Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) Chapter Thirty On the plane coming from South America five friends breath a sigh or relief when they sense the end of the horror they felt, and the fact that two of their number are on the rode to recovery. If only they were there then Sam could cast his healing spell on them. Dr. Takashi is also relieved as it seems this group of strangers are going to be associated with her and her family, and if they what they told her about this Ran Koh is true then she is glad for her sister. She watches as they slowly fall to sleep checking each one to make sure they are fine. She then takes a seat in the lounge near a window, staring out she contemplates what she has learned. Mirako like her sister has auburn hair, but instead of their fathers ice blue eyes she has her mothers soft warm brown eyes. She is the same height as Nodoka, but about ten years younger. Slowly sleep over comes her and she dreams of childhood fantasies. /*\*/*\ On another plane coming from Greece Alex and Taj tell their friends that the crisis seems to be over, they can not tell how bad the damage is yet but maybe with the help of the leaders of the Dragon Sect they can help speed the recovery. Roberto and Mousse breath a sigh of relief, at the same time making a silent vow to exact revenge on the pompous ass who is causing all these problems. It is amazing to them how they can feel protective about the members of the other sects without ever having met them. It must be because of the empathic and telepathic links. The four are finally able to sleep. /*\*/*\ On the final plane coming from Ireland, two friends sleep soundly as they feel the relief from their teammate, as they feel the life returning to those who are too lead them. They can still feel a small amount of pain but that will subside, and they will be ready when the time is right, they will win this time also. Watching them sleep is the doctor, he stares at them with disbelief, but at the same time he believes them. He has already made the necessary changes to his schedule, for he feels he will be needed elsewhere for a more important reason. /*\*/*\ Slowly the aura around the teens fade, Ran Koh hears the pleas of her mother. Embraced in Ryoga's arms, when she opens her eyes she sees her mom with her head bowed on the table crying. Ran Koh reaches out and gently caresses her mothers cheek, tears forming in her eyes. Nodoka jumps back with a gasp, startling the young girl, she then pulls back into the embrace of her soul mate. The sudden movement causes Ryoga to wake. He looks around angrily as he can feel Ran Koh shiver slightly in his arms. His gaze turns to Nodoka and through his empathic link with Ran Koh knows she is the cause of the sadness welling up inside the young sorceress. He narrows his eyes at her and bares his fangs while Ran Koh stares sadly at her mother. Nodoka tries to ignore the young man, as she reaches out to her child. Ran Koh is unsure of this and backs up slightly deeper into Ryoga's protective arms. She watches her mother closely, she is unsure of the older woman, she has been hurt so many times; she doesn't want the pain any more. She wants it to go away, but she doesn't know if she can reach out to this woman. IF she can trust this woman not to hurt her as Genma had. Ran Koh feels a hand placed on her arm she turns and sees Ku Lon, the old Amazon smiles sadly at her and nods her head. Ran Koh turns back to her mother; Nodoka holds her arms out to the girl, Ran Koh again looks back at Ku Lon who waves her forward. She slowly scoots across the table toward her mother. Ryoga glares a warning, not to hurt his little _sister_. /*\*/*\ Nodoka cringes inside when she sees her child back away from her uncertain, and distrusting, she tries hard not to lunge for her daughter. The fact the boy Ryoga is sending threats toward her with his eyes makes her wary. She then notices the old woman, Cologne, pat Ran Koh's arm and give her a nod toward Nodoka. The young girl looks first to Nodoka then back at the Amazon, again Nodoka is silently thankful for the encouragement for the child to come to her. She watches her arms out stretched as Ran Koh slowly scoots toward her. She smiles and tries to put an entire decade of missing love into it. /*\*/*\ Ran Koh still unsure but seeing all the love she wanted but never had fill her mother's eyes she could not hold back any longer. She springs into her mother's embrace, holding her tight for fear this is nothing but a dream, which will turn to a horrible nightmare. She feels the tightening embrace of her mother as both of them begin to cry. Nodoka leans back and cups Ran Koh's face, scanning every inch; it is almost like she is trying to memorize it. She then pulls her forward and begins to put motherly kisses on her forehead, cheeks, chin, and eyes. Then she starts kissing her all over again. "_Mmmoooommm_ you're embarrassing me." Ran Koh whines with a huge smile on her face, Nodoka stops and looks again at her child then pulls her into another tight embrace. Tears flowing down her face, she has not cried this much since Genma stole her baby from her. "I am never going to let you go again, _oh_ Kami-sama thank you for bring me back my child." Nodoka whisper to her daughter, while they stand there in a loving embrace the rest of Ran Koh's family comes up and it becomes a huge family hug. Ran Koh pulls away from the group and walks over to where Ryoga stands watching sadly, she reaches out and takes his hand and pulls him toward her new family. She gets behind him and pushes him toward her mother. Nodoka looks confused then Hiroshi whispers something to her and she smiles brightly. Taking Ryoga into a tight hug, she smiles slyly at him, and asks him. "Ah, my son welcome to the family, when will you and Ran Koh be married?" This caused all kinds of commotion, from La Si as she draws her sword, Soun standing with his mouth open ready to protest, but it is Ran Koh who speaks, for herself and a shocked Ryoga. "We are _not_ getting married mother, Ryoga is my soul mate but not my life mate. To me he is the brother I never had, and besides there is another he cares for deeply and I will not hurt her. I want Ryoga to be a son of the Takashi clan, since he is my soul mate. Aunt Ku Lon has accepted him as my brother and her nephew. Will all of you do so as well?" Nodoka is about to speak when Hiroshi places a hand on her shoulder and shakes his head. She bows her head and steps back to allow him to come forward to face the two fighters. La Si breathes a sigh of relief, Mas Cra raising an eyebrow at her antics. Hiroshi then addresses the two teens. "Ryoga, great Aunt Ku Lon has told us of what you have done for Ran Koh, how you have been with her even though only for a short time, but have been more of a family to her then anyone her entire life. Ku Lon also tells us that our common ancestor Ra Koh calls you her grandson. As patriarch of the Japanese clan of Takashi I extend to you the right and privilege to call yourself a Takashi. I know that you have your true family, just know that there is always a place here in clan Takashi if you need it." He bows deeply to the lost boy, who stares at him with wide eye wonder. He then feels someone pinching his upper arm and snaps back to face the Takashi patriarch. He bows deeply to him, then straightens while responding. "I Hibiki Ryoga am proud and honored to accept your offer, though I have my true family, Ran Koh and the Takashi's will always mean more to me then life itself. With Ran Koh I found acceptance, friendship and love. I thank you for honoring the memory of Ra Koh and allowing me to be a member of your clan." He completes with another deep bow, he stands and shakes Hiroshi's hand and is about to turn to bow to Nodoka and the others when he feels pain inside his head and a telepathic cry from Ran Koh. Ryoga turns in time to see a very badly burned panda with an unconscious Ran Koh slung over his shoulder and a broken table on the floor. The panda makes a dash from the door with his prize. Soun acts as bodyguard, for the thieving panda, what they don't expect is the wall of Amazons blocking the door. Behind them they feel a searing heat when they turn they see Ryoga glowing a bright forest green, they gulp while watching his aura turn blackish and it take the shape of a cat. They also notice next to him three Takashi males in fighting stances with katana's draw. "_Hold_!" The men turn and face the Amazons, the redhead being the one speaking to them. They look to one another then at the front window deciding to make a break with Ran Koh out the window. They come to a screeching halt when they are confronted with a coppery red lion the size of a horse, baring its fangs, and an eagle the size of 1-year-old pony. They look for another exit when they collapse suddenly to the floor. Ran Koh being removed from their grasp before she too hits the floor. They look up and see Dr. Tofu standing over them looking very angry, while holding the unconscious girl. Soun swallows hard, and stares while Dr. Tofu gives Ran Koh a quick examination with the help of Kasumi, who glares angrily at the men. This causes both men to cringe in fear, from the eldest Tendo daughter. Once Tofu satisfies himself that there is no damage, he turns and hands the girl to Ryoga who calms and disperses his aura so that he can take her from him. "_NO_ Dr. Tofu he belongs to us he is the fiancée of one of my daughters, _HE BELONGS TO US!_" Ryoga nods to the doctor then very slowly and painfully turns to leaves the restaurant. Nodoka and her mother follow the lost boy, while he carries the sleeping girl. He pauses looking lost when La Si comes to him and leads him to Ran Koh's rooms. He smiles bashfully at her, and mouths 'Thank you' to her. /*\*/*\ La Si guides Ryoga and the others to the top floor where Ran Koh and Ryoga have their rooms. Being careful not to touch the burn marks on Ryoga's arms she leads him slowly. While they follow the two Amazons, Taji tells Nodoka the _highlights_ of Ran Koh's life. With each step Nodoka gets angrier and angrier; she raises her hand to stop her mother, since she can take no more of this horror tale. She then asks her mother, her fist clenched at her side. "Mother, can father get me released from Genma and make sure I keep custody of Ranma?" Her mother scowls at her daughter and shakes her head. She then tries to explain. "Nodoka, Ranma is dead, legally and truly as if we had buried him. Ku Lon gave the Japanese and Chinese government proof of that fact. Both governments are satisfied that Ran Koh is a true Amazon who is under the custody of Ku Lon her great aunt. Daughter the sooner you come to terms with these facts; the better it will be for you and for Ran Koh. She needs you; she needs you to help her come to the decision as to how she will live. She does not need you forcing _Ranma_ back on her." Nodoka looks at her mother tears welling up in her eyes; she then glances to the back of Ryoga, while he is carrying the white hair girl to her rooms. Nodoka sighs, then nods and turns to follow her new daughter. Her mother smiles at her as she leaves. Then Taji hurries to catch up to them. They reach Ran Koh's room, when La Si opens the door a small blur jumps out and lands on Ran Koh's chest. The sleeping girl moans quietly as the little fur ball lands on a burned area. La Si shake her finger at the kitten scolding it, while the kitten bats at her finger as she chastises it. "You bad Ran Koh kitty, Ran Koh hurt, now get down play with momma later." La Si lifts the kitten gently and sets it on the sofa. The little calico watches with a look of confusion. It follows them into Ran Koh's bedroom. The little kitten jumps upon her pillows and stares at her mistress, distress gleaming in her eyes. She watches Ryoga place Ran Koh on the bed next to her and the little calico snuggles up next to her neck. Placing its small head on Ran Koh's shoulder it watches the unconscious girl for any sign of movement. When Taji tries to remove her she hisses and swipes at her. "Leave her Aunt Taji, she will not hurt her." Ryoga gasps out, Taji nods then notices how pale the boy is. She leads him to the living room and places him on the sofa. La Si comes in with a blanket and covers him up, knowing he will not leave until his soul mate wakes up. They all start with surprise, then stare at the door when they hear a loud scream coming from downstairs. Nodoka comes to the bedroom door, a look of fear and confusion on her face. /*\*/*\ While downstairs in the Nekohanten, there is less a scene of concern and more a seen of a battle field with sides drawn. Dr. Tofu siding with the Amazons, as does Kasumi. Akane sides with her father only because she does not like the fact that Cy Sin was able to defeat her so easily. Not to mention she wasn't going to side with a pervert. Nabiki on the other hand stands apart from both groups planning ways she can play them against one another to make a profit. Ku Lon returns from the kitchen with a boiling kettle of water and pours it on the panda. "GGGRRRROOOWAAAAAAAHHHHHH" She smiles evilly at the painful transformation. She then turns and pogoes over to the other Amazons. She turns and faces to two temporarily paralyzed men. Akane kneeling next to her father glaring daggers at the Amazons and betrayal at the doctor. Her feelings of betrayal increase when it is Kasumi who speaks. "_Father_ I am _ashamed_ to acknowledge you as such! What would mother say if she knew what you are trying to do to that poor girl." "_THAT IS NOT A GIRL_ that is my son a _MAN ABOVE MEN_, I _trained_ him to be a _MAN_ !" Ku Lon snorts in disgust, then pogoes up to the down man and looks him straight in the eye, then spits out. "_You_ trained him to be a thief, a liar, and a cheat until he was old enough to understand those things were bad and quit doing them, you trained him to be your meal ticket, someone _you_ can sell for a quick meal. There are five girls out there with a better claim to _Ranma_ then this weak excuse for a man. You not only dishonored the Saotome name you dishonored the Tendo name, as well as these three young girls!" Ku Lon pogoes away from him before he could say anything. She then gives a signal to the Amazons and they pick up Genma and Soun. They then carry them out side and leave them in the street outside the restaurant. The two younger Tendo daughters start to follow, when Nabiki turns and looks at her older sister. "Aren't you coming, Kasumi?" Kasumi shakes her head no, and then holds up a hand as her two sisters are about to argue with her. "I can not in good conscious come back into the house with that man there, not after what he and father did to poor Ran Koh. I will be staying at Dr. Tofu's; he has a small apartment over the clinic I can rent. I will pick up my belongings tomorrow. Good bye, and take care of each other." She walks over to her sisters; with tears streaming down her face she hugs them tightly. She whispers to them so only they can hear her. "Please understand, leaving you two is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, I can not abide by that promise father made, nor can I condone him for what they tried to do tonight. I will always be there for you two, and love you dearly, but I must move on and find my own way. Please come and visit when you can." She leans in and kisses them both then turns and runs over to the doctor and throws herself into his embrace shaking with sobs. The doctor trying not to go over the edge puts his arms around the woman he loves and holds her tightly. Akane stares at them scowling then storms out, with jealousy written on her face. Nabiki follows, with sadness slipping through the _Ice Queen_ façade. Mas Cra locks the door behind them and watches as they drag home the two old martial artists.