Martial Artists and Mayhem: Third Edition

Martial Artists and Mayhem: Third Edition
Part 15: Betrayel
By Thrythlind

"Hey," the bartender called out. "Rurouni, over here." Ranma growled, but caught the man's nervous thoughts and walked over to the bar. She knew she shouldn't have gone in without the cloak, she actually finds a new bar and she's marked as a fighter within two minutes. "I ain't rurouni," Ranma said firmly, but she sat down at the bar anyway. "Rurouni carry around those clubs." "But the scars," the bartender said. Ranma snorted in irritation. "Ya think I did this on purpose?" Ranma asked. "Besides, it ain't like most rurouni are into self-mutilation anyway." "So what are you then?" the man asked. Ranma didn't feel like answering, besides she "heard" some coming up behind that would do it for her. "She's a lovely young woman of course." Ranma glanced up at the speaker. She could swear she never saw him before but there was still something familiar. "Do you mind if I sit here?" Behind the kind, more-than-perfect face and gentle words Ranma found nothing suspicious. This wasn't the kind of person she hunted, but if he wanted to sit with her, fine. "Go ahead," Ranma gestured to the stool. "Its a public place." "Thank you my lady," the man said pleasantly. "Bartender, serve us something appropriate this woman's great beauty." "You ain't my type," Ranma muttered, blushing in spite of herself. She turned back to the bartender as he set down a pair of wine glasses. "Did you want something?" "No," the bartender said. "Just wanted to show my respect for Kenshin's following." "Ahh," Ranma said nodding. "Good bunch." "I'm certain that you are just as strong a person as many of them," the would-be suitor said. Ranma laughed and shook her head. ~Doesn't look like I'm getting any hunting done tonight,~ Ranma said. ******** "Thanks for the drinks," Ranma said, totally unaffected by the alchohol. She had drunk sparingly, but more because she didn't like alcohol than any other reason. "But I gotta go." "Perhaps I should accompany you to your home," suggested Mikado, that was the name he had given Ranma. Ranma considered it. Being seen escorted through the streets would do a lot to make her look desirable and vulnerable, if alone. She shook her head though, she wasn't going to lead on anybody she didn't want for lunch. "That's okay," Ranma said. "I can run fast and jump high." She bit back a wince at the statement. She could do a lot more than that. "Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow night..." he said. "...excuse me, you never gave me your name." "Nope," Ranma said walking through the tavern's room, still loud even this late at night. ******** "Gotcha old man!" Ranma shouted cheerfully. In the next moment he was landing clear of the pond while his father dropped into it with a tremendous splash. He dusted himself off and walked into the house towards breakfast. "What are you so cheerful about?" Akane asked. "It's just nice to know not everybody in the world's a jerk," Ranma said, sitting down, and ignoring the indignant panda flashing signs behind him. "What?" Akane asked, blinking. "What would you know about that?" "I'm not talking about me, you idiot," Ranma snapped. Kasumi and Nabiki watched Ranma eating, most notably the amount he was eating. ******** "You did not find...sustenance last night?" Kasumi asked Ranma, catching before he moved to catch up with Akane and Nabiki. "You ate quite a bit." "Well, some guy showed up and ruined it," Ranma said. "Kept buying me drinks and stuff. Almost too bad that he seemed like a nice guy." "I see," Kasumi said. She considered the situation. "You are being careful?" "What, you think I'm gonna run across him again?" Ranma asked. He shrugged and walked out to join Akane. ~Well, if it doesn't work between him and Akane,~ Kasumi thought reluctantly. She went back inside and noticed Nabiki standing at the gate and watching Ranma catch up with Akane. "Nabiki, won't you be late." "I'll be fine," Nabiki said. "As you wish," Kasumi said, she walked into the house. A few minutes later there was an explosion from the courtyard. Kasumi walked out there to find an ash covered Nabiki standing in a circle of ash, her eye twitching. "Are you okay Nabiki?" she asked. "Ouch..." Nabiki fell back to the ground. "I suppose that you won't be going to court today then," Kasumi said. ******** "Are you feeling okay?" Akane asked Ranma. "What do you mean?" Ranma asked. "You're acting strange," Akane explained. "What do you mean by that?" "I don't know," Akane said, deadpan, as Ranma fluffed another pillow and put it behind her. "Maybe you feel guilty about something." Ranma froze and snorted, shaking his head. "Like that's possible," he said and stomped away. ******** "The main temple?" Kasumi repeated. Nabiki nodded. "Isn't that dangerous in current state?" "Its neutral ground for Metalliums," Nabiki said. "And I have an idea on how to get Lina to let up without annoying Xellos, but I need to use the library there to form an actual plan." "Be careful anyway," Kasumi said. Nabiki started collecting her travel clothes and nodded before heading out the door. "I wish I didn't have to go right now though," Nabiki said, glancing toward Ranma. "But access is limited." Kasumi looked back at the martial artist practicing katas around the koi pond. "I see," Kasumi said. That was probably as much as Nabiki could say out right, especially if she wasn't certain what was going on herself. Nabiki nodded and walked out the door. ******** "Ranma!" Ryouga shouted. "Prepare to die!" Ryouga descended on Ranma from the roof and immediately launched into a flurry of strikes. Ranma barely dodged one punch, then blocked another. He broke off contact and frowned at Ryouga. ~He's been training since last time,~ Ranma thought. "Would you just leave me alone!!" Ranma shouted angrily. "I will not let you get away with whatever evil plan you have in store," Ryouga shouted. "What evil plan!?" Ranma demanded. Ryouga charged forward again and Ranma irritably returned to his defense, still refusing to strike back. "I ain't doing nothing!" "That's a laugh," Ryouga shouted. "You're going out every night and always expertly evading my pursuit." Ranma blocked and held a couple blows and stared at Ryouga. "You're following me?" Ranma asked in shock. "Well..." Ryouga started embarrassed. "That is...Of course I'm following you! Why I'm nervous about saying it?!" Ranma blinked a couple of times and then started growling. "LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" Ranma shouted as he pulled Ryouga off balance. As the celestial was still working to regain his guard Ranma struck in with a short series of fast punches. Then Ranma's knee came up with a bright flash of power. While Ryouga's eyes were crossing the half-demon shoulder tossed him across the courtyard, into the stone wall. Ryouga hit with a groan and then slid to the ground. Ranma stared after the momentarily senseless celestial, breathing heavily and still glaring. Then he blinked and stared at Ryouga coming too. He almost calmed down and then was suddenly angry again. "That's what you deserve," Ranma shouted, before turning and leaving the scene quickly. Akane came out of the house in time for Ranma to pass her. "What the...?" Akane glanced Ryouga standing up wobbily and then back at where Ranma vanished. "Why does he look like he lost?" "Which way did he go," a squeaky voice asked. Akane turned back to Ryouga and then pointed in direction Ranma went. "Thanks, I'll pound him into the dirt now." Ryouga wobbily wandered off and hapharzardly jumped over the wall, instead of going through the house after Ranma. ******** "Little Ruby," Mikado called out as Ranma entered the tavern. She sighed exasperatefly. This had been happening off and on, mostly on, for a week now, why did he keep having to choose taverns she was going to. She felt it should make her nervous, but she couldn't quite pin down why. "Mikado," Ranma called out cheerfully in a moment. "What a surprise to see you here." ******** Mikado slammed his fist against the wall in frustration as Ranma walked of the tavern again. He barely noticed when Azusa slid up next to him. "She's not buying it," the blonde chirped playfully in draconic. She looked to Mikado and shook her head. "Tsk tsk, you told the mistress this would be easy." "I was wrong," Mikado admitted in the same langauage. "I'm doing everything I can just to keep the half-breed from figuring out what I am." "The Mistress's patience is not infinite," Azusa reminded him. "We should not talk about this in this place," Mikado said. "Do you think these thugs know the tongue of the dragons?" Azusa asked. She shook her head. "What do you plan to do about her latest project?" "The girl is in safekeeping," Mikado said. "But if you mean the half-breed, I shall try something my forceful if this continues." They failed to notice someone watching them from the corners. ******** "Should you be doing that so close to the water?" Akane asked as she approached Ranma. "Hmmm?" Ranma asked without turning attention away from his kata. Then somebody pushed him sideways and he had to clamor for purchase on the slick stones. Right up until the point he fell into the pound. "What did you do that for? Damn berserker." "Good," Akane said. "I was missing the idiot." "Ehh?" Ranma blinked at the girl smiling at him there, crouched at the edge. Akane suddenly felt a hand grip her ankle and then she was in the pool as well. "Want to play games huh?" "Ohh!" Akane mock growled. "You idiot!" She splashed the redhead in retaliation. "Okay," Ranma said, smirking. "That means war!" She splashed Akane back. Splashing turned to a mock spar after a few minutes, and that switched into tickling. "I give! I give!" Akane yelled through fits of laughter. "You win this round, idiot." Akane said, breathlessly looking up. "You couldn't be..." Ranma stopped as she calmed down and noticed how close her face was to Akane. An image of Mikado flashed through her head for some reason, but that wasn't why the redhead jumped away from Akane suddenly. "Uh...Ryouga could be back anytime." Then she vanished. Akane stared at the empty space irritably. "What does Ryouga have to do with anything?" Akane wondered. She stood up and shook her head, she was getting tired of Ranma's vanishing act. She was shaking herself dry and walking back to the house when their former position suddenly occured to her. "That pervert!" ******** Ranma-kun took a deep breath and then released it slowly. Letting his guard down like that was a bad idea. Akane wasn't interested in him, that was obvious. Though something was saying that wasn't so obvious. She and Ryouga got along so fine, they could have each other. There was always Mikado... "Where'd that come from?" Ranma asked, considering the thought. He recalled the phantom image of Mikado he had seen when he noticed his earlier position with Akane. There was something incomplete about it, more like a faltering illusion than a true thought or memory. Ranma considered following that thought, but suddenly lost interest. There was nothing strange about Mikado, the guy was nice, but he didn't have any skills or powers that Ranma could notice. Distrust got rather tiring after a while. He was definitely surprised at that thought, but again lost interest in the anomally, shrugging it away. "Let 'em have each other," he muttered again, and then jumped off the roof down to the road. ******** "Little Ruby," Mikado said, catching up to her. Ranma turned around in surprise, the man had never actually followed her outside before. "I really must insist on escorting you home." "I've told you I can take care of myself," Ranma said firmly. "Well," Mikado said. "If I can't have the pleasure of your company for the remainder of the knight, perhaps a farewell kiss?" Ranma froze and looked at the ground for a long second. ~This will be difficult if she doesn't fall for it,~ Mikado thought. "Yeah," Ranma said. "That doesn't seem like too much of a problem." She held out her hand and was surprised when Mikado took it in his and pulled her closer. "Now listen, Mikado, I didn't say..." Ranma's protest was cut off as Mikado kissed her. Ranma actually felt herself swooning as he kissed her, being drawn in and overwhelmed. She closed her eyes softly and leaned upward into him. She felt she could just faint away and let this man take her home. Then something stabbed into her leg. "Ouch!" Ranma shouted, looking down at the arrow in her leg. She still felt woozy from that kiss. "Mikado look out, there's som..." She turned to see great batwings sitting on the back of readily recognizeable form. A demon form. Ranma's eyes widened as she took stock of how she felt, without a mind-clouding spell, and then they narorwed with a growl. "She figured you out, Mikkie," a woman's voice said in an, I-told-you-so manner. "BASTARD!!" Ranma yelled, charging forward at the other demon, despite how hard t seemed to just be able to breathe. The surprised incubus stumbled away from the enraged half-demon. There was a chant of draconic and a flash of light, and Ranma suddenly found herself facing a pack of wild dogs. "Have fun!" a blonde said cheerfully as she ran up to Mikado and grabbed him. In another flash of light they were gone. Her object of rage taken away Ranma felt the full impact of the life drain start to come. ~Have to make this quick,~ she gasped. ~I need help...~ The flames from the street torches flickered, almost in response to her thoughts. Moments later the street was lighted with a much brighter fire. Ranma limped away from the vanishing dogs and collapsed against a wall for a moment. Such a kiss as that would not have been a serious problem for a human, to get really hurt they would have had to go much farther. For Ranma, however, it suddenly felt as if she had not eaten in a long time. The adrenaline of the fight was wearing off, and she was feeling it all now. "Still need help..." she gasped. Ranma jumped into the night sky and unfurled her wings, thinking clearly enough to know that she could glide further than she could walk. Provided she could get the height necessary. ******** Akane stretched awake and began her daily routine. It wasn't long before she was walking downstairs and seeing Kasumi start preparing the morning meal. Her eldest sister turned toward her and then sighed in disappointment. Akane crinkled her eyes in confusion. "Is something wrong?" Akane asked. "I thought you might be Ranma," Kasumi said. "Please don't tell me you're falling for that freak," Akane returned. Kasumi looked at her sharply. "Akane, watch your tongue," Kasumi said. "I believe Ryoko warned you about acting like that." Akane blushed in frustration and embarrassment. "Yeah," she agreed. "But what, is Ranma not home yet?" "No, he isn't," Kasumi said worriedly. "He never hunts this late." "Where does he hunt?" Akane asked. She knew she should have followed him at least once. "I'm not certain," Kasumi said. "Well, there aren't that many places to..." Akane started opening the door and almost ran into a message runner from Master Tofu's. They were recent additions to the clinic, and had replaced the woman who had returned to some family duties. Akane had met the two girls, she thought they were girls, once or twice already. They were always heavily wrapped up no matter what the weather, and now was no exception. "Aiyah!" the girl shouted. "Akane almost hit Lin Lin. Very bad thing if Akane defeat Lin Lin." "Does Master Tofu need anything?" Akane asked irritably, the last time she had found the twins' speech patterns were amusing. Not at the moment however. "Yes," Lin Lin nodded under her thick wrappings, Akane assumed they were heavily scared or something. "Master have patient in very bad way. Medicine no good. Wizardry no good. Send Lin Lin for Lady Kasumi to come." "Oh my," Kasumi said. "What is the matter?" "Tofu say woman run into demon," Lin Lin said. "Gray skin, hard breathe..." she had to think about her next phrase. "Much...wet..." she nodded. "Much wet." "I shall be right there," Kasumi said quickly. "I'll go with you," Akane said, already planning on leaving for a quick run anyway. "Master say you know woman," Lin Lin said. Both sisters froze immediately. "Nabiki," they whispered, and Kasumi hastened to collect her spell materials. ******** "Master go see patient," Ran Ran said as Kasumi and Akane walked in behind Lin Lin. "No safe for woman he here with Lady Kasumi." Lin Lin and Ran Ran laughed a little at that while Akane winced and Kasumi looked merely confused. It was a musical sound, almost elven. Akane wondered what they looked like under the wrappings. "Sick woman this way," Lin Lin said, leading Kasumi along. "Is bad, must hurry." "Of course," Kasumi said, sounding actually somewhat impatient to be there already. Akane moved behind. She hadn't quite learned how to call for healing yet, the prayer was similar to the one she used to call for injury, but she would do what she could to help her sisters. "In this room," Lin Lin pointed. Ran Ran moved to join her. "No worry," Ran Ran said. "Woman is not bad." Akane blinked at that. Why would they assure her that her sister was not bad. When they opened the door, she saw the reason for the assurances. Laying on the cot was an unconscious bat-winged girl. Her face was crinkled up in pain or exhaustion. Her skin did have an unhealthy grey pallor, and she was drenched in sweat. But what Akane noticed most of all was that the demon-woman struggling to breathe on the cot was Ranma.

Martial Artists and Mayhem: Third Edition
Part 16: Acceptence
By Thrythlind

"Oh my goddess," Kasumi breathed. She moved to the cot and sat down next to Ranma. "Kasumi, that's a..." Akane said quietly. "This is Ranma," Kasumi said firmly. She held out her hands to start to cast a spell, and then held off. "Akane. Akane." On the second calling of her name Akane looked from Ranma to her sister. "What is?" Akane asked. "Remember when we tried to heal her before," Kasumi noted. "She resisted the magic while she was unconscious." "But it got through," Akane protested. "This isn't a hit on the head," Kasumi said. "Her life force has been directly tapped. I can't heal that past her defenses." "You want me to take them down?" Akane said after a moment. "Kasumi, that'll...that'll hurt hi...he..Ranma." "It is necessary," Kasumi said. "Well can't you do it?" Akane asked, nervously. "I don't have time to argue with you," Kasumi said. "This is a job for a knife." Akane sighed reluctantly and nodded. Kasumi stood up and gestured imperatively to the seat next to the cot and Akane sat down. Akane flinched as she set one hand on Ranma's shoulder and raised the other above her head. She was surprised when the power came easily. Ryoko mostly considered the tanar'ri worthless scum and traitors fit only to be eliminated. She had expected to have a hard time getting the power neccessary to help Ranma. Akane dropped her hand into Ranma's abdomen, contacting lightly. A red flash appeared as she touched. Ranma's eyes snapped open wide and she tried too sit upright, but Akane held her down. Akane expected more, but the half-demon merely fell right unconscious again. The red light traveled from where Akane touched over Ranma's body, the demon spasming as it did. Then it had traveled every inch of Ranma's form and the glow vanished. Akane stared for a moment at the half-demon in shock. She had seen that spell used before. The creatures hit screamed if they had voices to scream with. Ranma had woken up for less than a second and hadn't made a sound. "I need you to move now," Kasumi insisted gently and Akane stood up quickly. She watched Kasumi praying to Belldandy for a few moments and then quickly exited the room and stumbled toward Master Tofu's well. She drew up some water and started to wash her hands. "He's a demon!" Akane shouted. "He's a damn demon!" The shock was giving away to anger when she heard Ryoko shouting in her head. She had been shocked at meeting Ryoko face to face. This nearly drove her insane for a few brief seconds of Ryoko's message. ~BLOODFORBLOOD!ITMUSTDIE!RANMAWON'TYOUMUST!!FINDIT!!FINDIT!!KILLIT!KILLIT!BLOODFORBLOOD!!KILLIT!KILLIT!KILLIT!!PAINFORPAIN!!BLOODFORBLOOD!!ITHURTRANMA!LITTLERANMA!KILLIT!~ It seemed to end all at once and Akane found herself curled on the ground, reality filtering back into her mind. She caught her breath and noticed the two little mummy girls shaking her. "Lady Akane stop yelling," Lin Lin said. "Is fine now?" "I don't know," Akane said gasping and still clutching at her head. "Mad about friend?" Ran Ran asked, as Akane stood up. "Yeah," Akane said. "Sort of mad about him." She tried to shake her head clear as she walked back into the clinic. Despite the pain she felt strangely clear-headed about some things. At least one thing in particular. "Him?" Lin Lin asked, confused. "Maybe mistake in translation?" Ran Ran suggested. ******* "RANAMISHURT!GOTOTHECLINIC!HURRY!SHE'SHURT!SHE'SHURT!YOUMUSTHELPHER!YOUHAVETOGO!HURRY!HURRY!THEY'LLTRYAGAIN!PROTECTHER!PROTECTRANMA!THEY'LLTRYAGAIN!" Kodachi panted heavily, huddled in a mass on the ground. After that particularly urgent message from her goddess she found it momentarily difficult to stand. People were staring at her, however,and she had to afford the dignity of her status and position. More importantly she had to get to that clinic. In the last few weeks Kodachi had been seeking the assassin and comparing notes with the Tendos. In that time she had noticed Ranma, both Ranmas, acting strangely. She could have cared less about the female Ranma, until just now when Ayeka had touched her mind directly, but she recognized that Ranma was seeing somebody. She just hadn't been able to figure out who. She hadn't seen the male Ranma going anywhere. Of course now she realized her mistake. ******* Somewhere deep in the wilderness, Ryouga relaxed after several hours of agitation. Something had threatened his quest here in the prime plane. Logically that meant that Akane had been in danger. Ryouga clenched his fist and growled for perhaps the thousandth time. "Damn you, Saotome!!" Ryouga shouted. Obviously Ranma had tried something while Ryouga was conveniently away. "Did you say Saotome?" a voice behind him asked. Ryouga turned around to see a brown-haired woman dressed in practical travelling clothes, a sword at her side. Her eyes popped wide as Ryouga turned around. "Ryuu...." "Its Ryouga," the celestial corrected. "How do you know me?" The woman shook her head clear. "No, you just look like a cousin of mine," the woman said. She took a close look at him. "You're human." "Errr...sort of," Ryouga said, scratching the back of his head in confusion. "Why?" "Mind if I ask a personal question?" the woman asked hesitantly. "Uh...I don't know," Ryouga said. "Go ahead." "Did you have any relatives at Kumon," she asked. "Before it was destroyed. A father maybe?" "No one at Kumon, no," Ryouga said. "I have an ancestor that helped inspire it." Ryouga remembered when the half-elf community had been destroyed. It had been one of his mom's pet projects. She always hated it when any focus of inspiration died, but she had been livid at Kumon's destruction. So much potential gone in a flash of uncontrolled magic. "Shouldn't have thought so," the woman said. "The person I'm thinking of doesn't like humans much, the thought of him having married one is hard to imagine. But you look so much like him." "Excuse me," Ryouga said. "Who are you?" "Ukyou of Kamiya temple," she said simply. "And what were you saying about Saotome?" "I know of a fiend by that name," Ryouga explained. "And for a little bit there I just felt like he was trying to hurt Lady Akane while I'm stuck out here!! I have to get back to Nerima." "You know of a fiend by the name of Saotome that lives in Nerima?" Ukyou asked. "Yesss...." Ryouga said nervously. "My Lord and Lady." She looked up for a moment. "Have business for me in Nerima, but after that's done there's a jackass by the name of Saotome that I need to talk to. Maybe we should travel together?" "Uh...sure," Ryouga said nervously. "You know the way, right Sugar?" Ukyou asked. "I think I've gotten a little turned around." ******* "Mom," Ranma whispered quietly. "They were throwing rocks at me. Why did they do that?" "It's okay Ranma," Kasumi said. "You're fine now." The redhead woke up a little more at the sound of her voice and looked toward the priestess. "Kasumi?" Ranma asked. Then closed her eyes and angrily continued. "He wasn't a nice guy after all." Kasumi held back some tears as Ranma fell back asleep. "I told you to be careful," Kasumi said, wiping Ranma's forehead dry. "When I find out who did this," Akane said behind her. "What the hell happened to her?" Kasumi sat back and sighed "Ranma knows," Kasumi said. "I'll tell you what I know when we get Ranma home." "Is it safe to move her?" Akane asked, suddenly nervous. She looked to Ranma and saw that the redhead was breathing normally now, and her skin had regained some color. "Yes," Kasumi answered. "She should be fine with plenty of rest." She stood up and started for the door. "I'll speak to the twins and tell them we're leaving." Akane let her past and then moved to sit next to Ranma. "My Ranma," she said quietly and brushed at Ranma's hair. "I'm going to have words with you about this later. This is a terrible way to learn your fiancee's a demon." "My darling Ranma," a voice said behind her. She turned to see Kodachi standing there and frowned. "What are you doing here?" Akane demanded quietly. "I heard that my darling Ranma was injured," Kodachi said. "I came to offer my aid." "And what about your darling Ryouga?" Akane asked spitefully. She briefly wondered what point that question had, but didn't mention that outloud. Kodachi uplifted her head and crossed her arms. "That question is beneath even one of Ryoko's following," Kodachi insisted. "Sir Ryouga does not need me. My darling Ranma does." "He's not your darling Ranma," Akane growled. "He is certainly not your Ranma," Kodachi retorted. Kasumi returned and looked at them disapprovingly. "Ladies," the elder priestess said. "Settle your fight later, you'll wake her up." Both women gave her chagrinned looks. "Really." Kasumi shook her head, exasperated. ******* "Was it the individual he's been courting?" Kodachi asked as Kasumi came downstairs. Akane's angry glare at her turned to one of surprise, and Kasumi stopped on the stairs as well. "She was not courting anyone," Kasumi said. "They were courting her." "What?" Akane said, confused. "What are you talking about?" "I am not surprised that you were not aware," Kodachi said disparaginly. "All your kind think of is the immediate fact." "That's better than the way you and yours act like everything is a foregone conclusion," Akane said standing up and getting in Kodachi's face. "Akane, Lady Kodachi," Kasumi interrupted as she came into the room to join them completely. "Please." "Sorry, Kasumi," Akane said, calming down. "Indeed," Kodachi agreed. "My apologies as well." "Now sit down," Kasumi said. "I'll tell you what I know, and what I suspect." After she was finished Kodachi and Akane were both livid. "If this guy is the one he's going to die," Akane promised grimmly. Kodachi nodded in agreement. Kasumi was only partially shocked by the vehemence of Akane's statement. "The Jurai Trees shall die before I let him endanger Ranma again," the noblewoman promised. Kasumi looked over both women closely. For the first time that day she noted they both seemed signifigantly more powerful. ~Their goddesses have touched them,~ Kasumi thought with a sharp intake of breath. "I should fix us something to eat." She stood up and walked to the kitchen to recover from the shock the realization had just given her. ******* "He's doesn't belong to either of us," Akane said finally after a long silence. "Agreed," Kodachi said reluctantly. "But I shall always call him my darling." "Just as long as you don't expect him to just fall at your feet," Akane growled. Akane had no problems admitting it now, she wanted Ranma. She'd be damned if someone else kept her away. Whether that someone was an assassin, a mystery suitor, Ryouga, or some stuck up Juraian priestess. After seeing Ranma near death, after Ryoko screamed into her head to kill the creep that had done it. After that it was hard to deny. "You expect him to choose a woman that has done nothing but abuse him?" Kodachi asked angrily. Akane winced and slumped back into a chair. "Yeah," Akane said. "I've had troubles with my temper." Kodachi watched Akane's expression with some interest. The berserker was not overly confident of who Ranma would choose given a choice. Then again, neither was Kodachi. She still had more than a fond thought for the celestial Ryouga, but what she had told Akane earlier still held. Ryouga didn't need her, and Ranma, strong as he was, needed someone to watch his back. "There is a solution that precludes us fighting over him," Kodachi suggested. "At least not too much." Akane glanced at her curiously. "What do you mean?" Akane asked, then she sat bolt upright. "That?!" "Assuming he agreed," Kodachi said. "Yes." They stared at each other for a few moments. ~This might be my only chance.~ Both thought. Kasumi came back into the room and noted the tension nervously. "We can ask him," Akane said. "What do you plan to ask Ranma?" Kasumi asked cautiously. Both girls flushed and looked at Kasumi nervously. ******* "Get him!" "It's a demon!" Ranma felt the remembered sting of thrown rocks. Rocks that still hurt before her more magical abilities had begun to emerge. Back when she could barely shape change aside from switching genders, and any excitement could send her back to her natural form. "Can I get strong like Auntie?" He had asked his mother once. "Probably not, Ranma-dear, we're not bred for fighting," she had said. "You're a weak fighter Ranma," his father yelled in practice. "Stop acting like a girl." "Mother says..." "Don't listen to your mother," his father insisted. "If you want to be strong, you listen to me." "I'm going to have to go away for a while, Ranma." Mother had said that only a few years later, when the demons started to track her down. "Poor child, those nasty cats really took you apart," it was a beautiful voice, but it was not a kind one. "Who will ever love you like that?" The voice laughed at her. "Oh, hey kid, sorry I was late. I got lost." Ranma had a flash of waiting three days for Ryouga to show up for their fight. "Me, marry that pervert!!! Never?!" "Everyone will think I'm a pervert too!" "DIABOLIST!" "Go back and die!" "You're getting soft boy!" "They don't know a real freak when they see one." "Kuno...I won't stand in your way." "Ranma! Prepare to die!" "You're still good at running away." "RANMA! PREPARE TO DIE!" "RANMA, YOU IDIOT!" "Freak!" "Demon!" "Little Ruby...perhaps just a farewell kiss?" ******* Ranma woke up as that last memory flickered through her dreams. She sat up and swung her legs down to the floor. She didn't have much chance to do anything else. Two forms virtually tackled her back to the bed. "Ranma! You're awake!" "Oh, Ranma darling! We were so worried!" "Can't breathe...wings hurt..." Ranma gasped. Both people released their grip sounding embarrassed and Ranma released a long breath as dots danced in front of her eyes. "Oh sorry!" The voice sounded like Akane, but she wasn't certain. "You have been asleep for the last day and more darling," the second voice informed her. "We worried that Lady Kasumi might not have healed everything." "A day?" Ranma repeated wearily, she stood up and identified Akane and Kodachi flanking her. "A full day for that asshole to..." She looked back at Kodachi and Akane. "I'm a female demon right now, right?" "Men don't usually have these," Kodachi said, caressing Ranma's breast lightly. Ranma blushed and shivered at the touch. "Kodachi," Akane said grumpily, crossing her arms in indignation. Ranma looked between them and gave an embarrassed half-smile. When it came to flirting, Kodachi and Akane seemed to have chosen the wrong goddesses at times. "This doesn't bother you?" Ranma asked nervously. She expected the holy symbols to come out any time now. "Well," Akane said. "At first, yes...and maybe still a little. But..." "You're giving me a head start," Ranma said sadly. "Do not be stupid, Ranma-darling," Kodachi said firmly. "What," Ranma crinkled her eyes. "You don't want to kill me?" Akane flushed and shuffled embarrassingly. "Of course not," Kodachi said. She reached into the folds of her robe and retrieved a small circle of golden Jurai wood. Ranma watched, not really surprised at this from Kodachi, as the noble took her hand. Then she felt Akane taking her other hand and turned to see a red-gold ring in Akane's hand. "Seeing like that, Ranma, almost dead..." Akane stopped a moment. "I don't want to lose you to anyone or anything." "And neither do I," Kodachi asserted quietly. "You do not know me as well as Akane, but I have no intention of giving up either." "Umm...what's going on?" Ranma asked. A nervous Akane reached out to hesitantly kiss the redhead. Ranma felt a spark as their lips touched and a trickle of life coming freely from Akane. Akane broke off the kiss and grimaced as Kodachi turned Ranma to face her gave her own kiss, and again felt that spark. Ranma remembered something her mother had said once a long time ago, before the curse of her kind struck her and she had to start hunting. She hadn't understood it all then, and she only half understood it when her hungry started. Now she understood it all. "I never knew that what we were born to take can be given freely," she had said quietly, apparently unaware that Ranma was behind her. Ranma's mind snapped back to the present as Kodachi started to speak. "We wanted to ask," Kodachi said. "Would marry us?" "Both of you?" Ranma asked, incredulous. "Well, if you don't want to," Akane said quietly. Ranma considered the kisses he had just received, real kisses with real love behind them. She looked between the two women. Someone wanted her, really and truly wanted her. "YES! YES!" She shouted cheerfully. She circled her arms around both of them and hugged tightly. Her wings wrapped around the three of them as well. "Darling!" Kodachi said. "Breath!" Akane gasped. Ranma let them go, embarrassed. "Err...sorry," she said, laughing nervously. The two other women took deep breathes after coming out of the crushing hug and struggled to keep from fainting. "Umm...when would we do this?" ******* The official wedding took place quietly that night in the small Masaki temple. It was plenty for Ranma, but Kodachi and Akane both were talking about a full ceremony when assassins were found and killed. The situation had other witnesses besides just Kasumi, Soun and Genma. The two old monks having mixed feelings about the Masaki-style marriage. "Are certain this is a good idea?" Ayeka asked doubtfully. "Well its a little late to turn back now," Ryoko answered. "This is not quite what I had in mind when I spoke to Kodachi," Ayeka said. "Not my idea for Akane either," Ryoko noted. "So it isn't like we took away their free wills or anything. All we did was yell into their heads to protect Ranma." "Yes, Ryoko," Ayeka agreed. "We touched their souls when we learned about Ranma. Such leaves a mark on mortals. This could be a sign that they moved closer to our personalities." "Nah, my Akane is still uptight and your Kodachi is still crazy," Ryoko pointed out. "Besides, Ranma said yes, and neither of us had anything to do with that." "Umm," a new voice added. "That would be my fault." Ryoko and Ayeka turned around to see a white haired woman wearing a very revealing outfit. "Ehh?" Ayeka said, losing her manners for a moment. "What did you do, Urd?" Ryoko asked. "Well, Sylphiel was saying that this Ranma person was going to mean a lot of work for her," Urd said. "So when I heard those two were going to ask, I thought that maybe if he were already married the problems would be less." "What did you do to our neice?" Ayeka repeated for Ryoko. "I just sort of gave him some nightmares about being rejected," Urd said. "Made him a little more susceptible to accepting an offer." Ryoko and Ayeka stared. "Hey, this one worked! Why are you looking at me like that for." "At least they'll watch out for Ranma," Ayeka said, frustrated. She turned to look back towards the prime material world and immediately shut off the scrying pool, flushing a little in embarrassment. "Something wrong?" Ryoko asked. "Little Ranma really is all grown up," Ayeka said simply. Ryoko shook her head, expecting that Ranma was probably taking a lot of coaxing to do anything. "It's getting to the good stuff then," Urd said mischievously, and walked towards the pool. Both Ryoko and Ayeka moved to grab her by either arm and start to escort her out of their realm. "Don't tell me you're not interested, Ryoko?" "Ranma's family, Urd," Ryoko said firmly. "At any rate shouldn't you be speaking to your superior about your most likely unauthorized actions today?" Ayeka asked. "IT WORKED!!!!" Urd protested.