Chapter 21
Ranma paused in the doorway, watching with
amusement as with a yell Akane demolished the stack of cinder blocks
before her. "What's the point?"
"What?" Akane asked as she whirled about to face him.
"What's the point? All you're doing is ruining some perfectly good blocks." Ranma said as he leaned against the dojo door frame.
Akane merely glared at him, declining to answer his comment. "What'd you want Ranma?" She demanded angrily.
"To talk," Ranma replied without rancour.
Akane
raised her eyebrows in obvious disbelief and said sarcastically, "You
talk? That requires some thinking. Are you sure you're up to it?"
Ranma ignored her poor attempt to rile him. "I really think that this fiasco should end."
"What 'fiasco'?"
"This thing with me being engaged to practically half the population of Japan and China."
"We can talk about it when you get rid of your other fiancées!" Akane snapped in a dismissive manner.
"I have."
"What!" Akane screeched, stunned.
"I've ended the 'engagements' with everyone else already."
"So what do you want to talk about?" Akane asked warily.
"I want to end the agreement between you and myself as well."
"Who
do you think you are? That you can just, out of the blue, one day
decide that you don't want to be my fiancé anymore?" Akane demanded,
storming over to him and jabbed him repeatedly in the chest with a
finger.
"It wasn't out of the blue," Ranma said with a shrug,
"I've been thinking it for a while. Besides, you've never said at any
point that you agreed to marry me. It's always been something that's been decided for us."
"So, what about our duty to our families and our martial arts schools?"
"What about our family's duty to us Akane?"
"What'd you mean?"
"Pop's
always preaching about, 'being a man', 'honouring your father', and
'doing a son's duty'. Well I'm sick and tired of hearing it!" Ranma
growled as he moved away from her. "I hate those words—honour, duty, bah! They have no real meaning for Pops or you!"
"How dare you say I have no honour Ranma!" Akane screeched as she whipped out her mallet and sent it flying towards him.
"Sankon Tetsusou!"(1) Ranma snarled, his suddenly clawed hand lashing out and ripping the wooden hammer to shreds.
The
force of the energy moving through the air knocked Akane harshly to the
floor. Leaving her staring aghast, up at Ranma in sudden wide eyed
fear. This was an attack he had never used before and something told her
that it was even deadlier than his others.
"That wasn't what I said. That's the thing about you Akane, you never really listen to me. Which is only one of your faults, you overreact to every little thing. And I hate to admit it, but you do have penis envy."
She sucked in a breath, anger burning. How dare he say such things about her! It just wasn't true!
"I'll tell you the same thing I told Ukyo Akane, grow the fuck up!" Ranma snarled mercilessly as he crouched over her.
She
slapped him, eyes burning with rage. Taking deep pleasure as his head
snapped to the side and a red mark slowly began to appear.
With
deliberate slowness he turned back to look at her, and then a clawed
hand closed without mercy around her jaw. Claws digging into flesh,
drawing drops of crimson blood.
Akane's fear returned and
escalated into pure terror. As she watched as Ranma drew her face inches
from his. His grey eyes turning a glowing, pulsing blue than the whites
of his eyes bled red. Along his cheekbones, ribbons of a dark purple
appeared. A wild, purely predatory aura radiated from him.
"I've
made my decision Akane. And just so it's clear to you, I am no longer
engaged to you, Ukyo or Shampoo. I'll be moving out tonight." Ranma said
with excruciating deliberateness. His voice all the more menacing for
its reasonable, gentle tone.
"And Nabiki-san? I wouldn't develop
those pictures if I were you. I don't think you'll like what they'll
show you." Ranma said aloud as the mysterious markings and dangerous
aura around him faded. With a jerk, he pushed Akane away and stood, then
turned and left the dojo.
Akane touched her hand to her chin and
started in incomprehension when her fingers came away damp with blood.
In all their fights, Ranma had never actually physically hurt her.
"Nabiki-chan?" Akane said faintly as she looked wide-eyed up at her sister.
Nabiki
stared after Ranma. She'd heard the entire discussion between her
little sister and the Saotome son. Then that transformation that he'd
undergone…. she had seen signs of it before the night following his
disappearance. What did it all mean?
In any matter he could
not be allowed to treat Akane in such a disgusting manner. He would
have to pay for the insult to the Tendo family. And she'd start by
having a long talk with the boy's father, Saotome-kun.
Footnote:
(1) Sankon Tetsusou: lit. "Soul Shattering Iron Claw", but in the anime this claw based attack of Inuyasha's is called "Iron Reamer Soul Stealer". (Cited from… I forget where. Oops.)
"Sealed Past" Ch. 20 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]
Chapter 20
"Okay, care to tell me what that medallion is?" Ranma asked impatiently, as he watched her tuck the metal disk back into the jewellery box upon her desk and carry the box towards him.
"What it is, is a mon(1)of the Chinese Amazons oldest lineage." Kagome explained as she climbed onto the bed beside him, placing the open box between them.
"Then why do you have one and how did you get it in the first place?" He asked with exasperation, as he looked at the medallion resting among other treasures in the box.
"Why I have one is easy. I am an honorary sister of the Jo-ketsu-zoku and a Lady-Elder." Kagome answered.
"And the difference between an Elder and a Lady-Elder is…" Ranma trailed off suggestively, momentarily sidetracking.
"Is that, one precedes the other, much like a General outranks a Lieutenant General in the army." Kagome explained.
"Fine, I get that now. Back to the part where you explain how you got it."
"I am one of the founding women."
Ranma blinked. Then blinked again. "The whole story please, no more bits and pieces, it's too confusing."
Kagome chuckled and began. "It begins back in the Feudal Era, about the time you and Miroku were recovering from your battle with the demon from the Continent, Menomaru. Where he was from was the Kingdom of Qin, which is called China today."
Ranma nodded, he knew that. What was she getting at?
"Specifically he was from the area of Jusenkyo. And while you were occupied with healing your wounds, Sango, Shippou, Kirara and I with Myoga's guidance returned to Menomaru's home after hearing that a particularly large amount of men had been slain in retaliation for the demon's death by Menomaru's followers that had remained behind in China."
Sengoku Jidai, China, Jusenkyo
"Are you sure this is the place Myoga-jiji?" Sango questioned the elderly flea demon as she looked down at the ground Kirara was flying over, taking note of the abundance of springs.
"Certainly," the flea assured her as he sat upon the demon slayer's shoulder.
Sango felt Kagome's arms tighten around her waist, glancing back at her friend she was surprised to see a slightly sick expression upon the priestess' face. "What's wrong Kagome?"
Kagome grimaced as she fought to quell her queasy stomach.
"Miasma," Shippou guessed correctly from his place between the two women.
"Not just miasma," muttered Kagome sickly, "Hatred as well. Can we land please? I think I'm going to throw up."
"Down Kirara," Sango ordered hastily, directing the fire cat towards a nearby ridge. The small group settled onto the ground, Kagome sitting down with her head hanging between her knees and taking great gulps of air.
A shrunken Kirara jumped onto Sango's shoulder, causing the flea demon to scramble for a new perch, finally locating one atop Shippou's head.
After some long moments, Kagome raised her head, feeling that she had successfully stilled her rolling stomach.
"Is it better now Kagome-chan?" Shippou asked anxiously.
"Yes, Shippou-chan, but I think it would be best if we walked from here." Kagome reassured the fox kit wanly. Climbing to her feet she slung the bow and quiver case over her shoulder and picked up the demon to reassure him. Nodding that she would be alright to Sango, the two women and three demons began to walk.
Sango's eyes constantly scanned the forest around them, comforted by the weight of Hiraikotsu against her back, part of her attention also on Kirara who would warn her of any danger.
"Wow," Shippou breathed large eyed as they broke through the trees onto a ridge over looking a grassy plain. It was not the beauty of the sight that struck him, but the carnage that lay below, great furrows torn into the earth, corpses of humans and demons alike scattered about the battle field.
"Myoga—Myoga?" Sango asked, looking about for the flea, "Damnit, Inuyasha's right, that demon runs off every time there's a hint of danger."
"Listen," Shippou suddenly said as he swivelled his head to the right, Kirara's own ears flicking towards a sound only the two demons could hear.
"What does it sound like?"
"Fighting," Shippou said sadly.
"Come on then, let's get going," Sango said as the sounds of battle drew close enough for the two humans to also hear.
Conditioner
snarled at the boar demon bearing down at her as she levered her dead
father's sword up. The beast may kill her but she swore that she would
take it down with her.
"For my village!" She screamed as she lunged forward, gasping in pain as another demon swiped at her, claws slashing though her side. Raising her weapon at the new threat she gasped once more when the moth demon exploded.
Blinking in astonishment, she heard something large and heavy whirl though the air, jerking her head to look behind her she stared in shock as a massive weapon smashed though a line of advancing demons.
The weapon doubled back tearing through other demons, her jaw dropping Conditioner watched as it returned to the black clad figure that wielded it, the weapon's force dragging the woman back across the ground.
The woman shouted something in a foreign tongue to another strangely dressed woman.
The second one, wearing garments of green and white drew back her notched arrow and let it fly towards a clump of demons. The arrow glowed with a spiritual light, passing through the demons and causing them to explode just as the moth demon that had threatened her had.
The battle drew to a sudden standstill. Humans and demons alike shocked at the ferocity and deadliness of these new fighters. Suddenly the demons snarled in renewed anger, Conditioner barely managed to duck beneath the blows of another boar but her sword was wrenched from her hands.
Wide-eyed in horror she scrambled backwards to avoid the slashing hooves and tusks.
Suddenly another demon, far smaller than the rest appeared between them. He shouted something, his tongue as strange as the women, blue fire blasting from his hands to envelop the boar. Green eyes glanced back at her for only a moment before the demon disappeared into the fray once more.
Kagome rolled her shoulder muscles as she looked at the carnage, relieved that they had arrived in enough time to save all but a handful of the women the demons had been fighting.
"That was a lot of demons," Sango commented as she watched a giant Kirara gnaw on the skull of a bird demon, keeping a wary eye on the foreign women who were watching them and their two demon companions with equal wariness and a great deal of fear.
"Yeah, but most of them fled," Kagome said grimily, shadowing her eyes as she raised them skyward and looked at the direction the demons had run.
"Aye," Sango said grimly, "And they'll be back."
Kagome nodded in agreement as she unstrung her bow and turned her full attention to the Chinese women.
Conditioner watched the strangers warily, grateful that she'd been able to find her father's sword, as she wrapped up Perfume's ribs.
"We must thank them," Perfume said as her ribs were bandaged.
Conditioner glanced up in surprise at the woman that had become their leader since their men's deaths. "What do you mean? They consort with demons!" She protested loudly.
Perfume gazed serenely down at her younger sister as she spoke mildly, "Those demons also saved us. I even recall the fox saving you in particular."
Conditioner scowled as she looked down at her work, tying the bandage off. "I could have saved myself."
Perfume did not state the obvious, that Conditioner had been in dire need of saving. "No matter, we shall thank them none the less."
Conditioner's scowl deepened as her sister stood and joined by some of the other young widows, walked towards the two women, making sure to give the cat demon a wide berth.
She listened resentfully as Perfume expressed the gratitude of the village and invited the two women and their companions to join them. Scowling even more as the magical archer replied slowly and uncertainly, but clearly in their own tongue.
Conditioner was down right furious when the two women offered to stay and help fight the demons and Perfume accepted! They could fight the demons without those women's help!
21st Century, Japan, Sunset Shrine
"So, what happened?" Ranma questioned, turning the ancient mon over in his hand.
"We stayed, Sango taught them how to fight and gave them instructions on how to create weapons and I helped the two priestesses in training that they had." Kagome said with a shrug as she stretched out on the bed. "It wasn't till we were leaving though, that one of the girls gave us that… the younger sister of the leader actually."
"I remember being so surprised when she did, she hadn't liked us being there… I think she was resentful of us because our presence meant that they couldn't fend for themselves against the demons."
"What was her name?" He asked curiously as he placed the mon back into the ancient box and set it onto the floor.
"Conditioner," Kagome answered quietly, staring up at the ceiling, remembering the scene clearly, the young Chinese woman running up to them and pressing the mon's into their hands just as they had stepped thought the village gates to return to Japan.
Ranma grunted as he stretched out on his back beside her, they'd had names like that back then too?
"Kagome?"
"Yeah?"
"How'd you know Chinese?"
Kagome chuckled as she rolled over to look down at his face, "Sango asked me the same question you know."
"Well? How do you?"
"I've got Chinese cousins. It's been a few years since I've seen them but we still phone each other on special occasions like birthdays.
Footnote:
(1) Mon: n. family crest (heraldic)
"Okay, care to tell me what that medallion is?" Ranma asked impatiently, as he watched her tuck the metal disk back into the jewellery box upon her desk and carry the box towards him.
"What it is, is a mon(1)of the Chinese Amazons oldest lineage." Kagome explained as she climbed onto the bed beside him, placing the open box between them.
"Then why do you have one and how did you get it in the first place?" He asked with exasperation, as he looked at the medallion resting among other treasures in the box.
"Why I have one is easy. I am an honorary sister of the Jo-ketsu-zoku and a Lady-Elder." Kagome answered.
"And the difference between an Elder and a Lady-Elder is…" Ranma trailed off suggestively, momentarily sidetracking.
"Is that, one precedes the other, much like a General outranks a Lieutenant General in the army." Kagome explained.
"Fine, I get that now. Back to the part where you explain how you got it."
"I am one of the founding women."
Ranma blinked. Then blinked again. "The whole story please, no more bits and pieces, it's too confusing."
Kagome chuckled and began. "It begins back in the Feudal Era, about the time you and Miroku were recovering from your battle with the demon from the Continent, Menomaru. Where he was from was the Kingdom of Qin, which is called China today."
Ranma nodded, he knew that. What was she getting at?
"Specifically he was from the area of Jusenkyo. And while you were occupied with healing your wounds, Sango, Shippou, Kirara and I with Myoga's guidance returned to Menomaru's home after hearing that a particularly large amount of men had been slain in retaliation for the demon's death by Menomaru's followers that had remained behind in China."
. . .
Sengoku Jidai, China, Jusenkyo
"Are you sure this is the place Myoga-jiji?" Sango questioned the elderly flea demon as she looked down at the ground Kirara was flying over, taking note of the abundance of springs.
"Certainly," the flea assured her as he sat upon the demon slayer's shoulder.
Sango felt Kagome's arms tighten around her waist, glancing back at her friend she was surprised to see a slightly sick expression upon the priestess' face. "What's wrong Kagome?"
Kagome grimaced as she fought to quell her queasy stomach.
"Miasma," Shippou guessed correctly from his place between the two women.
"Not just miasma," muttered Kagome sickly, "Hatred as well. Can we land please? I think I'm going to throw up."
"Down Kirara," Sango ordered hastily, directing the fire cat towards a nearby ridge. The small group settled onto the ground, Kagome sitting down with her head hanging between her knees and taking great gulps of air.
A shrunken Kirara jumped onto Sango's shoulder, causing the flea demon to scramble for a new perch, finally locating one atop Shippou's head.
After some long moments, Kagome raised her head, feeling that she had successfully stilled her rolling stomach.
"Is it better now Kagome-chan?" Shippou asked anxiously.
"Yes, Shippou-chan, but I think it would be best if we walked from here." Kagome reassured the fox kit wanly. Climbing to her feet she slung the bow and quiver case over her shoulder and picked up the demon to reassure him. Nodding that she would be alright to Sango, the two women and three demons began to walk.
Sango's eyes constantly scanned the forest around them, comforted by the weight of Hiraikotsu against her back, part of her attention also on Kirara who would warn her of any danger.
"Wow," Shippou breathed large eyed as they broke through the trees onto a ridge over looking a grassy plain. It was not the beauty of the sight that struck him, but the carnage that lay below, great furrows torn into the earth, corpses of humans and demons alike scattered about the battle field.
"Myoga—Myoga?" Sango asked, looking about for the flea, "Damnit, Inuyasha's right, that demon runs off every time there's a hint of danger."
"Listen," Shippou suddenly said as he swivelled his head to the right, Kirara's own ears flicking towards a sound only the two demons could hear.
"What does it sound like?"
"Fighting," Shippou said sadly.
"Come on then, let's get going," Sango said as the sounds of battle drew close enough for the two humans to also hear.
.
"For my village!" She screamed as she lunged forward, gasping in pain as another demon swiped at her, claws slashing though her side. Raising her weapon at the new threat she gasped once more when the moth demon exploded.
Blinking in astonishment, she heard something large and heavy whirl though the air, jerking her head to look behind her she stared in shock as a massive weapon smashed though a line of advancing demons.
The weapon doubled back tearing through other demons, her jaw dropping Conditioner watched as it returned to the black clad figure that wielded it, the weapon's force dragging the woman back across the ground.
The woman shouted something in a foreign tongue to another strangely dressed woman.
The second one, wearing garments of green and white drew back her notched arrow and let it fly towards a clump of demons. The arrow glowed with a spiritual light, passing through the demons and causing them to explode just as the moth demon that had threatened her had.
The battle drew to a sudden standstill. Humans and demons alike shocked at the ferocity and deadliness of these new fighters. Suddenly the demons snarled in renewed anger, Conditioner barely managed to duck beneath the blows of another boar but her sword was wrenched from her hands.
Wide-eyed in horror she scrambled backwards to avoid the slashing hooves and tusks.
Suddenly another demon, far smaller than the rest appeared between them. He shouted something, his tongue as strange as the women, blue fire blasting from his hands to envelop the boar. Green eyes glanced back at her for only a moment before the demon disappeared into the fray once more.
.
Kagome rolled her shoulder muscles as she looked at the carnage, relieved that they had arrived in enough time to save all but a handful of the women the demons had been fighting.
"That was a lot of demons," Sango commented as she watched a giant Kirara gnaw on the skull of a bird demon, keeping a wary eye on the foreign women who were watching them and their two demon companions with equal wariness and a great deal of fear.
"Yeah, but most of them fled," Kagome said grimily, shadowing her eyes as she raised them skyward and looked at the direction the demons had run.
"Aye," Sango said grimly, "And they'll be back."
Kagome nodded in agreement as she unstrung her bow and turned her full attention to the Chinese women.
.
Conditioner watched the strangers warily, grateful that she'd been able to find her father's sword, as she wrapped up Perfume's ribs.
"We must thank them," Perfume said as her ribs were bandaged.
Conditioner glanced up in surprise at the woman that had become their leader since their men's deaths. "What do you mean? They consort with demons!" She protested loudly.
Perfume gazed serenely down at her younger sister as she spoke mildly, "Those demons also saved us. I even recall the fox saving you in particular."
Conditioner scowled as she looked down at her work, tying the bandage off. "I could have saved myself."
Perfume did not state the obvious, that Conditioner had been in dire need of saving. "No matter, we shall thank them none the less."
Conditioner's scowl deepened as her sister stood and joined by some of the other young widows, walked towards the two women, making sure to give the cat demon a wide berth.
She listened resentfully as Perfume expressed the gratitude of the village and invited the two women and their companions to join them. Scowling even more as the magical archer replied slowly and uncertainly, but clearly in their own tongue.
Conditioner was down right furious when the two women offered to stay and help fight the demons and Perfume accepted! They could fight the demons without those women's help!
. . .
21st Century, Japan, Sunset Shrine
"So, what happened?" Ranma questioned, turning the ancient mon over in his hand.
"We stayed, Sango taught them how to fight and gave them instructions on how to create weapons and I helped the two priestesses in training that they had." Kagome said with a shrug as she stretched out on the bed. "It wasn't till we were leaving though, that one of the girls gave us that… the younger sister of the leader actually."
"I remember being so surprised when she did, she hadn't liked us being there… I think she was resentful of us because our presence meant that they couldn't fend for themselves against the demons."
"What was her name?" He asked curiously as he placed the mon back into the ancient box and set it onto the floor.
"Conditioner," Kagome answered quietly, staring up at the ceiling, remembering the scene clearly, the young Chinese woman running up to them and pressing the mon's into their hands just as they had stepped thought the village gates to return to Japan.
Ranma grunted as he stretched out on his back beside her, they'd had names like that back then too?
"Kagome?"
"Yeah?"
"How'd you know Chinese?"
Kagome chuckled as she rolled over to look down at his face, "Sango asked me the same question you know."
"Well? How do you?"
"I've got Chinese cousins. It's been a few years since I've seen them but we still phone each other on special occasions like birthdays.
Footnote:
(1) Mon: n. family crest (heraldic)
"Sealed Past" Ch. 19 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]
Chapter 19
"Tell me again why you're coming with me while I have my 'talk' with Shampoo?" Ranma asked as he escorted Kagome to the Nekohanten.
"From what you've told me about Shampoo is that she has a very strong sense of honour, especially towards her family. So the way to deal with this fiancée thing is not through her, herself, but the matriarch she answers to, her great-grandmother." Kagome explained with a mysterious smile, "And I've got an edge that will simplify things nicely."
Ranma shook his head in bafflement, privately wondering just what trick she had up her sleeve.
"Airen!" Shampoo squealed excitedly as Ranma stepped through the door, but barely suppressed a hiss of outrage when she saw that he was accompanied by a strange woman. "Who's she?"
Ranma merely grunted, "Shampoo, where's Cologne?"
"Airen wish to speak with great-grandmother?" Shampoo said wide eyed.
Ranma nodded curtly.
A huge smile broke across Shampoo's face. The Amazon nodded enthusiastically as she latched onto his arm and dragged him to her family home above the café. "Great-grandmother! Airen speak with you!"
"Mukodono(1)," the Amazon elder greeted warmly as her great-granddaughter dragged him into her spell room. "Nii hao(2), who is this mukodono?"
"Cologne, this is Higurashi Kagome and would it be possible we talk about something without Shampoo or Mousse?"
Cologne suppressed the urge to frown. Higurashi… that name was important, very important. Eying the cool, composed woman who stood patiently at Ranma's side, a premonition shivered up her spine. "Of course, Shan-pu(3), you and that boy take care of the café while I talk with Ranma."
"B-but—" Shampoo protested in confusion.
"Go child!" Cologne ordered as she made a shooing motion with her hand. "Please, have a seat." She gestured to her two guests, her unease becoming more pronounced when Ranma actually insured his companion's comfort before sitting beside her.
"Elder Cologne, as Ranma has said, my name is Higurashi Kagome and I recently corresponded with you about an exorcism for a Jusenkyo Curse." Kagome began.
Cologne nodded sagely, now she remembered, but there was something else… "Ah, so you are the priestess that contacted me. You performed exorcism? It successful?" She had attempted her own exorcism on her great-granddaughter but had not had the power capable for the spell to be successful.
The woman nodded. "Yes, it was successful. Ranma no longer has his Jusenkyo Curse or any other."
Cologne felt her eyes widen, "Such power in one so young." She murmured, thinking furiously. There was something else that was teasing her mind. And her sinking feeling of doom deepened.
"Yes, well I am the Shikon-Priestess."
Cologne nearly fell out of her seat. The Shikon-Priestess? What was the woman who was called the Queen of the Priestesses doing performing a mere exorcism? And if the spell was successful, then what was she still doing with Ranma?
"However, during the exorcism the soul memory seal that all humans have was destroyed by the complex spell. And Ranma's previous lifetimes were revealed to him."
Cologne tisked, this was not a very good thing. It caused a great deal of confusion in one's spirit.
"Elder Cologne, I would like for you to look at his spirit now."
Casting a glance of curiosity at the priestess, she did so, slipping into the Third Eye trance that allowed all magic users to see a person's true self.
"Aye-yah!" She screeched as her eyes flew open in shocked fear. "He's a demon!"
"Demon souled," Kagome corrected, "Yes in his previous life he was a half-breed dog demon."
"But that is impossible! Demon souls can not be reborn in a human body!"
"I don't believe you were listening to me," Kagome reprimanded gently. "I said he was a half-breed, thus his soul is capable of being born into either race." She waited patiently for the elder Chinese woman to regain her equilibrium before continuing. "I would like you to take another, deeper look please Elder."
Cologne took a fortified breath and allowed her senses to awaken on the metaphysical realm once again. This time she had previous warning, so was not surprised by the overwhelming demonic soul that was now awakened within her son-in-law's body. As the priestess had requested, she probed deeper, looking past the obvious. Trying to ignore when the demon soul poked back.
What she saw surprised her as badly as the demon soul. Ranma's soul was what romantics would call 'soul-bonded' with another. But what the supernatural bond was, was a union of souls chosen by the very Gods themselves. Not human convention. Two separate souls mended into a new soul and then divided between two bodies. And it was with who the other half of this soul resided that upset her deeply.
"You are a single soul," Cologne said flatly as she returned to the physical plane. "Bound by your very souls, promised beyond death, you can love no other. No wonder none of my potions or spells worked. He was already sworn to another."
"Yes Elder Cologne and that is why I request that, as a prior claim that can not be disputed has been made, that your great-granddaughter, the Chinese Amazon Shampoo cease her pursuit of Ranma as her husband."
"And if I do not?" Cologne questioned. Even if they were soul bound, as this priestess was not of the tribe there was still a possibility of her great-grandchild's success.
"Do so, or be foresworn," Kagome replied evenly as she held out a medallion towards the Chinese woman.
Cologne felt her world tilt on its axis. That medallion was one of only five that had been given throughout the tribe's existence to honorary sisters—sisters that were Elders of Elders. Two had been given centuries ago to a priestess who hunted the Shikon-no-Tama and the other to the demon slayer that had begun the fighting arts for the tribe.
Why had she not made the connection? Higurashi… it was also the name of one of their founding women—the priestess that had trained the tribe's foremothers in magic. And this woman was something neither mortal man nor immortal demon could ever hope to stand against. For some would say she was a goddess given a physical form.
"I see we are in agreement then?" Kagome said with a bland smile as she tucked the medallion back away.
Cologne nodded solemnly, "Yes my Lady-Elder, I shall see to it that Shan-pu ceases her pursuit of your soul-half."
"Good then, I hope you have a good evening then and I hope you enjoy your journey home." Kagome said formally as she stood and accompanied by Ranma she left.
For long moments the Amazon Elder stared without sight into the empty space before her. That fire, skill and tenacity had not quite been lost to the tribe. But the honour of his marriage was not to be bestowed upon their house lineage. Perhaps it was for the best... For it was obviously not meant to be. And the Lady-Elder Shikon-Priestess was right. It was now time to return home.
Footnotes:
(1) Mukodono: (Cantonese) son-in-law
(2) Nii hao: (Cantonese) hello
(3) Shampoo's real name in Cantonese. (Confirm? Deny?)
"Tell me again why you're coming with me while I have my 'talk' with Shampoo?" Ranma asked as he escorted Kagome to the Nekohanten.
"From what you've told me about Shampoo is that she has a very strong sense of honour, especially towards her family. So the way to deal with this fiancée thing is not through her, herself, but the matriarch she answers to, her great-grandmother." Kagome explained with a mysterious smile, "And I've got an edge that will simplify things nicely."
Ranma shook his head in bafflement, privately wondering just what trick she had up her sleeve.
"Airen!" Shampoo squealed excitedly as Ranma stepped through the door, but barely suppressed a hiss of outrage when she saw that he was accompanied by a strange woman. "Who's she?"
Ranma merely grunted, "Shampoo, where's Cologne?"
"Airen wish to speak with great-grandmother?" Shampoo said wide eyed.
Ranma nodded curtly.
A huge smile broke across Shampoo's face. The Amazon nodded enthusiastically as she latched onto his arm and dragged him to her family home above the café. "Great-grandmother! Airen speak with you!"
"Mukodono(1)," the Amazon elder greeted warmly as her great-granddaughter dragged him into her spell room. "Nii hao(2), who is this mukodono?"
"Cologne, this is Higurashi Kagome and would it be possible we talk about something without Shampoo or Mousse?"
Cologne suppressed the urge to frown. Higurashi… that name was important, very important. Eying the cool, composed woman who stood patiently at Ranma's side, a premonition shivered up her spine. "Of course, Shan-pu(3), you and that boy take care of the café while I talk with Ranma."
"B-but—" Shampoo protested in confusion.
"Go child!" Cologne ordered as she made a shooing motion with her hand. "Please, have a seat." She gestured to her two guests, her unease becoming more pronounced when Ranma actually insured his companion's comfort before sitting beside her.
"Elder Cologne, as Ranma has said, my name is Higurashi Kagome and I recently corresponded with you about an exorcism for a Jusenkyo Curse." Kagome began.
Cologne nodded sagely, now she remembered, but there was something else… "Ah, so you are the priestess that contacted me. You performed exorcism? It successful?" She had attempted her own exorcism on her great-granddaughter but had not had the power capable for the spell to be successful.
The woman nodded. "Yes, it was successful. Ranma no longer has his Jusenkyo Curse or any other."
Cologne felt her eyes widen, "Such power in one so young." She murmured, thinking furiously. There was something else that was teasing her mind. And her sinking feeling of doom deepened.
"Yes, well I am the Shikon-Priestess."
Cologne nearly fell out of her seat. The Shikon-Priestess? What was the woman who was called the Queen of the Priestesses doing performing a mere exorcism? And if the spell was successful, then what was she still doing with Ranma?
"However, during the exorcism the soul memory seal that all humans have was destroyed by the complex spell. And Ranma's previous lifetimes were revealed to him."
Cologne tisked, this was not a very good thing. It caused a great deal of confusion in one's spirit.
"Elder Cologne, I would like for you to look at his spirit now."
Casting a glance of curiosity at the priestess, she did so, slipping into the Third Eye trance that allowed all magic users to see a person's true self.
"Aye-yah!" She screeched as her eyes flew open in shocked fear. "He's a demon!"
"Demon souled," Kagome corrected, "Yes in his previous life he was a half-breed dog demon."
"But that is impossible! Demon souls can not be reborn in a human body!"
"I don't believe you were listening to me," Kagome reprimanded gently. "I said he was a half-breed, thus his soul is capable of being born into either race." She waited patiently for the elder Chinese woman to regain her equilibrium before continuing. "I would like you to take another, deeper look please Elder."
Cologne took a fortified breath and allowed her senses to awaken on the metaphysical realm once again. This time she had previous warning, so was not surprised by the overwhelming demonic soul that was now awakened within her son-in-law's body. As the priestess had requested, she probed deeper, looking past the obvious. Trying to ignore when the demon soul poked back.
What she saw surprised her as badly as the demon soul. Ranma's soul was what romantics would call 'soul-bonded' with another. But what the supernatural bond was, was a union of souls chosen by the very Gods themselves. Not human convention. Two separate souls mended into a new soul and then divided between two bodies. And it was with who the other half of this soul resided that upset her deeply.
"You are a single soul," Cologne said flatly as she returned to the physical plane. "Bound by your very souls, promised beyond death, you can love no other. No wonder none of my potions or spells worked. He was already sworn to another."
"Yes Elder Cologne and that is why I request that, as a prior claim that can not be disputed has been made, that your great-granddaughter, the Chinese Amazon Shampoo cease her pursuit of Ranma as her husband."
"And if I do not?" Cologne questioned. Even if they were soul bound, as this priestess was not of the tribe there was still a possibility of her great-grandchild's success.
"Do so, or be foresworn," Kagome replied evenly as she held out a medallion towards the Chinese woman.
Cologne felt her world tilt on its axis. That medallion was one of only five that had been given throughout the tribe's existence to honorary sisters—sisters that were Elders of Elders. Two had been given centuries ago to a priestess who hunted the Shikon-no-Tama and the other to the demon slayer that had begun the fighting arts for the tribe.
Why had she not made the connection? Higurashi… it was also the name of one of their founding women—the priestess that had trained the tribe's foremothers in magic. And this woman was something neither mortal man nor immortal demon could ever hope to stand against. For some would say she was a goddess given a physical form.
"I see we are in agreement then?" Kagome said with a bland smile as she tucked the medallion back away.
Cologne nodded solemnly, "Yes my Lady-Elder, I shall see to it that Shan-pu ceases her pursuit of your soul-half."
"Good then, I hope you have a good evening then and I hope you enjoy your journey home." Kagome said formally as she stood and accompanied by Ranma she left.
For long moments the Amazon Elder stared without sight into the empty space before her. That fire, skill and tenacity had not quite been lost to the tribe. But the honour of his marriage was not to be bestowed upon their house lineage. Perhaps it was for the best... For it was obviously not meant to be. And the Lady-Elder Shikon-Priestess was right. It was now time to return home.
Footnotes:
(1) Mukodono: (Cantonese) son-in-law
(2) Nii hao: (Cantonese) hello
(3) Shampoo's real name in Cantonese. (Confirm? Deny?)
"Sealed Past" Ch. 18 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]
Chapter 18
Ranma sat on the edge of Kagome's bed, bent over with his head braced upon his hands. The image of Ukyo's tear streaked face still haunting him. His own emotions in turmoil. On one hand, he was relieved to finally be free of the emotional entanglement he had with the young woman. But on the other hand—he also hurt because he knew that he'd hurt her very badly and could… no would do nothing about it.
"Ranma?" Kagome questioned softly as she pushed the door open with a slight whisper of sound. "Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want to be by yourself a while longer?"
"No. Stay." He replied shortly without looking up.
She stood for an indecisive moment in the door frame, looking at his bent head, his body expressing total dejection. Wondering what to do, before kneeling onto the bed and manoeuvred her body behind him.
He heard the bed-springs shift within the mattress as the bed gave under her weight and was comforted when she settled into position behind him. A little surprised when her hands began to run soothing circles upon his back.
"Who did you tell first?"
"Ukyo," Ranma replied.
"I take it things went rather badly with her?" Kagome said sympathetically.
Ranma sighed heavily and answered sourly. "Rather."
"There's a saying about love. That if you love someone, set them free to fly away. And if they return to you, they are yours, but if they don't, they never were."
Ranma frowned for a moment in thought. "I don't get that. How does it apply to Ukyo?"
"It doesn't really, but in another way it does." Kagome replied with a shrug, trying to arrange a better explanation in her own mind. "Ukyo loves you, right?"
Ranma nodded slowly as he raised his head and twisted it about to look at her.
"The thing is, she's used that love in the wrong way."
"How?"
"She's using love to create feelings of guilt and remorse within you, by saying in a way, "I love you, why don't you love me?" But that's not love. Not true love anyway," Kagome said with a shake of her head, her brown eyes growing momentarily unfocused with memory. "Yes, with true love, you also experience the emotions of jealousy and possessiveness on occasion, but you also want the other person to be happy. No matter what the cost to yourself. You just… want them to be happy."
Ranma twisted around on the bed, going onto his own knees as she was. He knew what she spoke of. What memory was haunting her eyes. Reaching out he framed her face with his hands, drawing her attention back to the present as he had intended. "I choose you Kagome. Don't ever forget that. I choose you."
She gave a weak smile in response, still haunted by the pain. He had almost not chosen her, but fulfilled a promise made to a dead woman. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and shuddered before pushing the memories away.
Ranma watched her eyes open after a small tremor had racked her body. Her eyes were clear now, no shadowy memories within. But how long would they remain clear? He wondered. He had almost not returned to her when she had set him free to fly. It didn't matter anymore though, he had a lifetime to make her forget.
"So, who are you going to tell next?"
He blinked at her, momentarily confused by the sudden change of subject, as the emotion charged moment was lost. "Tell…? Ah, tell. Well, Ukyo I wanted to tell first, because she was once my friend and in the memory of that friendship I owed her that honour." He grimaced with a frown, "I don't really want to tell Akane yet because she isn't talking to me at the moment. Kodachi… pop's never betrothed me to her in the first place, that was something she thought up on her own so I don't have to tell her anything. So I guess that leaves Shampoo."
"The Amazon?" Kagome asked idly, glancing over to an ancient jewellery box from the Feudal Era that rested upon her desk.
"Yes," he replied with a great deal of evident dislike.
"What? You don't like Amazons? Strong, independent women who are able to think and fend for themselves?"
Ranma snorted in a very canine manner, "Kagome, if that's your definition of an Amazon, then yes I like them. I like you don't I?"
Kagome chuckled at his very diplomatic response, shifting her attention from the ancient box.
"It's those particular Chinese Amazons that I have a particular disliking for, particularly their blasted tribal customs. Like, where's the point of marrying a man if the only credential needed is that he defeats you in a fight? If a guy defeats an Amazon in a fight anyway he's most likely not a very nice person."
"No, he might not be." Kagome agreed, finding it rather barbaric herself. Why would any woman, particularly an Amazon, want to marry a man who she knew could defeat her in a fight? That way she had no way of defending herself if he turned out to be a real bastard who enjoyed beating up women.
"It probably started out as a requirement for the tribal man to prove that he could provide for his wife, but somehow got expanded to include anyone, which might not have been the best idea for the Amazons." Kagome hypothesised.
"Back to the main point. How the hell am I going to break my engagement with Shampoo? It isn't only her I have to deal with, but her infuriating great-grandmother as well."
"Hum… they're both Amazons, with an Amazons' honour to those they see as a matriarch or elder, correct?" Kagome questioned, her brow furrowing with thought.
"I guess so," Ranma replied with a negligent shrug. Not seeing where she was leading to.
"So all we need is for… hum…. You know, I think I'll come with you this time."
Ranma blinked. Okay, that had made no sense at all. "Are you sure you want to come with me? The confrontation with Ukyo wasn't pretty, I'm sure that the one with Shampoo is going to be even uglier."
"I'm sure," Kagome replied confidently as she once again looked at the wooden box that sat across the room. "I'm very sure."
"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you." Ranma warned.
Ranma sat on the edge of Kagome's bed, bent over with his head braced upon his hands. The image of Ukyo's tear streaked face still haunting him. His own emotions in turmoil. On one hand, he was relieved to finally be free of the emotional entanglement he had with the young woman. But on the other hand—he also hurt because he knew that he'd hurt her very badly and could… no would do nothing about it.
"Ranma?" Kagome questioned softly as she pushed the door open with a slight whisper of sound. "Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want to be by yourself a while longer?"
"No. Stay." He replied shortly without looking up.
She stood for an indecisive moment in the door frame, looking at his bent head, his body expressing total dejection. Wondering what to do, before kneeling onto the bed and manoeuvred her body behind him.
He heard the bed-springs shift within the mattress as the bed gave under her weight and was comforted when she settled into position behind him. A little surprised when her hands began to run soothing circles upon his back.
"Who did you tell first?"
"Ukyo," Ranma replied.
"I take it things went rather badly with her?" Kagome said sympathetically.
Ranma sighed heavily and answered sourly. "Rather."
"There's a saying about love. That if you love someone, set them free to fly away. And if they return to you, they are yours, but if they don't, they never were."
Ranma frowned for a moment in thought. "I don't get that. How does it apply to Ukyo?"
"It doesn't really, but in another way it does." Kagome replied with a shrug, trying to arrange a better explanation in her own mind. "Ukyo loves you, right?"
Ranma nodded slowly as he raised his head and twisted it about to look at her.
"The thing is, she's used that love in the wrong way."
"How?"
"She's using love to create feelings of guilt and remorse within you, by saying in a way, "I love you, why don't you love me?" But that's not love. Not true love anyway," Kagome said with a shake of her head, her brown eyes growing momentarily unfocused with memory. "Yes, with true love, you also experience the emotions of jealousy and possessiveness on occasion, but you also want the other person to be happy. No matter what the cost to yourself. You just… want them to be happy."
Ranma twisted around on the bed, going onto his own knees as she was. He knew what she spoke of. What memory was haunting her eyes. Reaching out he framed her face with his hands, drawing her attention back to the present as he had intended. "I choose you Kagome. Don't ever forget that. I choose you."
She gave a weak smile in response, still haunted by the pain. He had almost not chosen her, but fulfilled a promise made to a dead woman. She closed her eyes for a brief moment and shuddered before pushing the memories away.
Ranma watched her eyes open after a small tremor had racked her body. Her eyes were clear now, no shadowy memories within. But how long would they remain clear? He wondered. He had almost not returned to her when she had set him free to fly. It didn't matter anymore though, he had a lifetime to make her forget.
"So, who are you going to tell next?"
He blinked at her, momentarily confused by the sudden change of subject, as the emotion charged moment was lost. "Tell…? Ah, tell. Well, Ukyo I wanted to tell first, because she was once my friend and in the memory of that friendship I owed her that honour." He grimaced with a frown, "I don't really want to tell Akane yet because she isn't talking to me at the moment. Kodachi… pop's never betrothed me to her in the first place, that was something she thought up on her own so I don't have to tell her anything. So I guess that leaves Shampoo."
"The Amazon?" Kagome asked idly, glancing over to an ancient jewellery box from the Feudal Era that rested upon her desk.
"Yes," he replied with a great deal of evident dislike.
"What? You don't like Amazons? Strong, independent women who are able to think and fend for themselves?"
Ranma snorted in a very canine manner, "Kagome, if that's your definition of an Amazon, then yes I like them. I like you don't I?"
Kagome chuckled at his very diplomatic response, shifting her attention from the ancient box.
"It's those particular Chinese Amazons that I have a particular disliking for, particularly their blasted tribal customs. Like, where's the point of marrying a man if the only credential needed is that he defeats you in a fight? If a guy defeats an Amazon in a fight anyway he's most likely not a very nice person."
"No, he might not be." Kagome agreed, finding it rather barbaric herself. Why would any woman, particularly an Amazon, want to marry a man who she knew could defeat her in a fight? That way she had no way of defending herself if he turned out to be a real bastard who enjoyed beating up women.
"It probably started out as a requirement for the tribal man to prove that he could provide for his wife, but somehow got expanded to include anyone, which might not have been the best idea for the Amazons." Kagome hypothesised.
"Back to the main point. How the hell am I going to break my engagement with Shampoo? It isn't only her I have to deal with, but her infuriating great-grandmother as well."
"Hum… they're both Amazons, with an Amazons' honour to those they see as a matriarch or elder, correct?" Kagome questioned, her brow furrowing with thought.
"I guess so," Ranma replied with a negligent shrug. Not seeing where she was leading to.
"So all we need is for… hum…. You know, I think I'll come with you this time."
Ranma blinked. Okay, that had made no sense at all. "Are you sure you want to come with me? The confrontation with Ukyo wasn't pretty, I'm sure that the one with Shampoo is going to be even uglier."
"I'm sure," Kagome replied confidently as she once again looked at the wooden box that sat across the room. "I'm very sure."
"Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you." Ranma warned.
"Sealed Past" Ch. 17 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]
Chapter 17
Ranma's steps slowed as he came up to the door of Ucchan's. This one was going to be the hardest, for he actually had a genuine friendship with Ukyo. Even if this whole fiasco with the fiancées had almost ruined it completely.
He was grateful as he entered the restaurant to note that there were no customers present, probably because of the odd time he'd picked. Too late for breakfast but also too early for lunch.
"Ran-chan!" Came the cheerful call, followed by a brilliant smile. Ever since she'd paid Nabiki to find out what Ranma was up to Ukyo hadn't seen him herself and she'd been fighting this sensation of impending disaster ever since.
Ranma didn't smile in return, causing her worry to intensify. It didn't matter what they'd done or how bad the situation was, Ranma always had a smile for her. When he spoke, his tone was gentle, "I need to talk to you, Ut-chan. Some place private."
She gave him her brilliant smile again as she forgot her unease, maybe he was here to propose! Gesturing for Konatsu to take over she ushered Ranma upstairs into the private quarters.
"Well?" She said expectantly as she served him a soft drink and sat down across the table from him.
"Three month's ago… when I started disappearing in the evenings, the reason for that was I bumped into a woman who—"
"You met another girl?" Ukyo demanded sharply, cutting him off.
"I said a woman," Ranma replied just as sharply, "She's a senior at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University and almost has her medical Ph. D."
"Oh," she replied, relaxing, an older woman, so he hadn't been seeing someone else like she'd feared.
Ranma saw the tension ease from her body, and suspected the conclusion she'd come to. But he had no inclination to correct her false assumption. That'd just mean more questions. "Anyway, she is also a trained Shinto priestess and she was able to see my Jusenkyo Curse."
"Got splashed with some water did you?" Ukyo said sympathetically, just imagining the scene. No one really took well to seeing the Jusenkyo Curse… especially for the first time.
"No, I mean she saw the curse on me, not my cursed form. I had to tell her that myself."
Her eyes widened, Ranma had actually told someone about his curse? How weird.
"The point that she was interested in though, was why I hadn't had the curse exorcised."
She blinked, "I don't think anyone ever thought about that as a cure. Everyone's always been so focused on finding the Nanniichuan(1) that the other possibilities were ignored."
Ranma nodded in agreement, "Well she told me about the exorcism and offered to perform it."
"You didn't pay her to perform it did you?" Ukyo asked wide eyed once more, "You know that most priests and priestesses are quacks."
"No," Ranma said with a shake of his head, "She never mentioned anything about payment, just help doing the proper research."
Well that explained the frequent trips to the library that he'd been seen making during the first month.
"She managed to gather all the ingredients within three weeks of meeting me and then she performed the exorcism ceremony."
"Oh Ran-chan I'm sorry," Ukyo said sympathetically, jumping to conclusions again and believing what he was going to tell her. No wonder he'd been so distracted these last two months, to have hope offered and then so cruelly dashed, it made her want to strangle this unknown priestess.
"About what?" Ranma asked, confused by her sudden change in topic.
"That the exorcism failed."
"But it didn't."
"What?"
"The exorcism didn't fail." Ranma stated with a broad grin, "In fact the reason the preparation took so long was that she wasn't just going to exorcise my Jusenkyo Curse. But every magical incantation that I've ever drank, smelled, or been dropped into."
Ukyo blinked rapidly, unable to imagine in her mind the power needed for such a spell. "My god, everything?"
Ranma nodded happily and to demonstrate reached for his pigtail and un-knotted the dragon whisker he still used as a hair tie. His black hair unravelled from its confinement and although it was thicker and longer after his initially demon transformation, it no longer grew at a magically induced rate. For good measure he reached for the vase of flowers on the table and stuck his hand into the water.
Ukyo had to blink rapidly once again to clear the tears that unexpectedly came to her eyes. Ranma was cured!
"The thing is something did happen, like it usually does for me."
"What?" Ukyo asked sharply, her earlier anxiety reasserting itself.
"The exorcism overshot, not really an unexpected occurrence because of the amount of curses laid on me. But what the spell affected was rather significant."
"Significant? How?"
"What the priestess's spell damaged was the memory seal that is placed on all souls to be placed within a new body. Sometimes, if the soul's a really old one, the person will have dreams about it, actually residue memories, which most people have. Sometimes the soul memories are extremely strong though and a reincarnation can make the connection that those events happened in a previous life."
"So… what's happening? Are you having flashbacks about a murder or something?"
"No, I suppose affect and damage were a rather poor choice of words. She destroyed the memory seal entirely Ut-chan." Ranma said bluntly, "Every waking moment, he's there, in the back of my mind telling me things. Even when I'm asleep, it's his dreams that I have."
"You mean you're possessed?"
"No, he—I—we are the same. It's just a little hard blending the lifetimes together," Ranma said as he rubbed his forehead. "I'm actually what you could call a reincarnation, for not only do I look like what he used to, but now I am him or we're me. It's rather confusing."
"The priestess, who is actually a reincarnation herself, same soul but individual personalities and experiences for each of her lifetimes, her memory seal is still intact, is helping me through this."
"How can I help Ran-chan?" Ukyo asked, fighting her growing sense of dread that he wasn't telling her something.
Ranma took a fortifying breath before he began, he was not looking forward to this last little bit. "You can help me by no longer calling yourself my fiancée and leaving me alone."
"What! Why?"
Ranma didn't even flinch at her scream of denial. "I can't live like this anymore. A prize that you, Shampoo, Akane, and even Kodachi are constantly bickering over. I can't handle his memories and experiences and balance it with my life with you guys."
"What'd you mean?"
"Oh don't worry Ukyo," Ranma said with a bitter laugh, "My fiancées aren't the only thing I can't handle. I'll be moving from the Tendo house and taking up residence elsewhere. I feel it best if I simply cut ties with everyone."
"But why Ran-chan?" Ukyo sobbed.
"Because not only do I have the memories of my previous life I also have all of the instincts and training. Ever wonder why I have such an affinity for martial arts? Even when they preach peace and harmony, the martial arts are still ways of killing a man. And I used to do that—a lot." Ranma said grimly. "What's more, I am a demon soul."
"No, no, nooooo!" Ukyo wailed as Ranma stood.
"This is goodbye Ukyo," Ranma said gently, "The only promise I made to you still stands. The promise I made of friendship. It was foolish of you to cling to the promise made to you by my father all those years ago—the offer was never his to give."
"I won't give up Ran-chan!" Ukyo shouted as she surged to her feet.
"And as I said before, I am not a prize you can win. Goodbye and Ukyo...?"
Ukyo wiped away her tears and looked at the unyielding face of the man she loved.
"Grow up." Ranma said without mercy.
Ukyo crumpled to the floor, tears blurring her vision so badly that she never saw him leave. Something deep in her gut told her, that it was over. It was truly over.
Footnote:
(1) Nannichuan: the Spring of Drowned Man (Cited from "Ranma ½: Perfect Edition")
Ranma's steps slowed as he came up to the door of Ucchan's. This one was going to be the hardest, for he actually had a genuine friendship with Ukyo. Even if this whole fiasco with the fiancées had almost ruined it completely.
He was grateful as he entered the restaurant to note that there were no customers present, probably because of the odd time he'd picked. Too late for breakfast but also too early for lunch.
"Ran-chan!" Came the cheerful call, followed by a brilliant smile. Ever since she'd paid Nabiki to find out what Ranma was up to Ukyo hadn't seen him herself and she'd been fighting this sensation of impending disaster ever since.
Ranma didn't smile in return, causing her worry to intensify. It didn't matter what they'd done or how bad the situation was, Ranma always had a smile for her. When he spoke, his tone was gentle, "I need to talk to you, Ut-chan. Some place private."
She gave him her brilliant smile again as she forgot her unease, maybe he was here to propose! Gesturing for Konatsu to take over she ushered Ranma upstairs into the private quarters.
"Well?" She said expectantly as she served him a soft drink and sat down across the table from him.
"Three month's ago… when I started disappearing in the evenings, the reason for that was I bumped into a woman who—"
"You met another girl?" Ukyo demanded sharply, cutting him off.
"I said a woman," Ranma replied just as sharply, "She's a senior at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University and almost has her medical Ph. D."
"Oh," she replied, relaxing, an older woman, so he hadn't been seeing someone else like she'd feared.
Ranma saw the tension ease from her body, and suspected the conclusion she'd come to. But he had no inclination to correct her false assumption. That'd just mean more questions. "Anyway, she is also a trained Shinto priestess and she was able to see my Jusenkyo Curse."
"Got splashed with some water did you?" Ukyo said sympathetically, just imagining the scene. No one really took well to seeing the Jusenkyo Curse… especially for the first time.
"No, I mean she saw the curse on me, not my cursed form. I had to tell her that myself."
Her eyes widened, Ranma had actually told someone about his curse? How weird.
"The point that she was interested in though, was why I hadn't had the curse exorcised."
She blinked, "I don't think anyone ever thought about that as a cure. Everyone's always been so focused on finding the Nanniichuan(1) that the other possibilities were ignored."
Ranma nodded in agreement, "Well she told me about the exorcism and offered to perform it."
"You didn't pay her to perform it did you?" Ukyo asked wide eyed once more, "You know that most priests and priestesses are quacks."
"No," Ranma said with a shake of his head, "She never mentioned anything about payment, just help doing the proper research."
Well that explained the frequent trips to the library that he'd been seen making during the first month.
"She managed to gather all the ingredients within three weeks of meeting me and then she performed the exorcism ceremony."
"Oh Ran-chan I'm sorry," Ukyo said sympathetically, jumping to conclusions again and believing what he was going to tell her. No wonder he'd been so distracted these last two months, to have hope offered and then so cruelly dashed, it made her want to strangle this unknown priestess.
"About what?" Ranma asked, confused by her sudden change in topic.
"That the exorcism failed."
"But it didn't."
"What?"
"The exorcism didn't fail." Ranma stated with a broad grin, "In fact the reason the preparation took so long was that she wasn't just going to exorcise my Jusenkyo Curse. But every magical incantation that I've ever drank, smelled, or been dropped into."
Ukyo blinked rapidly, unable to imagine in her mind the power needed for such a spell. "My god, everything?"
Ranma nodded happily and to demonstrate reached for his pigtail and un-knotted the dragon whisker he still used as a hair tie. His black hair unravelled from its confinement and although it was thicker and longer after his initially demon transformation, it no longer grew at a magically induced rate. For good measure he reached for the vase of flowers on the table and stuck his hand into the water.
Ukyo had to blink rapidly once again to clear the tears that unexpectedly came to her eyes. Ranma was cured!
"The thing is something did happen, like it usually does for me."
"What?" Ukyo asked sharply, her earlier anxiety reasserting itself.
"The exorcism overshot, not really an unexpected occurrence because of the amount of curses laid on me. But what the spell affected was rather significant."
"Significant? How?"
"What the priestess's spell damaged was the memory seal that is placed on all souls to be placed within a new body. Sometimes, if the soul's a really old one, the person will have dreams about it, actually residue memories, which most people have. Sometimes the soul memories are extremely strong though and a reincarnation can make the connection that those events happened in a previous life."
"So… what's happening? Are you having flashbacks about a murder or something?"
"No, I suppose affect and damage were a rather poor choice of words. She destroyed the memory seal entirely Ut-chan." Ranma said bluntly, "Every waking moment, he's there, in the back of my mind telling me things. Even when I'm asleep, it's his dreams that I have."
"You mean you're possessed?"
"No, he—I—we are the same. It's just a little hard blending the lifetimes together," Ranma said as he rubbed his forehead. "I'm actually what you could call a reincarnation, for not only do I look like what he used to, but now I am him or we're me. It's rather confusing."
"The priestess, who is actually a reincarnation herself, same soul but individual personalities and experiences for each of her lifetimes, her memory seal is still intact, is helping me through this."
"How can I help Ran-chan?" Ukyo asked, fighting her growing sense of dread that he wasn't telling her something.
Ranma took a fortifying breath before he began, he was not looking forward to this last little bit. "You can help me by no longer calling yourself my fiancée and leaving me alone."
"What! Why?"
Ranma didn't even flinch at her scream of denial. "I can't live like this anymore. A prize that you, Shampoo, Akane, and even Kodachi are constantly bickering over. I can't handle his memories and experiences and balance it with my life with you guys."
"What'd you mean?"
"Oh don't worry Ukyo," Ranma said with a bitter laugh, "My fiancées aren't the only thing I can't handle. I'll be moving from the Tendo house and taking up residence elsewhere. I feel it best if I simply cut ties with everyone."
"But why Ran-chan?" Ukyo sobbed.
"Because not only do I have the memories of my previous life I also have all of the instincts and training. Ever wonder why I have such an affinity for martial arts? Even when they preach peace and harmony, the martial arts are still ways of killing a man. And I used to do that—a lot." Ranma said grimly. "What's more, I am a demon soul."
"No, no, nooooo!" Ukyo wailed as Ranma stood.
"This is goodbye Ukyo," Ranma said gently, "The only promise I made to you still stands. The promise I made of friendship. It was foolish of you to cling to the promise made to you by my father all those years ago—the offer was never his to give."
"I won't give up Ran-chan!" Ukyo shouted as she surged to her feet.
"And as I said before, I am not a prize you can win. Goodbye and Ukyo...?"
Ukyo wiped away her tears and looked at the unyielding face of the man she loved.
"Grow up." Ranma said without mercy.
Ukyo crumpled to the floor, tears blurring her vision so badly that she never saw him leave. Something deep in her gut told her, that it was over. It was truly over.
Footnote:
(1) Nannichuan: the Spring of Drowned Man (Cited from "Ranma ½: Perfect Edition")
"Sealed Past" Ch. 16 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]
Chapter 16
Ranma stared without any real thought into the space above the teacher's head. Not really paying attention to the History lecture being given. It was about a period of time he'd lived through in his previous life anyway.
It was funny, how he'd felt these past two months as he'd slowly, as Kasumi had first put it, finished growing up. His personal life wasn't utter chaos anymore, but he didn't hold out much more hope of either the Sunset Shrine or the Full Circle Dojo remaining a sanctuary for much longer. They'd find him eventually and he wasn't really looking forward to the day they did.
Couldn't they all just leave him alone? This incensed nagging day in and day out about where he was going, who was he with, and just who was his fiancée?
One thing he didn't understand was that no one had notice that he was no longer affected by the Jusenkyo Curse. But then again he wasn't exactly being tossed into pools anymore so maybe that had something to do with it.
He was thankful for Kasumi shielding him from as much as she could. But it wouldn't be to long before Nabiki's mercenary instincts kicked into an even higher gear. Soon she'd really start investigating where and why he was disappearing so regularly. In fact, it might be best if he took up the Higurashi's offer to live at their place. It would simplify his life but first he'd have to say his good-byes here.
Now, how in the world would he manage that without everyone screaming blue murder?
. . .
"Thank you," Nabiki said pleasantly as she quickly calculated the amount all of Ranma's fiancées and enemies had paid her for her information. She surveyed the group gathered around the table eagerly waiting for her to begin speaking. Well might as well make the most of this.
"As you are all aware, after school Ranma no longer returns to the Tendo house."
"Mean tomboy scare airen away," Shampoo hissed as she glared at her rival.
Before Akane could make a retort and a fight break out between them, Nabiki hurried on. "I have managed to learn that he spends most of his evenings in the city in a place called the Full Circle Dojo."
The group of martial artists frowned, they'd never heard of this dojo or anything about a style related to it.
"Is it just a gym?" Ukyo asked curiously. Perhaps that would explain why it was unknown among them.
"No. It is a martial arts dojo."
"Well? Why don't we just go there and confront him?" Akane said angrily.
"We won't be able to get through the front door. Private membership. Invites only." Nabiki explained.
"How airen get in then?"
"It seems that the invitation was extended by the dojo master, Toyota Shippou."
"Toyota? Isn't that a line of cars?" Ukyo questioned.
"Yes, he's also the current Chief Executive Officer of the automobile company."
"How in the gods' names, did Ranma meet the CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation?" Akane demanded.
Nabiki shrugged, she was an information wiz, but she wasn't that good.
"Well, even if we can't get in, all we have to do is wait for him to leave and then confront him about what's he's been doing." Akane continued.
"I said he spends most of his evenings there."
The gang looked expectantly at the middle Tendo child.
"No, I don't know where he goes those nights he's not training at the Full Circle Dojo. It's sporadic enough that I'm not seeing a pattern yet so I haven't been able follow him successfully as of right now."
The group sat back with loud dissatisfied grumbles. Just what in the hell was Ranma up to?
. . .
Raising his knuckles to Kagome's bedroom door, Ranma gave a quick rap on the wood.
"Come in!" Kagome called out in a distracted voice.
Opening the door, he was unsurprised to see her seated at her desk like she'd been whenever he'd come through the Bone-Eater's-Well to drag her back for more shard hunting. Only this time he knew that she wasn't studying for junior high exams, but for senior university level medical courses. He spoke up hesitantly, "Is it alright if we talked?"
Kagome looked up from the paper she was writing and gestured for him to have a seat on the bed. "Sure Ranma."
Sitting on the comforter, he scuffed his toe against the blanket, at a loss as to where to begin.
Kagome smiled faintly as she got up and sat beside him. Sometimes his mannerisms were so much like Inuyasha's had been, that it was hard to separate them.
"Can I still move in?" Ranma blurted out.
"Of course Ranma, Mama's been hoping you would ever since we told her you're Inuyasha's reincarnation." Kagome replied wryly, remembering her mother's enthusiasm… particularly for 'more' grandchildren.
"It's just—it's—I don't know how to break it to the others."
"I'm assuming that 'the others' you're referring to are those referred to as the Nerima Wrecking Crew?"
"Yes."
"Well, why don't you try simply talking to them? They're still people after all. Ones that at times can be reasoned with I expect."
Ranma nodded slowly, yes, at times they did think logically. "But I don't know how to. Talk to them that is."
"Pretend they're me," Kagome suggested, "After all you can talk to me, and I'm a girl."
Ranma gave her a very droll look. "I don't ever want to think about them like I think about you Kagome."
Kagome bit her lower lip as she felt a blush creep across her face. More and more frequently she'd caught him looking at her with a hot, devouring look in his eyes. His grey eyes full of old sensual knowledge.
Refocusing on his face, she was unnerved to find it inches from her own. "Ran—"
"Shhh…" Ranma said softly as he placed a thumb over her lips to halt her speech.
Kagome's breath caught in her throat as warmth began to pool in her lower body. A warmth that intensified as Ranma's thumb traced her lips before his hand slid along her cheek into her hair to cup her head.
Ranma felt the aroused satisfaction hum through his body as he finally touched Kagome's lips in a possessively devouring kiss. The inner dog demon howling in predatory triumph as his mate lay beneath him once more.
Ranma stared without any real thought into the space above the teacher's head. Not really paying attention to the History lecture being given. It was about a period of time he'd lived through in his previous life anyway.
It was funny, how he'd felt these past two months as he'd slowly, as Kasumi had first put it, finished growing up. His personal life wasn't utter chaos anymore, but he didn't hold out much more hope of either the Sunset Shrine or the Full Circle Dojo remaining a sanctuary for much longer. They'd find him eventually and he wasn't really looking forward to the day they did.
Couldn't they all just leave him alone? This incensed nagging day in and day out about where he was going, who was he with, and just who was his fiancée?
One thing he didn't understand was that no one had notice that he was no longer affected by the Jusenkyo Curse. But then again he wasn't exactly being tossed into pools anymore so maybe that had something to do with it.
He was thankful for Kasumi shielding him from as much as she could. But it wouldn't be to long before Nabiki's mercenary instincts kicked into an even higher gear. Soon she'd really start investigating where and why he was disappearing so regularly. In fact, it might be best if he took up the Higurashi's offer to live at their place. It would simplify his life but first he'd have to say his good-byes here.
Now, how in the world would he manage that without everyone screaming blue murder?
. . .
"Thank you," Nabiki said pleasantly as she quickly calculated the amount all of Ranma's fiancées and enemies had paid her for her information. She surveyed the group gathered around the table eagerly waiting for her to begin speaking. Well might as well make the most of this.
"As you are all aware, after school Ranma no longer returns to the Tendo house."
"Mean tomboy scare airen away," Shampoo hissed as she glared at her rival.
Before Akane could make a retort and a fight break out between them, Nabiki hurried on. "I have managed to learn that he spends most of his evenings in the city in a place called the Full Circle Dojo."
The group of martial artists frowned, they'd never heard of this dojo or anything about a style related to it.
"Is it just a gym?" Ukyo asked curiously. Perhaps that would explain why it was unknown among them.
"No. It is a martial arts dojo."
"Well? Why don't we just go there and confront him?" Akane said angrily.
"We won't be able to get through the front door. Private membership. Invites only." Nabiki explained.
"How airen get in then?"
"It seems that the invitation was extended by the dojo master, Toyota Shippou."
"Toyota? Isn't that a line of cars?" Ukyo questioned.
"Yes, he's also the current Chief Executive Officer of the automobile company."
"How in the gods' names, did Ranma meet the CEO of a multi-billion dollar corporation?" Akane demanded.
Nabiki shrugged, she was an information wiz, but she wasn't that good.
"Well, even if we can't get in, all we have to do is wait for him to leave and then confront him about what's he's been doing." Akane continued.
"I said he spends most of his evenings there."
The gang looked expectantly at the middle Tendo child.
"No, I don't know where he goes those nights he's not training at the Full Circle Dojo. It's sporadic enough that I'm not seeing a pattern yet so I haven't been able follow him successfully as of right now."
The group sat back with loud dissatisfied grumbles. Just what in the hell was Ranma up to?
. . .
Raising his knuckles to Kagome's bedroom door, Ranma gave a quick rap on the wood.
"Come in!" Kagome called out in a distracted voice.
Opening the door, he was unsurprised to see her seated at her desk like she'd been whenever he'd come through the Bone-Eater's-Well to drag her back for more shard hunting. Only this time he knew that she wasn't studying for junior high exams, but for senior university level medical courses. He spoke up hesitantly, "Is it alright if we talked?"
Kagome looked up from the paper she was writing and gestured for him to have a seat on the bed. "Sure Ranma."
Sitting on the comforter, he scuffed his toe against the blanket, at a loss as to where to begin.
Kagome smiled faintly as she got up and sat beside him. Sometimes his mannerisms were so much like Inuyasha's had been, that it was hard to separate them.
"Can I still move in?" Ranma blurted out.
"Of course Ranma, Mama's been hoping you would ever since we told her you're Inuyasha's reincarnation." Kagome replied wryly, remembering her mother's enthusiasm… particularly for 'more' grandchildren.
"It's just—it's—I don't know how to break it to the others."
"I'm assuming that 'the others' you're referring to are those referred to as the Nerima Wrecking Crew?"
"Yes."
"Well, why don't you try simply talking to them? They're still people after all. Ones that at times can be reasoned with I expect."
Ranma nodded slowly, yes, at times they did think logically. "But I don't know how to. Talk to them that is."
"Pretend they're me," Kagome suggested, "After all you can talk to me, and I'm a girl."
Ranma gave her a very droll look. "I don't ever want to think about them like I think about you Kagome."
Kagome bit her lower lip as she felt a blush creep across her face. More and more frequently she'd caught him looking at her with a hot, devouring look in his eyes. His grey eyes full of old sensual knowledge.
Refocusing on his face, she was unnerved to find it inches from her own. "Ran—"
"Shhh…" Ranma said softly as he placed a thumb over her lips to halt her speech.
Kagome's breath caught in her throat as warmth began to pool in her lower body. A warmth that intensified as Ranma's thumb traced her lips before his hand slid along her cheek into her hair to cup her head.
Ranma felt the aroused satisfaction hum through his body as he finally touched Kagome's lips in a possessively devouring kiss. The inner dog demon howling in predatory triumph as his mate lay beneath him once more.
"Sealed Past" Ch. 15 [novella, Kagome/Ranma(Inuyasha), M]
Chapter 15
"Well?" Akane demanded arrogantly as Ranma stepped though the doorway.
"Well what?" Ranma replied crossly, his body ached these past few days from head to toe from sparring with Shippou, Kouga, and occasionally Sesshoumaru relearning his natural demon attacks as well as the flow of the demonic energy through his body.
Kagome had explained, as his soul was that of a demon, his body was a natural conductor of demonic energy, which was why so many curses had attached themselves to him so easily in the first place. Even though all of his former demon gifts bled over into his new form, it was still difficult relearning and performing everything in an entirely human body. And then there had been something about his recent 'transformations' being the result of the demon soul coming to the forefront…
But he was still in no mood for any lectures from the hot-headed tomboy.
"Where have you been?" Akane demanded as she watched Ranma drop his shoes beside the door.
"Training," he replied shortly as he strode past her into the kitchen.
"Training where?" She demand as he took a bottle of water from the fridge and began guzzling.
Ranma paused, slowly lowered the bottle as he gave her a very cold look. Drinking the rest of the water he tossed the empty container into the recycle bin. Giving a careless shrug as his answer he moved into the living room.
"Saotome Ranma! I demand to know where you've been!" Akane shouted at his back as she stormed after him.
Ranma gave her an irritated look, "Why?" He demanded bluntly in return.
The youngest Tendo child stuttered angrily in response, before snapping, "That's not the point here!"
"What is the point here then?" Ranma asked raising an eyebrow arrogantly. "I am simply training away from the dojo and instead of a pleasant hello when I step through the door I get yelled at by you." Ranma said as he jabbed a finger at her chest.
"This is my house and you live here so you have to answer my question." Akane snapped. "Where were you?"
"Akane, as you so often seem to forget. I'm legally an adult now and the only person that I am accountable to in this situation is your father, as he is the landlord. And Tendo-kun knows and approves that I'm continuing my training. So you have no right to demand to know where and how I spent my time!" Ranma snarled in return.
"Now excuse me, I have to go study for the classical myth exam tomorrow. Good night." With that he whirled on his heel, bid their avid audience a good night as well and made his way up the stairs to his own room.
"He's right you know Akane-chan," Kasumi said in a motherly tone of voice.
"He's right about what?" Akane whined.
"You're not his keeper." Kasumi replied bluntly. "As a courtesy he tells me every morning when he expects to be home, and so far he's always been extremely punctual. He's not getting into trouble, in fact if I didn't know for a fact that he's training I'd almost think he's getting tutored."
"What?" Four surprised voices chorused as one.
"I thought at least you would have known Saotome-kun, your son's marks have improved dramatically these past few months." Kasumi said with an innocent expression, gleefully drinking in their gape mouthed faces. "In fact, he'll have no trouble now graduating from his freshmen year of university. Unlike someone I could mention Akane-chan."
Akane turned red under her sister's sharp reminder of her own low marks. Mumbling an excuse she hastily left the living room to retreat to her own bedroom.
"That was out of character Kasumi-chan," Nabiki said as she returned to her accounting books for her university studies in commerce.
"Not really," Kasumi replied with an airy smile, "I merely believe that Akane-chan should set her priorities straight. She spends too much time worrying about Ranma-kun and there's really no need."
"Huh," Nabiki replied as she cast a glance at her eldest sister. Something was up.
"Besides, things are finally starting to settle down around here, and the peace is so nice. I don't want to see it disturbed."
Yep, Nabiki thought, something is definitely going on that could bear some looking into. Now that Kasumi had mentioned it, she hadn't see any other of Ranma's friends around lately either, except the Amazon girl and pizza cook when they made deliveries.
And if she remembered correctly, they hadn't seemed to know where Ranma was either. Who knows, she might even be able to answer her little sister's questions about what Ranma was doing after school for her… for a small fee of course.
"Well?" Akane demanded arrogantly as Ranma stepped though the doorway.
"Well what?" Ranma replied crossly, his body ached these past few days from head to toe from sparring with Shippou, Kouga, and occasionally Sesshoumaru relearning his natural demon attacks as well as the flow of the demonic energy through his body.
Kagome had explained, as his soul was that of a demon, his body was a natural conductor of demonic energy, which was why so many curses had attached themselves to him so easily in the first place. Even though all of his former demon gifts bled over into his new form, it was still difficult relearning and performing everything in an entirely human body. And then there had been something about his recent 'transformations' being the result of the demon soul coming to the forefront…
But he was still in no mood for any lectures from the hot-headed tomboy.
"Where have you been?" Akane demanded as she watched Ranma drop his shoes beside the door.
"Training," he replied shortly as he strode past her into the kitchen.
"Training where?" She demand as he took a bottle of water from the fridge and began guzzling.
Ranma paused, slowly lowered the bottle as he gave her a very cold look. Drinking the rest of the water he tossed the empty container into the recycle bin. Giving a careless shrug as his answer he moved into the living room.
"Saotome Ranma! I demand to know where you've been!" Akane shouted at his back as she stormed after him.
Ranma gave her an irritated look, "Why?" He demanded bluntly in return.
The youngest Tendo child stuttered angrily in response, before snapping, "That's not the point here!"
"What is the point here then?" Ranma asked raising an eyebrow arrogantly. "I am simply training away from the dojo and instead of a pleasant hello when I step through the door I get yelled at by you." Ranma said as he jabbed a finger at her chest.
"This is my house and you live here so you have to answer my question." Akane snapped. "Where were you?"
"Akane, as you so often seem to forget. I'm legally an adult now and the only person that I am accountable to in this situation is your father, as he is the landlord. And Tendo-kun knows and approves that I'm continuing my training. So you have no right to demand to know where and how I spent my time!" Ranma snarled in return.
"Now excuse me, I have to go study for the classical myth exam tomorrow. Good night." With that he whirled on his heel, bid their avid audience a good night as well and made his way up the stairs to his own room.
"He's right you know Akane-chan," Kasumi said in a motherly tone of voice.
"He's right about what?" Akane whined.
"You're not his keeper." Kasumi replied bluntly. "As a courtesy he tells me every morning when he expects to be home, and so far he's always been extremely punctual. He's not getting into trouble, in fact if I didn't know for a fact that he's training I'd almost think he's getting tutored."
"What?" Four surprised voices chorused as one.
"I thought at least you would have known Saotome-kun, your son's marks have improved dramatically these past few months." Kasumi said with an innocent expression, gleefully drinking in their gape mouthed faces. "In fact, he'll have no trouble now graduating from his freshmen year of university. Unlike someone I could mention Akane-chan."
Akane turned red under her sister's sharp reminder of her own low marks. Mumbling an excuse she hastily left the living room to retreat to her own bedroom.
"That was out of character Kasumi-chan," Nabiki said as she returned to her accounting books for her university studies in commerce.
"Not really," Kasumi replied with an airy smile, "I merely believe that Akane-chan should set her priorities straight. She spends too much time worrying about Ranma-kun and there's really no need."
"Huh," Nabiki replied as she cast a glance at her eldest sister. Something was up.
"Besides, things are finally starting to settle down around here, and the peace is so nice. I don't want to see it disturbed."
Yep, Nabiki thought, something is definitely going on that could bear some looking into. Now that Kasumi had mentioned it, she hadn't see any other of Ranma's friends around lately either, except the Amazon girl and pizza cook when they made deliveries.
And if she remembered correctly, they hadn't seemed to know where Ranma was either. Who knows, she might even be able to answer her little sister's questions about what Ranma was doing after school for her… for a small fee of course.
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