Ranma 1/2: Ranma No More Alternate History By: Dani Yanega yanega@mindspring.com (please respond to this e-mail address) http://www.mindspring.com/~yanega/index.htm or Visit my Mirror site at: http://www.ranko.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.htm Chapter Sixty Two Megan, Joshua, and Msu Tsu arrive at Nabiki's apartment and nearly pass out from the destruction surrounding the neighborhood. There are only about a dozen demons but they seem to have destroyed the entire area. Msu Tsu taps his friends and points to a building where the demons seem to be having trouble. They can enter and leave the main entrance but the apartment doors and windows seem to be resistant to them. "That's Nabiki's building I guess Ran Koh didn't realize her spell covered all the apartments not just Nabiki's." Joshua tells them. They mentally summon the other Light Warriors then begin their assault only to stop at the sound of several war cries. Msu Tsu shudders then turns to see Ku Lon leading an Amazon war party into the area. "Well the first wave of reinforcements has arrived." Msu Tsu tells them with an unreadable look. Msu Tsu then transforms into a red and copper hawk. He then dive bombs a demon trying to break threw Nabiki's apartment window. His eyes glowing a coppery red. He screeches then twin beams of red with a cord of copper spiraling around it shoots forth. The demon's death scream fills the area. The Amazons stop and look up to see the giant red and copper hawk. They then hear a roaring screech and see a white and gold griffin swoop down and fly through the open door of another apartment. They follow the path of the griffin back from where its flight began. The see the dark shape of a man standing there. The watch as he glows a white and gold and then floats down to the center of the street in front of them. He then transforms into a centaur with a golden white horse's body and long white golden hair. The human body is as black as the blackest night. His human portion glistens seductively in the light of the moon. The Amazons watch him take off in a different area a glowing sword in one hand and a gold and white ball of ki in his other. The Amazons not wanting to be out done split up into twos and rage war on spawn of hell. /*\*/*\ "RAN KOH! WHERE ARE YOU!" The shout wakes everyone in the clinic bringing them to the room Nodoka and Ran Koh are staying in. Nodoka is sitting up staring at the empty bed next to hers. Li Ly and Taji look on with frustration and worry. Tofu and Nabiki enter worry marring their faces. "She is gone! There is an attack I can since it but I don't know where. I think some of the Light Warriors are there and sent a mental message. They forgot to leave her out of the summons." Nodoka cries as she reaches out and touches her daughters empty bed. "How do you know that Auntie?" Kasumi asks her with worry, as she walks up and wraps her arm around the woman. "I can sense it. My training has increased my sensitivity to the evil. I also feel the Light Warriors call as a kind of gentle push against my skin." She tells them as she starts to rise. "You can not get up Auntie you are not strong enough." Kasumi tries to push her back down but she gently but firmly pushes her away. "I am going to help my daughter. The two of you had better contact your medical team and head out as well." Nodoka tells them her eyes hard with determination. "And where do you plan to go you do not know where the battle is." Li Ly brings a voice of reason to the argument. Nodoka turns toward the Amazon her eyes flashing with magical fire. Nodoka then smiles like a predator at its corned prey. Her eyes never leaving Li Ly's her arm rises and points to the window in the room. "You are right I don't know where the fighting is but _they_ do!" She turns and races out the front door. The room turns and sees a group of stray cats at the window watching them. Li Ly breaks into a smile and follows Nodoka out the door. Taji close behind. Tofu and Kasumi watch as all but two cats leave. They realize the last two are to lead them to the battle. They quickly gather what they might need. Tofu picking up his cell phone and dialing the others of the medical team. He is sure they too have an escort waiting for them. /*\*/*\ "Come on Auntie Aimeko answer the phone!" Nabiki was getting impatient and the demons at her windows and door were to. "HELLO, WHO IS THIS! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE!" Nabiki lets out the breath she is holding. "Auntie it's me Nabiki! I don't have time for details but stay in your apartment under no circumstances do you open any windows or doors!" Nabiki tells her hurriedly. "Nabiki? What are you talk..WHO THE HELL IS AT THE DOOR AT THIS TIME OF NIGHT! Hold on, dear..?" Aimeko starts to put the receiver down. "NO! AUNTIE DON'T ANSWER IT!" Nabiki shouts at her aunt. "Nabiki what is wrong with you?" Her aunt comes back on the pound on her door and her aunt's coming to her in stereo. "Auntie, do you have any drapes open in your apartment close by?" She waits for the pregnant pause to end. "Nabiki is this some kind of stupid prank?" Aimeko's voice begins to get angry. "NO DAMN IT! LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW AUNTIE THE DEATH AND DISTRUCTION GOING ON IS NOT A F*&KING JOKE!" Nabiki yells at her trying to get her to understand. /*\*/*\ Aimeko looks at the receiver her eyes wide with shock. When the banging on the door gets louder and more violent. She turns to see it bow slightly then spring back with a loud snap. She turns toward her living room window when she hears a loud screech. She turns just in time to see a twelve foot monster with long gangly arms and piercing red eyes trying to brake into her apartment. She pushes her confusion as to why it has not been able to get in. When she drops the phone and screams as twin beams of solid red with strands of spiraling copper slams into the monster killing it instantly. She falls to her but next to phone as a red and copper hawk the size of a pony swoops by her window. She can hear Nabiki's voice calling to her over the phone but she ignores it. She crawls to her window. She raises her head slowly and peeks out over the edge of the sill. Her eyes go wide and her stomach begins to turn and twist. She gets up and runs quickly to the bathroom. She vomits into the toilet for the next few minutes. When she finishes she washes out her mouth and turns to leave. She exits into her bedroom to be confronted by another monster trying to get in through her bedroom window. She runs back to the living room she can still hear Nabiki calling to her. She runs to the phone and picks it up. Her niece's frantic voice on the other end. "AUNTIE, ANSWER ME! PLEASE DON'T DIE ON ME NOT AGAIN!" Nabiki's worry is overpowering, as memories of her mother's death come back. "I am here Nabiki! What are those things? Did you see that large reddish copper bird?" Aimeko asks trying to give her niece a moment to calm down. "Red and copper? OH THANK GOD THE LIGHT WARRIORS!" Nabiki shouts as she toward her window only to stop as the demon still there increases its effort to get her. Nabiki runs back to the phone and picks it up. She hears the tale end of her aunt's question and smiles slightly at the confusion. There is a long pause and before Nabiki can explain her aunt remembers. "THOSE ARE THE ONES FROM THE PARK!" Aimeko screams over the pounding on her door and windows. "Yeah it seems they are in the neighborhood." Nabiki tells her with a smirk. Nabiki pauses when she hears the war cry of the Amazons from the streets below. Her smile broadens and she breathes another sigh of relief. The pounding on her door and windows reminds her she is not out of trouble yet. "Auntie the Amazons are here too. Listen to me very carefully. You said you practiced mother art what was it?" She asks hurriedly her aunt quiet on the other end. "I don't know wha..?" Aimeko is abruptly cut off by Nabiki. "JUST ANSWER ME!" Nabiki takes a deep breath to calm herself and continue. "I am sorry auntie but if the demon at your door did what mine did you are in terrible danger. They can regenerate. Mine cut off two of its fingers inside my apartment and started to grow two new demons." Nabiki never talked for so long or quickly, but she needs to get her aunt to listen and not argue. "They..I..Our family practiced an art much like the Anything Goes. We created our own school combining three distinct fighting types. It was kempo, kendo, and tai chi. It was designed to fit the personality of every possible student in one way or another." Aimeko tells her with a monotone voice as if she is reciting a litany. "Auntie this is important, does your school teach ki or chi manipulation?" Nabiki waits for her aunts reply, jumping slightly at the increase in the demons attempts to enter. Nabiki's eyes flit around her apartment her gaze landing on the windows and door. She looks for any new visitors and is happy to see one of the demons at her window get blown away by shards of ice glowing black and sliver. Her elation falls when another demon takes its place. "No Nabiki the did not. It is not possible to use ones ki it is to dangerous to the users life and chi because it is effected by emotions tends to drive people insane." Nabiki rolls her eyes and shakes her. "Auntie that is the belief of those masters who _can NOT_ master their ki and chi. The Light Warriors, the Amazons, and almost everyone fighting can use their ki and chi. Hell even Akane can to some degree, but she is just dangerous with her." Nabiki tells her aunt with some superiority. "Now listen to me, unless you have a magically enchanted weapon just lying around you need to get something that can be used to seal any open wounds, if the demon manages to get any body pars in your door." Nabiki begins to explain as quickly as she can. "I also recommend you get out your sword and once you seal the wound cut it up sealing each wound as you go until it turns to a black puddle." Nabiki waits for the response when she doesn't hear one she begins to worry. "Auntie? Auntie, are you there? AUNTIE ANSWER ME DAMN IT!" Nabiki shouts into the phone. /*\*/*\ Ran Koh flies quickly through the air. Her wound still not healed but she can not wait. She focuses her ki into the area to help with the healing, she doesn't notice the wound bleeding again. She follows the feel of evil to the area where Nabiki lives. A small frown appears on her face as she recognizes it as Nabiki's street. She quickly assesses what is going on. She sees about five demons left most hanging off of Nabiki's building. She is in shock that there are not more. She raises an eyebrow as she sees the Amazons and the three Light Warriors there are doing fine without her aid. She lands on a nearby roof and begins to meditate as she did on the island in the park. She feels the arrival of The other Light Warriors and hears the arrival of some of the other fighters below. She does not acknowledge them she continues to reach out with her senses. She feels Samuel and Alex lean against her back and form a triangle and add their powers to hers. For they also believe something else is going on. The non magical leaders create a standing triangle standing where the three sitting ones meet. They clasp their hands above the heads of the magic users. They begin to rotate first left then right. They do not know why they are doing this only that they know they must. This continues for a few moments when the sitting leaders begin to rise and spin in opposite directions as their soul mates. The warriors with the Light Warriors watch in awe. They are also curious as to what is going on. The warriors on the roof are soon joined by three new arrivals who stare in surprise at the glowing mass in front of them. /*\*/*\ Nodoka enters the neighborhood and sees the destruction. She also sees the fighters there really did not need any more help. She begins to look for her wayward daughter when a gasp comes from behind her. She turns to she her mother and Li Ly behind her staring up toward a roof. Nodoka turns and sees a large ball of glowing red, white, and black. It also has tinges of silver, copper and gold. She casts a spell then picks up her mother and levitates toward the building. Li Ly joins her by jumping onto the nearest roof and roof hopping the few roofs the group. /*\*/*\ Kasumi and Tofu finally reaches the embattled area, not long after Derek and Mirako arrive. The small group begins to circulate through secure buildings for survivors. The task is unbearable as there was nothing left of the almost all the inhabitants to help. The medical team did find one or two families hiding in basement shelters. They have minor injuries and are in shock. The team treats them but find only two more such groups. The rest of the buildings tell a grim tale of tonight's attack. Kasumi helps a family outside to a waiting ambulance in time for them to see the last building under attack, be freed. Their faces full of confusion as the watch as the buildings residences come out pretty much unharmed. Mirako runs to the last building to check the survivors. She talks with Aimeko and finds that some of her tenants are missing and she knows they were home. Mirako turns to go into the building when a red and copper lion exits, its head shaking 'no'. Mirako's heart sinks and nods her understanding. Mirako jumps at the hand on her shoulder. She looks up to see Anna standing next to sadness overflowing her hazel eyes. Mirako reaches up and pats her hand with a sad smile. They then turn to start checking the other buildings. Their exuberance from the victory at the park now gone. Anna stops and Mirako looks at her she then follows the Light Warrior's gaze to see the large glowing ball or red, white and black. With shimmering silver, gold and copper on top of a nearby roof. She turns to ask Anna what it is when she sees the back of the girl as she heads toward the building. /*\*/*\ As the Amazons and other warriors finish off the remaining demons the Light Warriors converge on the roof with their leaders. All with looks of uncertainty and confusion. Li Ly notices this. "Why are you confused? Do you not know what the others are thinking?" Li Ly asks Martina as she stares with awe at her leaders. "No, we can block our thoughts and they are doing that now." Martina tells the elder. Li Ly nods and turns back to the glowing leaders. She is soon joined by the other elders as the battle is complete and the warriors are now helping with the wounded. Ku Lon and Mas Cra watch with bright inquisitive eyes as the glow around the leaders slowly fades. "Daughter what is it? What do you find out?" Nodoka asks her wayward daughter as soon as the glow was gone. "*SIGH* Well first this is the only attack for tonight." Ran Koh tells with a weak whisper. Ran Koh then falls back into the arms of Samuel who felt her strength wane. His eyes widen when his hand touches her side and finds it wet. He looks down to see her wound has re-open. He then looks up to see that Nodoka is fairing no better. "Ryoga get your mother and lets them back to the apartment complex. Dr. Tofu will need the space at the clinic for the wounded from tonight." Samuel tells his friend and he picks up Ran Koh. Ryoga looks at him with confusion then turns to the woman who he considers his mother. His eyes widen when he sees the blood soaking her kimono sleeve. He walks over to her and against her protests picks her up and follows behind Samuel. The remaining warriors watch as the two head off. Before the elders can ask the other Light Warriors take off Alex taking Nodoka's mother Taji with him. The Amazons soon follow to help tend the still bleeding Takashi women. /*\*/*\ "N..Nabiki the demon it sounds like he is breaking through the door! What am I going to do?" Aimeko's voice is loaded with terror. "Take it easy auntie. Do you have your sword and something hot?" Nabiki asks her worry crossing her face. Nabiki waits as her aunt gathers the things she is asking for. Nabiki's mind slips back to her mother. She vaguely remembers meeting Aimeko back then. She today, however is not going to loose the only living link to her mother. "I..I have my sword, and a gas grill lighter." Aimeko places her katana and something that looks like a gun but with a six inch long barrel next to her. "N..NABIKI!" Aimeko screams as Nabiki hears the breaking of the door. "AUNTIE!" Nabiki shouts into the phone. "I WON'T LOOSE YOU TOO!" Nabiki shouts picking up her sword and running for her door. Nabiki swings open the door so fast that the demon on the other side falls into the apartment with surprise only to be cut in half with Nabiki's enchanted sword. She runs into the hallway jumping over the dissolving bubble of goop. She enters the hallway and stops as two other demons are there pounding at the various doors. Her split second delay is enough the one of the demons sees her and charges yelling in hungry delight. She gulps and takes a ready stance she has seen Kuno use against her sister. [Oh, Kami-sama! Help me with this, and let that morons skills be as good as he proclaims! Mother, help me save your sister!] Nabiki prays to both the Kami and her mother. /*\*/*\ Aimeko rushes around her apartment searching for something that is hot but doesn't have to be plugged in. She rummages through her kitchen drawers and finds a grill lighter with a six inch silver barrel with a red pistol handle. She clicks the striker and it lights. She smiles sadly as it is not much but it might do some damage. She runs back to her phone. She picks up the receiver hiding behind the sofa keeping it between her and the door. She tells Nabiki what she has found and she can her it in her nieces voice that it may not be enough. She screams for help as the door to her finally gives way as the magic Ran Koh cast was only on Nabiki's apartment but the backlash of the spell is somehow protecting the others if for only a while. Aimeko hears the snarling, and sniffing of the demon. She bolsters her courage and stands holding the lighter in one hand and the sword in the other. The demon stares at her in mock confusion then smiles showing rows of jagged, blood covered teeth. The twelve foot tall demon lumbers toward the frighten woman, who brandishes her katana hoping and praying she can remember her lessons. The demon licks its lips as it comes closer to her. Aimeko backs up a step her katana in front of her waiting for her death. Aimeko is no fool she knows she will be joining her family and twin soon but she will make her family proud. She will die fighting and if she can she will send this monster back to hell. She watches as the monster gets ready to lung. She spots it in the creatures movements and stance. She waits for it, but nothing happens. The monster's eyes open wide with shock as it stands motionless pain and surprise filling its face. Aimeko watches as the demon's upper half slides from his bottom half both sections sealed shut by the glowing blue katana. Aimeko watches in fascination as the monster begins to bubble and dissolve into a pull of thick black liquid. She looks up and her eyes go wide with surprise. "N..NABIKI!" Nabiki stands before Aimeko black demon blood all over her and her eyes wild with fear. /*\*/*\ Nabiki steps back a step as the first demon's shouts draws the attention of the other toward her. She is happy the small hallway can only permit one demon at a time but still she knows she is in a lot of trouble. She is a master of the Tendo Anything Goes and both the Saotome and Tendo school frowns on weapon use. She is however glad her mother took the time to show her the Hiromie School of Gentle Kendo. The name being very deceptive. She just hopes she remembers enough. The first demon reaches her but she does not back up or step to the side. She wants to keep the second demon at bay. To do that she must face the first head on. To side step will put her in the reach of the other. She is not full she may be a master of the Tendo school but without constant training her skills have fallen to the way side. She brings her magically glowing sword in front of her. The demon pauses as he senses the magic from the sword. He can also sense the hesitation and fear from his victim. He smiles lustfully at the girl in front of him. It believing he has an easy target, one he will _play_ with (insert HENTAI fantasy here) before eating her alive. Nabiki smiles to herself as she watches the demon fall for her show of fear. You don't become the 'Ice Queen' without learning how to project true emotions to achieve your final goals. She waits for the grinning demon to continue. She notices the monster behind it wants through and tries to push its companion out of the way. This causes the one in front of Nabiki to turn and lash out at the monster behind it. Nabiki watches in fascination as the two demons start to fight one another. She feels her anger rise. She burst forth a bright red aura and is about to scream when she stops herself and stares dumbfounded at the still fighting demons. Neither noticing her outburst. [What the hell am I doing. I am not Akane! Daddy always said, to wait for an opening and as far as demons are concerned _that_ is an opening.] She smiles the smile she would give to her victims that would make them tremble. Nabiki then without further ado quietly launches herself at the still fighting demons. Nabiki makes her first attack count because she knows if she doesn't kill him with the first blow she is dead. She swings her katana in a wide arch and slices through the demon. She starts at his shoulder just next to the neck and brings the katana down at an angle exiting the black monstrosities body just above the opposite hip. The glowing blade searing the wound shut as it goes. The other demon stops in confusion as its adversary begins to fall into two pieces. He doesn't take long to realize what went wrong. He prepares himself for the attack. He dodges the blades swing and the katana cuts through the monster's arm severing it. The wounds burnt shut. Neither fighter takes the time to notice that the first demon and the severed arm begin to bubble and disintegrate into the black pool of sludge. Nabiki keeps swinging her sword trying to keep the last demon off balance her mind racing toward what could be happening to her aunt. Nabiki stumbles on an overturned table that the demon just through in her path. She curses for not paying attention. The demon then lunges at her and she has just enough time to raise her sword upward. The demon charges forward and just as he jumps to land on her, his victim raises her glowing sword and unable to stop he impales himself on the sword. He grins as the weapon misses anything vital. The grin turns to a grimace when the girl under him twists the sword and begins to move it side to side. Then up and down, dissecting the demon to four uneven quarters. Nabiki quickly crawls out from under the demon not wanting it to dissolve on top of her. It is bad enough that she is now covered in its blood. She doesn't even spare her enemy a backward glance as she heads for her aunts apartment. /*\*/*\ Nabiki cautiously but quickly moves through the building. She checks hallways before she crosses them. She notices that many of the dark hallways have broken doors. She figures that the protection afforded the rest of the building was a backlash from the spell Ran Koh placed on her home. She moves quickly and quietly as she can. It seems some of her martial arts skill is still intact. She reaches the first floor and heads to her aunts apartment. She picks around the corner of the hallway that holds her home. She gasps as like the other hallways many of the doors have already been broken into. She shudders as she thinks of the people that must have died. She notices some of the doors were open but not broken. Her stomach turns as she thinks of those that let their killers in, just like she almost did. She slips into the hallway and heads for her aunts open door. She peeks in and sees the demon in front of her aunt. Aimeko is holding her sword in one hand and what Nabiki guesses is the grill lighter in the other. She sneaks up to the demon as neither it nor her aunt notices she is there. All the better for what she has to do. Nabiki does not delude herself. She may very well be a Master of the Tendo Anything Goes, but she also knows she has not practiced the art in years and is extremely rusty. So she does not mind hitting her opponent while its back is to her. Especially since these opponents are monstrous demons. When Nabiki is close enough she brings her sword up over her head then brings it down onto the demon like she did with the one outside her apartment. She cut through the monster from its shoulder to its opposite hip. She and Aimeko watch as its top half slides off to the floor. She then watches as its bottom half falls over both cuts seared shut by the magic in the sword. Nabiki stands there gasping watching as the monster turns to puddle of demon slim. "N..NABIKI!" Nabiki looks up at the shout of her aunt. "Hi, auntie anything new?" Nabiki tries to smirk but it isn't in her. She falls to her knees her sword clamoring to the floor beside her. She covers her face with her hands and begins to cry. She leans into the embrace of two very strong arms as they wrap around her. She cries into the neck of the person holding her.