned in time to watch as her father raised his katana and advanced not only on Kasumi but Nabiki also. She watched horror struck as her father planned on not only killing Kasumi but Nabiki as well. Akane was frozen to that spot she tried to will her body to move but it refused. "DADDY NO!" Was all she could get out as Soun started to bring the katana down on Nabiki's head. Akane broke her paralysis and lunged for her father's arm but is was to little to late as the sword reached the top of her middle sisters head. Akane's tears finally fell as she realized she was watching her father murder her sister. Then it registered on her that the katana seemed to be frozen inches from Nabiki's skull. She watched as her father struggled to force the katana down. Akane turned at a movement behind her and turned to see Kasumi rising to her feet a green-blue glow swirling around her and darkening by the minute. Akane watched as Kasumi pulled Nabiki behind her then felt her older sisters iron grip on her own arm as she was pulled behind the protection of her older sister's body. /*\*/*\ Kasumi stared up at her father, she could never remember seeing that much rage in his face expect for when her mother died. He was so angry with the doctors that night. She thought he would destroy the hospital. She watched wide eyed as he raised his katana. She couldn't believe he was going to kill Nabiki to get to her! Her eyes narrowed and she built her shield around the three of them. [HOW DARE HE! HOW DARE HE TRY AND DESTROY MY FAMILY!] Kasumi's mind raged as she watched the katana come down on Nabiki. She slowly rose when his katana stopped mere inches from her sister's head. Kasumi's eyes blazed with rage as she pulled Nabiki behind her. She then reached out and grabbed Akane and pulled her behind her as well. She then faced off with her father. Kasumi's raging eyes met her father's and they stared at each other neither of them backing down. The katana still held imprisoned in the force dome. "You are a disgrace to the family _girl_ you must restore our honor and you know how to do it." Soun snarled as he dropped a tanto at the feet of his daughter outside of the shield. Kasumi looked down at the ritual blade her shock evident but no one saw it as her head was lowered as she stared at the blade. The shock disappeared and was replaced by hurt and betrayal as she looked up at her father. The pain in her eyes caught the angry man off guard for a moment but he hardened his heart and glared back at her. "I gave up my dreams for _you_! I gave up my _LIFE_ to take care of _YOUR_ responsibilities! _YOU_ are the one who dishonored this family! _YOU_ abandoned us when we needed you! _YOU_ let you CHILDREN run a house they did not know how to run. All so you could wallow in your self pity! It was you who allowed Genma Saotome into this house! It was _YOU_ and the disgusting panda that drove a wedge between the love Ranma and Akane had! It was _YOU_ that destroyed any happiness she and Ranma could have ever hoped for! It was _YOU_ that signed over our property to that _MURDERING BASTARD!_ And you DARE TO SAY I MUST COMMIT SEPPUKU!" Kasumi's aura grew around her and darkened to almost black. The rage inside Soun Tendo began to dwindle as his eldest began to count off _his_ mistakes. She made it clear where the blame was to be laid. The Tendo 'It was someone else's fault!" curse was overloaded as he stared into the eyes of his eldest. Her rage shone brightly but mixed within was the pain and betrayal he had seen earlier. He watched as the last two emotions grew in strength and as his daughter shivered with the anger she kept bottled up inside her. Kasumi glowed brightly as she stepped through her shield. She could see her little friends flying frantically around her trying to get her back behind the protective dome. Kasumi ignored them and continued to face her father. She stepped closer to him and wrenched the sword from his grasp. His eyes wide with shock and surprise. He watched as her hand clasped the blade and watched as her blood flowed freely down its silvery surface. The site of her blood, blood he had caused to be drawn shocked him, he stared transfixed as he watched the red liquid slowly flow toward the hilt of the Tendo honor blade. "KASUMI!" "PRINCESS!" The shouts of the new arrivals drew only the attention of the two younger Tendos inside the glowing green-blue shield. They watched as Tofu tried to reach Kasumi but was stopped by the shriveled hold mummy. She had pressed a pressure point to hold him in place. She knew what was happening had to play out to completion, butshe would not let anything happen to the glowing girls. She hopped up to the shield and tested it with a small pruneish finger. She marveled at the sensations that flowed from it, but her attention was drawn to the witch that created it. "You have what you want now _Tendo-san_! My blood on your sword! I hope you are happy with the dishonor _you_ brought onto your family today. For you now have only two children as you wished. I will be leaving and joining my _mother_. I have nothing left here to keep me." With that the eldest Tendo dropped the sword and climbed the stairs to her room. The shield around the two younger girls faded but they didn't move they were to horror struck to even think of moving. They stared down at the bloody sword in front of their stunned father. His eyes hollow and blank. They looked up as they heard Kasumi returning. She carried no suitcase or anything the only thing she had was a small chest. Both Nabiki and Akane recognized it as once belonging to their mother. Kasumi stood in front of them and opened it. She reached in and removed four items. She handed two each to her sisters. Then looked them in their eyes hers brimming with tears. "I will always be there when you need me. Akane please learn from those women they will help make you a better person. The will fix what I failed to accomplish." Kasumi hugged her littlest sister and handed her, the two items. "The first is mother's locket she wanted you to have it on your wedding day, but I will not be hear for that so I am giving it to you now. The other is an Alexandrite pendant from me. You can contact me through it by holding it and calling to me." Kasumi kissed Akane' forehead both with flowing tears. "Nabiki please continue to change and become the warm and wonderful person I know you to be!" Kasumi told her as she hugged her other sister. "It was those women who nearly caused Ranko to wish herself to death. Talk to Miroshi she will tell you everything!" Kasumi whispered to her while in the embrace. "This was mother's most favorite ring like the locket it was past down to her from her mother and from grandmother's mother and so on. It was to be yours on your wedding day as well. This pendant is like Akane's if you need me use it to contact me." Kasumi hugged Nabiki again, she kissed her fore head and left the house.