Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) http://mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm or Mirror Site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Chapter Fifty Six Ran Koh shakes her head as she turns and scans the scene before her. Her eyes narrow as she sees the demons numbers slowly diminish, then grow again. She looks for where they are entering their world but can not see it. She looks down and smiles lovingly as Cali joins the other cats. {Bye momma! I go fight with Sera!} The kitten disappears in the underbrush. Ran Koh begins to head back toward the fighting when she senses a presence, no two one is pure evil she watches the other Light Warriors shudder as they feel the evil also. She instinctively knows it is 'He Who Devours the Light'. He is reaching out to either help his minions or maybe open another portal to allow more to enter her world. She has no time to think on this as the other presence demands to be acknowledged by her. Her eyes widen as she recognizes the presence as one she felt was taken from her to soon. As someone she thought she would never see again. She locates a semi isolated area where she can communicate with this entity. She heads to an island toward the center of the lake, when she reaches it she lightly touches down facing the fighting she takes a lotus position and begins her meditations. /*\*/*\ Daniel watches as Ran Koh's eyes widen with surprise then sees her look around for something or someone. His face watches with curiosity as she heads for a small island in the center of the lake. He knows she is not a coward her fighting proves that, something else must be happening. Something he wants in on. The problem is how to get to the center of the lake. He looks around and sees Ran Koh's mother watching her daughter a slight scowl on her face. He quickly heads toward the floating woman. To Nodoka's luck Daniel slices through a demon trying to sneak up on the new sorceress. She turns and looks down at the leader of the warriors. "Takashi-san can you get to that island. Ran Koh may need help!" Nodoka looks at the man an eyebrow arching over her crystal blue eyes. "You think something is wrong?" Nodoka scowls down at him then looks with worry toward the island. "I feel something is happening! She would never leave the battle with so many innocents depending on her!" Daniel watches as a small proud smile adorns her lips. Nodoka nods and gets behind the warrior she struggles to lift him. She lifts him only a few inches off the ground and the two head for the island. Several times Daniel's feet ended in the water but he never says anything. His eyes are on the approaching island. When Nodoka sets him down she lands next to him and the two head toward the center of the island where they saw Ran Koh disappear toward. /*\*/*\ A helicopter flies from Tokyo toward Nerima Park onboard the Newscaster of CNN Tokyo division. She readies her microphone as the whirlybird comes to a stationary hover above the fighting. The woman stares down her eyes wide with shock. She was not expecting this kind of destruction nor did she believe the culprits were demons as the reports indicated. "Ladies and gentlemen it is horrendous in Nerima park. This is Torja Moribishi, live with the battle at Nerima Park. I am not ashamed to say that I am glad to be out of the reach of those hideous creatures. To this reporter if it wasn't for those brave warriors a lot of innocent lives would be lost. I am told there is a make shift trauma room on the far north side of the park and the way to this haven for the wounded is guarded by three kendo masters. "Ladies and gentlemen I would not have believed it unless I saw it with my own eyes. The enemies these warriors are fighting are defiantly demonic. Also many of the warriors seem to be magical in nature. I can see..MY GOD! The warriors even have cats fighting these things and it seems there is a tiger leading the cat brigade. These look like ordinary cats but they seem to some kind of strange power. They are able to inflict massive damage to the demons without being anywhere near them. "There are several warriors flying..whoa watch it Saketiro! Ladies and gentleman a white and golden griffin the size of a horse just flew by us with a black man riding its back. Both are shooting energy of white gold. Mesagi get the camera on them." A short man with black hair adjusts his grip on the camera and aims it at the griffin. The helicopter veers suddenly as a ball of copper red energy shoots up directly in its path. The riders watch as the energy arcs then descends into a mass of demons. It hits dead center and expands outward taking many of the demons with it. Mesagi follows the path of the blast recording it all for CNN's audience. The reporter taps the arm of the camera man and points to an area near a grove a trees. Mesagi follows where she points with the camera bringing the scene into focus. The camera man gulps as he watches the s slaughter unfold before him through the camera lens. "It is awful ladies and gentlemen the super cats have been surrounded by thirty or forty demons. The circle around the animals is three or four demons thick. The cats are isolated from the other warriors with no hope of rescue. They however intend to take down as many of the demons as they can. "The tiger and leader of the cats seems to be defending a small kitten, yes this is verified by my cameraman as he watches through the zoom lens. Even this kitten seems more powerful then any normal cat. It is a shame these valiant fighters will not live to fight..wait what's that noise?" Torja looks around and draws her cameraman's attention to a dozen flock of birds heading for the cats. "You won't believe this ladies and gentlemen but it looks like the Calvary has begun to arrive. There are at least ten maybe more, of flocks of birds converging on area. There are birds of every kind and they are heading to where the demons have cornered the super cats. The birds have started dive bombing attacks, but aren't really doing much damage it is almost as if they are trying to stall for time." The reporter and pilot watch shock evident on their faces. "TORJA! LOOK!" Mesagi taps her shoulder and points to the entrance of the park, his camera recording all. "MY KAMI-SAMI!" She exclaims as she turns to face the direction Mesagi points to. "Ladies and gentlemen I think this reporter has just changed her mind on the intelligence of animals. As you can see stray dogs with cat jockeys are heading toward the area of the super cats. This is fantas..OH MY! Ladies and gentlemen stay in your home it seems some of the wild animals in the forest around Tokyo have decided to join the fight. It seems they wish to protect their homes also." The three watch as the animals converge on the demons surrounding the cats. The reporter just has Mesagi keeps the camera on the animals while she give commentary on the other battles around her. She is sweating as Saketiro dodges again to avoid another blast this one black and silver impacting with a solid black. Torja holds onto a railing in order to keep from falling out of the chopper her body dripping with perspiration. "Ladies and gentlemen the battle does not look good. It seems for each of the demons killed four more show up. The warriors seem to be having a hard time keeping up and from here it looks like they are tiring. Oh my, the animals have broken the line of demons and the super cats have escaped. "It seems the sheer number of animals over ran the demons enough to break a whole to allow them to get through. Ladies and gentlemen a white golden glow has appeared on the small island in the middle of the lake. Two men are floating out toward the lake one surrounded by a black silver light the other a red copper one. Saketiro move follow them.. LOOK OUT!" The woman screams as a black ball of energy hits the copter knocking it back toward the grove of trees where the cats just escaped. The helicopter lands hard on the ground and skids into the outer rim of the trees. The propellers melted and twisted. Smoke is rising from the engines and groans can be heard from inside the down airship. A group of demons head toward the copter their red eyes glowing brightly. Their mouths hanging open and sizzling saliva drools down their faces. The demons sniff the air and smile hungrily at the smell of human blood. Their progression stops when a pack of fifty mongrel dogs block them on the back of the lead dog is a small calico kitten its eyes glowing red with anticipation. The demons laugh and charge the dogs only to have the lead demon stop short with claw marks across its chest. The other demons watch as their temporary leader's blood slowly oozes out of his body. The demon looks to the animals in front of him only to have the kitten slash out at him again this time four tiny but painful claw marks appear across the lead demon's face. The demon roars out in rage and lashes out to the kitten only to find its arm severed and laying on the ground his stump sealed preventing him from regenerating the missing limb. The other demons look to the side to see a big blue alley cat his eyes glowing yellow and his fangs pulled back into a snarl. With the attention of the demons toward Big Blue the dogs attack, Cali jumping from the dog and running through the legs of the demons slashing at their lower legs keeping them off balance. Big Blue and the other Neko-ken alley cats charge with the dogs. The battle is bloody but for the demons as the Neko-ken cats protect the dogs while tearing the demons apart and keeping them away from their leader. /*\*/*\ Sera with the aid of some of the wild animals charge the helicopter. Sera looks back at his army to make sure they are alright then with his powerful Neko claws tears open the copter. The three inside are all unconscious and blood covers everything. They animal rescuers do not notice the red light on the camera as the lens points at them. Nor do the seem to care that their rescue of the victims of the crash is being broadcast across the CNN network world wide. Sera starts by pulling out the female. Her face red with blood from a gash on her forehead and her legs at odd angles. Sera hands her to the bear behind him who places the woman gently on the back of an over sized gray wolf. Sera then pulls out the cameraman his arm broken and his legs look and move like jelly. Sera growls and the bear nods as he loads Mesagi onto another large wolf. The last person in the chopper was stuck Sera tries to pull him loose but he doesn't budge and the smoke is getting stronger. Sera knows the flying thing is about to blow up and they need to get this man out. The bear comes forward and between the bear pulling on the pilot's chair and Sera pulling on the pilot by his collar. The two animals working together get the pilot out and he is the worse of all of them. His face is bloody from crashing into the copter's windshield and there is a large amount of blood coming from his abdomen. Once outside the bear puts the pilot gently on Sera's back. Sera lets loose with a roar and he and the wolves and bear disappear toward the medical facility. /*\*/*\ "RRROOOOOAAAAARRRRR!" The cats hear the call of their leader they and the dogs break from their battle to follow. They lead the demons toward the helicopter and as they quickly pass the chopper the demons behind them. The helicopter finally explodes taking five of the ten demons with them. The camera filming the passing cats, and the demons giving the home viewers their first real glance at hell. Then the broadcast goes black at the explosion. The remaining five receives damage from the debris thus weakening them. The remaining five demons are soon left as puddles of demon ooze as the cats and dogs attack them to finish the fight. The animals watch their eyes filled with the horror of the battle and the pain of the losses of life going on around them. The cats and dogs then take off after their leader to run interference and protect the injured people they are taking to the medical team. The bear leads the three living transporters. Their way is soon impeded by the appearance of a lone demon, its mouth watering at the smell of the blood from the news crew. The black bear stands on its hind legs and stands as tall as the eleven foot demon. The bear lashes out at the demon but it dodges and slashes back catching the bears upper arm. The bear roars in pain and tries to dodge another swipe from the demon. This time the damage is done to his back leaving four bleeding slash marks. The bear collapses and struggles to rise to its feet knowing it must protect the others. The demon stands over the bear it's tongue moving over its lips in anticipation of the feast it was about to partake of. It's razor sharp claw rises above its head for the killing blow. The bear waits knowing it has failed, and it will not be able to help defend its world from the evil it has been sensing. The bear keeps waiting struggling to rise but the death blow never comes, only the scream of pain from the demon standing next to it. The bear turns its head to see three humans with glowing swords standing behind the demon. The demon's claw laying on the ground tuning to black sludge. The faces of the men looking like demons themselves in the bluish glow of their weapons. Standing behind one of the men a small calico kitten and behind the kitten a woman and six men with litters. The bear puts down its head, it did succeed it keeping the wounded humans safe till others have come for them. The bear slowly closes its eyes knowing it is not a priority but happy to go knowing its presence is worthwhile. The sound of caterwauling causes the bear to open its eyes. It looks into the calico face of Cali who continues to cry while licking the nose of the dying bear. The bear's head jerks when it feels the gentle touch of the female human she applies a salve and bandages to his wounds. There is no fear from the woman as if she knows instinctively the bear would not hurt her. The bear lowers his head to the ground knowing it is a waste of needed supplies. The woman summons the two young warriors who carry the bear toward the shelter, the little kitten clutching to his chest. The bear closes his eyes as unconsciousness over takes him. /*\*/*\ The Amazons elders and their warriors use three thousand years of techniques fighting an enemy they have never engaged before. The only thing keeping them alive is the training with the Light Warriors. Those with magical abilities have given the Amazons the edge they would not normally have against demons. Plus the training in the Japanese tribe of weapons and chi use has saved the lives of three of the non magical fighters. Che Ri and Cy Sin being two of them. Fighting near by Xian Pu is smashing a demon with her chi enhanced bonari, even though she is a sorceress she still relies on her martial arts, but a fireball once in a while doesn't hurt. She fights next to the shamen from the United States their mystical powers complimenting her sorcery. The roar of Sera catches Xian Pu's attention. She does not understand the big cat but she knows something bad is happening. Xian Pu turns and heads toward the sound of the cat her elders watching with slight scowls. She ignores them and continues on knowing her cousins would be devastated if something happen to the tiger. Behind her one of the Shamen watches her leave. He turns to continue the fight believing the purple hair girl a coward when he shudders and his eyes glaze over slightly. He is soon lying on the ground as one of his brothers pushes him out of the way of a demon strike. The roar of the tiger calls to him, he feels the power of the tiger. It pulls him toward it, he now feels guilty thinking the warrior woman a coward. His eyes widen as he sees through the big cat's eyes as it rescues the crew of the helicopter. He sees the large black bear and shudders again as the bear also is one of his totem. He rises and follows behind the retreating form of Xian Pu, Ku Lon's eyebrow raises in surprise. /*\*/*\ Xian Pu and Don arrive in time to see the people and the bear being taken to the medical shelter. Xian Pu breathes a sigh of relief when she sees Sera follow behind them. She takes off after the tiger just wanting to make sure he is safe. Don watches her a slight smile on his face then follows her. When they arrive at the shelter the see the news crew being tended and ambulances waiting to take them to hospital. The warrior woman and Indian warrior look for the animals they are worrying about. The laughter of a child draws their attention. They turn and see a small little girl cuddling Cali while huddling close to the bear. The bear's big paw wraping protectively around the little girl, a growl escaping it at a man. Xian Pu recognizes him as the government official. The two warriors step forward, the Amazon bending down to inspect the tiger as does the shaman. Xian Pu's eyebrow rises with curiosity, but is ignored while the Shaman begins to examine the bear. Kyoshi Tomoko scowls as the bear allows the gajins to tend to him. The Shaman smiles at him and continues with his examination. Xian Pu comes up next to the shaman, after having Sera push her towards the bear. Xian Pu realizes the tiger wants her to heal the bear, she is unsure but Sera's insistence wears her down. Xian Pu kneels next to the bear her one hand glowing a soft purplish pink. She reaches for the bear only to have the tan skinned hand of the shaman wrap around her wrist in a tight vise like grip. She turns to see the Indian holding her wrist but looking at the bear, his other hand stroking its fur softly. "Xian Pu can heal! Let Xian Pu go!" She tells the man next to her who looks up at her with a shake of his head. Xian Pu stares into the black orbs looking at her and can feel herself getting lost in their depths. The shaman is just about Xian Pu's height but an inch or two taller. His black hair falls down to his waist and is in a tight braid. He is wearing a white tee shirt, denim jeans and a pair of black leather biker boots. He has a muscular build and carries a staff of white ash. The staff is six feet long and with the carvings of a bear, tiger, hawk, deer, trout, wolf and owl on it. "No! He is part of many of our totem, magic will not heal him properly and it will destroy our link to him." The Shaman tells her glad he knows Japanese. "Xian Pu no understand..ah?" She looks down to the bear and sees the pain glowing in its eyes. "Don Morning Star." Was Don's curt reply while he turns is attention to the work at hand. Don lets go of her hand, he then reaches into one of his many pouches and pulls out a small amount of the contents. Xian Pu watches her eyes alight with curiosity. The Shaman next pulls a small bowl from another pouch and places the herbs and spices into it. Xian Pu gasps when the man pulls a large ornate hunting dagger from the sheath at his waist and cuts the palm of his hand. She watches while he lets the blood drip into the mixture. Xian Pu looks down when she feels a nudge and sees Sera's head peeking around her watching the Shaman closely. To the warrior maid it is almost like Sera is telling the man what he needs to do. Sera then pushes Xian Pu's hand toward the Indian, she grasping what the tiger wants. Xian Pu pulls her dagger from her hip slicing her palm as the man next to her has done and allows her blood to drip into the mixture. Don snaps his head up and stares in shock at the Amazon before him. His mouth opening at the small smile on her beautiful blushing face. "Sera want Xian Pu help, Xian Pu trust cousin Ran Koh and Ryoga's tiger." The Shaman finally notices the tiger's head poking around the girls side. "Do you realize what you have done?" The Shaman asks her his eyes wide. "Xian Pu help bear who help us fight evil." She tells him with a shrug of her strong slender shoulders. "But in order for the potion to work now we must mingle blood, we must become blood brother and sister. This will links us forever not only to each other but to the bear as well." Xian Pu stares at him confusion on her face. Then the light of understanding glows in her beautiful red violet eyes. She smiles as she reaches her bloody hand out and grasps the bleeding hand of Don. Their blood mingles and the power within the two of them transfers between them. Both feel slightly dizzy as the two of them glow with a purplish pink and light green light. Don tries to pull his hand free before the rite goes to far, but his eyes widen at the grip of steel that hold him. <"I Xian Pu daughter of the Amazon's, Warrior in battle and heart..!"> She begins the Amazon rite of blood bonding in Chinese Don looks on not understanding. Xian Pu smiles when she hears a voice that is old and raspy translate the rite. She watches as the Shaman before her stares his eyes widening so much the Amazon fears his eyes will fall out. Her grip tightens as he tries to pull free. "I Xian Pu daughter of the Amazon's, Warrior in battle and heart..!" The small group all turns to face Ku Lon balancing on her cane all turn but Xian Pu. <"Have joined my blood to Don Morning Star to make us stronger and unite our people with this blood oath!"> Xian Pu pauses to allow Ku Lon to translate for those who are listening with surprise on their faces. "Have joined my blood to Don Morning Star to make us stronger and unite our people with this blood oath!" Ku Lon smiles at her great granddaughter as she realizes the child is summoning the power of the blood into this new union. <"I give the word of my warrior's soul and heart to aid Don Morning Star and his people with all my power and strength!"> Xian Pu stops this time not just for Ku Lon's translation but for his response. "I give the word of my warrior's soul and heart to aid Don Morning Star and his people with all my power and strength!" Ku Lon completes and then looks into the eyes of the shaman and waits. Don stares at the old woman with confusion, his eyes are then drawn to the girl, who's hand has his in a grip of pure steel. He sees the expectation in her eyes, the longing, and the loneliness. He realizes he sees himself in her red- violet eyes and with that realization he now knows he wants this also. With his free hand he picks up the cup where their blood mixes with the herbs and spices. He then forces it down the bear's throat. He then takes the paw of the bear and lays it over his and Xian Pu's clasped hands. Sera steps forward and places his paw on top of the bears. Cali and the little girl watching with curious eyes. Don then places his free hand on top of Sera's paw and looks deeply into Xian Pu's eyes a small smile on his lips. "I Don Morning Star, Shaman of the Navaho, accept the blood oath of Xian Pu of the Joketsuzoku Amazons. I accept her as a warrior and my equal. I accept her strength and her aid when in times of need. I accept her as my blood bonded and add to her strength the power of my strongest totems the bear and the tiger. I Don Morning Star, Shaman of the Navaho, offer to her all my power and strength. With the power of the totems I claim Xian Pu as my blood bonded and with all my warrior's soul I give to her my blood oath!" Ku Lon falls from her staff but Xian Pu never notices, her mouth hanging open as she stares at the man before her. The death cries of the dying demons in the background mixing with the warrior's battle cries as the sounds of battle rage. The glowing around the two warriors has grown to encompass the bear and tiger. The little girl giggles as the auras tickle her nose slightly as tendrils of the mixing colors shoot out from time to time. Cali tries to catch the tendrils while having fun playing with the little girl and the dancing light. Don leans forward and kisses Xian Pu's open lips gently then takes his hand from the top of Sera's paw and reaches into a hidden pocket. He then pulls out a deer skin bundle. He has trouble opening the bundle. Then a pair of aged hands takes the bundle from him and opens it before her granddaughter and Don. With reverence Ku Lon unwraps the bundle her eyes widen when two pendants fall from the cloth. They are on chains of thirty six inch pewter and one has a three inch across yellow cats eye in the center of the pewter medallion of the sun. The other was a has a three inch opal in a pewter medallion of the moon. She hands them to Don who takes the sun medallion in his hand and nods that Ku Lon should give to Xian Pu the moon medallion. "I am the power of the sun, the strength that lights our way. The power that warms our hearts. I give of myself to you for all to see. I seal this blood bond with my blood, my heart, and my soul." Don with the help of Ku Lon puts the sun pendant around the neck of Xian Pu. <"I am the mystery of the moon, the soul behind the power of the sun. I give of myself to you for all to see. I seal this blood oath with my blood, my heart and my soul."> While Xian Pu places the moon pendant around Don's neck Ku Lon translates her perfect Chinese. "I am the mystery of the moon, the soul behind the power of the sun. I give of myself to you for all to see. I seal this blood oath with my blood, my heart and my soul." Ku Lon looks at the two, she steps back quickly when the moon pendant falls to rest on the neck of Don. The two warriors glow brighter then the sun. The light causes everyone in the shelter to finally notice the small group. When the light fades the two warriors are standing and the bear is completely healed. The bear and Sera stand protectively next to Xian Pu and Don. Mirako walks up to the bear examining his missing wounds. She turns to the warriors Xian Pu shrugs and Don smiles. "The bear is a part of my totem it was my responsibility to heal him." He tells the doctor his hand resting lightly on Xian Pu's shoulder. "Enough talk son-in-law! We have a battle to win." Don jumps at the sound of the ancient voice behind him. He turns and narrows his eyes at the old woman standing behind Xian Pu. She looks at him with an arched eyebrow, and wry smile on her face. He then looks to Xian Pu who's face is the epitome of confusion. She looks to her blood bonded then back at her great grandmother with narrowing eyes. "What great grandmother mean? Don no beat Xian Pu!" A purplish pink aura forms around the young Amazon. "BWHAHAHAHA! Children, children, children *SIGH*! When an elder takes part in a blood bonding _any_ part, it is tantamount to a marriage ceremony. You and Don are now man and wife! Go on granddaughter ask him! The fact the two of you exchanged the pendants makes it a marriage from his tribes point of view as well. Does it not _son-in-law_!" Ku Lon turns to the young Shaman, who looks down at his feet with a sad look. "Is true!" Xian Pu asks there is no anger in her voice more a cross between happiness and surprise. "Yes it is true. When I saw in your eyes that we were kindred spirits, and that one of my more powerful totems was pushing you toward me..I took it the blood rite to its highest level. Your not mad are you?" Don points toward Sera then looks at Xian Pu. "No Xian Pu no mad, but we need talk later!" He smiles at her as he takes her hand and kisses it. "Come children we must go!" Ku Lon hops away on her staff the two warriors and a menagerie of animals behind them.