Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Twenty Nine On a plane coming from Ireland, two friends look at each other with fear and worry. The woman's long red hair falls to just below her waist, she has a slight muscular, athletic build and stands at 5' 8', her eyes are a deep emerald green, and she is a young twenty two. Her companion is a black man of six feet, with short black hair, deep brown eyes and very muscular in his build. He is stocky without being overweight. He is four years the junior of his traveling companion. They take each other's hands and close their eyes; they reach out with their senses, as they reach out, their Tao symbols begin to glow a golden white. The man's, the same as Ryoga and Michael's while the woman's matches the symbol on Ran Koh. The passengers around them begin to fidget while they watch the two travelers warily. Their minds just touch the mind of another, they feel his worry, and they feel his shock at what he is seeing. The couple pushes their link to him passing their strength to him. Giving to him the help he needs with what he has to do. The more power they push to their comrade they brighter they being to glow. The flight attendants watch from the galley, while deciding who is going to go talk to them. None of them want to go near the glowing couple, so they stand there just staring in awe. The sweat rolls freely down their faces while they continue to push their strength and power through their empathic link to their comrade. They can feel him, when he responds with appreciation. They move with him in their minds feeling the power of the spell he is walking through, feeling his anger, at what has brought it to this. They gasp when they feel his urge to kill the one which is destroying the lives of those around him. They surge more power through him trying to calm him, trying to push that thought from him. They feel his excitement build when he sees something, the tears flow down their faces when they feel his anguish at what his finds. They feel his despair and depression, growing when he nears the object. They sense his tears when he lowers to the object, they gasp in pain when they feel him push their power with his around it, trying to protect it repair it make it whole again. They work with him trying to help him accomplish his goal. Suddenly the link is broken and they collapse back against their seats. The glow slowly disperses, while they fall into a much needed sleep. The flight crew relaxes, but keep a wary eye on the couple. /*\*/*\ The family and friends watch as the golden white light fades back to what it was when Michael entered the room. They notice a brighter flare of copper, then nothing. They all strain to see what is going on through the now medium purple chifire. They can hear curses coming from the room but can not make out who it is or what is being said. They jump when they here the roar of a big cat. Since the restaurant is now closed, Ku Lon has Che Ri, La Si, and Xian Pu move the tables together so they can put the bodies on them, they all notice her unshed tears, and listen to the quite sobbing of Nodoka and her mother. Mas Cra release the paralyses points on Cy Sin so she can help in the preparations. Hayashi and his father try to lead Nodoka and Taji out but they refuse to leave. They stand holding tightly to the men, watching the glows in the room, for any sign of hope. The Amazon's move enough tables together for Ran Koh and Ryoga; they do not care what happens to Genma. Soun watches with a little anger, then starts to make a place for his friend. All work stops when they hear Nodoka and Taji gasp. Nodoka calls out in surprise. "Look the lights are moving this way." They all turn and see it is true. Michael and Anna are heading back to the main room. They are moving rather slowly and with jerky movements as if burdened. The few moments it takes for them to reach the barrier seems like a lifetime to those waiting for them. Nodoka breaks free of Hayashi and runs to the edge of the barrier waiting to see if her child is still alive, praying that her child still lives. Hiroshi walks up behind her and places a soothing hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry No-chan, Ran Koh is a survivor she will be fine." Nodoka turns with hope blazing in her red puffy eyes; she gives him a small smile then turns back to the room to wait for them to exit. The room stops breathing when the party walks through the barrier. /*\*/*\ On a plane coming from Ireland two sleeping people smile slightly, while they are being examined by a doctor the flight attendants found on board. He stands a tall 6' 1", and he has a medium build. His hair is a salt and pepper color, which complements his gray eyes. He is wearing a pair of casual khaki slacks, with brown loafers, and a light green polo shirt. He stands and faces the flight crew. "They are sleeping peacefully now, I don't want to wake them, I will stay with them I am curious as to what happen to them. They are the only ones that can give me those answers." He turns back to his patients and continues to take their vitals. He has already given up trying to separate their clasped hands since it is obvious that they won't let go of each other. The flight crew goes back to taking care of the rest of the passengers, not noticing a three year old girl come up to the sleeping couple and watch them. The doctor smiles at the little girl but does nothing to shoo her away. She stands just under two feet and has blonde hair done up in pigtails. She is wearing a pink jumper with a white tee shirt under it. She has pink tennis shoes on with white lace socks. Her mother comes and tries to pull the little girl back to her seat but she refuses to leave, and climbs into the lap of the redheaded woman. "Mary, come away from there, leave those people alone!" Mary grabs hold of the redhead's neck and refuses to let go. Suddenly a pair of deep emerald eyes stare directly into a pair of blue ones. The woman smiles at the little girl as she smiles mischievously back at her. The woman speaking with a thick Irish brogue asks the little girl her name. "'Ello, wee one, an' what might your name be?" The little girl scrunches up her nose then a small smile spreads across her face. "You talk funny. My name is Mary what's yours?" The woman laughs her laughter sounds like the tinkling of crystal. Her companion wakes at her laughter. She then looks to her friend then back to the little girl. "My name is Megan, Megan O'Riley, and my sleepy friend 'ere is Joshua Thomas." The little girl looks from the smiling black man back to Megan then jumps into Joshua's lap and gives him a big hug. Then she climbs down and runs down the aisle waving bye to her new friends, all the while her mother chasing after her, with a look of frustration on her face. The two friends watch her go chuckling under their breath. They turn back to face a very stern faced doctor. "Now you can answer some questions." The two friends look at him, they gulp and sink deep into their seats, hoping the flight is going to end soon, very soon. /*\*/*\ Michael looks down at the pile of bodies, a tear slowly traveling down his cheek. He turns to Anna and motions for her to go into her lion form. She nods and transforms. Michael then leans down and tries to remove the top most body, Ryoga by the looks of it, but it seems when he lifts Ryoga the smaller body underneath comes with him. He works to gently pry them apart but can not without damaging them. Shaking his head he just sets the two of them on top of Anna. He then turns to the seven-foot body which is undoubtedly Genma, he is tempted to walk away and leave him in the spell aftermath but he can't as much as he wants to, it just isn't in him. Michael leans down and grabs the collar of the panda- man's gi. He turns to walk out when Anna glares at him letting out a roar of disapproval. Michael shakes his head and points toward the restaurant. They walk slow with Michael dragging Genma; he also keeps a hand on Ryoga and Ran Koh to keep them from falling. They were half way across the room when the couple on Anna's back began to slip. Unceremoniously he drops the panda, and grabs for the couple. Anna stops and waits for him to reseat her passengers. When he is satisfied that they are not going to fall he bends over and grabs Genma's collar then lightly taps Anna on her back to let her know she can start moving again. When they get nearer to the barrier they can just make out two people on the other side, they know everyone is there but it is hard to see them though the chifire. They finally reach the barrier, and both he and Anna again try to get more power from their Tao's so they can safely step through, because this time they need to protect more then just themselves. /*\*/*\ Nodoka stares intently into the purple mass watching the glowing figures of the gajin girl and man as they come towards the barrier. She gasps when she sees the lights stop for an agonizing ten minutes about half way out. Hiroshi grabs Nodoka's arm keeping her from bursting through the barrier. When they start moving again everyone in the room lets out a breath they were all holding. The duo finally reaches the barrier; they stop for a moment. While those on the restaurant side of the barrier back away from it when they see the auras grow even brighter. Hiroshi drags Nodoka away from the barrier as she strains to get back to it. A lion and Michael steps through the barrier, on the lion's back is Ran Koh wrapped tightly in Ryoga's arms. Michael is dragging a badly burned panda which he throws to the side near the Tendos; he glares as Soun, when Soun looks about to complain about the treatment of his friend. The amazing thing is that there are only a few burns on the soul mates. Nodoka runs toward her child when Michael steps in her path. Anna growls at the others when they try to take the soul mates from Anna. "_Don't_ anyone touch them, they are surrounded by Ryoga's aura, and it is the one he had when he went into the chifire. Ku Lon and Mas Cra step forward, and start examining the to soul mates. Anna lowers herself to the ground so that they can have a better look. Ku Lon turns to Michael and asks him. "Will you place them on that table, since you and Anna seem to be the only ones with protection strong enough to touch them. I don't think our auras will protect us." Michael nods and goes over to lion his aura flaring around him while he gently pulls Ryoga and Ran Koh from Anna. Anna reverts to human then flares her coppery red aura and helps Michael lift the teens to the requested table. The other Amazons noticing the gajins moving them together, are caught by surprise but quickly push the two separate tables together. /*\*/*\ Nodoka watches while the two rescuers put the teens on the tables, she jerks away from her brother and runs and kneels by the table, tears streaming down her face. Through the blackish green energy she can make out the beautiful face of her child. "Ranma wake up child it's me your mother, please Ranma wake up!" Ku Lon hops next to her and places a hand on her shoulder; Nodoka looks at her scowling then blushes with embarrassment when she sees concern in the old woman's eyes. "You must get use to the fact that Genma _killed_ Ranma at Jusenkyo, this child is now two souls merged as one, and goes by the name Ran Koh. Call to her using that name pull her back from where she is and Ryoga will follow. For they are soul mates and where one goes the other will always be. Show _her_ you want to be her mother as she is now." Ku Lon steps back; Nodoka watches her closely mulling over in her mind what the woman is telling her. She knows there is more to learn of her child and her brother Hiroshi will tell her, but to call Ranma dead. She doesn't know and this child in front of her, can she love her, can she be the mother to her, that she needs. Nodoka looks to her own parents her mother with tears streaming down her cheeks, her father giving her a slight nod. Nodoka swallows hard then looks back at the glowing teens. Nodoka has indecision written on her face, while she stares with confusion and despair at the sleeping form of her child and friend. Nodoka bows her head, teardrops pooling on the floor in front of her. She then feels the loving hand of her brothers as each take a position at her side. She makes her decision, she wants her child whether it is Ranma or Ran Koh they are both hers and she wants them back. Nodoka leans as close to Ran Koh as she can without touching the chi surrounding them. She whispers desperately to Ran Koh her voice horse from the crying she has been doing. "My darling _daughter_ don't leave me again, I could not survive if I lost you a second time. Please come back to me; let me get to know my beloved child, let me get to love the child I lost ten years ago, and to meet the child that has come home to me. Please Ran Koh you and Ryoga come back to us..to _me_. One way or another I will be with my child if that means I must follow you in death I will." Tears pour freely from Nodoka's eyes, only her brothers hear what she is saying, they turn to their parents with looks of concern, for they now their younger sister is capable of following through with her promise to follow Ran Koh into death. They turn back when they hear her start speaking again with a cracking raspy voice. "Ran Koh don't let that _bastard_ win now, you fought for the right to come home to me. Please child wake up and let me hold my baby. Let me caress your hair. I need to hold you and tell you I love you. Please my daughter allow me to do this, allow me to help you grow into the new person your are. Please Ran Koh I..I love you, let me be your mother again." Nodoka puts her head on the table and sobs uncontrollably while the others watch. No one notices the movement in the green mass, no one notices the lightening of the blackish green to forest green. No one sees the small delicate hand with burns, which reaches out to touch Nodoka until she gasps with fright.