To Live And Love Again
Crossover: Ranma 1/2, Tenchi Miyo, Sailor Moon
By ChasToro
Takes place after Tenchi OAV's, and After battle with Herb in Ranma time line, Sailor Moon camio.
" "-Speach
( )-Thoughts
Ranko sat in her wheelchair, looking out over the lake. It had been over an hour sence her talk with Katsuhito. She had turned her chair away, and refused to acknoledge him until he had left. It wasn't his fault, she knew this, but a small part of her was still mad at him for not telling her. So she sat and thought, trying to sort out what was happening to her. She had realized that she was changing some time ago, and had acceppted her girl side as a part of herself. It wasn't until today that she realized the full extent of the changes. She, was a girl! If by some chance the curse was unlocked, she would feel wrong when in the boy body.
"Ranma Saltome is dead."
Escaped her lips, as she truly accepted the change, and started to plan what to do with the rest of her life.
Nobuyuki Smiled to himself. Katsuhito was sitting in the front room with an open book in his lap. A book that hadn't had a page turned in the hour he'd sat there. What he was realy doing was watching Ranko as she sat looking over the lake. Nobuyuki had seen how she had turned her back to Katsuhito ,and how he had shuffled into the house head hung low. Yes, this was better than any soap opera. Now to add fuel to the fire. At this Nobuyuki called Katsuhito and Ranko to lunch. It was very quiet at the Masaki table. When Nobuyuki broke the silence.
"Old lady Yamada was asking about you again after the ceremony this morrining, Katsuhito." "She keeps going on about how spry you are for such an old man." "She said you were the preist here when she was just 10, and shes 65 now." "And you know she's not the only one asking." "Perhaps it's time for Katsuhito Masaki to pass on, and a new preist to take over?"
Katsuhito got a thoughtful look on his face, putting his hand to his chin.
"Yes, I suppose it's past time for a new preist to take over the duties here." "It will have to be after Tenchi's visit this summer." "Everything is already in place." "I'll make a few phone calls this afternoon to put everything in motion."
Ranko stopped eating, looking first at Nobuyuki, and then at Katsuhito. The thought of Kasuhito going away bothered her.
He had become her teacher, and her freind. Yes she was upset with him right now, but she knew that would pass. And now he was talking about passing on, and a new preist taking over.
"Y-Your not going to die are you?"
"Yes Ranko, that is exactly what I'm talking about."
Katsuhito found himself in a bone crushing hug, as Ranko had moved around the table so fast she left an after image.
Her face burried in his chest, as she cried out how sorry she was, she had been mean to him, and please don't leave her.
Katsuhito held her in his arms. Looking at the trail of broken cast parts from her chair to him.
"Shh, little one." "It's the way of the world." "The old pass on, and the young take over and carry on." "Katsuhito Masaki will go to Tokyo to visit an old friend, and while there will have a stroke and pass on."
"No!"
Was all Ranko could say trying to hold him tighter.
"Yes it must be." "For then Yosho Masaki, a distant relation, who has studied to be a preist will come here to carry on the Masaki Shrine."
At this a ripple passed over the old man, and in his place sat his true self. A young man who looked to be about 25.
"I'll be here for you, as long as you need me, little one."
Ranko looked up into his face, as she begain to understand.
"Y-You promise?"
"I promise."
She looked him in the eyes to see the truth in what he said. But found herself lost in their depths. Her heart pounding in her chest, her face inched closer to his. As she felt the first lite touch of his lips on hers, a bright flash of light went off in the room. Ranko and Yosho stood panting a good ten feet apart. Both glaring at Nobuyuki, who sat there grinning from ear to ear while putting away his digital camera. As Ranko stood there, what she had just done hit home. She had kissed a man, and she had wanted to. A look of horror came over her face, and she tried to turn and flee. It was at this point that her left leg decided to remind her it had been in a cast for the last two months. She fell back on her bottom, as the muscles cramped up from the sudden over use. Ranko let out a moan of pain, as she reached down to hold her leg. Then Yosho was there, working the cramped muscles with shure strong hands. It hurt like hell at first, but as his hands worked their way over her leg the pain went away to be replaced by a warm feeling.
"You'll have to take it easy until your left leg and arm regain their muscle tone, little one."
Ranko only nodded her head, to embaressed to look at his face. Yosho then picked her up taking her to the furo.
"Now that your casts are off, you can enjoy a good scrub and long soak in the furo."
He sat her down on the stool, and started filling the furo.
Then just before exiting the room paused.
"Ranko, everythings going to be alright, you'll see."
Ranko sat looking at the wall. Troubled thoughts going through her mind. As she placed her finger tips to her lips.
(I-I kissed him.) (What must he think of me now?) (He knows I used to be a guy.) (But he didn't seem mad or anything, and it felt like he was starting to kiss back.) (No.) (That can't be right, can it?) (Damn!) (I'm so confused.)
With that thought she arose and shut off the water. In the quiet that followed she heard the murmur of voices. Curiosity got the better of her. So masking her Ki, She slipped out of the room, and down to the end of the hall. She stood straining to hear their words.
"--admit how you feel about her!"
"Yes Nobuyuki, I'm attracted to her." "But thats not the point." "With Tenchi and the girls we could have some fun at their expense, and no real harm was done." "We can't do that with Ranko." "She's not secure in herself yet." "She's trying to trust us to help her, but what your doing isn't helping." "All her life she's been used, lied to, and just plan abused, by the people she trusted." "And by all that I hold Holy, that will not happen in this house!" "If, and I mean if, she falls in love with me." "I will not reject her, but it will be her choise."
Ranko slowly moved back up the hall to the furo. Her hart pounding in her chest. As she prepared to wash, a small smile came to her face as she brought her hand up and touched her lips.
Nodoka sat watching as the tape begain to play, wondering to her self what all this talk about magic and cursed springs had to do with Ranko. Then the picture faded in. It was a simple tv trick, the same that weathermen used to stand in front of the weather maps. Nabiki stood before a still picture of a valley filled with springs that had bambo poles sticking up out of them. She was dressed in a smart bussness womans suit and held a microphone in her hand.
"Jesenkeo, also known as the Valley Of Sarrows." "An ancinet martal arts training grounds, located in the mountains of China." "Its beginings shrouded in Legend."
At this point Nodaka looked at Nabiki, and asked.
"Nabiki what is this tape?" "And what dose it have to do with Ranko?"
Nabiki paused the tape.
"Auntie, I made this for my journalism class." "The only speciel effect on the tape, you just saw." "The rest of the tape is untouched footage that I filmed myself."
She then forwarded the tape past her introduction, and started it playing again. The picture faded in to a city street, and a young Chinise boy dressed in white robes carrying a take out box. An elderly woman was watering the sidewalk down with a bucket and ladle, accedentley splashing him. He just shrank into his robes as they colapsed into a pile on the sidewalk. Shortly a duck emerged for the neck of the robes, Quacked angerly at the old woman then flew away.
The next scene was a beautiful Chinise girl in a short dress riding a bicycle with a take out box on the back. She was splashed by a passing car from a puddle on the road. She to shrank into her dress, which fell of the bike and rolled on the ground. After a moment a cat emerged, looked around, then ran off the way it had come.
At this point in hit Nodaka what she was seeing. As the blood drained from her face. She thought to herself.
(Oh Kami, what does Ranko turn into?)
Then the next scene started. The Tendo yard by the koi-pond, looking at the house from over the fence. There on the porch playing go with Soun was Genma. She thought only one thing.
(That bastard.) (He has time to play go, but can't call me to come over to see him and Ranma.)
It was then that Kasumi's voice could be herd on the tape.
"Auntie Saltomie, please come in father will be glad to see you."
Genma on the tape looked up, eyes large with fear. Then leaped in one bound into the koi-pond. After a large splash, there in the pond sat Mr. Panda, holding up a sign. As Nodoka talked to Soun on the porch, then left dejectedly.
"Cute panda indeed!" Was all Nadoka said, as she gripped the hilt of her katana.
The next scene started. The same view over the fence, this time Ranma was doing a Kata between the porch and the pond, the fathers playing go. When a cry was heard.
"Ranma, Prepare to Die!"
Ranma leaped up and back. As another boy flew in swinging an umbrella striking the ground where Ranma had been, dirt flying leaving a small crater. Ranma stood in the not a stance, stance she had seen her husband use to make your oponent think you not ready to fight.
"What is it this time Ryoga?"
"Shut up Ranma!" "Because of you, I've seen hell!" "So today I'll finish this for good!"
With that he attacked. Ranma doing his usual weaving in and around his opponent. Stepping inside his guard now and then delevering what looked like a single blow then stepping back out. Watching while Ryoga would recover. Then continuing the fight. The next time Ranma stepped inside Ryoga's guard Nabiki hit the slow motition button on the remote, and Nodoka relised he was striking the other boy close to one hundred times in the same spot each time. She also realized that this Ryoga boy was using attacks designed to maim or cripple and even some that were deadly if they had connected. And yet Genma and Soun just sat watching doing nothing. Ranma then did a leg sweep, knocking Ryoga's legs out from under him. Ranma continued his spin while rising, his leg caught Ryoga in the air throwing him into the koi-pond. The resluting splash caught Ranma square in the chest. As the change happed, Nodoka rose to her feet dropping her katana.
"No." She wispperd
"No!"
Much louder this time.
The tape continued. Ranma reaching into to pond into the loose clothing floating there. Suddenly pulling her hand back, with a little black pig hanging on her hand by its teeth.
"Damn-it Ryoga, I'm trying to save you from drowning, and all you can do is bite me." "You jerk!"
Shaking the pig off her hand, the pig hit one of the rocks by the pond on landing and rolled across the yard.
Then off screen Akane was herd Yelling.
"Ranma you jerk!" "Quit picking on my poor P-chan!"
At that Ranma just stood there a look of sorrow on her face. As Akane stomped into the scene with her mallet, sending Ranma flying over the fence.
As Nabiki stopped the tape, a loud cracking sound was heard in the room. Akane had broken the edge of the table off, and was squeezing the wood into splinters with her bare hands. The look on her face kept changing from rage, to sorrow, through a whole range of emotions. Tears streaking down her face she started to laugh an histerical laughter that slowly turned into deep sobbing crying.
The Cat Cafe was empty, a closed until further notice sign on the door. Inside Ku-lon sat smoking her pipe. The police having left a short time ago.
(Damn that Herb!) (The plan was foolproof.) (He and his stupid I'm decended from a dragon pride.) (All he had to do, is use the train and ferry tickets I bought for him and his flunkies.) (They would have been back here with the kettle in four days.) (On their way back to China on the next boat out.) (By the time Ranma got back, She'd be having her first period and desperate for help.) (I could have stepped in, offering to adopt her as Xan-pu's sister, and take her on as my student in the art.) (She would be gratful to me for saving her from marrying that usless male Tendo.) (We could return to the village, Xan's honnor intact, and I having the best of her generation as my heir in the art.) (Even Mu-su was doing his part.) (Delaying them by losing their money, and secretly reporting back to me by phone on their progress.) (After all with Ranma Xan-pu's sister, Xan-pu would be avalable again.) (But no!) (Herb just had to wait for Ranma to show up to prove who's best.) (Damn his stupid pride.) (Now they're all dead.) (If not handled carefuly this could start a war between the Amazon's and the Musk.) (Damn!)
Xan-pu sat in her room over the Cat Cafe. Before her three pictures. One of Mu-su her child hood freind, two of Ranma, one male, one female.
Tears made their way down her face as she gazed sadly at the pictures.
"Mu-su I not love you how you want, but will miss stuppid duck always being there."
Placeing the picture of Mu-su down, she picked up the two of Ranma.
Looking at the male picture first. She sighed.
"Ranma at first was village law must marry, but see proud warrior spirit, and fall in love." "But you no want to marry." "No be forced." "Have strong will." "Not want to be low male in Amazon village." "Xan-pu no blame."
She then placed the female picture on top.
"Then hope make you blood and sheild sister." "Still can love you as sister." "Live together, train together, be strong together." "Maybe one day have husband together, maybe Mu-su." "But now police men say you and Mu-su is dead." "Xan-pu now have no one." "Now have time of sorrow." "Then must be strong warrior and go on with life." "I never forget you." "Wo Ia Ne."
With that Xan-pu sat the pictures down on her night stand, burried her face in her pillow and cried her hart out.
Ku-lon stood out side Xan-pu's door. Wanting to go in and give comfort. But that was for childern, and Xan-pu was a warrior now.
And warriors had thier time of sorrow in private. The only public tears would be at the funeral. It was the Amazon Way.
In a upperclass part of Juben, four young women sat eating dinner.
The eldest looked at her watch, rose from the table and walked to the phone. Just as she reached her hand for the phone it rang. Picking up the phone she smiled.
"Hello Katsuhito."
Pause.
"Yes, everything is ready."
Pause.
"You'll need to bring Ranko with you so we can take pictures for both your I D's."
Pause.
"Of cousrse I know about her." Realy now, you know me better than that."
Pause.
"Yes, I have her school records and everything you'll need."
Pause
"Oh, there is one thing though."
Pause.
"I want a rematch, so plan to spend some time with me."
Pause.
"How about 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at the usual place?"
Pause.
"Goodbye Sweet Prince."
With that she hung up the phone, returned to the table, and began to eat her dinner. Her other companions sat waiting for an explnation.
When it became clear none was comming. The youngest asked.
"Who was that Setsuna-Moma?"
Setsuna finished chewing her food, wiped her mouth with her napkin,and smiled.
"Well Hotaru, that is a secret."
Haruka, and Michiru face falted right into their dinners,while Hotaru, rocked back in her chair giggiling at the joke.
"Setsuna-moma, that was a mean joke."
Hotaru managed to get out between giggiles. Then looking at her other two parents still trying to clean the food off their faces she burst out into full laughter.
Your right Hotaru." "Remind me to do that more often."
Haruka, and Michiru just moaned, knowing they would be hearing about this for some time to come.
Hotaru finely got her laughter under control, and asked.
"O.K. Setsuna-Moma, who was it realy, who's Ranko, and what kind of rematch did you want?"
Setsuna smiled, she just knew this was going to be good.
"Well, He's Prince Yosho of the Juri steller Empire. Ranko is a young girl that used to be a boy Yosho is adopting into his family, and as for the rematch." For the last 700 years Yosho's beat me at chess every time we've played." "Something no one else has been able to do."
Hotaru's eyes got big at that, she remembered more than the others about the Silver melenium. She knew the Moon Kingdom had, had dipolmatic ties to the Juri Empire.
"Wow." "Can I meet them Setsuna-Moma?"
Haruka, and Michiru both rolled their eyes at that point thinking that Setsuna was joking with them again. Haruka spoke.
"Setsuna, don't you think your taking this to far." "Come on a Prince form some Steller Empire, and a girl that used to be a boy!" "Next you'll be telling us that this Ranko is Sailor Sun."
Setsuna got a hurt look on her face.
"Haruka, Michiru, don't you beleive me?"
"NO!" Was their reply.
"Well in that case, only Hotaru will come with me when I go to meet them."
"Thats fine with us!"
Haruka, and Michiru wern't going to be tricked again, nope they wouldn't fall for that trick.
Later that night as Setsuna sat reading in her room, there was a nock on her door.
"Come in Hotaru."
Entering the room Hotaru sat on the corner of Setsuna's bed.
"Setsuna moma." "When Haruka Papa said Ranko was Sailor Sun, you looked supprised but hid it before they could see." "Is Ranko Sailor Sun?"
Setsuna let out a sigh. Hotaru was getting very good at reading her. She would have to be more careful in the future. Smiling she took Hotaru's hands in hers and asked.
"Hotaru, do you know what a time nexess is?"
"Yes, thats a point in time where a decission or action by some one can create and alternet time line."
"Very good." "In the Silver Millenum there was such a point for the creation of Sailor Sun, and in our time line Queen Serenity killed the project before a girl was chosen."
Hotaru's eyes got big, and she gasp out.
"Ranko, she was the girl who would have been chosen?"
"Yes Hotaru, and in another time line she became Sailor Sun." "But you can't tell anyone about this, they wouldn't understand."
"I understand Setsuna moma." "Thank you for telling me though."
"Good night Setsuna moma."
Hotaru hopped off the bed gave Setsuna a kiss on the check and ran off to her room. Setsuna rose closed the door to her room then sat down.
"You heard everything Luna?"
A black cat with a white cresent moon on her forhead crawled out from under the bed.
"Yes, though I sence there's more to the story than your telling."
"There is Luna, but unimportent at this time."
"She's the one you told me of that survived the warped version of the cat fist that the Nega-verse used to create berzerkers?"
"Yes she is, but even when in the cat fist state she's more like a house cat than a rabid tiger."
"Then there is hope that she can overcome her fear and learn to control the true cat fist."
Luna did a small back flip, producing a scroll.
"Give that to Yosho." "Tell him when she's ready to face her fear,that I will come and be the one she faces."
With that Luna leaped out the window and disapered into the night.