By Libby Thomas

Magic Knight Rayearth and Ranma � belong to their particular owners. They're not mine. If they were, I wouldn't have to say this.

~*~

I never thought it would happen to me again.

Love, I mean. I really never thought that things would be the way they are, and yet, somehow it makes sense. Magic begets magic, and here I am, almost 26 and married with our newborn twins in my arms, watching him train his son, my stepchild.

It's a beautiful day here at the Saotome-Tendo dojo, and we've just gotten back from Ono's clinic, where Tofu gave Hikama and Hotaru a clean bill of health. My oldest friend and pet, Hikari sits beside me, watching the children as though they were his own.

I love my husband, and my sons and daughter. But, I can't help but think, if fates had worked out differently, maybe this would not have happened this way. Maybe I'd be back on Cephiro, with Lantis. Maybe my husband would still be with his first wife. But, things don't always work out that way, do they?

They haven't seemed to work out that way since the day I was told those dreaded words, words spoken by someone I thought was my best friend:

~*~

"I'm carrying his child, Hikaru," she said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen."

I stared at Umi in shock. Here she was, a month after we'd returned from Cephiro after a casual visit--that lasted about three months Cephiro time. It had been four years since the final battle in Cephiro, and the three of us had returned to Cephiro for a special occasion. I wanted to see Lantis again, and Umi wanted to see Ascot, but most importantly, we had to bid farewell to Fuu, who would be staying behind to marry Ferio, and become his queen. Initially, I had thought that there was going to be a conclusion to the building romantic tension between Umi and Ascot, since they'd been forever hinting, but nothing more. I had hoped for the best, that they'd be able to get past that and begin a true relationship. There was a conclusion, after all--and I didn't know about it until it was too late.

It happened the night of the Wedding Reception. There they were, in all their splendor, King Ferio and Queen Fuu, the happiest couple I'd ever seen. I sat there, hoping that Lantis would make me that happy someday. When I looked at him, though, he seemed as though he had a little too much to drink. I shouldn't have been surprised at that. He and La Farga were there, split between maintaining a dignified front like Cephirian nobles and having fun like soldiers will (in this case, having a drinking contest between themselves, Geo, Zazu, and Ascot). Over in the corner, again, not surprising, Umi, Presea and Caldina were doing pretty much the same thing.

Everyone knew I didn't drink, so I was never invited to the matches, such as they were. Sadly enough, though, everyone else at the party was leaving me alone. I suppose they thought I was unapproachable, even with my easygoing demeanor. I mean, I was Shidou Hikaru, the Knight Commander of the Magic Knights, and if that wasn't enough, I was the Pillar of the planet, regardless of whether or not I'd abolished that system. In their eyes, I was still the Goddess/Queen/Whatever, and who casually sits down and begins talking to a Supreme Being?

I decided to take a walk before anyone took notice of my discomfort, and I didn't want to take anything away from Fuu and Ferio's moment. I went out the main hall, taking the time only to use my gauntlet to change from the formal kimono I'd wore to the dinner to a pair of pants and a shirt. I ended up walking through the courtyards for a few hours, enjoying the peace that Cephiro had enjoyed for so long, soaking in the tranquility that existed amongst the people (literally soaking it in, as though it permeated my skin; being the last Pillar, I was still at one with the planet in the same way as Emeraude had been).

Upon my return to the palace, I decided to take the long way back to my chambers. Over by Umi's chambers, I saw Lantis carrying Umi, who clearly had too much to drink. He was apparently being a gentleman, and taking her to the Water Knight's chambers. At the time, I should have known better; I saw he was still a bit drunk as well, and I trusted them both. I never put two and two together; I was too trusting and na�ve at the time, too sure of Lantis' love for me and my friendship with Umi.

It never dawned on me until that moment, three months later, when I stared at Umi as she told me what they had done. Neither ever meant to hurt me, she said, what had happened that night had never meant to take place. She told me that she was honor-bound to return to Cephiro and marry Lantis, or to seek his approval for an abortion here in Tokyo.

I never heard the rest. I turned and ran, tears falling down my cheeks, never hearing her cries telling me to stop, to come back, to forgive her. I never did, that day.

I never have, in the years since.

~*~

I never thought I'd find love, ever again. I never was going to seek it. I never told my brothers why I never dated, nor why I never spoke to Umi anymore (they knew that Fuu had moved to another country, but nothing more). And as my older brothers married, I found myself hurting more and more, but unwilling to forgive Umi or to return to Cephiro. On my end, I had never been summoned, and though I missed Fuu, I would not return to Cephiro if I could avoid it. Petty, I admit, but I was the first time that I'd ever been betrayed, and I didn't know how to handle it.

I'll never know what called me to Tokyo Tower that day, but I thank the kami for it. Nostalgia, or maybe a sense of longing--there certainly was no demand for the Fire Knight--but nevertheless, I was there. I had just finished looking out at Shinagawa-ku through one of the pay-viewscopes (since that first day, I always made sure I had plenty of 100-en pieces when I went there), when I when I saw him. He caught my mind in a way that no other man had, and not just because of his ravishing looks. Rather, it was the haunted look on his face that somehow caught my attention, as though there was something I could do about it. He looked so empty, as though he was emotionally dead. He was sitting there, on one of the benches with a very beautiful woman, and for an unknown reason, I felt jealousy. Looking back at it, it made no sense, but it was as though part of me knew what he would someday mean to me.

~*~

The woman looked as if she was at her wit's end, but she left, and I heard her say something to him as I walked towards the nearby soda machine, in search of an ice-cold can of peach tea: "Please cheer up, Ranma. You're not doing anyone any good. It's been nearly two years since she died. Let her go. You have no idea how hard it is for me to say that, and it means everything to know you still love her, but let her go before you destroy yourself. Please."

"I…can't, Nabiki," he told her, and his voice seemed to wrap around my soul. "I just can't."

"I have to go to work now, Ranma. I'll talk to you tonight." He nodded solemnly and looked forlornly at her as she walked away.

Ranma. The name meant wild horse, but I saw nothing wild about him, except maybe his choice of dress: something that looked fairly Chinese. Rather, I saw someone who was empty and hurting, who existed rather than lived, something in his pale blue eyes that spoke of a pain deeper than anything he'd ever experienced. Someone just like me. Before I knew what was going on, I found myself next to him, asking, "Excuse me, but is this seat taken?" He looked at me, and said nothing.

Then he looked at me again. With astonishment. And as I looked at him, I noticed something as well: he looked exactly like me. Not exactly, mind you; I'm female, and I was sure (long since confirmed, thank you) that he was male. Not wanting to sit there all day looking goofy, I said, "I couldn't help but think that you looked so sad, so I thought misery loves company. By the way, my name's Shidou Hikaru. What's yours?"

"Ranma. Saotome Ranma," he said, still looking at me with absolute wonder. "I'm sure I sound crazy when I say this, but are you for real?"

I hmphed, though more puzzled than insulted by his words. I should have been, but there was too much disbelief in his tone to make me think that I was being insulted. However…. "Well, if you feel that I'm that kind of woman, Saotome-san, then it must have been a mistake for me to come over here and talk to someone who seems to be in as much pain as you seem to be. My regrets. Good day." I got up to leave.

His hand clamped around my wrist, desperately, as though I was a lifeline. But as that hand clamped on, I heard the sound of a voice that cut through my soul, saying, "Please. Let me explain."

I turned to him, and said, "Okay," not trying to catch his attention, not trying to let him know that there was something in me that wanted to stay, simply because he wanted me to (though he hadn't said so in concrete words).

Needless to say, I was surprised by what I saw next. I mean, I have seen shapechangers before, but nothing, and I mean nothing like this. He grabbed my can of tea (open, but otherwise untouched) and in one move, poured it over his head.

There, where Ranma had been, was a woman, who with the exception of slightly wet Chinese clothing and pale blue eyes, looked as though she could have successfully passed as my twin sister. And as those blue eyes locked on to my own brownish-red ones, I heard her say, "And now I hope you understand why I said what I did, Shidou-san. Sorry about this."

In the hours that followed, we went to dinner at this nice little place out in Yaesu-ku that I knew about. Something magical (even for two such as we) must have happened that day, for I told him everything about myself, and though I didn't think he was going to believe me, but he did. I then listened to his life--no less fantastic than mine--and I already believed him, since he had transformed right in front of me. During that time, he told me that he had been married once to a wonderful woman named Akane, and had a child with her. Something small in my heart broke as he told me that she had died two years ago this day and that he still was recovering from the vacuum it had left in his soul.

That night, in the center of Meguro JR station, as we gave each other our phone numbers, I hoped I could see him again. I wanted to see him again.

I wanted to know if I was falling in love.

The next day, he called, and set up a date. That date went along wonderfully, like a dream. And so did the next. And the next. And every one we had, from the day he told me he loved me, to the day I became Saotome Hikaru.

~*~

In the four years since we met, I've adjusted to my life with Ranma and his transforming. He's made me feel even more complete than I thought I could ever be, and I think I've made him feel the same way. I know he still loves Akane, but I'd never want to take that away from him. I hope that someday we'll be able to tell Akama about his real mother. Wherever Akane is, I hope she understands that I'll take care of her family as though they were my own. Which they are, assuredly.

And as for Ranma's family--that's something that has been odd to adjust to as well. I don't like Genma, his father, not one bit--I see that man worse than Ranma does, and only because Ranma can't quite bring himself to hate his own father for what he's done to him. His mother, Nodoka, is the exact opposite; there is nothing I wouldn't do for her. Likewise goes for his sisters, Nabiki (who lives nearby with her husband) and Kasumi (and the same extends to her husband, Tofu, as well). The funny thing though, is that while Kasumi is eternally sweet and sunny (she seems to remind me of Fuu's sister Kuu, someone I consider one of my best friends), Ranma tells me Nabiki hasn't always been as sweet as she is now; that she used to be a scheming, conniving weasel. He has to be joking, because I look at that dear woman and frankly, I just can't see it. Furthermore, I know Akama thinks of Nabiki as a second mother (or is that a third?) for all the things she's done with him before I came into their lives.

As for the others in Ranma's life, there are his best friends, Ryoga and Ukyo. Ryoga (those two love to spar with each other, and I think Ryoga's wife Akari is a dear) and Ukyo (it took her a long time to accept me, even though she knew she could never have Ranma's love) are absolutely great. Ryoga and Ranma are always doing something (sparring, mostly) when he's in town, and Akari and I share many of the same likes. I do have to admit, though, that Akari's never explained her need to bring that pet black pig of hers like it's Ryoga himself, though I think it's cute.

As for my family, he adores my brothers Satoru, Kakeru, and Masaru, and they treat him as one of them. They've been teaching him kendo, which he sometimes practices with me or Nabiki's husband Tatewaki; he in turn has been teaching them (and me) that curious karate style known as Musabetsu Kakoto Ryu. Now that I'm now longer pregnant, I hope to be able to resume my training once I get the chance. Also, I suspect that while Ranma enjoys learning kendo from my brothers, he may have learned everything from them already and is simply doing it out of companionship.

Most of all, there are the twins, Hikama and Hotaru. Hikama looks like a male version of myself or Ranma's female variant; his red hair and blue eyes are breathtaking, and so peaceful. I wanted to name Hotaru after Akane, but he'd already done that with Akama, and he wanted to be able to move on. Hotaru's inherited her father's black hair and my brownish-red eyes, and certainly his sleeping habits (both Hikama and Akama are very light sleepers, like me).

I'm jolted out of my thoughts as Ranma snuggles up to me, saying, "They're as beautiful as you, love." I turn to respond, but I find myself being hugged by Akama who tells me how much he loves his mother; as he says that, I can only hope Akane understands. As he lets go, I look into Ranma's eyes, mouthing silent words of love to him.

Before he can answer, the phone rings. "I'll get it," he says, "It's probably Ukyo wanting to know if we're still coming for dinner tonight." At the mention of her name, Akama jumps up and down in delight about how he just loves his Aunt Ukyo. Personally, I think Ukyo spoils him rotten, but with no children of her own, I can't blame her. Ranma then goes inside, while Akama decides to wrestle for a while with Hikari.

A second later, the smell hits me; it's time to change diapers. I get up off the tatami mats, and ask Akama to pick up the cushions and clean up the dojo a little bit. He nods, and heads to get the broom, though I'm sure in a few minutes he'll be doing some kind of martial arts training instead. He's so much like his father (and from what I'm told, Akane as well), but still, he's a well-behaved boy.

As I walk into the house, Ranma comes out of our bedroom, a worried look on his face.

"Who was on the phone?" I ask, worried about the look on his face.

"Just…just Ukyo," he says a catch in his voice "She asked what time we'll be over, and I told her sometime about six or so." He's got something behind his back, as though he's trying to hide something.

"Ranma," I say, "what's wrong? Don't deny it. I know something's wrong." He holds up the item behind his back, and a second later, the look on his face is matched only by my own.

It's my white gauntlet. The Gauntlet that makes me the Fire Knight.

The red escudo gem is glowing.

I'm being summoned to return to Cephiro.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This came out of an earlier project that I found I couldn't continue. Like Her (by the Eternal Lost Lurker), the project that I was working on simply didn't suit me anymore, though the basic elements of it did. Unlike Lurker, this was the basis of an earlier Ranma-Rayearth crossover, also based in part on Rob Barba's Tales of Shampoo series. I decided to discontinue Tales of Shampoo vs. Magic Knight Rayearth because there are things that I wanted to do with it that would have seriously messed up his continuity. Those random elements will end up here (along with some of the "canon" TOS vs. Rayearth elements. Likewise, those canon elements will be absorbed into TOS).

I hope you'll enjoy this little endeavor.

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His Prelude: Akane no Nichibotsu
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